With Leeds United short on options in midfield, head coach Daniel Farke may be forced to think laterally to secure a much-needed result against Manchester City.
For better or for worse, Daniel Farke has admirably stuck to his principles in the Premier League with Leeds so far this season.
Farke’s attacking mindset cost Leeds in their first away game against Arsenal, as Leeds slumped to a 5-0 defeat, but it paid off against Wolves, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored in a 3-1 win.
However, Leeds have been leaking goals at an alarming rate in recent weeks, as Farke criticised the left side of the Leeds defence after the defeat against Aston Villa.
Now, with both Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach ruled out through injury, Farke could turn to the 1996/97 season for inspiration and deploy a tactic that George Graham favoured as he instilled a newfound defensive steel at Elland Road.
Prediction time for Leeds v Man City
Daniel Farke could emulate George Graham’s Leeds United
George Graham took over Leeds during the 1996/97 season, which became one of the most notoriously dour seasons in the club’s history.
Leeds conceded just one goal per game across the season, despite having conceded 13 goals in the first eight games, in a season which included a run of three consecutive 0-0 draws in December 1996.
The nadir of Graham’s defensive approach arguably came against Derby County in January of 1997, as Graham unleashed the full range of the defensive talent at his disposal.
In a remarkable set-up, Graham deployed a total of six defenders in his starting line-up, alongside defensive midfielder Carlton Palmer, with Lee Bowyer, Rod Wallace and Brian Deane rounding off a remarkable team selection.
However, although it was unpopular, the system worked for Graham. As Leeds finished comfortably in mid-table, despite only scoring 28 goals.
Farke appeared to be embracing his inner George Graham with the 0-0 against Newcastle, followed by a battling defeat against Fulham. With his job on the line, it could be time to embrace the dourness fully and attempt to bore Man City to death.
How Leeds United could line up against Manchester City
With both Longstaff and Stach set to miss the game against Man City through injury, Farke may be forced to rethink his approach for his trip to the Etihad.
Farke has been reluctant to change formation for Leeds so far this season; however, to follow the Graham thought experiment through to its logical conclusion, he could make several changes to his Leeds side to try and shut Pep Guardiola’s side out.
This would involve recalling Jaka Bijol to play at the heart of a back five, alongside Joe Rodon and Gabriel Gudmundsson in a three at the back. James Justin would start at left wing-back, with Jayden Bogle on the right.
Is it time for Daniel Farke to park the bus against Manchester City?
Pascal Struijk would reprise the role he occasionally played under Marcelo Bielsa, stepping into the Leeds midfield alongside Ethan Ampadu, with Brenden Aaronson taking the other midfield spot.
In a classic throwback to the vintage little and large combinations of the 1990s, Dominic Calvert-Lewin would partner Dan James up front, who has the pace to latch onto the flick-ons from Lucas Perri’s long balls.
1990s football is back in fashion this season, with teams maximising dead balls, long throw-ins, and kicking the ball out on the full from kick-offs. If Farke wants to roll the dice on his future, he could choose to adopt Graham-ball in its purest form in an attempt to shut out Man City.
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