Leeds United manager Daniel Farke will have been enthused by the second half he saw at Manchester City, but it does little to help the Whites’ actual league position and form at the moment.
Leeds were beaten yet again at the weekend, and while there was a lot to like about how Daniel Farke finally looked to change things proactively, the situation is still bleak.
Ahead of an Elland Road double-header against Chelsea and Liverpool this week, Farke simply has to get points on the board to keep his job.
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Could Daniel Farke be sacked if Leeds United’s losing run continues vs Chelsea and Liverpool?
No manager should lose their job purely because of losing late on to Manchester City at the Etihad. However, the wider context is rough for Farke. Six losses in the last seven and very few of them demonstrating good performances.
The second half against City does suggest there’s life yet for Farke. Should he demonstrate the same level of pragmatism and actually play to his squad’s strengths, there’s no reason why he can’t make Leeds competitive in this survival battle.
Daniel Farke is still under big pressure to deliver at Leeds United. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)
His comments on the shrewd change to a 5-3-2 formation indicate he’s not wedded to a very good solution, though. Should he revert to a 4-3-3 – which looked easy to defend against and totally porous – his time could be up.
As harsh as it may sound, Farke needs points this week. Leeds may be underdogs, but the amount of points being thrown away on this losing run cannot continue.
Leeds United could be handed huge Daniel Farke sack incentive as Thomas Frank comes under big Spurs pressure
A very important question regarding whether Leeds should dismiss Farke at the moment is looking at who replaces him.
It’s one thing thinking a new manager gets more out of this side. It’s another getting the right profile of coach in the doors.
However, there could be an opening soon if Spurs’ discontent around Thomas Frank reaches boiling point. His side were booed off after another poor home result against London rivals Fulham. After which, Frank snapped back with scathing criticism for those booing at full time.
Thomas Frank is under immense pressure at Tottenham. (Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs)
It’s incredibly unlikely to see a manager work his way back from going face-to-face with the fanbase. We’ve seen it first hand with Farke losing a lot of backing at Elland Road by branding the Whites fans as over emotional and reactionary.
Should Farke and Frank leave their respective positions, there is a world where Leeds instantly would benefit from looking to the Dane as their replacement.
What would Thomas Frank bring to Leeds United, if he left Spurs and replaced Daniel Farke?
Frank’s identity as a Premier League manager has been forged on pragmatic coaching. He’s catered his tactical structures to whichever team he’s facing, while getting every drop out of his squad.
Not only that, but he’s managed to play consistently to his striker’s strengths at Brentford, while maximising home form and set piece dominance. There’s three areas Leeds know they need to improve on.
It’s obviously not working in a demanding Spurs environment. Of course, the lack of ambitious identity leaves him fighting a losing battle.
Should he be available, you’d imagine working at Elland Road would be a tempting proposition for Frank. Despite ‘mind the gap’ jibes from Stuart Dallas in 2020, Frank has immense admiration for LS11.
“So we’re going to Elland Road, which I always admire as one of the best stadiums to go to because the atmosphere is fantastic there. So it’s a game we’re looking forward to play,” Frank said prior to Leeds v Spurs in October.
Read more: Daniel Farke comments on possibility of formation change again this week.