Leeds United suffered a costly defeat to Burnley on Saturday and now Daniel Farke has to make some big changes.
It had been a promising start to the Premier League season for Leeds United but there won’t be many fans left feeling optimistic after a disastrous 2-0 defeat to fellow newly-promoted side Burnley.
It’s early in the season but the trip to Turf Moor felt like a must-win after Leeds had thrown points away with costly late goals in otherwise good performances.
But there wasn’t even a good performance for Daniel Farke to praise in Lancashire (though he still somehow managed it), as his side lacked imagination, penetration or any cutting edge.
Leeds controlled most of the ball against Burnley but did little of note with it and failed to convert the good chances they did create, a pattern that is already emerging in the campaign.
Injuries permitting, Farke has been as loyal as possible to his starting XI this season, but there now have to be changes and three players at least should be dropped for the next game.
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Daniel Farke must make big changes to his Leeds United side
Some may argue that Pascal Struijk should be one of the names on the chopping block, especially with Jaka Bijol waiting in the wings.
The centre-back may well lose his place, but three other players should be dropped before him.
Karl Darlow must be replaced by Lucas Perri
Karl Darlow has done well in his Premier League appearances but you can’t exactly call him a safe pair of hands.
The goalkeeper endured a terrible time for Wales in the international break and has now conceded eight goals in five Premier League appearances without keeping a clean sheet. He could have done more to prevent both of Burnley’s goals.
Darlow is a handy backup but he is not good enough to be a starter. Now that Lucas Perri is back fit, he should come back into the starting XI.
The summer signing didn’t cover himself in glory against Arsenal but he does have two clean sheets in three games and is clearly of a much higher calibre.
Ao Tanaka should come back in to replace Anton Stach
It’s peculiar that Farke has seemingly gone off both Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe, two of the most important players in Leeds’ Championship triumph.
While it’s not yet clear if they are good enough for the Premier League, they’ve hardly even had a chance to prove if they are.
Tanaka was briefly sidelined with a knock but has yet to start since returning to fitness and is hardly even given time off the bench, playing 41 minutes in four games.
In contrast, Anton Stach has started every match but, other than a very good display against Wolves, he has flattered to deceive.
Leeds spent a sizeable £19.9m to sign Stach and he was brought in to be a creative force in midfield, something he just isn’t delivering on in open play.
Stach was terrible against Burnley and was at fault for both conceded goals.
Farke has created a hard-working engine room with the German, Ethan Ampadu and Sean Longstaff, but it’s very industrious and lacks urgency and creative spark. Tanaka would bring in some much-needed forward drive to the middle of the park.
Brenden Aaronson has to be dropped
Brenden Aaronson has actually been better than expected this season. His endless energy and high work rate can be useful, but he lacks that much cutting edge, even his elbows are blunt.
The American shows some nice touches and gets into good areas but you never, ever trust he will do something effective with the ball.
Jack Harrison went on a great run against Burnley and played him in with a perfectly-weighted pass. All Aaronson needed to do was gently lift it over the onrushing goalkeeper. Did anyone actually think he’d score?
Instead, he used his side foot and hit it straight at the goalkeeper. An atrocious miss at the best of times, let alone when you’re a goal down at a relegation rival and chances have been hard to create.
Thankfully, Dan James is back and he should come in on the right flank.
Leeds United must defeat West Ham in the Premier League
The defeat has made Friday’s visit of West Ham to Elland Road absolutely crucial.
Leeds got some good points on the board early but they have had a fairly comfortable start to the season.
They have West Ham next week, a difficult trip to Brighton and then another away day at the basket case that is Nottingham Forest, who have sacked Ange Postecoglou after 39 days in charge, before the international break.
Leeds need as many points on the board before that break as possible, because the games get a whole lot tougher afterwards with Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Brentford and Crystal Palace all to come.
The Whites cannot afford to lose on Friday against another relegation rival who have just four points and Farke cannot afford to be loyal to his underperforming stars again.
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