The system is nobody wants to see doesn’t even work anymore, Leeds United must change it up.
Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Millwall and Barnsley at The Den on January 6, 2018 in London, England.
Remember the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Arguably that tournament was the worst World Cup of the modern era. ‘Tiki-taka’ ran supreme and in everyone’s attempts to stifle Spain, who were just simply the best in the world, everyone was playing 4-2-3-1.
It had become the formation of choice. A generic back four, with two sitting players in the middle. It left, most of the time, six players constantly defending. It left fans falling asleep.
A supporter of the Spanish sleeps with a flag at Paseo Recoletos after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Spain and Netherlands on July 11, 2010 in Madrid, Spain.
This summer’s tournament in Russia looks like being far more entertaining, with teams now playing a more firebrand style of football. If one team in England applies to this analogy, it is Leeds United.
There has been an obsession with a similar style of play at Elland Road in recent times. Thomas Christiansen was always playing it, as was Garry Monk. The reasons vary. Leeds are blessed in the positions to play such a formation. Pablo Hernandez and Samuel Saiz for instance, not out and out wingers, nor is Kemar Roofe.
Leeds fans though have certainly had enough of seeing a lone frontman with two in front of the back four.
Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen leaves the field during the Sky Bet Championship match between Ipswich Town and Leeds United at Portman Road on January 13, 2018 in Ipswich,…
Paul Heckingbottom became the new head coach at Leeds this week, after Christiansen looked like failing in his pursuit of the play-offs.
He tends to favour two strikers, which might finally see Leeds reverting to something slightly more ambitious and entertaining. Whatever the new Leeds boss does, as long as it isn’t the same 4-2-3-1 that has been holding them back fans are likely to be happy.
It might not work, but at least it would be different.
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