Steve Staunton once scoffed at suggestions that promotion-chasing Leeds United were under pressure by quipping: “Pressure is for tyres.”
When Staunton said that 16 years ago, as assistant manager he had helped oversee a six-match unbeaten run in league and cup to climb to fourth place in League One. Having been beaten in the play-off final the year before, fan expectations were high.
Different division, different era but 2024 has a feel of 2008 about it. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.
“If there is pressure at Leeds, it is a lovely pressure to have”, added Staunton. “I would rather be where we are than at a club which has no money, no support and is just hoping to stay in the division.”
If some Leeds United supporters are applying disproportionate pressure to manager Daniel Farke after a first league defeat of the campaign, despite dominating rivals Burnley, then it comes with the territory I guess – whether it is lovely or not.
If anyone has a barometer near the dugouts at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, I would be interested to know the collective force being applied to both Farke and counterpart Erol Bulut. Like all Whites managers before him since the club’s golden era, Farke has to work constantly in an overtly stressful environment. But Bulut’s position is parlous.
The Bluebirds have not won a league game and prop up the Championship with a single point. Bulut may run out of road before the pressure is relieved for him but I seem to recall Southampton’s Russell Martin was in a similar position a year ago.
Tread carefully.
Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds’ Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds
Source Agencies
