Garry Monk is certainly weaving his magic at Elland Road since taking charge of Leeds United back in the summer. After a long time, the Whites are in the race for a playoff spot. Usually, by this time, there remains nothing to be ambitious about in the Yorkshire-based club’s season as they find themselves in or around mid-table from where you can neither get promoted nor go down. However, this season has been so much different and the credit goes to none other than Garry Monk.
We have to wait and see if Leeds can keep up their good work and earn a playoff spot by the end of the season and make their return to the Premier League. If I were in Monk’s position, I would probably bolster the squad to ensure that heads don’t drop. An area of improvement is the centre-forward position where Leeds are over-reliant of Chris Wood.
Marcus Antonsson has failed to provide any kind of competition to Wood since he joined from Kalmar back in the summer. Leeds’ season could be very easily derailed if Wood goes down with a lengthy injury. This season could be Leeds’ big chance of paving their way back to the Premier League and Monk should not take any kind of risk. So, what should be first on his agenda is a capable centre-forward who can deputise for Wood.
If Someone asks me that, ‘In the last few years, who has been the best centre-forwards in the Championship level?’, I would certainly keep Jordan Rhodes on my list. The Scottish international has often been termed as a ‘Championship goal machine’ due to his impressive goals tally in the second tier of English football. Reports claim that Rhodes could be on his way out of Middlesbrough in January after the signing of Rudy Gestede and Leeds should pounce onto the situation.
The 26-year-old is tried and tested in the Championship and could be a solid competitor to Chris Wood up front, which Antonsson has failed to do. Rhodes could provide a lot of options to Monk. The gaffer has mostly used 4-2-3-1 this season but with Rhodes on board, he could switch to 4-4-2 which could see them score more goals. Rhodes and Wood could be a deadly duo which can help Leeds find their way back to the Premier League, where they belong. Monk has to use this opportunity to make Leeds a better team.
