Leeds United has undertaken a significant squad overhaul, focusing on youth development under manager Daniel Farke. While this strategy aims for long-term success, the team's inexperience is exposed in tight matches.
A number of senior players left Leeds United at the end of last season. Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas were excellent servants, playing integral roles in the success the Whites enjoyed under former boss Marcelo Bielsa. But after coming up short in the play-off final at Wembley, Daniel Farke expressed his desire to go in a different direction. He felt it was necessary to lower the average age of the squad.
Farke was keen for others within the group to step forward and take on more leadership responsibilities. United's leadership group? It is made up of Ethan Ampadu (24), Pascal Struijk (25) and under-fire goalkeeper Illan Meslier (24). There are just two outfield players over the age of 30 in Farke's squad. And Farke was left bemoaning their youthfulness after watching his team throw away a two-goal advantage at Hull City last time out. 'We are one of the youngest sides in the league and we don't play without making mistakes,' he acknowledged. 'A more experienced side at 3-1 up would have kept the ball and maybe scored a fourth goal but we allowed ourselves to not be switched on.' As Farke pointed out in his post-match press conference, his team are not the finished article. Nobody expects them to be. Players are human. Mistakes will happen. Every team drops points during a 46-game season. Despite injuries to Struijk, Junior Firpo, Ilia Gruev and Patrick Bamford, Farke has promised to stick to his plan of building a team on youthful lines. 'It's not like we'll sign four 35-year-old guys with lots of experience,' he said. 'We decided to go with a pretty young group (last summer). We earned lots of money in the last summer (by selling players) and decided to stick with our young prospects. 'But you also have to accept they are not steeled in 300 battles at Championship level. I would prefer it if we cruised easily and were seven or eight points ahead but I was expecting it would be a long road and we'd have to keep developing the player
Leeds United Daniel Farke Youth Development Youthful Squad Championship
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Leeds United Manager Daniel Farke Faces Media Ahead of Oxford United ClashLeeds United manager Daniel Farke will discuss a number of key topics at his pre-match press conference, including the impact of Oxford United's potential new manager, any apologies from PGMOL regarding officiating in their last game, the latest injury updates, and Brenden Aaronson's recent form.
Read more »
Leeds United teams news vs Oxford United as Daniel Farke makes two changesLeeds United latest news as Ethan Ampadu and Manor Solomon named in the starting XI against Oxford
Read more »
Daniel Farke press conference LIVE with Leeds United boss on injuries, transfers and MiddlesbroughLatest updates from the Leeds United manager's press conference ahead of Tuesday night's Championship clash with Middlesbrough at Elland Road as Daniel Farke faces questions on team news
Read more »
Boss Daniel Farke responds to Chris Wilder's Leeds United commentsLeeds United can move back to the top of the Championship tomorrow night
Read more »
Daniel Farke press conference LIVE as Leeds United boss reacts to important Middlesbrough winFollow the latest from the Leeds United manager's post-match debrief at Elland Road after the Tuesday night clash with Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough
Read more »
'Exhausted' Daniel Farke hails Leeds United stars after Middlesbrough triumphLeeds United recorded an eighth straight win at Elland Road this evening
Read more »