Leeds United headed into the October international break in good spirits with back-to-back Championship wins to sit comfortably in the play-off places in fifth.
It is safe to say after a slightly slow start to the season, the positivity has returned to Elland Road and despite the mass turnover of players throughout the summer transfer window, the Whites seem to have a squad capable of challenging for promotion.
One figure who has been integral to the excellent start to the season is Daniel Farke, the former Norwich boss rightfully receiving plenty of plaudits for the job he has already done at Elland Road, not just from journalists and pundits, but fans as well.
According to Leeds Live (14 October), a staggering 86 per cent of Leeds fans have said that their expectations have improved since the beginning of the campaign, while 71 per cent of supporters believe that the Whites will be promoted back to the Premier League.
While only a quarter of the Championship season has been played, there have certainly been signs that Farke’s side has most of the necessary tools to be a successful Championship side. Joel Piroe has hit the ground running with five goals in eight matches since joining from Swansea, while Georginio Rutter has been similarly impressive.
Joe Rodon has shone since arriving on loan from Tottenham Hotspur while Pascal Struijk has been one of the best centre-backs in the early weeks of the Championship season, with Farke’s backline providing an excellent base for his midfield to build from.
In all fairness, it is hard to be critical of any of the German’s summer signings, with every player that has seen game time at Elland Road impressing, while the likes of Ilia Gruev, Karl Darlow and Djed Spence wait for their chance, with the latter still recovering from injury.
It says words about how impressed the ordinary fan is with Farke’s efforts this season, since the boost in optimism is tremendous, especially given that many fans expected them to contend for promotion before a ball was even kicked.
However, we are just a quarter of the way into the season, and there is still plenty of football to be played and games to be won. Leeds United cannot afford to become complacent, as their defeat to Southampton demonstrated just how unpredictable this division can be.
Hopefully, the 71% of supporters who want promotion are correct, and Farke can bring Premier League football back to Elland Road.
