Leeds United collapse set to be part of ‘unfair’ David Wagner sack at Norwich City – Chris Sutton
The two-goal lead Norwich City “squandered” at home to Leeds United has contributed to a situation that will see David Wagner sacked, according to Chris Sutton.
The Sky Sports pundit wrote in his column for the Pink Un on 26 October that the German now “won’t last” having followed up the 3-2 reverse to the Whites with a 2-1 home loss to Middlesbrough in midweek, in a situation he says is “unfair”.
The Canaries have failed to win any of their games in October, and narrow margins in three of the games are cited as key contributing elements to Wagner likely losing his job by Sutton, with the dramatic turnaround against compatriot Daniel Farke a significant factor.
Sutton wrote: “Wagner won’t last now. When supporters make up their minds, there is no way back, and everyone has seen enough of these cycles now to know how it ends.
“I think it’s unfair – he has been dealt a tough hand, suffered key injuries and inherited a difficult situation. He is the fall guy amid a lot of other changes at the football club. It always felt it would escalate pretty quickly because of his previous association with Stuart Webber.
“David is a good guy. He’s been dealt a really tough hand. I think the pile on has happened too quickly this season – but it has happened and that is why he won’t stay the distance.
“The margins are so slight. If Ben Gibson didn’t head into his own net at Coventry, if Norwich didn’t squander a two-goal lead at home to Daniel Farke’s Leeds and if they took their chances at Swansea, the situation would look inherently different.”
Cut-throat business
If someone like Farke was fired at Carrow Road after winning the Championship twice then Wagner is obviously on very thin ice if he is producing shaky results in the second tier.
The Canaries looked to have three crucial points in the bag when the Leeds United boss took his side there on 21 October, with the home team 2-0 up past the hour.
After Dan James forced an own-goal to pull one back Farke drew huge praise for throwing caution to the wind and going for three points in what must have been an emotionally significant return for him.
Two excellent Crysencio Summerville strikes completed the turnaround and have made him a potential target for Premier League sides, although an exit is currently deemed unlikely.
Enough managers have come and gone at Elland Road in the past year to show beyond any doubt that results dictate everything and if you aren’t producing you don’t last long.
Leeds’ 1-0 loss at Stoke City just as Norwich were losing to Middlesbrough show that even sides who are performing strongly are liable to slip up on occasion in a long Championship campaign, but a month without a win that includes three defeats would likely turn the heat up on Farke even now so no doubt has Wagner in trouble.
In other Leeds United news, a mooted January exit dubbed “stunning” and “self-defeating” as Premier League sides circle.