After four Championship games, Leeds United’s side under Daniel Farke have the feel of a more well-furnished product compared to last season. Well-balanced and better composed.
Last season, Farke often had to rely on the individual genius of players like Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter. They have now gone, but even without that duo, Leeds look like a more solid unit.
A collective group rather than requiring individual brilliance at times. Of course, Leeds are four matches into a Championship campaign and there is still lots to learn about this side, but it is a promising start.
Their toughest test arrives on Saturday against Burnley. This time last season, Farke had no idea what his best XI was but now, there are eight players that are first names on the team sheet under the German.
Leeds player second-best in terms of passing in the Championship
The back five picks itself. Illan Meslier, Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Junior Firpo will start – if not injured – on Saturday. As will trio Ethan Ampadu, Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph up front.
One of those currently sits second-best in terms of passing accuracy in the Championship so far, in the form of Struijk. According to FotMob, Struijk has averaged 76.3 successful passes per game this season.
In his four appearances, an average of 93.3% success in his attempted passes. Only Burnley’s Conrad Egan-Riley has more with 94.4%, clocking up 88.1 per game on average; he was dropped last time out.
Struijk not only excelling in terms of his passing for Leeds
Indeed, having Struijk back in the side having not played for the entirety of the second half of last season is massive for Leeds. The left-footed defender is like a new signing this season for Leeds boss Farke.
Not only is his passing crisp and crucially, accurate. But, Struijk is currently joint-first in England’s second division for interceptions so far, the former Ajax academy product clocking up 10 in his four matches.
The fact that Struijk is keeping an Austria international in Max Wober out of the side is telling. The vice captain is a crucial part of this side, a threat in both boxes, Leeds’ penalty taker and excellent in stats.
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