Player contracts - when are they up? Summer 2012 Darren O`Dea - On loan from Celtic - SIGN HIM UP Alex Bruce - BYE BYE Michael Brown - ONE YEAR MORE Lloyd Sam - BYE BYE Ben Parker - BYE BYE Aidan White - WANTS TO GO, SO BYE BYE Nathan Turner - SIGN HIM UP - ONE OF THE FUTURE Lewis Turner - SIGN HIM UP - ONE OF THE FUTURE Mikael Forssell - BYE BYE Mika Vayrynen (option of an extra year) - WE HAVE NOT SEEN ENOUGH OF HIM, BUT NOT CONVINCED YET. BYE BYE Maik Taylor - BYE BYE Danny Webber - ONE YEAR MORE Summer 2013 Paul Connolly - WE'RE STUCK WITH HIM, HE WON'T GO ANYWHERE Patrick Kisnorbo - WE'RE STUCK WITH HIM, HE WON'T GO ANYWHERE Billy Paynter- WE'RE STUCK WITH HIM, HE WON'T GO ANYWHERE Paul Rachubka- CAN'T SEE US BEING ABLE TO SELL HIM; HE'D BE HAPPY TO CANCEL CONTRACT Adam Clayton - WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HIM BUT HE WON'T SIGN UP SO WILL BE SOLD Robert Snodgrass - WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HIM BUT HE WON'T SIGN UP SO WILL BE SOLD Leigh Bromby - WE'RE STUCK WITH HIM, HE WON'T GO ANYWHERE Ross McCormack - WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HIM BUT HE WON'T SIGN UP SO WILL BE SOLD Summer 2014 Andy Lonergan - KEEP BUT AS 2ND CHOICE Luciano Becchio - KEEP BUT AS 2ND CHOICE Davide Somma - KEEP BUT HE MUST COME BACK MUCH BETTER AS A STARTER Charlie Taylor - KEEP - ONE OF THE FUTURE Alex Cairns - KEEP - ONE OF THE FUTURE Zac Thompson - KEEP - COULD BE A MAINSTAY NEXT SEASON Summer 2015 Tom Lees - KEEP BUT HE MUST IMPROVE Ramon Nunez - IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO USE HIM, SHIP HIM OUT I make it we will have 16 players here: discounting youth players (current under 18s) and those not wanted, we have 1 goalkeeper (who is having problems), 2 defenders (both of whom have many detratctors) 4 midfielders (1 ageing, 3 squad players at best), 2 strikers (one who can't stand up and can't control a ball and has no pace, the other who has been out all season but was always ****e when starting) Andy Lonergan Alex Cairns - youth Lewis Turner - youth Paul Connolly - not wanted Patrick Kisnorbo - not wanted Leigh Bromby - not wanted Charlie Taylor - youth Tom Lees - problem child O'Dea - if we can get him Michael Brown Nathan Turner - youth Danny Webber Zac Thompson Ramon Nunez Billy Paynter - not wanted Luciano Becchio Davide Somma WE NEED A WHOLE NEW TEAM. AND EVERYONE KNOWS THEY WILL TAKE TIME TO BLEND. NEXT SEASON IS AT BEST A SEASON TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE AND STAY IN THE DIVISION. WARNOCK WILL GO BY NOVEMBER. WE NEED A STABLE LONG TERM MANAGER.
That's the worst part. It's a season to build for the future, so we'll spend all season working out what works and what doesn't, only to have the backbone of the team sold as "good business" to build another stupid banqueting sweet from which the middle class fans can watch Leeds lose on a weekly basis.
****ing hell, are you this depressing with everything in your life? As I see it, this is what I think we should be looking at, players like this: Clyne, Lichaj, Mills, Hill, Nosworthy, Robinson, Leadbitter, Shelvey (on loan), Templeton, Rhodes. Can't think of any others right now and I know they are ambitious but I can't fully comprehend why we can't be ambitious. Biggest Club in the League, best fans, best facilities, successful manager (I don't like him but you can't look past his previous success)
Josh No. I'm only this depressing about LUFC at the moment because I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel with Bates and Harvey in charge. And other than Robinson (who I assume is the Robinson we already have - old and slow and will be raped by any fast and tricky winger - sound familiar?) I can't see us getting hold of even one of those you have mentioned. Look at Leicester for the pitfalls of building a brand new squad. It takes 6 months for the players to get to know each other. And Warnock only has next season. So no dice there. JLA - there are a lot of managers out there who have done a lot and are waiting to get back in the game, who would also have been long term. Look at what Roberto Martinez built up slowly at Swansea in terms of how to play football (it took a good 5 years) and then taken forward by their current manager. We will need to interview from next January anyway, so the remit may as well be given out to anyone who is interested: Come with a plan on how to play, the type of players you need to develop from youth team through to senior squad, the players you see as the type you would need for the senior squad to be competitive from the get-go while building a new ethos, and analyse the current players and how each would fit in with your proposed style. This gives potential managers of all types to plan their interview technique, to come and pitch a long-term strategy, and Bates (who else!) can look at alternative styles and ideas and plans. Essentially I don't really care who it is, as long as they have good and clear knowledge of what they want to do with the team and how they want the team to play, to get us into the Prem within 5 years but with a solid foundation that will keep us there, with a great line of youth players coming in that play in the same ethos. This is exactly what they do at Barca and Real - we may not be able to compete at that level of skill, but we can sure compete at that level of long-term strategy and planning!
