Good Morning. It's Friday 20th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road No more signings Social media lit up like a Christmas tree yesterday afternoon when it was revealed that it is unlikely that Leeds will make any further signings this Summer. The announcement was made during Marcelo Bielsa's pre press conference prompting fans to wonder if the Whites would struggle this season? Bielsa was asked if they were any closer to bringing in new players, to which the veteran Manager replied . Where does this leave Leo Hjlede and Lewis O'Brien? please log in to view this image First team action for Gelhart? During yesterday's pre match press conference Marcelo Bieiesa was grilled on a number of issues relating to development players. One popular question that arose was when would Joe Gelhart be given an opportunity in the first team? The 19yo hitman has represented England at U16,17 and U18 level netting 19 times. He joined Leeds last Summer opting to join Mark Jackson's team over a string of Premiership and Championship clubs. He hasn't disappointed either. During his maiden season, he scored 17 times, prompting fans to wonder why he hasn't been given an opportunity in the first team! According to Bielsa: please log in to view this image Bielsa reveals why Huggins was told he can leave Many fans felt confused earlier in the Summer when the club announced that youngster Niall Huggins was deemed surplus to requirements. During yesterday's presser, the gaffer explains why! Huggins joined the Leeds academy at the tender age of eight, working his way up through the age groups, until finally reaching Mark Jackson's U23's and winning promotion to Premier League 2 last term! His talent, dedication and workmanship was duly rewarded last December when the club rewarded the him with a three year contact; yet seven months later Bielsa branded him surplus to requirements! Bielsa revealed: "The young players [Ryan] Edmondson, Niall [Huggins], [Robbie] Gotts and [Jordan] Stevens, these players who were part of the U23s team in previous seasons, they have a process of development and growth. When they get up to a peak during this growth and development like it has been the case for each of these players that have been named, they have to compete for a place in a group that is very small, the group that is chosen for the season". "In this case that you're referring to, Ayling, Dallas and Shackleton are all players who play in the position he [Huggins] plays in. If I see clearly at this moment in time that he doesn't have the chance to overcome these players at the club and I keep him at the club knowing this instead of favouring his development I'm hindering him". "For all these youngsters it would be ideal to compete in a group in the PL but if they're not here there comes a moment where they need to look for a competition higher than the 23s otherwise their progress will be stalled. The expectation for all of us is that they compete outside of the club for a year and that we find an evolution that invites us to bring them back into the fold". "Without exception, every player that has gone out on loan, I have seen them every week, first because it's my function and secondly because you grow a bond with these players. I don't know if I've spoke also about Alfie [McCalmont] and [Leif] Davis and if there's something that we desire, it's that it goes well for them and we're able to bring them back. They've made big efforts to try and be part of the group and we've accompanied them in this effort. If it doesn't go well for them, the work that we've done is worse". please log in to view this image
Maybe I'm being paranoid, but is there something brewing(and not the tea) at ER. Just got a gut feeling that this is the pain coming after a few years of Leeds Utd pleasure. Morning Elland and all who follows...
I'm quite happy with the squad as it is. It's not the 'Championship' team alot of people speak of anymore. Best case scenario - Last years signings (Rodrigo, Koch especially) stay injury free and give further options after missing chunks of last season. We finished strongly last year and we continue that form and push for Europe. Worst case scenario - we do a Sheff Utd. We have to raise funds and reduce wages as we drop in to the Championship. We would probably sell Meslier, Firpo, Llorente, Koch, Phillips, Rapha and Bamford for a combined fee well over 100 million. We do however have Gelhardt, Dramah, Greenwood, Summerville, Cresswell among a load of youngsters for the Championship and a war chest to bounce back over the next couple of seasons with the parachute payments. Either way the club would be in a far stronger position than we have been for the last 20 years or so. Most probable scenario - a few good games, a few bad games (like last week) but enough in the tank to get 40-50 points and consolidate yet again. Kids will get stronger as we invest in youth again. Stadium will be upgraded and we slowly move forward as a club. Everton will be a tough game for sure. They have spent a fortune on that squad. Hopefully home advantage can get us something out of it. The Burnley game is definitely winnable. They are ****e and they are the teams we have to create distance to early doors. We'll be fine. Just need to get some points on the board and we'll be off.
Morning all, Really not sure where all the worry and negativity is coming from in some fans. The club is following the exact plan they set out last year in spending big in that first transfer window and then not much this one. The players we signed last year will only be better for having a full season n under Bielsa, especially when played in their correct positions. We have assembled one of the best crop of youngsters in the league so the future looks bright. We have an owner who really is one of the best going, other than a few slip ups. He has a great team around him helping run the club. We have excellent investors who will be a major part in taking the club forward. We have one of, if not the, best club coaches in the world who we have only improved under year in year out. Yes there will be bad results like last week, there were last season, but they will not the norm. The teams that finished below us last year have not improved so much, in my opinion, that we shouldn't have a very good chance of finishing above them again and that means we have a good chance of moving up. Be positive guys, it makes your day go so much easier.
