Leeds United

Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United indecision making 21-year-old snub even more bizarre – Our View

|
Image for Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United indecision making 21-year-old snub even more bizarre – Our View

Luke Ayling has started back-to-back Premier League fixtures for the first time this season in Leeds United’s last two games.

Leeds brought Rasmus Kristensen to the club from RB Salzburg in the summer, with Jesse Marsch seemingly promoting his former player to first choice at right-back, knocking Ayling down the pecking order.

However, in draws with Newcastle United and West Ham, Ayling has started and played all-but 20 minutes of the two games.

The right-back position at Leeds is an interesting one, with Kristensen a bit of a slow burner as he adapts, Ayling out of contract and Cody Drameh cutting a frustrated figure somewhere in the background.

Our writers Kris (FA5) and Alfie (N12) discuss the dilemma Marsch has and his recent selections:

I don’t think Ayling had the most remarkable game against West Ham, but his overall positioning and eagerness to get forward was a real asset.

His natural position when Leeds have the ball is 10 yards further forward than Kristensen, and that is a great asset to have in such a narrow attacking formation that we have.

The fact that Marsch is still changing between Ayling and Kristensen shows that the number one spot there is still up for grabs, which begs the question of why we’re not playing Cody Drameh.

He’s done nothing wrong this season, in fact he’s clearly someone Marsch admires in training, so why not prove we want him to stay by playing him while neither right-back option is really setting the world alight?

Do you think Ayling will be at Leeds next season?

Yes

Yes

No

No

It’s quite hard to put your finger on Marsch’s thinking when it comes to the right-back position.

Kristensen had a tough evening against Jack Grealish against Man City, but was starting to look more comfortable at Premier League level overall. On the back of that, Ayling has come in and offered something a bit different with his energy getting forwards in particular.

Marsch, then, doesn’t feel at all like he’s settled on who he thinks is first choice, which makes Drameh’s situation all that more bizarre.

The 21-year-old isn’t getting a place on the bench right now and with two senior players ahead of him in the pecking order that is not a surprise. Yet, given Marsch can’t seemingly decide on who his go-to man is at right-back, Drameh must be thinking he’s worth a shot.

Hopefully a chance comes in the FA Cup on Sunday against Cardiff so the youngster can put himself firmly in the mix for a place in the Premier League XI.

The big updated Cody Drameh quiz – Can Leeds United fans score 20/20?

1 of 20

In what year was Cody Drameh born?

Share this article

Leeds United Season Ticket Holder at Elland Road for over 20 seasons. Currently nestled in N12, but occasionally offering views from the press box. We’ve been through it all together? You bet.