Dont be surprised if we lose Drameh Summerville, Gelhardt and Greenwood. Summerville wanted out in January and 2 clubs in Germany wanted him plus 4 clubs in Holland and Rangers too. He doesnt accept that he should be behind Harrison, James and Poveda. He is an arrogant young man who needs sorting out. He has the skill but not the experience. Greenwood left Sunderland because Arsenal wanted him. He knew he was behind players at Arsenal like Eddie etc so opted to leave and come to Leeds. If he gets offers from Prem clubs hes gone. Joffy could be peed off with his treatment. He accepted Bielsa and his advice, he even bulked up but Marsch has done him no favours. Was Joffy injured? Marsch said Joffy should be starting, he then said Joffy had a twinge in training so not fully fit. Next week he said Joffy had a false covid so been isolated for a couple of days so on the bench. Next week he said he got a dead leg so on ghe bench. Next week no excuse but Greenwood picked. Sorry for me Joffy has been mismanaged. A 19yo will play even if only had a days training, he’s now 20yo just and even though we have had no striker all season he has been behind Dan James. Drameh we all know the story, but whatever happens we cannot have a team built around kids. Yes some great kids but imagine having Drameh, Cresswell, Greenwood, Summerville, Gelhardt, Hjelde, Bate all starting against Milwall…..
I disagree, not in a million years will we sell close to a dozen players if we went down. We’re not going to sell 12 and bring 12 in, everyone feels we’re under strength anyway so make that 15 new signings. As long as we used maybe 4 of them at a time around the likes of Ayling, Cooper, Dallas, Harrison maybe Forshaw or Klich they’d be fine. We’d have change from the sales, pick up someone like John Swift in the middle who’d cost nothing and a couple of others, I’d put money on us as long as Marsch isn’t as bad as I fear I agree with the mismanagement part though My idea would be careful rotation, back 5 one week Drameh as a wing back, Cresswell or Hjelde between Ayling and Cooper. Joffy as many starts as possible unless he was failing big time, Bate would need a modern version of Klich next to him, like how Batty protected McCallister. 46 Games in the Championship, if they played 50% without cup games that’s over 20 games each
Experience - When we were in the Championship, we all used to get excited over the thought of signing a player with PL experience. I remember many of us saying that the drop in a division and they’ll shine, even a player linked to us with just 2-3 appearances and we’d get excited. If we go down what are we looking for, players with Championship experience or PL experience or promotion winning and handling a promotion chase experience? I feel we have the lot. Drameh Player if the season despite only playing half Cresswell 5 PL appearance Summerville 6 PL appearances Gelhardt 19 PL appearances Greenwood 6 PL appearances Hjelde 2 PL appearances Bate 3 PL appearances Ayling, Dallas, Cooper, Meslier, Bamford, Harrison, Klich, Struijk, Roberts, Costa, Poveda, Forshaw tons of experience in the championship and promotion. Yes some of those might go but we’ll bring in a few new faces. If we go down we’d be the number one choice for anyone in the Championship looking for a move.
As this is a bit of a rinse and repeat topic, it was very rarely that Roberts was competing with gelhardt. He was being used as an am for most of the last two seasons, while Joffy was stuck behind paddy… and then James. I think Roberts would do well in the championship. I’m sure most fans would prefer that to be in another team. Seriously, playing for a team where the crowd doesn’t groan when your number is put up, might do him a world of good… although of course the new club’s fans may groan too.
Roberts already played in the championship and wasn’t a roaring success there either. Maybe if we keep going to league 1 he might shine
Hey you may be right. He was only 20 when we last played in the champ. He clearly can’t hit a barn door with a banjo in front of goal, but in between the horror shows, and frankly he wasn’t alone in those, he did contribute as an AM. Consistency and end product lacking as it has been with everyone we’ve tried in that position… but personally I think if people saw him as a midfield link player they might be less on his back in terms of Roberts v joffy. Just my take and yes he stretched my patience at times this year too.
Couple of things after reading through the last couple of pages. @ristac. De Beek can't get in the Everton side. He's ****. He would have been **** for us too. He would have just added more depth to the **** we have in central midfield. He is better than Bate, that's about it. @Doc. I agree Gelhardt should have played more. He is the best we have available. However, he has had plenty of niggles this season himself. I don't understand you questioning the managers when they say he isn't quite match fit so will start on the bench. I'd say it's good management of a young player who has a niggle. These little niggles can turn in to long term issues and at his age he doesn't need that. He was unlucky against Arsenal when he came off after the red card. On the other youngsters. Greenwood won't make it at Leeds. He's a bottom half Championship player. Bate is too small and his skill set isn't good enough to cover for it. Hjelde is behind Cooper, Struijk, Ayling and Cresswell at the back. That's factoring in the sale of Llorente and Koch. He can go on loan. Summerville has potential to be special. He's better than James now. I believe he could be a star in the Championship if we play him. Gelhardt, Cresswell, Dramah will be the three who will end up playing PL football regularly in the future.
He's strong, good in the air, very physical, aggressive, does the basics very well, seems to be very aware of what's going on around him and most importantly is very vocal. He's a leader and an organiser. I don't think he is the fastest but as long as he organises those around him he can get away with it. He might not end up at a top 4 club but he should at least end up as a Tarkowski or a Lewis Dunk type defender. Solid as a rock. Don't look at him to step in to midfield and play a killer ball though. For his age, I don't see too many weaknesses. I think he could end up captaining us when Cooper leaves if we give him games. That's what I would do next season in the Championship. Get rid of Koch and Llorente and when Cooper inevitably gets injured, Cresswell just steps straight in. Ayling (at centre back) and Struijk need someone to organise alongside them and for me it's Cooper or Cresswell that have the ability to do that. One of them should always start. What are your concerns about him?
I was hoping that Cresswell and the lad we got from Celtic would be our denfensive duo in the future.
Could well be. My only concern with that is that centre halves are at their best after the age of 26 or 27 when they have alot of experience. Having two lads under 25 as the starting centre backs means they are learning on the job. Mistakes will be made. I agree though. They both look to have a good future in the game and if your good enough you are old enough.
I hope that we keep Dramah and play him at right back while Ayling is unavailable. That way it is up to Dramah to make that position his and make himself undroppabble. If he is ****, we can revert back to Ayling. If he is good, we have upgraded on Ayling. It's a good opportunity for the lad.
De Beek has been injured mate, Doc said the same a couple of weeks back but fact is he has been injured and he tore us apart when we played Everton
If we go down I’d like a back three with two wingbacks, drop Ayling to the right side of a back three to cover Drameh if caught forward
