1.47 goals a game last season conceded. 1.6 this season. But scoring more goals. Attack improves, defence gets worse. WARNOCK WILL SORT OUT THAT WEAK GRAYSON BACK LINE.
Yet at the same stage of the season we have conceded 1 less, and scored the same. I am far happier with the back 5 individually, but our lack of possession and loss of Snodgrass means the opposition will come forward more against us.
Last season, we started ****, improved and then Grayson went and we turned **** again. So I'm not convinced or assured by the fact we've conceded one less at this stage. I can't picture us getting progressively better over the course of this long old slog; can you? So I think it's better to compare our record over the whole of last season rather than just the start. I do agree that individually, we have a better back five and a better holding mid in Austin, but we're still easily shat on for whatever reason.
To be more meaningful, would be good to tally up the number of total goals scored by our opposition thus far for each season.
I think Cardiff possess one of the best attacking lineups in the league with the likes of Helguson, Maynard, Bellamy and Whittingham (although Grayson's "weak back line" did well to only concede the one late goal). Blackpool are a very attacking team as shown by last seasons goal tally and Ince is much improved so far. Even Posh despite having a terrible start are generally an attacking team (good value for the goal rush bet). Blackburn proved yesterday with the 5-3 scoreline against Bristol how good they are going forward so our 3 goals conceded there isn't too much of a surprise. Our only clean sheet was against a fairly lacklustre Wolves side but it still contained now Premier League player Jarvis. Will we improve over time? Can't see it to be honest. Now with McCormack out we lack even more threat and will probably struggle even more to keep hold of the ball (if that's possible). Hull goalless in their 2 away fixtures so far will surely be more confident with their prospects with Ross absent, and after their 4 on Saturday should play with a lot more confidence and be more adventurous. I also feel our defensive record this season will rely on a lot of luck with injuries and the inevitable suspensions. The phrase "luck with injuries" has been used a lot when factoring in how well we will perform this season, and so far we have seen numerous injuries to 1st 11 players, so no doubt they will occur to the back 4 and we simply haven't the cover.
I said in another thread "so much for harder to beat and breakdown". What gets me at the moment is yes last season we were getting stuffed 4-0 and 3-2 but under Grayson you knew we had to win by scoring more goals and it was an annoying case that the opposition had 8 chances and put 3-4 away... This time around under Warnock (who I was pleased that we appointed) we are getting totally dominated possession wise and it is just a matter of time before the opposition score, already I am finding myself hoping that we can 'hang on' rather than go out and win it. On paper I too am happier with the defence yet annoyed that they keep getting played out of position. Maybe I can't help looking at NW's targets and wondering would it really be that much better if he had been given the funds to add the final 3 pieces he felt he required? The players we have been linked with, had we got those would we be that much harder to beat?
It's Warnock, not Warlock, he can't perform magic tricks with the pittance he's been given. His targets were determined by his budget, and he's had to make do with journeymen and old hasbeens and never weres, with the exceptions of Austin and Pearce. Even Mourinho would struggle with the pitiful means at Warnock's disposal. Not only is he forced to go bargain basement, he also has to work with a paper thin squad, which is already showing it has no quality or depth to cope with the inevitable injuries being picked up by ageing players(and McCormack). Quite frankly it's embarrassing, and I wouldn't be surprised to find us in a relegation dogfight by Christmas.
Agree with most of what you are saying but Gray - We signed him and why? For emergency cover and we bring on Varney who then gets substituted for Poleon when many of us were screaming why sign Gray in the first place. A waste of a wage.... Sone Aluko, Danny Murphy - Two FREE signings off the top of my head, both who were very influential yesterday - NW picked Tonge to join us over Danns and Jennas, I know, I know this is the style NW plays and in him we trust....
Ristac, maybe the wages of Gray, Varney and Tonge combined equate to what Aluko is on, or what Murphy would have commanded. As for Poleon, Warnock sees him every day in training, maybe he thought Gray would be a better option for now. All in all, it doesn't bode well. I reckon the squad's at least six quality players short - and the money just isn't there, it's in some mysterious offshore account.
