Weekend Debate
- Thread starter ristac
- Start date
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Not sure we have any 'stars' to be honest.
However, if someone comes in for Stach then we are in a power position as they want him so will have to pay a premium. We signed him for £18 million so we'd be expecting at least twice that. Then we would reinvest. As good as he is, most of our recent good form has been whilst he has been out injured.
I think our most important player is Ampadu. His leadership is key to the results we have this season. That's the only sale that would seriously worry me.
In a perfect world I would keep our first XI and just try and improve on 3 positions and this seasons starters move to the bench and the fringe lads like Bornauw, Piroe, Byram, James etc move on if we can. If Madrid come in for Stach then make them pay.
The new found optimism has come from having proper owners to be honest. For years I was sick and tired pointing out the shortcomings of various owners and directors of football etc. we were constantly held back by inept muppets. 49ers so far have proven to be a breath of fresh air and the calibre of owners Leeds deserve. They see the big picture and are able to finance it. Good times ahead I feelMy head tells me we must be safe on 43 points, we’d surely have to be the unluckiest team in the world for both Tottenham and West Ham to get to 44 without us picking up another point to the end of the season. Just want it beyond doubt and would be happier if we weren’t playing both teams above away. I need to find some of Eire’s new found confidence/optimism
Wolves drawn level with 10 man Sunderland, a chunk of their fans will be devastated if we overtake them, they were still talking about a European slot before the Forest game.
West Ham 3-0 down.
Leaves them 7 points behind and 14 goals worse off than us. Means they need to win all 3 games and Arsenal up next for them.
Leaves them 7 points behind and 14 goals worse off than us. Means they need to win all 3 games and Arsenal up next for them.
Harry Gray with an assist for Rotherham.
From memory I was worried about Perri. Most excited about Stach. Happy with longstaff, Happier than most with DCL but thought we needed competition due to injuries, thought Bijol was solid but worried about his pace and I was a bit meh about the others.
Most pleasantly surprised by Okafor. Bit hit and miss but our only game changer. Also looks the most composed finisher we have at the club.
I think he’s done well but I don’t totally get the love in with gabby. Love his charging runs but end product is hit and miss and defensively suspect for me - better at wingback than full back so improved as season went on. I think Bijol Has been solid but not exceptional. JJ been a real Pleasant surprise..
But Perri aside I think they’ve all matched or exceeded expectations which is an outstanding return. It means recruitment was good and aligned. Also means the manager has them playing as a real team where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Improvements? Striker (comp for DCL), Keeper, 10/8, left centre back. Struijk has done better than expected this year… last couple of games just a reminder that he has an error in him.
I'm really very happy with our backline.
New signings all depends what system we are going to play next season 5 at the back or go 4.
Some of them play better in a 5 but its a good plan B to have.
Move On:
Meslier
Perri
Byram
Bornuaw (Will want to go anyways)
Gnonto
Piroe
Nmecha or keep but be told he's backup and may not even make the squad give him the option.
everyone out on loan apart from Harry Gray.
Then its the job of upgrading on the players we already have if that means moving certain players on so be it we can't sit still we been there and payed the price.
also its all about do we stay with this formation or bring in better player to change a system.
Key players that Must stay:
Gudmundsson-Ampadu-Stach
Players I don't want to lose:
Rodon-Struijk-Bijol-Bogle
New signings all depends what system we are going to play next season 5 at the back or go 4.
Some of them play better in a 5 but its a good plan B to have.
Move On:
Meslier
Perri
Byram
Bornuaw (Will want to go anyways)
Gnonto
Piroe
Nmecha or keep but be told he's backup and may not even make the squad give him the option.
everyone out on loan apart from Harry Gray.
Then its the job of upgrading on the players we already have if that means moving certain players on so be it we can't sit still we been there and payed the price.
also its all about do we stay with this formation or bring in better player to change a system.
Key players that Must stay:
Gudmundsson-Ampadu-Stach
Players I don't want to lose:
Rodon-Struijk-Bijol-Bogle
Bijol, in the few games he played, looked a bit of a liability early on when we were playing 4 at the back. He benefitted massively by going to a back 3. Think he needs the pace of Rodon next to him.
Gudmundsson, as you say, has also benefitted from the move to 3 at the back. I like his engine and his pace. The overlaps he makes engineer space for others even if he doesn't get the ball. Agree that his end product is dodgy. One on one defending is fine when he is aggressive but he has cost us goals late in games when he fails to close down and stop crosses. He's probably ****ed to be fair as he seems to do it much better in early stages of games.
Pascal does have a mistake in him but he is 26 now. This was his best season by a good margin. 1 year left on his contract. Good profit on him if we sold but it feels wrong to cash in. We've had him through his mistake and injury ridden seasons but he should be entering his best years now. I think I'd like to see us offer him a new contract now and if he drags his feet then sell him this summer. If he signs a new deal then he probably worth more next summer. Feels wrong to sell him after a season where he has shown great improvement at a higher level.
