(Credit: Imago)
Wed 9 April 2025 19:10, UK
Leeds United are finally back to winning ways in the most welcome of circumstances, after overcoming a tricky away test at Middlesbrough.
Dan James cast the decisive blow (8 April) in the latest of his match-winning impacts this season, with the solitary early goal enough to separate the sides on a night when everything around the grounds tilted back in Leeds’ favour.
Daniel Farke is under immense pressure to achieve a Premier League return at the second time of asking, and with as much as he has on his plate, it is unsurprising that he often tends to take a conservative team selection approach.
Farke got some key respite in midweek as results went for Leeds (Credit: Imago)Farke sympathy given by expert but Wilfried Gnonto snub questioned
While Leeds got the job done 70 miles north on Teesside, Sheffield United came unstuck at home to Millwall as Burnley were held to a goalless draw by Derby County.
As a reuslt, the Peacocks are back top, with Farke having tweaked his team for the contest at the Riverside – including taking Gnonto back out of the XI.
The Italian has started just one league match in 2025 – Saturday’s draw with Luton Town (5 April) – and was hooked after 63 minutes, Farke then bringing him on for the final quarter of Tuesday’s game. It has led some to believe the time will come this summer for Gnonto to depart Elland Road.
TV commentator Ian Darke has exhibited his surprise at Farke’s regular omission of the young forward, but sympathised with the Whites manager for the task he has ahead in the coming weeks and the consequent risk-averse approach he may be inclined to take.
“I’m surprised Gnonto has started as few games as he has, given what he’s shown in a Leeds shirt,” Darke exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“It’s a massive decision for Farke to make each and every time. They have Solomon and James, then Gnonto and Ramazani – Aaronson centrally – and when you have that much talent, it’s difficult. He’s got to sit down and decide who the players are to ensure the job is done.
“They have to have the mentality and character to get Leeds over the line, and I think Farke is conservative and prefers to stick with the players who have got the team into this position in the first place. He may feel that, or just that the odd tweak here and there is all they need to get the ship going in a straight line again.”
Gnonto very rarely plays a full game for Leeds (Credit: Imago)Leeds United have several talented forward options
Farke has an unenviable task of keeping many players happy who likely consider themselves above Championship standard.
Gnonto, James, Manor Solomon, Joel Piroe, Mateo Joseph, Largie Ramazani, Brenden Aaronson, Patrick Bamford – you can’t wedge them all into a starting XI – and Farke is mindful that too many changes could cause a major drop in performance.
(Championship only) (Soccerway)
Granted, Leeds have performed nowhere near what is expected of them in the past few weeks, but that win at Middlesbrough felt like a turning point.
Despite any egos, dissatisfaction at lack of game time or disagreements with the manager, unity is absolutely paramount to get Leeds over the line now. They have been given an unexpected fresh opportunity – they simply cannot waste it.
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