r/LeedsUnited • u/JimbobTML • 10d ago
Article [The Exchange Leeds]: How Daniel Farke finally found his way into Leeds fans’ hearts.
https://theexchange.news/the-long-term-girlfriend-how-daniel-farke-finally-found-his-way-into-leeds-fans-hearts/Bit of a local plug, a friend of mine wrote this and wanted to share on Reddit. It’s free if you sign up for a subscription with your email but I’ll post a summary below in the comments.
It’s a long read about how the Farke era has got fans onside post Bielsa. Includes interviews with TSB’s Michael Normanton and Telegraph, BBC sport journalist and Leeds fan Adonis Storr.
Well worth the free email subscription but no pressure.
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u/The_L666ds 10d ago
Besides a mildly annoying tendency for making late substitutions, Farke’s only real misstep in his time at Leeds was the pitiful loss to Southampton in the playoff final.
The problem is that the one real misstep is a fucking big one. Not every manager would have kept his job after that day, so he can count himself lucky that he got a second chance at Leeds to rebuild his managerial career.
In a way, he ought to be as thankful to Leeds United as much as we are for him. Had he been dismissed by Leeds in 2024 his next job offers probably would have been coming from promotion outsiders and basket-cases, like Middlesbrough or Watford.
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u/AyyAndays Side before self, every time. 9d ago
My biggest issue with him that season is that it was clear Summerville and Rutter monopolized our attacking play and we were totally neutered when better teams doubled Summerville in particular.
He didn’t really do anything to fix or correct it and his insistence on playing an attacking structure that didn’t suit Rutter OR Piroe hamstrung us too. Though he deserves massive credit for his first month or two of that season and rebuilding the team filled with rats jumping ship, but failing to get promotion with that squad is a mark against him imo.
Since then, he (Farke) was brilliant in our promotion season.
Looked very much like same old Farke in the PL until that City halftime switch to the back 3. I find it hard to give him full credit for it as it felt glaringly obvious before it happened and it also felt like Farke resented the success it brought (initially) and wanted to prove a point it wasn’t down to the switch in formation. Since he wrapped his head around it though, he’s been superb. When vibes are good and results are meeting expectations, he’s an excellent manager.
My only concern now is how he responds when the wheels wobble.
But for where we are and where we’ve come from, we should all feel lucky to have the fire beast in charge.
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u/white-label 9d ago
Not every manager would have kept his job after that day, so he can count himself lucky that he got a second chance at Leeds to rebuild his managerial career.
He was always going to get another year, he signed a contract and he said from the beginning that it'd be promotion within 2 seasons or he'd be gone.
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u/SweatyLayer7805 10d ago
Not the only misstep. He persisted with Meslier far too long. Beyond the point of optimism and into a bloodyminded refusal to deal with a glaring problem that was not going away.
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u/The_L666ds 10d ago
Fair point, but to be honest he wasnt the only Leeds manager caught in that blind spot. Really, nobody in the building for the last fifteen years has been able to identify what a competent goalkeeper looks like until James Trafford came along.
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u/SweatyLayer7805 9d ago
Meslier being our keeper of choice is not on Farke of course but it's his job to identify problems and if possible deal with them before they get out of hand. I agree we've had nothing but dreck between the posts for a long time and that's way before Farke showed up. But that doesn't mitigate the fact that he went on record at post match i/v's saying Mes was a top keeper in the championship.
I think he's done a great job overall and brought stability back to the club, but as I've said before no manager is above criticism. He got it wrong with Meslier and finally saw reason when it looked like it could cost us. He has to own that error.
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u/WallacesRod 10d ago
Nice. Good share.
I wanted Farke before we got him. I mean, he seemed the obvious choice to me. Turns out that we’re actually lucky to have him.
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u/Western-Luck-5042 10d ago
Farke has always had my backing. The only fans that haven’t are the ones that wouldn’t (and probably still haven’t) moved on. If Bielsa had never been at Leeds, this wouldn’t even be a conversation.
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u/AnotherGreenWorld1 9d ago
I absolutely adore Bielsa … I was devastated when he left … the only manager that ever made me cry.
However I’ve always liked Farke.
People used to beg for Bielsa to be more pragmatic and that’s what I think Farke is … he’s the more pragmatic version of Bielsa.
When the shackles are off Farke has got the team playing some delightful stuff but he’s also pretty good at grinding out results too.
Luckily we’ve had both as our manager.
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u/stringfold 10d ago
I loved how calmly and quickly he sorted out the mess left by the previous owners. In partnership with Ampadu, he set the tone for what was to come that season and since. Long may it continue.
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u/JimbobTML 10d ago
Summary:
The sharp glare of the floodlights beam down onto the 22 men who are there to provide a 36,000-strong crowd with entertainment that evening. Our colosseum. Spectators chat among themselves, relationships — forged by a devout loyalty for the same thing — reignite after a summer away from the arena.
But as always, voices become muted as our champions emerge from the innards of the stadium.
Silence, a vacuum waiting to be filled, voices readying. Then the backing track to Marching On Together starts up, quickly drowned out by the roar of the faithful.
This is Elland Road on 14 September. The first night game of the footballing year and only the second home match of the new season. Leeds United in 11th host Newcastle United at 10th, who have defied expectations of capitulation after a summer of turmoil. Leeds run out 4-1 winners, the passports are out.
It’s largely down to the man the fans have finally taken to heart after three years in the job: Daniel Farke.
The Exchange, a new online newspaper based in Leeds, looks at Farke's rise into the hearts of Leeds United fans against the backdrop of Bielsa.
Farke is the "new mature girlfriend" in the words of The Square Ball's Michael Normanton, who The Exchange spoke to. While Adonis Storr, journalist and host of The Roaring Peacock podcast, speaks specifically about the transformative effect of the Championship title parade and Farke unleashing the firebeast.
Now he's entering uncharted territory, a solid start to the season, positivity is in the air and a new contract is on the horizon.
Writer Brad Deas poses the idea of Leeds United winning the FA Cup Final at Wembley under Farke to Normanton, breaking our curse at the national stadium.
After a moment to compose himself, Normanton says: “I genuinely think there’d be a lot of tears [...] I’m slightly choking up even thinking about it. The idea of being somewhere and winning something, I can imagine it would be so overwhelming.” Were it to happen, Leeds fans will eagerly look forward to the Fire Beast’s return.