Personally, I think the Gradel story is a smokescreen. There is no chance we're going to compete for the transfer of a player on 20k a week and would cost decent money to buy. The one common denominator between the players we've been linked with in January, is we haven't been able to get any of the deals over the line. We're no longer an attractive proposition. Is it wages, transfer fees, manager, style of football? I suspect a combination of the lot. Of course if gfh were to land a signing like Max, it would show real intent. Won't happen and the gfh apologists will say Max wasn't that great anyway, a bad influence, a waste of our transfer kitty which we're better off holding onto until 2020 when players will be cheaper. I can't even remember the last time we beat off the interest of another club for a decent signing that cost money.
Seems as though there's harmony among the Celts today. Think our biggest problem is the style of footy we're playing. What Gradelsque footballer wants to come to a club that all too often hoofs the ball up the field, rather than passes it through the midfield?
Warnocks not that stupid. If we have a decent winger we will use the wings enabling the game to be stretched & get our centre mids pushing foward & releasing pressure of our backline as well. We saw this when Thomas was in our team, we played the best football in that little period under warnock than we have all season I dont believe for one second we are in for Maxi unless he sulks his way out of his contract & ignores the other offers that will flood in for him to come 'home!'
Doc did you watch the Birmingham game? he was dog **** truly awful player. He's only 24 1 for the future haha
Fair point Doc. Why have we got Hall? Even as a work in progress, he should be playing each week just to provide us with some width. I'd play him against Spurs just for the experience.
Warnock said he was one for the future and seems to like 4 centre midfielders! A player like Thomas or Gradel would surely force Warnocks hand though and brighten up the football played at ER, which in turn will hopefully put bums on seats so to speak!
Tell you why we bought him. We have a clueless manager when it comes to signings, tactics and motivation. A bunch of directors who have admitted knowing nothing about running a football club and being coached by bates and Harvey. Not to mention for the umpteenth time, they have no money. Is it any wonder we "bought" him. What was it? 100k or something
Boggers I have a couple of problems with this signing, and some we've done in the past. 1) he has a chequered past, ok we can forgive like we did with EHD, but he has to be worth the chance. 2) We don't have time or money for having the luxury of buying for the future. The guy's 24 years old and if he's not good enough now he never will be. How much is he going to learn in the development squad. So looks to me like he's bought a dud who isn't going to make it. If that's the case, we've wasted the transfer money and he's costing wages which could have been used in this window for someone who would be a regular. Unless Warnock has a plan and is waiting for a certain type of player who will blend in well with Hall, and allow us to use some different tactics and strategy. Oh wait a minute that would make Warnock out to be a top manager ....
If we're going to sign Gradel, we need to sign another winger. It's clear we play best when we have width - I disagree about Ryan Hall, I think he's just a bit inconsistent at the moment, he was a real inspiration against Huddersfield. Granted he came off the bench, but he got a lot of luck where Thomas wasn't. The only issue I can have with bringing in just one winger is it would feel like he's not really that bothered about using width and is only doing it to give himself a half assed option. What if that winger gets injured? He's clearly not particularly bothered about playing Ryan Hall so he's no good as a back up. What if we play a team that's weak at both fullback positions? It would help to have two proper wingers to really give them a hard time. I'm just not convinced that one winger is enough. We really need two.
Not necessarily. If Gradel has a buyback clause in his contract, he'll come back to Leeds. If he doesn't then he won't. Simple as that.
Stick to my conclusion a typical BATES ploy to get the fans excited much chance of Gradel coming back as BaTES opening his wallet
Sad thing is, I dont care anymore. Not bothered with Becchio going either. We're finished, just a pale shadow of what we once were as a club
About the same time last year when we got Delph to replace the outgoing Howson - Good job Bates isn't in charge, I guess because this is GFH it is okay
Farce evidence collation begins ... Andrew Haigh ‏@AndrewHaigh Just had an email from the CEO of St Etienne confirming they have not received any offer from Leeds United for @maxigr04del. #lufc
