Leeds United's £65m transfer blow highlighted in issue Daniel Farke hasn't fixed yet

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


It was always going to be a monumental challenge for Daniel Farke to replace the goals Leeds United lost in the summer. Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter were two of the standout performers in the Championship in their run to Wembley.

Over 50 goal contributions left the building last month after Premier League vultures triggered Summerville and Rutter's exit clauses. West Ham United paid £25m for Summerville's services while Brighton and Hove Albion forked out £40m to lure Rutter away from Elland Road. Rutter made his final appearance in their 3-0 Carabao Cup drubbing at the hands of Middlesbrough.

So how have United fared without the influential duo? Four league matches is a small sample size, but the Whites have failed to find the back of the net on two occasions (West Bromwich Albion and Burnley). They have fired blanks a grand total of three times in six outings this term. Not exactly a recipe for success, is it?

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But Daniel Farke is spot on with his assessment that the second tier of English football is a "marathon". There are 41 matches left for the Whites to get their act together. There will be plenty of twists and turns over the coming weeks and months.

Yet with Mateo Joseph still finding his feet at Championship level and a raft of new attacking players being integrated into the team, it is crucial United find other ways to score goals. It is going to take a collective effort to make their Premier League dream a reality.

Every team looks for marginal gains and the Whites have got to improve from dead ball situations. Opta analyst and United fan Jonny Cooper posted on X, formerly Twitter, that United have taken 147 corners in the Championship since they last scoring from a corner against Swansea back in February. Fifty two shots from corners in that time. Zero goals.

It was hoped the return to fitness of Pascal Struijk would give them more threat from free kicks and corners. Struijk went close to scoring from a couple of set plays at West Browm but his solitary goal so far came from the penalty spot in the opening day thriller with Portsmouth.

More and more clubs are now hiring set piece coach specialists. It is an area of the game that can make a big difference in the long run. It is about time United turn this glaring weakness into a strength.