Leeds United: Long throws, Hadi Sacko and welcoming back Saiz - Talking Points

AFTER seeing Leeds United fight back from being 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw against Bristol City, Lee Sobot looks at a few key talking points from Sunday afternoon's dramatic clash at Elland Road.
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Why do Leeds keep conceding first?

The million-dollar question and one that even striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga admitted he could not find the answer to. “I don’t know” he said with a bemused look. “But we have to change it.”

The big German striker is not wrong and Leeds have now failed to score first in their last consecutive nine league games and not since the 1-0 win at home to Hull City two days before Christmas. That was also United’s last win at Elland Road.

ALL SQUARE: Kemar Roofe makes it 2-2 as Leeds United yet again have to fight back from going behind. Picture by James Hardisty.ALL SQUARE: Kemar Roofe makes it 2-2 as Leeds United yet again have to fight back from going behind. Picture by James Hardisty.
ALL SQUARE: Kemar Roofe makes it 2-2 as Leeds United yet again have to fight back from going behind. Picture by James Hardisty.
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Leeds’ inability to deal with City’s aerial threat was particularly worrying and it must be said that the Whites defence also looked all at sea during one particular sustained Robins attack in the second half when Felix Wieldwald actually saved the day to keep out a low shot from Famara Diedhiou.

United and head coach Paul Heckingbottom clearly need to work more on dealing with high balls into the box and having centre back and captain Liam Cooper back from suspension will hopefully help in that respect.

But Wiedwald, unfortunately, is evidently still prone to serious errors and City’s opening goal has to be attributed to his failure to get nowhere near Hordur Magnusson’s long throw.

It must, though, be said that United actually began quite brightly prior to conceding from that 11th-minute set piece and creating and taking early chances is clearly also key.

ALL SQUARE: Kemar Roofe makes it 2-2 as Leeds United yet again have to fight back from going behind. Picture by James Hardisty.ALL SQUARE: Kemar Roofe makes it 2-2 as Leeds United yet again have to fight back from going behind. Picture by James Hardisty.
ALL SQUARE: Kemar Roofe makes it 2-2 as Leeds United yet again have to fight back from going behind. Picture by James Hardisty.
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Whatever way you look at it, there is evidently plenty of work needed all round with time quickly running out for a side who remain eight points off the play-offs with 14 games to go, piling on the importance of a victory at Derby County on Wednesday night.

A formation for Saiz

Heckingbottom showed he is prepared to be bold by making three changes to his team for the visit of the Robins and shifting to a 4-4-2 system as Caleb Ekuban partnered Lasogga upfront.

Lasogga revealed afterwards that he was happy to play as a lone striker with a no 10 in behind him, or as part of a 4-4-2.

Offensively, going two up tops definitely seemed to suit the Whites and the physical presence of Ekuban was responsible for setting up the early chance for Stuart Dallas who was denied by a decent save from Frank Fielding.

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The downside to having two upfront is losing a body in centre midfield with the 4-1-4-1 abandoned and Kalvin Phillips was sacrificed for Ekuban.

But United basically need to go all out for victories from here on in - there’s no point sitting back - and the extra body looks better utilised up-front than in centre midfield.

The question, now, though, is how would the back-from-suspension Samu Saiz fit into a 4-4-2 as while the 27-year-old can definitely play as a winger, there is no denying that Saiz is a natural and very talented no 10 who has been sorely missed during his six-game ban.

United have picked up two points out of 18 in Saiz’s absence.

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Whether or not the Spaniard is fit enough to actually return to the starting line up in Wednesday night’s clash at Derby remains to be seen but a fully fit Saiz should clearly be one of the first names on the team sheet, if not the first, and he would perhaps be best utilised in a 4-4-1-1 at present with United then having the option to switch to 4-4-2 or even 4-3-1-2 if needs be.

Should Hadi Sacko be given a start out wide?

Heckingbottom admitted that Sacko had been impressing him in training in his post-match conference and the 23-year-old was handed a longer stint than normal off the substitute’s bench when coming on for Dallas with 26 minutes to go.

Sacko’s foul throw in injury time was very frustrating at a time when United were piling on the pressure but that aside the winger made a pretty decent impression with more of an end product and better discipline than has been the case of late.

With Pablo Hernandez continuing to look integral to United’s cause with his assists and crosses, Sacko is probably competing for just the one wing spot - especially with Saiz back - and Dallas was given the nod on the right flank on Saturday - back in his natural position at right back with Vurnon Anita in at right back and having a decent game.

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Kemar Roofe, Gjanni Alioski and Pawel Cibicki are the other options out wide but Sacko did his claims no harm against the Robins.

Heckingbottom will also have decisions to make with Cooper and Gaetano Berardi both back from suspension for the visit to Derby and the likelihood is that Cooper will come straight in for Matthew Pennington with Berardi replacing Anita who could even be worth a go at left back instead of Laurens De Bock.

Anita had a decent game against the Robins and it would seem harsh then booting him out of the side.

Perhaps Berardi may have to settle for a place on the bench.

What is United’s best centre midfield ‘pairing?’

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Three had to become two in centre midfield against the Robins with Kalvin Phillips sacrificed for the extra striker in Caleb Ekuban as Eunan O’Kane was given the nod to partner Adam Forshaw in centre midfield.

Forshaw had another decent game, producing some excellent passes and almost scoring with five minutes to go but O’Kane had another disappointing afternoon and the Republic Of Ireland international was taken off for Phillips with 17 minutes to go as Ronaldo Vieira again stayed on the bench.

Phillips made more of an impression but he should have won the game with his header in injury time and the debate as to who United’s two strongest midfielders rolls on.

Forshaw clearly looks first choice and Vieira is still waiting for his first chance to impress under Heckingbottom.