Leeds United managed to secure 90 points in last season’s Championship, but still failed to earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The club’s hierarchy has stuck with manager Daniel Farke. The German’s patient play can deliver the points needed this time to get the West Yorkshire outfit back to the top flight, and can also inspire positive results for players on Football Manager.
A Style Based on a Solid Defence
A promotion-winning season on Football Manager can’t be possible without a solid defence and, although Leeds failed to go up, they had one of the meanest defences in the Championship last season. The Whites, who are 4/6 to be promoted from the second tier this season, only conceded 43 goals in their 46 games of the regular season.
Only title winners Leicester City conceded fewer (41) than Leeds, who are 15/8 favourites in the football tips to win the Championship title this season. Farke’s side kept the most clean sheets in the league last term with 20, so it might well pay off to follow the German’s formation on Football Manager.
Farke has adopted a 4-2-3-1 system since making the move to Elland Road after the club’s relegation from the Premier League following the 2022/23 season, as covered at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65661818. While Leeds have lost a number of attacking players over the summer transfer window, they have been able to keep their defence largely intact.
Centre-backs Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk should form the heart of the defence, with former Barcelona left-back Junior Firpo an experienced presence in the backline. Farke likes two midfielders protecting that back four, while one of those might be given licence to get a bit more forward at times. Adopting this system at the back should provide a solid foundation for those looking to take Leeds back to the big time on Football Manager.
Experienced Duo Can Play Their Part in Attack
While Patrick Bamford and Joël Piroe were unable to get Leeds promoted from the Championship last season, the pair are useful attacking options on Football Manager. Bamford’s injuries have plagued him at Leeds since his 17-goal Premier League campaign under manager Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 season.
The 30-year-old forward is still able to contribute to the attack and is more than capable at Championship level to get 15 or more goals if he can keep fit.
Piroe was a big-money signing by Championship standards last summer from Swansea City, and managed to finish as the club’s second-highest goalscorer in the league last season with 14. While Piroe’s build-up play might be found wanting at times, his ability to finish in and around the area makes him a great option on Football Manager.
As arguably the biggest club in the Championship, players of the Football Manager can look to Farke’s strong squad and his measured approach for inspiration to earn promotion from the second tier. With a stadium that needs renovation and recent investment coming in, promotion back to the Premier League with Leeds can set players of Football Manager off on an exciting journey with a club that is never dull.
