The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 9th March) Leeds book their place in the last eight of the FA Cup
Leeds book their place in the last eight of the FA Cup
Leeds booked their spot in the last eight of the FA Cup, with a comprehensive (albeit lacklustre) 3-0 victory over Norwich City; only their second Quarter final in any Cup competition since 2003 when Terry Venables was in charge (the other being the league Cup in November 2016 when Leeds lost 2-0 at Anfield).
The match didn't start without its fair share of "what if" moments, though. Leeds thought they’d drawn first blood early on when Lukas Nmecha poked home a loose ball, but VAR stepped in to spoil the party, ruling the goal out for a Gnonto handball. The plucky Italian seemed to be the centre of everything; shortly after, he had a header of his own chalked off for offside. You could feel the frustration building, but the breakthrough finally came fifteen minutes before the break.
Gnonto played a sharp ball into the area for Gudmundsson, who showed great awareness to pull it back for Sean Longstaff. His first touch was pure class, he swivelled beautifully and hammered a volley home to record his first goal since September. Elland Road erupted, and the momentum never truly shifted back. Just before the break, Dan James sent in a fizzing low cross that the Canaries failed to clear, allowing Gudmundsson to pounce and lash home his first-ever goal for the club from ten yards out.
The second half was a slightly more subdued affair, though Norwich did try to mount a recovery. Liam Gibbs and Kenny McLean both had sights of goal, but Lucas Perri remained largely untroubled in the Leeds net. There was a notable moment of respect in the 63rd minute when play paused briefly for Joël Piroe and Ali Ahmed to break their Ramadan fast as the sun went down.
While Norwich substitute Anis Ben Slimane squandered a decent chance by hitting the side-netting, Leeds remained the more dangerous side. Piroe rattled the crossbar from distance before finally putting the game to bed. A lightning-fast counter-attack saw Nmecha and Anton Stach combine beautifully to tee up Piroe, who applied a clinical finish to seal the 3-0 win. It was a professional, dominant performance that ended a 21-year wait for a quarter-final berth, leaving the Leeds faithful dreaming of a trip to Wembley.
Big decision to make about Tanaka
Senior management have some tough choices to make this summer (assuming Leeds beat the drop). None feels as urgent as deciding what to do with Japanese international AO Tanaka. The midfielder arrived in Yorkshire with a résumé that promised flair, tactical nous and a splash of Asian marketability, yet the Whoscored numbers tell a bleak story: 18th‑place in the league’s player rankings and a meagre 6.29 rating after only 742 minutes of league game time.
The optimism that surrounded his start‑of‑season comeback from a MCL tear has long since evaporated. Since the turn of the year Tanaka has logged just 63 minutes of league football, trailing every other midfielder in Farke's squad. Even his performance at the weekend against Norwich, where fans hoped he would finally stamp his authority on the pitch, was only a modest step up from the uninspired display against Birmingham City in the previous round. He was solid enough to hold his own, but never the spark that would make the Leeds faithful forget his heroics of last season.
The numbers are only part of the picture. In training, the Japanese youngster has been praised for his work rate, but his confidence appears frayed, and the tactical demands of the Premier League have exposed a certain physical lightness. A season‑long loan to a Championship side could be the reset button he needs. Regular minutes in a league that rewards grit and resilience might rebuild his momentum, sharpen his decision‑making and, most importantly, restore his belief.
Will we see Buonanotte play for Leeds again
Since arriving on loan from Brighton in January, Facundo Buonanotte has done little to showcase his talents or commitment. In league action the Argentine international has logged a paltry 24 minutes, and his most recent outing, an awful performance against Birmingham City in the last round of the FA Cup did little to convince either Daniel Farke or the Elland Road faithful.
Yet when the team sheet for the Norwich City game was released an hour before kick‑off, many were still surprised not to see him start, especially as Farke had made nine changes to his starting XI. The fact he didn’t even get a run‑out from the bench sends a clear message: he is not doing enough to warrant a place in Farke’s squad. In the pre‑match press conference, Farke tried to paint a patient picture of the situation:
Farke’s words sound like a measured pep‑talk, but reality is less forgiving. The season is already in its final stretch and Buonanotte was Farke’s only January signing, a player who hasn't earned his chance to prove he belongs at Leeds Utd. It’s worth remembering he was among the few bright spots in Leicester’s relegation‑plagued campaign last season. He showed he can not only survive but also thrive in the top flight. The talent is there; the minutes are not.“Hard work is always the answer, he has to get on with it. He is very self‑critical and a fantastic human being, it is not easy not playing that much, it’s not like all of a sudden you press a button, it’s step by step, he gets all the support from us and of course a chance for him to be involved.”