Leeds United’s new head coach, Daniel Farke, is at a fork in the road. Yet despite this symbolic role, his team is preparing for a challenging run of matches in the Premier League. The pressure is squarely on Farke as he faces daunting fixtures with Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Even more daunting, his managerial record has come under scrutiny making that challenge increasingly harder to overcome. Leeds supporters have been vocal on their lack of confidence, but on Friday the club issued a vote of confidence in their head coach – for now at least.
Farke’s time at Norwich City provides important context to the situation he now finds himself at Leeds. He only achieved a win percentage of 12.2 percent while with Norwich in 49 Premier League matches. His subsequent return to the Premier League with Norwich was hugely unsuccessful, averaging just 0.5 points per game. Incredibly, after only 11 games into his second term, he was booted from the squad. Coupled with a previous relegation in his first attempt, Farke’s history raises questions about his ability to steer Leeds clear of similar pitfalls.
Farke has met these tests at Leeds with intent. He’s won as many as his total victories from Norwich in about a 1/3 of the games. The club spent upwards of £100 million during the summer transfer window. They took steps to solidify the backline and center midfield, expecting to face adversity when they turned their attention to the attacking third. Leeds has the league’s highest opponent shot conversion rate. This leads to the realization that they need to see fewer shots and they need to be a better defensive team.
Farke’s Record and Recent Performance
Daniel Farke’s time at Norwich City left a strange taste in the mouths of supporters and pundits as well. He presided over two successful promotion campaigns to the Premier League, both of those resultant seasons finishing in relegation. A look at his record shows a dismal average win rate of 12.2 percent. This was a culmination of his experience playing at the highest level with Norwich.
“In my dream version, we are never in danger,” Farke expressed regarding his aspirations for Leeds. His pragmatic approach this season has seen him adopt a more flexible style to suit the aggressive and frenetic Premier League landscape. The joint second-lowest conversion rate for goals scored indicates that while Leeds can defend effectively, capitalizing on attacking opportunities remains a challenge.
Tim Sherwood, a former player and manager, commented on Farke’s situation: “He’s feeling pressure, but Daniel will always feel pressure, because everyone points the finger that he took Norwich up twice, and they got relegated twice.” This perspective highlights the scrutiny that follows Farke as he manages Leeds, where expectations align closely with past experiences.
The Upcoming Fixtures and Implications
As Leeds gears up for a challenging series of matches against well-ranked teams, analysts and fans express concern over the potential outcomes. Matches against Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool are just around the corner. Few would dispute that if results can’t be found in the short term, Farke’s job as head coach will certainly come under threat.
Sherwood noted the difficulty of Leeds’ upcoming schedule: “Who are they going to bring in? There’s no one going to come in with a magic wand and all of a sudden make them fixtures look a lot easier.” This sentiment reflects the prevailing belief that Farke’s successor may not be readily available or capable of turning around the team’s fortunes in a short span.
When you add historical context to the mix, the story gets even more complicated. In fact, during past Novembers and Decembers discussed above, November and especially December has been a peak period for Premier League managerial departures. With that in mind, the next few weeks could be crucial in shaping not only Leeds’ fortunes, but Farke’s long-term prospects in charge.
Current Support and Future Prospects
Despite mounting pressure and recent disappointments on the field, Leeds United has so far opted against changing their head coach. The club’s leadership has adamantly defended their decision to stick with Farke and trust him to lead them through this stormy stretch. “Yes, right now, it’s all a bit tighter, but it’s nothing. We are not panicking, anyhow,” Farke reassured supporters about the team’s current standing.
Farke has an immense task in adding quality to a poor squad. Inability to meet limited financial flexibility for player acquisitions in January, because of Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR), is a significant hurdle. These constraints can prevent all-important changes which can fix what isn’t working or make them more powerful in attack.
As they prepare for a critical stretch of games, Leeds United and Daniel Farke remain focused on their primary goal: survival in the Premier League. “I hope we don’t [see Farke lose his job], but it’s inevitable that we will, because I don’t think they win any of the next four games,” Sherwood cautioned about the prospects ahead.
Leave a Reply