Leeds United sit in 15th place during the October national break. Many fans would have expected the team to be worse off, but there are a lot of positives from this start to the season.
Since the last international break, Daniel Farke has made a lot of changes to the team. The swap in attack has seen the Whites be more threatening with the introduction of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor.
Despite all that, the chance conversion rate of the team has been poor which has cost them points against Bournemouth and Spurs.
QUIZ: Can you name the Leeds game these 10 goal celebrations are from?
Graham Smyth defends Leeds United boss
Daniel Farke Credit: Imago
Journalist Graham Smyth has been speaking on how the Leeds team have fared this season on the Inside Elland Road podcast. Smyth believes Daniel Farke deserves a lot more credit for the job he has done.
“I see a lot of criticism about Farke, but I don’t think he is getting the credit he deserves for the way Leeds have started.
“He’s been very flexible; he’s not stuck to the blueprint of how he got to the Premier League.
“He’s learnt from his time at Norwich, he’s learnt from other promoted clubs have fared over the last couple of years.
Leeds have been very good in games against bigger teams like Newcastle, Bournemouth and Spurs. Smyth says it is down to how Farke has set the team up:
“He’s set Leeds up in a way to be competitive, stay in games, not conceding many goals.”
“That, to me, says he is more flexible than we could have predicted. I’m not sure I saw that coming.
“If we had said Farke would have been this pragmatic, I’m not sure I would have believed you,”
Daniel Farke has the Whites performing above expectations
Statistically speaking, Leeds should be in a better position than they are now. Daniel Farke’s side ranks as one of the best defences in the Premier League on expected goals (xG) – they have allowed just 7.9xG but conceded 11.
Premier League xG Credit: FBref
Leeds have let in goals they should not have from low quality chances, and have also failed to convert at the other end. This is the reason they have eight points rather than say 12 or 14.
