Will Leeds blow it this yr? The Championship has been a merciless mistress to the Elland Highway outfit down the years however they’re now high of the league after 17 fixtures.
It’s been an excellent current patch for the Whites who’re hoping to exorcise their demons of final time period after they had been crushed to automated promotion by Leicester Metropolis and remarkably by Ipswich City who achieved phenomenal campaigns.
Daniel Farke’s males battered Norwich within the play-offs however got here unstuck towards Southampton, failing to even rating in that defeat at Wembley.
Since then, they’ve bounced again phenomenally nicely. Their promotion hoodoo, for the second time within the final 5 years, might be about to finish.
Gone is Crycensio Summerville. Gone is the skipper, Liam Cooper, and gone is gifted teenager Archie Grey.
Nonetheless, as their dominant 3-0 win over Luton on Wednesday night confirmed, they needn’t fear about their departures for for much longer.
Leeds’ greatest performers towards Luton
This was a few dominant efficiency as you may get from Farke’s facet who cemented their lead on the high of the second tier in fairly some type.
It is a Luton facet who’ve been method under par below Rob Edwards this time period however they’re a current relegated workforce all the identical. To beat any current Premier League outfit 3-0 is spectacular.
The impasse was damaged after ten minutes when Sam Bryam, an unlikely purpose scorer discovered the web with a stunning scissor kick, earlier than Joel Piroe – arguably flattering to deceive as the principle striker – made issues an ideal deal extra snug by scoring simply earlier than the break.
Issues had been rounded off late on by substitute Dan James who’s in fairly the run of kind proper now having additionally provided two assists within the exceptional 4-3 win towards Swansea final Sunday.
The goalscorers will little doubt get reward however midfielder Ao Tanaka was distinctive as soon as extra, registering 133 touches, the best of anybody on the sector and finishing a whopping 113 passes, the second most on the pitch.
That second statistic was solely bettered by captain Pascal Struijk who in holding a clear sheet boasted 116 correct passes and 132 touches. If that wasn’t sufficient the Dutchman additionally gained seven duels.
Struijk & Tanaka vs Luton |
||
---|---|---|
Metric |
Struijk |
Tanaka |
Touches |
132 |
133 |
Passes accomplished |
116 |
113 |
Lengthy passes accomplished |
5/7 |
5/7 |
Duels gained |
7/10 |
4/8 |
Dribbled previous |
0x |
2x |
Stats by way of Sofascore. |
It wasn all plain crusing for Farke and Co however one choice dilemma, specifically, deserves consideration.
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What to do with Brenden Aaronson
Brenden Aaronson’s story as a Leeds United participant has been a wierd one, let’s put it that method.
Signed by fellow countryman Jesse Marsch after they had been nonetheless within the Premier League, issues started promisingly for the attacking midfielder when he scored a late winner towards Chelsea.
It appears like from that very second issues have by no means fairly labored out because the American would have hoped.
A mortgage spell within the Bundesliga final time period did deliver again some confidence, though it was a shock when Farke determined to revive the participant’s profession over the summer time, reintroducing him into the squad.
Final season he was involved in just four goals for loan side Union Berlin and to the 24-year-old’s credit score he has already bettered that in Leeds colors since returning to the setup, scoring four times in 2024/25 and registering one assist.
Sadly, the USA worldwide isn’t fairly delivering in the meanwhile and often frustrates the plenty at Elland Highway.
That was the story as soon as extra on Wednesday night when Aaronson struggled regardless of the 3-0 win.
Farke suggested that his work rate was “unbelievable” however that delusion simply provoked comprehensible groans from the Leeds supporters.
“He’s at all times unbelievable along with his work fee. He had the best distance lined in the entire league of any participant in any sport on Sunday. We’d like within the centre a participant who covers plenty of distance.”
Finally he was not that spectacular, handed an average 6/10 match rating by Leeds Dwell reporter Beren Cross who wrote that there have been ‘some good bits and dangerous bits from the American’ which fairly sums up his profession on the membership.
Aaronson vs Luton |
|
---|---|
Minutes performed |
84 |
Touches |
60 |
Correct passes |
35/41 (85%) |
Key passes |
2 |
Crosses |
1/3 |
Lengthy balls |
0 |
Pictures on course |
1 |
Dribble makes an attempt |
1/3 |
Floor duels gained |
3/10 |
Aerial duels gained |
0/1 |
Possession misplaced |
15x |
Fouled |
2x |
Stats by way of Sofascore. |
Throughout his 84 minutes on the sector, Aaronson did produce two key passes however in a sport the place the hosts had 20 photographs, solely one among them got here from his boot.
Maybe the worst two stats the place the variety of duels he gained (4/13) and the variety of occasions he gave away the ball (15).
With Blackburn to come back on the weekend, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him again within the beginning XI given Farke’s reward. Nonetheless, it must be the time to drop him to the bench.
Higher choices await within the form of James, Mateo Joseph or Largie Ramazani.
![Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka](https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/mixcollage-24-sep-2024-06-48-am-1858.jpg)
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Better than Tanaka: Leeds ace who made 116 passes was the real hero v Luton
The Leeds United man put in a unbelievable efficiency towards Luton on Wednesday.