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Leeds United bagged their first win of pre-season as they saw off German third-tier side SC Verl 4-1.
After drawing 0-0 with Manchester United, Leeds were dominant in this second pre-season engagement, which lasted 120 minutes.
Joel Piroe scored both goals in the first half, with the second coming from the penalty spot, while Wilfried Gnonto and summer signing Lukas Nmecha getting in on the act later.
Verl grabbed a consolation goal in the 119th minute when Jonas Arweiler rounded Karl Darlow.
The match gave Daniel Farke a chance to test out one of his systems for the upcoming season and mull over various selection headaches.
Mail Sport's Aadam Patel was on the scene to bring you all the things we learned.
Leeds United won their second game of pre-season 4-1 against SC Verl in Germany
Daniel Farke sent his side out with a different system to the one they used against Man United
Tactical flexibility
After setting up in a 4-3-3 against Manchester United, Leeds reverted to the 4-2-3-1 they adopted last season.
Understandably, this was a game where they had much more control against a German third-tier outfit and the Leeds boss, Daniel Farke insisted that he wants his side to be ‘flexible’ for the range of challenges in the Premier League.
‘We are flexible and want to be flexible. I’m not addicted to base formations. I’m more addicted to principles,’ Farke told Mail Sport.
‘There are different challenges and games where we don’t expect too much possession. When you travel to Man City or to Arsenal or Liverpool, those games will be different to the games against the promoted sides so we need different options.
'Last season, we played in a very similar base formation because we were winning games and when you’re winning, you don’t want to disturb. I expect more challenges next season where we have to mirror the opponent more so it’s important to prepare for that,’ Farke added.
On numerous occasions, he kept shouting ‘distance’ to Ilia Gruev and Sean Longstaff, implying that he wanted his two holding midfielders to be close to each other and form a double pivot.
Ultimately, this clash against lower-level opposition was an early indicator of how Leeds may set up in games where they expect more of the ball.
They reverted to the 4-2-3-1 they used last season, suggesting it could still have a role to play
The left-wing conundrum
With Manor Solomon gone, the left-wing situation is intriguing. Against SC Verl, Farke tried out both Jack Harrison and Largie Ramazani there before Wilfried Gnonto spent the latter stages, switching from right to left.
Harrison, despite tensions with sections of the fanbase, is getting his chance during pre-season and was the subject of much of Farke’s instructions during his 60 minutes on the pitch.
Early on, the Leeds boss insisted to Harrison that 'we have to be quicker (to get) inside' and given that the 28-year-old hasn’t been at Leeds for the past two seasons, it seems that he is still coming to grips with Farke’s system.
Ramazani, who provided a spark against Man Utd, was brilliant again and involved in both second-half goals but still lacks that killer edge in front of goal. While Gnonto looked good too and scored with his left-foot. The pair have started pre-season brightly.
Looking ahead, a move for Brazilian Igor Paixao is unlikely but not impossible with Paixao’s team insisting to Mail Sport that right now, he is only negotiating with Marseille. But if those talks do not progress, then the Feyenoord winger, who Leeds like, is one to keep an eye on.
Their left-wing situation is intriguing , with Largie Ramazani (above), Jack Harrison, and Wilfried Gnonto all getting a run there
The need for a top goalkeeper
Against SC Verl, Illan Meslier, Alex Cairns and Karl Darlow all played 40 minutes each (in a 120-minute game).
Meslier was Leeds’ number one for most of Farke’s first two seasons but was dropped towards the latter stages of last season for Karl Darlow. Both Meslier and Darlow made impressive saves while Cairns was penalised for holding onto the ball too long, as per the new IFAB rules which allows the keeper to hold onto the ball for a maximum of eight seconds, otherwise a corner kick is awarded to the other side.
Leeds want a new number one in place before the start of the season but the belief is that there’s no real rush yet, given that it will take less time for a keeper to fit into the system.
‘We have three really good goalkeepers who played but we will look at each and every position in order to strengthen the squad,’ Farke admitted.
Leeds want a new number one to replace long-time first-choice custodian Illan Meslier
Joel Piroe bagged a brace against Verl but overall Leeds' striker situation needs improving
Patrick Bamford is not in Farke's plan to be a consistent part of their Premier League campaign
Striker crisis
Up top, Joel Piroe hit the ground running with a brace, new signing Lukas Nmecha looked a handful and Harry Gray was impressive too.
That said, with Patrick Bamford exiled and Mateo Joseph wanting a move away, the need for another quality centre-forward is clear.
Leeds like Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz and had a £26illion bid rejected by Fulham last month. It remains to be seen whether they’ll go back for the Brazilian, who Fulham value at north of £40m. There is a possibility that Leeds will wait for a few outgoings to raise the funds while Rodrigo is certainly keen for regular football, in a World Cup year.
Asked about the need for a striker now heating up, Farke said: ‘It was always the plan to build the squad step-by-step. We are looking for enforcements and for players who make us better.
'That’s regardless of the situation with Mateo (Joseph) and Patrick (Bamford). Central defence and central midfield are sorted. All the other positions, we are still in the market.’
