Leeds United managed to survive the Premier League last season, as Daniel Farke made a tactical tweak. Moving to back three made the team tick and that helped them finish 14th.
The Whites were far from the best attack, but their defence helped them get crucial results when needed.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor had to carry the goalscoring burden. Calvert-Lewin had 15 goals, and Okafor had eight, including an incredible run of form in the final months of the campaign.
But the lack of firepower was a real issue for Daniel Farke.
Ex-Forest man thinks Leeds United can help attacker score more goals
Dan James for Wales. Credit: IMAGO
After the trio of Okafor, Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin, the next highest scorer for Leeds United in the league was Anton Stach.
And surprisingly, the other attacking options in the squad, Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James, contributed to just one goal. This season James will get another shot at redeeming himself, while Gnonto was sent out on loan.
The winger has opened his scoring for this campaign, and scored for Wales midweek.
Former Nottingham Forest and Wales man Rob Earnshaw thinks James can produce more goals for Leeds if he focuses on one area of his game.
“I do want to pick him out because I thought he was excellent and it was interesting,” Earnshaw said, speaking to the BBC.
“A few weeks ago I did his game against Nottingham Forest for Leeds in the cup and he was just as good as then. His running, when he goes behind, when he has the one v one dribble on and then now, this is what I want to see from him more because I want him to get in at the far post because there’s ten goals a season in that far post.
“He’s got one of them, there’s nine to go but there’s ten goals a season in that far post. If you get yourself in there every so often you will get goals and I thought he was excellent. I thought Sorba Thomas on the other side was excellent and inevitably the two do create the goal for Dan James.”
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Is Daniel Farke getting the best out of Dan James?
It is not the Leeds boss’ fault that James is not higher up the pecking order
When the winger had his chances last season, he did not contribute a single goal or assist, which is why he found himself on the bench.
James is a useful player and Farke has spoken about his qualities this season. The winger has already scored a goal that back Earnshaw’s assessment of the wingers ability to be more productive.
Daniel Farke must now find ways to make those goalscoring scenarios frequent when James is on the pitch.
Dan James was dire at Man U. yet we paid a fortune for him. He was dire under Bielsa and for once Jessie Marsch got something right by loaning him out to Fulham. He was also dire at Fulham. In the Championship he did score and assist but also wasted countless crucial chances. With all his speed, he has very little skill, poor judgement and is generally a waste of time. His famous move is to tank down the wing, then to kick it straight into the opposing player. I’ve seen him be appalling for Leeds and for Wales, yet get rave reviews. I have friends who think he is a good player. I just don’t get it. He can play a game with zero tackles, zero crosses, zero success in taking the man on, and yet get a higher rating than the likes of Ampadu and Rodon! He’s never… Read more »