I'm not saying build a whole new team but lets say we get in 3 of those mentioned, we would already be a considerably better team. There's no one there that will cost a considerable amount of money (maybe Rhodes) and they will all be players that I reckon will be moving clubs in the summer. As said we are the biggest club in the division and we don't seem to be able to be using that to our advantage in the transfer market at the moment. Why would you want to go to Leicester instead of leeds in all honesty. There wage cap isn't much bigger than ours despite popular belief so I think it was a case of negativity from Leeds perspective and not going for them players because we don't think we can get them.
We said all this at the same time last year. It's not even worth thinking about because we know it's not going to happen.
Depressing reading. What will Bates think when he gets Warnocks shopping list? We might be surprised that Bates finally sees the light and goes for the Premier next season. It wont be cheap but the rewards would make him happy and most likely a lot richer if he can then sell up and run back to the sun. Its about time we came out of the woods and back where we should be. There will still be clubs in next seasons Championship with terrific managers AND some financial clout so it will be tough. Parachute payments on the way down and still hanging around from last years teams who dont escape back to the Prem. Oh dear please log in to view this image where do we turn.
I'd beg to differ, but as you onl,y gave the surnames, I may have the wrong guys. Mills, Matt - another 3 years on Leicester contract, centre back, would cost a packet. Or did you mean his bro, Joe? LB or LM at Reading. Don't know anything about him, but he may or may not be a regular for them, and may be hoping to bag a contract at end of season. Clyne, Nathaniel - Crystal Palace defender, out of contract in summer, wanted by Man U for £2.5m fee. Won't cost much? Irrelevant. He turned down a move to Prem Wolves earlier in the season, knowing he was going places. Why would he come here instead of OT? The only reason would be Colin, on a one-year deal (to link with Colin, and only Colin). Lichaj, Eric - Villa, left back, recently badly injured. Under contract for another year, until Aug 2013. Possibility we may get him, and he may only cost about £500k. Hill, Clint - QPR, 33yo left back - has followed Colin in the past. Out of contract in summer, but Hughes been hinting at offering a new contract. Seems prepared to drop a division, but may be wanted in the Championship by QPR. If he feels his nose has been pushed out of joint by Hughes, he jump at joining up with Colin for nowt. Nosworthy, Nyron - Centre back/right back - just signed for Watford in January on 2½ year deal. Why would he move anywhere? He would cost lots money. Leadbitter, Grant - midfielder, Ipswich Town - contract runs out at end of season and Boro looking to pounce. He's on £15k a week. Harvey won't pay. Robinson, Paul - left back, old, slow, rock hard, on loan from Bolton - adds some tenacity and strength but he is not fast enough. Would be cheap as he is out of contract, but as he will have experienced the atnmosphere at ER, not sure if he would be happy to come here, nor whether he would be offered the right money Shelvey, Jonjo - Liverpool, midfield - trying to cement his place with Liverpool. Contract til 2014. Is he (or does Kenny think he should be) looking for a loan? Would be a good acquisition if it came off, but imagine it would be a post-August deal, with a call-back clause. Templeton, David - attacker at Hearts, contract til March 2013 - being watched by a host of clubs, and his manager stationg he would not accept less than £15m (in jest, but take it down to £2m and we have no chance). Could be a greta replacement for Snoddy if it could happen. Rhodes, Jordan (why do I always want to say Jonty?) - striker, Huddersfield - another year on contract, and SG would bend over backwards to prevent him coming to LUFC So overall, in reality unless Snoddy's money is made available, we may have a chance of signing 3 left-backs. Could be a bit lopsided with that?
Regarding Rhodes, not actually sure what to think of him but because of his age, the hype around him and his goalscoring record, the fee will be large. If a championship club can get him it will show the same sort of intent Brighton showed this summer when they got Mackail-Smith when everyone thought he was destined for the prem.
