The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 25th March) Stach is leading the way
Good Morning. It's Wednesday 25th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Stach is leading the way
New Opta data has thrown a fresh spotlight on Anton Stach, ahead of his recall to the Germany squad after two years out in the cold! Only Bruno Fernandes (101 created chances) has out‑produced Anton Stach, who is currently sitting on 58 chances, a figure that would look impressive for any Premier League side, let alone a club still finding its footing. The 27‑year‑old German, snapped up for £18 million from Hoffenheim last summer, is also topping the Leeds 'WhoScored' leaderboard with a 7.15 rating, comfortably ahead of every teammate in the squad.
Three of his four league goals have come directly from dead‑ball situations, a curling free‑kick against Wolves, a blistering effort at Crystal Palace and a precise curler versus Aston Villa. Leeds haven’t hit three free‑kick strikes in a single campaign since the 2001/02 season, so Stach is rewriting records as he goes. Those set‑pieces are not just a statistical quirk; they’re a tactical weapon that forces opponents to tighten their defensive lines, freeing up space for Leeds’ attackers to exploit.
The form has not gone unnoticed beyond Elland Road. After a two‑year exile, Stach has earned a recall to the Germany national side and is now on the shortlist for the World Cup squad. If he makes the tournament and reproduces his Leeds performances on the world stage, it could make him a prime target for clubs with deeper pockets. If an offer in the region of £50m were to surface, it would be very difficult to turn down.
Stakes couldn't be higher for Leeds quartet
After a season marred by injury, Dan James is beginning to show the same kind of form (in training) that tore up the Championship last time out. In a candid interview, midfielder Ethan Ampadu made it clear that James is “firing on all cylinders in training” and that his work‑rate “has been impossible to ignore”. For Ampadu, who will wear the captain’s armband against Bosnia in the play‑off semi‑final, the message sends optimism to both Wales and Leeds fans ahead of crucial games.
What makes Ampadu’s endorsement noteworthy is his shift in narrative from “recovering” to “flying in training” which comes conveniently ahead of Wales biggest games in their recent history. First, they face a physical Bosnia and Herzegovina side, which if they win, will set up the chance to go to the World Cup, but will have to be victorious over the winners of the Italy v Northern Ireland game.
Accorder to the skipper: According to Ampadu “It’s been frustrating to see, for him. But when he’s been back and now, he’s flying in training. He’s doing really well. He’ll just want to get minutes under his belt and show everyone what we know he can do.” The quote does more than praise a teammate; it signals a shift in narrative. James is no longer “recovering” – he’s back at a high level, the only thing standing between him and a decisive impact is game time.
The stakes could not be higher for Messrs Darlow, Ampadu, James and Rodon - all regular starters for both club and Country. Whilst we want all our players to do well on the International scene, Whites fans will be looking at their thread bare squad, and praying none of the quartet come back either injured or tired. Leeds are only three points clear of the drop zone, and have seven games to navigate between now and the end of the season.