If Daniel Farke is not to blame for Leeds United’s poor form, then it is on the recruitment team’s inability to bring in some attacking quality. But it wasn’t for want of trying in the summer.
That’s four defeats in five for Leeds in the Premier League now, after Sunday’s hammering at The City Ground. Daniel Farke has watched his side lose five of Leeds’ six Premier League away games this season.
Not good enough. The defence couldn’t defend, but what was glaring when Leeds did have the ball was an utter lack of creativity. It almost feels like there is less creativity than there was last season under Farke.
Leeds failed to get Harry Wilson over the line on deadline day, but he wasn’t the only playmaker Leeds tried to sign on the final day of the window. The other was a player Farke loves; Villa’s Emi Buendia.
Aston Villa playmaker Emi Buendia
Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Emi Buendia has more goals than any Leeds player now
At Leeds’ next opponents Villa, Buendia has been enjoying somewhat of a renaissance under Unai Emery. Last season, Buendia struggled for game time and Emery allowed him to go on loan to Bayer Leverkusen.
A move that saw Buendia play a rotational role. He returned to Villa in the summer, but it looked as if he would be sold by Villa. Leeds made a deadline-day bid to take the Argentina international to Elland Road.
But it was rejected, and since then, Buendia fought his way back into Villa’s side. In his last five Premier League games, he has three goals, scoring against Fulham, Tottenham and Bournemouth on Sunday.
Name PL Games PL Minutes PL goals Mins per PL goal
Emi Buendia 9 430 3 142.3
Lukas Nmecha 11 274 2 137.0
Noah Okafor 8 520 2 260.0
Joe Rodon 11 990 2 485.0
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Emi Buendia rubs salt in Leeds wounds with incredible form
Not only that, but Buendia has also laid on two assists in his last five league outings. As Leeds continue to struggle without even a notion of creativity under Farke, it is Farke’s old player in some of his best form.
Buendia has outscored every Leeds player, and taken just five games to do so. No Leeds player has more than two assists either this season, with Sean Longstaff the only player to have created two Leeds goals.
Emi Buendia, and Leeds’ players with two or more goals and assists:
Name PL Games PL Minutes PL G+A Mins per PL G+A
Emi Buendia 9 430 5 86.0
Sean Longstaff 11 790 3 263.3
Lukas Nmecha 11 274 2 137.0
Noah Okafor 8 520 2 260.0
Brenden Aaronson 11 715 2 367.5
Anton Stach 10 800 2 400.0
Joe Rodon 11 990 2 485.0
The fact that Buendia has managed to produce better numbers in his last five appearances than any Leeds player has managed all season is damning. Leeds should have pushed harder to sign the Villa ace.