Daniel Farke was appointed manager of Leeds United four months ago, and his first competitive match was three months ago, with so much change in such a short period of time since then.
Daniel Farke has only been in charge of Leeds United for four months. Since that day, it appears that much has changed for the better at all levels of the club.
The transfer window has passed, the red tape in the boardroom has been cut, and the team appears capable of bouncing back from relegation at the first opportunity. Farke is naming squads with Championship-level starters being left out entirely, up from a seven-man bench with two goalkeepers.
Farke’s first of 15 league games as manager came only three months ago. Since then, the German has focused on assembling his strongest team, determining what motivates his players, determining who is in it for the right reasons, and determining who he can trust in the trenches with him.
Except for some horses for courses at right-back, Friday’s line-up in Leicester was a fairly clear crystallisation of what United’s best line-up currently looks like. The changes in that starting XI since the opening-day draw with Cardiff City speak volumes about Farke’s leadership.
Only five, possibly six, members of that August 6 lineup could now be considered regular, almost guaranteed starters under Farke. On Friday night, Illan Meslier demonstrated why he had earned trust after two years in the Premier League.
Farke’s late save to deny Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drew widespread praise and demonstrated why Karl Darlow never looked like replacing the Frenchman. Meslier, according to the manager, is the best goalkeeper in the league and someone with so much potential that he must be supported.
Only Pascal Struijk and Ethan Ampadu, like Meslier, have played every minute of the league so far. They’ve grown from strength to strength and never looked like they’d let Farke down.
Crysencio Summerville and Daniel James started on day one with Farke against Cardiff, but their paths haven’t been easy as two of the first names on the teamsheet. Injuries have hampered both of them, but they have proven to be more dependable and potent in the forward areas than their opponents.
Archie Gray is a floater among those who started the season’s first game. Only Ampadu, Struijk, and Georginio Rutter have played more than the 17-year-old outfielder, demonstrating his significance.
The emergence of Jamie Shackleton and Glen Kamara has created healthy competition for spots, but Gray’s consistency has been impressive thus far, given how inconsistent young players can be. There are five players who were starters at the start of the season but have seen their stock fall in the three months since.
Of course, Luis Sinisterra has now left the club. Luke Ayling and Liam Cooper continue to have an impact on the team and the dressing room. Farke does not want to lose, but the manager prefers others in their respective positions.
Joe Rodon did not arrive in time for the first game, but he has since established himself as an important member of this team. Then there’s Gray and Shackleton keeping Ayling out at right-back, though Djed Spence will almost certainly lock down that corner of the field once he recovers from injury.
Leeds felt left-back was one of the positions they had overlooked during the summer transfer window. Sam Byram was a risky, injury-prone, makeshift option, and it appeared that a lot of trust was placed in Junior Firpo and Leo Hjelde.
With Firpo out, Hjelde was tasked with taking over, but he struggled in the early stages of the season. Hjelde has now dropped out of matchday squads entirely, sometimes even missing out on the under-21s, after missing out on the chance to start.
While the Norwegian has stepped down, Byram has gone from strength to strength, demonstrating why Farke invited him to pre-season in the summer. This season, the defender has been one of the best.
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Wilfried Gnonto started as United’s number nine on the first day because Patrick Bamford and Rutter were both injured. It was also before Joel Piroe arrived, and few saw the Italian as a long-term solution to lead the line.
Nobody should dismiss the 20-year-old. Injury has robbed him of any momentum, and the front four has been firing while he has been out.
Opportunity will knock again for such a gifted attacker, but his absence highlights the emergence of Rutter and Piroe as Farke’s trusted final-third lieutenants. If this much can change in three months, you have to wonder where we will be with the key names in February of next year.
