Buendia 2.0? Huge lifeline for Leeds United man brought in from wilderness by Daniel Farke - View
Leeds United attacker Ian Poveda looks to have been given a new lease of life this pre-season by Daniel Farke, shining in attacking midfield.
The Whites are approaching the start of the season this week where they will be taking on Cardiff City on Sunday to kick off their return to the Championship.
Daniel Farke’s transfer business is not nearly complete, meaning that he has been having to plug gaps in his squad by experimenting with different existing options in positions of weakness.
Attacking midfield has been a key position pointed out in need of recruitment, but staking his claim to be Leeds’ answer to Emi Buendia’s performances under Farke at Norwich City is Ian Poveda.
Here, we look at two reasons why Poveda needs to be considered as a real option in attacking midfield…
Farke rates him
After back-to-back loans in the Championship with Blackburn and Blackpool, Poveda was up and down for both sides, not helped by a lengthy injury layoff at the former of the two in 21/22.
However, no one expected that Poveda would come into this season with a genuine shot of making his way back into the squad with regular action, but good coaches get more out of players.
Farke spoke after Poveda’s fine effort against Nottingham Forest last week, where he said this about the 23-year-old (via Leeds Live):
“I just can try to speak to the lads, try to make them work, try to bring the most of my ideas to football into their head but also into their hearts. I just can bring them, it’s up to the players if they want to step through the door. It’s difficult and not just after one or two good performances we are dancing on the table because of his performance. He has to keep going, he has to work unbelievably hard.
“I’m pleased with his developments so far and that’s reason why he get some game time and get the chances. But just after one or two good games I’m not willing to sing the big song of praise about him, so he has to keep going.”
Farke isn’t getting carried away, because he still has to produce real consistency before we can count on him across a 46-game season, but Farke has seen a hard-working player in training with the talent needed to make it work at Leeds.
Giving him that chance last week could be the springboard for more opportunities.
He has the qualities needed to operate through the middle
Against Forest, he was moving all over the place to get on the ball in the opposition half, and as a number 10, that’s a great trait to possess.
Getting on the ball and driving forward carries a huge threat, especially when you couple it with the confidence to beat a man or wait for the right pass.
Poveda had one of those games where everything was clicking for him, and it helps him when he’s got a sea of options in front of him through dynamic attackers both out wide and centrally, as well as full-backs.
You need a sort of arrogance to operate in attacking midfield, trying things to create chances that other players might not be willing to risk, and it paid off for him.
Quiz: How well do you know Leeds United’s new head coach Daniel Farke? Find out here…
