This may sound strange coming from me given what I’ve said about Farke in the past (none of which I withdraw by the way), but…..I feel a bit sorry for the guy. Why you may ask?

Look at his record since his playing career ended, in particular since the time he became Norwich manager…

In his first season he managed a 14th place finish, then promoted to the PL in his second season, then relegated in third, promoted again in his next season, then sacked after one of the longest runs without a win in PL history. Finished at Norwich with 87w, 49d, 72l

Went to Gladbach for just about a year before being sacked again, record there 12w, 10d, 14l

Then to Leeds, missing out on promotion first season then doing better with the Championship title.

So, a record of ups and downs, little in the way of consistency (except being inconsistent in terms of results) and (I suspect) a growing sense of “Am I good enough to make it?”. He probably wouldn’t admit to such a thing, not even to himself, but the caution that many on here have mentioned could well be the product of a lack of self-confidence and a consequent reluctance to change anything (even when its plain to other outside observers that change is necessary).

If that is the case, whilst his behaviour may appear similar to that of Bielsa, the underlying reasoning is vastly different. Bielsa never lacked self-confidence, quite the opposite, his stubbornness was borne out of a firm belief in his own abilities and a degree of disdain/rejection for those who might challenge him (as with Jansson).

Farke doesn’t change because he fears the uncertainty that change inevitably introduces, something he finds hard to cope with. The evidence of what change can do has been writ large in most of the recent games, most remarkably in the first City game where we spent the first half having a new one ripped with no threat or any form of PL-style play, and in the second we were putting (supposedly) the best team in the world to the sword and only narrowly being defeated. Nevertheless, whatever it was that sparked that remarkable turnaround has gradually seeped away over subsequent games, the leopard can’t change his spots, no matter what the signs tell him.

That’s why I’m sorry for him. He’s spent over a decade achieving very little (relatively speaking), and given that lack of achievement the voices in his head won’t be the most encouraging to listen to. Players aren’t the only ones who from time to time need some psychological support, perhaps he would benefit from that kind of “assist”, to break the shackles and realise that he had a significant role to play in making Leeds dangerous this last month or two, and could do so again?