It is a struggle to find one good individual performance from Leeds United’s 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough.
Leeds‘ Carabao Cup adventure was ended in the first round as Daniel Farke‘s decision to make eight changes backfired with serious effect.
Other than fairly bright showings from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rothwell, Leeds were utterly dreadful across all areas of the pitch.
In attack, Joe Gelhardt, Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe showed nothing to suggest they should be in the league team, with Aidy White even suggesting the former needs to go out on loan.
At the back, Joe Rodon and Max Wober certainly did not click as a central defensive partnership, with gaps all over the place for Boro to practically walk in three unanswered goals.
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What Max Wober’s performance vs Boro suggested about Leeds future
Last night’s match should have been the opportunity for many to showcase what they can do to Farke to get into the league team.
Wober is certainly an example of that. Farke claimed in his press conference last week that Wober has made it clear he wants to stay at Elland Road for the season ahead.
However, as an Austrian international defender, he will not want to settle for second choice and so he should’ve used the game against Boro to show Farke why he should be in the starting XI.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. Wober delivered a performance of someone whose head is quite clearly elsewhere.
Wober has faced an indifferent reaction from the crowd since returning and on his first appearance back at Elland Road, that is likely to have played some part. However, that is no excuse.
The 26-year-old looked dreadful in possession, almost playing Leeds into trouble a few times in the first half.
Unless he was passing it square to Rodon, he looked out of his depth and it was his abysmal pass into the feet of Patrick Bamford that led to Boro’s second goal.
Wober has also always been the type of defender who likes to be on the front foot but his tendency to dive in caused him problems last night.
On one occasion in the first half, he tried to win the ball from behind on the touchline when he really didn’t need to and was completely done by a little step-over from Delano Burgzorg.
As harsh as it may sound, it was a performance from a player whose head looks like it is elsewhere unfortunately, and Leeds need to find a solution for that in the next two weeks.
Borussia Monchengladbach still have an interest, and it will be interesting to see if they bite on Leeds’ £8.5 million asking price.
Leeds identify Wober alternative
Leeds have already put a plan in place for if a central defender leaves, and with Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon’s futures safe, Wober is the only one who could go.
Farke is weighing up a move for Chelsea’s Bashir Humphrey, with the Blues open to letting him go. However, Leeds will only green light his pursuit if someone departs.
Chelsea would actually prefer to sell Humphreys than loan him out for a third time, as it is now clear he does not feature as part of Enzo Maresca’s plans.
With Humphreys left-footed and also capable of playing at full-back, it is clear he has been earmarked as a like-for-like replacement for Wober.
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