Remember that well worn phrase that's been trotted out at every transfer window in the past. Well besides us lot actually expecting some action before Warnock put his blanket by the pool, it's been well quite. Pre-season training started today and we still see tweats from Paddy hinting that he's about to land, but still nothing. YEP stating that we're also in for another 3 pompy players etc. The main thing the fans are waiting for though, is this damn takeover to be finalised, as we want Bates out of Dodge and cash in Warnocks pocket, so that he can start to grab the players he's chasing. Warnock's still around so that gives me confidence, because I fully expected him to do one, when he was left with no cash a few weeks ago, which made him look silly after telling us he wanted 3 faces in before his hols. Come on Mr Arab, finish the DD, boot the old fooker out of ER, and give the manager some cash so we can get on and do some damage this season.
There are a few things going on which, even without the prospect of a takeover, would be keeping me quietly happy. First, we have signed four players by the start of the pre-season training (Pearce, Green, Drury and Kenny - a goalkeeper, two defenders and a midfielder). Although I question the goalkeeper, it must be because Lonners is going, but all four signings are to take us forward in a solid manner. Second, Bates is ultra quiet. If the takeover does not happen, I hope this is a sign of things to come. I hope he also decides to stop doing his weekly talkshow on the radio and his weekly column in the program. Third, prices have not increased. Except for renewal or new season ticket holders, which seems ot be a bit of a daft decision, but onwe which was clearly taken before they realised the financial **** Leeds UNited were in. Which makes me question why these stooges are still there if they cannot read the signs in the market right. Arrogance. Fourth, all our kids have signed up. Fifth, only Clayton has gone so far. This was always going to be the case. No-one is going to pay money for the likes of Rachubka, Paynter, O'Brien, Nunez or Connolly. I think they will all see their contracts run down unless the club accepts paying some of their wages for the remainder of their current contracts. Sixth - White, Brown, Snodgrass and McCormack are all still here. With the exception of Brown, they will all be looking at the signs from early pre-season and deciding whether it is worth sticking around for another season. As for Brown, he will be trying to get a better deal elsewhere, but I expect he will find it difficult to get a deal, so will come back for his one season at lower wages. He was one of my favourite payers under Warnock at the back end of the season though, and his fitness was there for all to see, able to do it twice a week when the kids couldn't handle it. Overall, I think we are in a better position than last year in terms of solidity and squad, but we have not got the creativity we had, but we then lost it during the season.
1) Last Year - Gradel, Howson, Clayton with White not free to sign for someone tomorrow if he wanted to and no major doubts over Snoddy and McCormack - If the T/O does not happen they will leave. 2) This year Kenny (any better than Lonergan) Pearce, Drury and Green. Personally without the takeover happening I can't take anything positive or see why on earth anyone would believe we are in a better position.
Tom Lees is a year older with a full season's experience in the Championship. Pearce seems a very good signing to partner him. In my opinion, that is the only definite improvement on last season's squad. However, White was never seen by a lot of managers as a LB, Grayson was hesitant playing him there, i believe he played on the wing at Oldham, not sure where he plays for Ireland and more importantly Warnock didn't play him as a full back. So the signing of Drury, has the potential to improve us defensively. Fitness will be key, who will be backup? Probably Pugh, so crucial Drury stays fit. As for Kenny i would say his experience should benefit the team, plus Warnock has full trust in his ability. So again potentially better than Lonergan.
If only we had a tad of ambition Im positive.. ------------Kenny New RB--Lees--Pearce--Drury -------Johnson--Clayton Snodgrass--Howson---Gradel -----------Becchio ...would have got us promoted So annoying to think we had about 7 of that team in place over a year ago and have gone so far backwards
I agree with the point that is being made here but I really do wish people would stop doing this. Stop looking back at what we had and start to look forward And leeds down south I agree about white, he isn't a defender. Ireland play him as a winger as well, I think the only reason he played LB for us last season is because we had no one else that could really play there
...funny how you chose to ignore "in terms of solidity and squad, but we have not got the creativity we had" With this current squad as it is, I think we will do better than we did last season because we will be much harder to beat. So that is an improvement, yet could be boring to watch. With a couple of "good" loan players in (ie not the usual loan players we have had) we could inject some pace and some clinical finishing. As such, we could be in a better position even if we lost Snoddy, White and McCormack. With all those players we ended up 14th. Simple stats I know, but better than 14th = an improvement
No I didn't chose to ignore anything, this season we finished 14th, if the takeover does not happen we all know Snoddy and White will leave and personally I can't see us finishing any higher. It doesn't matter how good your defence is, with Pugh, Brown, Green and Rogers in midfield we shall be just as useless. I am pleased with the signings so far but we are a long way short of last years quality (at this same stage when we still had Gradel and Howson), stronger defence, weaker in every other department as things would stand no T/O Anyway, it is all opinion, let's hope the T/O goes through and that we make some outstanding signings and we can put an end to these debates
As it stands right now, I think we're stronger than the team we had at the end of last season. We'll be more organised and solid so harder to beat. That then goes backwards if the takeover doesn't happen as Snodds, Ross and White vanish. So Warnock needs to get rid of the dross asap to free up wages so that he can bring in some quality loans/freebies. We cannot afford any mesing about this season as the league is stronger and there are probably half the teams that are better equiped to challenge for the top 6 spots. We have to be realistic and accept that without this deal being finalised, we're goosed and could struggle to stay mid-table. If the deal gets done soon, Warnock will have a load of players on standby waiting to come. They will only wait so long though. That prat Bates has stripped our club of plenty of talent over the last 3 seasons, just to inflate his own bank account. Beckford, Delph, Howson, Garbutt, BJ, KK, Gradel etc, so unless Warnock can get some players better than those we won't do anything. Is Somma the ace up Warnocks sleeve or is he out of the picture and still injured. Is he capable of scoring the goals we need when he's fit?
I wouldn't say he is capable week in week out but definitely a player you want to have at least on the bench. He can score some fantastic goals, I just need to see his work rate rise before I think he can do any consistent damage to teams in the championship
Agreed on Somma - About time we had an impact player sitting on the bench and I believe he is one of those type of players. When he comes on you always feel he might have a goal in him.
If Somma comes back fully fit, it would be like a new signing because he's a proper goalscorer. We just don't know if he's a player with plenty of improvement potential, or if he's already as good as he's going to get. I saw plenty of his gals when he was out on loan and he looked quality. We saw flashes of that quality before his injury, so fingers crossed
