As others have said, it's all about having quality options, which this certainly adds. Admittedly I haven't seen much of him, but could he play on the right side of the diamond, as a similar player to Surman on the left? Crofts isn't being picked that much this year and I'm not convinced about Pilkington playing in this position, which he has done on several occasions. For me, he doesn't have the defensive nature of somebody like Crofts but because of the role he is being asked to play, he doesn't create as much going forwards and doesn't go into wide areas, as he did so effectively at the start of the season. I still think he has been great this year, don't get me wrong, but just wonder if Lambert thinks Howson would be a better choice for this position? Which would also free up Pilkington to play on the wing / just behind the forwards where he was so good earlier in the season. It would also give us the option of playing a flat 4 in midfield, but with an attacking midfielder to compliment Johnson or Fox. And if Lambert was to return to playing 4-5-1 it would also give us another option in the centre. As a small side note, how do people think Johnson and Fox play together? For me they have both had brilliant seasons, but when they are together in the middle they seem to take a little bit away from each others game. As we all know, Fox is very good at a short passing game, keeping forward momentum flowing and finding some great attacking balls. When Johnson plays, he just takes a couple more touches on the ball, and although his passing and forward movement is good, it just seems that Fox isn't quite as effective as the play gets slowed down a little. And on the other hand, when Johnson is playing by himself in the middle (at the base of diamond) he clears up everything, but when Fox is there too, the opposition just seem to get through to the defence more often. It's not that he becomes lazy or complacent, but he doesn't put in as many tackles as he is staying to his side and doesn't want to get caught out of position. When he is by himself, nothing else matters then getting the ball back, which more times then not he does! I just wonder if Howson has been brought in as Lambert feels he would better compliment either of these two when we play with two central midfielders? Isn't brilliant that we are having discussions about the best way to fit 18/19 players into the starting 11 rather then moaning about players who aren't good enough???
judging by comments from leeds fans, he should play at the tip of the diamond - he gets a bit lost the deeper you play him
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/footba...or-norwich-after-leeds-reluctantly-accept-bid According to this report, we are only paying 500k for him.
something i just though of and a question to the leeds fan on here: if you are, as you say boycotting leeds matches because of papa smurf, surely you lot boycotting are as responsible as he is for your club not having the money to keep howson. if you starve your club's owner of finances, is it any wonder he can't pay the money required to make you stronger? just a thought...
That's according to Leeds fans and also when he's playing under Grayson. Lambert would be able to turn him into what ever Lambert wants him to be.
i do feel a bit sorry for the leeds fans as they've been through a lot. i know some of them are complete idiots who live in cloud cuckoo land but i suppose every club has those...
I think the midfield that Leeds had/have (just got to take snoddy and clayton) was potentially fantastic. Grayson IMHO couldn't get the best out of them. I can't wait to see what happens with Howson, out of all our signings in recent years I think he proabably has the greatest potential.
No, because the more money we give him, the more he spends it on the off-field property developments at Elland Road instead of on the team. If he ringfenced season ticket money for transfers, I'd be renewing next season. As it happens, he'll spend it all on the 70m hotel/nightclub he wants to affix to our stadium so I won't be lining his pockets any longer. Thousands upon thousands more like me.
thats fine but do you actually know that is what he wants to do? it seems like you're cutting your nose off to spite your face to be honest, but i respect that i don't fully know the ins and outs at leeds. i can understand people not going because the ticket prices are too high but to try and bleed your owner dry by stopping what could be a huge amount of income seems daft from the outside
pilkington passed his medical and he was injured. a medical does not consist of just doing a bleep test or running about a bit, there is lots of work they do and they are very vigorous - if the club feel its an injury which could recur or cause future problems they will pull the plug but he seems like a pretty fit lad to be honest - he's played a lot of games for someone so young
They'll be checking if there is any long term damage done to his knee, and obviously it will be very stringent.
Yes, he's released the entire plan and he wants to build a practical replica of the Chelsea Village scheme which hardly turns a profit at Stamford Bridge. Hotel, museum, nightclub, shopping complex, executive boxes. It will cost over 70 million quid. Would take us years to pay off that debt unless we go up to the Premiership and spend practically nothing on new players. And he claims the club's a "tight ship". Hah! What hope do we have of making money when Bolton and Sheff United's hotels are losing money, when Chelsea Village in one of the country's most exclusive areas barely breaks even and when even Premier Inn are only making a few million quid a year. It's hopeless, literally. But ticket prices like you mention also factor into why people won't go. We have the unfairest prices in world football, and you can quote me on that. Fifth most expensive season tickets in England for our very cheapest seats (of which the only ones ahead of us are elite Premiership teams mainly from the capital where wages are higher), most expensive membership scheme in the world (which hardly gets you any return), and of course that money hardly ever goes towards anything tangible in terms of player acquisitions. "If you want Premiership football, you pay Premiership prices," Bates once said. He's certainly not doing his part of the deal. The only way Bates will be removed is either by being bought out or by being forced out. We know that he doesn't want to sell, so even if offers come in for the club he won't listen; he needs to be pushed. There are two ways we can do it: either by personal abuse every time he's in Leeds (which would be quick and effective in my opinion), or by draining him of funds which would force him to leave due to not being able to pay for the only thing he's interested in: property development. If we can force him to put the club up for sale, I have no doubt that there will be a lot of people interested. We're one of the most exciting clubs in Europe, certainly the biggest in terms of future potential which could be acquired for a reasonable price. Sometimes if you really love something, you have to let it go. And that's what will be happening with my Elland Road attendance next season. Away games only till Bates dies or leaves. Hopefully dies.
fair play supers and Carra, i am now more knowledgable i remember pilkington was out of action when we signed him
