Hi all, Just a short note to all the Leeds fans out there, we will reach the promise land of the premier league next season. We were simply not good enough this season. In reality we are 7 or 8 decent players short of surviing in the PL anyway. I would rather start by getting 3 or 4 really good players this season and next season than having to go out and buy 7 or 8 average players this season anyway. Look how long it has taken QPR with all their millions to build a winning team. Next season is a new one so let's get behind the team and give it socks!
I like the positivity, good first post! For me, our preseason objectives have to be these: - Keep Snodgrass, Gradel and Becchio - Buy two 25-30 year old midfielders who can replace Kilkenny and Johnson - if a fee is needed, spend it! - Get Kisnorbo and Paynter fully fit - Buy two new defenders who can play across the defence, but who can play CB and LB all season - See if Clayton's good enough for backup, if not, replace; same with Bromby and Bruce - Sell and replace Schmeichel - Get a new backroom staff who can train defenders and goalkeepers properly I think all of that's realistic apart from the transfer fees being spent and the backroom staff being replaced. Sadly I think those two would be the most effective guarantors of a top six finish next season. But I won't let pessimism drag me down. Not yet anyway!
A bit too positive, hmmm, we need some balance here. I think the following will happen. - Lose both Snod and Max to bottom end Premier League teams and replace them both with Chris Taylor for 500k - Get Dez back from QPR to give us some "bite" in Midfield - Paddy breaks down in pre season training and is out until 2023 - Grayson gives a vote of confidence to Naylor and O'Brien as first choice CB's for the new season and explains that as Naylor is from Leeds he will give 110% - We swap Schmeichel for Casper with Brighton In all honestly I just want a bit of money spent on a quality AMC and a CB, and a couple of other positions strengthened by other means and I will be well happy. If the last 6 months are anything to go by though I think we may struggle.
I would prefer to see only three or four close season signings provided theyre good enough week in week out to start. Not interested in seeing ten or eleven new players barely good enough to make subs bench like we got last season. I think we may hold on to our quality players for one more season but if we fail to get promotion this time some or all of them may be off
Two Danish keepers of the same name playing for Leeds. Both of them, upon arrival look strong with coming out to collect the ball, with kicking, with communication and with their reflexes. All of these things seem to deteriorate throughout their Leeds career until Ankergren is shipped off and Schmeichel is left on the brink. I guess the reason we moved Ankergren on was his lack of a good all-round game; all he seemed to be able to do right was shot-stopping. Kasper's career looks to be going the same way. To me, the whole thing suggests poor goalkeeping coaching. I think we've got a poor backroom staff all round as I've said a few times on here, how can the (C/K)aspers so suddenly just turn to ****? It's not like Schmeichel's a small time player who's not used to playing in front of crowds. Beasley out! Agree with Eire by the way, I think five players would easily be enough, it's just about choosing the best ones. Quality over quantity, the question is whether Grayson is capable of it after his notorious 'loan everyone possible and see who comes good' approach. I have faith that next season after a review, he'll learn from his mistakes and keep us progressing.
To be fair, if he didn't cosy up to Ken, he'd be gone quicker than you could say 'bearded old crook'. We need some stability and despite Bates, we've made big leaps under Grayson. Next season's a big one, the season after will be absolutely decisive in my eyes. If Grayson and Bates are still around then, heads will have to roll. But till then, I think we should be looking to build a team capable of staying in the Premiership (or if not, being promoted straight back again) in the same way Wolves, West Ham and Birmingham (the Midlands Yoyos) have done. We will reach the promised land, but I think Grayson's doing an excellent job when you consider the constraints of Bates. He's made some notable errors like the transfer activity and lack of squad rotation but as I've said, I remain optimistic that he'll learn from them and take us up.
I think it's going to be more of the same with a slight improvement. Rummaging around the freebie market, not addressing the defence, playing poor quality midfielders, panicking and getting in loanees by the bucketload, most of who will be unfit, and finally finishing 5th or 6th but losing in the playoffs and declaring it was a very good season. Even if we do get promoted, and there's no evidence to suggest either Grayson or Bates are capable of building a team to do it, what do you think Bates is going to do with his pile of Sky TV cash? Invest it the team to give them a chance of staying up or put it all in his Monte Carlo bank account and let Grayson start rummaging for PL castoffs?
