Analysing Garry Monk's midfield conundrum ahead of Leeds' Good Friday clash at Newcastle
Friday 14 April 2017 09:51, UK
It's been six years since Leeds were involved in the business end of the season in the Sky Bet Championship. With five games left, Garry Monk's side are five points clear of Fulham in seventh. But ahead of Friday's clash at Newcastle on Sky Sports, the head coach still has a conundrum he's yet to solve - his central midfield pairing.
Since switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation against Blackburn back in September, Monk has used that system in 32 of Leeds' next 35 games. The exceptions were the home wins over Reading and Rotherham and the away win against Wolves.
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Monk has used four central midfielders in that run, captain Liam Bridcutt, Eunan O'Kane, Ronaldo Vieira and Kalvin Phillips. A pair from those four sit behind a playmaker, generally Pablo Hernandez. But who is the best option for Monk?
These figures also include the three games before Blackburn where Leeds played 4-4-2, with a central midfield pairing. And on this evidence, Leeds have most success with Bridcutt and O'Kane while O'Kane also fares well on an individual basis.
So do the statistics add up? Here's how each contender ranks individually...
Liam Bridcutt
The captain of the ship, big things were expected from Bridcutt when Leeds signed him after protracted negotiations with Sunderland this summer. He spent the second half of last season on loan from the Premier League strugglers and, on his return, was immediately named captain after Sol Bamba's departure.
Most of Leeds' play starts deep with Bridcutt, indeed he's attempted 1,034 passes in his 23 appearances, more than the three other midfielders. He's also made the most successful tackles of the four, winning 83, 17 more than the others, often breaking up dangerous opposition attacks.
But Bridcutt has had injury problems. He missed the win over Preston with an Achilles injury and also spent a lengthy time on the sidelines with a fractured foot in the first half of the campaign. Monk needs his captain fit for the run-in.
Eunan O'Kane
A late addition to the United squad, Monk signed O'Kane from Bournemouth to shore up his midfield after a difficult start to the season. But he's been in and out of the side, especially in the second half of the campaign.
The Irish international found his best form in the games before injury against Liverpool, impressing in particular in the 3-2 win over Norwich. But he missed two months with a pelvic injury and has started just six games since then.
O'Kane is a tidy passer with his accuracy rating over 80% and Leeds have won 72 per cent of the games he has started. But the side occasionally appear outmuscled in midfield when O'Kane starts and he has made less tackles, blocks and interceptions than the other three.
With two assists, O'Kane has a role to play in this Leeds side, but it depends whether Monk opts for a more dynamic option in that middle two.
Ronaldo Vieira
"Wow". That was the only word a former England manager needed to describe one of Vieira's performances this season. Steve McClaren had just watched the teenager boss his Derby side off the park in January and he was full of praise for the midfielder.
It's been an impressive first campaign for Vieira, who made his debut on the final day of last season against Preston. He's got the best dribble percentage of the four, and also the second best passing percentage. Vieira has made the most blocks and ranks second for tackles and interceptions, proving he's got the all-round game to reach the very top.
Occasional big games have passed him by - he was hauled off against Barnsley away and also struggled away at Huddersfield, but what about the last minute winner at Carrow Road against Norwich?
Vieira has played the most games of all four central midfielders and has a very bright future in front of him.
Kalvin Phillips
He's had his critics this year, but there's no doubting Phillips has some spark the other three just don't provide. He's created 22 chances from his 20 starts, nine more than any of his rivals and proved just how he can change a game, coming off the bench away at Birmingham to create Chris Wood's second goal.
Phillips has also been on the scoresheet this season, curling in a free kick back in August against Nottingham Forest. Phillips has made the most interceptions with 37 and rates highly in the tackle count too.
But the 21-year-old has also been sent off twice, away at Brighton and away at Fulham. He can drift out of games and can be guilty of giving the ball away, with the lowest passing accuracy of the four contenders; and indeed the only one under 80 per cent.
