Daniel Farke’s team selection for Leeds United’s trip to Cardiff City has certainly come under the spotlight this week.
It was no surprise to see Farke go with an unchanged XI against Burnley from the one that were victorious against Hull City, but last week’s defeat should lead to some fresh faces in the side on Saturday.
Leeds were pretty toothless in the second half at Elland Road with not a single clear cut chance created after the interval, and so some more creativity could do with adding to the team.
Farke’s hand could actually be forced anyway if his latest injury update is to be believed, with four players fresh injury doubts from last weekend.
Junior Firpo, Joe Rodon, Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon have all been carrying knocks this week, though all apart from Rodon were spotted in Leeds’ latest inside training video.
Graham Smyth urges Farke to hand Ao Tanaka full Leeds debut
Much of the criticism aimed at Leeds last week was for the tempo they played at. Leeds may have dominated 71 per cent of the ball, but a lot of that was slow sideways passing around the back.
Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev have started all five matches in midfield together this season but it is in matches like that which really highlights the lack of creativity from that area of the pitch.
With both primarily number sixes, Gruev has been the one tasked with getting forward more and although he hasn’t done much wrong, he does not possess an overly expansive passing range.
Once again against Cardiff, the onus will be on Leeds to be the aggressor in the match and so speaking on the latest episode of the Inside Elland Road Podcast, journalist Graham Smyth believes now is the time to unleash Ao Tanaka in that more advanced eight role.
He said: “Say for instance Rodon, I mean I think he will play, but if he didn’t, it brings Tanaka in doesn’t it? Because Ampadu drops back, Gruev is the six and Tanaka is the eight. I almost think this is the time to bring Tanaka in anyway.
“I know Farke likes to be patient and bide his time, we saw that with Gruev last season, but Cardiff are a team that’s struggling. They are trying to play out from the back, not parking the bus, conceding for fun and have scored one goal, you don’t need two sixes.
“If Tanaka gives you that little bit extra going forward, from watching bits and bobs, he’s obviously a pest who can win the ball, but it’s then when he gets the ball and what he can do with it that’s different to Gruev. I wonder if this is an ideal opportunity…
“Meslier, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gnonto, Solomon, Aaronson, Joseph – that is the team I would play. The team I think he will play has Gruev in it instead of Tanaka.”
Sam Byram’s hilarious Ao Tanaka complaint at Leeds
Despite his limited amount of minutes, it has not taken long for Tanaka to become somewhat of a terrace favourite at Elland Road.
During the win over Hull City, Tanaka’s name was being chanted by the Leeds fans for several minutes, something which Sam Byram has hilariously complained at behind-the-scenes.
Farke said: “Sam is versatile due to competition but we’re all happy that we have him, can play different positions and one of the most experienced, we don’t have many of those.
“Sam was complaining a bit the other day, an academy product, he said ‘Boss, I’m from this region, lifelong supporter and Ao Tanaka has been here two days and has a song’. Come on, let’s change this.
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