Leeds United suffered a fourth Premier League defeat in eight games on Saturday despite dominating much of the match against Scott Parker’s Burnley, and fans are growing impatient.
Another game in which Leeds have created more chances than the opposition and should have earned at least a point, but left empty-handed. Lesley Oguchukwu and Loum Tchaouna got the goals for Burnley.
A 2-0 defeat and the first game in which Leeds have failed to score a Premier League goal since the 1-0 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage. The pressure is growing on Daniel Farke to earn Leeds some points.
Especially, with what looks like an incredibly tough winter period. Leeds face Liverpool twice, Chelsea, Man City and Crystal Palace in the final month of the year, and fans want Farke to make changes.
Jaka Bijol in action during Slovenia v Sweden
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Aidy White says Daniel Farke now has to start Jaka Bijol
Bought as a “marquee signing” according to Farke, Jaka Bijol is yet to make his Premier League debut eight games into the season. There was a feeling he could start for Leeds against Burnley on Saturday.
Especially after his two clean sheets with Slovenia during the break. But Farke kept Struijk in the side and the Dutchman might have done better with both goals. On BBC RL, Aidy White urged him to start Bijol.
“£18m is a lot of money to spend on someone, Struijk might be something similar. But, as a player like Struijk, you can’t give the manager any chance or any reason to bring you out of the team,” he said.
“West Ham will speak volumes in terms of his selection. If he doesn’t make changes I would be extremely surprised. I thought he might bring Bijol in today, there’s no doubt I think he has to against West Ham.”
Pascal Struijk in action during Leeds United v Everton - Premier League
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What Daniel Farke said about the Struijk-Bijol debate
Typically, Farke was unequivocal in front of reporters after Saturday’s defeat. He defended Struijk and while the Dutchman has done little wrong, Leeds are losing games and maybe some freshness is needed.
Asked about the decision to start Struijk, Farke suggested he would stick with Struijk at the back: “When you don’t have a perfect result everyone is crying for a change, but we don’t change just for the sake of it.
I don’t think it makes sense just to change for the sake of it, there must be a reason, poor performances or top, top performances in training. It’s normally never, never a good sign if you have to do this.
Daniel Farke at Turf Moor.
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“So, I won’t rule it out. Sometimes of course it happens, but we won’t change just for the sake of it. Everything has to make sense,” Farke continued, which is likely not to have gone down well with Bijol.
Indeed, Bijol told Slovenian media that he is frustrated with his lack of game time, during the break. Whether Farke finally gives in to demand and starts Bijol against West Ham, remains to be seen.