It’s tricky to write a match preview for a game when you don’t quite know who’s come through the door. Leeds United – as all relegated clubs – are in a state of flux. The majority of the squad returned for testing on the 3rd July at Leeds Beckett University, where Jamie Shackleton appears to have won the bleep test. Three players are already out the door due to ill-considered loan clauses, and another is half way out – Rasmus Kristensen is close to joining Diego Llorente on loan at Roma, though he’s recently reported back for pre-season just a couple of days late. On the same day as Rasmus, also reporting back were Max Wober, Dan James, Leo Hjelde, Kistopher Klaesson, and lesser spotted Helder Costa, whom everybody thought had already left, and probably will fairly soon. Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra are working their way back to full fitness and are due to join back up with the squad later in the timeline. Summerville, Gnonto, Meslier and Rodrigo are due back next week and won’t feature in Oslo. Though Rodrigo is also working his way back from injury, that particular group appears to be marked as ‘for sale’. Marc Roca and Junior Firpo were back at work from day one but both appear to be on the way out, but while Roca’s got a move to Betis, Firpo might well feature in Oslo.
If it appears confusing, it’s because it is.
At least Farke is here, looking like the world’s most gentle hitman, dressed all in black as he was on the day of his announcement. If the appointment of Daniel Farke is an indication of how Leeds will do things under the 49ers, then it’s going to be slow moving, in the dark, but eventually brilliant. Farke comes to Leeds with a track record at this level, and a reputation for playing football in a way Leeds fans had grown accustomed to under Marcelo Bielsa, which is possession based, protagonistic, fast paced football which is also dangerous on the counter (deep dive on Farke pending).
A cursory glance at Farke’s shape indicates a 4231, which throws up some opportunities for a lot of the younger players within the squad. Farke has quickly and correctly identified record signing Georginio Rutter as a wide forward, and he will be expected to feature on the right hand side. It should be both interesting and exciting to see how the young Frenchman goes this season, given a chance in a position he suits, in a system that plays to his strengths, and away from the unforgiving glare of the premier league – if he sticks around as he’s expected to at this stage.
The most interesting part of the team at the moment is the midfield, given the absence of any known quantities. Adams is injured, Forshaw has been released and didn’t take up the invite to stick around for pre-season, and both Aaronson and Roca have left the building. It wouldnt be too surprising in these circumstances to see a double pivot of Darko Gyabi and Lewis Bate, which sounds incredibly exciting. Granted, it’s not what you’d want to see in the championship every week, but they’re two immensely talented young midfielders with games and physical profiles that compliment each other, it would be a big test for the two of them in the middle of the park against the likes of Fred and Mason Mount, who fans of the Pride of Devon will surely get a first look at on Wednesday. In front of those two, we’re likely to see Joe Gelhardt get a stab in behind the 9, in a position that’s likely to suit him much more than leading the line at Sunderland, able to buzz around and press and play off of everybody else around him. Gelhardt is another young player for whom relegation presents an opportunity that he wouldn’t have otherwise had, and it’s vital he finds a place in Farke’s system that he fits into.
The defence probably does pick itself, though it certainly won’t be the backline Leeds will start the season with. Firpo will probably start at left back – he’ll probably be sold. The left centre back will either be Liam Cooper or Max Wober, and neither would be surprising. Both appear to be sticking around – good. Ayling will be right sided centre back, as Charlie Cresswell is taking a well earned break having won the U21 euros, and the position is being looked at as one to strengthen – Nat Phillips remains strongly linked. Cody Drameh is probably the first choice right back, and should probably start on Wednesday, so could probably be the only member of this back four to make it to the season’s curtain raiser against Cardiff City.
For their part, Manchester United have question marks in goal, with De Gea having gone and yet to be replaced. De Gea leaves in a cloud of distribution errors and contractual nonsense, having correctly told the hierarchy where to go following the pulling of one extension he was ready to sign from the table, only to be replaced by one he definitely wasn’t. Dean Henderson will likely be given the nod over Tom Heaton – probably playing against his will. Mason Mount will probably make his debut in some capacity, and will probably bring with him a change of shape to a 433, which will match up to us man to man in the middle. The rest of the team probably picks itself. Mason Greenwood remains at home.
As ever with the start of pre-season, the result means nothing, and the performance is everything. Who gets minutes, what we can see from Farke’s setup and who’s come back meaning business, those are the things to look out for. Its time for these things to start making sense.
LUFC Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Klaesson, Firpo, Cooper, Ayling, Drameh, Bate, Gyabi, James, Gelhardt, Rutter, Bamford
MUFC Predicted XI (4-3-3): Henderson, Williams, Martinez, Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Van de Beek, Mount, Sancho, Diallo, Garnacho