Leeds United had a night to forget on Tuesday as they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Sheffield Wednesday.
Daniel Farke’s side were expected to win with ease, but instead the game turned into a nightmare at Hillsborough.
The defeat has now sparked big questions about some of the players in the squad, with former Whites defender Jon Newsome calling for two high-value players to be sold.
Leeds crash out of Carabao Cup
Leeds went into the match as favourites. Sheffield Wednesday have had huge problems off the pitch and many of their best players have already left.
Even so, Farke still made nine changes but kept plenty of quality on the field.
The starting line-up had seven players with international caps, including some of the club’s most expensive signings.
But it all went wrong that night. A mistake from goalkeeper Karl Darlow allowed Wednesday to take the lead.
Leeds managed to level the score with Jayden Bogle finding the net, but the match went to penalties.
The Championship side held their nerve while Leeds fell apart, suffering another embarrassing result after the heavy 5-0 defeat to Arsenal last week.
Jon Newsome wants two stars gone
After the game, Leeds legend Jon Newsome spoke to BBC Radio Leeds.
He did not hold back in his opinion and insisted that two senior players should be moved on before the transfer deadline.
goal.com, yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk
Newsome said one player was “too negative,” often passing backwards even against younger and less experienced opponents. He questioned if these players were ever good enough for the Premier League.
Newsome explained: “Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions. Maybe it is time to offload people and bring in new ones. In my view, one of these lads wasn’t even good enough for the Championship, so he’s not going to make it in the Premier League.”
His comments will not sit well with the squad, but many fans may agree after seeing another poor performance on the pitch.
Transfer deadline pressure
The big problem for Leeds is money. Between the two players, the club has already spent around £41m.
If the Whites decide to sell now, they are almost certain to take a loss, which is not ideal when Profit and Sustainability Rules are in play.
At the same time, Leeds do need to cut down the squad.
Reports suggest Isaac Schmidt is close to a £3m switch to Werder Bremen in Germany, while Sam Greenwood is set to move permanently to Pogon in Poland for around £3.5m.
These deals will bring in some cash and reduce the wage bill.
What next for Farke and Leeds?
For Daniel Farke, the pressure is rising. Back-to-back defeats and early cup elimination have left fans frustrated.
Leeds face Newcastle next in the league, and another poor display could make the situation even worse.
Whether or not the club decides to sell the two criticised players, it is clear changes are needed quickly if Leeds want to avoid another difficult season.
For more Leeds United news, gear and match updates, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates directly to your phone.
Get real time update about this post category directly on your device, subscribe now.
Discover more from Leeds United News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
