Daniel Farke has slowly but surely been integrating Leeds United’s new signings into the side.
Leeds made eight additions during the summer but due to so many of them arriving late, it has taken some time for them to make a proper impact.
Jayden Bogle and Joe Rodon are the only two to have started every league game so far. Bogle is getting better and better with every passing game after a difficult start.
Joe Rothwell, meanwhile, spoke of his first proper amount of league minutes in the 1-1 draw at Norwich City, having been restricted to solely brief cameo appearances.
Largie Ramazani, Ao Tanaka, Manor Solomon and Isaac Schmidt all joined in the final week, and the first two are now really starting to impress.
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Farke on how Largie Ramazani has surprised him at Leeds
After joining from UD Almeria, Ramazani was restricted to limited minutes off the bench in his first two matches, with Solomon preferred ahead of him.
However, Solomon’s recent injury issues have opened the door for Ramazani in the last three, and he has not looked back since.
Ramazani has two goals and one assist in three starts, and is proving to be a more than able deputy for Crysencio Summerville after being brought into replace him.
Speaking in his pre-Sunderland press conference, Farke says Ramazani’s quality has actually surprised him, with his ‘first impression’ having been more about his ‘potential’ than end product.
He said: “He’s improving, that’s for sure, he came from a side with a different football culture. It’s never easy when you’re relegated to the second-tier and not always involved due to bookings and injuries, it wasn’t the easiest pre-season for him.
“I have to say I’m impressed, in the beginning my first impression was of his potential but also his physicality needs to have some improvement. We worked hard with him, he’s improving from day to day and I’m pretty pleased he already has a deep impact with the end product – two goals and one assist.
“This was a question in La Liga, how many goals or assists he can deliver. Also his defensive work, he can be pretty stable and good in terms of defending but there are still improvements to make. Norwich’s first goal, for example, we could avoid the winger cutting inside, we need to improve that.
“He can cover more distance but we’re speaking to him on this and I’m pleased he is capable of making it in the starting line-up. Three games in six days was never the plan but if he’s really capable it would be massive. I’m pleased with the progress he’s making and the minutes are beneficial for him. Hopefully he can have a good impact on Friday night.”
Ramazani has made Leeds’ left-wing spot his own
Amid the competition for a place in Leeds’ wide roles, Ramazani has needed to perform like this to ensure he stays in the team.
When Solomon and Dan James are back fit, there is no way either should be ahead of him at the moment. However, considering Farke has brought him off early in each match, the sooner they are back on the bench the better.
Jon Newsome hailed James as one of the Championship’s best players after the draw at Norwich, but even he does not see him getting back into the team.
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