If Gabriel Gudmundsson was given an arm around the shoulder after his own goal at Fulham then Daniel Farke laid down a challenge to at least four other players after full-time.
The manager said he was “proud” of his men and "heartbroken" at how the match ended given the fight and spirit they showed. However, that is now three matches without a goal and none at all from open play.
The defeat at Arsenal was always likely but the result at Fulham was in part due to United’s lack of attacking initiative. Noah Okafor put in a good first half and Dominic Calvert-Lewin won a few headers.
The best two chances saw Sean Longstaff glance the bar from distance and Brenden Aaronson force Fulham goalkeeper Leno into a save. But that was it.
Games away from home in the Premier League are always tough but the overall xG (expected goals) ratings from home and away tell the story. Leeds have, mostly, been solid at the back.
Across the four games so far, the expected goals-conceded score is 4.8, with six goals actually shipped - most of this xG rating comes from the loss at Arsenal, with Gudmundsson’s own goal at Fulham being an anomaly.
However, Leeds' own xG scoring figure stands at 3.7, having only scored once. Their only goal so far has come from the penalty spot, which has an xG rating of 0.75.
So, in effect, Leeds ought to have scored around three more goals than they have done. This highlights why it is so important to be clinical when chances come along.
An xG of 3.7 is quite low for four games, but it is interesting to note that West Ham United, Aston Villa and Wolves - United’s next opponents - have a lower return. Villa have yet to score but West Ham have netted four times and Wolves, twice.
Farke must try and squeeze the best out of what he has got. How he manages to do this is perhaps his greatest test as a coach since his Norwich City days.
Farke has been honest in his assessments of the current state of play, hence the cry for more attackers in the final days of the window. He once again gave his candid thoughts on the offensive picture on Saturday, and name-checked four players.
“No criticism or no disrespect to my players, but the players that we have - like Willy Gnonto, Daniel James, Jack Harrison, Brenden Aaronson - [were here] two-and-a-half years ago when we were relegated from the Premier League and they were called hopeless and not good enough for the Premier League,” he began.
“This is the reality and they are of course outstanding on the Championship level but right now they still have a point to prove that all these labels and all these judgments are not right.
“But it's a gulf stream between the Championship and the Premier League. Of course, we have these type of players in the offensive positions and I'm looking forward to working with them, to improve them, and to make them better - but we shouldn't expect any miracles.”
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke
Though Farke says he has “a really good group and top characters”, not all players react the same to such public challenges. The hope is that the comments drive them forward to prove doubters wrong, but it is no guarantee all will react like that.
Farke has made no bones about the fact that this season will be a struggle. The players are aware of that, and so are the fans, but there is a fine balance between being honest and being too brutal.
Lines such as “I can't expect something from a player what he's not capable to deliver” and “we know that we don't have the best individual quality in this league, so we have to come with other skills” are no doubt accurate but also risk doubt and pessimism creeping into the current squad.
Unity is so important this season. Farke is not hanging his players out to dry as such, having paid persistent compliments to them, but his public comments are a gamble in inspiring his current options or stripping them of confidence.
Maybe that is what separates the wheat from the chaff - those who can take on board such a verdict and press forward, and those who cannot.
Farke is not wrong in his comments and no-one should bemoan his open honesty but his candid assessments about the attack risk the esteem of the players who he ultimately needs to perform. Clearly, he feels it is a gamble that is necessary to take.
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