Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is under some pressure ahead of his side’s big clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on Saturday.
The Whites are winless in their last five Premier League games, and the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth last weekend exposed some of the biggest issues in Farke’s squad.
Leeds are not creating enough in the final third, and the manager has conceded that his squad lack the individual quality needed to break down tight defences.
The Yorkshire giants need a home win on Saturday to boost their confidence. However, the Premier League has reopened old Leed wounds with a key announcement.
Read More: Daniel Farke slams referee after Leeds defeat at Bournemouth: “Not difficult to judge”
Referee appointment opens old Leeds wounds ahead of Tottenham
John Brooks has been appointed as the man to officiate the game between Leeds and Tottenham, with Tony Harrington acting as the VAR.
The 36-year-old referee is known for being card-happy, and his 4.80 yellow cards per game is beaten only by Chris Kavanagh (4.83) and Stuart Attwell (5.40) this term.
He has also brandished three red cards, just one below Chris Kavanagh this season, who has procured four.
However, for Leeds fans, Brooks reminds them of a painful afternoon at Wembley when Leeds lost to Southampton in the playoff final at the end of the 2023/24 season.
The Whites have not won any of their past three games officiated by Brooks, the latest being the 1-1 draw at Brentford last December.
Leeds have won just two of the nine games Brooks has overseen, drawing two and losing the remaining five.
The Whites have had some tough luck with referees this season
Leeds United’s frustration with refereeing decisions has been building this season, and Daniel Farke believes officials have not always treated his players consistently.
The clearest example came in the October defeat at Arsenal. Farke was particularly unhappy that Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu were booked for fouls in Arsenal’s half, while three challenges on Dominic Calvert-Lewin earlier in the game went unpunished. The Leeds boss said the fourth official suggested those incidents didn’t warrant yellow cards because they happened further up the pitch.
“All three yellow cards were not deserved. Or not consistent,” Farke argued. He also pointed out that the bookings forced him to take Tanaka off and made Ampadu more careful in his challenges. Farke was booked himself after confronting the officials.
There was more frustration at Bournemouth, where Farke felt Nico Elvedi was punished for a challenge similar to one on Calvert-Lewin moments earlier. “Got the feeling today, I don’t get decisions,” he said after the 2-0 defeat.
Leeds have not been blameless in every incident, but Farke’s complaints centre on a perceived lack of consistency that can have a real impact on his team’s performances.
Every week I read that the referee is going to be an issue for Leeds. Is there a referee that they would be happy with?