Half of Leeds United’s last four goals have come from an opposition player, thanks to the foot of one man. Sadly, Manor Solomon will not officially tally assists for his crosses that led to United’s first goals against West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers.
The winger would leave the field at Loftus Road red-eyed and irate, throwing his arms up at the bench for being taken off before time. It’s not hard to work out why.
Solomon has been replaced during each of his last 12 league matches and has only lasted the full 90 minutes in just one of his last 17 Championship starts. Conversely, Daniel James has lasted the full 90 for the past six straight league matches, and in nine of his last 14 starts. Yet James has not provided crosses for own goals and so has officially gone three games without a goal or an assist. The Welshman has recorded more goal contributions this season, though.
James' 10 goals and nine assists trumps Solomon’s seven goals and eight assists, but then he has played 340 more minutes than his Israeli colleague. The two wingers are perhaps the best pair of flanksmen in the division. That said, Solomon has yet to record in six games.
But they cannot bear all the responsibility for output, and they haven’t to an extent. Joel Piroe has 15 goals and six assists this season, making him the most productive player in the United squad this season. However, his output dips in and out, and he has not recorded a goal contribution in his last four games. Few need telling that Brenden Aaronson's barren streak is far worse - nothing in eight matches.
It’s easy to get frustrated with players but the Championship is a long season with a fair few games - often at a rate of twice-a-week - and involves a lot of travelling in short spaces of time. Rotation is what you have a squad for, yet Farke has done little of this. After the win over Sheffield United, the manager made just one change to each of his line-ups in the three fixtures afterwards, exclusively swapping Ilia Gruev and Joe Rothwell in and out. Against QPR, he changed no players.
Looking up top, the front four have started every single league game in 2025, which consists of 14 league games. Some started the FA Cup ties too, which accounts for two more matches. Perhaps the respective barren runs of the attacking quartet are due to fatigue, both mental and physical. This is the risk Farke has taken by staying stubborn with his selection.
As many analysts have pointed out, Largie Ramaznai and Wilfried Gnonto walk into almost every other side in the Championship. A few may argue Gnonto gets into a couple of the current Premier League bottom three teams. Farke has a depth of talent that other second-tier managers would love to boast about. Against QPR on Saturday, Gnonto showed what Farke misses when he decides against a refresh.
The game also showed why it is important to keep the first-pick front four fresh. It was Piroe who played the ball to Solomon for the first goal and it was James who provided the cross to what ultimately became the equaliser ten minutes after half time.
All of the aforementioned trio waned towards the end of the game with tiredness catching up with them. This saw their barren streak continue. The price of prior success had kept them in the team but perhaps their constant starts have caught up with them.
The international break is a mental reset for all, if not a physical one. Few will remember these personal frustrating streaks if they come up trumps in the final eight games. Everyone will remember if they instead fail to produce due to fatigue.
