Large sections of the Leeds United support made it clear that they would like the 49ers and Paraag Marathe to sack Daniel Farke on Sunday afternoon, but Aidy White’s verdict makes a lot of sense.
For the second game in a row, Leeds fans had their hopes raised and then dashed. Another game in which Leeds have started the better side and scored first, only to end up losing the game at full-time.
Lukas Nmecha scored the opener against Nottingham Forest before Leeds lost 3-1, and on Sunday, Nmecha bounced the ball home to break the deadlock. But Leeds would eventually lose 2-1 to Villa.
Should Leeds sack Daniel Farke?
Five defeats in six Premier League games, and Leeds are now firmly planted in the relegation zone. Fans are already of the belief that with Farke in the dugout, the Whites will be relegated come May 2026.
Indeed, at full-time, fans chanted “you don’t know what you’re doing” to Farke. His team selection, his substitutions, and his tactical rigidity were all under the spotlight again. Aidy White gave his verdict.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty ImagesAidy White asks the question, who would want to replace Farke?
Leeds have a problem. The 49ers might well want to replace Farke at this stage, but what manager would be willing to come in when Leeds now face Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool in the space of a week?
Aidy White explained to BBC Radio Leeds that any chance of a new manager bounce after sacking Farke is almost nil, given the quality of the upcoming opponents. If Leeds can’t replace him, why sack him?
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“He’s reluctant to change shape, to change the dynamic. For me, replacing the manager, I’m not sure it’s definitely the right thing to do now, given the games we have coming up,” White said on Farke’s future.
“If you want a bounce back from a manager going into Man City away, Chelsea and Liverpool at home, it’s going to be difficult to find a manager who wants to come in for those games,” he continued.
What Daniel Farke and the pundits said about his future as Leeds manager after Aston Villa loss:
Jamie Carragher: “The longer this run continues for Leeds, you would fear for the manager.”
Aidy White: “For me, replacing the manager, I’m not sure it’s definitely the right thing to do now, given the games we have coming up.
Daniel Farke: “Believe me, in terms of pressure, the first day you walk in the door as Leeds United manager, you have pressure.”
Leeds and Andrea Radrizzani faced the same issue back in 2023
When sacking Jesse Marsch in February 2023, then-owner Andrea Radrizzani had the same problem, albeit due to different reasons. Leeds looked destined for relegation, with only a few months left.
It meant Leeds had to wait three games, picking up one point in those three matches, before turning to a manager far down the list in Javi Gracia. Leeds cannot make the same mistake when it comes to Farke.
While a decision must be made before February, something Radrizzani now admits was a mistake, they can hardly expect a bounce ahead of games against three of the Premier League’s biggest and best sides.
Perhaps, these next three games will give Leeds the time they need to find a successor and keep Farke in place until then. It feels realistic that Leeds will lose the next three matches, and then Farke could go.