“It was CRAZY entirely”- Tony Mowbray Drops BOMBSHELL admission That Could Spell trouble for Leeds United after Bielsa Comparison

“It was CRAZY entirely”- Tony Mowbray Drops BOMBSHELL admission That Could Spell trouble for Leeds United after Bielsa Comparison

The managers overseeing the touchline at Elland Road on Saturday share several similarities.

Both are gentlemen of the game, advocates of possession-based football, and always offer thoughtful responses in their post-match interviews.

Their 1-1 draw this weekend only adds to their common ground, with both teams deserving the result.

Farke noted that his players were just a bit off the required standard, often overcomplicating their play during build-up phases.

He waited until the 72nd minute to make a change, bringing on the energetic Mateo Joseph for Brenden Aaronson, who has now gone 11 games with just one goal and no assists.

Farke appreciates Aaronson’s work rate but opted to replace him, sensing that Leeds needed more than a high press at that point—they needed a more direct target man to potentially grab a winner.

Earlier, Farke had introduced Pascal Struijk during the dramatic Sunderland comeback, aiming to add more aerial presence for set-pieces. It was Struijk’s two headers that turned that game around.

Against West Brom, it was Firpo’s header that put Leeds ahead. Prior to these recent matches, Leeds had only scored two headed goals this season; now, they’ve scored seven.

So, is this Farke’s Plan B? When Leeds need a breakthrough, is it simply about launching the ball into the box and hoping a tall player gets his head on it? It has certainly worked in the last two games.

However, this approach becomes more challenging against defensively solid teams.

West Brom, for instance, were well-organized, and manager Tony Mowbray subtly warned Farke, praising West Brom’s build-up while suggesting that if you don’t stop them, their football is very effective.

But West Brom did manage to halt Leeds’ build-up, and when Farke turned to his apparent Plan B, a breakthrough still couldn’t be found, despite initial efforts from Joseph.

There’s an unspoken concern regarding Farke and promotion, one that has been pointed out by a few.

He’s previously led Norwich City to two promotions from the Championship but struggled to adapt in the Premier League, with each top-flight season either ending in relegation or him being sacked.

Farke’s possession-based style of play might struggle in the Premier League, where teams typically don’t give you as much time or space.

If Leeds do go up, it’s unlikely that teams will sit back and allow Leeds to play their usual style. Leeds will need more than just a “get it in the box for the big guy” strategy.

There is, however, another approach that Farke could lean on, one that emerged against Watford.

Leeds were quick to press and transition, scoring two goals from such play. After the match, Farke mentioned that transition play has been a focus since pre-season.

This could be his better Plan B for the Premier League if his initial style becomes too predictable.

While Leeds haven’t often been forced to defend in deep, counter-attacking situations, when they have, they’ve been effective.

This will be crucial if Leeds are promoted, but they still have work to do in securing that promotion.

Leeds’ remaining fixtures don’t include any of the current top seven teams, meaning most opponents will likely adopt a more defensive approach.

That suits Leeds, who have accumulated 76 points and climbed to the top of the Championship table through the devastating effectiveness of their Plan A.

However, should Leeds make the leap to the Premier League, they’ll need more flexibility.

Having additional strategies to deploy could be vital, and a few unexpected tactical shifts may be necessary.