Leeds United surprised many last season but they cannot afford to stagnate – which is why this summer decision holds a lot of weight
Daniel Farke has long has an idea of what he wishes to implement next season(Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
One of Leeds United’s biggest weapons last season was versatility. It was something the team sorely lacked in the opening months of the season.
Rigid and at times running out of ideas in attack, Leeds had sunk into the bottom three by November with supporters fearing about what lay ahead. The epiphany at the Etihad Stadium has been well documented with praise and results coming from the success of the back-three system.
Though, as Daniel Farke himself was keen to stress in later weeks, the system was not a solid 3-5-2. In fact, Leeds played more often in a 3-4-2-1 formation and even sometimes a 3-4-3 formula.
And at the same time, switching mid-game to a back four against Liverpool at home and Brentford away showed that Leeds were now not one dimensional but mutli-facted. Enzo Maresca even priorly admitted he did not know what formation to expect when he travelled to Elland Road in December, as Leeds won 3-1.
For a time, Leeds fans, reporters and analysts did not know what to anticipate, nevermind opposition managers. And that was one of the main reasons behind why Leeds – who were already resilient – were able to outfox and outbox rivals.
However, as was seen in March during a goalless Premier League month, managers eventually figure out solutions and ways to stop a team. While United were in the main excellent, there were times they struggled when their counterparts went man to man, or at least lined up with a back five themselves.
Leeds did manage to find a way around this, in part thanks to the hybrid wide number 10 roles, but the point remains that United cannot tactically operate the same way next season merely due to the fact that teams evolve and adapt.
That is not to say the system needs to change. Leeds might indeed stick with a back three system, although this itself is not guaranteed.
Farke has repeatedly outlined that he prefers, and is more used to, an attacking style of play and can point to his three Championship titles to underscore this point. His modus operandi has traditionally been a back four.
Before the season was out, Farke confirmed he had an idea of how he wanted to approach things formationally and chairman Paraag Marathe said last week that discussions with relevant key figures about how best to successfully navigate a second season are in process.
That is no surprise given how Leeds decide to set up next season will determine which transfer talents they go for. Although, maybe Leeds will go for players who can play in multiple systems anyway.
Indeed this is one reason why they were attracted to James Justin and he proved to be an immensely important player in last season’s survival bid. Still, Leeds and Farke must decide which base formation they will go with.
It is not as simple as continuing to go with exactly what worked last season tactically, given the need to keep the opposition guessing and not be predictable. Being able to play multiple formations certainly feeds into this and is a real asset.
It would not be a shock to see Leeds revert to a back four. They know a back three system can do them well but Farke’s own preferences and desire to grow could see United look to be more adventurous. After all, Leeds will not always be the underdog in every match next term.
Though at the same time, it would be equally unsurprising to see Leeds start with a back three and perhaps attempt to mould as time goes on. Do what you know works well then try to find ways to outdo yourself.
It is not always a case of start as you mean to go on. It’s a cyclical matter; philosophy feeds into transfer recruitment and this talent then feeds into what formation works best as the season goes on.
The hope is that transfer recruitment fits the system that is employed from the off. Clearly, while admittedly competitive, this was not the case at the start of last season compared to how the rest of the campaign panned out.
If Leeds are to stabilise as a top-flight club then such creases need to be ironed out.
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