Thoughts from Wembley

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Tad unfair - Farke has delivered a fair few high points this season, the FA cup, the league results v Chelsea and Man U and the fact we look to be safe well before the final day of the season.

I have never been the greatest Farke fan but agree that he has done well this season. As well as his strengths he also has what I think are weak areas undue caution, doesn?t react to in game developments fast enough, late subs, lack of squad rotation and doesn?t really bring through young players very well.

His treatment of Tanaka and some of the recent public comments are not great management and the lack of game time for Gnonto and Longstaff is a mystery.

Whether we keep him or not will depend on what the club want in the short to medium term in terms of league progress. I am sure they will look at what happens when you churn managers too - Spurs and Forest are big lessons.

The other thing to factor in is there are likely to be lots of jobs available in the PL - Newcastle, Fulham, Palace for example so Farke may be in demand in the PL or back in Germany.

Not sure we could have expected to do that much better this season. The lingering frustration are the points dropped over the whole season where he stuck with our of form players, was too cautious or didn?t react to the game fast enough. We would easily could and probably should have 7 to 10 points more which would put us in the hunt for Europe.

I also think at times our predictability means teams can analyse how we play and come up with a strategy to counter it - ergo Chelsea first half at Wembley where we were out coached tactically.

[WTF11]

Tad unfair - Farke has delivered a fair few high points this season, the FA cup, the league results v Chelsea and Man U and the fact we look to be safe well before the final day of the season.

I have never been the greatest Farke fan but agree that he has done well this season. As well as his strengths he also has what I think are weak areas undue caution, doesn?t react to in game developments fast enough, late subs, lack of squad rotation and doesn?t really bring through young players very well.

His treatment of Tanaka and some of the recent public comments are not great management and the lack of game time for Gnonto and Longstaff is a mystery.

Whether we keep him or not will depend on what the club want in the short to medium term in terms of league progress. I am sure they will look at what happens when you churn managers too - Spurs and Forest are big lessons.

The other thing to factor in is there are likely to be lots of jobs available in the PL - Newcastle, Fulham, Palace for example so Farke may be in demand in the PL or back in Germany.

Not sure we could have expected to do that much better this season. The lingering frustration are the points dropped over the whole season where he stuck with our of form players, was too cautious or didn?t react to the game fast enough. We would easily could and probably should have 7 to 10 points more which would put us in the hunt for Europe.

I also think at times our predictability means teams can analyse how we play and come up with a strategy to counter it - ergo Chelsea first half at Wembley where we were out coached tactically.

“A tad unfair”????

I agree with just about every word you have written, and your critique of Farke is both of greater depth and greater specificity than my contribution.

The high points you mention were welcome, but could have been (almost) the norm had the failures you highlight been addressed. They weren’t and whilst we might be safe (just), as you say had we not dropped points whilst playing the (overly)cautious style that Farke seems incapable of changing long-term, we could have been where Brighton or Brentford are now.

[norfolk white]

Although I like farke and back him, I must agree with both above, the overly cautious approach has cost us many points and places.

[MrsORichSenior_]

the tactical flexibility of playing the back three well and creating the never giving up approach has been Farkes biggest achievement this season and answers the critique aimed at him during the first two seasons of his ER tenure, so for many this season the view expressed would be that he has actually evolved as a coach and his bold system change implemented has elevated several individual players he specifically wanted in with the right personalities that he could work on, particularly Stach and DCL who crucially had to be kept fit and buttered up into keeping their confidence high in said system, hence his decision to keep them in the starting line up when maybe others could or should have been in but thats down to knowing players inner personalities 24/7 and how they react into getting the best out of them.

i cannot argue with the merits of how he plays his cards as we are still very much a work in progress. the gap between good and great is usually attention, not ability and that is what his present squad has and notably with no egos in among them.
its small details that win or lose during the moments of a game which are down to individual players on the pitch which no manager has control of and such moments define outcomes.

its within the confines of training pitches in how good coaches help translate attention, intensity and intent into everyday language for players, particularly younger ones and again you can see which current Leeds players have bought into that scenario. sadly some players cannot produce a run of games using required full intensity so behind the scenes they have been managed carefully this season and i am sure better alternatives are being sort who hopefully can provide the blood and thunder approach that many fans yearn for.

not going to knock Farkes approach but his methodical, focused approach into teaching his teams correctly focuses on building a clear vision through consistency, repetition with the importance of a structured, possession based tactical philosophy which some refer as tippy tappy football.
for me such a coaching style is requisite for technical discipline as high level tactical intelligence is just as important as pure athleticism with the ultimate aim of making players proactive and intelligent on the pitch at all times as teams will have their own strengths to offer.

