Leeds have indeed run out of steam of recent, and manager Thomas Christiansen needs to make changes in order to inspire his side to winning ways all over again.
The Whites have played with a lone striker since the beginning of the season, and despite switching from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 in order to make use of the wings more effectively, results haven’t changed.
There have been calls for Christiansen to employ a 4-4-2 system so that Leeds will play with 2 strikers, but the club’s former winger John Hendrie believes 3-5-2 is even better.
The likes of Sheffield United and Cardiff City – 2nd and 3rd teams on the Championship log respectively – have played with 3 centre backs and 2 strikers thus far, and Hendrie feels they aren’t amongst the early frontrunners by chance.
The ex-Leeds forward told the YEP ahead of Middlesbrough clash: “I was at the Sheffield United game and Sheffield United played three at the back and Lasogga was up front on his own against three big, tough, no-nonsense centre-backs.
“In that situation it was a tall order and a tough ask to perform on the night. It was three centre-backs versus one centre-forward and Sheffield United had two up front against Leeds’ two centre-backs.
“They had Leon Clarke and Billy Sharp who worked their socks off and two-v-two is a lot easier than three-v-one so it doesn’t necessarily have to be 4-4-2.
“We saw that night that Sheffield United played 3-5-2 and Neil Warnock is playing 3-5-2 at Cardiff City with two wing backs.
“And I don’t think it’s any coincidence how the two of them are up at the top of the league because they are playing with two strikers and three at the back.
“With the two strikers you are getting your rewards. It’s a lot easier having two strikers than it is for one striker.”
The Leeds’ attack has been boosted by the return of summer signing Caleb Ekuban, and the Ghanaian international’s mobility means he would be a perfect striking partner for his German counterpart.
