Good Morning. It's Tuesday 1st February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Deathly silence at LS11 as the clock struck 23:00hrs There was deadly silence over Elland Road as the clock struck 11pm last night. Not only had Leeds not managed to strengthen their injury ravaged squad, but their competitors had. Whilst few expected the Whites to compete with the 100m spent by Newcastle, the dire need for new recruits was plain to see by all; but having beaten Burnley and West Ham to pull clear of the drop zone, it's a gamble the owner is willing to take. In total, four players left the club last month, all on loan. Cody Drameh forced a move to Cardiff, Ryan Edmondson joined Port Vale, Bobby Kamwa headed North to Dunfermline and rarely used Josh Galloway headed to FC United of Manchester. please log in to view this image “They’ve let Bielsa down Sky Sports presenter Joe Thomlinson took a swipe at Leeds supremo Andrea Radrizzani last night, insisting the Leeds owner had let Bielsa down during the transfer window. “They’ve let Bielsa down strategically this winter. They obviously went for Aaronson, didn’t they out at Salzburg and they went in heavy with two bids – £20 million, I think – and now they’re not going to go in for the third. “I’m telling you, if they let Summerville go out on loan and don’t bring in another player to cover for someone who I think is an excellent player, it’s a comical window.” Whilst it's easy to solely lay the blame at the owner's door, Bielsa has played down the need for new recruits for months now. Perhaps it's Bielsa, and his belief in a thread bare squad that we need to be concerned about? please log in to view this image Take-over speculation grows Angry Leeds fans lit up social media late last night to vent their frustrations following what they saw as a missed opportunity to move clear of the drop zone, prompting speculation that a take-over may be on the cards sooner rather than later. Radrizzani was livid, after the Athletic reported last December that after almost five years at the helm, he was preparing to cash in on his investment. It is believed that a figure between 400m - 475m has been discussed with 49ers Enterprises, but no date for the buyout has been publicly determined. please log in to view this image Has the focus on the academy created an unrealistic expectation Leeds Utd journalist Phil Hay believes many Leeds fans have an over inflated opinion of the youngsters at Elland Road, and that many of the starlets are not yet ready to take the next step to the first team:- "I’m left wondering if the focus on the academy has created an unrealistic expectation about how much progression should be happening. In the Premier League, it’s not at all usual for clubs to push through a bunch of 23s at the same time. In most instances, if you had Meslier in goal, Struijk pushing at centre-back, Gelhardt getting some game time and Cresswell/Hjelde/Bate showing up here and there, you’d be quite happy with that. But Leeds have almost created this scenario where people are in the mindset that every 23 is good enough, when in reality, in a group of 23s you always have players who aren’t or aren’t ready to make enough of an impact." "I’m not in any way saying that Bielsa couldn’t offer some more game time because in the case of Gelhardt, he definitely could. But a pathway doesn’t mean everyone makes it. A pathway means the best of them make it, and not always overnight. And yes, they should have strengthened in this window." please log in to view this image
Morning all In regards to letting Bielsa down, I read this morning Bielsa was offered Harry Winks and Van De Beek on loan but he turned them both down. I find it astonishing to turn down Winks, he’s miles ahead of our current midfield and with Phillips out for at least another month it surely would have been a no brainer
I agree to some extent because in theory any international midfeilder is better than no mifeilder. But Bielsa doesnt work on theory and expects a player to do a particularjob as part of a machine. Makes me angry because you would think Winks or DVB could have been allowed to just do their own thing and would have been better…. But im not Bielsa
Just caught up on yesterday's thread & a bit puzzled by the views on how many points we'll require to stay up. Suggestions there seem to be 8-10 points! 10 more points would only give us a total of 32. I don't think that's enough for most seasons & certainly not enough for this season. There is every chance that those under us will amass more points than you would normally expect teams in this position to achieve, mainly down to the Jan signings they've made. Hope I'm wrong, but I reckon that this will be one season where 40 points+ will be required to stay up. Is this overly pessimistic of me?
34 is normally touch and go. Normally 37 is safe, though Newcastle were relegation in the 16/17 season with 37 points and during the 10/11 season Birmingham / Blackpool were both relegated with 39 points
I can't help feeling very concerned about the next few months. Appreciate that January window is the worst time to get players in but we are heading for dire straits with the continued number of injuries. In my view it was never a good idea to rely solely on one striker in Bamford. We don't have a viable back-up at this point because those that do fill the role invariable can't hit a cows arse with a banjo and Geldhart just isn't getting enough time to settle into the role. **** me we needed to recruit. I just hope Bamford and Phillips are back ASAP.
We're basically gambling on injured players returning and immediately in form alongside numerous signings failing massively elsewhere. We are where we are. Nothing can be done now. Let's just hope the board and management team got this right.
