A group of Leeds United supporters have been responding to Graham Smyth’s piece for the Yorkshire Evening Post looking back at when Garry Monk was appointed as the club’s manager. The now 41-year-old had his sanity questioned by many supporters when he agreed to take on the role under Massimo Cellino.
Monk took the reins in the summer of 2016 but didn’t last a full year, taking charge of just 53 games before he eventually departed Elland Road in May 2017 (as per Transfermarkt.co.uk). Such was Cellino’s excitement having landed the former Swansea City boss, he promised to refund up to 50 per cent of the season ticket prices if the Whites failed to reach the 2016/17 play-offs (as per the Yorkshire Evening Post).
Here is what some of the club’s faithful have had to say on Monk’s tenure.
Genuine excitement for me when we got him, wrong time albeit under Cellino and eventually a sore ending for him. I don’t think much of him.
— Gabriel (@bethgabriel_) June 2, 2020
Funny one with Monk, because he’s hated now and more often than not cast aside as a failure at Leeds, by fans. But who remembers how much we begged him to stay? Remember the Monk chants at the darts?
It hurt when he left for Boro. He did a fantastic job here to be fair to him.
— ?? (@The_Ayling_Flop) June 2, 2020
It was pretty good up to and including Brighton, absolutely shambolic after (even by recent standards). God knows what happened over that international break
— John Skitt (@johnskitt) June 2, 2020
Do you think Garry Monk would have got things right had he stayed longer?
Yes
No
It’s clear from the above responses that looking back on their former boss’ tenure, most of these Leeds United supporters are sympathetic to the circumstances at the club during that period, which proved to be difficult for a number of managers.
His best one. 7th time lucky
— peter-maurice (@petermauriceuk) June 2, 2020
I rated Monk & was gutted when he sacked us off due to our transfer policy. Monk & especially Beattie as a striker coach got the best out of Chris Wood
— PAUL BRENDAN WYNN (@LeWedge) June 2, 2020
He took a battering as I recall from the local media early doors but showed enough to get an extended run. A lot of good work was done by Ben Mansford behind the scenes at @LUFC who’s been sadly missed.He was a link between the club and ALL the fans rather than just one group.
— MarkJ (@blackpoolwhite) June 2, 2020
Monk won 27, drew nine and lost 17 of his 53 games in charge – averaging 1.7 points per match (as per Transfermarkt.co.uk). The Whites were in the play-off positions for much of the 2016/17 season but missed out on a place in the top six having won just one of their last eight games (as per BBC Sport). Shortly after the season’s conclusion, he resigned, stating he was unable to “reach an agreement” with Andrea Radrizzani at the time.