The pressure will be impossible to escape for Daniel Farke if the Leeds United manager watches his side lose to Nottingham Forest on Sunday. There are some already calling for his head.
It is a stark contrast to fans pleading with the club to keep Farke in the summer, when Leeds had been promoted. Ultimately, Farke has never won the entire fanbase over, neither has he fully convinced.
After three losses in four and four defeats in five Premier League games this season, Farke’s side go to The City Ground on Sunday. Currently, Leeds have 11 points from 10 games and sit in 16th position.
A decent start and a position Leeds would love to finish in, come May 2026. However, Leeds face an incredibly difficult run of games after Sunday and the belief is, that Leeds should have more of a buffer.
Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty ImagesThe two managers touted as Leeds replacements for Farke
It is claimed that Farke has five games to save his Leeds job. Forest, Villa at home, Man City away, then Chelsea at home and Liverpool at home. The benefit of Elland Road, but some of England’s best teams.
It is difficult to see where Leeds’ next win will come from. Leeds should have more points – conceding late to Bournemouth and Fulham, dominating Tottenham – and if they did, the pressure wouldn’t be on Farke.
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But because Farke has failed to get games over the line, his tenure is being judged. The Mail suggests two candidates likely to be touted with the Elland Road gig, if the 49ers do end up sacking the German boss.
Leeds really wanted Brendan Rodgers before hiring Farke, and Rodgers is available after resigning as Celtic manager. Whether the 49ers would risk hiring Rodgers, given their Rangers link, remains to be seen.
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Then there is another Celtic icon in Ange Postecoglou, who is out of work, and the Rangers link may be easier to shake off, given Postecoglou has been at Spurs and Forest since. Is he a relegation manager?
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty ImagesRodgers and Postecoglou’s inexperience will concern Leeds
Rodgers and Postecoglou are trophy-winning managers. We all saw Postecoglou speak about winning a trophy at Tottenham and then actually delivering that, beating Man United to win the Europa League.
Postecoglou has been linked with Leeds before. But realistically, when has Postecoglou ever managed in a relegation scrap at the top level? His only experience was at Forest and he was sacked after eight games.
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The same goes for Rodgers, but perhaps less so. Rodgers does have experience of a relegation scrap, albeit limited. The Northern Irishman’s natural habitat is at the top of the league with Celtic or Liverpool.
Rodgers was sacked by Leicester in April 2023, after The Foxes had slipped into the relegation zone. He will argue he wasn’t backed, but he couldn’t stand the heat either. Not the most ideal of replacements.