But it's not. And we have 44 points on the board with 11 games to go. Unless admin comes in, we should be easily comfortable and be able to build for next year
At the start of the season I hoped that Byram would stay and continue to improve and that we would uncover one more gem from the youth set up, I hoped McDermott would sign 2 exciting players and that we might shift one or two players who were not going to figure. I then hoped that we might sign another decent player come the January transfer window but if we didn't it wouldn't be the end of the world, we could look forward to 2015 with the knowledge that we were maybe two signings short of a serious challenge. What I see is a Byram who has gone backwards and no real genuine player coming into the squad from the youth set up who excites, instead a Mowatt who is not quite ready and a Poleon who hasn't made the grade. Okay not McDermott fault for the latter two and no idea what has gone wrong with Byram or who is to blame. What I do blame the manager for is buying too many Joe Average players, Wootton, Zakliukas, Smith and Murphy when we already have an abundance and paying over the top. They do not start every game so the manager himself knows they are not much better than what we have, he has also burdened us with Hunt and for next season Stewart. So imagine the season ends today, how many players are we away from a promotion challenging side compared to how many we were at the end of last season - Just as many or one more if you consider Byrams backward step. How much worse is the deadwood and what situation are we in wage wise - Worse Under McDermott we haven't made the slightest improvement in nearly 15 months and it isn't getting any better. When the team gets picked on Saturday Ross will be the first name down on the team sheet, after that pick the names out of the hat time. McDermott should have signed two players who were permanent fixtures, two names to go down on that team sheet who we knew we could not be without.
Ristac, you want to hear yourself sometimes. So Ross would be first name down on the teamsheet? Did we do that in his first season? In fact, any season but this one? He's had 2 good seasons & 2 awful ones. So if we listened to your tack, we'd have got rid after his first awful season. Smith? Brilliant signing. Has a fantastic scoring record for someone used as a sub. So good that he's our 2nd top scorer! And you want to get rid? Wooton - Premier League teams falling over themselves to sign him, and you think he's rubbish? How can you come to that conclusion? Show me your coaching badges! Zaliukas is an accomplished internationalist, and has shown what he can do, but sadly not of late. All Joe Average? I think not. Only thing they have in common is that they're 1st season players, and not only that, but playing in a Leeds team with a confidence level as low as it gets. Byram? Backward step? Au contraire. The boy's still got it. Sadly, he's not been picked for many decent runs this season. I'm sure there's a good reason, & I'd guess it's all about managing an awkward injury. But backward? No - he's still got it, & shows it when required. Now I do agree with you about the other players. I've never rated them. Poleon's lack of playing time (& displays of headless chickenry) confirms that we're not the only ones that think he's just not good enough. Same goes for Hunt, for whatever reason. And I'm glad someone agrees with me about Mowatt. Poor lad is not ready, and is simply not fit enough. It's a shame as he might have a future with us. I'm pretty sure he's getting played as he's the nearest thing we've got to a creative midfielder. But he's not really. Might be soon, but not now. Feel for him & wish him all the best.
I miss the days when the only dilemma was who would start at Centre back, i.e. 2010/11. Since then the options available to all 3 managers haven't been particularly appealing and the situation has got worse year on year. McDermott took over a side in shocking form who went drastically downhill under Warnock after the sale of Becchio. In the summer, despite the exit of Bromby, Kisnorbo, Somma, Connolly and Rachubka we only signed 4 players. Then it was back to the old reliance on loans/unattached players. I'm sure McDermott would have wanted more than 4 signings in the summer window, at the end of the day it was clear we needed 2 wingers, we didn't have one! Also despite claims that McDermott hasn't had to sell anyone is an advantage over previous managers, I don't see it as that way especially as it was probably the worst squad he took over since 2008. Grayson had 6 quality players in 2010/11 (Johnson, Howson, Snodgrass, Gradel, becchio and McCormack), this reduced to 4 under Grayson, then to 3 under Grayson and Warnock then to 1 under Warnock and now McDermott. We haven't adequately replaced any of these players. We have filled the squad with players with plenty of experience though, to allow us to establish ourselves as a midtable Championship club.
And how people on here berated Johnson, constantly! What a fantastic talent, but used in the wrong position until Grayson finally worked out that as a defensive midfielder, he could do wonders. Another one berated was Kilkenny - what a superb midfielder in terms of passing ability. He may not have been big, or fast or particularly good at tackling, but he was fiery, passionate, had an engine, and the best passer of the ball we have had in years. We have not had one since - you may all shout for your Austin's and wingers, but Kilkenny could put that ball exactly where you were running, on the right foot, without you having to break stride. He needed strong players beside him to do the donkey work, but unfortunately, hadn't any.
In 2014 it is a squad game at every club. The days of trying to play the same 11 each week went away many years ago.
