As Leeds United flew out of the blocks against Preston North End, one of Daniel Farke’s promotion-seeking stars brought to mind something they used to say about the legendary Arjen Robben.
You know what’s coming, but stopping the inevitable was an altogether different challenge.
Former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Netherlands winger Arjen Robben was the absolute master of the cut-inside-and-shoot technique. A footballer who blossomed from a ‘one-trick pony’ into a stallion forward capable – with his trademark finisher move – of striking fear into the hearts of even the world’s finest full-backs.
Manor Solomon was compared not with Arjen Robben but Liverpool’s Luis Diaz by the Israeli media a few months back. Diaz another to have perfected his own personal ‘Plan A’. And, perhaps, a more fitting comparison given that Liverpool’s number seven – unlike the left-footed Robben – likes to drift in onto his right a la Solomon.
“Once you go out to [press] Solomon, it may leave him half a step ahead of the defender [with] an opportunity to take advantage of his great explosive power,” Roy Weinberg wrote for Sport5.
As Leeds United sailed into a fourth minute advantage on Saturday lunchtime – putting their troubles with early kick-offs behind them in the process – Tottenham loanee Solomon was arguably the stand-out performer for Daniel Farke’s team.
Paul Heckingbottom frustrated as Manor Solomon inspires Leeds United to Preston win
Former Elland Road boss Paul Heckingbottom knew that Leeds like to start fast. Thanks to Solomon’s early opener and Jayden Bogle’s 13th minute decider, the table-toppers have now scored 14 goals inside the opening quarter of an hour in Championship matches this term.
But even against quality like this – Solomon channelling his inner-Robben with a finish of impeccable accuracy – Heckingbottom still felt he had to lay some of the blame at the door of his Lillywhites charges.
“We spoke about how fast they play,” the one-time Barnsley and Sheffield United manager explains. “As a rule this season, we’ve defended our box really, really well.
“We spoke about Solomon coming inside and what he does. It was too good to stop in that goal from Leeds’ point of view. From our point of view I think we should stop it.
“Then, we scored a fantastic goal. We get back in the game and then Jayden [Meghoma] gets done on the inside. Jayden Bogle gets inside him and it’s a big learning experience for Jayden because, as a full-back, as an outside defender, you can’t ever get beat inside when you’re in a good start position.
“The goals are disappointing.”
Willy Gnonto steps in with Dan James absent for Leeds
Heckingbottom does accept, though, that Leeds were worthy victors.
Furthermore, on a day when Dan James was absent for Daniel Farke due to a hamstring injury he picked up at Middlesbrough in midweek, Solomon’s brilliance and a lively display in a rare start for Willy Gnonto provided a brutal reminder of the quality at the German’s disposal.
“When it gets open, you know you’ll give a bit of space away to them but we were brave. We just couldn’t create the chances they did,” Heckingbottom adds.
“The amount of time we said about not letting [Solomon] go inside. [But] he was good. He’s grown into his time here, big threat and a consistent performer.
“Dan James missing today, Gnonto comes in… They’ve got a really good squad and one that is dangerous in that final third.”
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