Leeds United have failed to score a goal from open play in their first four matches in the Premier League, after their 1-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Lukas Nmecha’s penalty, given for a controversial handball by James Tarkowski, in the 1-0 win over Everton is the only goal scored by the Whites so far this season.
After the defeat to Fulham, Daniel Farke told reporters that it is up to his wide players to prove critics wrong and show that they belong in the Premier League by delivering on the pitch.
The German head coach said: “James, Harrison, Aaronson with us when we were relegated and they were called hopeless. They still have a point to prove these judgments are not right. We have this type of offensive players and I’m looking forward to improving them, but we shouldn’t expect miracles.”
This comes after Farke, himself, claimed that it would be “difficult” for Leeds to avoid relegation if they did not add more quality to their attack in the transfer window, which the club then failed to do.
The Championship champions did not get the winger signing, or signings, that they wanted, and Brenden Aaronson is one of the players who must, now, step up and prove his quality in the Premier League.
Why Brenden Aaronson needs to step up for Leeds
The USA international is in an interesting position because the manager has changed the formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 this season, which has taken away the attacking midfielder’s main role as a number ten.
Per Transfermarkt, Aaronson has started 168 matches in his career as an attacking midfielder, 32 as a left midfielder, and 16 as a central midfielder. Yet, all of his appearances so far this season have come on the right of a 4-3-3.
This means that Farke is essentially playing the former RB Salzburg star out of position in the Premier League, which is a division he has already struggled in whilst playing in his favoured role.
Aaronson only managed one goal in 36 appearances in the top-flight in the 2022/23 campaign, thanks to a ‘shocker’ from Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and underperformed his xG of 3.86.
The 24-year-old attacker’s performances in the Championship for Leeds last season did not suggest that he was likely to make the step up and prove people wrong after his dismal showings a few years ago.
Bristol City (A)
0
0
Burnley (H)
0
0
Sunderland (A)
0
0
Sheffield United (H)
0
0
Coventry (H)
0
0
Coventry (A)
0
0
Burnley (A)
0
0
Sunderland (H)
0
0
Sheffield United (A)
0
0
Bristol City (H)
0
0
As you can see in the table above, Aaronson did not deliver a single goal or assist in ten matches against the other teams inside the top six in the Championship, which shows that he struggled to perform against the better teams in the league.
All of this illustrates why there is a big need for the USA international to step up in the coming weeks, because all the signs point to him not being good enough for what Leeds need right now.
Meanwhile, Farke allowed Largie Ramazani to depart Elland Road and join Valencia on a season-long loan during the summer transfer window, despite his side’s lack of quality in the wide department.
It is fair to say that, albeit it is very early in the season, the decision to ditch the Belgian winger from the squad this summer is already looking like a poorly judged one.
Why Leeds should have kept Largie Ramazani
Farke should have kept Largie Ramazani in the building because he is the kind of winger who could have suited playing in the Premier League in a team that will need to rely on a lot of counter-attacking chances.
The Whites will not be as dominant on the ball as they were in the Championship against weaker opposition. This means that there is more space in behind to exploit when they win the ball back and look to test their opponents in behind.
Ramazani would have been perfect for that. In fact, talent scout Jacek Kulig once described the forward as a “counter attacking weapon”, hailing him as “explosive”, “electric” and a “mini Vinicius Jr”.
Aaronson, meanwhile, lacks electric pace and is not, as aforementioned, a natural winger, which means he does not offer as much speed or direct play on the break.
Their respective output at the top end of the pitch in the Championship last season also suggests that Ramazani had more to offer to the team in the way of quality, as well as his physical attributes.
xG*
0.54
0.29
Goals*
0.69
0.23
Shots on target*
1.84
0.71
Assists*
0.23
0.05
Successful dribbles*
2.07
1.29
Tackle success rate
59%
58%
Duel success rate
40%
40%
As you can see in the table above, the Belgian whiz excelled in limited minutes for Leeds in the second tier, with a staggering haul of 0.92 goals and assists per 90.
Per Sofascore, Ramazani delivered six goals and two assists in just 807 minutes of action in the Championship, starting seven games, which shows that he was incredibly effective in front of goal.
To rub salt in the wound, the 24-year-old star created a ‘big chance’ and delivered an assist for Valencia on his debut for the club against Getafe in LaLiga before the international break.
This is further evidence of his ability to make an impact at the very top level, which is something Aaronson has failed to do, and shows why Leeds messed up by allowing him to leave.
After four matches, no player in Farke’s squad has an assist to their name in the Premier League, whilst Ramazani has one assist in one game in another major European league.
Leeds supporters may, rightly, wonder why the Belgian talent was allowed to depart on loan whilst Aaronson has been shifted out of position in a league he has already struggled in.