Daniel Farke's Leeds United summer demand making sense - Graham Smyth's Cardiff City Verdict

The German did not want to be known as a head coach, but a manager, because he apparently knew there would be more to his job than just formations, tactics and team selections. And so it has proved. There was the summer of madness, the mad rush of players for the exits and situations that called for managerial steel, as all outside the club lost their heads. The January transfer window was to be a nice, quiet one, and yet thus far has proved anything but. Djed Spence was sent back for failing to meet the totality of Farke's expectations. Then there was Luke Ayling's transfer request to deal with and cope with, as well as the ongoing Charlie Cresswell situation. And all the while, all the time, formations, tactics and team selections for the endless stream of fixtures that the Championship fires at you.

Farke would be forgiven for casting envious looks at those in his peer group who deal solely with the football, while others above him tackle the other stuff, but if you're to be judged on what happens on the pitch then why not get yourself a major say in what happens off it? After all, situations like the ones involving Willy Gnonto, Spence, Ayling, Cresswell et al can and do have a direct impact on a squad and how it goes about its business.