07 Aug 2026 15:14:13
Good morrow siblings, well I have to say I am loving the way the 9ers are going about their business, what a refreshing change to the turmoil and carnage of 2 decades. Slowly, steadily building from taking control, buying back the ground, evolving to the prem and now making quality signings to add to the solid and necessary changes last summer to stay up.
Ground improvements under way to make ER an elite stadium. What a signing Muharemovic is and Trafford is so what we have needed for years. Excited to see who else they bring in but so far they deserve great credit for running our club professionally and sustainably. UTWDTP.
1.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 16:10:54
100% in agreement, Vid.. But take cover incoming!
2.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 16:19:36
Lol Ani, indeed, but just in case this should do it, DF has been integral to the process and is the dude to deliver. ?
3.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 16:31:58
Hehe, Davey.. To think you were doing quite well on your first post re 49ers.
Esp. with the stadium expansion.. excellent!
Don't forget, Davey and Ani, you guys, along with the majority of the Leeds United fans, were calling for Farke to be replaced last December.
The Citeh game was the catalyst for improvements, thankfully.
4.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 16:46:14
Ah Baz, this is very true, but I have given my thoughts on that a few times, especially when OP picked me up on it. As I have said, DF reacted to the situation positively. It's natural to have doubts, as our performances pre-December dictated.
In the scheme of things, his overall record in 3 seasons is admirable, and there are always wobbles along the way. As I have also said, the big thing for me is the environment and unity he has created; it's priceless!
5.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 17:42:31
Baz, for the record, I have never, ever wished Daniel Farke to be replaced. You could search every post here or anywhere else for the last 3 years, and you will not find one dissenting or disparaging word from me re Daniel Farke.
He's the best manager we have had for the best part of two decades, regardless of what others might think. Yes, I rate him higher than Bielsa, and that's something. Bielsa and Farke, between them, have given us 6-7 years of decent success [relative to what went on since we were relegated in 2003].
Simon Grayson brought some pride back, but he was never supported.
The only manager I really wished gone was Sam Allardyce, but I didn't rate him for years before he turned up at Leeds. It would have been a disaster had they kept him on after the relegation.
Some folks don't know a good thing when it's staring them right in the face.
6.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 18:30:59
Hmm.
If Daniel Farke is as good as some on here believe,
why is Farke seemingly not rated highly enough by any other EPL, La Liga, or Serie A clubs, etc.?
He is never linked in the media or by bookies for their coaching job.
.let alone any clubs actually requesting permission to approach Farke for their coaching job.
His achievements are mixed, imo, some good and some not so good.
Norwich (sacked after 2 relegations) , Frankfurt (just one season before being sacked) and Leeds (almost sacked last seez) .
But, on balance, he has had of course 3 Champo promotions and he is likely in the top 6 Leeds United managers in my life time.
7.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 18:37:48
Go on then, date yourself, Baz - who are the top 6?
8.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 18:42:13
I am early 1960s vintage CAWhite.
So, have a guess which 6?
9.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 18:56:22
Ok, Baz, I will take issue, lol. Why oh why still point to Norwich? Totally different situation and history. A learning process, I would suggest. Name me a manager who could have taken a team in tatters, rebuild and achieve a play off final in year one. To win the champo in his first season is pie in the sky, it don't happen. Year 2 lost his 3 best players, rebuilt and won the champo with 100 points, best offence and second best defence. Year 3 reshaped and totally changed ethos and approach, survived the step up with comfort.
Who would you suggest could have done that? There is no answer because we don't know, but he out performed others including your choice Nuno. He is currently on a par with the great Marcelo and only behind Seargent Wilko, O'Leary and the Don. Credit what he has achieved. This season is the litmus test and I believe he will prove more than capable. Could be wrong in which case I will doth my cap to you, can't see it happening tho. ? ?
10.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 19:03:59
Cheers, Davey, for your interesting reply..
You did, though, dodge my question.
Why is it that Farke is not in demand?
11.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 19:14:36
How do we know he isn't Baz? Just because there is no media bleating? I would imagine there are clubs looking, especially abroad, and if we perform this season, well, they will then be very interested.
Can't believe the little credit he gets for performing in one of the toughest gigs in English football, more criticised and doubted than many, and yet, under all that pressure, he has delivered.
12.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 19:28:50
Some interesting and fair comments, Davey. Good stuff.
13.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 20:44:57
Hey Baz, would you like to list all the clubs who have been trying to poach the likes of Arteta, Klopp, or Pep over the last 3 seasons?
It's a very strange metric to judge how well a manager is doing.
The "best" managers, i.e., those who have won trophies, are usually the ones who swap clubs as often as their underwear, since one could argue they can't handle it when it's not going so well.
Name me one "better" manager who could guarantee Leeds something better presently operating in the same straight jacket and rules.
Like I said last week, there have been 49 "upgrades" in the last 3 seasons. At a stretch, you might argue, 3 have improved their respective clubs' fortunes.
There are 9 upgrades this season, let's see how much better they do.
14.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 21:15:17
Just to add, Baz, for a manager who, in your opinion, is "lacking", Daniel Farke is now the 3rd longest serving manager on the prem. Only Arteta and Emre have been at their respective clubs longer. That, in itself, says volumes about the ridiculous instant success mentality of many who, for example, say Daniel Farke has underperformed and should have had instant success in the champo.
If it were that easy, anyone could do it. Long term success takes time. Ask Fergie.
15.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 21:21:15
Not many clubs, Ani, would be able to poach, say, Pep while he was at Citeh. Maybe back to Barca. That's it.
16.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 21:24:20
Yeah, I saw that list, Davey..
Farke in 3rd place with one year..
17.) 08 Aug 2026
08 Aug 2026 00:13:59
Baz, top 6 I would guess are:
The Don
Wilko
Bielsa
O'Leary
Armfield
Farke
With a honourable mention for Billy.
18.) 08 Aug 2026
08 Aug 2026 00:33:28
Correct 6 .. with honorable mention indeed for Billy.
1 and 2, no debate, Don and Wilko.
6 is Farke.
3, 4 and 5 are changeable.. but I have a definite spot for Jimmy Armfield, cheated out of 75 European Cup Trophy 8.
19.) 08 Aug 2026
08 Aug 2026 04:50:23
I enjoyed the period with O'Leary, but was he a good manager, really? He spent plenty of money and inherited some great youth. We were a pretty decent club already under Graham. He destroyed as quickly as he created? I know folks look back in fondness at the period, but was he good or lucky? He did nothing much after us, literally. I reiterate, it was definitely good times for the best part under him.
The Don is beyond debate, as is Wilko. After that, for me, it's a mixing pot: Armfield, O'Leary, Bremner, Grayson, Bielsa and Farke have all given us periods of optimism and pride, but it's the last 4 in my list, who, to me, achieved more than we expected or could have reasonably hoped for when they were appointed.
20.) 08 Aug 2026
08 Aug 2026 07:38:53
Interesting points of view, Ani. much of which I concur with.
Yes. George Graham and Simon Grayson both have a lot of credit too, and deservedly so.
Graham (along with DOL) steadied the LUFC ship and set it sailing for a very good 7 to 8 year era.
And, yea, DOL inherited a strong team from Graham, but he took it onto an even higher level of success, whilst also having to deal with an awful lot off the pitch too, later on.