Ao Tanaka

[1964white]

Brilliant goal from our favourite Jap.

[The Subhuman]

Farke's game management has got us to a FA Cup Semi-Final for the first time in 39 years.

Think we won again today in spite of Farke's in game management. If you think we played better after the changes and West
Ham were not on top, then that's your call.

[PhoenixUnited]

DF is working within his available resources. He makes decisions that will be agreeable to some and not to others. Sometimes you get the rub of the green, other times you don't. Refs will make curious and wrong decisions and F up literally every game.

In a blinking of an eye whatever game management DF employed will become a vague memory but what will be set in tablets of stone will be the results.

In this instance there is a win against Wet Spam and the prize of a semi final FA Cup game against Shellsi to look forward to.

For what it's worth Tanaka had a brilliant game. Our best player IMHO. He was taken off because the game was passing him by in the second half but to me that was as a result of him being shifted back to DM after the Stach injury. What a waste of time it was to bring Aaronson on and make him take the position that Tanaka was playing so beautifully in. Aaronson did nothing at all of note apart from scoring his penalty. Hey ho

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Why Aaronson gets the nod in every PL game instead of Tanaka is just beyond me.

[DDB220]

Why Aaronson gets the nod in every PL game instead of Tanaka is just beyond me.

Because of the 3 CB system we employ his work rate is essential but underrated.

I think they are both good players with different skill sets and it boils down to the tactical set up.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Because of the 3 CB system we employ his work rate is essential but underrated.

I think they are both good players with different skill sets and it boils down to the tactical set up.

Aaronson has no end product though. And his last goal was against Newcastle.

Tanaka's work rate was excellent yesterday apparently.

[weasel]

Think we won again today in spite of Farke's in game management. If you think we played better after the changes and West
Ham were not on top, then that's your call.

Momentum in games can change regardless of what managers do.

I think Farke called it right. WH were getting on top of us and with Stach being off injured it made sense to bring Gruev on to stabilise us and Aaronsen to give us fresh legs, more a case og going back to the tried and trusted.

After the changes were made we dominated. We went 2-0 up and had the openings to have made the game safe. We didn't take them and WH got a goal out of nothing - Bowen is the sort of player that can make that happen. That was probably their first chance after we'd got our 2nd goal and came completely against the run of play.

[CUSSIE01]

Aaronson has no end product though. And his last goal was against Newcastle.

Tanaka's work rate was excellent yesterday apparently.

Don’t take this the wrong way, just a genuine question. Do you ever watch a Leeds game ?

[GreennWhite]

Some fans moan about certain players not getting much game time and how it effects them. They play and when it doesnt go well its because they havent been used enough and are not match fit.
Well AO hasnt had a lot of game time, but took his chance yesterday and showed that you can play well even if you dont start as many games as you would like.

[DavidH]

As has been said, the substitutes were timely as West Ham was getting on top. Aaronson and Gruev...and DCL were the right subs in my opinion. We needed stability in defence and someone to hold the ball up when it was lofted by our defence. Two things. Ampadu was vigorously gesturing to the bench to get fresh legs on at the time, and to say Aaronson did nothing but score his penalty, discounts the fact that he was brought down in the West Ham area, winning us the penalty that DCL put away.

Through to the semi finals of the FA Cup. Is there nothing that blunts the criticisms of some people? Just wondering if these people defend Leeds United when confronted by other fans when they're not on here

[Johnsie123]

I honestly think A O is under used I really think he brings alot to the team in the goals and assists,he us as strong as Gruve in defence but sometimes you need to change it around ,cos we can't keep drawing matches in the prem we need to win some for safety.
I honestly don't think it's a given against wolves or Burnley so we need to think outside the box to get the required results

[Irish Ian]

Some fans moan about certain players not getting much game time and how it effects them. They play and when it doesnt go well its because they havent been used enough and are not match fit.
Well AO hasnt had a lot of game time, but took his chance yesterday and showed that you can play well even if you dont start as many games as you would like.

Its the tik tok instant gratification generation ( i stole that from somewhere) but the idea that everything needs to be just right, in real time., otherwise its wrong and someone needs to be found at fault.

We have a squad of players, form dips form rises, some play better in different systems, with different players around them, in different occasions, sometimes its horses for courses, the fact is that I cant think of any of our squad who has been consistently poor all season.

