“What They Really Need…..” Former Leeds United Boss Makes Squad Claim

Former Leeds United manager Simon Grayson believes a missing link in the squad is holding them back from unlocking their full potential this season.

Grayson has reiterated his call for Leeds United to sign a creative No.10, highlighting the team’s current lack of composure against tight defences. Despite a solid start to the season, including a 2-0 victory over 10-man Cardiff City, Leeds have struggled to produce dominant performances and often leave it late to secure results. In that recent win, it wasn’t until the 87th minute that Daniel Farke’s side found breathing room against a Cardiff side rooted to the bottom of the table.

The departure of Georginio Rutter, following Brighton’s £40m activation of his release clause, has left a creative void in Leeds’ midfield. Although Brenden Aaronson has returned and made an early impact, Grayson insists the squad still lacks the inventive spark that a dedicated No.10 could provide. The former Leeds boss called for the club to address this gap during the summer window and stands by that viewpoint, pointing out the lack of ruthlessness in the final third.

“Before the transfer window closed I said Leeds needed a creative No.10 to pull the strings in midfield,” Grayson told The Football League Paper. “I still think that’s the case, if only to add competition for places, but there’s more than enough quality in that team to win promotion.”

“What they really need is a bit of composure and ruthlessness in that final third. Time and again you see them dominate pressure and chances, but it’s like they’re always trying to score the perfect goal. They’ve not scored from outside the box for a long time. They’ve not scored off a set-piece for months and months. You don’t always have to walk the ball into the net.”

With transfer talk swirling around Elland Road throughout the summer, names like Gustavo Hamer, Roland Sallai, Emi Buendia, James McAtee, and Fabio Carvalho were all mentioned as potential creative additions. However, Leeds ended the transfer window without landing that key playmaker. Manager Daniel Farke acknowledged the desire to bring in a natural creator but remained pragmatic about working with the tools at hand.

“Yes, it’s always easier when you are capable to bring a player in with multi-million pounds money, in order to have proven quality, who is proven to score goals and assists on this level,” Farke said as the window closed. “Especially once the opponent is seeking deeper and parks the bus, you need also these creative players.”

He continued, “It’s never easy when you perhaps don’t have this traditional number 10. But yeah, we decided as a club to go this way. If you don’t have it, then you need to work with other tools. That’s what we’re trying to do. I’m excited to work with this exciting young group.”

Grayson at Leeds

Simon Grayson managed Leeds United from December 2008 to February 2012, overseeing a period of significant progress for the club. His tenure began with the club in League One, and he immediately made an impact by guiding Leeds to promotion in the 2009-10 season, finishing second.

Grayson’s most iconic moment as Leeds boss came in January 2010, when his side famously knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, a result that remains one of Leeds’ greatest modern achievements.

In the Championship, Grayson’s Leeds side were competitive, narrowly missing out on a play-off spot in the 2010-11 season, finishing seventh. Known for his attacking style of play, Leeds scored freely but struggled defensively, which became a recurring issue. Despite some highs, including impressive wins and developing a number of young players, the club’s inconsistent form and defensive vulnerabilities led to his dismissal in February 2012, with Leeds sitting 10th in the Championship.

Overall, Grayson’s time at Leeds is remembered fondly for stabilizing the club, securing promotion, and giving fans memorable moments during his three-year tenure.

Our View: A Creative Void

Simon Grayson’s assessment of Leeds United’s lack of a true No.10 underlines the ongoing challenge for the team. With dominant possession but little end product, the need for a player capable of unlocking stubborn defences has become evident. The failure to replace Rutter’s creativity is now showing, and without consistent set-piece or long-range threats, Leeds risk becoming predictable in attack.

While Farke is optimistic about his squad, there’s no doubt that adding a dedicated playmaker could make the difference in Leeds’ promotion push. The decision to work with what they’ve got is a necessary reality, but Leeds may struggle to reach their full potential without a key creative figure to lead the charge.

Gary Hutchinson is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Real EFL, which he launched in 2018 to offer dedicated coverage of the English Football League. A writer for over 20 years, Gary has contributed to Sky Sports and the Lincolnshire Echo, while also authoring Suited and Booted. He also runs The Stacey West and possesses a background in iGaming content strategy and English football betting. Passionate about football journalism, Gary continues to develop The Real EFL into a key authority in the EFL space.

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