Tony Pulis column: ‘Daniel Farke probably feels like he is up to his neck in muck’

This season, Farke’s task, in his own words, was to collect 38 points, or one point per game; this total has proven sufficient to maintain top flight status in every season since 2011-12.

Until last weekend’s defeat against Aston Villa, Farke had maintained that rate, but the tide has changed among his own fans. This will be a moment most managers have experienced firsthand.

The most worrying thing about this change was that for the first time – despite his team playing very well against Villa in my opinion – some of the fans were very negative towards him.

They made their feelings about team selection and substitutes quite clear.

I have said in my previous articles that the game I love is all about the players and the fans, but I will make a distinction here.

If fans on social media sites criticize a team, manager or club, this has little repercussion compared to the impact of the same criticism from fans who buy season tickets and spend their hard-earned money and time traveling and watching home and away games in all weather conditions.

In my experience, most of these fans have a very good understanding and knowledge of their teams and players and are entitled to criticism. Their response also has much greater influence on the decision-makers at any given club.

So if you’re openly hearing criticism in your own stadium, as Farke did on Sunday, that means you’re in trouble and results will start to change pretty quickly, especially in the Premier League.