Daniel Farke failing exposed as key Leeds United stat emerges
Leeds United are being undermined by Daniel Farke’s failure to make early substitutions after their 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
Nancy Froston shared for The Athletic on 1 December that so far this season, Farke has made just one second-half substitution before the 60th minute so far this season, and even this came in the 59th.
That solitary substitution came in the form of Max Wober for Sam Byram against Luton on 27 November, yet United have made the most after 75 minutes – 2.3 per game – of any team in the Championship.
With just 1.8 subs per match between minutes 46 and 75, it’s clear that when his side are trying to break teams down, Farke rolling the dice earlier could prove to be the difference come the end of the season.
Daniel Farke still getting his substitutions wrong at Leeds United
While being third in the Championship table and just a point outside the top two is nothing to panic about with 28 games remaining, concerns are understandably on the rise after a dismal defeat at Ewood Park.
Farke’s decision to start Joel Piroe against a physically imposing Blackburn defence failed to pay off, and his decision to bring on Patrick Bamford ahead of regular starter Mateo Joseph was an eye-opening one.
United have often been at their best this term – particularly against low-blocking sides – when Joseph starts and Piroe comes off the bench; the Dutchman having scored four of his seven goals in this way.
Failure to recognise this often-effective tactic came back to bite Farke against Blackburn, and though it wouldn’t have done much to prevent the hosts’ winning penalty, the Whites needed more in attack.
Bamford’s biggest contribution off the bench was to be the cause of Largie Ramazani’s late strike being ruled out for offside, and it’s clear that substitutions remain Farke’s biggest undoing at Elland Road.
In other Leeds news, Elland Road has been named as the best destination for an in-demand defender in the January window.
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