As the Championship season draws to an end, Daniel Farke has used his press conferences to talk about how much better his side will be in seasons to come.
In particular, the German has told fans that his team is far from the finished product despite recording over 90 points this season.
To that end, in any other season, the Whites would have all but secured automatic promotion but they happen to be competing in what can only be described as an anomaly of a Championship campaign where four teams are averaging enough points per game to go up automatically.
Still, it is an ambitious statement by Farke but the question is, how much do Leeds need to improve and what can they do better? The answer comes down to what division they will be in.
If it ain’t broke…
The reality is that Leeds probably don’t need to improve much if they stumbled at the final hurdle this season. At least they would, in all likelihood, be promoted under Farke in 2025 if they kept their core group of players.
“It’s no witchcraft if I’m honest”
Daniel Farke, Leeds United Manager, on the pressure the team is facing ahead of a chance for promotion pic.twitter.com/MQwR9jKPOk
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 22, 2024
Indeed, it’s unlikely for lighting to strike twice in the sense that the points needed to go up should revert to the Championship’s historical mean.
Additionally, Farke knows his way out of this division as proved when he won the league twice with Norwich. In short, all the evidence points to promotion being a matter of when and not if under the German.
Adapting to new challenges in the Premier League
However, the Elland Road outfit would need to get better if they were promoted – of that there is no doubt. Specifically, there have been noticeable deficiencies in Farke’s 4-2-3-1 shape which has looked laboured and largely ineffective against teams that defend deep.
Leeds have only managed to overcome this issue by having some of the best attacking players in the league like Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, Wilfried Gnonto, and Daniel James who have the quality to unlock Championship defences.
???? “Summerville with the big moment!” pic.twitter.com/t23DRtGCui
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 2, 2024
Leeds play the numbers game
There is, though, an unmistakable feeling of Leeds sitting back and waiting to hit the jackpot during these situations as they hope a goal falls into their laps.
Tellingly, this approach has been likened to a game of bingo by the club’s supporters given that they tend to be passively waiting for their ship to come in as if relying on the xG numbers to align in their favour.
Of course, there is an important distinction to be made given that, unlike the relaxed fun of playing the game on one of the many available UK bingo sites or in local community halls, waiting for Leeds to crack the code can be a tortuous process for supporters.
Traps will be set for Leeds’ possession-based style
The overall point is that in the Premier League, the Whites are likely to encounter far more disciplined backlines that won’t afford Leeds’ attacking players the same time and space.
In other words, the heavy lifting will have to be done in midfield with players in the engine room required to take far more responsibility for the game’s outcome.
Of course, you might argue that Leeds won’t come up against many teams in the Premier League that will adopt a stubborn low block as they see the newly promoted Whites as there for the beating.
While that might be true, teams might purposely cede possession to Leeds before capitalising on ruthless transitions when the attack runs into a cul de sac which it has done this season in the Championship.
Typically, Championship teams have been unable to punish Leeds as effectively as clubs in the top flight are likely to do in these situations. In general, Farke’s team will have to be far more productive and enterprising when they have possession in midfield.
Whichever way Farke goes about ensuring that this is the case, the good news for Leeds fans is that his team does improve after the first season.
What to expect during the 2024/2025 season
During the German’s debut season at Carrow Road, the Canaries finished 14th before winning the league title 12 months later. Notably, the quick interplays and smart combinations in midfield that Farke demands were far more drilled into the players – suggesting this Leeds squad will become significantly more fluid in attack.
In conclusion, while Leeds might not have to improve immediately, the time will come when they will have to or face being back at square one.