Farkes theory is simple with our current squad as in he wants his players to move based on the team structure rather than relying on individual instinct which ensure players understand their roles within the systems we set up in which are basically
passing patterns constantly rehearsed at TA usually 48 hours before a match to which shows on match day with the constant input from our full backs heavily involved in all areas of the pitch, which for me is exciting football when opportunity allows.

could say more but its looking promising on the incoming player front who hopefully can move us up another pl notch. the concept of total football is intelligence over intensity thus encouraging players to act as technicians who control the tempo of the game, rather than just running continuously is what I believe Farke is is trying to instill and has succeeded in doing thus far for me, anyway.
not quite PSG yet but even they show what can be done with above said raw implemented ingredients from a squad with no egos.

MOT

[whitestomper45]

Hey Mrs O

There are some on here who just constantly berate DF and LUFC, I usually just reply once but can't be bothered arguing continually.

To the knockers, yes Farke might have done better at times... but he is improving as a coach so is the team. Were you all brilliant in your own job careers from the start? I don't care if he got lucky as long as he is improving.

In part I think he has more confidence in a team that on paper are bottom 6 material at start of season. You'd think Longstaff and AO are some wonderkids with the comments on here.. DF has decided to leave out at times. He goes for reliability, against Scum away AO gifted them 2 passes early on, thankfully they were not taken. Longstaff was let go by his local club who are a bottom half PL team.

Both said players are part of a positive honest squad. The hand DF was dealt with at the start of the season... to rely and nurse back to health and full confidence and work out a system with 3 previously injury prone players as our up front options. Add to that the ever more injury prone James (bit of a headless chicken at times) and Willy who in PL works best at moment as an impact player. 3 Keepers who I had little faith in at season start, again progress as season goes on. No wonder defence was his go to setup. His previous PL experience with Norwich who were happy to be a yoyo club am sure affected him.

Build the team round Stach (who also came in for criticism at start) one of the best signings in many years and yet another player who has improved over the season, as has all the squad, particularly: Justin, Bijol and of course GG

The team for the most part is great to watch, a good as Bielsa era team spirit and on an upward curve...MOT

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Having watched us a lot under both Farke?s style is no where near as exciting as Bielsa?s and not only that Bielsa had a far weaker squad.

Not sure why some people in defence of Farke want to did put Bielsa.

They both did/are doing some good things but both also had their flaws.

I am not sure the 3 At the back was an epiphany Mrs O as much as the last roll of the dice when it looked like the end was nigh.

In that brief period Farke seemed to throw of the shackles of caution and we pressed hard and high without the ball and got at teams with it.

Once we reached safer ground the caution returned.

It?s not just posters on here saying it, a lot of respected pundits are too TSB, Phil Hay, Graeme Smyth, Adam Pope, Chris Sutton to name but a few.

It is a dilemma as I also think Farke is likely to receive offers to move on so it?s not totally in the club?s court.

He has room for growth and improvement but whether he is capable of doing that who knows but history suggests it?s unlikely.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

I also don?t constantly put down Farke and not the club but I try to say what I think.

[george_kaplan]

Re: DF. I would like to put it down to a he is still learning (as we all are) a different club, set up etc a set of fans who don't ‘want’ but demand! He has his ways, good or indifferent as we all do. Maybe not as flamboyant as some managers out there, but I like his style and what he is trying to do here. I am sure MB would have nothing but praise for him.

When we look back at our short time with him we have had three very different seasons with him, and likewise him with us! Despite some of his/ours disappointments this season he has almost set out and finished what he said before a ball was kicked this year….to keep us up knowing full well what lay ahead. I personally hope he finishes what he wanted and we have him onboard next season.
….just my wee opinion.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

I don?t disagree and I am not his greatest fan but have said a few times he has done well and surprised me this season but if only ?? 😊

[WTF11]

Having watched us a lot under both Farke?s style is no where near as exciting as Bielsa?s and not only that Bielsa had a far weaker squad.

Not sure why some people in defence of Farke want to did put Bielsa.

They both did/are doing some good things but both also had their flaws.

I am not sure the 3 At the back was an epiphany Mrs O as much as the last roll of the dice when it looked like the end was nigh.

In that brief period Farke seemed to throw of the shackles of caution and we pressed hard and high without the ball and got at teams with it.

Once we reached safer ground the caution returned.

It?s not just posters on here saying it, a lot of respected pundits are too TSB, Phil Hay, Graeme Smyth, Adam Pope, Chris Sutton to name but a few.

It is a dilemma as I also think Farke is likely to receive offers to move on so it?s not totally in the club?s court.

He has room for growth and improvement but whether he is capable of doing that who knows but history suggests it?s unlikely.

I can only hope that he gets an offer that takes him away from ER. Of course the downside of any such departure is the possible nightmare of expecting Marathe and cohorts to have the faintest idea as to who might replace him (bargain basement would be consistent with past performance).

[WTF11]

Re: DF. I would like to put it down to a he is still learning (as we all are) a different club, set up etc a set of fans who don't ‘want’ but demand! He has his ways, good or indifferent as we all do. Maybe not as flamboyant as some managers out there, but I like his style and what he is trying to do here. I am sure MB would have nothing but praise for him.

