My mate has just called me from Toddington Road service station - He bumped into Alan Smith. He said he wanted to hate him (Smith) but said he is a really nice bloke. He asked Smith if he still keeps an eye out for Leeds results etc and he said he is very well in with what is happening and still supports the club, his dad is a season ticket holder. According to Smith GFH haven't any money are are already actively seeking a buyer for us. Also said he dislikes Warnocks style of play and if we get promoted under Warnock it will be a miracle. No idea how Smith would know or why he would make those comments about GFH - Take it as you wish
GFH don’t even have a pot to piss in I said that even before they bought us, but some fans was just hell-bent on that they had lots of money to throw at the club.
As has been said on numerous occasions, the January TW is a poor time to buy. The quality available isn't great & prices are over-inflated. Let's take a more informed view after the main TW in the summer.
Only my own personal opinion - It is as clear as clear to me that Becchio was forced into his request, it was the club that went public, Warnock laid blame openly about Becchio and the initial seeds were planted by Mick Jones. Warnock was told reduce the wage bill raise some funds and you can have them for Tonge, Hall, Warnock and another striker - which is exactly what happened. My point is if January is a bad time okay I accept that - So why not bring the players in that we did and KEEP Becchio? Answer because GFH have no money to invest. They are in charge of our club to make changes and make a profit before selling us on. Now the facts - GFH HAVE to operate within Sharia'h compliance, I have since realised this was probably why DD took so long as non-Sharia compliant income would have to account for less than 5% of total income the club generates. GFH must ALWAYS do what is best for investors, NEVER Leeds Utd.
Fair points Ristac. I doubt Sharia law as it relates to business in this case has any bearing on GFH's activity. For one thing, the sooner we get in the PL, the quicker GFH & the club will make money. I doubt Warnock was told to reduce the wage bill, it was just the obvious action that was going to happen once Warnock came in & decided that a whole raft players were surplus to requirements. On Becchio, Warnock has said publicly that his plan was to bring in a striker to play alongside Becchio. We didn't have to sell, as Becchio was under contract until the end of next season. That Norwich offered cash plus Morison seemed to be too good a deal to turn down. As I said, we were a tad unlucky yesterday. But we did play some better stuff. So just maybe with Morison possibly being available for the next match, we could return to winning ways. Still only 6pts off playoffs. So not all bad
I was pleased we played better, I was happy with the stats and possession which we dominated, however it was all with what we already had. I understand the reason for keeping virtually the same team that beat Spurs however wouldn't it have been nice to have purchased a player that you simply could not leave off the team sheet. As for the Sharia law, it will strangle us, yes promotion to the PL is worth a lot, however investing heavily to achieve it is a gamble, something GFH cannot and will not do. They will never put more into the team than the club now makes, if we don't make enough it will be sell players just as it was under Bates. To bring in new players Warnock would have been told to trim the wage bill, something that I agree with but if he could not have got those players off the wages when he did we wouldn't have seen any new faces. On another note I was gob smacked to read Pugh is on £10k a week IF GFH are the owners in 2 years time I will be amazed, if we gain promotion under them and Warnock I will be even more amazed than amazed can be
I won't argue with any of those comments from Smith. Really hope GFH are looking for a buyer. The takeover has been a waste of time. We were a mid table outfit for past couple of years and we haven't or won't improve under them. Interesting warnock bad mouthing by ram now obviously getting ready to force him out in summer as well
Well that is a matter of debate if they have actually bought us. Bates is still at the club isn’t he?
Hi, cliche but, long time reader, first time poster. I think we just all HOPED they had money to spend, nothing wrong with that. Doesn't look that way though now does it! It's been a long road for us suffering fans but at least we're stable in the Championship now and a with a few decent players and we can mount a challenge next year. Not sure about Warnock yet, I'l like to see Di Canio come in. Him and Leeds are a perfect fit in my opinion.
I think the problems GFH have had, are all down to the original buyer who GFH brought in. They saw the club as a massive investment opportunity and Bates pissed them off because he wouldn't sign that clause in the agreement about 'come-backs' in the future. GFH still knew the club had massive potential so went alone with the deal, and believe they are still seeking investment. If they manage to pull it off, we will see a difference, but until that day comes, we will see more of the same through lack of cash. GFH are just holding the ship steady at the minute and don't have the capital to do what they want to do.
You may well be correct and I hope you are for all our sakes. One worry I'd have though, was the blatant lie from Bates at time of takeover stating gfh were being backed by a very wealthy individual. Hasn't been much evidence yet to support his story
Bloody hell, I know its Monday but I wish some of you lot would look on the bright side. We’re a better team than we were at the start of the season. Our defence is looking solid and we’ve just brought in a quality left-back. We’ve signed Tongue, who has looked very good, plus Barkley (admittedly on loan) and swapped one decent Championship striker for another. As for the owners, well be careful what you wish for – just look at what’s happening at Forest.
There's so much doom and gloom on here its untrue. We appear to be very slowly getting better and a little more consistant every week. Spending big money (whether we have it or not, and no one on here actually knows) was never going to be on the cards for the Jan transfer window.
I suppose it's a matter of differing opinions and expectations. I suspect some of the more positive contributors may be of the younger variety and have grown up watching, for the most part poor Leeds teams. Their expectations may not be as high as others. I'm one of the auld lads who's been privileged to have watched three great teams, The Dons, Wilko's and O'Learys. I just find it difficult having seen nearly ten years of this rubbish to get all positive and excited about a home defeat against a team we never seem to beat. However fingers and toes are crossed at the moment in the hope of great things during the summer. Let's just say, the Jury is out
