Manager sackings in football are typically sparked by a poor string of results, a stretch where fans and pundits start to question the club’s trajectory. When performances stagnate and defeats pile up, calls for change often dominate any media form surrounding the club.
The most recent example is Manchester United, who parted ways with Erik ten Hag following their woeful start to the season. Calls for Ten Hag out started early on the season, and the final decision was one that surprised nobody.
However, it’s nearly unheard of for a manager leading his team to the top of the table to face similar scrutiny.
Yet, in an extraordinary and bizarre twist, one Leeds United fan has defied all logic. Despite Leeds sitting at the summit of the Championship, a supporter named Paul has demanded the sacking of manager Daniel Farke.
Leeds have won three of their last five matches, including a thrilling 4-3 victory over Swansea City, and their tally of 28 goals in 16 games makes them the second-highest-scoring team in the league. Level on points with Sunderland, the Lilywhites have shown upward trajectory from last season.
But Paul’s grievances, aired on BBC Radio Leeds, have baffled fans and pundits alike.
Speaking on the Football Forum after the Swansea win, Paul opened by acknowledging the victory and Leeds’ position at the top of the table. However, his tone quickly shifted to criticism of Farke’s tactics.
“The tactics displayed in the second half when we were pressing in our own box, it’s like schoolboy football,” he lamented. “We were not tackling. We’re not pressing in their half at all. Another 10 minutes, we would have been 4-4.”
Paul then delivered his shocking conclusion: “I think he should go now and let’s get a manager that can keep us in the Premiership because he won’t.” While the show’s presenter pointed out the absurdity of calling for Farke’s dismissal given Leeds’ current success, Paul doubled down. “Three of the goals should never have been conceded because of these tactics,” he insisted, citing Farke’s home loss to Burnley earlier in the season as further evidence of his ineptness.
It’s true that Leeds have been far from perfect at times this season, but what matters at the end of the day is that Farke has the ability to grind out the results and that his side is leading the Championship table.
From Paul’s perspective, his concerns lie in Leeds’ defensive fragility and whether Farke’s approach can transition effectively to the Premier League. While his fears about sustaining success in the top flight could hold some merit, his timing and method of delivery have drawn widespread ridicule.
Leeds fans on social media wasted no time in voicing their disbelief. Many questioned Paul’s grasp of the game and slammed the BBC for broadcasting his take, accusing the station of stoking unnecessary negativity.
“Getting a call stating the manager should be sacked… after a 4-3 win to go top of the table,” wrote BBC presenter Jonathan Buchan on X.“17 years in broadcasting – first time for everything, I suppose.”
Others highlighted the absurdity of wanting to sack a manager whose decisions have consistently borne fruit. For instance, starting Manor Solomon over Wilfried Gnonto against Swansea proved shrewd, as Solomon netted twice before Gnonto sealed the win with a last-minute strike.
Paul’s attempt at trying to start a movement to sack Farke fell flat on it’s face, and it’s clear that his position as Leeds boss is as secure as ever. If he takes Leeds to the Premier League come the end of the season, it’ll be interesting to see if Paul’s viewpoint stands or not. Maybe we’ll comeback a year later, acknowledging a part of the his viewpoint that Farke’s tactics won’t sustain in the Premier League.