Disappointing Dan James must be axed in favour of Joe Gelhardt at half-time of Leeds United v Cardiff City
Leeds United and their need for a striker was being laid bare in the first half of their Championship opener against Cardiff City on Sunday (6 August) and Daniel Farke must think about replacing the underwhelming Dan James with Joe Gelhardt.
Even before Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter picked up injuries in Leeds’ final pre-season friendly against Hearts (LeedsLive, 4 August), the Whites were looking a little light up top heading into a gruelling Championship campaign.
Daniel Farke opted to go with Wilfried Gnonto as the lone striker for the first half at Elland Road against the Bluebirds, with James, Crysencio Summerville and Luis Sinisterra providing support behind.
Gnonto’s pace certainly caused some issues for Cardiff in the opening period and there were a couple of times maybe he would have expected the net to bulge.
But while Leeds were playing with a good pace and a good fluidity, they were certainly lacking that central striking figure to hold the ball up, bring others into play and hog the penalty area.
It was that failure to trouble the goal that left Leeds vulnerable and indeed they were caught on the counter-attack when Josh Bowler made it 1-0 after 23 minutes, with Ike Ugbo doubling the lead in the 39th minute.
James, back at Leeds after a season on loan at Fulham last season, was the most ineffective of the supporting cast – playing one decent pass into the area but losing the ball on a few occasions playing in a wide-left berth and offering little as an attacking threat. He even fired one presentable opportunity high over the bar from 25 yards when a pass to Luke Ayling looked more presentable.
Gelhardt has struggled to make a big impact in pre-season under Farke, and he did not always set the world alight during a loan spell at Sunderland in the second half of last season.
And yet, you feel with Gelhardt’s willingness to run at defenders and pull the trigger that he could be a difference-maker in the second half against the Bluebirds.
Longer term, of course, Farke will probably want another striker drafted in before the end of the transfer window but for now Gelhardt should be given his chance over James.
In other Leeds United news, Charlie Cresswell could exit Elland Road on loan for Bundesliga after a decision from Farke.