Beren Cross
Ebbs have not come much lower than last weekend’s in the capital. Leeds United delivered nothing like the level you felt they needed to inspire confidence about Tottenham Hotspur’s visit this weekend.
From winning twice to guarantee safety, the Whites reminded everyone why they are the second-worst team in the division and facing a mountain to climb this weekend. Unfortunately, the alternatives to last Sunday’s starters are not sticking their hands up with confidence.
Rasmus Kristensen has not done a whole lot wrong, but I want Robin Koch out of midfield and where he feels most at home in central defence. The German can start in the centre with the man he formed such a strong partnership with through the first season after promotion.
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Captain Liam Cooper brings order to the backline, while Max Wober’s talents can be put to use at left-back, where Pascal Struijk struggled last weekend. Adam Forshaw drops into the deepest midfield role where Koch was.
Weston McKennie is preserved by an absence of alternatives and his fearsome long throw. I would shuffle Jack Harrison back into the midfield three as Javi Gracia used to.
Harrison has those attacking tendencies, but also the diligence to play that role. His final balls have frustrated of late too. I am backing a patched-up Rodrigo to lead the line, while young muckers Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto get the freedom to attack from out wide.
Beren’s XI: Robles; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Wober; McKennie, Forshaw, Harrison; Summerville, Rodrigo, Gnonto.
Will Jackson
The situation is not a pretty one for Leeds United. Only a win will do for the Whites this weekend and even then there’s a good chance they will be relegated with results needing to go their way elsewhere, too.
Leeds can only do what they can do, but it’s still a high-pressure situation and for that reason, I’d be looking to go with as much experience as possible this weekend. United aren’t overwhelmed with heaps of experience within the squad, in fact, it’s fair to say they’re pretty light on it, but they need to make use of every ounce of character, leadership and mental strength to see off Spurs.
As such, I’d be looking to bring Liam Cooper back into the side if he’s deemed fit enough to play from the start. He was an unused sub last week at the London Stadium, but his presence on the field could be a big one.
I’d play Cooper in his preferred position and with Robin Koch being utilised further forward, I’d push Max Wober across to play as a right-sided centre-back. Experience means Luke Ayling gets the nod for me at right-back, while Junior Firpo comes in at left-back following Pascal Struijk’s poor display in the capital.
As mentioned, Koch keeps his spot in the middle of the park with Adam Forshaw alongside him in a slight change of system. Allardyce has preferred a 4-3-3 so far, but I’d look to push numbers forward and play a 4-2-3-1, with Jack Harrison the leading candidate to play through the middle as a number 10.
Harrison came up trumps when Leeds needed him most at Brentford last season and he’ll be keen to make a similar impact this time around. I’d have Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville on the wings and Rodrigo up front, assuming he’s passed fit, that is.
Will’s XI: Robles; Ayling, Wober, Cooper, Firpo; Forshaw, Koch; Summerville, Harrison, Gnonto; Rodrigo.
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