Leeds United must make change to unlock key player
Leeds United believe that they pulled off a coup when they secured the signing of German midfielder Anton Stach for a deal worth £17m from Hoffenheim in the summer. He is seen as a major upgrade on their midfield options and has started their opening four Premier League games.
Stach has been the creative hub in the middle of the park for Leeds this season, and despite being a defensive midfield player, he has been the chief chance creator for a team bereft of top creative talents.
However, his recent performances have come under the scanner, especially against Fulham. He has been accused of giving away the ball too much, which was also a complaint against Newcastle United before the international break.
The midfielder has been superb at the start of the season, but is still getting used to the Premier League’s intensity. He also needs some help in the middle of the park, when it comes to qualities on the ball.
Sean Longstaff did nothing wrong in Leeds’ defeat at Fulham, and produced a Man of the Match performance against Newcastle before the break.
However, his physicality will come in handy against some of the better teams in the Premier League. However, Leeds lack goals, and the former Newcastle star’s ability on the ball is under the scanner.
Stach is left to be the defensive wall and the creative hub of the team, and that is too much to ask for a player who is still getting used to the Premier League’s intensity.
He needs a partner in the middle who will take some of the load off him, in terms of chance creation, while being a snappy passer of the ball in midfield.
That sounds like Ao Tanaka, who was an unused substitute against Fulham, after recovering from a knee injury, which he sustained before the break.
Leeds need the Japanese midfielder back in the team alongside Stach and Ampadu to get the best out of the German, especially against Wolves.
Vitor Pereira’s side have lost four on the bounce at the start of the season, and Farke will not need Longstaff’s extra defensive cushion at Molineux on Saturday.
Leeds need more from their midfield
Stach has created a clutch of opportunities at the start of the season, but he needs his midfield partners to step up in a few more games soon.
Ampadu is in the middle to provide calmness and stability, but Longstaff is not the solution against teams in and around Leeds in the Premier League.
Tanaka is the kind of quick passer Leeds need in the middle alongside Stach to dictate more of the play in the final third of the pitch. His introduction against Wolves will be vital.
Whether Farke decides to sacrifice that extra defensive cushion of Longstaff against Wolves for more invention could go on to define the way Leeds will play this season.
