Leeds United boss Daniel Farke knows that there is a fine line between controlling a game while also posing a threat going forward.
His central defenders, then, have something of a duel role in Leeds’ build-up.
The likes of Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Pascal Struijk are expected to begin attacks from their central defensive roles – by playing piercing passes through the opposition lines – while also ensuring that Leeds United remain dominant in possession and keep themselves in the right positions to avoid being caught out via quick transitions.
Rodon, therefore, is tasked with balancing his defensive responsibilities with helping set the tempo from deep.
A role he knows well, now, having spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Elland Road before securing a £11 million permanent transfer over the summer.
Daniel Farke explains Joe Rodon’s role at Leeds United
“Players who work longer with me, obviously they know my thoughts a bit better than players who have been with us a few weeks or a few months,” Farke explains ahead of Monday’s clash with promotion rivals Sunderland in West Yorkshire.
“Of course, it’s beneficial [to have players who know what I want tactically].”
The former Norwich City boss is a huge fan of his Welsh colossus.
Daniel Farke thinks Joe Rodon has made big steps forward in his second season as a Leeds player too. He has not missed a minute during a run of six straight clean sheets in the league – the club’s longest run since 1981 – while a pass completion rate of 92.5 per cent is the most of any of Leeds’ regular starters.
Farke feels that there are still improvements the former Tottenham Hotspur man can make to his game, however. That pass completion rate perhaps highlights the somewhat ‘safe’ aspect of his distribution, compared to the more ambitious passing of Ampadu for instance.
While Rodon is invaluable for Leeds both in and out of possession, Farke needs a combination of his sensible, safety-first approach alongside something a little more forceful when up against deep blocks.
Farke admits Rodon is not ‘perfect’ and Leeds need an alternative in possession
“I am not sure if the example with Joe Rodon is perfect because he always calms the game down,” Farke adds. “He’s a defender. He wants to take no risks and to make sure ensure we are not offering mistakes [because] he has to defend the next counter attack.
“He is sometimes reluctant to go up for a corner kick because he is thinking; ‘OK, I have to sprint back 80 yards!’
“So I wouldn’t use this as a perfect example [of what we need in the build-up], although I love Joe Rodon that much.
“If it’s just about the defensive area, they will never start a quick attack. They will always calm the game down, and the opposite for the offensive platers. So, obviously we are working as a team on it, that we are always there with the perfect decision making.
“For that, also Joe works with with me quite long so he also has a good feeling when he senses; ‘OK, I want to slow the game down’.
“But if it’s just about him, I think we would do it much to often!”
Daniel Farke has Pascal Struijk back available at Leeds, though it remains to be seen if the former Ajax prospect returns to the starting XI against Sunderland.
The manager has the option of pushing Ampadu into midfield, but the excellent recent performances of Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev bring to mind one particular phrase; ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it’.
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