Flexibility is Leeds United's cure for second-season syndrome — Yorkshire Post 1/9/26

By Stuart Rayner

"Second-season syndrome" is not something made up by managers to scare their boards into buying new players, it is a thing. Adaptability is a big part of how Leeds United are seeking to stave it off in 2026-27.

Famously, tactical flexibility was a big reason why the Whites survived their first season back in the Premier League.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time to Manchester City in late November, manager Daniel Farke swapped the 4-3-3 that had been his staple so far that season and switched to a 3-5-2. Leeds still lost the game, but only to a stoppage-time Phil Foden goal. They won the second half 2-1.

A new blueprint was written. The 3-5-2 became 3-4-2-1 and got entrenched at Elland Road, to the extent that at times the likes of Daniel James were shoehorned into it.

There is a freshness to newly-promoted teams. Normally their tactics can catch opponents on the hop the first time they play them, only for the second half of the campaign to be tougher. That Leeds had changed tactics by the time they played most sides again extended the life of it.

But in an era where every kick is filmed from multiple angles in high definition and analysts have spreadsheets that look like they belong at Nasa, not a training ground, sides can get caught out in season two.

It is why Farke was cautioning even before the last campaign ended that this one could be another relegation battle. It is why he still refers to his team as a "promoted side".

Part of Leeds’ solution has been transfers – making big upgrades in James Trafford, Tarik Muharemovic, Nico Elvedei and Harry Wilson.

But against Brentford, Farke showed tactical adaptability too, changing at half-time to a back four to stem the bleeding after Kevin Schade’s opener, then switching to 3-5-2 to find the equaliser.

"I think it (flexibility) is non-negotiable," said Farke after the game. "You need this because many clubs will be more prepared for us.

"Very often a side plays one good season with tactical surprises – overlapping centre-backs in a three-man (defensive) formation (from Sheffield United) a few years ago – and then second season everyone is prepared and you don't have a Plan B or C to bring your principles and DNA on the pitch (ninth in 2019-20, the Blades were relegated in 2020-21).

"This is what we want to do.

"We will always have the same DNA, the same principles, the same values (on) how we want to work, the same Leeds United side but we need different scenarios for how to bring this on the pitch.

"We are not so dominant that we can always play like Bayern Munich in Germany who always play the same (4-2-3-1) set-up and dominate the league and win each game 5-0.

"We are a promoted side in the second year. We need the flexibility to sometimes take away the advantage in terms of individual quality from other teams by being tactically spot on."

James had had to show it himself since the post-Manchester City change took his position – winger – out of the equation most matches.

"It's just having that versatility and people to adapt to positions," reflected the second-half substitute. "(Central midfielder) Ethan (Ampadu) slotted into that back three well, because he played it before.

"You've got to be versatile to change formations. We did it really well."

Late last season, Leeds began repurposing James as a wing-back, so even though Leeds were actually playing with wingers when he came on against Brentford, Farke switched to 3-5-2, encouraging the Hull-born player to get high up the pitch as he did popping up in the centre-forward position to shoot shortly before Dominic Calvert-Lewin's equaliser.

"When you first do it, it's a little bit different," he said of his new position. "It's a lot more defensive duties.

"But when I play, I want to just be as attacking as I can. I'll always try and help out when we need it but it's my job to be that attacking threat as well.

"When we don't have it down that side, you're not playing that role as you should. I'm a winger, but I just want to be on the pitch.

"The last few games, I've played it kind of how I've wanted to but I've got to do that defensive role and I'm happy to do that for this team."

But Farke is conscious not to get carried away with being a tactical tinkerman.

"You need to find a good balance because you also don't want to overload your players," he cautioned.

"It's not that you can change it ten times during the game and you overload the players.

"I don't like to change it too often during a game but once it's needed, like Sunday, you have to do this.

"Then it's very complicated. On the training pitch it's not that you just train different formations but also different phases of the game – the build-up, you have to train the midfield player how to create chances, set pieces, how to press, how to sit deep. It's very complicated.

"But if it would be easy, anyone can do this."