Shame as I like the look of Noa but I always doubted Bielsa would thumbs up a player who has a bit of an attitude problem. I remember Orta once going through a list of attributes he has to look for in order to “impress” Bielsa and he said Attitude was equally as important as ability. I think sometimes interest equates to “would you listen to offers, if we pursue this”. The player is then put to Bielsa who does his checks, watches footage and then says “no way”. If Bielsa has said no to Lang it means he never wants him as ability wise he is clearly a step up and better than what we have. I wonder how many transfer Windows we’ll pass through now constantly being linked to him, just as in the CBs we’re still constantly “looking to sign”.
It doesnt help when the YEP publish stories saying Leeds have agreed terms and a deal is close for Lang and then another story saying Leeds are battling Spurs for Traore. Both stories wrong but its the YEP as bad as useless clickbait on line sites
With Arsenal signing two more players yesterday, their summer spend has reached £134m on top of the £120m of last summer for Arteta. Arsenal are not done yet
Oldham, Stockport and Motherwell are trying to get Robbie Gotts (21) but probably be a permanent deal as he has only 1 year left on his contract. Seems pointless to extend his contract and then loan him out. Guessing he may even be allowed to leave on a free with a big sell on clause. Graham Alexander at Motherwell is well keen
The big thing to notice about our kids who are being loaned out or moved on is that besides Casey and Davies (Championship) they all end up at L1 or L2 clubs. So obviously we are now adding quality to the academy and these guys are the best of what the club have worked with under the Bates and crazy post Bates regimes until 2017. Our 20 and 21 year olds have not been as good as similar from top Prem clubs for obvious reasons, but we now have a top end academy again and top end coaching. I remember many if us on here raving about players like Edmondson, Alfie McCalmont, Robbie Gotts but they all ended up in L2 and L1. Ryan Edmondson even this season in L1 still hasnt started and only had a few minutes off the bench. Alfie has started every game, but you would hope to see these kids grow to be top EFL players at least
The thing that upset me last season was Jordan Stevens. A player who Bielsa had used a few times for the first team and high hopes for him. He went to L1 Swindon Town which is near his mums, so a good loan for him you would assume. His debut he gets an assist and scores the winner. His second game he gets an assist the fans love him and all of a sudden the wheels fall off. Hes crap in training and just makes the bench. He sat in the bench until Xmas when he was sent back to Leeds and told to grow up. We then sent him to L2 Bradford City in January and he sat on the bench for the rest of the season. WTF is that all about. How can a kid fall from playing first team Championship football for Bielsa to not even getting off the bench in L2. Seems his head was too big to get his shirt on maybe
Maybe got involved with the wrong crowd back in Swindon, his old mates, hangers on? Doesn't take much to be influenced when you have a bit of money by people you used to hang with, even though you no longer have anything in common with them. By the time he went to Bradford the damage had already been done and the Bielsa philosophy long forgotten.
Whichever way we look at it we have a much better wage bill this season than last. Hopefully its a temporary thing as we see a top player arrive or maybe two.? But if nobody comes in we have saved money on Pablo and Berardi wages which I would imagine would be in the region of £3m, and then Casey and Huggins wages and I would hazard a guess that Stevens and Gotts will also be transferred out on freebies with sell ons.
Improved contracts though for Bamford and Meslier and not forgetting Harrison, probably a few others too. I think the Augustin saga has meant we are probably a bit short too. I'd just love to know the truth, have the likes of Nahitan and Noa been knocked back as someone feels it is not value for money or have they always been out of reach, in Noa I could see Bielsa not liking his attitude but surely there is no doubt both are better than what we have? I'm pleased Poveda has dropped out the equation, we've seen enough of him to know he isn't good enough, lets hope Summerville shines when he eventually gets a chance
I think the club have always had an issue with overpriced and not realistic prices for some players. Last summer we asked Norwich about Buendia and was told £25m we walked away, we were told £35m for ollie Watkins, we were told £35m for Rodrigo De Paul and we have been told £25m for Cunha, £20+m for Lang etc which is a joke. Nahitan Nandez will now go for under £25m so if he wants to come we will probably go get him. Noa Lang was bought £6m weeks ago and Brugge know they are taking the pee by asking to triple what they paid for him so recently. De Paul went £29m and Caliagri are now sweating on Nandez because Milan cant afford him so watch his price drop. We will not be held to ransom and I think its great although leaves us short
I seem to remember Carlos Corberan trying to take Robbie Gotts on loan last Summer and we decided to send him to Lincoln City where he sat on the bench and then we sent him to Oldham where he was one of their best players and fans loved him. Talk now going on about O’Brian coming to Leeds for cash plus players. Yeah take Gotts and Hosannah and a few quid
