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Jesse Marsch was approaching his one-year anniversary as Leeds United head coach before the decision was taken on Monday to relieve him of his duties.
The defeat to Nottingham Forest the previous day had been the last straw for the Leeds board, who were all in agreement that a change was needed after almost three months without a Premier League win.
The final statistics paint a bleak picture for Leeds. Seven Premier League games without a win and just two wins in their last 17 league games. And against Forest, although they dominated the first half and created the better chances, a worrying pattern started to develop which has become a big concern for the fans. Leeds produced a performance with many positives, but not enough points.
There’s no doubt that most fans have lost patience with Marsch, and he made his frustration clear at the full whistle on Sunday by calling for a change of head coach.
What is abundantly clear is that Leeds have yet to kick on this season. Sometimes there are promising signs, but the fans and the board at Leeds want more. Marsch will feel that with time he can deliver more, but he is also realistic enough to know that he is walking a tightrope.
I got to know Jesse during my 12 months at Elland Road and it’s clear he cares about the club. He knows what it means to be the head coach of Leeds United and what the club means to the city and the fans. And he should be given huge credit for keeping Leeds in the Premier League last season.
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FREE to watch: Highlights from the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Leeds.
Even if it doesn’t work out for Marsch this season, there is a strong argument to be made to suggest that the next Leeds boss will be in a good position to move the club.
Patrick Bamford and Luis Sinisterra are now fit, and the January additions should make the starting line-up strong. The club has also invested heavily in young players and one of them, Willy Gnonto, has emerged as one of the shining lights this season.
These factors create hope that Leeds are better than their current league position, and mean they are unwilling to accept another season of fighting to avoid relegation. It also means there is reason to be optimistic about the future.
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Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes the sacking of Jesse Marsch was the right decision as he was given enough time at the club.
The process of finding a replacement for Marsch is underway and Leeds hope to make an appointment soon. A move for Marcelo Bielsa is unlikely, but West Brom boss Carlos Corberan, who works for Bielsa, is a candidate, while Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou has also been linked.
It is also worth noting that Leeds have a record of appointments in left field, so when working on their target list, there is a chance that a candidate will emerge that could surprise everyone.
In the meantime, Michael Skubala, Paco Gallardo and Chris Armas will be training at Thorp Arch, and will be in the dugout for Wednesday’s Premier League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Leeds’ next Premier League fixtures
February 8: Manchester United (A) – kick-off 8pm
February 12: Manchester United (H) – kick-off 2pm, live on Sky Sports
February 18: Everton (A) – kick-off 3pm
February 25: Southampton (H) – kick-off 3pm
March 4: Chelsea (A) – kick-off 3pm
March 11: Brighton (H) – kick-off 3pm
March 18: wolf (A) – kick-off 3pm
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