Brian McDermott's tactics have stood out this season, especially in the more difficult games Leeds have won. It's no secret that the United boss has been experimenting with the squad to find his best eleven and the last couple of games, in particular at home to Birmingham, seem to be a turning point for the team tactically.
McDermott has changed the formation to a less rigid 3-5-2, with Warnock and young Sam Byram operating as wing-backs - patrolling the channels to provide support for the forwards and strengthen the back three when the opposition attacks from wide. The defensive side of the formation for many teams who have used it has been consistently criticised in the in the past. Several pundits have ironically targeted the vulnerability of the back three (the three centre-backs that make up the defensive line) as the specific problem.
The back three in the formation are often accused of sloppiness, not as such individually but rather as a unit. The formation demands a high level of chemistry and understanding between that defensive unit and this can be difficult to obtain because intensive practise and training is required. In a recent article for the Yorkshire Evening post, former Leeds United player Brendan Ormsby highlighted the confusion that swapping two centre-backs for three at the back can cause. "With two central halves, they know what they are doing in picking up two strikers between them. With three, one is spare and two are marking and when strikers switch, you've got to be able to pass them on, pick up or drop off."
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| Leeds United's Rodolph Austin at Elland Road against QPR. Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk |
The 3-5-2 formation that Leeds have adopted is almost an exact mirror of Brendan Rodgers' current formation with Liverpool. Rodgers has recently abandoned his famous 4-3-3 approach, the formation that he so spectacularly utilised at Swansea, for the 3-5-2 in order to incorporate both Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suárez as central strikers and it has paid dividends in almost every match that he has deployed it. However, at the weekend against Arsenal, the Liverpool back three saw their defensive confusion punished time and time again as the Chelsea attacking quartet pulled and pushed them out of position. Kolo Toure - a player who was arguably one of the best defenders in the Premier League at one time and part of the famous 03/04 Arsenal "Invincibles" side - was made to look like a school-boy centre-back at times as he was twisted around in a daze, not knowing who to mark or when to cover, oblivious to runs made behind him.
The formation then clearly does have its draw-backs, but it gives a hell of a lot going forward, especially when Leeds' Jamaican international Rodolph Austin puts in a shift and runs the opposition defence ragged. His link up play with McCormack has proved to be invaluble in the last few games as Austin seems to have slipped effortlessly into his role in the 3-5-2. He operates as an all round midfielder within the formation, pushing high up the pitch during build up play and acting almost as a trequartista but equally giving a balance to the team through his tireless defensive tracking work. This defensive part of Austin's game in particular is what sets him apart from his fellow midfielders, it gives his game an edge and when coupled with his aggression and intensity on the pitch. The worry for Leeds is that it does seem that regardless of the formation, when Austin doesn't play or has a bad game then United have a bad game as a whole and that is not a good sign.
Talismans are of course integral to any team with ambitions to gain promotion to the Premier League but to rely on one player to be the backbone of your squad is a big ask. Leeds fans will be hoping that Austin can keep his match fitness up and continue his excellent form because his presence is beginning to seem irreplaceable.
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