In 89-90 when we won league 2,I think,we brought in Chapman in Jan.In 91-92 when we won league 1,didn't we bring in Cantona in Jan.Do you think we would have won these league's without this bit of quality,I don't and that's why again,I want just a couple of quality loans or signings for xmas,Santa
Same for me, it depends on how far ahead we want to plan and if we have any funds. We’re in a prime position, a good setup a top coach and top of the table, we haven’t been in this strong a position for more than a dozen years and by strong I mean attracting the players we go after, who wouldn’t want to join us over our Championship rivals? Do we sign a backup keeper for BPF or do we concede he isn’t going to be PL ready next season and forward plan for someone better, same applies for CB? I don’t mind us playing Pablo at 10 but we need cover for Clarke unless we use Dallas as the cover and hope Izzy is going to be good enough (I’m looking forward to seeing what Clarke is like with Ayling behind him) In regards to Izzy how many times have we planned future performances on an injured returning player? Take Tyler Roberts as a prime example, we just don’t know how good or bad he will be and he’s still not even on the bench, I’m concerned he is still struggling. I agree no striker required (this season) I’m happy with Roofe or Bamford although I fear Bamford will never play more than half a season, he is very injury prone. We need a creative spark alongside Pablo in midfield or on the left, I like Alioski, I’d like to see better. I want Phillips back in the holding role and Forshaw as cover for him and Klich. We desperately need replacements for Blackman, Saiz, Baker and Harrison I’m not expecting 4 new faces of top drawer quality but we need at least one wow signing. I’ve been looking in on a few other forums of rival Championship clubs, many have discussions on promotion chances or predictions and they nearly all have us as certs for promotion on what they have seen. I do feel we’ve been excellent at times, I do feel we’ve been fortunate and lucky at others but I’m sure this is our moment, the right ingredients for promotion are nearly all there. In January Villa, W Brom, Norwich and a few others will all look at their weakest position and look to improve on it, we need to do the same. We’ve had a mild winter so far, now the pitches will be getting heavier, the weather colder, the muscles under more strain, I totally agree with Cheesh, an injury to Pontus and Pablo for even a 2-3 week period and we could spiral.
Is that because opposing teams never watched him or took notice, too concerned with what Pablo and Saiz we’re doing, too concerned about Ayling and Douglas running down the wings? Take yesterday, Phillips in defence, no Saiz just Pablo starting out wide to fear, Forshaw holding, Baker redundant it’s much easier then to watch players like Klich. I agree again though he needs a rest or dropping for a couple of games but we can’t as we’re thread bare now
Don't get me wrong,I'm more than happy with the season and what we've done.But the best teams never rest on their laurels and strenghen while at the top.
Just reading that we’re going to be covering Saiz wages whilst on loan, we’re not getting a penny for him according to the YEP. No clause either that they must buy him at the end.
In that case it's possible it may be intended to be short term solution to his personal situation. Come the summer things might be different and he could return to Leeds or be sold for market value. It seems the club are doing the right thing to help a player with some serious issues and if that's indeed the case then they should be applauded for doing so.
Maybe Orta just needed some time to get to grips with what was required. Seems to be on a bit of a roll at the moment... Jan 2018 Forshaw Roberts Halme Edmonson (Nov 17) Summer 2018 Douglas Bamford It would seem that given the restrictive budget that Victor has been operating under he's doing an absolutely top class job. In the 12 months since Jan 2018 his one signing which didn't work out which was LDB for £1.5 M and he's been loaned out so is off the books. Hardly the busted flush you describe at the end of last season but more case of patience required as he'd only been in the job for one year. Patience which few were willing to grant him and even now any praise is faint and prefixed by accrediting Bielsa as the real mastermind. Bielsa is a coaching genius but does not negotiate transfers or contracts, I'm sure he can spot a player but that's perhaps is the easy part. Identifying a player who will be an improvement on what we have, for the right price and the right contract and then persuading him to turn down opportunities elsewhere is what every club worldwide is trying to do. Would we really want Marcello and his coaching staff to be doing that as well as all the fantastic work on the training ground. Of course not and that's why coaches from other countries completely get the absolute need for a DOF. It's also why Gary Monk is a complete arse and left the best job he will ever get because he put himself above the importance of the club.
No one knows,you're just speculating.His wife wanted to go home,so he wanted to go with her,that looks like the only reason anyone knows for sure,knowing that,it's hard to stop him,but we shouldn't be paying him,and should keep his registration until we get proper compensation.
The signings you mention are a big improvement but were uk based, and the two of the three that are serious first team contenders without injuries happened this summer after bielsa came. Hardly a ringing endorsement of the great European scouting network we were told about and how the value is in Europe... English players are too expensive message we were hearing. Edmondson was from York. The rest of your post is defending the role of a DOF rather than orta. Radz knows jack about football. The model, the signings, the coaches selected. It’s all orta. They haven’t come good over time, they were a set of signings that were mediocre at best, an u23 policy and contract policy that spent large amounts of money and two failed coaching appointments... all of which are currently restricting our capacity to spend and arguably cost us a year of disappointment and failing to build on the previous year’s progress. He was a fcking disaster and bielsa is his get out of jail free card. I would owe him an apology if I didn’t credit him with the move to get bielsa ( which so far has turned out great, but given his record was in truth a high risk potential high reward appointment). Just because all is rosy now it doesn’t mean his detractors need to eat humble pie. I’m giving credit where it’s due and not giving it where it isn’t.
The orta situation has parallels with Phillips. I saw him put in some of the worst performances I’ve seen in the shirt.. truly awful and I was critical of him. My caveat was coach after coach saw something in him.. and our set up made it hard for any midfielders to shine. But he was still bang average at best when he first made the team. He improved but was inconsistent last season, understandable for a young lad. He’s been great this season, I’m pleased for him and us that the current coach has found a system and role for him to flourish in. I had serious doubts he would make the grade, so I’m very happy to be wrong. But I wasn’t wrong when I said he was crap... because he was! History doesnt change that.
One poster asked who would not come to Leeds now given our position we would have to pay top wages and this club does not do that. So other clubs ie west brom.. Derby.. Forest.. Norwich and even villa do pay.
Strange comment jammy. Monk may or may not be an arse but... He apparently left because he was offered a 1 year renewal and was told he would have to work under a dof. Ie, it’s the not the job you’ve been doing, you'll have less control and influence... and we’re so sure you’re the right man that you can have it for a year and we’ll see if it pans out. Why would somebody not put family finances and security ahead of ‘the importance of the club’... especially if that was the vote of confidence the club was giving.
Norwich were "only" playing Bolton last week at home and only won with a late goal after being two up, its a strange league is the championship where you cannot take anything for granted and anyone can beat anyone
