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Whether you approve or not, Daniel Farke has become a solitary shield, shielding players and directors from growing discontent among fans at their home ground.

Pivotal Schedule Ahead

The Yorkshire club travels to Manchester City on the weekend with the head coach fully conscious that losing against his good friend the City boss will only heighten suggestions that the former Celtic manager could soon occupy his parking space.

Although uncertain as to whether the experienced manager, a free agent after a dramatic divorce from his former team in last autumn, would truly desire the job, five losses in the past six Premier League games have prompted tough doubts about the manager's position.

Following the visit to the City's ground succeeded by visits of the London club and Liverpool on Wednesday and Saturday respectively, a decisive period approaches for the coach who, only a few months ago, achieved advancement from the second tier.

Externally Calm

“I prefer it that the external criticism is on the head and not the players,” the manager commented on Thursday. “I need to be a guide who remains composed and doesn’t think about his personal future. The focus is on how the club can remain in the English elite long term.

“I’ll be honest, it’s not very enjoyable at the moment; we’re getting a lot of flak. However, I won't avoid it. I was aware of how fervent this organization is from the first day here. If you can’t handle the pressure avoid becoming manager of Leeds United. I never expected this season to be an simple task.”

Errors and Misguided Anger

No coach is without error and, during the team's decline to bottom positions, Farke has undoubtedly made wrong calls. However, the disaffected supporter who attempted to confront him in the dugout during Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat by their opponents was possibly blaming the incorrect person.

If a last-ditch intervention from security personnel stopped what could have been an ugly incident, the broader shouts of “You don’t know what you’re doing” directed towards Farke could, instead, have also been directed at the chairman, Robbie Evans, the recruitment head and the head of recruitment.

Investment and What Ifs

After all, although a significant sum was used on 10 new faces in the off-season, the manager's repeated summer advice about the need to add more “offensive firepower” went ignored. Meanwhile, 97 miles up the road, a newly promoted their rivals squad was refreshed by a highly astute massive investment that has left Régis Le Bris well positioned to demonstrate his coaching ability.

Could things have changed for the Leeds boss had Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra not chosen Sunderland rather than Elland Road, or if the San Francisco backers, the San Francisco-based 49er Enterprises, had been more able to remain within the Premier League’s spending rules? The horizon would surely improved had the striker not failed to deliver so noticeably. On the underwhelming evidence to date, the team might have been better keeping faith with Patrick Bamford.

Injuries and Determination

The manager did, however, equipped with two respectable engine room operators in £17m Anton Stach and the former Newcastle man last summer but, ominously, the duo will be unavailable at the City's ground. The German is under concussion protocols, while a muscle problem will sideline Longstaff for a significant period. Not that, the coach is thinking of quitting.

“Statistics indicate we’re in the top two with the league leaders in terms of physical output and stamina this term,” he stated. “I see how together the team are. What’s missing is the decisive touch in attack and defense. It's crucial to refine small aspects.

“Yet, we were aware such a scenario was possible. Securing survival would be a significant achievement. Recently each ascending club went straight back down but I’m confident we can succeed in our target”. The aim is the survival benchmark and, with 11 accumulated from twelve matches of the term so far, the team have not, in fairness, strayed significantly from the plan.

Required Changes

• Avoiding any additional decline will undoubtedly necessitate the manager rediscovering his strikers' goal touch and addressing the consistently vulnerable left flank of the backline.
• Not to mention maybe replacing the frequently flawed the goalkeeper with the backup keeper in between the posts and, possibly, finding an upgrade to the heavily criticized the attacking midfielder on the right flank of his offense.
• Aaronson's phenomenal workrate and diligent defensive work strengthens the team defensively but, offensively, he has disappointed.

Handling Discontent

Despite, the coach is satisfied by the crowd’s hostility to the player. “Is it truly how we should treat an individual in our society?” the manager asks. “We gain satisfaction if we can put our anger on another human being; I don’t like it.”

There is much to like about the manager – Guardiola says he has “an incredible opinion of Daniel” – but the 49-year-old is starting to look battle weary. In the near future, the Leeds hierarchy must choose whether to stand by him, or sack him.