A few comments about Murphy on JA606 got me thinking, but I'll post on ere instead. I don't believe Murphy is - quite - good enough for us. I have seen him play really well (he and Austin away at QPR I thought were really good) but he has not really broken through, and I don't think he ever will. That's my opinion, I accept others might disagree, I am on a wider point though: A little test I adopt is to ask myself, thinking about the first great LUFC team, is - would a current player be good enough to slot in if one of the first choice 11 were injured? (Obviously not, would they be actually as good as Bremner, Giles, Lorimer, Eddie G, Reaney, Charlton etc - just could they go into that team and fit in and not let us down? They would be helped to a certain extent by having superb players alongside, but could they play at a high enough level to fit in?) Looking at Tuesday nights players: my views attached. What do you think? MY view is if the answer is no, then they are only of use to us in the short term, maybe to help get us up, but thereafter, no way. Leeds United • 01 Silvestri - Cellino YES • 12 Berardi - Cellino NO • 05 Bellusci - Cellino MAYBE • 06 Pearce - NW NO • 03 Warnock - NW NO • (Cooper - 76' ) - Cellino DUNNO YET • 29 Doukara - Cellino YES • 04 Austin - NW - NO • 14 Bianchi - Cellino - YES • 23 Cook - Cellino - YES (POTENTIAL TO, ANYWAY) • 08 Sharp - Cellino - NO • (Byram - 76' ) - NW - YES (POTENTIAL TO, ANYWAY) • 34 Antenucci - Cellino - YES Substitutes not used • 09 Oliveira Tavares - Cellino - DUNNO, HOPE SO • 13 Taylor - Cellino DUNNO • 15 Wootton - BM - NO • 18 Tonge - NW - MAYBE (funnily enough as he is hardly the future) • 33 Sloth - Cellino DUNNO Views?
2020 great idea for a thread and why can't your vision (See what I did there) be decent. I will just throw a couple of bricks in, Rod Belfitt was no superstar unlike most of the team, but fit in when asked and did his job. Some average players excell when playing with better players and some average players do so well unnoticed that they make 'better players' stand out. Paul Madley was a Rolls Royce of a player because he could play anywhere and be good enough for an England place in that position. However he went under the radar because of the stars around him, but he made many of them stars. You chose Antonucci above Sharp and although I think Nucci will be a great buy, I believe Billy Sharp and his record are just like a certain Mick Jones's. Never be prolific, but always reliable and will put in a shift, and if given service will score more than many. His goals to chances ration is twice as good as a certain Mr Beckford and we adored him.
Mick Bates was another who could be relied upon once in a while when Giles or Bremner were out. Never let the side down
I think Cook already has what it takes, and could've stepped into any of the great Leeds midfields over the years and not looked out of place
Another good call Forza Got to be more as well, and I can picture a couple but can't put a name to them. I remeber Grayson being average in a team that spawned some serious talent too.
No, what did you do, Doc? I missed it, the old eyesight is not what it was Its funny you mentioned Belfitt, I was thinking of players like him and Mick Bates. Neither were super stars but Bates could always slot into midfield and had enough about him not to look out of place. In my view Madeley WAS a star, but that's another debate - he did not go under MY radar (the vision was better then ). On lucy and sharp, I didn't rate Sharp a YES because I don't see him in the Jones mould - he battered the opposing defence and made it easier for players like Clarke to get a... well, a sniff - I'd see Sharp more as a poacher like Clarke, maybe I am being a bit hard on him as its early days but I have not seen enough effectiveness in the poaching role as yet
My point is that players like Mick Bates had enough to be creative and add value when they filled in for one of the best midfield duos in the country, I don't believe Murphy could.
Imre Varadi and Carl Shutt were handy players to come in and not disrupt the team. Always good for a goal or two but never really first team regulars
Rod Wallace came to Leeds so that his brother could get into a big club. He was regular and scored some goals and got himself quite famous for a bit. he then went to Rangers and earned loads of cash in a silly little league, and I would probably put him above our strikers now, but he wouldn't be in anyone's superstar side.
In all honesty I'm not gonna compare any of those player to previous great teams. I find it hard enough to determine whether a modern day player could've played in a different era effectively anyway. However I do think we are genuinely starting to get onto the track of building a decent core for years to come. Silvestri - I already think he is capable of competing the prem and competing well from what I have seen Byram - maybe, needs to start progressing again Pearce (imo. I think he has been so solid defensively, can't understand the question marks over his head) Cook - most definitely, I am really excited about this guy's development. Really am hoping he builds something here for himself at leeds and can go as far as he wants to in the game. Mowatt - maybe, lack of pace might mean he will struggle a division higher but composure on the ball and ability to find pockets of space might mean he will do well. Bianchi - Another maybe for me, I think he has looked solid so far without doing anything amazing. Has looked good at this level just not sure whether he would be able to step up yet. Sloth - yes, hasn't been completely fantastic but has shown glimpses of greatness, I feel like its just a matter of adjusting and getting consistency. Looks a good buy to me Doukara - yes, pace and power, good finishing as well so far, looks a really solid buy. Thats not even considering Adryan, Montenegro and Del Fabro, 2 of which are by far the most anticipated signings of the summer so if they show even half of what people are thinking they could be they will step up. I think at this stage Bellusci seems a little on edge to step up Everyone else imo. is not good enough to step up to the prem and hold a consistent place in the starting line-up within a year's development time (at this stage, early predictions, things can change).
Josh I'm just doing he same thing in my own way. Agree with most of your comments. But on Pearce I think he may be a bit too short of pace for the prem, that's why I have him as a no
Pearce is a terrible footballer, scares the **** out of me when he's running with the ball. But can't question his commitment. He is right for us at this minute in time but would hate to rely on him in the Prem
I think I've made clear my suspicion before of Pearce being the centre of all dismal performances. He is subject to rash challenges, dreadful lapses of concentration, the inability to mark someone without giving them a boisterous hug, and a distressing habit of letting people sail right by him. And let's try to forget his clear terror of having to pass the ball. He either gives it to the keeper, humps it upfield, or pass a hospital ball to another defender. He's a nightmare. Btw Josh, you're making assessments from radio commentaries, televised matches & comments on t'internet. It's so easy to get it wrong without actually seeing the team in the flesh (not having a go, btw - realise it's a bit of a commute ). At the game you can see the off ball effort put in by a number of the players in the way they make themselves available, block off attach routes etc. Bianchi is particularly good in this respect & it goes unnoticed by a lot of people.
I understand completely about not being there honestly, I actually take other's opinions more sacredly than my own because of it. I have seen most games this season though on the tele, definitely don't judge when I listen to the games, I still get that its not the same.
