Strachan leaps to Farke's defence

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Strachan leaps to Farke's defence

Leeds United legend Gordon Strachan has never been one to mince his words, and his latest verdict on the current squad is as blunt as it gets. Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Strachan defended Daniel Farke from any suggestions of undue pressure, making it clear that the players might not be capable of delivering much better results than we’ve seen so far this season.

In his view, Farke is getting about as much as he can out of the squad, and the question fans should be asking is whether this group of players is genuinely good enough to compete at a higher level. Strachan posed a telling example: if Leeds were to put their players on the market tomorrow, how many would spark genuine interest from other clubs? Outside of a handful of individual performances, the answer, he implied, would be “not many.”

That observation hits home when you look back at the summer transfer window, where there was little to no serious pursuit of Leeds players. The reality is that the squad’s overall quality has been shaped by a mixed record in recruitment over recent seasons. Some acquisitions have slotted in well, but others simply haven’t been up to the mark.

As Strachan pointed out, the strength of any squad is ultimately measured by how many truly outstanding players it contains, and right now Leeds are relying on a few bright spots surrounded by a lot of average contributors. His comments serve as a reminder that while managers shoulder much of the blame when results falter, football is ultimately a players’ game.

If Leeds are able to survive the drop, the recruitment strategy must evolve, prioritising proven performers over hopeful gambles. Fans will be hoping the 49ers ownership takes Strachan’s words to heart, using them as a wake-up call for the January transfer windows. The message is loud and clear: to build a squad capable of challenging in the top flight, you need more than just a handful of stars—you need depth, quality, and players other clubs would fight to sign.

There's only so much that can be achieved without higher-calibre talent on the pitch, BUT the biggest question still remains, is Daniel Farke getting the best out of his limited resources?






Sterling likely to choose Palace over Leeds

Leeds United could face a real challenge in January as they weigh up an ambitious move for Raheem Sterling, currently frozen out at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca. The 30-year-old winger, on a hefty £300,000-a-week contract, hasn’t played a competitive game this season after returning from a loan spell at Arsenal in the summer. Once a standout performer for Liverpool and Manchester City, Sterling now finds himself sidelined and searching for a fresh start. Leeds, in desperate need of goals and creativity to help steer them clear of relegation danger, would see Sterling’s pace, intelligence, and ability to unlock stubborn defences as a potential game-changer. However, the financial package required could prove a major stumbling block.

Crystal Palace, despite splashing out £26 million on Yeremy Pino, are also in the hunt for attacking reinforcements, and talks with Sterling’s agent are already underway. Given that Sterling is settled in London, a move to Selhurst Park may ultimately be the more straightforward option. Still, the 49ers may be tempted to push for the signing if there’s any hint of a deal being possible, even on loan. The Yorkshire side’s youthful squad could benefit enormously from Sterling’s leadership and winning mentality, attributes that former player Paul Merson was keen to highlight last summer.

Merson argued that Leeds would be the perfect environment for the England international to regain form:

He needs to go and play football, week in, week out to get some rhythm. He’d be very good in the dressing room, a good team player.