After just one win we do sound like we are perhaps been too optimistic. We are a top 10 team going in the right direction. We would have all settled for that 12 months ago (even Eire and ristac). So let's not get carried away. We still need investment. We still need two wingers and we need a decent cb with experience. Another striker wouldn't go a miss either. Above all we still have to move on all the Warnock donkeys.
No to be honest I wouldn't settle for that, I don't see why we should settle for being 10th again, yes the right direction that we got rid of Bates but it doesn't go much further than that. We would all think GFH were poor owners if we had anything else other than Bates to compare them to. This win just glosses over how poor a squad we have, Smith will get an extended run and there will be a few believing that he is an amazing player and a goal machine - HE ISN'T either of those... However I TOTALLY agree with the rest of your comments...
Ristac, I don't think I'd describe our squad as poor. The next few matches will show whether or not BMD has finally got the formation right and the right people in the right slots. He will also be helped in Byram, Austin, and Mowatt remain injury free. But Sunday just showed what we could do when the formation is right and people are allowed to express themselves. Just remember, Diouf couldn't play and both Varney and Poleon were on the bench. Both are more than capable of doing a job for us. So in short, things are coming together, albeit somewhat slower than we would like.
To be honest Boggers, the squad is still poor. The first team is looking a lot better, for me we don't have a goalkeeper good enough at this stage but our defence is very good especially when the midfield actually hold onto the ball. Smith played well but it'll take more than one good game for me to think he is the complete answer to our problems, definitely good him showing some form and having him as an option but for me we still have McCormack and another upfront. Varney isn't good enough, nothing I have seen of Hunt says he is good enough and I don't think Poleon is there yet. People overrate Diouf imo.
Cant do any harm. Hardly cost us a fortune over three months but I just cant see why Forest would loan him to us. Odd decision
Guys even more worrying is that BMD has stated he doesn't do loan deals, unless its with a view to sign at the end. This means we are signing him in January as soon as the window opens ffs. He's not good enough for Billy Davies and why should that ****er let a big competitor of theirs have one of his players, unless he knows his best days are behind him? Do we let the manager run the playing staff as we trust him, or do we upset the camp by complaining about it. Lets hope it pays off and we all applaud BMD for being a shrewd judge, but if he's a noob and a waste of wages .... we'll tell him.
Well I have just watched the first half (had to record it) and I am trying to be as positive and open minded as possible... I am scratching my head asking are we that good to be winning 3-0 or are Birmingham that poor, no doubt about it, their defence is like ours of two seasons back. Are we just slightly fortunate or is this the formation that will turn our season around. McCormack and Byram followed by Warnock the stars of the first half, I still don't see why several are saying Smith had a good game on his first half showing. I believe we will finish around 10th to 12th so for me that shows we have a poor squad. Murphy isn't worth the million we paid, not on his showings so far, Varney, Hunt, Smith, Norris, Tonge, Pugh, Brown and Green are still not good enough in my opinion, Byram should be in defence and Mowatt is an up and coming talent. We are two wide creative players short and an out and out goal scorer minimum. Now for the second half
If he does well we have the option to sign him in January. If he doesn't do well then surely we also have the option to send him back.
Bet he goes back Either because he is useless (my money on this one) or he does very well and Forest up his asking price (which we can't afford) or hold on to him.
What?! Paddy Kenny has been fantastic this season and his save against the bullet shot against Birmingham was great. Can't think of a single goal directly attributable to him this season. You sure Warnock bias aren't clouding your judgement off him? As for the state of the squad I think we're a good championship side which is miles off what we was last season but all it will take is one or two quality players and imho we would defiantly be competitors for promotion GK-Paddy Kenny- Well already spoke of him RB/RWB-Sam Byram-Has potential to be a top Premier League full back CB-Jason Peace- Been solid all season, starting to see the Jason Peace we was promised when he signed CB-Tom Lees-Fairly solid prone to the odd lapse but the form off his centre back partners have kept him in check imo CB-Scott Wooton- Seems a solid young Championship defender and still has many years to perfect his trade LB/LWB-Stephen Warnock-Best left back for a long long time, good delivery, very solid at back, people need to remember when we had Aidy White at LB CM-Ruddy Austin- Powerful, strong, fast, fantastic long shot, nothing turns me on to see him run the entire pitch and take out an attacker CM-Luke Murphy- Young, good on the ball, great at stringing together short quick passing movements, was wanted by Premier League sides which says alot CM-Alex Mowatt-Very young, very confident on the ball and easily one of the more talented midfielders i've seen for Leeds in the last few years, if he keeps this up I think he'll play for England one day CF-Ross McCormack-Great dribbling, clinical, good shot on him top championship player and easily the most talented man at Leeds this season CF-Matt Smith- Dosen't even have to jump to win every header, good shot, very clinical against BCFC could easily have had a hatrick and has scored a few this season with limited chances. Now none of these are going to be great every game of the season but it's time to start looking at the glass half full instead of writing off players because of one or two bad performances.
I used to be a big fan of Kenny but now I am not so sure, Lee's did outstanding to clear one off the line that dipped over Kenny's head, they then hit the post shortly afterwards from a free kick that had Kenny beat. Had those two gone in at 3-2 how shaky would we have looked, I think another was cleared off the line just before we got the 4th. As for the save Kenny made even the TV pundit said it was a save for the TV cameras, he is certainly one of the better keepers but I wouldn't mind seeing him replaced before next season.
Murphy starting to settle because Austin has found his fitness ... Mowatt just getting better each game ... Murphy made some delightful passes, showed composure and a nice touch, broke up attacks as well ... Smith worked hard and deserved his goals ... for me McCormack was very wasteful and a bit casual at times, but did good work outside the box ... Pearce and Wootton tackled like demons, Lees superb ... Warnock and Byram solid and dependable as always ... Kenny was, well, Kenny
Save for the cameras? Was Smith's goals for the cameras aswell? Kenny makes saves like that most games unfortunately there not all on tv.
Hes on 15k a week cant get in the team so they have to offload him just as we will try and offload Hunt
Kenny isn't that good, that wasn't even that good a save that he made, the shot was just slightly off centre of the goal, any of our previous keepers that I can think of would've made that save so it wasn't that fantastic. As I have said probably a hundred times, Kenny makes easy saves look good because of his lack of height, other keepers would make the saves more easily and more effectively. Kenny's positioning has always worried me, the amount of times he could've taken all pressure off the defence against Birmingham but instead stayed stuck to his line and he does it every single game. He doesn't command his area, there is never a cross that comes into our area where I am confident Kenny will come out and claim it but really that is what you should be looking for in a goalkeeper at the complete minimum. His distribution is poor, I really don't understand how people think he is good enough for a promotion chasing team. There have been many goals that have been his fault this season, its too easy to blame the defenders but he should come off his line more to claim the ball
Apart from not commanding his area enough Kenny has also been at fault for at least a couple of goals that I can think of, where he's parried the ball into the path of a striker, instead of diverting it away from goal or, better still, holding onto it.
