Daniel Farke
Leeds United are under some pressure after a run of one win in seven and back-to-back Premier League defeats. Daniel Farke is looking forward to seeing a reaction from his team when they host West Ham at Elland Road on Friday night. However, the relegation scrap is going to go down to the wire this season.
The Whites are still 15th in the Premier League table. However, the tame nature of their 2-0 defeat against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday has exposed some of the frailties of the team, which were getting masked by resilience and competitive edge early in the season.
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Leeds are not scoring enough goals to rise above the relegation fight, and the game against West Ham on Friday night has become hugely important, with Farke’s men needing a positive result at home to get rid of the stench left by the defeat at Burnley.
However, several established Premier League teams underperforming and some chaotic decision-making have allowed Leeds and other promoted sides to feel that they have a chance of survival this season.
Leeds United journalist feels stability will count for something at Elland Road
Dan Moylan, a Leeds United fan and journalist, has weighed in on the relegation dogfight and feels the Whites may have a key advantage over a few relegation rivals.
He pointed out that Nottingham Forest are one of the teams that could be in real trouble after their managerial upheaval, which saw Nuno Espirito Santo get replaced by Ange Postecoglou earlier in the season, only for the club to sack the Australian last weekend.
Sean Dyche has been appointed as their new manager, and Moylan feels that it could be far too much change for the players in a short space of time.
He believes Leeds have some sort of stability under Farke, which could see them through in the fight to survive in the Premier League this season.
“It’s the third voice that they have had in such a short space of time”, Moylan said on the Square Ball Podcast.
“I guess I am clutching at reasons why things might unravel [at Nottingham Forest].
“Whereas Elland Road is at least relatively settled, and I hope that it’s enough compared to them to see us through.”
The wild swing at Nottingham Forest is visible in their data as well
Leeds were poor against Burnley, and their goalscoring woes are a problem that needs to be addressed in the upcoming games. However, one can still predict how they will play due to Farke’s consistent football philosophy.
However, Forest have had wild swings from Nuno’s attritional football to Postecoglou’s ultra-attacking style and now back to Dyche’s defensive philosophy.
The instability is even visible in the data. While Leeds seem to have a consistent style, it is clear to point out that Forest have swung wildly between different footballing philosophies.
Under Nuno, they were a counter-attacking side, while their possession stats improved under Postecoglou, with differing attacking and defensive philosophies.
Leeds need to improve their numbers, but looking at the radar it is easy to understand what kind of football they are going to play under Farke this season.
The arrival of Dyche will again change the way Forest play, and that could be too much upheaval for a squad in a very short space of tim
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