My concerns Lose Raphinha through injury/covid. Totally reliant on our main goalscorer & chief provider. No back keeper should Meslier picks up an injury. No back up goalscoring striker to Bamford if Gelhardt is not the answer in Marcelo's mind. We haven't signed a midfielder in four years, even though we've lacked goals in that area of our team. Only three of our U23's are ready for PL level, so we haven't got an adequate squad. If we have ambitions playing in Europe we can think again with our squad limitations, we can't even cope with the domestic cups, let alone Europe!
It comes to something when the Alf Garnett thread looks an appealing option for a bit of light hearted repartee!!
This is how I see things I don't think for one moment, Radz is a football fan, even though he professes he is, just someone who made his millions through sport and football being a large part of it. His next step to make even more was to buy a football club, not one that's established in the PL, that would have cost more than he had, but one that he could mould into a PL club and could sustain a place there, one with a large fan base that once he can establish them, he could see his investment grow 4 or 5 fold, what better club was there for that to happen, he took limited risks buying the ground would have softened the blow of his investment if his gamble failed, being able to sell it on again. He gave himself a 5 year plan to achieve his goal, then he said he would move over if it failed, he achieved promotion at the end of his third season, 2 ahead of schedule. He alluded to the fact he needed 2 years in the PL which would see the clubs value increase to the amount he wanted, the job was bigger than he realised, financially, the rewards of the PL is immense but those alone aren't enough to cover the astronomical day to day running costs, so in come the 49's with some much needed funds plus to put us on the map in the States. The well is dry, there are no funds for transfers, the yank was a smokescreen, he doesn't want to invest any more of his own money, he has the smallest squad in the division, wage bill must be one of the lowest, so all in all he and we know he can't take us any further, the only option is to sell but who to, the 49er's are primed for taking over but at what price, we go down and the value drops significantly, Radz knows this but it appears it's a gamble he is prepared to take. Buying us was a gamble, with limited risks, not investing in the squad now is a massive one, one that hopefully doesn't come back to bite him but especially us. I thank him immensely for what he's done here but it's time to move on while he's held in such regard and it doesn't turn sour, unfortunately I have no faith in the 49ers, the yanks look at sport in a totally different light they take more than give. Realistically we are going to need £100m minimum invested in the squad this summer, that's without selling our 2 main assets just to establish as a mid table team, it's looking likely we will be after a new manager, nervous few months ahead. I think we will stay up but the club needs a total rethink if we are to progress.
Morning all firstly, Tomlinson & Hay are both prats .. Hay in particular needs to sell Athletic subs, he knows feeding on negativity helps that .. Tomlisnon is a Spurs loving fool who was whining about his own club being terrible, and who thinks Dele Alli is prime Pele ffs on Bielsa, NOTHING clouds his judgement, he isn't "firends" with his players and he maintains a disciplined and ethical approach to his selection .. he wants players to trust him, trust his judgement and that's why his team will run through walls for the cause Bielsa doesn't like short-term loans as he prefers to work with players who are there for the long haul so that they can fully learn and integrate his coaching .. neither Winks or VDB are typical Bielsa Ball players anyway, can't see them going the distance in a hard working Leeds team now, have our opponents really strengthened? Let's see: Burnley - had to buy a replacement for Wood, doesn't mean he's going to suddenly bang in 20 goals and lift them up the table .. they still have the same poor players who were unable to service Wood, nothing will change .. Burnley will struggle to get 30 points Norwich - treading water, let Cantwell go and look to be working towards their yo-yo model .. they have already accepted relegation, and they are not good enough for the Prem despite the odd result .. another team struggling to get to 30 points Watford - absolute shambles with their owners, Hodgson is a tired ex-manager who has taken the job on a short-term deal as it's easy money with no pressure .. their dressing room is unsettled, too many players who don't really seem to care for the club .. they miss Deeney's passionate leadership and don't look like improving .. their signings have been unknowns, including another Udinese player who was signed simply for the purpose of moving money to their Italian club .. can see them getting a maximum of 32 points Toon - £100m spunked, but is it well invested? Wood and Trippier certainly haven't lifted them and they were awful at Elland Road which suggests Howe is struggling to get a toon out of them ... imagine wasting £13m on Dan Burn, he's definitely not the answer at CB .. the foreign lads coming in will find the North East a different place than they're used to, and the gamble is that they settle very quickly .. they may pick up a bit of form, but they're still not a good outfit and will get 34 points at most if they can improve a lot Everton - Fat Frank is a big gamble as manager, we know it's all about him and his ego .. he has a habit of throwing his players under the bus, and if he struggles to get them going things will turn sour very quickly .. Sky love him, so he is allowed to be a boorish chap without complaint from the media, and this makes him more dangerous in terms of