Daniel Farke lauded for Wilfried Gnonto decision in Leeds United v Swansea City
Daniel Farke made the right call to drop Wilfried Gnonto from the starting XI as Leeds United beat Swansea City on Sunday, Paul Robinson has said.
Despite the 21-year-old notching three goals and five assists in the Championship this season, eyebrows were raised when Farke opted to start Dan James and Manor Solomon on 24 November.
With the former assisting twice and the latter hitting the back of the net twice, it has been argued that the manager made the right call as Gnonto scored the winning goal in the 4-3 thriller at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said: “I think the manager was proven right, to be honest, whenever a team wins a game. They don’t call them substitutes anymore, they call them finishers, and that’s exactly what Gnonto was.
“He’s got a wealth of talent in those areas. Looking at the bench, there’s Ramazani, Joseph, Gnonto, and Bamford. The quality at his disposal, even with the players missing long-term, just shows that he’s able to make those types of decisions.
“Manor Solomon vindicated his selection, as did Gnonto coming off the bench. You can’t criticise the manager’s decision because it worked. The ‘finisher’ came on to score the winner.”
Daniel Farke right to drop Wilfried Gnonto ahead of Swansea City v Leeds United?
With a rather congested winter period coming up for every Championship club, Farke chose the safe decision to save the legs of one of his most important players this season.
Gnonto has emerged as one of the key figures for Leeds’ promotion charge since the departures of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter, and Farke will be in no mood to lose anyone else to injury.
He has already been without James and Largie Ramazani this term, joining Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev on the treatment table, and a blow to Gnonto would be detrimental at this point in the campaign.
In other Leeds United news, Alan Pardew has shared a new Leeds promotion prediction after the Swansea win.
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