At the end of the summer window, Daniel Farke had won some sympathy from Leeds United fans. Many felt he had been handed an impossible task after the club failed to sign some more attackers.
Moves for Igor Paixao, Facundo Buonanotte and then Harry Wilson on deadline day all fell through, and it left Leeds with little in the final third, especially with Dan James and Willy Gnonto suffering injuries.
With James and Gnonto out injured and the club failing to sign Wilson on deadline day, even though Wilson wanted to join Leeds, Daniel Farke opted to start using Brenden Aaronson as a right winger.
Aaronson has now started nine Premier League games in a row, even though James and Gnonto are fit. Leeds fans were fuming that Aaronson had been picked again when Sunday’s starting XI was announced.
The sympathy that Farke had won has now evaporated. Mainly because of his reactive nature during a game and his decision to die on the Aaronson hill. Chris Sutton weighed in on the issue around Aaronson.
Chris Sutton defends Daniel Farke’s usage of Brenden Aaronson
Aaronson has struggled to cope with the physicality of the Premier League. After a solid first half, the USA star earned the groans of Leeds fans when he lost the ball during an attack, and eventually he went off.
Speaking on the Monday Night Club this week, Sutton – who was at Elland Road on Sunday – said that there is a “negativity” surrounding Aaronson but defended Farke given the injuries to James and Gnonto.
“There’s a negativity surrounding Aaronson. I’m not speaking on behalf of Leeds fans, but some think he’s lightweight. They’re different players, him and Daniel James, but I think Leeds fans want James to start.
“Farke spoke about it,” Sutton continued, when speaking about the feel he got from fans during Sunday’s defeat to Aston Villa. He added: “James has been injured, they’re nursing him back. Gnonto is the same.”
Leeds United fans told they’re being unfair on Brenden Aaronson 🗣️
“The criticism he’s got is not fair. Players don’t like it. We are working with human beings. Let’s not treat him like he’s a product. We have to treat him in a fair way. Best offensive player stats in last few games.”
Daniel Farke on Brenden Aaronson
Leeds’ criticism of Brenden Aaronson is aimed at Daniel Farke
Yes, Aaronson is a frustrating player. Perhaps the criticism from supporters is making him play back, more than going forward and Farke alluded to this in the last few weeks. Farke defended Aaronson on Sunday.
But Farke has missed the point. Leeds fans know what Aaronson is. He works hard to make the right flank solid, due to his incessant work rate and the huge numbers he racks up in terms of distance covered.
Leeds fans are not criticising that. They are criticising Farke’s decision to keep on picking him, because supporters believe a different kind of winger is required to help Leeds look more threatening in attack.
It is not as if James doesn’t put a shift in, and the connection he had with Jayden Bogle last season was one of Leeds’ best weapons. The negativity from fans is not aimed at Aaronson; it is aimed at Farke.
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