...............................KICK OFF : SATURDAY 4TH AUGUST AT 3.00pm Welcome to the Pre season match day thread of Preston v Leeds. United will be without Roldolph Austin, who is waiting for his entry visa to be granted, although his work permit has now arrived. Colin welcomes back Kenny and Becchio back to the squad after recoving from slight knocks. This game will be an interesting one. Preston, although league one, are no mugs, I reckon the side Colin will put out will be a strong one....
Shame Peltier hasn't joined in time to make the squad, it would have been the first mini test of how well we can defend with our new look defence. I would imagine most of the first choice team will get at least 70 minutes rather than 45 apart from Becchio who might be eased back in. I think if we are to do well next season we need to keep a clean sheet here and above all look like a team who are capable of retaining the ball and stringing a few passes together. I would settle for 2-0 and dominate possession...
If we cannot retain possession against a league one team Josh it doesn't bode well for the forthcoming season.
It has to be hump it up and hope for the best, there is not a single player in the midfield that can work as a play maker and we have no quality behind McCormack. It will be how we will play all season (unless quality is brought in) and will annoy most Leeds fans before Christmas.
This is a brand new team that needs time to mould together. Anyone who expects them to gel and be producing fluid football before October is hoping for a miracle (but they do sometimes happen) but is also expecting too much. Wind it back in guys, there really is no need for such high expectations yet. And we don't even have Austin yet - who will be fit enough already, probably fitter than the rest - nor our marquee signings (which could be loanees). How about back the manager and the players and judge them come Christmas, while discussing the pros and cons of the skills of individuals or how the boss could get them to improve in terms of a team? Of course, if we lose 7-1 at home to Wolves first game of season, we should nick their Norwegian manager and do a Norwich. They love Leeds in Norway!
Of course we should all support the team and will do so, but Warnock has built his team and he WILL suffer the consequences from the fans when/if it all goes wrong.
I have faith that they will look okay today, not quite the same as 11 new faces thrown together, Brown, Varney, Pearce and Norris all have good experience with each other, apart from Green and Drury the rest of the outfield are last seasons Leeds team. Still going to say 2-0 to Utd and 61% possession
Kisnorbo and Pearce starting in defence EDIT - He has got to take a look at him I guess Farsley Lees RB again, if Peltier comes in I guess it will be Pearce and Lees in the middle. Looks like White at LB - Green, Norris, Brown, Varney in the midfield looks VERY unbalanced, not an ounce of flair and no real natural wide player Bench: Pugh, Rogers, L Turner, Ashdown, Byram, Thompson, Poleon, Gray, Drury, N Turner - Makes you realise what a weak squad we have. Okay we have Somma injured and hopefully Peltier and Austin to come in but depth wise we have very little. Is Cranie injured or been sent packing does anyone know?
What's your thoughts on the line-up considering we have Austin and Peltier to come in Bucks? Wish we would sign just one more quality wide player.
