Angus Kinnear has claimed that Leeds United have seen nothing to doubt manager Thomas Christiansen – and supporters have taken to Twitter to question the board’s thinking.
In an interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post, managing director Kinnear spoke highly of the Dane, 44, who steered the team to the top of the Championship in mid September but has overseen an alarming slump of seven defeats from nine league matches that has seen Leeds slip from first to 10th in the Championship table and just four points above 17th place.
Kinnear explained that Leeds have no plans to sack Christiansen but stressed owner Andrea Radrizzani “has really high standards” in a warning that the horror run will not be tolerated indefinitely.
“There’s nothing we’ve seen to doubt him.” Extended piece with #lufc managing director Angus Kinnear on why the club are standing by head coach Thomas Christiansen:https://t.co/iKoUqf3eJf pic.twitter.com/C3SRxzdhp7
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) November 16, 2017
Leeds fans have taken to social media en masse to react to Kinnear’s comments, which some appear to view as controversial given the team’s poor recent form.
Some claimed that Christiansen has made obvious mistakes in terms of players and strategy, while other pointed out that football is a results business and the Championship is a highly competitive battleground in which people get found out.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
It’s like Kinnear is trying to wind folk up saying that.
— Andy (@VacantFaith81) November 16, 2017
This is a performance business. Results are the ONLY measure of success. I desperately want TC to succeed but our poor form and results can’t go on indefinitely. Radz has to protect the club and its amazing fan base
— FOREVER LEEDS ???? (@FOREVERLEEDSMOT) November 16, 2017
Leeds were never going to get promoted this season. And they won’t next season because we are not that good. That’s why players want to leave and Monk didn’t want to stay. Until we address the foundations of the core principles of the club this cycle won’t be broken.
— Tom (@murgs78) November 16, 2017
Nothing we’ve seen? How about bringing grot on constantly ????
— James ???????? (@FFSAlioski) November 16, 2017
Radz should also be looking at the role of Orta in all this.
— Stuart Grant (@McClumsy84) November 16, 2017
I can’t fathom why a manager from a mumbo jumbo team in Cyprus was ‘better’ than any British manager available. TC has brought a spoon to a knife fight.
— Jonathan Crawley (@gilwernjon) November 16, 2017
I do like Angus Kinnear, it’s got to be said. Straight talking, honest and certainly knowledgeable #lufc
— Sam Mace (@Maceinthegame) November 16, 2017
Patience is the key guys. Firing managers has got us nowhere! We’re struggling to win the ball back and we have no defensive midfielders. All flair, no fight. We need to get to the January window with a shot at the playoffs.
— Vikram Sangar (@vsangar) November 16, 2017
We should also be looking at the players and the man who signed them.
— Stuart Grant (@McClumsy84) November 16, 2017
Not his fault he has one fit striker on bench (if Roofes already on pitch)
— James Buckton (@J_Buckton93) November 16, 2017