Just a feeling Gessa. No more signings(can we progress with what we have now), rumours on social media(believe them or don't) regarding player or players being unhappy and the general lack of performance in our football, I'm including pre season. Personally I'll be happy to survive this season. Just my honest and realistic opinion.
Rarely drink the stuff now Narcos and I rarely drink during the week, unless the Whites are playing....morning.
Good morning everyone Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez, a defeat at old Trafford albeit a heavy one with little activity in the transfer market, and it’s all doom & gloom with relegation on the cards, Don’t forget this was a long term project from Radz to get us back to the top. I think we were a little spoiled by our performances last season, and so a few of us and yes me included half expected a challenge for top six, but a reality check is it aint gonna happen, but relegation, that won’t happen either. A top half finish again would be excellent and keep our progress on course, with a reality check a top six finish is possibly a couple of seasons away, Please don’t forget we now have possibly one of the best co owners in Radz & one of the best (if not the best) coach in the world. So yes I was devastated like every other Leeds fan about what happened on Saturday, but believe you me plenty of other teams will receive a hiding at Old Trafford this season. But overall the future is bright under the current regime & you all like me should enjoy the roller coaster ride were on & not thinking how sick you feel after one steep drop.
We all get those feelings mate, just wondered what your reasonings were. Have to say I was certainly hoping for a couple of quality signings. Last season my hope was 3/4 quality additions, with a 10th-14th place finish, we surpassed that. With a follow up this year with 2/3 more quality additions to get us to a 8th-10th place finish,then to kick on again next season, not sure we will do that now, as I don't think we have added the right amount of quality, obviously by 31st August that could change. I'm not downhearted but certainly not as optimistic as last season, not yet anyway.
On a more serious note, I have been giving the Kalvin conundrum some thought. Bielsa's first training session involved the players collecting litter to ground them and understand what the working man has to do to earn money and pay to watch these guys play - he himself is incredibly humble. Bielsa makes teams better because he works the nads off everyone to get them insanely fit and drills patterns into them relentlessly, making the sum greater than the individual parts. Remember, in his first season at Leeds MB substituted Kalvin twice before Half Time when he wasn't quite on it but, in the process, MB undoubtedly has shaped our best midfield player for decades. Kalvin had a superb Euro's and earned the adulation of much of the country. Met KP a couple of times and he really is a lovely, humble lad but maybe, just maybe, MB thought he needed reminding this is the Leeds way, no room for Big Time Charlie's in a Bielsa team (as was shown to Pablo very publicly). Could be wrong of course (I am prolific) but, possibly this isn't all about being fully up to speed?
I still think we still have to take the transfer situation with a pinch of salt. when Bielsa said it's unlikely no more signings it doesn't mean we won't sign anyone. if someone comes available at our asking price a deal could still well be done. He's a very forward person and as of yesterday his words are probably correct to the timing of saying them. we have no deals on the table and the ones we have chased are overpriced so have been dropped. meaning at this moment it's unlikely. I agree with Emu our season will be like last season we will win some and lose some. We aren't the best team in this League but we also aren't the worst. once we get a few games under our belt the lads will be in perfect shape and the performances will come. The young lads will find their platform we can humm and harr about who's good and who's not but we don't spend all day with them and watch who's improving Technically, Mentally, Physically we can point out things of course but not into fine detail as the club can. some are improving hand over fist, some are slow learners and need time, some have simply just hit that age where they are not good enough to be in the 1st team and need to go out to help their own career. There are loads of attributes in making a player and we have no better man in deciding who is ready and who isn't. as well as who's going to make it and who isn't. I'm still 100% behind in everything we are doing. Tomorrow I will be singing my heart out back at Elland Road and hopefully helping sucking those 3 points into our pot.
That's one spin on it Hemase. I'm putting my own realistic opinion on it. I may be totally wrong(apologies if I am). This could be Bielsa's last season, then what. Last season we surprised a lot of teams the way we played, fast passing, pressing opponents, quick counter attacks etc etc. But this season teams might have figured us out. Anyway hopefully a good performance and result against Everton.
Glad you're positive Southern, but I'm just telling it as I see it. My thoughts are not a knee jerk reaction to the OT result. This is my 50th year supporting the whites, so I've seen a lot of **** and a lot of great things happen at this club over the years and I feel I'm entitled to have them.
Morning all Orta refuses to be ripped off. Prices should be down because clubs have lost money yet everyone trying to inflate prices. Bielsa has told Orta we do not overpay for players. Huddersfield demand £8m for a player worth maybe £6m and on top of that are demanding to have most of the money up front now rather than the usual agreed terms spread. That may not fly with Orta but the Hjelde deal is done. Lets ee who blinks first out of these clubs where we have made an offer and they have rejected it. We may see activity next week even though officially have said our business is done?