That is my point though mate, why doesn't he play him, we have injuries yet he sits on the bench. Yes I would rather have Poleon playing and gaining experience, I just can't see why we signed Gray if he isn't going to play. I bet Aluko is on no more than what we were going to pay Snodgrass - Like you say, money is in Bates account instead and even 1 or 2 players wouldn't be enough to change us into promotion contenders.
As others have said. We cant keep the ball so we're always under the cosh. Guna concede goals if we spend 70mins defending
i'm not deluded, i know that without this big investment we would be mid table or lower, neil warnock is working on a small budget and i honestly wonder why he took the job. he doesnt need the money, and will not want his career to go out with a whimper. he must have known the situation when taking the job so i'm confused as to his motives and what he believes he could achieve given the limitations imposed upon leeds. give warnock 10m quid and he'd build an impressive team. give him 10 quid and he'll struggle, its not rocket science.
We're conceding easily because our attack doesn't have enough sting in it. We keep nicking goals in an ugly manner rather than pressurising teams. We invite pressure on ourselves because we have no outlet. Simples.
Without much creativity in the team we need to look to exploit other areas. Get the ball out to Byram/White. Obviously not the best wingers but fairly quick and can beat men. Much better than hoofing it
I'm not doubting that he's overall doing a good job with the constraints he's had. Obviously I've been a vocal critic of Bates and adherent of Warnock getting a bigger budget of around £15-20m for wages, transfers and agent fees, and he's still under that most basic threshold. But the stats say it all: http://www.clarkeonenil.co.uk/09/20...rd/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter For a club like Leeds United, could another manager be getting more out of what little we have? I don't want him sacked, I just want a realistic appraisal of our chances and his abilities. Midtable is on the horizon.
Peltier Pearce and kenny at the back a new cb and allow White and drury to battle out the lb position lees on the bench. Austin midfield with three new players and Norris and green on the bench then a new striker to pressure McCormack and becchio. Danns templeton are two that were available Maynard we were after but it's not much use suggesting players while bates controls the purse strings
When McAllister was sacked we were going badly downhill (5 defeats in a row in all comps), Grayson came in and held the runaway leaders 1-1 at home, before achieving an away victory at Stockport, followed by defeat at Elland Road to Carlisle. After that game he brought in Naylor, Carl Dickinson (short term) and eventually Sam Sodje in March until end of season. That saw us go on a winning run at Elland Road starting with Posh (also Neil Warnock's first home win) in January until the end of the season (11 games). This carried on into the next season totaling 15 consecutive home wins (a new club record). Another club record was set with 8 straight wins from the start of the season, eventually resulting in promotion, as well as impressive cup performances/results, Liverpool, scum, Spurs, etc. In similar circumstances Neil Warnock took over a team going downhill. After the injury to Jonny Howson against Millwall and eventual sale in the January window, Simon Grayson's Leeds managed a lucky 1-1 draw at Watford with a 95th min equalising penalty converted by Snoddy, moments earlier Watford missed a pen to go 2-0 up. We then saw 3 straight league defeats against Barnsley, Derby and Reading. 2 home wins were recorded against 10 man Burnley and 10 man Ipswich coming from a goal down. In between that a 1-1 draw was recorded away to 10 man Palace. The final match for Grayson saw a 4-1 home to defeat to Birmingham. Redfearn then took charge for the 3-0 win against 9 man Bristol City, the home defeat to Brighton, defeat to bottom club Coventry and a fortunate 3-2 home win against Donny. Warnock was brought in to get more out of the existing squad, he added Paul Robinson on loan and free agent Danny Webber. He was however very critical of the existing squad and results were poor, especially at home with just one win recorded. Away the team were more solid and recorded 2 decent wins at Millwall and Boro. In my opinion the start this season is satisfactory given the tough start, but due to a lack of quantity and quality another midtable finish is likely. The major difference between Warnock and Grayson is the difference in league. Leeds' squad in league 1 in 2008/09 was at the very least in the top 3. Leeds' squad when Warnock took over was behind a significant number of clubs so achieving a similar turnaround was always improbable. The worrying thing about having Warnock in charge though is that he is only here short term, supposedly no longer than the end of the season. Whilst Sam Byram has been given a chance, the decision to sell an improving player like Clayton and replace with an older and more injury prone player in Paul Green is worrying.
