Ilia Gruev experiment must come to an end after what happened in Leeds defeat vs Sunderland
Ilia Gruev has consistently showcased why he should not be starting for Leeds United.
Whether it be Stuart Attwell, Daniel Farke or the general performance, there are several reasons why Leeds failed to get a result against Sunderland.
And so to put the blame on Gruev would be entirely misjudged, and, in all honesty, far too harsh.
However, once again, the Bulgarian showcased the biggest flaw that Farke has in his managerial tendencies with another sub-par performance in the Leeds midfield.
If survival is to be achieved this season, Farke simply has to recongise the error he is making every single week.
What does Ilia Gruev bring to Leeds?
Energy? That is just about the only thing you can make a case for.
Gruev has had some good games for Leeds this season, and no one can deny him that, but more often than not, his limitations in midfield have been exposed badly.
And it was again the case against the Black Cats, when Gruev failed to offer anything for the Whites at either side of the pitch.
He created just one chance with an xA of 0.01, while also failing to make any tackles or interceptions, showcasing his lack of effectiveness defensively.
Gruev also failed to win any of his three ground duels against Regis Le Bris’ side, while also giving away two fouls in the middle of the pitch.
The Bulgarian is becoming the biggest passenger in an otherwise talented Leeds squad, and Farke simply needs to take him out of the team if they are to find their best form again.
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Who could replace Gruev in Leeds midfield?
The very simple answer is Sean Longstaff.
I can’t tell you why, and I’m not sure who would be able to, but the former Newcastle man has not started a Premier League game since November, and has played just 66 minutes of league football in that period.
And that is despite the fact that he was playing a crucial role in the Whites’ midfield, as showcased by the fact that he has three goal involvements, with 22 chances created.
Longstaff offers twice as much Gruev in all areas of his game, and it was baffling to see him glued to the bench when Leeds were clearly in need of something different against Sunderland.
His absence simply needs to come to an end, or Farke is making the decision to throw away Leeds’ survival chances.
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