The first XI of the season is often a telling factor of who will be the first choice players as the season progresses. For Leeds United, the attacking midfield of Kemar Roofe, Ezgjan Alioski, and Pablo Hernandez performed well together on Sunday, and I expect that those players will be the three we see regularly this season.

As we touched on in this week’s podcast, a football club needs continuity in key areas, and this is something that didn’t happen as much last season. However, the 46 games in the Championship can be physically demanding too, and a gulf in quality from the top of the league and the bottom means that Thomas Christiansen will need to rotate playing time throughout the next nine months. The benefit we now have is that the depth in the attacking third will allow Christiansen the grace to do so without losing as much quality.

The approach on Sunday against Bolton was perfect. Bolton have had a difficult summer in terms of recruitment and are expected to struggle throughout the campaign. Leeds’ fast paced counter-attacking approach worked brilliantly as we won the game in the first half.

The flair and attacking pace in the team on Sunday was the reason we had so much success. However, other teams in the division will provide a sterner test, and the flair will have to be balanced with technicality.

Fulham are a prime example of such a team. We play them in a week’s time, and they play a style of football that means we won’t have the same creative freedom that we would have over the first few games.

Changes to be Made

Personally, I would look to add Stuart Dallas for these types of games. Victory against the top sides in the division is usually determined on small margins. In my opinion, Dallas is the most technically gifted winger at the club: he adds fluidity to the team and can slow down the pace of the game when the opposing side is dominating the play. He can also produce moments of magic, like this one against Oxford in the preseason…

I thought Alioski performed well enough on Sunday, but he does need a lot of the ball to be effective, and he might not get that against the top sides in the division.

I also think that the correct and appropriate inclusion of Hadi Sacko will be effective. He was criticised for his performance on Sunday, as he has been throughout his time at the club. However, for me, he is an impact player and should be utilised from the bench. I believe how the game was playing out on Sunday was the reason his performance was not the best.

For Sacko to be potent in a game, we need to be the team chasing the game. On Sunday as Bolton pushed forward, space did start to appear in their half, but Sacko needs to be constantly driving forward, and when you’re on the back foot, that does not happen.

I would like to see him be given a start Wednesday against Port Vale. Sacko is the type of player that will benefit from a confident performance to take us forward into a difficult period at the end of the month.

The other position that will need adapting throughout the season is at the 10. Pablo Hernandez is our most naturally talented and creative midfielder, but he has not completed a whole season, and Garry Monk relied on him so much last season that it ultimately meant he became ineffective in crucial fixtures. My previous thought on this was that Hernandez should be rested in away games, but Sunday proved that theory wrong: Hernandez played superbly.

For me, he does become less effective in games where the system means he isn’t given the time to play his game. I think in certain games we need the player in the number 10 role to get forward into the box, especially when Chris Wood and the other attacking midfielders are tightly marked. The signing of Samuel Saiz may be the answer; from what I have seen he has the creative flair of Hernandez but also likes to get forward into the box.

The depth and ability in the side will give us many options, including the option to change things if required. To see players like Dallas not included in the squad highlights our depth. Looking at the various styles we have in the midfield attacking roles, if we use that depth properly, Leeds will be able to compete from now through to May 2018. MOT.