Leeds suffered a defeat at Stoke City, a match primarily remembered for a missed penalty, but the overall performance hardly justified a positive outcome. Daniel Farke has led the team to a commendable position this season, especially considering the tumultuous summer transfer window. However, there is still room for improvement in Farke’s tactical approach, as highlighted in the encounter with Stoke City.
What difficulties did Leeds encounter against Alex Neil’s team? Apart from their general struggle to maintain possession consistently against Stoke, Leeds faced issues with their off-the-ball setup, which hindered their usual attacking options. Willy Gnonto and Jaidon Anthony both faced challenges in the match due to their individual limitations and the limited space. They tended to drop deep instead of exploiting the open spaces behind Stoke’s full-backs, who were confident in covering ground when facing their own goal. Anthony and Gnonto rarely managed to reach the by-line and create scoring opportunities as they couldn’t find space behind the defenders.
The situation changed in the second half when both players were substituted for Dan James and Crysencio Summerville, who possess remarkable speed.
Should Dan James return to the lineup? While Summerville’s return is almost certain, the question arises about Dan James’ potential return to the starting eleven.
Leeds’ approach should depend on how Huddersfield sets up, but if it resembles Alex Neil’s tactic of limiting space for the wingers, then the £25 million man, James, appears to be an evident solution. Having a winger capable of outpacing any full-back is a valuable asset when a more patient buildup isn’t working. This allows Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk to look for runs with lofted passes, putting pressure on the opposition defense. Suddenly, the threat of space behind the defense becomes their primary concern, rather than an area they are confident in defending.
While Darren Moore might opt for a defensive strategy aiming for a goalless draw at Ell
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