If the honeymoon was over a few weeks back at Selhurst Park, it feels like Leeds United have just had their first marital row with the Premier League.
The loss to West Ham United, the manner of it and the club’s form in the last six has started to raise a few red flags for supporters.
While the novelty and excitement of the top flight is all well and good, United want to survive and prosper at this level. They are not a group of tourists here for nine months before returning home.
And in that regard, all of the praise which has cascaded their way from all quarters since their opener with Liverpool counts for very little in the cold light of day.
Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Brendan Rodgers, Mikel Arteta and Carlo Ancelotti can heap as much praise as they want on Marcelo Bielsa, but he and his players know that doesn’t win points.
The acclaim and accolades left on camera and microphone with the world’s media after matches are no longer softening the blow of dropped points.
The narrative is turning and the solace some might have found, as the new kids on the block, in impressing all of these storied personalities is wearing off and wearing thin.
Last night provided the perfect microcosm of the state of things.
While Mateusz Klich was telling the international broadcasters how carried away everyone had been in the early throes of the campaign, David Moyes was waxing lyrical about the challenge Bielsa’s Leeds will provide for this division.
“After a great start, a lot of people got carried away a little bit,” said Klich.
“They thought we were going to compete for champions, but our goal from the beginning was just stay in the league and be safe.
“Still, this is our goal and we will do everything to achieve it, but I don’t want to get carried away again and say ‘no, we might go to Europe.’
“Our goal is to stay in the league.”
Moyes, almost certainly hyping up his own team’s achievement in beating United, said: “Leeds are always going to cause problems with the way they play.
“This game is probably different to any other game in the Premier League and we come up against some terrific teams in this league.
“They have got something different which you have to cope with. I am giving praise to the players with the way they dealt with the situation.”
He added: “Bielsa is an incredible manager but more importantly, he has got a style that has been picked up and broken down into bits of other coaches, he has had a long and very good career.”
The fans are beginning to see through it too, now. Social media is never the most accurate barometer for where the land lies, but while sweet nothings would have tickled supporters’ ears six weeks ago, Moyes’s comments were met with anger and fatigue last night.
Leeds United’s fans and players don’t want praise and pats on the back. They want points.
