FootyChatter.com

EPL If Leeds United are going into virtually every Premier League match as underdogs, they have to find ways of bridging the talent gap. “We know we have to be at our very best to give ourselves a chance to win some points in this game, ” manager Daniel Farke said when previewing Saturday’s home game against Bournemouth. “Like always, as a newly promoted side, you’re never really the favourite in a game, but we also know we’re in good shape. ” Advertisement We have seen a mixture of tactical strategies used by Farke in United’s opening five matches. If Leeds are to level the playing field, it needs to be flexible and it needs to be pragmatic at times. Sometimes, it will suit Leeds to play out from the back with shorter passes, but more often than not, going long and clearing the danger from their own third may be the safest bet. Sometimes, they can press high and look to dominate possession, as they did to great success against Everton on the opening weekend. Alternatively, in away trips such as those at Craven Cottage or Molineux, the opponent’s threat may call for a deeper line, with more bodies around their box, shutting down space or opportunities. Going toe to toe, as Marcelo Bielsa used to with Leeds, is not always going to work. The dark arts are another route. Will disrupted matches help Leeds? Only Aston Villa (64), Fulham (64), Brighton & Hove Albion (63), Everton (62) and Newcastle United (62) have been fouled more frequently than Leeds (61). Farke was asked about it in Thursday’s press conference and did not, at least publicly, let on that it was any kind of deliberate ploy. “On the one hand, I don’t speak too much about being smart and getting fouls because I don’t like diving at all, ” he said. “This is why I love English football so much and the Premier League should be known for allowing more physicality. “It’s a big advantage for us in the competition that we allow this physical, intense league. I like also the fact there are not too many fouls given, and I don’t want to encourage my players to dive. “I always say to them, ‘Come on, don’t ask the referee for help, win the duels’. This is my first and foremost claim, but it’s also due to the fact that we want to go for it and sometimes if you create good attacks, like before the (second) goal (at Wolves), for example, it’s natural the opponent just has a chance to stop our attack with the foul. ” Advertisement For the goal in question, which provided the free kick Anton Stach drove into the top corner, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s intelligence around the box was plain to see. “If Brenden (Aaronson) drives forward and plays the ball in the right moment to Dominic, then, of course, instead of letting Dominic go into the opponent’s box, they need to take a foul, ” said Farke. “It’s more like we force this on the opponent. ” As Calvert-Lewin goes to receive the ball, he takes a glance over his left shoulder. He knows Ladislav Krejci is steaming in behind him. The No 9 controls the pass but pauses because he knows the contact is coming from behind. There is space he could attack on the edge of the area, or even pass to an unattended Noah Okafor, but he takes the free kick instead. As you will see across the variety of fouls we have picked out from the 61 Leeds have won, the way the player falls is important in drawing the referee’s eye. Calvert-Lewin’s pleading arms are stretched out in front as he completes his slide across the turf. As a seasoned campaigner of 300-plus professional appearances, Calvert-Lewin, in his role as the team’s lone striker, needs to be effective in winning free kicks high up the field. There was another good example from last weekend in Wolverhampton. A hopeful ball was launched down Leeds’ left channel for Calvert-Lewin to chase. Much of the second period was spent in the away half and Leeds needed their striker to make the ball stick upfield when they cleared their lines. He grapples with Yerson Mosquera to get a head start in the race, pushing a hand into the defender’s face. There’s a half-hearted appeal to Anthony Taylor from the Colombian, who is angered by Calvert-Lewin’s stray hand. The forward looks to the right and can see Mosquera is chasing him. With the ball going away from goal and no team-mates in sight, it is clear that a free kick is the best Calvert-Lewin can take from this scenario. Advertisement The predictable shove comes and Calvert-Lewin, arms out in front, hits the deck for another free kick. It was one of 11 fouls Leeds drew at Wolves, but there were 20 in the previous weekend at Fulham. No Premier League team can beat that tally in one game this term. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow is in his 16th season as a senior professional. He knows his way around a penalty area, particularly under high balls. A miscued clearance is sent high into the air above the Leeds box. Darlow takes a look forward first, seeing Rodrigo Muniz is going to contest it. The stopper comes out and shapes to jump with the Brazilian striker. There is the slightest of collisions and Darlow, well aware of how protected goalkeepers are by referees, barely gets off the ground. He throws those pleading arms in the air and goes down. Craig Pawson sees and whistles. Muniz is left complaining with his arms out, while Darlow applauds, having successfully cleared the danger from his box. Muniz was at fault later in the game, too. Jayden Bogle took in a high ball at right-back, but his first touch was a little loose and invited Muniz to harry him. Bogle tries to evade the pressure, but his second touch is heavy. It gave Emile Smith Rowe a chance to steal in, but as he does, Bogle goes down under the hefty contact by Muniz. You can see the appeals from Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk. Pawson did not whistle immediately. Bogle was left flat on his face, but Smith Rowe was allowed to dribble through for a decent shot at goal. Puzzlingly, having let play continue, the referee did eventually whistle for the foul on Bogle. Rodon is another of United’s defenders to have been sent to the turf this season. His raids forward from defence became a trait of his in the Championship. They may have Farke wincing at times, but they can also be useful in relieving pressure on the back line. Advertisement Against Newcastle, Rodon received a pass from Struijk and could see the chase coming from William Osula. The Wales international had space to charge into, but away defenders would soon close off any route forward he had. The inexperienced Osula kept pursuing, and Rodon waited for the contact and went down, arms in front, sliding on his chest. Peter Bankes blew for a free kick. Waiting for contact has been a staple of the fouls we have pulled out from Leeds’ overall total of 61. Stach produced a good example at Arsenal last month. While going long with goal kicks — as Lucas Perri did here — can often yield possession cheaply, it can also act as a foothold for Leeds in the opposition half. Stach (6ft 4in; 193cm) was under this long ball, with Martin Zubimendi (5ft 11in) and Bukayo Saka (5ft 10in) for company. Rather than flick the ball on, he waits for the midfielders to surround him. The German goes to ground as soon as Zubimendi puts his hands on his back. Farke can be seen appealing for it in the bottom-right corner. The referee gives it and Mikel Arteta complains. As Stach gets up, he tells the Arsenal boss why he went over. Wasting time, when Leeds are in front, is another smart use of fouls. In the final knockings of the win over Everton, Lukas Nmecha, a substitute, tried to make himself a nuisance to the away defenders. Aaronson threaded a clever pass between defenders for Nmecha to latch onto. Michael Keane followed the striker. Leeds were leading, thanks to Nmecha’s penalty, and there were 45 seconds of added time left. The German did not need to do anything extravagant with this passage of play. He cut across Keane’s run, drew the foul, went to ground, and rolled several times before stopping for good measure. Nmecha even has a look back to make sure the referee has seen he is hurt. Fouls are a small thread in the rich tapestry Farke is weaving to keep Leeds in the Premier League. Not all of them have been intentionally won. Some will be due to poor tackles, but whatever the reason, it is a fact that Leeds have drawn more of them than most teams in their five Premier League games. All is fair in love and war, after all. (Top photo: Dan Istitene/Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Beren Cross is a football writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. Before joining The Athletic, he reported on Leeds United for Leeds Live. He was born in Doncaster and grew up in Lincoln. Follow Beren on Twitter @Berencross