Leeds’ survival hopes rest on Daniel Farke’s unsung hero – fans just don’t realise it yet
Leeds got a massive win on Friday night against relegation rivals West Ham.
The win against the Hammers means Leeds’ chances for Premier League survival have been boosted.
Daniel Farke has made some big decisions so far for the Whites, as Jaka Bijol earned his first Premier League start against West Ham, with Pascal Struijk being dropped.
Noah Okafor has been recognised as a potential saviour for Leeds this season, as Joe Rodon has emerged as vital for Farke.
However, one man who shone once again on Friday has gone under the radar.
Sean Longstaff is key for Leeds and Daniel Farke
Farke made a big decision for the clash against the Hammers, as Anton Stach was dropped for Ao Tanaka.
Stach had started all eight Premier League games for Leeds up until Friday night, but Sean Longstaff kept his place.
Longstaff’s signing raised eyebrows, as some Leeds fans were slightly underwhelmed with bringing the former Newcastle United man to LS11, as the Whites watched Sunderland sign Granit Xhaka.
| Games (starts) | Goals | Assists | Key passes per game | Accurate passes in own half per game | Tackles per game | Average rating |
| 9 (7) | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 89% | 3.0 | 7.06 |
Longstaff’s best individual performance came in a 2-2 away draw to Bournemouth, but with an average of 89 per cent of accurate passes inside his own half, the midfielder proves to be great at recycling vital possession for Leeds.
So far for Leeds, Longstaff has proven as a key man in Farke’s typical flat three midfield, and with his dominating performance against West Ham, he shouldn’t be going anywhere.
Longstaff has been allowed to take set-pieces for Leeds, and Farke’s decision has so far paid off, with the Englishman providing two assists so far for both of Rodon’s goals.
Leeds’ chances of Premier League survival depend on Longstaff’s ability to stay fit for the whole season.
Longstaff’s form should worry Anton Stach
Farke saw the need for change after the Whites’ poor 2-0 away defeat to Burnley after the international break, and Stach was one of the casualties.
At the moment, Longstaff looks irreplaceable, and if Tanaka can get back to full fitness and form, Stach may find it difficult to break back into the starting lineup.
- Stach didn’t feature off the bench for Leeds against West Ham
- He’s played 680 minutes so far for the Whites
- Stach’s best performance came in a 3-1 win against Wolves in September
Longstaff can not only create and score goals, but also do the dirty work for Farke and Leeds, which helps others around him flourish, and is currently doing that little bit more than Stach.
Luckily for Leeds, the competition should make Stach up his game even more, as the German midfielder is sure to play a vital role for the Whites over the course of the long season.
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