The first post Window presser

The journalists gathered in a premeditated assembly of clique as is always the routine for the Leeds United press conference before the next match. Fulham away is always difficult and as they are a well established Premier League club with many good players, the outcome is not guaranteed to be partly or comprehensively successful for the whites. But the main emphasis was never going to be concentrated on our forthcoming exploits to the capital.

Anticipation

Everybody in attendance at the latest Daniel Farke press conference was eager to judge the mood of a manager who had made it quite clear to the board, the players, the fans and the whole of the football press that the team needed at least two new attacking options before the end of the window. It had been the duty of LUFC managing director Robbie Evans to impart the reasoning and the justification that attempted to ameliorate the pronounced discontent of the majority of the fanbase shortly after the conclusion of a transfer window that had started promisingly but petered to nothingness. The ‘icing on the cake’ never arrived. His insistence that the club had spent comprehensively and with wisdom would inevitably raise enormous speculation about just how Daniel Farke was going to react either publicly or privately.

Composure

Characteristically and with great credit to the man, Farke remained the perfect gentleman as pertinent enquiries were eagerly delivered in his direction. Throughout the exercise he was never once divorced from his unassuming demeanour or seemingly ruffled by the very obvious difficulties presented by the situation.

“I’m not going to talk nonsense and try and pretend that we didn’t want players in because we did”

“You won’t hear from me, after a transfer window has closed, one bad word. Once the situation is done I adapt to the reality. There’s not one thought of me to be disappointed or down. I’m fully focused on the next game”

“Thank god it’s a few days gone. It’s fair to say I’m not dancing on the table.”

Clues

The evidence had already suggested itself from the few games that have been completed that Leeds are struggling to create chances and score goals. The free flowing football show that was the championship trademark of a superior playing squad was never going to be immediately repeated in the first season back in the premiership. Other teams that have not suitably adapted to the gargantuan gulf in class between the two leagues have quickly faltered. But Farke and the fans had wanted to equip the team with options that could win games and not just a back line that endeavoured to avoid defeat.

‘I’m paid to make the most of what we’ve got. I’m not stupid I can read the comments, the worry that we have Daniel James, Willie Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison and three years ago it wasn’t enough.”

Pressure already

The tremendously ruthless, difficult and unforgiving English premier league signals an abrupt departure for many managers. Only the fortunate few have the resources, players and patience of the owners at their disposal. Only the best prevail. Success or survival is everything.

Similar to his tenure with Leeds in the championship, Farke accrued over 90 points in both seasons Norwich had gained promotion. But he journeyed through abject premier league failure with a club that was grossly under financed and lacking in the requisite resolve or ambition. Consequently, he has carried an unwanted and unwarranted leitmotiv which has plagued his reputation and engendered scepticism over his ability to legitimise his position as a viable premier league manager.

So it’s fair to assume that Daniel Farke must be deeply concerned in addition to feeling genuinely annoyed. Be it miscalculations over PSR, investors reticent to expend further or simply lies, the funds promised for player purchases fell short of expectation and have resulted in a manager forced to lament the missing elements of his squad.

“Let them write us off. We will stay humble. There’ll be no fighting messages from me. We’ll concentrate on the hard work required to get the points we need.”