Daniel Farke concern at Leeds United already as 49ers sack verdict emerges amid tensions
49ers Enterprises aren’t likely to be considering Daniel Farke’s position as Leeds United manager yet, according to Graham Smyth.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist said on the paper’s Inside Elland Road podcast on 19 September that there is a “concern” for the German since disaffection has materialised quickly this season following a poor end to last term.
The Whites have draw two of their first five games and lost for the first time in the league, 1-0 at home to Burnley, last week to bring Farke’s job into question for some, but Smyth doesn’t believe that view will be held by the owners.
He said (15m 25s): “It’s only taken one defeat for a lot of people to get right on Farke’s back. What happens if they drop two or three in a row? What happens if they win one, lose one, draw one? What’s the atmosphere going to be like around the team at that stage?
“There is a little bit of a concern there. But I don’t think it’s hysteria and I certainly don’t think that anyone… I don’t think the 49ers will be considering his position. I’ve seen suggestions from people that if they lose to Cardiff he should go.”
Angus Kinnear admitted Leeds United tensions with Daniel Farke
In the context of a middling start to the season there is no reason for major alarm yet when there is plenty of time to find rhythm and the gap to West Brom at the top of the table is only five points.
But in the wider context at Elland Road it is hard to escape the feeling that everything is under some strain and the relationships might be creaking after last season’s disappointment.
The sparkling campaign fell off a cliff down the stretch to throw away automatic promotion for the lottery of the play offs, which duly came back to bite Farke and his side in true Whites fashion against Southampton.
But, the semi-final against Norwich aside, form hadn’t been good for some weeks and the new campaign is something of a continuation.
At the same time it is a new side after extensive comings and goings during the transfer window so there were likely to be growing pains.
But the market is the source of some issues, real or perceived, after star men departed amid a lack of communication from the club and Farke was left unhappy with the belated replacements lacking a number 10.
CEO Angus Kinnear admitted to The Square Ball on 12 September that there was “tension” during the window but said it was nothing more than anywhere else, after Smyth himself suggested on the same platform (2 September) that it was the first signs of public cracks, and wrote separately that the relationship doesn’t seem as secure as before [YEP, 15 September].
If he gets his side back on track it may be forgotten but when familiar struggles to break down defensive sides are already appearing there will be inevitable fears of another failure to go up.
In other Leeds United news, a Whites chief admits they thought they were at the front of the queue to sign another Premier League attacker.
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