Two years after Daniel Farke ends his Leeds United tenure, will he be applauded as he walks around Elland Road on his return? If he had the temerity to come back and win from 2-0 down, would he even be allowed on the pitch at full time?
Carrow Road worshipped him in those very circumstances. Fresh from a comeback inspired by Crysencio Summerville, Farke ended that October 2023 evening with a lap of Norwich City’s stadium, a first opportunity to properly say goodbye after his 2021 sacking.
There was warmth on both sides that night, despite the result. Leeds were 2-0 down at the break but roared back to win 3-2. Farke was almost apologetic as he said his goodbyes. That relationship was on show again on Wednesday.
This time it was Elland Road getting a lap of appreciation. As Farke doled out his customary three cheers to the home support in the bottom tier of the West Stand, there were some Norwich fans, perhaps ironically, joining in from the top tier. There were more serious waves exchanged with their old boss even after yet another defeat at the German’s hands.
Only time will tell if Farke ever goes on to have such a bond with the Leeds faithful. That Norwich link is not an especially fair yardstick for his current stock in West Yorkshire. He is among the Norfolk side’s greatest bosses. Norwich’s highest league accolade is the second-tier title and Farke delivered two of the five in their cabinet.
Farke has served up better Championship statistics with Leeds over the past 18 months than he did in either of his title-winning campaigns at Norwich. Before kick-off in this game, United’s goals conceded, possession, expected goals (xG), xG conceded, progressive passes, final-third touches and penalty-box touches (all per 90 minutes this season) were superior to what he achieved with Norwich.
And yet, some sections of the Leeds fanbase remain audibly dissatisfied with football under Farke. Social media has rarely been a fair barometer of public opinion, but there have been multiple occasions where dissent has been heard among United’s match-going contingent too. Leeds are top of the league, averaging more than two points per game and hit 90 points last season, but Farke does not have a 100 per cent approval rating.
Manor Solomon celebrates scoring Leeds’ opening goal against Norwich (Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images)
Yes, last year ended in failure, regardless of the points tally, and that is an understandable blot on Farke’s copybook. However, this season the team are again on course for promotion to the top flight. The complaints do not tend to be about results, though. It is the entertainment and the atmosphere. Elland Road regulars have to agree the stadium has rarely reached that feral, out-of-body, launch-yourself-four-rows state since relegation.
The Leicester City comeback of February 2024 stands out, but it is flatter, generally. Leeds fans expect to win every home match in this league. There is virtually no jeopardy.
It seems to boil down to the age-old debate: entertainment versus results. Farke does not generate much credit, perhaps unfairly, for the results Leeds are getting because of the players at his disposal. His critics might suggest any coach worth their salt could drive this group of players to the Championship’s summit. It is impossible to know that, though, and should not be a stick Farke is beaten with.
The style of play is a fairer debate. It is subjective, of course. Some supporters will love the domination Leeds tend to have from the first minute until the last. The chaos and jeopardy of a basketball-style affair might not be their cup of tea.
Commentary of Farke’s two title-winning seasons with Norwich suggests the second of those campaigns featured a more controlled style of play. After late goals and comebacks carried them to the 2019 crown, 2021’s came with a more pragmatic approach. A two-goal-per-game average in 2018-19 dropped to 1.6 in 2020-21, but concessions dropped from 1.24 per match to 0.78 and possession increased from 55.7 per cent to 58.3.
His side were having more of the ball, controlling games and stifling any opposition opportunities. This Leeds team averaged 63 per cent possession going into Wednesday’s match. In the 15th minute, when Joe Rothwell had the audacity to hit a free kick early, he spooned the ball into touch. Farke was seething with the careless waste of an opportunity to build a more patient Leeds attack.
Farke does not want chaos. The more his team have the ball, the fewer opportunities the opposition have to score. It’s not floating the boat for some supporters, however. What do you value most: entertainment or results?
There is no right answer. Norwich’s fanbase did not have this dilemma though. Correspondents on that beat said supporters bought into every aspect of the Farke project at Carrow Road. They were not bored, though that second title was, admittedly, won behind closed doors in 2020-21.
As with so much connected to Leeds, does this debate come back to Marcelo Bielsa? Was Farke to Norwich what Bielsa was to Leeds? It was the Argentinian who shook this club from its slumber. Those two Championship seasons with him were a riot. He took a mid-table squad and transformed it into a machine. It was poetry painted on a canvas with blood, sweat and cutbacks. He set the bar and now Farke, through no fault of his own, cannot stimulate those same senses.
After waiting so long to taste it, Leeds fans now know what an exciting promotion push feels like. It was the theatre of what Bielsa was creating which captivated this city. It was fresh, new and stirred emotions many fans in these parts had not felt for 20-odd years. Sixteen months separate Bielsa and Farke at the Leeds helm, but the latter is still in the former’s shadow.
While Bielsa overachieved with what he inherited, Farke took on a club with three Premier League years behind it, a squad and budget expected to win every week. It is virtually impossible for the current manager to surpass expectations in the same way.
What more can Farke do? Make earlier substitutions? Ask his players to give the ball away more to heighten the jeopardy in the ground? Replace his best players with middling alternatives to demonstrate his coaching prowess? Ultimately, however you feel about him and his methods, Farke is getting results.
This is the hand he has been dealt and he is playing it the best way he can, with Leeds top of the league.
(Top photo: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