When the likes of Tanaka are used it is a must that they are used in their best role. Yesterday was a great example of that.

AO had a great game yesterday, but does that mean he always starts? When Stach went off he had to drop back to balance the midfield and he wasnt able to play the role as well as the one he had previously. So one player affects another and on it goes.

Before Leeds had most of the possession because of the high press, but it was then being played through ( or around) when Stach went off and AO was trying to play a different role.
Add in losing Rodon and we saw how the spine of the team was affected. We were no longer in control of the game.

For those who want Gnonto to play more ( and I like him a lot) that is ok if you want a game of basketball, but if you want control, he is high risk.

AO has found a wee bit of form, perhaps DF a bit more insight into how he can be used when and where.

He is coming across as a big game player, and with big games ahead maybe he will have a chance to shine

[GreennWhite]

Its the tik tok instant gratification generation ( i stole that from somewhere) but the idea that everything needs to be just right, in real time., otherwise its wrong and someone needs to be found at fault.

We have a squad of players, form dips form rises, some play better in different systems, with different players around them, in different occasions, sometimes its horses for courses, the fact is that I cant think of any of our squad who has been consistently poor all season.

When the likes of Tanaka are used it is a must that they are used in their best role. Yesterday was a great example of that.

AO had a great game yesterday, but does that mean he always starts? When Stach went off he had to drop back to balance the midfield and he wasnt able to play the role as well as the one he had previously. So one player affects another and on it goes.

Before Leeds had most of the possession because of the high press, but it was then being played through ( or around) when Stach went off and AO was trying to play a different role.
Add in losing Rodon and we saw how the spine of the team was affected. We were no longer in control of the game.

For those who want Gnonto to play more ( and I like him a lot) that is ok if you want a game of basketball, but if you want control, he is high risk.

AO has found a wee bit of form, perhaps DF a bit more insight into how he can be used when and where.

He is coming across as a big game player, and with big games ahead maybe he will have a chance to shine

I dont mind one bit, if fans have a go at players or manager, after all its just their opinions. What i find hard to accept is the week in week out, month in month out complaining about the players and manager. Yes they play badly at times, yes the manager makes mistakes but for those that constantly moan, just tell us it once. We dont need to hear it all the time. We get it, we understand, just move on and let it be.

[Irish Ian]

I dont mind one bit, if fans have a go at players or manager, after all its just their opinions. What i find hard to accept is the week in week out, month in month out complaining about the players and manager. Yes they play badly at times, yes the manager makes mistakes but for those that constantly moan, just tell us it once. We dont need to hear it all the time. We get it, we understand, just move on and let it be.

Agree, some seem very determined to find fault though, even on trivialities.

If you cant enjoy it, why bother?

[1964white]

I'm looking forward to Tanaka showing the world how good he is.....Come on Japan.

[Cjay]

He was immense.

One of if not the best performance from a midfielder this season for us.

[1964white]

He was immense.

One of if not the best performance from a midfielder this season for us.

Immense indeed.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

An interesting stat thrown up by AI ;

"As of April 2026, Leeds United have won 62% of their matches with Ao Tanaka in the starting line-up during the 2025–26 season, compared to a 27% win rate when he has not started. "

[weasel]

An interesting stat thrown up by AI ;

"As of April 2026, Leeds United have won 62% of their matches with Ao Tanaka in the starting line-up during the 2025–26 season, compared to a 27% win rate when he has not started. "

thrown up being an apt description. No mention of quality of opposiiton, who else played for us etc. Just a fairly irrlevant stat. I do see it as Tanaka and Aaronsen competing for a start though as the position suits them both. Might be that Aaronsen gets a little more rest so he rediscovers his best form.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

thrown up being an apt description. No mention of quality of opposiiton, who else played for us etc. Just a fairly irrlevant stat. I do see it as Tanaka and Aaronsen competing for a start though as the position suits them both. Might be that Aaronsen gets a little more rest so he rediscovers his best form.

IMO Tanaka is simply a more talented and creative footballer than Aaronson, and with a far better eye for goal as well. We're all entitled to opinions however. Aaronson seems to have reverted backwards to what he used to be criticised for recently.

And no goals in nearly 7 hours of PL football tells me me that we are crying out for more creativity. That kind of stat doesn't lie.