When we got BMcD I and many on here were chuffed to fook. Then I went onto Reading fans sites and expected to see a lot from them saying we had a gem as he didn't deserve the treatment he got. Most were warning us that he plays unattractive football, can't organise a defence, and plays hoofball which can be boring and ugly. Since his arrival (And I like him as a man) we have played dire stuff, even though we have some proper footballers now. When did we last play flowing football? when was the last time we strung 4 passes together? when was the last time we blew the opposition away? (Maybe against udders but Brian wasn't there) Does he know our best team? We play like a team in a relegation battle and our last 17-games demonstrate how shyte we are playing. Luckily we are safe this season, just but why waste money bringing in Butland, Wickham, kebe and Stewart because on this form it makes no difference and neither do they. He would have had more of an excuse by not bringing those players in and telling us the takeover has damaged our season but the summer will be different under Cellino. I think he has had a last throw of the dice and it hasn't worked I'm sorry to say. So I fully expect a new manager before the end of the season and it will be a decent well known guy or a good foreigner as long as the FL pull their collective fingers out
You're wrong Doc. We should give him several more seasons which will create stability at the club. Cellino should then empty his wallet for him so he can attack the transfer market in the summer. Might get lucky and bring in a few more ex Reading players if were lucky. Doesn't that make more sense Doc and is far more positive as called for this morning
And it shows how far we have fallen that Ross is now the only guaranteed starter... Sorry if anyone feels the squad we have are better than Joe Average then explain how we get stuffed 5-1 6-1 and 4-2 and continually put in dire performances can go on 8 game running streaks without a win get outplayed twice by L2 opposition and why we stand 14th in the table. I honestly believe some of our fans have become far too easy to please, I for the life of me cannot see a positive thing to take out of this season.
A couple of months ago I posted that Dyche at Burnley was doing a great job with a squad of less talent than ours. Dyche was a gamble for Burnley and I'm sure on paper he would have been a mile behind our manager. Dyche has proved that he can work with no money, witha squad who are no better than ours but play football, score goals and get results and will get promoted this season. Remember they only had one player and they were forced to sell him to QPR. Harry and his millionaires have been eclipsed by a league 1 manager with no cash ...... BMCD has had cash and has a decent squad but I know who I prefer .... and if Ross wasn't in our team we would be back in league 1 by now because we would be too far back from safety. I like Brian and wanted him to do the business, but I cannot carry on with this mess and don't think him to be a manager ..... great scout, great coach, but so too was the ex Fulham boss (Scummer Rene), just not managers I'm afraid. We can't carry on blaming Bates, Warnock, Flowers, GFH, ........
Hindsight is a wonderful thing Doc, I agree with you about Dyche, he's doing a great job at Burnley, but McD did a great job at Reading, don't get me wrong, I think his time is up at Leeds, my point is you get managers who come along and start to make a name for themselves, then just can't keep the momentum going, look at Aidey Boothroyd, he couldn't do no wrong at one point, where is he these days, didn't he get sacked at Northampton or somewhere, sometimes managers get lucky in my opinion, time will tell whether Dyche becomes a great manager or not
Boothroyd did a great job at Northampton, got us to the play off finals then lost. He feared players would have a hang-up about it so had a mini clear out, brought in several new faces and Northampton got off to a terrible start this season. A couple of injuries to key players and Northampton were bottom and sacked him... He has recently been appointed as a National coach to the England U21's which kind of reflects what Doc has said, some people are cut out to be coaches but not managers.
Still say stability is the key. This time last year Leicester fans were saying times up for Nigel Pearson. Look at them now, and pretty much all of that squad is now his. Get rid of Mcdermott now and a new manager comes in and we're left with a mish mash of 3 different managers' players. Yes he's had a bit of money to spend but other than Burnley, it's still quite alot less than what the other teams have spent over the past couple of seasons. Can't people see a pattern here? Wanting rid of managers every single year, at the same point of every single year, and we remain in pretty much the same place. Won't it hurt to see just what a long term manager (or what classes as one these days), can so over at least 3 seasons? The last one that was here longer term got us promoted into this league. The ownership needs sorting before absolutely anything else, otherwise it's groundhog day for next whatever amount of seasons........
EH I agree with a lot of that mate, but your theory starts to slide on the subject of stability. How can our team stabalise when the manager brings in 4 new players right when the season is almost done. I think introducing those 4 players has de-stabalised the squad. i also think Ross taking over as skipper was wrong and again rocked the boat. Of course we also need stability from the owners who are supposed to set a good example. 5th in November before we started looking to bring in players and the ownership thing etc ........ 17 games on and we're nowhere, a laughingstock and and an embarrassment. Pearson under achieved the last 2 seasons but Brian has not got close to under achieving and Warnock would have done a better job I'm afraid and that was shyte. The last 3 months have had no plus points and for us the season was over in November which is just not good enough. I believe Brian has lost the dressing room and we have a squad who don't give a fook and want the season done
I know what you're saying Doc. But the these loanees were brought in as a result of McD not bring able to buy in January because of the ongoing takeover saga, which is now 3 months old. It's all too little too late and we know that. Now hopefully Cellino will be in place in a few days and therefore some real support for transfers should be available in the summer. He really wants this, so do the fans, and I know we're losing patience with him, but he could have probably walked out a few times not knowing what's happening with this saga, and it must be demotivating when you have discussed targets to strengthen and they can't be followed through cos suddenly there's no money. I would just like to see what will happen with him in charge for next season, when we can really have a go at him because it's pretty much his squad that he's assembled. It won't matter anyway cos Cellino is ruthless with managers who don't perform. Although he had a go at the players recently. I still think that some players still think they have 'made it' when they come to Leeds rather than pulling their socks up. Some just aren't up yo the job of dealing with our expectations.
Personally I see very little difference between Warnock and McDermott. Warnock knew hoof ball was the only way he wanted to play, he was forced to sell players and wheel and deal in the transfer market. McDermott doesn't know the best formation or even starting 11 he has signed more unused players than Warnock did and spent more money when you consider he hasn't been forced to sell anyone, he has had more backing. I will be just as happy to see the back of McDermott as I was Warnock
