'Fans' relationship with Farke like loveless marriage'

At Norwich, Daniel Farke was loved. The full-time whistle at Carrow Road was often met with Blur's 90s hit Parklife blasted from the tannoy. The Canary faithful replaced the song's hook line with the German's name.

At Leeds, Farke has the best win percentage (55.4%) of any coach to manage more than 10 games in the club's history, but his name is seldom sung and he isn't really loved.

From sections of the fanbase his tactics aren't yet being met with vitriol, but something worse: apathy.

By the time Farke had circled the Elland Road pitch last Wednesday night the stands were sparse. The Whites had just comprehensively dismantled freshly-relegated Luton Town, they were top of the league, having raced to 10 league wins, and well in the fight for the Championship title.

But Leeds fans' relationship with Farke feels like a loveless marriage.

The German's solid formation has seen United concede fewer goals than at this stage last year. Leeds have the lowest expected goals allowed in the league, and suffocate games by controlling possession and playing two defensive midfielders.

But this defensive solidity isn't really inspirational. And the frustration when the Peacocks don't play exciting, attacking football is compounded by the strength of the squad.

Leeds have one of the most expensively-assembled squads in English Football League history. The fanbase expect the club to win, and the frustration of decades spent outside the Premier League wasn't quenched from the recent brief spell back in the big time.

Perhaps it is the shadow of Marcelo Bielsa still hanging over Elland Road. We have seen how football can become art. And while Farke's tactics might be what we need, it's not what we want.

Farke will never be loved like Bielsa, but if he does get Leeds promoted, at least his name will be sung again.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock