Leeds United supporters will not be pleased with Daniel Farke after latest Largie Ramazani verdict

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Leeds United drew 1-1 with Luton Town on Saturday afternoon at Kenilworth Road thanks to Dan James’ equaliser in the first half.

As they looked for a winner, many fans wondered which players Daniel Farke would turn to again. Largie Ramazani was again overlooked for a role in Leeds’ attack, with Farke opting for Patrick Bamford, Brenden Aaronson, Sam Byram, Max Wober, and Isaac Schmidt instead.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	BurnleyBurnley	40	23	15	2	55	12	43	84
2	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	40	26	7	7	56	30	26	83
3	LeedsLeeds	40	23	13	4	79	28	51	82
4	SunderlandSunderland	40	21	12	7	57	37	20	75
5	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	40	17	9	14	61	49	12	60
6	Bristol CityBristol City	40	15	15	10	51	43	8	60
7	CoventryCoventry	40	17	8	15	57	53	4	59
8	West BromWest Brom	40	13	18	9	48	36	12	57

For many, it was a strange decision considering what Ramazani has done in spells this season. Many had hoped he would be utilised more in the promotion run-in, with rotation becoming a particular issue for Leeds and Farke of late and was so again this weekend in the Championship.

Many believe the Whites are falling apart again. But despite not trusting all of his bench, Willy Gnonto’s start in attacking midfield was one change to the line-up that Farke made, even with goals and assists evading the rest that have kept their place routinely in recent weeks and more changes called for.

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Daniel Farke’s Largie Ramazani comments and key Leeds United stats underlined

Despite not kicking a ball against Luton Town, the Leeds winger was still criticised by Daniel Farke in sharing why Ramazani wasn’t selected to come off the bench late on in the match, instead opting for Schmidt as a makeshift winger.

Via Beren Cross of The Athletic, Farke outlined in his post-match press conference that Ramazani’s maturity in duels as the crucial issue. Claiming that he needs to ‘step up’ in Championship games.

The problem isn’t whether that statement is true or not, but more so the other side of Ramazani’s game. The wide forward was a £10 million summer signing, per The Yorkshire Evening Post. He ought to be backed more considering his achievements in La Liga, including goals scored away at the Bernabeu.

Simply put: he makes stuff happen. His goals and assists this season have come in limited minutes but Ramazani is electric and devastating at his very best, combining speed and a match-winning factor that not many second tier players possess. It makes him one of the league’s best players.

Per Opta’s Jonny Cooper, Ramazani has had the most shots per 90 mins of any player (3.9), the joint most shots on target per 90 mins (1.6), and has the third best open play xG per 90 mins (0.43). That means he has a goal or assist every 123 mins.

Had he been involved against Luton, Leeds may have had another fresh X-factor player with differential quality to win a game. Even if he is not as good in terms of the defensive or out of possession side of the game as other wide forwards, the risk/reward ratio favoured bringing him on into the action.

He is lacking some match sharpness, some fitness from lack of consistent minutes, and real rhythm, but that doesn’t take away from what he is capable of. In transition or settled play, Ramazani can be deadly and tie his opposing defender in knots.

That ability to be a difference-maker is exactly what was required from the bench, especially with pundits making claims about getting ‘over the line’ and what is required to do so. Farke’s ‘good point’ claim did not go down well, and nor has his mis-usage of the squad and Ramazani being underutilised.

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Largie Ramazani’s goal and assist numbers so far for Leeds

It should have been no real surprise that Ramazani looked like he had proven to be a shrewd acquisition already in the early stages of the season, given that the 24-year-old was a shining light for UD Almeria last season despite their relegation.

Ramazani’s ankle injury, therefore, was a huge blow to Leeds when it came, especially with the momentum he had been building alongside Gnonto. The winger’s absence was initially keenly felt, particularly as he brings speed, mobility, and athleticism to the side.

Of course Manor Solomon came into his own eventually. But Ramazani’s agility, coupled with his dribbling prowess, allows him to drive at defenders with real dynamism, forcing mistakes and creating space for both him and his teammates, which was getting more out of the young Italian when he found himself inverted to combine in-field with Brenden Aaronson and Ramazani. 

That was what Farke settled on at the start of the season, making it a real shame what has happened since. Even still, he has six goal involvements in the league for Leeds in just 738 minutes and just seven starts — which is incredibly impressive. It’s why he should and would be an effective impact player and thus trusted more.

A standout aspect of Ramazani’s game, which Leeds are certainly somewhat missing, is his ability to strike the ball well with either foot, making him unpredictable in front of goal. His willingness to shoot or play passes off both feet adds a layer of versatility to Leeds’ attack that perhaps lacks from some other players.