Leeds must offer entertaining to keep fans on side warns Journalist Graham Smyth
Graham Smyth has warned Jesse Marsch that his Leeds United side must “offer entertainment” if he is to keep the fans on side next season.
The Whites narrowly avoided relegation on the final day after Burnley’s defeat at home to Newcastle United.
Regardless of keeping Leeds up, Smyth believes Marsch has to provide entertainment to buy himself more time with the Elland Road faithful.
Writing in the Yorkshire Evening Post on Wednesday [25 May], Smyth said: “Arranging a preseason that will not only return the squad to full fitness but impress on them the exact style the head coach wants to employ.
“One that must offer entertainment if the fans are to be kept on board.”
Entertainment = time
There is a strong argument to suggest that playing attractive, entertaining football does buy managers more time.
If the results aren’t coming then sometimes giving fans entertaining football does give you an extra couple of weeks in the job.
Sadly for Marsch, he is following in the footsteps of Marcelo Bielsa, whose football was about as entertaining as you can possibly get.
However, Leeds’ extravagant performances under Bielsa were a big part of them plummeting into the relegation battle and if he was still at the club, there is a good chance they would be in the Championship now.
Marsh has a huge summer on his hands with the Leeds boss needing to establish a style of play, transfer targets and fill some his backroom staff.
Doing all those things as a Premier League club will be a lot easier for Marsch.
With transfer rumours already starting to emerge and the imminent signing of Brenden Aaronson, the American has already got the ball rolling on the transfer front.
In other Leeds United news, with Brenden Aaronson incoming the club look to be moving fast to add another target.