Don't agree with Gnonto. Still very young. Matured alot in the last year or so. Looks very comfortable at this level.
I’d add James Justin to the list of key players that must stay. I seemed to be in a minority on here when he first arrived when I said he was a quality signing. And he’s proved to be just that.
Covers so many different positions. Our modern day Paul Madeley.
fair points as usual mate, i'm just highlighting where i think we need to strengthen. Struijk was a car crash last time round in the prem and he's done really well to step up this year. Defensive limitations aren't all on him by any means - very happy we keep him but i'd like a dominant left centre back in the side. Especially if we're going to play 3 of them, we need more bodies.
Agree on gudmondson, he's ok defensively when he get's tight. Just think his concentration wanders a bit and struggles positionally in a four.
Squad was built for back 4 with wingers, that's now our plan B, so summer recruitment needs to facilitate depth for the new formation. Think Gruev has done a good and under-rated job when required this year, but it might be time to upgrade at DM too.
Like Tanaka, but positional/concentration issues? - swap for Hackney maybe?
Just upgraded 7 of the squad then after a good season
. Truth is that's what you have to do if you want to move forward, little upgrades all over the park in priority positions
My concern is season two last time around proved to be a lot harder. Some of the players we kept season one were pretty poor season two.
Farke has obviously gone big with team spirit so I’m not sure he’ll make too many additions
Farke has obviously gone big with team spirit so I’m not sure he’ll make too many additions
fair points as usual mate, i'm just highlighting where i think we need to strengthen. Struijk was a car crash last time round in the prem and he's done really well to step up this year. Defensive limitations aren't all on him by any means - very happy we keep him but i'd like a dominant left centre back in the side. Especially if we're going to play 3 of them, we need more bodies.
Agree on gudmondson, he's ok defensively when he get's tight. Just think his concentration wanders a bit and struggles positionally in a four.
Squad was built for back 4 with wingers, that's now our plan B, so summer recruitment needs to facilitate depth for the new formation. Think Gruev has done a good and under-rated job when required this year, but it might be time to upgrade at DM too.
Like Tanaka, but positional/concentration issues? - swap for Hackney maybe?
Just upgraded 7 of the squad then after a good season
Funny that @ristac mentions team spirit. Its the basis of my opinion of what Leeds should do in the transfer market this summer.
I wouldn't go too heavy on exchanging half of the squad for other players. Seems to me that the lads have a strong connection and a willingness to work together as a squad. Creating a strong bond within the squad is one of Farkes main achievements given the ****show he inherited. Even Liam Cooper couldn't hold the changing room together with the rats all downing tools. Has to be noted that most of the rats were not at the club during Bielsa's era.
The last thing we need is to allow a huge influx of players in to the changing room and it disrupts the harmony and team spirit. Far easier to ship out the likes of Piroe, Wober, Harrison, Ramazani, Gelhardt, Byram and replace them with players more capable of playing in the first team. Just add 3 or 4 quality players each year with an increase in youth development.
We go in to the summer with a £100 million war chest and hopefully some income from fringe players sales.
I wasn’t really suggesting getting rid of guys who’ve done well, more highlighting the positions to increase competition. You named 6 we can allow to leave (albeit half on loan already), others will organically move for more game time, some
May get poached. My 6 or 7 was a wish list of areas for improvement really.
My concerns taking this squad into next year would be:
Goals and getting up the pitch if dcl crocks or loses form,
Same in terms of attacking threat when Okafor, not available
inability for bench to close games out… partly from recruiting for a different formation last year
Agree about team spirit… but they managed to pick guys with the right attitudes last summer and need to repeat it. 2nd year can be the stinger, sides know us, will the hunger be the same? Definitely a balancing act between team spirit and talent pool Improvement
May get poached. My 6 or 7 was a wish list of areas for improvement really.
My concerns taking this squad into next year would be:
Goals and getting up the pitch if dcl crocks or loses form,
Same in terms of attacking threat when Okafor, not available
inability for bench to close games out… partly from recruiting for a different formation last year
Agree about team spirit… but they managed to pick guys with the right attitudes last summer and need to repeat it. 2nd year can be the stinger, sides know us, will the hunger be the same? Definitely a balancing act between team spirit and talent pool Improvement
Adding to Milkys concerns, we still signed a lot of players who are familiar with the treatment table, that threat has not gone away. We have been extremely fortunate this season with injuries.
James has been injured a lot this season, we have to cash in, Harrison, Wober, Meslier, three we need to finally get off the wage bill along with not renewing Bryrams contract
Piroe has been very robust, has he had a fair chance in the PL. I’d understand selling him, at the same time we have a player who’s not disruptive and always available
James has been injured a lot this season, we have to cash in, Harrison, Wober, Meslier, three we need to finally get off the wage bill along with not renewing Bryrams contract
Piroe has been very robust, has he had a fair chance in the PL. I’d understand selling him, at the same time we have a player who’s not disruptive and always available
Exactly, you have to strengthen as everyone else will so in effect you go backwards and let’s be honest we’ve been in the relegation battle all season.
