Daniel Farke sustained a fine balance in his Leeds United squad throughout the season, using this nice equilibrium as a reason for inactivity in the January transfer market.
He stressed that an important aspect in considering a new arrival was the character of a player as much as his quality. The last thing he wanted was for a new signing to disrupt the positive attitude around the squad.
Having the privilege of attending Thorp Arch for press conference, reporters sometimes get glimpses of the mood around camp. From January onwards, perhaps because of the team’s good form and league position, the atmosphere seemed focused while positive and optimistic.
A lot has been said about Josuha Guilavogui’s off-field impact amid the news of his forthcoming exit at the end of his contract. Farke went so far as calling the Frenchman one of his best signings as a result of this dressing room influence.
In the end the argument for morale played out, most visibly during the final games before promotion. Part of this was due to the number of line-up-worthy players in the Leeds squad.
In black and white, after the winter window where two players left on loan, there were still 26 players that Farke could choose from.
But reality outlined how three were academy debutants and one was third-choice goalkeeper Alex Cairns. Guilavogui was used sparingly, never starting a league game, with Isaac Schmidt in the same boat.
The squad’s depth of quality was tested at certain points, including towards the end when Pascal Struijk and Joe Rothwell were both sidelined with injury. United managed to survive and keep senior options on the field but the bench at one stage contained two goalkeepers and two youth debutants.
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In January there were calls from fans for Farke to bolster numbers, and there were worries that the risk of making no signings was coming back around to bite them in March amid stuttering form.
Many top flight bosses prefer a smaller starting pool so they are not dealing with a set of players constantly disappointed at being left out. The most high-profile of these is Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who made an ultimatum to the Blues board this week after the FA Cup field defeat to Crystal Palace.
"I said to the club I don't want that [a bigger squad]," Guardiola said. "I don't want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don't want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.”
He added: "As a manager, I cannot train 24 players and every time I select I have to have four, five, six, stay in Manchester at home because they cannot play. This is not going to happen.
“I said to the club, I don't want that. If I have injuries, unlucky, we have some players for the academy and we do it.”
Farke could adopt a similar policy in the Championship but won’t be able to next year. There may be fewer games but that’s not the point - each match carries more importance and intensity while makeshift options get found out easily in the Premier League.
Joel Piroe dropping as the number 10 late on, Wilfried Gnonto’s trial as an attacking midfielder, Max Wober filling in at left-back are just three examples of last season’s traits that will get even more exposed at the top level.
Ethan Ampadu is far from a make-shift centre-back but United cannot afford for him to keep dropping into defence next season - he is vitally important in his more natural number six role.
The demands and toils of the season also mean United can’t go into the campaign with three senior natural centre-backs, James Debayo hardly ready for the top flight. United need to have each area covered with better protection to give themselves the best fighting chance.
A luxury for Guardiola - and other Premier League managers - cannot be a mandate for Farke next term. It’s got to be a case of all hands on deck.
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