Leeds boss Daniel Farke must drop woeful £40m trio
Under their new manager, Leeds United has had a strong start to the campaign, but these three players must improve or risk being benched.Under new manager Daniel Farke, Leeds United has enjoyed a strong start to the season. However, the team can always be improved, and changes can be made.
Although he has put on some impressive performances, one player has struggled to establish himself as a reliable player in the Championship. By now, at age 25, he ought to have gained more consistency.A new summer acquisition is up against teenage midfielder Archie Gray for a starting position despite not having a horrible game.
To help Gray continue to improve, the manager might think about giving him additional time with the first squad.
Leeds United have had a successful start to the 2023/24 season under new manager Daniel Farke, however, as is often the case, the situation at Elland Road is not ideal and therefore there are still changes that can be made to enhance the squad. The Lily Whites are expected to be in contention for a play-off spot with the two top-tier sides – Leicester and Ipswich – already out of contention. However, this does not mean that a return to the top-tier is imminent.
Farke’s team have had a difficult first few weeks in the Championship, however, they have since become more consistent and have found a flow to their game. This could be due to adaptation to the manager’s system, or could also be due to the changes that have been made to the Leeds playing staff.
Although, as was already indicated, there is always space for growth, we have chosen to suggest three players who, for the benefit of both themselves and the club, might be dropped from the starting lineup. It should be noted, however, that none of these players have played poorly thus far this season.
Daniel James
It has been five years since Dan James made his Premier League debut for Manchester United, scoring on the opening day against Chelsea in a comprehensive 4-0 victory. This marked the beginning of a promising career for the young Welsh player, and he would go on to score again against Crystal Palace, though he may have over-celebrated the equaliser.
Over the years, James’s career has not been as straightforward as he would have liked, as he was only able to remain at Old Trafford for a total of two seasons before being transferred to Leeds for a sum of £25 million, a move that surprised many as he had fallen in the pecking order during the 24 months he had spent in Manchester.
After scoring just five goals in his first Yorkshire season, James went on loan to Fulham in 2022/23 and has just signed a new contract with the club in summer 2023 with a view to helping them in their bid to play in the Premier League.
Farke has continued to give James regular first-team opportunities, with the Wales international starting in seven of the club’s first nine games. James has not been a bad player, with some strong displays in the second-tier of English football, but there has been a dip in his form in recent weeks.
Perhaps reflecting some of the frustration Man United fans have felt towards the pacey striker, James is at the moment a very hit-and-miss player. He has yet to get his feet under him consistently, which he should have at 25 years of age in the Championship to get used to if he wants to be a regular player in a Premier League team.
Daniel James career statistics (via Transfermarkt)
| Club | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 74 | 9 |
| Leeds United | 50 | 5 |
| Swansea City | 39 | 6 |
| Fulham | 23 | 3 |
Glen Kamara
Kamara joins Elland Road’s playing staff after completing a four-year stay at Rangers, signing a £5 million deal with The Athletic.
While at the club, Kamara was a key part of the squad that made it to the Europa League semi-finals in 2022, though the Gers missed out on the final by a point.
He was also a key player in Steven Gerrard’s unbeaten champions of 2020/21, making 33 league appearances.
Farke and co are aiming to achieve promotion – although it is highly unlikely they will make it as champions – and having a player with league and European success under their belt is never a bad thing.
Kamara started the season out as a substitute in the first few games before moving into the first-team in recent weeks, and while he has not played badly at all, there is competition for places in the Leeds first-team.
The new manager is keen to give young players a chance to shine early on in their time at the club, and youngster Archie Gray has been one of the club’s most impressive players so far this season. While Ampadu is the obvious choice to play as a double pivot, Kamara is now in competition with the Welshman for the first-team spot.
It’s still early in the season for the Finnish full-back and there’s no reason to drop him from the team, but Gray’s form so far this season suggests it could be a good idea to give the youngster more minutes in the first team in the future. Kamara will still have plenty of chances to play and reclaim his starting spot as the season progresses.
Joel Piroe
Piroe has played every single match in the Championship so far this season, with the majority of those games being for Leeds, although he started the opening three games for Swansea City before joining the club.
He did not score in those three games while playing at centre-forward, but he went on to net five goals in the next eight league games for Leeds.
Piroe has been operating in a slightly different way under Farke, as he has been playing more as an attacking midfielder, tasked with getting forward and supporting Georginio Rutte, who has been playing in the number nine role in most games.
The fact that Piroe is still among the goals while adjusting to a new position is a very good sign for the Dutch attacker, although there have been times when he has been out of touch.
This will almost certainly be about giving Piroe more time to adapt to a role he has little experience of, having led the way for the Swans in his last two campaigns, but it could also be about taking him out of the equation for his own sake, if only for a few games.
Piroe was signed for £10 million in the January transfer window and is likely to remain in the starting line-up for most of the season.
If Farke decides to drop Piroe, he will have options on the bench, and Patrick Bamford is a player who can step into the side and perform. The Englishman could have the same issue if he were dropped into the attacking midfield role.
The team has been performing well, and the German manager is unlikely to change the winning formula, but rotation might be a good idea to keep some players fresh going forward.
Joel Piroe Championship goals (via Transfermarkt)
| Season | Club | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Swansea City | 45 | 22 |
| 2022/23 | Swansea City | 43 | 19 |
| 2023/24 | Leeds United | 8 | 5 |
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.
