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Leeds United are getting more predictable and it’s working for them

Leeds United returned to the Championship table’s summit with a 2-0 win over Norwich City at Elland Road on Wednesday night. Dan James set up Manor Solomon in the first minute for the early goal and Solomon returned the favour after the hour mark for the Welshman to double the home side’s lead. There was a sense of inevitability once Leeds scored early and while Norwich City kept the home side honest, they always looked like getting the three points from the first minute. The Yorkshire giants were functional without looking brilliant, and there was predictability about how they did their job. While predictability has negative connotations, it is serving Leeds well and could be their biggest asset in the race to get promoted this season.

Once Solomon scored after 30-odd seconds it seemed inevitable that Leeds United would go on to win and move back to the top of the Championship table at Elland Road.

Leeds controlled the game and the ball and while Norwich threatened occasionally, the home side looked calm and had a leash on the proceedings throughout the 90 minutes.

Their style was functional and they looked like a well-oiled machine who have been drilled to play a certain way by manager Daniel Farke who prefers consistency over anything else.

James’ goal in the second half sealed the three points and with each passing game, Leeds look like the team who are predictable to watch but seem certain to get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season.

Daniel Farke would be happy to know that Leeds United are being termed functional and predictable

The Leeds players are not robots but with each passing game, everything about them looks predictable and more functional this season. It is easy to predict the line-ups and even the substitutions.

Brenden Aaronson was a doubt before the game but started his 26th consecutive Championship game and it was the 65th straight start in the league for Joe Rodon.

Opposition teams follow a similar pattern of sitting deep and soaking up the pressure when they arrive at Elland Road. Norwich didn’t even get the chance to show their approach as Leeds scored in the first minute.

Leeds’ predictability has often been criticised but it is hard to argue against the kind of consistency they have shown this season at the top end of the Championship table.

The team selection, the style of play and even the results at home are predictable and some may even term it boring but Leeds are at the summit of the table.

Farke is a fan of this kind of functional football that gets the job done and consistency in team selection is something the Leeds boss is known for.

At this stage, Leeds are outperforming their results from last season and if they score 90 or more points again this term, the Whites are almost certain to get promoted.

Would anyone care about being called boring and predictable, if Leeds are in the Premier League next season? I guess not.

Their predictability means Leeds can’t afford to lose key players

Leeds look functional and well-drilled because Farke rarely makes any fundamental changes to his starting eleven unless there are injuries.

However, their style is often dependent on some of their most important players being available week-in-week-out without suffering any major injuries. The reasons Leeds managed to absorb the blow of losing Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu to injuries in October because Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell stepped up.

However, this is not the case for every position in the team. Pascal Struijk’s injury is a worry for Leeds because Farke would prefer to use Ampadu in midfield.

Beyond Joel Piroe, the striker cupboard looks bare and Leeds are less incisive in attack when Solomon and James are not working in the wide areas.

Leeds’ strength comes from their consistency in selection but the jury is out on whether some of the options beyond their starting eleven are as good.

They cannot afford one or two key players being out for an extended period as there is no guarantee that they will remain functional without one or two fundamental individuals.

However, for now, Leeds can celebrate their functionality and predictability as they continue to churn out results and edge closer to promotion to the Premier League.

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