🔍 Anton Stach, Set-Pieces & Leeds’ Strategy: A Deeper Dive
Leeds United’s return to the Premier League has come with a clear shift in recruitment strategy: physicality, height, and a focus on controlling the physical battles in both boxes. One of the central figures in this plan is Anton Stach, who has surprisingly emerged not just as a midfield anchor, but as the club’s primary set-piece taker — a decision that has drawn mixed reactions from fans and pundits alike.
⚽️ Why is a 6’4” Midfielder Taking Set-Pieces?
The obvious question many have asked is: Why would you take a 6’4” player out of the box — especially when set-pieces are now such a vital part of your goal threat?
On the surface, it appears to be a tactical misstep. But according to Graham Smyth on the Inside Elland Road podcast, the club has a specific rationale:
“The club will say Anton Stach’s very, very good at set-pieces… They’d also say that Anton Stach’s not that good at attacking set-pieces, so having him in the box might not actually be the weapon that you think it is.”
This reveals a more nuanced perspective. Just because a player is tall doesn’t automatically make him an elite aerial threat. Stach’s technique and consistency in delivery are considered to be of higher value than what he might offer as an aerial target.
Moreover, Smyth highlights comparisons with others in the squad — notably Joe Rodon, who is strong at getting first contact but lacks the accuracy to convert headers into goals. In contrast, players like Struijk, Rodon, Bijol, and even Calvert-Lewin are better suited to attacking crosses.
🧠 A Tactical Trade-Off
By keeping Stach out of the box and assigning him dead-ball duty, Daniel Farke is making a clear tactical trade-off. The hope is that Stach’s deliveries can exploit the aerial prowess of Leeds’ physically dominant squad. However, this approach has a ceiling — it’s only as effective as the quality and variation of those deliveries.
And so far, that output hasn’t yet reached a consistently dangerous level.
There’s also a degree of necessity behind the decision. Smyth implies that this is less about ideal tactical alignment and more about working with what’s available:
“Perhaps it’s going to be more out of necessity… Maybe Stach is just better-suited taking them than attacking them.”
The lack of another proven set-piece specialist is glaring. While Leeds are reportedly close to bringing in a set-piece coach, there remains a gap in execution — something that’s critical for a team trying to grind out results through narrow margins and structured phases.
📏 Leeds’ Recruitment Strategy: Size Over Style?
This summer’s recruitment has clearly prioritized physicality, height, and Premier League readiness, even at the cost of flair or creativity. Players like Bijol, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin, and Stach all fit a clear mold — tall, strong, aggressive.
Smyth notes that Leeds have become “significantly taller and more combative”, which supports a style of play that leans heavily on:
Set-pieces
Aerial duels
Second balls
Press-resistant midfield screens
This is a strategic adaptation to the Premier League’s physical intensity — a stark contrast from Leeds’ last top-flight spell, which often relied on high tempo, man-marking, and chaos under Bielsa.
But it raises another question: Does this side have enough creativity to consistently score goals from open play?
🧨 Attacking Worries: Smyth’s Big Concern
While Leeds may now be tougher to break down and more threatening from corners and free-kicks, Graham Smyth’s major concern is blunt and simple: scoring enough goals.
He outlines the issues in detail:
🎯 Wingers: Lots of Energy, Little End Product
Leeds have a variety of winger profiles:
Dan James – blistering pace, but inconsistent crossing and decision-making.
Noah Okafor – power and athleticism, but unproven end product at this level.
Jack Harrison – excellent work rate, but not a consistent goal threat.
Brenden Aaronson – energy and pressing, but little final-third quality.
Willy Gnonto – arguably the most naturally gifted, but inconsistent and still raw.
Smyth summarizes the problem well:
“You’ve got different things, but not enough creativity. I don’t see enough assists and goals there.”
There’s no clear playmaker or winger capable of consistently unlocking defenses, especially in low blocks where moments of ingenuity are required.
⚔️ Strikers: Talent, But Big Question Marks
Smyth also highlights concern about the striker options, all of whom carry risks:
🏥 Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Has the profile Leeds need: great in the air, strong, experienced.
But his injury record is worrying.
Staying fit and rediscovering form is a double gamble.
⚙️ Lukas Nmecha
Impressed against Newcastle — strong hold-up play and intelligent movement.
But there’s still uncertainty about whether he’s a consistent Premier League goal threat.
❓ Joel Piroe
Championship Golden Boot winner — proven at that level.
Yet, unproven in the Premier League and still adapting.
Will he get enough service? Will he adjust to the pace and physicality?
“You just don’t know if it’s going to translate,” Smyth adds. And he’s right — Leeds need at least one of these strikers to overperform expectations to avoid a goal drought.
🧩 The Missing Piece: No Creative No.10
Perhaps the most telling gap in the squad is what wasn’t done: Farke wanted a creative playmaker — a No.10 — all summer and didn’t get one.
That role is often the heartbeat of chance creation and assists. Without it, Leeds will have to rely on:
Wing-play
Crosses
Set-pieces
Moments of individual brilliance
This is a precarious foundation to build a Premier League survival campaign on.
📉 Conclusion: A Physically Upgraded Team With an Attacking Identity Crisis
Leeds United have clearly improved in some key areas:
Better defensive structure
Improved height and set-piece threat
Added Premier League experience
But the squad also carries major offensive flaws:
Lack of creative supply
Uncertainty around goal-scoring output
No elite set-piece taker or chance creator
Anton Stach symbolizes this balancing act — an effective but imperfect solution in a squad still trying to find balance between physical dominance and creative execution.
Graham Smyth’s worry is valid: if Leeds can’t find consistent ways to score, particularly against compact defenses or in tight games, they’ll remain vulnerable — no matter how big, strong, or structured they are.