Grayson will veto a move for Rhodes and the Huddersfield board will probably listen. He could go anywhere so they wouldn't be short of offers.
Matt Mills is being transfer listed by Leicester and would not cost anywhere near what they paid for him, I reckon around 1m-1.5m. Would walk into our team and add some quality to the back line Nathaniel Clyne is out of contract in the summer as you say. Hadn't heard Manure wanted him but I can never understand why players like this go to a club where they don't have any real chance of playing. Good player and I don't think he'd be after huge wages, this is the type of player we should be looking at as he shows quality now and is also young and will improve Eric Lichaj was recently injured for 4 months, I'll give you that. Came back in February and has played a small part for Villa. I reckon we could get him relatively cheap (500k and better than Pugh) and he seemed to enjoy his time here and fans know what to expect Clint Hill is out of contract and seems to like playing with Colin in charge. Very good strong CB (not LB) for championship level and has a decent amount of experience for a younger CB to play alongside him I don't know why but I thought he was on loan at Watford, didn't realise it was a permanent deal Leadbitter is out of contract at the end of the season and please tell me why we can't compete with Boro. I'm pretty sure he is on 10k a week but I could be wrong Robinson has shown good bite, there are no doubt better out there but I'm struggling to think of players available. Admittedly had a bad game or 2 but I still think he will add something to our team Jonjo Shelvey in all honesty is nowhere near there first team and I reckon next season will be the last season he is out on loan, I don't see why we wouldn't be able to get him if this was the case. Would add some real quality to our team Aren't Hearts in financial problems. I heard he'd be going for around 3m, it'd be a stretch even if we were prepared to be buying players but would be fantastic, not as a replacement for snoddy but on the other wing. Would give us 2 fantastic wingers again and which ever way you look at it we need a winger (good ones generally cost money, rarely see a good free winger) SG loves leeds and will accept a bid of 50 quid for him as long as its leeds In short, I reckon we could get a few decent signings in, not necessarily off this list but this list is only of players that are in or about our price range (with a couple a stretch admittedly) that will imo be moving clubs in the summer. We can compete for these players I think and build a strong enough team. We just need to be more positive and ambitious in the transfer market
The difference with Mackail-Smith is that he doesn't show the pace or ability that Rhodes shows. Mackail-Smith had already played in the Championship and not done that well. Rhodes is younger and has scored more goals than Mackail-Smith in League 1 and shows the same sort of characteristics as Beckford did Couple of others that i think we could get: James Chester, Good Strong CB at Hull City. May cost a little bit more than a couple of others with same sort of ability but would do very well in any defence Jason Pearce, Good Strong CB at Portsmouth, is there captain and could easily afford him due to Portsmouth's financial issues. Would do very well in shoring up our defence David Norris, CM at Portsmouth. Again due to there financial problems, wouldn't be too hard to sign him, someone that SG seemed to want last season Ched Evans, Has scored 25 goals in League 1 for Sheffield United. Will definitely be available especially if they don't get promoted. Someone I called for us to sign last summer Luke Varney, same sort of player as McCormack from Portsmouth again although older but been around a bit more. Doesn't score as many goals but would be good cover upfront and does create chances quite well Shaun Derry, Player that has followed Colin, would do very well in any championship team and a very similar player to Brown although better imo Danny Collins. Looks likely he'll complete a permanent move to west ham but if he doesn't we should be in there quick to secure him. All these players are affordable and will add more quality to our team imo
Lonergan Lichaj (500k) Hill (Free) Pearce (250k) Robinson (Free) Snodgrass Clayton/Brown Derry (Free) Gradel (£1mil) Mccormack Becchio/Beckford (£2mil) Shouldnt be out of the question for a club like LUFC to spent £4million-ish. But we all know it is..
See that looks like a strong team. Doubt we can get Gradel back, think that was just poor journalism (i.e. he isn't playing that much and he was loved at leeds).
When we had snodgrrass and gradel we had to have one striker and three in middle. Doesnt work. Derry brown clayton? Not a lot of midfield creativity. Back four looks cumbersome and slow. Not sure what type of game this lot would try to play other than attack up the wings and ship lots of goals. Am enjoying the blind optimism that we will buy players who others would be keen for, we not done that I. A few years, but history tells us it ain't gonna happen. You are getting your hopes way up on a lOng shot. You like this in the grand national with the 200/1 outsider?
Out of the question for Bates that is for sure - be prepared for a long depressing pre-season as we once again get linked with top names then watch as they go to the rivals and we hear that they wanted too much money or one of the usual excuses we have become accustomed to since we have had Bates at the helm.
