Leeds Utd: The next few games are going to be tough for Leeds Utd
It's 83 days since Leeds United's next opponent Nottingham Forest won a Premier League game and the City Ground will be more expectant than ever when the two sides meet on Sunday.
The appointment of a new manager naturally brings a fanbase back on side, restoring hope after a rancid run of form and putting the anger and frustration to one side - temporarily at least. For Forest this is the second time they've tried to rectify things with a new manager in a season that is only 10 games old. First went Nuno and then Ange Postecoglou's torrid 39-day tenure was brought to an abrupt halt. In came Sean Dyche and already there's a sense of things turning just a little. A win in his first game in the Europa League was followed by defeat at Bournemouth but then the Reds held Manchester United at home and drew 0-0 at Sturm Graz. They were nine minutes or so away from beating Ruben Amorim's men. From small acorns the Tricky Trees hope to grow. They hope to survive.
But the mere fact that Forest were playing away in Europe on Thursday night paints them differently to others trying to avoid the drop into the Championship. Not so long ago many of these players finished seventh in the Premier League and just a point outside the Champions League places. Yes they sold £90m or so worth of talent in the transfer window but they spent around twice that on 13 new boys. Not so much a sleeping giant as a quality outfit who went for a quick and unexpected nap.
The ability that Dyche has found in his latest club is such that Daniel Farke expects yet another 'complicated game' for Leeds on Sunday, as they attempt to bounce back from last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Brighton.
"Forest of course had a few outgoings, but also really, really good quality incomings," he said. "They were able to qualify for Europe and we don't have to speak about the quality of the players. I think they have high individual quality in all positions and all options. So for me, it's definitely a side who can deliver top performances on this level and win many points. And last season has proved this. I think they have the quality in order to be in this region, there's no doubt about this. Of course, there was lots ongoing and lots of noise outside but then also a very experienced manager like Sean Dyche. I think with this experience he will also bring calmness into this group. And when this comes together, high quality players and also a manager who is experienced and brings calmness, it's always normally a good set-up to win many points."
Farke was speaking the minds and hearts of Forest fans because they too will look at their squad and the identity of their Premier League proven new manager and expect them to give Leeds a complicated time of it, at the very least. They tasted victory again at long last in Europe but a second Premier League win of the season is long, long overdue. And they'd love it, Dyche’s first in the league as their boss, to arrive against Leeds, a fellow big, old, traditional club and an historic rival. One that has only just recently returned to the top flight and is not yet able to say it has established Premier League talent. Expectations will be high when the teams emerge from the tunnel and, as ever when the Whites are in town, the atmosphere will be feverish.
When earlier this week minds at Thorp Arch turned to the Forest game, Farke immediately addressed that which his Leeds players will be walking into on Sunday. Not to warn them, but to encourage them.
"First of all, to enjoy the challenge," he said. "This is what I've said more or less in my first meeting. Once we spoke about Nottingham, I described exactly this atmosphere and what will happen in this game. I told them, 'Listen, we have to enjoy this challenge, this is why we once started to play football games.'
"You want to be involved in this game. The best scenario is always a home game at Elland Road because it's second to none and a very unique experience. It's a joy to be allowed to play in front of these home fans, but the second best scenario is a very hostile away ground. Me, as a player, I rather play when the whole stadium is against you and you can rise to the challenge instead of playing in the stadium where it doesn't matter. It's important that we enjoy this challenge and are not impressed or whatever, scared or something like this."
The tactical battle between Farke and Dyche will mostly take place beforehand, in their selections and approaches. Leeds set out to be a more physical side this season and at times have been very direct, using Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a platform. They have targeted set-pieces as an area of potential joy - something that will at least introduce a little doubt to Forest minds given the nine they have conceded from dead balls this season. But Leeds have also attempted to play their way through teams, even in away games. It didn't work out so well at Brighton last weekend yet it would be no real surprise if Farke's men sought to dominate the ball again.
As for the hosts, they are still getting to grips with what their third manager of the season is telling them but Dyche's principles can already be seen. More long balls up to the striker or to Neco Williams. Morgan Gibbs-White playing off the striker. Wingers more tucked in.
However they elect to set their sides up for kick-off, Farke and Dyche will also have the opportunity to tweak things during the game to try and get the better of one another. But the game will ultimately be decided by what the players do with their managers' instructions. By how they fare in duels. By the decisions they make on the ball and the running they can do off it. By their concentration levels. And in the middle of a cauldron of noise, by how they stand up to the occasion.
"It's more like in these type of games, you can show or see your character and that you're capable of showing some steel and whatever," said Farke. "It's a great challenge and I would back my squad that we also will enjoy this challenge. And for that, I don't want to change too much of the atmosphere. I want to go there and enjoy this challenge. If you're capable in these circumstances to grind out a result, this is sometimes more or less one of the best games in the season. We're highly motivated to show this, and then also to play our football and to play our style and try to be as dominant as possible in as many periods as possible."
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