BBC pundit shares what Georginio Rutter must do different in Leeds United v Norwich
Former Leeds United defender Jon Newsome said Georginio Rutter must be “different” in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against Norwich City on Thursday (12 May).
Leeds head into the second leg at Elland Road after a 0-0 draw in the opening 90 minutes on 12 May, but Newsome said Daniel Farke must make a decision on Rutter’s position.
Farke switched things up in the first leg, moving from his usual 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3 with Archie Gray in midfield and Rutter leading the line up front.
Former Leeds defender Newsome, a regular BBC pundit covering the Whites, wants to see a change to that though, telling the Yorkshire Post (16 May): “The manager is going to earn his money this week. I think he’s got some big decisions to make.
“I don’t think Georginio Rutter (as a striker) is working. I don’t think it worked on Sunday.
“He’s got to play a very different kind of game – willing to work away from the ball, willing to run a channel, stretch the game and he didn’t do any of that.
“I’d be a little bit surprised if (Farke) went with the same formation.”
Where should Georginio Rutter play for Leeds United?
Leeds United have seen the very best of Georginio Rutter so far this season at Elland Road, with six goals and 15 assists for the Whites in 46 Championship appearances.
He’s operated in various positions too. Spending the early part of the season alternating with Joel Piroe as the side’s leading striker, his form hit its peak when playing as a number 10, usually in behind Patrick Bamford.
With an injured Bamford missing both legs of the Peacocks’ play-off semi-final, Rutter was deployed up front on his own by Farke at Carrow Road, and was largely ineffectual in a game sparse of goalmouth action.
Newsome’s assessment that the number nine experiment didn’t work on Sunday is not far wrong, but with Piroe seemingly the wrong fit for Farke’s system and the German’s unwillingness to start Mateo Joseph, it looks likely that Rutter will lead the line once more on Thursday night.
Rutter undoubtedly oozes talent like few other players in the Championship – hence a club-record fee being paid for him – but if Farke truly wants to get the best out of the 22-year-old, he should consider bringing in a foil for the Frenchman to work in tandem with.
In other Leeds news, the club are interested in a recent Europa League semi-finalist to bolster the midfield at Elland Road.
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