Stuart Holden has hinted that Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch is making a mistake playing Brenden Aaronson centrally. But their recent results have shown Tyler Adams’ importance.
Marsch signed Aaronson and Adams last summer to strengthen his squad at Elland Road in £25m and £20m transfers. Aaronson headed for West Yorkshire from RB Salzburg last May before Adams arrived from RB Leipzig in July. They have since held key roles in Leeds’ XI.
Aaronson made his 18th Premier League appearance of the season so far in Leeds’ 2-1 loss at Aston Villa. Adams also started on Friday to make his 16th top-flight outing of the term. Marsch has also started Aaronson in all 18 of Leeds’ Premier League meetings in 2022/23.
But Marsch has moved Aaronson around the Leeds midfield with minutes on the right and through the centre. It was from a centralised zone that the 22-year-old took to the pitch at Aston Villa. But Joe Gelhardt replaced the 28-cap USA star in the 77th minute whilst at 2-0.
Holden hints at a mistake by Marsch causing Aaronson’s poor form for Leeds
Aaronson did not find the right groove to get going as Leeds lost at Aston Villa. But he had two worthy sights of goal, with one seeing Rodrigo score but from an offside position after Tyrone Mings’ initial block. It also took a deflection to turn Aaronson’s later hit away, too.
Though the New Jersey native is now 15 Premier League appearances without a goal after netting once in his first three. Aaronson contributed to Leeds’ commanding 3-0 win against Chelsea on August 21. Yet he has since failed to score and has only laid on two assists, too.
One of Aaronson’s assists also came in the first month of the term against Everton. He fed Luis Sinisterra to equalise in the 55th minute after Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock on August 30. He would not register another assist until November 12 at Tottenham Hotspur.
Holden has reflected on Aaronson’s wishy-washy form following Leeds’ loss at Aston Villa. But the former USA midfielder believes some of his problems stem from Marsch using the attacking talent in a central zone over allowing him to tackle teams from the wider areas.
“Adams has been excellent, [he] has become indispensable for Leeds,” Holden noted on Twitter. “Aaronson has been a little more up and down (which is to be expected).
“But zero goals [and] one assist in [his] last 13 games in EPL? [He] has played more central recently as a 10. [But] I think [he is] more suited [to playing] as a winger.”
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