After getting stuffed by Arsenal, Daniel Farke clearly decided enough was enough. Leeds needed to be harder to beat, more pragmatic, more disciplined. Out went the more adventurous setup with Tanaka acting as a progressive eight with Farke settling on a midfield trio of Ampadu, Longstaff, and Stach. Three more destructive, hard-working players designed to bring control and stability. And to be fair, it worked to a point. Leeds stopped being so easy to play through, started keeping the ball better, and looked more organised without it. But there’s a problem. We’ve gone from being too open to being too blunt.
The Burnley game summed it up perfectly. We had more of the ball, more chances, and yet somehow managed to lose. It wasn’t a case of being outplayed; it was a case of not doing enough with the dominance we had. There’s a fine line between control and creativity, and right now we’ve gone too far the other way. The midfield three are all good players, but none of them naturally take risks or make something happen in the final third. It’s an issue exacerbated when Okofor, Gnonto and James are missing from the side too. When possession gets to the edge of the box, everything slows down. It’s safe, it’s tidy, but it’s predictable and that’s why we’re struggling to turn pressure into goals. It's not even that we don't create chances, we just can't seem to put them away.
Which brings us to Joel Piroe. Farke has said himself that Piroe is the “best finisher he has ever worked”. That’s a big statement, and if finishing is our problem, why isn’t he playing? Piroe showed at both Leeda and Swansea in the Championship what he can do, ghosting into space, timing runs, and finding the net with minimal fuss. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the line, there’s a partnership waiting to happen. DCL wins the headers, drags defenders around, and creates chaos. Piroe reads those moments better than anyone in the squad. It feels obvious to give them a go together.
Joel Piroe celebrates with Ethan Ampadu against Hull City
Someone has to make way, though, and that’s where Farke needs to be bold. Ampadu stays, he’s the heartbeat of the side, the one who breaks things up and keeps play ticking. Longstaff adds energy and pressing from midfield, so he keeps his place too. That leaves Stach, who’s tidy and disciplined but doesn’t really change games. And let’s be honest, if anything he’s got worse as the season has gone on, not better. If we want more threat, he’s the one to drop. Playing Piroe ahead of those two would still give us balance while finally adding some goal threat.
At home, against West Ham, Leeds should be going for it. There’s a difference between respecting the opposition and being scared of them. West Ham will always look to counter, but if we sit back and play cautiously, we invite exactly that, just like we did on Saturday. And let's be fair, West Ham ain't that good, results show that. We’re at Elland Road on Friday. We should be on the front foot, creating chances, and giving fans something to get behind. If Farke sends out the same three-destroyer midfield again, it’s hard not to fear another afternoon of sterile domination.
When we take on Brighton away, fair enough, be more pragmatic, but it’s time to take a risk for winnable games. Play Piroe. Let Calvert-Lewin and him link up. Keep the structure, yes, but add some goal threat. Leeds have worked too hard in recent weeks to turn things around defensively only to undo it by being toothless in attack. The Burnley result hurt, not just because we lost, but because it felt avoidable. If Leeds are going to make that next step, Farke has to trust his own words about Piroe and give him the chance to prove it on the pitch.