Leeds United aim for direct promotion this season following a loss in the play-off finals in the 2023/24 campaign. Having lost to Southampton 1-0, Daniel Farke and Co. will look to finish at the top this season.
However, the season so far has been decent at most. With the injury crisis probably at its peak and problems with goal-scoring in the front, The Whites will have to restrategize their shot for promotion.
One of the biggest problems at Elland Road has been the lack of goals this season. Chances are not a problem with the playmaker’s creating an abundance but clinical finishing has been a problematic prospect in West Yorkshire.
With players like Crysencio Summerville last season, this was not a problem. Having won the EFL Player of the Season award, Summerville left for West Ham United this summer.
This was partly because The 49ers had failed to get promoted last season. The Dutchman’s departure affects the club to this day as a goal-scoring threat is needed at Elland Road.
The Whites have scored only 15 goals in nine games this season. Leeds United’s counterparts Norwich City and Sunderland on the other hand have scored more and remain the top contenders for promotion this season.
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Leeds United legend Jon Newsome suggests clinical finishing important for promotion
Daniel Farke will expect Mateo Joseph to continue his national team form at Elland Road
If Leeds are going to get automatic promotion this season, when they are on top, when they are dominating the game, creating chances, they have to be more clinical at the top end of the pitch.
-Jon Newsome via BBC Radio Leeds
Whites legend Jon Newsome told BBC Radio Leeds that the problem was with being clinical at the top end of the pitch. This statistics-backed claim proves true as a lack of goal-scoring threat has resulted in many wasted chances this season.
This lack of skill has also proved to be detrimental as The Whites have tied many games this season. Leeds United has missed out on many must-win three-point games where they managed to secure only a single point.
All is not lost for The 49ers though. Following his selection to the Spain U21 squad, Mateo Joseph has jumped in form for La Rojita. The Spaniard scored a hat-trick against Kazakhstan in the first half.
Joseph has always been positively incremental for his national side. Daniel Farke has trusted the youngster but the 20-year-old still hasn’t lived up to the expectations at Elland Road.
He has been decent for his age but the 20-year-old striker will need to step up to keep his place. Farke will expect the same performances out of Mateo Joseph when he returns to Elland Road on 18th October.
