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“Daniel Farke must DITCH him from the starting line-up for a match against Derby County else will cause them drop from PL table and UNLEASH this Club Beast”- Farke Urged to RUTHLESSLY drop struggling player to unleash “unbelievable” Leeds “TIGER” if they really want to maintain their position at top of the table
Leeds United will be back in action this evening in the Championship, traveling to Pride Park to face Derby County in their final match of 2024.
A win would see the Whites finish the year top of the table, as they currently lead Sheffield United on goal difference, making this an important match for Daniel Farke’s side.
Leeds secured a 2-0 victory over Stoke City in their last outing, with Joel Piroe scoring both goals, one in each half against Narcis Pelach’s team.
With this game coming quickly after their Boxing Day match, Farke may opt to make some changes to keep his players fresh, and Brenden Aaronson could be one player to drop out of the starting lineup.
Why Brenden Aaronson Could Be Dropped
The USA international has started 21 of Leeds’ 23 Championship matches this season and was unlucky not to register his third assist against Stoke, as his through ball to Piroe led to a rebound goal.
Aaronson played the full 90 minutes in that match, completing 92% of his passes, but struggled defensively, losing eight of his 12 ground duels. He has had issues with physicality this season, winning only 39% of his duels in the league. Despite these struggles, Farke has consistently trusted him to start.
Given the busy festive schedule and Aaronson’s difficulties with physical duels, this match against Derby could be the ideal opportunity for Farke to leave him out of the starting XI and make a tactical change.
This would allow another player to step in, and Farke could look to Ao Tanaka to replace Aaronson in the number ten role.
Why Ao Tanaka Should Start
Tanaka came off the bench for ten minutes against Stoke after starting the previous 15 league matches. Farke confirmed that Tanaka was rested due to his usual winter break, and now the Japan international could return to the starting lineup, potentially in a new role as a number ten.
Tanaka has played as a central midfielder for Leeds this season, completing 92% of his passes but without scoring or registering an assist. However, last season in the 2. Bundesliga with Fortuna Düsseldorf, he was a more attacking threat.
Described as “unbelievable” and a “tiger” by Farke, Tanaka has the skill set to succeed as a number ten. His comfort on the ball and attacking form in Germany show he has the potential to contribute both as a creator and scorer.
By dropping Aaronson from the squad and giving Tanaka a chance in a new role, Farke would give the Japan international an opportunity to prove his worth. Success in this position could make Tanaka a more versatile option for the rest of the season, beyond his usual midfield role.
