Good Morning Everyone, A third of the season has passed, and we are currently sitting in 6th place in the Championship, but can they keep it up. If this form can continue is there any reason why we can't give the likes of Brighton and Newcastle a good game? What will this do to our home attendances? Do you see them averaging over 30k again? If we can sign another decent centre forward and another good central defender, I do not ee any reason why we can't mount a challenge. Seriously though, whats changed? Yes Jansson is a great Addition, but is it as easy at that? If so why can't other clubs do it? I made the point yesterday to the Norwich fans, that nobody has a god given right to be at the top of the Championship, and it takes more than spending a few seasons in the Premiership on your CV. It takes blood, sweat and tears, and I truly believe Leeds have only just found that out! Far too many times we have all heard Leeds should not be in the position they are in, and relying on past reputations. You can't do that anymore. Any top 6 club in the Championship would more than match the bottom 6 in the Premiership in my opinion. Thoughts?
Morning all.. Jansson maybe but apart from him we don't have a stand out player, we have a good strong team who are all starting to understand each other and who know what is expected of them, hence why although I agree we need to strengthen it has to be done with caution. Bartley and Jansson are great together, Cooper is a fine replacement and Ayling can by all accounts cover at CB. Wood is scoring goals, Roofe or Doukara are covering for Dallas, Antonsson is on the bench how much would a striker cost who is better than Antonsson, Roofe and Doukara, would he be satisfied on the bench, would it cause unrest. I believe we did all the strengthening at the right time in the summer, 11 new signings was it? I think see how we fair over the next couple of months and take it from there. Personally and being realistic, I don't see how we are going to buy anyone better than Wood and Roofe. To better them it would need to be someone banging the goals in, would a team sell that type of player as chances are that team would be doing pretty well too and secondly at what cost. If we are still top 6 come the transfer window good business for me would be getting Bartley, Jansson and Hernandez on contracts, sorting out Taylor and maybe looking for a replacement for Sacko because I can't see us buying someone with such an extortionate release clause.
Morning all, no fluke we are in the top 6. Monk has been given more support from the board than any manger since Grayson. Cellino love him or hate him has brought Monk and his team in and left them to it. Hes also given Monk the players he wanted and Monk has turned out to be astute, tactically adept, and brings a great work ethic to the squad. He has also got the squad as one big happy unit. Monk is great and will be even better so need to tie him up with a new contract. Not since Vinny and Smithy have we seen a cult figure like Pontus, and again we see the similarity's with Wilkos team and O'Learys team as you cant thrive and grow without a cult figure. The fans love Pontus because he sets the tone for the team, he would run through a wall and if players give everything the fans love them for it. Even in defeat if our fans can see the players sweating blood they will be applauded off. One new striker of proven ability is needed to ensure we get the goals and maybe a classy attacking midfielder. Defence is best for years, but we need goals and we have only just moved into a positive goal difference and thats not good enough for promotion.
Did anyone else the tweet from Moose yesterday from the Notts County Borehamwood game? He had Alan Smith in a photo, so what is Smithy doing at Notts County with Sheridan?
That striker that we need will have to be on a 6-month loan from the premiership, or an outstanding overlooked prospect from lower league. Wood cost £3m yet is performing as a £12m striker so great news, but we need 35 to 40 goals from a strike partnership to get a sniff of promotion. So its either a big investment for 6 months in wages or a big investment full stop
Only position I'd be looking at strengthening (other than agreeing deals with loan players) is attacking midfield. Hernandez is good but inconsistent and I don't think we have a good enough replacement within the squad when he isn't on form or injured. I agree with ristac regarding the striker situation. I wouldn't be trying to sign someone to take Wood's place (partly coz I don't think we'd be able to afford someone to) and I don't honk we'd be signing anyone better than Doukara/Roofe/Antonsson that would be happy to sit on the bench. We ain't Newcastle who can afford to have Gayle, Mitrovic and Murphy in their squad.
A good team takes time to develop, we have a coach and a young team which looks to have the potential to become a good team. If the improvement continues goals will come. Good morning all.
The main thing as others have said is securing the loans to perms. I don't know how many of them have a purchase price as part of the loan deal. Jansson becomes a perm after 20 games I think. The sacko buy out clause is a red herring. It's a stock clause in every sporting Lisbon contract to stop poaching. I'm sure a deal can be reached if the player wants to stay. In terms of other signings, it's cover for critical injuries really... We don't have a like for like for wood, so that would be a concern. That said monk has managed to shuffle the pack elsewhere to cover for injuries without us looking weaker.
Morning all. I agree with most or all of the above. Im smiling here thinking to myself, what a refreshing change to be reading about giving players new contracts, new cult figures and fending off any potential for the best English coach in the game. Good times no doubt
I watched Sacko once and he was awful, he was subbed early as he was that bad, in the same game Hernandez and Mowatt were also both pretty bad... Since then Sacko has looked far stronger but I don't know if that is more down the opposition being afraid of his pace. Hernandez does sound a bit hit and miss, if we could sell or offload a couple like Murphy and Mowatt a strong replacement or competition for Hernandez would be a good shout. I think time will run out before Grimes comes good, I have totally given up on him
wont be long m8ty cellino is fighting his corner in Sardinia trying to keep himself out of prison he will be back and upto old tricks soon do you know the old saying "if it isn't broken don't fix it" ? doesn't apply to him
