Leeds really need to fix their left-back dilemma before it spirals
By Glenn Brewer
One of the biggest question marks with Leeds United has been the position of left-back. Sure, having a true number 9 has been a problem, but Rodrigo and Bamford have been around the pitch enough.
Junior Firpo was brought in during the summer window of Bielsa’s last campaign to sure up the position after losing Alioski.
A combination of fitness and consistency has kept Firpo out of the mix for a regular spot in the lineup.
Last summer, the Leeds board decided to stick with Firpo and not bring in another true left-back to compete for minutes.
To read our assessment of Marsch’s sacking at Leeds, click here.
To no surprise, Firpo was hurt in camp and was unable to start the season.
Pascal Stuijk stepped up and filled the hole with what was thought to be a short-term answer. To date, Struijk is still in the lineup at left-back.
In the January transfer window, the board’s first transfer signing was Max Wober. The former captain of Red Bull Salzburg, Wober presented a younger option for center-back and could play left-back.
Praised as the answer to the left-back problem, Wober has hardly played the position.
Playing phenomenal football, Wober seems to have locked up the center-back position. He has provided great instincts and steadiness to the back line that had been missing.
Concurrently, Struijk has begun to struggle more with left-back since the signing of Wober.
Naturally a center-back as well, Struijk’s time as a left-back was numbered and it appears that time has run out.
But what is the next best option? Firpo? Wober?
It would be difficult to take Wober out of center-back with the level that he has been playing but it may be best for the team to put him at left-back.
With that said, it would be interesting to fill the center-back role with Struijk instead of the captain, Liam Cooper.
Struijk’s confidence level is starting to take a hit and he is in the plans for the future it is not known how much longer Cooper can compete at this level and stay fit.