Saturday’s 7-0 thrashing of Cardiff City came at the perfect time for Daniel Farke. The Leeds United boss had only half-jokingly said he was relieved that last Thursday was the final pre-match press conference of the winter transfer window.

He has banged the same drum for the past month, with some supporters becoming frustrated at repeatedly hearing the tune of ‘stay awake’ while promotion rivals collected new recruits. There was one small but ultimately insignificant change in the melody last month.

When Pascal Struijk was ruled out with a hamstring injury, Farke’s fear that he could be out for three months caused him to add centre-back to his list of potential reinforcement areas. As it happens, scans came back positive and Struijk is now back on the pitch having seen Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon keep five straight clean sheets thanks to their ‘Welsh wall’ partnership.

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The manager said he would remain attentive to any opportunities in the area given Struijk’s injury history but, alas, nothing doing. The same conclusion applies for the striker and number 10 position - roles Farke listed among his possible transfer sheet. In fact, Leeds made no signings in the winter market for a third season out of five.

This cannot be a surprise given the club always insisted that they expected a quiet month with little action and that they would only bolster if they found a player who would directly improve the team, and not necessarily merely the squad.

One position he was not about to look at was goalkeeper. Illan Meslier faced a wave of criticism after his mistakes in the 3-3 draw with Hull City but Farke doubled down on the Frenchman as his number one.

Farke had indeed been open about his transfer policy, as he has claimed. As the window entered its final weeks, the manager detailed his strict transfer criteria - any new recruit must be affordable, of great character and of the required quality. Otherwise, any signing would be pointless.

With Leeds top of the table and top scorers in the division, with a mighty plus-41 goal difference and now five points from third place, Farke can easily go some way to justifying his transfer stance. His club are in a position where they can afford to - and perhaps must - be picky.

Several times, Farke underlined that he trusts his current crop given how well they have done so far. “Overall, if after 30 games you have so many points, you are capable of being in a good position after 46 games,” he stated.

Fair point. The 48-year-old was also mindful about the team spirit that has been curated in the dressing room, and how he did not wish to disturb that heading into the run-in period. It’s something he has clearly deemed more important than acquiring a new face.

At one media meet, Farke outlined how he was not about to wait for any player to decide at the end of the window whether he would choose Leeds or another offer as to pick the most lucrative option. Under Farke, any new signing plays for Leeds United because it’s Leeds United. The manager wants total commitment and for permanent players to see the club not as a means to an end, but the end itself. At least, at this level anyway.

Leeds were linked with loan deals for several players this window. Emiliano Buendia fit the criteria well. Too well. During a post-match press conference, Farke described him as one of his “best players” during his time at Norwich City and admitted that he "really rates him”, all while trying to show respect by not commenting on a player contracted to another club.

Bayer Leverkusen obviously had the same stance and could offer Buendia not only top-flight game time but Champions League football. It’s not clear whether Leeds were ultimately interested in a mid-season loan, but even if they were, they could not compete with what Leverkusen were offering.

Farke’s high bar for January arrivals matched that of many Premier League outfits and the club were aware that this slimmed January options. Southampton striker Cameron Archer was one name Leeds were definitely interested in.

Talks had been initiated but United were told no by the Saints, who kept that stance until deadline hour. Leeds did not expect the goalposts to move afterwards either, but remained alert in case anything did alter. Again, alas, nothing doing.

Deadline day links with Adam Armstrong were ultimately fruitless and always seemed rather last-gasp. Farke had previously warned that loan players merely looking for game time might not find it at Elland Road, given the quality of current options.

Both Southampton strikers would have been great additions but neither could be concretely guaranteed continuous and extensive game time. Archer has been a long-time target for United but top-flight attackers are always reluctant to drop down a division.

As such, Leeds are left with still having potential problems to overcome in key areas. While Farke says he is content he has fill-in options should Brenden Aaronson ever become unavailable, he admitted he does not have a direct replacement for the American at no.10.

Should the 24-year-old be ruled out for a period of time, United have an issue without an orthodox solution. The striker role does have more options available but they become far weaker should top scorer Joel Piroe get injured.

Mateo Joseph - who was the subject of a failed bid worth more than £10million from Real Betis this weekend - may have scored against Cardiff, but it was his first goal since October having played in all but one Championship match. Patrick Bamford’s injury struggles continue and he has yet to begin a league match.

Bamford has also yet to score this season, meaning between all three centre-forwards, 15 goals have been scored - with 80 per cent of them scored by one man. Joe Gelhardt had not been used since early October but his loan exit to Hull City meant one less option to turn to.

The loan departure of Charlie Crew also slimmed down the squad further. There is undoubtedly a risk attached to Farke’s winter transfer policy. As for now, with Leeds top of the table and five points clear of the play-offs, the boss can feel justified. But only if Leeds get promoted in May should he feel vindicated.

No doubt, with two promotions from this division under his belt, he has banked enough general credit to be trusted by outsiders - but given last year’s play-off failure there will be natural scepticism regarding his work at Leeds.

Supporters naturally wish to see their team make progress both on and off the field and a lack of transfer action can be depicted as being negligent, or more aptly in United’s case, failing to safety-proof. It’s worth pointing out some fans do back Farke’s transfer stance. Don’t rock the boat when it’s in full steam. Concerns from critics come over whether the boat will run out of steam for the run-in.

Only in May will we find out if Leeds have made their desired destination, and how big a role January’s transfer decisions played. Because if Leeds do not reach the promised land, Farke will no longer be the captain of the ship. If Leeds do get there, he has earned the club some extra spending space, and gives his team - and himself - the best chance of staying part of the Premier League for more than a season.

This was a crunch window, one in which United actually gained money thanks to the sale of Sonny Perkins to Leyton Orient and youth player Jeremiah Mullen to Dunfermline. It would be right to suspect the summer window may be a little different. Whether Farke is still at the helm depends on the next few months, a period which will be spring-boarded by the decisions of the month just gone.

It would be travesty if Leeds are still playing in the same division as Cardiff next season.