When we look back at our short time with him we have had three very different seasons with him, and likewise him with us! Despite some of his/ours disappointments this season he has almost set out and finished what he said before a ball was kicked this year….to keep us up knowing full well what lay ahead. I personally hope he finishes what he wanted and we have him onboard next season.
….just my wee opinion.

There have been several references, from several different posters, as to Farkes "learning" etc. How much longer are we to suffer Farke using LUFC as some kind of managerial training opportunity?

As an examole of what CAN be achieved, (and I'm no fan of Scum), Carrick has turned around a squad that was relegation fodder at the end of 2025 to one that is on the cusp of European competition next season. And Farke?

He hasn't developed anything in his tenure at LUFC, other than a timidity on the pitch that borders on embarrassing and a dictatorial style of player that has no place in the Leeds dressing room.

The sooner he goes (jumps or gets shoved), the better.

[whitestomper45]

There have been several references, from several different posters, as to Farkes "learning" etc. How much longer are we to suffer Farke using LUFC as some kind of managerial training opportunity?

As an examole of what CAN be achieved, (and I'm no fan of Scum), Carrick has turned around a squad that was relegation fodder at the end of 2025 to one that is on the cusp of European competition next season. And Farke?

He hasn't developed anything in his tenure at LUFC, other than a timidity on the pitch that borders on embarrassing and a dictatorial style of player that has no place in the Leeds dressing room.

The sooner he goes (jumps or gets shoved), the better.

Can't give it a rest, even at the time we celebrate being one of the few promoted sides to wrap up survival bwith games to spare.

Carrick is in charge of a group of an under performing squad under the previous idiot, who persevered with a system the players were unsuited to.

Daniel has taken a modest group (go check the wage bill) that has improved over the season. The great thing about this site is you can look back at what people were posting about back at start of the season....

Lack of forwards, too many wingers, defenders. Folk thinking we will be hard to beat with a more physically imposing side.

DF never complains about the hand he is dealt, all the players under him improve, its not just down to what formation you use, players have to trust their manager.

If you don't enjoy watching the majority of Leeds matches (particularly over many of the Scum games) what else needs to be said

[WTF11]

Can't give it a rest, even at the time we celebrate being one of the few promoted sides to wrap up survival bwith games to spare.

Carrick is in charge of a group of an under performing squad under the previous idiot, who persevered with a system the players were unsuited to.

Daniel has taken a modest group (go check the wage bill) that has improved over the season. The great thing about this site is you can look back at what people were posting about back at start of the season....

Lack of forwards, too many wingers, defenders. Folk thinking we will be hard to beat with a more physically imposing side.

DF never complains about the hand he is dealt, all the players under him improve, its not just down to what formation you use, players have to trust their manager.

If you don't enjoy watching the majority of Leeds matches (particularly over many of the Scum games) what else needs to be said

As many others have said, we shouldn’t be where we are and the main reason for that is Farke. We might be safe, but what are the prospects of getting anything from any of the last three games (Spuds desperate to remain in the PL. Brighton flying and equally keen to get into Europe, and Spam who may (depending on other results), also be in with a slim chance of survival in the PL on the last day of the season)? I’m not a betting man and I sure as h3ll wouldn’t want to wager one way or t’other.

I used Carrick as an example of what a good coach/manager can do, rapidly and effectively, nothing more nothing less. There are plenty of others in the PL and elsewhere who don’t need to take several seasons to “learn” what it is they are supposed to do and to assess the capabilities of the squad (and if the assertions about Farkes involvement in recruitment are to be believed he ought to know those capabilities before the player joined Leeds!)

Since when has the wage bill been an accurate arbiter of a squad? “Modest” is about the most meaningless adjective you could use! Surely “Are they doing a good, bad or indifferent job as players given the position they are supposed to have been recruited for” would be just a little more enlightening?

I have enjoyed many Leeds matches this season, my posts on matchday when we played Schitty (second half, obviously), Chelsea,. Palace, Liverpool, Scum most certainly show that. However I haven’t enjoyed watching the timid, overly-cautious, tippy-tappy cross field passing play that characterised way too many Leeds performances (and I am NOT alone, although you seem to consider it’s only me who says such things)

The frustration I and others feel, is I am sure, borne out of a bewilderment that given that Farke isn’t stupid (he isn’t, that’s for sure) when he sees the results of allowing/promoting us to play as we did against the teams I mentioned above (and WIN against supposedly “better” teams), why would you revert to the monosyllabic, monochrome monotony of the kind of play we saw in the first half of the season?

[whitestomper45]

No he isn?t stupid, he has achieved the goal he was set, survive. And the second season up will normally be tougher as other clubs will figure out any weaknesses.
When Brighton first went up they were the most boring if tough to beat side for a number of seasons, then the club kicked on, anyway have a game to watch

[WTF11]

No he isn?t stupid, he has achieved the goal he was set, survive. And the second season up will normally be tougher as other clubs will figure out any weaknesses.
When Brighton first went up they were the most boring if tough to beat side for a number of seasons, then the club kicked on, anyway have a game to watch

Indeed, turning out as I expected.