Ben Parker baffled by what some are saying Leeds United should do v Southampton
Ben Parker has been left baffled by suggestions that Daniel Farke should rotate his Leeds United squad ahead of their crucial Championship clash with Southampton on 4 May.
Leeds’ faint automatic promotion hopes hinge on both their victory over fourth-placed Southampton and second-placed Ipswich Town losing against second-bottom Huddersfield Town.
With the playoffs looking the likeliest outcome for the Whites, some have suggested that Farke should rest his first-team regulars – but Parker does not agree.
Speaking on the LS11 Podcast (2 May), he said: “Just win the game [against Southampton]. I have heard a few people saying let’s rest the strongest team and give the players a rest going into the playoffs. Why? We need to win for a bit of momentum, just to get a bit of [a] feel-good factor around the place.
“If we did play say the kids, imagine if Huddersfield did win and we didn’t win ours because we played a weakened team. Imagine that! That would be the ultimate Leeds thing to do. Just the win game, if we get a favour, so be it. If not, at least we’re getting that winning feeling again.”
Leeds United should take Southampton game seriously
As unlikely as Leeds’ prospects of automatic promotion are at this stage, the Whites cannot throw in the towel with one game remaining.
After all, should Ispwich slip up, Leeds would no doubt be kicking themselves for not taking advantage if they failed to win with a rotated side.
Additionally, the reverse fixture between Ipswich and Huddersfield ended 1-1, suggesting that the result is far from the forgone conclusion many expect it to be, given the gulf between the two sides in the Championship table.
However, some changes are surely necessary after the dire display Daniel Farke witnessed from his men in the 4-0 drubbing against QPR.
A return for Glen Kamara would be welcome, while many are calling for Joel Piroe to be dropped.
One way or another, Leeds must do everything they can to beat Southampton. Even if Ipswich do not lose, going into the playoffs off the back of a victory against a team they could well face again in the final – should they get there – can be no bad thing.
In other Leeds United news, a teenage sensation is now set to snub Manchester United in order to move to Elland Road.
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