Leeds United’s automatic promotion push has very much stumbled in the last few weeks.
Since returning from the international break, Leeds have picked up just five points from five matches, which means their destiny is no longer in their own hands, as it had been when they went top of the league.
Leeds’ attack has very much been the biggest cause for concern recently. Don Goodman says their front four has gone from being ‘unplayable’, to badly out of form.
Daniel Farke thought Willy Gnonto was ‘excellent’ on Saturday despite defeat to Blackburn Rovers, and he was. However, the problem was he had no help.
Neither of Leeds’ two biggest threats Crysencio Summerville or Georginio Rutter could get anything going, while Joel Piroe was practically anonymous on his return to the side.
Farke needs to make minor tactical switch in Leeds’ final three matches
At this stage of the season, no one is expecting Farke to rip up what he has built at Leeds this season and start again, but there is certainly a minor change he could make.
Since the turn of the New Year, he has stuck with Rutter playing just behind one of Patrick Bamford or Piroe, and certainly early on, it worked well.
However, with Bamford’s form not deserving of a start and Farke clearly keen to avoid starting Mateo Joseph for whatever reason, the system just does not work as Piroe just does not offer anything as a number nine.
Since Rutter’s injury, the quality of his overall play has declined significantly. Clearly it is having an effect on his ability to dribble out of tight areas, which he was so good at doing earlier in the season.
Instead, Rutter is losing the ball on a far more regular basis, contributing to the break down of Leeds’ attacks. According to Sofa Score, he loses possession on average 17.9 times per game. This is the seventh highest in the league, and third most of any attacking player.
Instead, Farke should look to move him back up front where he is further away from the chaos of a Championship midfield, and where he was arguably at his best, despite missing chances, earlier in the season.
With Rutter as a number nine, either Piroe can start slightly deeper, or Farke could even bring Gnonto in as a 10, with Dan James back out on the right.