Good Morning. It's Monday 20th October, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Just not good enough
Leeds United’s trip to Burnley ended in bitter disappointment, as Daniel Farke’s side slumped to another damaging defeat. In what had been billed as a must-not-lose encounter, the unthinkable became reality for the visitors. Leeds, who had appeared to be gathering momentum before the international break, looked disjointed and fragile at both ends of the pitch. Their defensive cohesion evaporated, while their attack had no end product.
For Farke, this latest setback will only intensify scrutiny over his tenure, with Friday night’s looming fixture against West Ham at Elland Road being touted as a defining moment in his tenure. To make matters worse, injuries to Noah Okafor and Willy Gnonto, alongside Daniel James’s incomplete recovery, forced the manager to deploy Brenden Aaronson, alongside Jack Harrison as makeshift wingers. The pair offered work rate but little in the way of invention.
Although Leeds dominated possession, the pattern of play was sterile. There was no incision, no spark to unsettle Burnley’s shape. Parker’s side looked sharper and more purposeful, making the most of their opportunities. Their breakthrough came midway through the first half, born of a swift, incisive move down the right flank. Kyle Walker’s overlapping run and clever interplay unpicked the Leeds defence, allowing Lesley Ugochukwu a free header. It was a goal that encapsulated Burnley’s efficiency and Leeds’ fragility.
The visitors rallied briefly before the interval, with Aaronson coming close to an equaliser when his deflected effort was superbly tipped onto the post by Martin Dubravka. Yet that flash of defiance proved fleeting. The second half saw Leeds grow increasingly desperate, their one-paced build-up repeatedly stifled by Burnley’s disciplined back line. The contest was effectively settled when France Under-21 winger Wilson Odobert Tchaouna unleashed a ferocious strike from distance, doubling the hosts’ lead and crushing any lingering hopes of a comeback.
By the final whistle, Leeds’ possession statistics counted for little. Burnley had executed their game plan with clarity and conviction, while Leeds looked like a side bereft of confidence and ideas. It was a result that left Farke facing tough questions and Leeds supporters fearing that their campaign was beginning to unravel. In truth, this match had all the hallmarks of a Championship fixture: frenetic, error-strewn, and ultimately decided by the team that simply wanted it more.
One win in 8 - something has to give
Things aren’t looking promising for Daniel Farke right now. The defeat to Burnley—a side tipped by most to finish rock bottom of the Premier League—felt less like a stumble and more like a cry for help. The pressure is mounting, not just on Farke, but also on the 49ers, whose patience must be wearing thin. Friday night’s clash with West Ham could well be his final audition; anything short of a win will surely end his Elland Road tenure.
Yet, amid the growing frustration, it’s worth asking—has Farke truly been given a fair chance? Over the summer, the backing he received in the transfer market was modest at best, with several key targets reportedly missed. His wishlist of reinforcements never materialised, leaving him to patch holes in a squad that still bears the scars of last season’s Championship battle. Expecting a radical turnaround without substantial investment feels optimistic, if not outright unrealistic.
Still, excuses only go so far. Farke’s critics argue that his own rigidity has contributed to Leeds downfall. His reluctance to appoint a dedicated set-piece coach has left the team blunt in attack and vulnerable at the back, with goals from dead-ball situations proving rare—and costly in reverse. Add to that his loyalty to underperforming players and a seeming unwillingness to adapt tactically, and one can see why murmurs of discontent have grown louder among the Elland Road faithful.
With just one win in their last eight matches across all competitions, Leeds find themselves drifting aimlessly toward another crisis point. Something has to give, and in modern football, that “something” is almost always the manager whether fair or not. Farke may argue that he’s been fighting with one hand tied behind his back, but football clubs seldom wait for context when results dry up. Unless Leeds can summon a result against the Hammers, the 49ers will surely be left with not choice but to end Daniel Farke's 27 month tenure.