Leeds United are under some stress to get back to winning ways ahead of facing Millwall at Elland Road tonight. Sheffield United and Burnley dropping points on Tuesday night has eased some of the pressure. However, they still need to get back to winning ways tonight and move back to the top of the Championship table. There is enough in the Leeds squad to do the job in the final ten games of the season and earn promotion. However, it appears, Daniel Farke has no solution but to persist with a player whose form has nosedived in the last few weeks.
Farke needs his big players to step up in the coming weeks and months as he pushes to avoid Leeds United collapsing and dropping down into the playoff spots.
The scars from last season’s playoff final defeat are yet to heal and the Leeds fans and players are desperate to avoid that scenario by earning automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds will face a Millwall side who have already beaten them twice this season and Alex Neil is keen to pile more misery on the Whites at Elland Road tonight.
Joel Piroe’s performances in the last two games were a worry, but Farke has very few options on the bench who could come in and replace the Dutchman who has netted 15 goals this season.
However, the Leeds boss has a bigger problem in the team and while Piroe could still be replaced, Farke doesn’t have any solution for his out-of-form player who is more or less undroppable.
What can Leeds United do with Brenden Aaronson?
Aaronson returned from his loan stint at Union Berlin last summer and revealed his desire to stay at Leeds and help their cause to get promoted to the Premier League.
Farke reintegrated the attacking midfielder into the team and he has started the last 34 league games for Yorkshire giants this season.
He has eight goals for Leeds this term, which is a decent return for an attacking midfielder but the stat becomes stark when his recent form is taken into account.
The American midfielder has scored just once in his last 12 league games and the last of his two assists this season came before Christmas last year.
Aaronson works his socks off for the team and his willingness to graft is one of the reasons Farke keeps starting him in games but his output has been reduced to a drip.
Even the United States national team have acknowledged his poor form and the midfielder has been dropped from their squad for the upcoming internationals.
In any other team, he would have been dropped at the club level, but Farke has persisted with him as quite frankly, Leeds do not have another attacking midfielder.
Daniel Farke has no option but to persist with him for the remainder of the season
Aaronson has played himself out of the United States national team but for the moment, it seems unlikely that Farke will drop him from the eleven.
For starters, the Leeds boss loves consistency in selections and dropping the midfielder would not be as straightforward and could cause disruption, which no one wants at this stage of the season.
Leeds do not have another natural number 10 in the squad and dropping the midfielder would lead to moving other players from their natural position.
Can you name these past and present Leeds United players?
Piroe has the game to play number 10, but Leeds do not have another striker who can come in and replace him up front with both Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford having their own issues.
Manor Solomon could be moved to the number 10 role, but why would you want to move him from the left-wing slot where he has done so well? Farke would also have to bring either Largie Ramazani or Wilfried Gnonto into the team and they have flattered to deceive this season.
Gnonto is one more player who can play in the number 10 role but the Italian has done very little to suggest he would be better than Aaronson.
For now, Farke seems to have no option but to continue with Aaronson in the team for the rest of the season and take a call on his long-term future in the summer.
