So with the takeover complete and (hopefully) money injected into the club in order to further the playing staff, who do we want to see in and out of the club? Looking over the current squad we have far too many average players who aren't going to benefit a squad attempting to challenge for promotion. So who would you keep and who would you bin?
Reasonable & topical question, Kiwi. TBH, I've no idea who we need in. I suspect Warnock will have his own ideas, & I'm happy to leave him to it. Cop out or what, eh? Now what I can offer an opinion on is who needs to go, 'cos I've seen them play for us (or in some cases, try to play for us). The main problem is finding someone to offload them to, however! Some of them are that bad! Bearing in mind that there will almost certainly not be wholesale changes in January, I guess I should keep the list fairly short, as we have a fairly tight squad experience-wise, & we'll need to keep a few of them as backups. Goalies - Rachubka. He might yet turn into a first class goalie, but it'll never be at Leeds. He won't be accepted by most of the fans, & I don't think he would have the confidence to hack it, initially. Defenders - Kisnorbo. If we can get some quality CBs in, either as first choice or backup, then it's time to say thank you & goodbye to Kissa. Sorry, old mate, but the time has come. Midfielders - Varney. How many second chances does he need? He's flopped terribly almost every time he's played. Time to go - we can't afford to wait on you getting it together. - Rodgers. Iffy one. Depends how he's doing out on loan. I've not heard good reports, so if it's true, and he's not hacking it, it's time to get him off the payroll. Strikers - Gray. Still not sure about him. Not had too many chances, and has blown hot & cold when given a run out. If we keep Diouf & get another striker in, I think we have to say goodbye. There are a couple of others I'd like to lose, but they're injured & it ain't gonna happen - Nunez & Bromby. I surprised myself, btw. Thought the list would be longer.
I'd say all of them too, plus maybe... Somma, depending on the impact of his injuries. I always rated him but if he comes back and he's not at the same level there's no point in playing the nice guys and keeping him on. Pugh, yes he's versatile but going forward if we're looking at promotion is he really the required quality? White, this one will probably cause controversy but I just really don't see the big deal with him. He's quick, yeah, but he can't do anything with the ball and the lack of a specified position has held him back far too much. If he wasn't a young Leeds academy product, I wonder if many of us would've been that fussed if he left in the summer. And then after this season, even if we don't get promoted, I'd release Brown, Drury and probably Norris too. Oh, and obviously get rid of Connolly at some point as well. I'm not entirely convinced I'd keep Hall, mind. Does anyone know if we have to sign him at the end of his loan?
I agree he's not very good but it doesn't mean he's not versatile. If he was playing in League 2 he'd probably be one of the best left backs, left midfielders and central midfielders in the league. It's all in relation to his ability and the level he's playing at. At this level, he's not very good in any of those positions for us. Doesn't mean he's not versatile. But I deduce your point is he's not very good. And with that, I concur
Kiwi, You're right about White. Numpty. How I could miss him out after berating him so much defies me! Can go anytime as far as I'm concerned. Somma, agree that he's still to prove himself. Will need the rest of the season to do that. Remember, he's never exactly been a regular, even before the injury! Pugh. Has never, ever set the heather alight. He's had a few great games in various positions, and a lot of poor ones. I still see him as a left back, and I'd probably keep him until the end of the season. TBH, I'm not convinced that he's had the best of luck with us. No long runs, poor left midfield not covering for him etc. But there's no place for sentiment - he'll need to go. Also agree with you re. Drury & Brown at the end of the season. For me, the jury's still out on Norris.
You cant buy anybody till Jan.window opens and Bates is still chairman so most if not all of what he has been given will be tucked away in a bank in Monaco by then
Think White still has potential but I think his potential will be a decent championship player, not decent premier league player. Lack of footballing brain for me. Somma was a great option off the bench in our first season in the championship though, and if we could get him back to the same level he was before, I'd keep him, definitely. If however, he's not up to that standard, then there's no point in keeping him around. Agree about Pugh Think Norris is decent, but he's just not at the same level as say, Austin. And I think if we're serious about promotion this season (unlikely) or next season, we need to have a really solid foundation through the spine of the team. Austin and say, Whittingham (I don't think we have any chance of signing him, I just can't think of anyone of similar quality that's more realistic right now) would be perfect. Norris doesn't come close to the quality of either of them, which is why I'm not convinced he'd be much use in the future. I'd be more tempted to keep Green over him because Green can help cover RB and RM as well, and I think he's much better on the ball than Norris.
Sell Aidy White to the dog botherers. No doubt Grayson will foam at the mouth at the prospect of signing him.
He's been so poor this year I doubt even Grayson would go near him. He's a shocking winger, especially on the right. I would've kept Danny Webber over him tbh.
