I’m sure NP is the best man for the job & will get it right in the long term, it’s a shame we are in such a bad predicament when we finally decided to appoint an experienced manager, NP is in a similar predicament to SOD, the only saving grace is a few other clubs are in a similar state. This season is going to be tough. COYR
Thanks for this smhbcfc. Really highlights how City have sold some really good players bringing millions to AG coffers. And replaced with utter dross. Junior has left City in a dire predicament .
Mel Sterland hails Leeds United for 'nicking' a signing and declares his Luke Ayling wish Leeds United's title-winning right-back has hailed the club's modern day version and outlined his wish for the season ahead. Mel Sterland played a key role for Leeds as Howard Wilkinson's side were crowned champions of England in 1992 and the former defender is now enjoying what he is seeing in the position he used to fill. Better still, says Sterland, today's incumbent in that position - Luke Ayling - was signed for a fee of around just £200,000 from Bristol City back in August 2016 as Leeds approached their seventh consecutive season in the Championship. Five years later, Ayling is the club's first choice right back in the Premier League, and Sterland now hopes he finally gets the chance to meet him at some point in the 2021-22 campaign. "Oh my God, I love him," Sterland told the YEP. "I think he is an absolutely outstanding footballer. "He's had it rough. "You look where he was, at Arsenal he got released, Yeovil and then Bristol City and then he came to Leeds United and they nicked him - £200,000 he cost. "He can play centre half, he can play as a wing back, he can play right back in a four, he is an amazing player and he has great fitness. "He did struggle when he got injured as when he came back it took him a few games to get back to it but it does when you have had an injury. "But he is an absolutely outstanding footballer and I'm hoping to meet him, I'd like to meet him. "I have never met him. "I spoke to him on the phone and I just said I hope I can meet you one day. "I think he is a great footballer and as a person I bet he is great as well." Asked if Ayling is even better than he was, Sterland quipped: "No, don't be daft. "To be honest it's totally different. "I could get in the Leeds side if we were playing with five at the back because a wing back can go forward. "I used to get forward anyway with four at the back but I think I would struggle to get in the Leeds side with him playing. "He's a great player and I am going to meet him this year, I am going to shake his hand. "I'm going to hopefully go to one of the games and meet him before the game. "I think he's great. "The lads all take the mickey out of me because I always speak highly of him but I bet he is a great kid." https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co...ing-and-declares-his-luke-ayling-wish-3348267
What we'd give for someone like Luke Ayling in the team now ! But fair play to the lad to finally make it as a Premiership footballer and the goal he scored on Saturday was brilliant !
Agent Junior didn't rate him, sold for a song. And look what we're left with. You really can't make it up.
To be fair, he did leave 5 years ago!! We all know that so many things can change in an instant, let alone 5 years, so I’m not prepared to have a pop at LJ on this one!! It certainly helps if the player himself gets his act together, which, to be fair, seems to have happened with Ayling.
I thought we got £750k for him? Also, I recall SL wanted him out of the club for throwing a cup of pi$$ from a balcony at Cheltenham races....?
He also got £16m for Kodja who has done nothing since. You win some, you lose some, it's called management!
Ayling was sold because he would of been second fiddle to Adam Mathews who everyone wanted following his loan spell. It was Adam Mathews who forgot how to play during that summer.
I think you just did!! I'm sure I remember a few on here that didn't rate him & thought it was a good time for him to move on after Cheltenham debacle!! Sure you were one of them RP ,,,,Fickle I see ole Tammy's done OK for him self with the move to Roma...wasn't he that player that LJ personally brought in on loan and done absolute wonders for us....naff signings...
Can’t argue with this. What a cockup that was. I have a feeling LJ admitted it himself a few months later.
He was excellent at taking the ball out of defence, but he made a lot of defensive errors, fair play to him he’s improved no end. When he went to Leeds they were a basket case of a club. They always had the potential to be a PL club. Obviously they got their act together and Ayling has done well and managed to keep his place in their side.
Exactly, and with Mark Little, who had an excellent season in our promotion year, and Ayling going to be back up, one had to go, and at that time Ayling was nowhere near as consistent as he is now. Add in the Cheltenham incident and he sealed his own exit. Nobody knew Matthews would suddenly turn into a dog$hite player over a summer, and Little was another who LJ inherited that couldn't make the grade a level up - which surprised me tbh, I thought he would have, as he was so good in L1. Yes, you can blame LJ (as many on here do, and will) for not seeing the potential in Ayling, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.... I don't recall too many opposing it at the time.
For once Supcon, I agree with RP - I thought at the time that LJ made a mistake and I'm sure I posted on here that I was upset we let him go - and Freeman too. I had no idea he would end up in the Prem, but I thought he was useful and I was sad to see him go. EDIT - reading 1for's post above; much as I rated him as a footballer, I do remember being upset with him for throwing piss around at Cheltenham - and someone on here got quite defensive with me!!!!
Fair enough. I do recall there was some debate on it, as we had, on paper 3 good RB options with those I mentioned, and 1 had to go to balance the squad. I think Ayling was the most 'saleable asset' so he was allowed to leave. Clearly, it turns out it was the wrong move, but at the time it was a tough call, not an obvious one (on form and ability anyway) is my recollection.
Freeman was not signing a contract, that’s why he went for less. At the time Ayling went he was not playing. He was behind Mathews on his first loan spell. If Mathews played like that first spell he would not have got a look in. It was a choice on who to release and Little was prepared to be back up and Ayling wasn’t. Of course LJ regretted it. I suspect he regretted thinking Mathews would be like the first spell, but he wasn’t. And it left us short so he would of missed anyone who could play RB.
