Avoiding the negatives (which I agree, have been done over and over by myself included) I am happier than previous seasons, as long as we do not get relegated and we see an improvement in the squad and finances then it has to be a step forward. If we finish 7th or 17th it matters not, you won't remember the position a year on, you just remember another year in the division. I am more than happy with the defenders brought in, Sloth will make a difference to the midfield and squad in general I am sure of that and I think this year will just have to be one we right off, a learning curve for Cellino and a time where the building blocks for next season are laid down. Sloth and Adryan in, purchase the ground back and then avoid relegation (which I believe we will do comfortably if we get the two targets and replace Hockaday) and it is job done for this season
Until the sending off on Saturday we were in the game and had more of the ball against Watford. So imo there were signs that we are getting better but the sending off killed us. The sooner we get these midfielders in to replace Tong Murphy & Austin the better. Sloth sounds like he has talent but will need to hit the ground running if the crowd are not to jump on the teams back. Adryan needs to be done this week and another midfielder needs bringing in, I trust Cellino to get them in. On Hock I have always said he should be judged when the transfer window shuts and he has the players to work with instead of their being 3 new players turn up each week and having to settle them all in together. I would give him 10 games after Sep 1st, then judge how he is doing. Cellino will now already be looking at his replacement so should he need to sack Hock he will and we will have a new coach quickly.
We cashed in on every midfielder of note over the years, and the problems get worse each season. Clayton is a classic case as plenty of us moaned about him at times, but turns out to be the 4th best midfielder in the division last season in a shyte team. When will we see our wood get moved on because it's now becoming a longer list if Austin and Murphy and Tonge get added, but those three continue to be shyte as per the stats.
Morning all ... nobody but nobody can defend Hock ... he was complaining about lack of quality, so quality players were signed ... now he's complaining about lack of Championship experience, yet the next two players on the radar have never played in this country ... the guy is a fool, and he simply is way out of his depth ... when Watford brought in ten young prospects and fringe players on loan from Granada and Udinese (no Championship experience at all, none of them), they finshed in the playoffs, so bang goes this fcuking "no experience" excuse ... he has lost part of the dressing room for sure, and is doing his best to lose the rest ... not once has he said he got it wrong, not once has he protected his players ... after Berardi got red he couldn't wait to say the player deserves a three match ban ... now, if an Arsenal player stabbed someone on the pitch, Wenger would defend his player to the hilt (I know, couldn't help myself) and say something like, "yes, it may have looked bad, but Jack is such a nice boy, this is completely out of character for him and I hope the FA take that into account" ... nope, Hock is a fool, he's been dissing his players and eventually they will believe they're not good enough ... huge mistake by Cellino to appoint him, even bigger mistake to keep him
Excellent post Ristac. I might remind you of this once or twice during the season. Hope you won't mind
Not in the slightest, I know you think I am too negative but I really do take my Leeds hat off when posting my thoughts and try to say it as I see it. If we do not bring anyone else in this week I will be genuinely worried, Saturdays result will hopefully make Cellino bite his tongue more than he might have when negotiating terms with Sloth today or tomorrow. I know Hockaday is not the man for the job, I fear the next guy might not be either but one step at a time and like I said it might take Cellino a season to realise that he needs to re-evaluate how he runs things and that we probably need a more powerful coach. Assuming we get Sloth and Adryan in and avoid relegation then this season will be a learning curve for all the new players, they will hopefully learn some English skills and get to grips with the Championship. Looking forward to discussions next season wouldn't it be good if we all agree that Berardi, Bellusci, Cooper, Adryan, Sloth, Doukoura and Sharp are doing a fine job and we just need 2-3 new players
Still think you're sugar-coating it, Billy. Speak out - say what you really mean! I actually agree 100%. Every week he goes on the telly and tells his players that they're not good enough. Most of them got us to 5th place last December, so I don't think they can be that bad - and he still picks them over some of his new signings! Absolute buffoon. How can we 'play well' when we only have 4 shots, ll of them off-target? How can the defeat be Bellusci's fault when in the preceding 65 mins, we failed to translate our dominant possession into shots on goal? The man id a deluded fool and does not deserve a stay of execution. Put him in charge of Brazil & they'll plummet down the FIFA rankings. Love to see him blaming the players for that!
To be fair to last season's midfield, their stats might have been better if they hadn't spent so much time watching the ball soaring over the top of them.
Hmmm... These same players who got us to 5th at one point last season. Playing hoof ball, getting outplayed every week, relying on McCormack to nick a goal against the run of play. We created jack last season even when we were nicking results, we had less possession, less shots in almost every game. This isn't revisionist, that 5th place was a false position based on a run of undeserved results against most of the worst teams in the division. Plenty myself included were saying this at the time. Anybody really think that team was ever good enough for promotion? McDermott was clueless. Hock might be too and he may have made a few puzzling decisions, but he didn't sign two wingers and play them in the same team with 2 wingbacks! People are angry and frustrated but some rose tinting and short memories New manager playing a new system dictated by his boss. It requires mobile creative midfielders and we don't have them. My criticism of the hock, is he should have made us harder to break down. It's easier to make yourselves hard up beat than it is to play good football... but the level of criticism is ott in my view.
Sorry Jock, but this time we disagree He picks the old guard because they are better than the new If you are looking at the stats you will be shocked at Bianchi & Sloth's - really terrible for the divisions they are in Bianchi (Attacking midfielder) Played 231 Goals 19 (A goal every 12.51 games) Assisits 11 (An assist every 21 games) Sloth Attacking Midfielder Played 133 Goals 9 (A goal every 14.77 games) Assisits 16 (An assist every 8.31 games) Benedicic - Has no stats as he has not played at professional level NB - Murphy averages 1 goal and 1 assist every 8 games and Austin (defensive midfielder) average a goal every 8 games too
Are you serious? We had less shots? Did you look at the Watford stats? Zero on target out of 4 attempts. Are you seriously saying this is worse than last season? Don't be fooled by the 60% of possession either - 95% is passing across the park by defence & midfield alike, with zero chances, zero assists & zero goals. I didn't like it one bit last season, but it was Heaven compared to this crap. Then again, that nice coach of ours wants them to play that way & is pleased with them, so perhaps I'm out of order. What do I know about football if I can't agree with our coach?
Apples & oranges. I'll assess them in this league to make reasonable comparisons. There are all sorts of factors that obfuscate.
