Jon Newsome has told BBC Radio Leeds (5/2; 16:12) that Jesse Marsch is very lucky to have been backed so heavily as Leeds United boss – and with that, he cannot see him being sacked after Sunday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest.
In the least surprising news of the weekend, Leeds have produced a decent performance and come away with nothing. A Brennan Johnson strike during the first-half settled the clash at the City Ground.
Leeds were largely excellent in the first-half. But they could not take their chances.
Newsome not expecting Marsch to be sacked
Unsurprisingly, Forest made changes at the break. And that seemed to make all the difference, with Leeds struggling to lay a glove on the home side in the second-half.
The nature of the performance has left plenty of fans wondering whether there is any way back for Marsch. Certainly, it is becoming harder and harder to argue that Marsch is taking the side forward.
The problem however, is that Marsch has just overseen a brilliant January window. Max Wober, Weston McKennie and Georginio Rutter have all arrived, with the latter becoming the club’s record signing.
And Newsome suggested that the backing that Marsch has received may be what keeps him in the job for the time-being.
“First off, I think he’s a lucky lad, think he’s a very lucky lad. He’s come into the Premier League, he’s come into a fabulous football club, Leeds United. And the window that’s just closed, they’ve really backed him,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“So me personally, I can’t see him going anywhere for a little bit of time because the club have backed him in such a strong manner. Whether that’s the right decision or not, we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?”
Not only has Marsch been provided with signings, but he has also welcomed another assistant in Chris Armas. So it is hard to see Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta making a change after this Premier League game.
But the worry is that this cannot continue much longer. Leeds are heading towards relegation if things carry on this way. And that is not something that should be on the cards for a squad with this ability.
The players are not blameless. The first-half could have been a completely different story. But ultimately, there is only so long that you can defend Marsch before you need so much more.