So let's face it, we're not getting into the playoffs this season, let alone promoted. I felt pretty crushed after the Crystal Palace game and said as much on here, but after collecting my thoughts, I'm starting to feel better about our prospects. It seems the Leeds United webspace is full of negativity at this time with people calling for the removal of Grayson, Bates and half of the players who've, frankly, got us into a half decent position despite our bad run of form since January and given us a very entertaining season on the whole. Here's a few reasons next season might be one to look forward to: 1. Grayson learning from his mistakes - clearly he's stuck with his favourites and that's cost us a lot of points, especially now at the back end of the season and in pretty much every midweek night game we've played. However next season, I'd hope when he's assessing himself, this will be one of the mistakes he urges himself to rectify. 2. Kisnorbo back in training - back in full-time training as of today and if all goes well, he'll have a good pre-season, stay fit and play a key role next term. Peter Beagrie said in his Sky Sports blog today he rates Paddy as one of the best defenders in the division and says he could play at an even higher level. 3. Tom Lees - won promotion with Bury and he looks an exciting prospect in a position we haven't had a decent youngster in since Kilgallon. 4. Other centre backs - Bromby and O'Brien aren't bad, with a bit more competition and hopefully better coaching and midfield protection next season, whichever partnership plays will ship far less goals. 5. Attacking players - we've scored an immense amount of goals this season and at times played devastatingly good football. We could still keep hold of Snodgrass, Becchio and Gradel, we're under no obligation to sell them even if Bates might like to. 6. El Principito - Nunez has been running the show for Scunny and even if we sell one of our wingers or indeed Howson, Ramon might well be able to fit into the set-up seamlessly. He'll offer pace and skill and, you never know, he might even be better than Snodgrass and Gradel have been. 7. Signings - as I said in my first point, hopefully Simon will have learnt from his mistakes this season and one of those was clearly a dependence on loan signings. While we have a modest transfer budget, we appear to be paying quite generous wages for certain players and it wouldn't surprise me if we could attract a solid central midfielder and a dependable left defender who would improve the team for next season. 8. Supporting characters - even if we achieve nothing next season, it could still be a good chance to blood/gel a few less used players into our team. Lloyd Sam, Aidan White, Adam Clayton, Ross McCormack and Ben Parker have all shown they have some value; Billy Paynter and Davide Somma also still have the chance to establish themselves as key figures if they put the work in. The grass isn't always greener elsewhere, we could still do alright even if we sell but don't directly replace certain players. Anyone else feeling this strange sense that the future might not be as **** as everyone else seems to be whinging about?
----- ==== My head is a bit cloudy by Cabinert Sauvigon (I think that is how it's spelt) but I will attempt a short reply to each point. 1) SG has not seemed to learn from his mistakes since he arrived. Loves sticking with his bumboys (I am not saying this is THAT bad, just an example of how his loyalty can affect things) 2) Kisnorbo was supposed to be back for last xmas and I think started training again in Feb according the LUFC site but broke down, very good chance of this happening again, was very very injury prone at Leicester so I I wouldn't be surprised if he never comes back. 3) Tom Lees has no chance (IMO) 4) My 2nd fave point, the DF players individually are not THAT bad, it has to be something else 5) We will see, I am not Becchios biggest fan to be honest although it is hard to fault his goal scoring record for the kind of player he is. And I think we will lose one of either Max or Snod 6) Nunez could bang in 14 goals in 7 games in the next Copa America but SG would still have him on the bench (because "he doesn't look that sharp in training") 7) Absolutely **** all confidence in any further SG signings 8) This is my fave point, most of the names mentioned on there I would have played a lot more than SG has, specifically McCormack, I cannot think what he has done wrong for (cmon) Billy to keep him out of the side (different players or not Ross could still have been incorporated into the starting eleven in place of fatty) Again, slightly affected by wine, and I'm not SG's biggest fan at all, but sacking him (at this point) would be a mistake IMO
What I don't understand is why so many of your fans want Grayson out. This has been a cry from some from the start of the season. Leeds have had a great season and your manager will, or should learn. Our first season back found us seven points adrift at Christmas and there was no great cry for the head of our coach. There has been no cry for SOD to go this campaign though injuries have played their part and I think our fans appriciate this. Enjoy what you have accomplished and don't expect too much next season as this league is very tough. Anyway well done.
I agree, I can only assume it's because as Leeds fans, we're used to the very best. With the size of our club comes a great expectation, and in all fairness, our form under Grayson since January has been abysmal. For me it's about being cool-headed and looking at the bigger picture.
The bigger picture is how it should be looked at. In the world today, in all aspects of life there is too much short terminism.
Too true Dave - it is a shame clubs cant take a longer picture - look at Man U - so close to sacking Ferguson in th early 90s - he was saved by one cup win - and look how things turned out after that
It will be the same with this site, take time to build up. I do wonder though with the end of the season how much activity there will be between May and August. Still it does seem to be a good site given its short history.
Thought I'd go back over this and do a sort of early season review of whether things do look promising on these fronts. Given youth and fringe players a decent chance in the games so far. Still yet to be established whether he'll end up making the same weeknight mistake of fielding weary Saturday players. But I do think he's learning from his mistakes. Not a fan of the 4-4-2, but the tweak was definitely worthwhile at Upton Park and it seems his self-assessment has been fairly accurate if things continue like this for the rest of the season. He's back but isn't the same Paddy we remember. Yet. Needs more fitness and confidence, but I think he'll get there in the end. A crucial player who needs better backup to make sure we do have a leader in defence at all times. Been 'blooded' and made a relatively successful entrance into United first team life. Long may it continue. Bromby's been injured and O'Brien's been a liability every game he's played. I called this one wrong (although I do maintain Bromby's a reliable reserve). We've kept the attacking players and even despite Becchio and Somma's injuries, the goals keep a-flowing. Good stuff. He's been godly. This gets debated enough ('Bates isn't giving him money' vs 'Grayson makes **** signings'), so I'll leave that bit. Brown hasn't looked like the player we want; too old and as a consequence not energetic enough. We need a presser, not a leg-breaker. Loan window hasn't been used a lot yet and won't be until September so we'll have to see whether we develop an unhealthy dependency on that again. Hope not. This has been a success so far. Sam's done well. White's done well. Clayton's done well. McCormack's done OK. I still think we need more strength in depth, but these supporting characters have forced their way in rather well, especially Adam Clayton. I'll come back to you on that one, fella.
