FARKE'S SLOW START
The results against Cardiff and Birmingham were definitely not what we required in our effort to get a promotion push going ... I understand that the circumstances have been a bit unusual with loan clause, contracts and players wanting away, but there's something I want to focus on that I feel has contributed to Leeds struggling on the pitch
Marsh and Gracia both deployed 2 DMs to sit in front of the defence and make it harder for teams to play through us (they played around us instead, so there's that) ... in the Prem when your team is battling for points it may be understandable to sit so deep in games against much better sides, but not in the Championship where you're the biggest club with promotion as a must
Farke has been disappointing in this regard so far, playing Ampadu and Gray as 2 DMs whose first task is to protect the defence ... here's what I've seen that's hampering our ability to bash teams
EXAMPLE ONEThis is first half ... Ayling has found space down the right and Brum are facing the wrong way, perfect for Leeds to attack ... look at all the space behind their defence, and with Ayling ahead of the centre backs it's the perfect scenario to get runners in behind and for a chance to be created ... this move actually slowed down, and ended with a deep cross beyond the back post that James needed to control before scuffing a shot that got easily blocked ... so why didn't we get a proper strike on goal?
Gray and Ampadu are well inside the centre circle, which means the rest of the attackers are starting from deeper positions to try and close the gap to build play ... if Gray had been further forward and started from the red X, he would easily have run beyond the defenders into space to get on the end of a quick cross
Look at Poveda, the attacking mid ... he's starting a bit too deep, and if he started five yards further forward from the black X then he too would easily have been in behind the defenders, giving us TWO mids running free into the box ... Joffy would also have been able to start a bit higher, drawing the right sided centre-back to him and creating a massive gap to their right-back
Because both Ampadu and Gray start so deep together, it means we tend to play slower in front of defences rather than getting in behind quickly ... yes, it looks good in terms of keeping the ball and passing stats, but it's not effective ... so far we have faced three teams willing to allow us to play in front of them and trying to catch us on the break, but heaven help us when the likes of Saints and Leicester turn up
EXAMPLE TWOSecond half, 0-0, pushing for a goal ... ball has gone wide to James, Ampadu and Gray once again in centre circle ... Poveda too deep and starting his run too far away to cause danger ... Joffy covered by four defenders and unable to get in behind ... Shack also ten yards too deep to run beyond the defenders to give James a target to cross to ... if Gray was up where Poveda is, Poveda was up where Joffy is and Joffy was running off the shoulder of 26 behind him, good chance for a goal ... starting to make sense?
EXAMPLE THREELate on, need a goal ... attack has developed and Byram is on the ball with James in support ... Bham able to smother Byram with an extra defender ... Ampadu and Gray a bit further up but standing still and not helping the attack ... Gray is marking their 9 for no reason, because there's two centre-backs behind him to cover ... all this needed was Ampadu in the Gray position and Gray up in the D on the edge of the box ... this would have forced Brum to get their 6 back in defence, giving Leeds a bit more space out wide ... Gray would also have been a threat in the box
It's just not good enough against very average teams and if Leeds continue to give up space and attacking options by using two DMs sticking close to each other then promotion won't happen very easily ... I'm sure Farke and his coaches will have seen this, hopefully they change it otherwise WBA will hammer us on Friday as they'll be coming to win, not sit back
Easiest fix is to leave Ampadu as the solo DM to pivot play off, and release Gray further up the field into the 8 role so that he can join up play and also get into the box more ... then again, I may be seeing it completely wrong