Daniel Farke faces a challenging task in trying to integrate Leeds United’s nine summer recruits.
When Daniel Farke awoke on Saturday morning, relief must have been his main emotion. The manager of Leeds United had a long night on Friday as he witnessed Luis Sinisterra finally return to the Premier League by signing a loan deal with Bournemouth.
Of course, Jaidon Anthony comes from the opposite direction, and Farke is eager to see what the Londoner can provide to his team. However, he will have been relieved to see the end of a trying and taxing summer window, during which his first-team squad underwent a dramatic transformation.
A startling 18 players left the club, either permanently or on loan, while nine were added as Farke tried to leave his stamp on the team. What is United’s strongest starting XI now that his team is complete, at least through January? Here is Leeds Live’s viewpoint.
Goalkeeper: Illan Meslier
Despite the arrival of Karl Darlow, the Frenchman was given the go-ahead by Farke at the start of the season, and he has so far more than looked the part. After a challenging campaign the last time around, many predicted Meslier would depart this summer. However, he has used the German’s arrival as an opportunity to start again, and he now appears to be regaining his confidence.
Darlow’s presence alone will keep Meslier on his toes, but he’ll be eager to capitalize on his early-season success. After recording his first clean sheet since February last weekend, Meslier is certainly headed in the right direction.
Defence: Djed Spence, Joe Rodon, Liam Cooper, Sam Byram
On the surface, it appears that Djed Spence was hired by the team to take over at right-back. While Luke Ayling has performed admirably in the position over the past few weeks, most would anticipate that move to occur sooner rather than later. The Tottenham Hotspur loanee managed to demonstrate what he was about during his cameo in the final 10 minutes of the match with Sheffield Wednesday.
For the right-sided center back position, Joe Rodon seems like the clear choice, but Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper appear to be battling for the left center back berth until the captain returns to fitness. Given Ayling’s absence and the fact that Cooper won’t likely be back in action until next month, he likely wins for the leadership he provides.
That’s not to suggest Struijk hasn’t performed well; rather the contrary, but it’s a difficult decision, and one must feel let down. When healthy, Sam Byram will start at left-back after proving himself in that position for the last few weeks.
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu, Glen Kamara
Ampadu must currently be considered Leeds’ summer acquisition. Having made an excellent start at Elland Road, the Wales international is quickly winning over the supporters with his skillful and composed displays in the middle of the park.
So he begins regardless, but it appears Farke must make a choice as Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev arrive to challenge Archie Gray. Gray has been fantastic in the center of midfield thus far, displaying his extraordinary talent and abilities by seamlessly transitioning into the senior group.
In the larger games this season, Kamara’s expertise might, however, end up being favored, and the Finland international appears capable of filling the number eight position alongside Ampadu.
Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto, Jaidon Anthony, and Joel Piroe make up the front four.
Leeds truly has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to offensive talent when everyone is healthy. Those who aren’t included here include Dan James, Georginio Rutter, Patrick Bamford, and Joe Gelhardt, but the depth of the bench might very well make a difference in some crucial games throughout the Championship season.
Given their talent on the field and capacity to make things happen at the drop of a hat, it is obvious that Summerville and Gnonto must start the majority of the time. Though it appears to be a little difficult where they play.
Summerville appears to be most effective playing on the right, frequently cutting in to create opportunities with his pace. Gnonto, though, is a supplementary striker who can play on the left or through the middle, which is where he primarily played before moving to Elland Road.
It would be possible to do that in order to make room for Anthony, a recent acquisition who might play a crucial role off the left this season. The club’s top scorer Joel Piroe demonstrated on Saturday that he would likely be better served to lead the line rather than to play a little deeper.
