Have Leeds got enough about them to survive?
Leeds United’s data-driven recruitment this summer was supposed to bring in peak-age, physical players suited to Premier League survival. On paper the squad looked marginally stronger than last season, but recent performances have exposed key gaps in what is available to Daniel Farke.
There are areas of the pitch that lack balance, particularly in midfield where Leeds have plenty of players who can break up play but lack those who can cut teams open or drive forward with purpose. The result is a side that can control possession without turning it into goals. Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin works hard but consistently fails to convert his chances and rarely has the support to do anything with the second balls he wins.
The defeat at Burnley was a clear example. Leeds had far more of the ball and more shots, yet never truly looked like scoring. Burnley were more efficient and punished Leeds twice with direct, incisive moves. It was a game that summed up the problem: plenty of control but no real threat. Farke talked about the underlying metrics being positive, but the only numbers that matter are goals and his side aren’t scoring enough.
West Ham brought some relief. They were poor, but Leeds still let them back into the game and had to hang on nervously at the end. The Brighton match, though, was a truer reflection of where Leeds are. Man for man, Brighton looked stronger, sharper, and more cohesive. Leeds stubbornly persisted with playing out from the back against the team with the highest number of high recoveries in the league, gifting possession time and again. It was the kind of tactical rigidity that has frustrated supporters all season.
Farke’s consistency in selection has helped build familiarity but has also made Leeds predictable. He is slow to react and reluctant to adjust mid-match, even when the game clearly demands it. The win against West Ham came after enforced changes that added balance and energy, yet he reverted to the same setup against Brighton and paid for it. The earlier trip to Arsenal showed the same pattern: a team too open, punished for its ambition, only to tighten up in the following games. The problem is that Farke does not tweak his system enough to suit the opposition in front of him, he is reactive not proactive.
Leeds often seem caught between ideals. Farke wants his side to play, to build from the back and dominate possession, but in the Premier League that approach has to bend to circumstance. Against teams that press high or transition quickly, Leeds have looked naïve. Possession means little if it leads to repeated turnovers in dangerous areas. What the team needs now is flexibility and a willingness to mix things up.
It is not all on Farke, though. Recruitment has brought in strength and experience but not enough variety to change the style or approach when required. Injuries haven’t helped but there is a clear need for more creativity and attacking imagination, something that must be addressed in January. Without new additions capable of breaking lines or producing moments of quality in tight games, Leeds risk drifting into another relegation fight.
As it stands, Leeds have only beaten the sides below them. It feels like we are relying on three teams being worse than us to survive, but with West Ham beating Newcastle, Forest earning a point against Manchester United, and Wolves reacting to poor form with managerial change, those around us are starting to respond. Leeds need points quickly, and the upcoming fixtures against Forest and Aston Villa look vital before a tough run of games to follow.
There is still time to steady things, but it requires Farke to show greater flexibility and the club to act decisively in January. Leeds potentially have enough about them to stay up, but the Premier League rewards adaptability, not stubbornness. If they fail to learn that lesson soon, the battle for survival will become much harder than it needs to be.
There are areas of the pitch that lack balance, particularly in midfield where Leeds have plenty of players who can break up play but lack those who can cut teams open or drive forward with purpose. The result is a side that can control possession without turning it into goals. Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin works hard but consistently fails to convert his chances and rarely has the support to do anything with the second balls he wins.
The defeat at Burnley was a clear example. Leeds had far more of the ball and more shots, yet never truly looked like scoring. Burnley were more efficient and punished Leeds twice with direct, incisive moves. It was a game that summed up the problem: plenty of control but no real threat. Farke talked about the underlying metrics being positive, but the only numbers that matter are goals and his side aren’t scoring enough.
West Ham brought some relief. They were poor, but Leeds still let them back into the game and had to hang on nervously at the end. The Brighton match, though, was a truer reflection of where Leeds are. Man for man, Brighton looked stronger, sharper, and more cohesive. Leeds stubbornly persisted with playing out from the back against the team with the highest number of high recoveries in the league, gifting possession time and again. It was the kind of tactical rigidity that has frustrated supporters all season.
Farke’s consistency in selection has helped build familiarity but has also made Leeds predictable. He is slow to react and reluctant to adjust mid-match, even when the game clearly demands it. The win against West Ham came after enforced changes that added balance and energy, yet he reverted to the same setup against Brighton and paid for it. The earlier trip to Arsenal showed the same pattern: a team too open, punished for its ambition, only to tighten up in the following games. The problem is that Farke does not tweak his system enough to suit the opposition in front of him, he is reactive not proactive.
Leeds often seem caught between ideals. Farke wants his side to play, to build from the back and dominate possession, but in the Premier League that approach has to bend to circumstance. Against teams that press high or transition quickly, Leeds have looked naïve. Possession means little if it leads to repeated turnovers in dangerous areas. What the team needs now is flexibility and a willingness to mix things up.
It is not all on Farke, though. Recruitment has brought in strength and experience but not enough variety to change the style or approach when required. Injuries haven’t helped but there is a clear need for more creativity and attacking imagination, something that must be addressed in January. Without new additions capable of breaking lines or producing moments of quality in tight games, Leeds risk drifting into another relegation fight.
As it stands, Leeds have only beaten the sides below them. It feels like we are relying on three teams being worse than us to survive, but with West Ham beating Newcastle, Forest earning a point against Manchester United, and Wolves reacting to poor form with managerial change, those around us are starting to respond. Leeds need points quickly, and the upcoming fixtures against Forest and Aston Villa look vital before a tough run of games to follow.
There is still time to steady things, but it requires Farke to show greater flexibility and the club to act decisively in January. Leeds potentially have enough about them to stay up, but the Premier League rewards adaptability, not stubbornness. If they fail to learn that lesson soon, the battle for survival will become much harder than it needs to be.