failing as it won't be his fault .. Dele Alli and VDB won't suddenly change that sulking dressing room, in fact it may compound the problem further .. there is a huge attitude problem at that club, and I won't be surprised to see a number of their "stars" jumping ship in July .. Everton will happily take 38 points right now, and unless Fragile can lift them and get them playing as a team another six wins may well be beyond them Palace - very inconsistent, they could go either way and with how they're playing right now 40 points seems a real push for them Villa - a dressing room full of strangers and players unhappy there's seven for each position .. really don't understand their transfer policy, but it shows me that Gerrard isn't a proper coach, but rather a cheque book manager just like his contemporary Frankie Fusspot I honestly feel that four more wins will do it for Leeds, the sooner the better .. once we get to 34 points, the team will relax and play with more freedom .. expect Leeds to have a strong finish again as their superior fitness starts to show in April/May no signings by Leeds in January sends a clear message to the current squad, you're good enough and we trust you .. that is worth more than any marquee signing, it galvanises the players and gives them belief .. it also sends a message to the others out there that Leeds are together and committed, something money can't buy I am really looking forward to the rest of the season .. if Leeds could get 22 points with all the injuries and absences they've had to endure, imagine how they are going to fly during the run-in with players back and 30% fitter than their opponents .. it's going to be epic
sorry, have to disagree completely with the hecklers on twitter .. Radz is a very smart guy, and clinical with his planning .. he delivered Prem football ahead of schedule because he knows what he's doing .. he doesn't interfere with the playing side, he focuses on building the club's brand and he's being careful about wasting money on players just because bed wetters call him out on twitter he has a clear vision for the Prem .. first window invest in players to improve the squad, and he did, bringing in the likes of Koch, Llorrente, Rodrigo, Raphinha, Harrison etc. .. then there's the focus on the Academy, constantly moving out those who look like they won't improve and bringing in new talent such as Gelhardt for £1m, Hjelde for £500k etc. stay in the Prem for two seasons with the squad we've got, as long as Bielsa is okay with that, then have another rebuild in the July 2022 window, upgrading the squad to push on towards the top ten .. this means some of our Championship heroes will be going in the Summer as new blood is brought in as part of consistent improvement then the next rebuild will be in July 2024 as the club, hopefully now established in the top ten, looks to push on towards the top six and European football .. a well constructed plan, avoiding panic and disruption .. Bielsa understands this, and he is working within a blueprint he absolutely believes in Radz actually made this vision clear when Leeds got promoted .. the transfer policy was explained, and there was never any intent to dip into January windows just because fans want it to happen .. Leeds are on track so far, and the club won't be getting relegated this season that's for sure now, with regard to Radz not wanting to spend or the Yank not keen to stick money in, let's have a look .. we know Leeds bid £15m for Aaronson, then raised it to £20m .. Salzburg didn't want to sell, but if they accepted the bid then Radz would have had to pay the £20m, proving his willingness to spend on the right player .. do you honestly believe Radz would have bid for a player he had no intention of signing, not once but twice? then there was the enquiry for Minamino from Liverpool, a player who would have cost £15m to £20m at least, and again if Pool said yes Leeds would have had to sign the cheque these weren't flippant approaches for players, these were serious approaches for players Bielsa felt would improve the squad, and a clear indication that Radz knows what he's doing and he is sticking to the plan .. it's definitely not the sign of a man who is out of his depth, who doesn't love football and who's only in it for himself .. that is a slight on the man's character I will NEVER accept, because he has shown us too much that suggests otherwise when your own negativity kicks in and you feel "let down" because your club didn't go and spunk stupid money on any player twitter recommended, attacking the club and owner isn't the solution .. it's weak to have a go and slag off Radz, Orta and Kinnear because in Football Manager you signed seventeen players in the January window and they signed none think about where the club is now compared to the Bates/Cellino days, understand how difficult it is to get into the Prem and then establish yourself there .. consider the fact that most of the clubs in the Prem have SIXTEEN SEASONS of massive television money ahead of Leeds, and what an incredible difference this makes .. understand that Leeds have to take small steps right now to lay a foundation for success, then kick on when the time is right .. we all want to see our club at the sharp end of the table every season, but the reality is that it's going to take careful planning and calmness to get us there .. Leeds are a massive club, they belong in the top six, but they have to earn that right the good thing is that the club has the right owner, at the right time, and a plan that's working .. stay patient, stay positive, that's how we will contribute as supporters
Reading your post I get the impression that you feel the same way about the **** posted on this forum lately. I've given up posting on these threads because it's all so fkn negative. Anyone would think Bates is still in charge and we're 10 points adrift at the bottom. Great post btw.
