Peter Crouch has outlined the next challenge for Jesse Marsch and Leeds United as they battle against relegation from the Premier League. The tough task of staying up was made much tougher over the weekend as both Burnley and Everton picked up vital wins while the Whites were beaten by Manchester City.
It was the first defeat for Marsch’s side since the 3-0 loss against Aston Villa on March 10 and, whilst largely expected, left the situation at Elland Road pretty bleak. It means the American has picked up 11 points in eight games, a decent start to life in West Yorkshire.
Although, that will all mean nothing if Leeds are unable to escape the grips of the relegation zone. Crouch explained how new mangers like Marsch make their mark when they are appointed.
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“It’s always a fresh start for everyone,” he claimed in his Daily Mail column. “The first couple of weeks everything goes up a notch or two.
“There is a clean slate across the board, even for the players who had been picked by the previous manager. Training goes up and that translates to performances.
“It doesn’t really matter who comes in at first, because standards do rise for a bit and the question is how long that can sustain itself for. It might only give you a couple of wins but those could be all you need. It’s clear why these clubs, especially at the bottom, fire and hire.
“You can tell when teams down tools and lose faith in the boss. If you’re changing a manager halfway through the season you’re usually struggling. A proper speech can have you believing in him straight away.
“I read in Sportsmail over the weekend that Jesse Marsch was applauded by the Leeds players after his first meeting with them. It must’ve been a rousing speech!
“They’ve done fairly well since, unbeaten in five games before losing against Manchester City, and the trick will be whether they can go again after a promising start. The new man does need instant rapport with his players, as time is usually of the essence.”
That is now very much the million-pound question: Can Marsch get the required response from his players to ensure that they beat the drop? It is a task that continues to become more complex, especially with games against Arsenal and Chelsea up next.
The Emirates has hardly been a fortress for Mikel Arteta’s side this season but they have Champions League football in their sights so Sunday’s clash certainly won’t be easy. Leeds will then be hoping to take advantage of a Chelsea side who will consider their FA Cup final a few days later a greater priority.
