Daniel Farke is currently the favourite to take over the Leeds United job although, Scott Parker has also been linked to the current vacancy at Elland Road.
It is usually typical that all clubs at this stage of the new season have a Manager in place ahead of the upcoming campaign, having said that, Leeds United are five days away from the start of pre-season and this is still no clearer who is going to be in charge with the 2023/24 Championship Season rapidly approaching.
At this moment in time it is obscure whether or not the EFL approval of the takeover from the 49ers Enterprise is delaying the arrival of the next Manager at LS11, or whether the 49ers are waiting almost as if they are outside a Sweet Shop and can’t decide which one they prefer, nevertheless it must be concluded sooner rather than later you would like to hope.
Neither Daniel Farke or Scott Parker create a sense of continuity or longevity but time is not of the essence for the Whites. Scott Parker is not somebody WHO screams out to Leeds Supporters’ as a leader who could bring a brand of football that fits in with the ethos of the club. His possession based football is very bland and tedious to watch a lot of the time and despite winning two promotions with both Fulham and Bournemouth from the Championship, the stories of his times at these clubs concluded in relegating Fulham and left Bournemouth last season favourites of being relegated. Had the club not relied upon Gary O’Neil to not come in after seeing Parkers’ last game in charge of Bournemouth losing 9-0 away at Anfield, where he looked a man who was out of ideas and pleaded to the Board publicly it was down to a lack of spending in the transfer market. Parker still has a lot of inexperience and seemingly would have less guarantees of seeing light at the end of the tunnel should he take Leeds up after his previous experiences.
Looking back at the Fulham side he had; players he managed such as Mitrovic, Knockaert, Cairney and Carvaleiro just to name a few have all been in winning sides prior to this spell and they had a team on paper that you almost questioned before the 19/20 Championship Campaign, who would actually beat them? After being odds on favourites to be promoted and win the title that season, they just about scrapped through the playoffs and oversaw Brentford in the Playoff Final.
After Parker’s Fulham were promoted, they failed to win until November beating relegation battlers West Brom who were also relegated that season. Twelve months later they were immediately relegated and then Parker left The Cottagers to join Bournemouth on the same day it was in the news that he had left Fulham.
Similarly, Parker was not tested with a weaker squad in this challenge he took and had a strong side which were capable of being promoted back to the Premier League. Despite having a great start to the season, again Parker felt the need to add an additional five players in the January transfer window in January 2022 seeing the likes of Todd Cantwell join the Cherries from Norwich City. After having a busy spree of players coming through the door at Bournemouth, they just about got over the line and you felt considering how competitive the squad was, it would look a lot more comfortable than it did play out. Where as Marco Silva at Fulham broke many records and once again helped Fulham return to the Premier League where Parker had only left less than twelve months before. Silva and his Fulham side finished on ninety points.
Gary O’Neil took the helm which looked an impossible task at Bournemouth. It envisaged something like a jigsaw which had been completely broken with missing pieces in it; managed to put it back together in unbelievable fashion proving; doubters wrong and you couldn’t help but think Parker had no chance of doing himself had he stayed with The Cherries. His latest move to Belgium, Club Brugge was not the happiest of times for Parker either just lasting a few months having only won twice in twelve games.
Leeds must act quick but with due diligence too.
