Many Leeds United fans had high hopes for a strong return after the international break, expecting the team to build on their recent form. The Whites had collected four points from their opening three matches and looked in decent shape going into the pause in fixtures.
However, frustration grew among supporters when the club failed to strengthen their attack before the transfer window closed. Daniel Farke had been calling for reinforcements since pre-season, but his requests went unanswered, leaving fans disappointed.
At Craven Cottage, Leeds started well in a tightly contested opening. Yet as the game progressed, Farke’s men appeared to settle for a point, adopting a cautious approach in the second half. That decision ultimately proved costly, with sustained pressure from Fulham leading to Gabriel Gudmundsson’s late own goal, which handed victory to the London side.
In an attempt to spark life into the attack, Farke introduced a new frontline combination on Saturday, starting Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Brenden Aaronson together for the first time this season. Given Leeds had only scored twice all campaign, it was a bold gamble. Unfortunately, it did not pay off. Calvert-Lewin squandered a golden chance, Aaronson struggled to make an impact, and Okafor’s display was underwhelming.
TalkSport’s Danny Kelly criticized the decision to experiment so heavily with the attacking lineup. He argued that Farke needs to establish a consistent forward line if Leeds are to get results, warning that constant changes only create instability. Kelly acknowledged Fulham had a slice of luck with the own goal but insisted that Leeds’ problems lay deeper, particularly in attack.
The challenge for Farke is that none of his current attacking options have convincingly earned the right to be regular starters. Unless Leeds can find a settled and effective frontline, they risk facing even greater difficulties in the games ahead.
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