Alan Smith makes Daniel Farke change point in Leeds United relegation prediction
A former Leeds United star has delivered his verdict on the Premier League relegation battle.
Alan Smith believes Leeds United would ‘snap your hand off’ if they were offered an opportunity to finish just outside of the Premier League relegation zone - and hinted a change in the dugout could improve their chances of remaining in the top flight.
With the always pivotal festive fixture list rapidly approaching and crucial clashes with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Sunderland on the horizon, there are genuine fears the Whites could slip back into the Championship just 12 months after they secured their return to the top flight by landing the second tier title.
Daniel Farke’s men have been unable to find consistency in performances and results during the opening three months of the season and that has only heightened concerns over what could lie ahead in the new year. For former Leeds striker Alan Smith, Wolves are in a position that will make it difficult for them to avoid the drop after they collected just two points in their opening 12 games of the season.
However, after watching on as the managerial appointments of Nuno Espirito Santo and Sean Dyche have brought an upturn in form at West Ham United and Nottingham Forest respectively, Smith has stressed he would understand if any Whites supporters felt a change of manager could have a similar impact on their own side.
Reacting
When asked if the Whites relegation prospects were 50/50, Smith, speaking exclusively to Yorkshire Evening Post via the home of slots said: “Yeah, I think so. I think now if you said we're going to finish fourth bottom, we'd snap your hand off. I feel like it's between probably three or four teams. I think Wolves, unfortunately, I think they're in a position that will be very tough for them. And then you obviously look at the promoted teams.
“I think unfortunately for Wolves it's going to be tough. And then you look at Burnley, I think Forest obviously have had a real upturn. I think that that's where the difficulty lies for supporters of other clubs where they've seen obviously Sean Dyche go in and they’ve had an upturn in fortunes and Forest, Nuno's gone in to West Ham, they seem to have picked up. I think that that's what, as a supporter sometimes, you're reacting to what other clubs have done and you don't want to find yourselves making a change too late before anything can get sorted.”
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