Good Morning. It's Monday 24th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds final signing this Summer is..... Phil Hay took to social media yesterday to announce that Leeds will dip their hands in their pockets for a final time this Summer. Throughout the Summer the Whites have been strongly linked to the likes of Lang, Kent, Cunha, Nandez, Galan, De Paul, Traore, James, Damsgaard and Cornet to name but a few; but their most likely purchase has always been a lot closer to home! 22yo Lewis O'Brien has been on the Argentine's shopping list for a while. The talented Huddersfield Midfielder has attracted the attention of many top tier clubs including Crystal Palace; but O'Brien set his heart on a move to Elland Road. Unfortunately Leeds aren't going to sign O'Brien either (sorry to tease you)! Their final buy of the 2021 Summer transfer window is.....Leo Hjelde! Dubbed the next 'Virgil van Dijk', the 17yo has a lot to live up to. He can play at left back or central defence and at 6' 2in and still growing you'd have to assume his aerial presence will be good! The ex Chief football writher for the YEP wrote: Whilst it's disappointing that Leeds have not strengthened their first team, you'd imagine that they may add to to their squad with a few loanees! please log in to view this image Youngers need a chance to prove themselves! Leeds have invested heavily in the past few years not just in their squad, but their infrastructure. Their hard work off the pitch earnt Mark Jackson and his team Category one status allowing them to compete against the best academies in the country. Their arrival in Premier League 1 this season signals success for many years to come, but only if the young talent can be nurtured in the right way! We all know Bielsa's coaching ability is legendary, but his tactics on the pitch can be predictable. His substitutions too rarely surprise the Elland Road faithful! We have seen the likes of Gelhart, Summerville, Greenwood and Drameh light up social media with their excellence but unless they are given a chance on the biggest stage, will they be able to show their full potential. Many of them, will be on show tonight when Leeds host Crewe in the second round of the league Cup, but is this enough? Dutch top flight outfit Cambuur are keen to take Cody Drameh on loan until the end of the season. Whilst he will be guaranteed first team game time, it will leave a big hole at right back! please log in to view this image Poveda on the move Winger Ian Poveda has completed a season long loan move to Ewood Park. The former Citeh academy player has returned to Lancashire to assist Tony Mowbray and his squad in the quest for Championship success this term. Blackburn were keen to secure the 21yo services on a permanent basis, but Victor Orta has big plans for the winger! Orta said: please log in to view this image
I want to see the kids given more first team minutes as much as anyone else. I believe this is our most talented bunch for quite some time but let's not forget the last few cup matches when these kids were thrown in and couldn't match the levels of our lower league opponents. They have been embarrassed. Hopefully we see some get a chance tonight and a couple of them grab that chance and force their way in (like Struijk). We are quick to judge Bielsa about not giving some of these kids more game time but maybe he is right. They haven't shown any signs of being able to handle the step up so far in other cup matches. Sam Greenwood looked completely lost at Crawley last season and he is supposedly our shining light. These kids have to grasp the opportunity and force themselves in to the reckoning. This crap about Bielsa being reluctant to use them is just fiction. They have to show they are good enough at a certain level. Tonight is the stage they need. Not only do they have to survive at this level, they have to excel. Summerville can't just look decent, he has to rip the game to pieces and look unplayable.
Morning all Not sure what team we put out tonight, but cannot see Drameh, Gelhardt, Geenwood or Bate being involved because they played 90 minutes for the 23s yesterday. Summerville, Cresswell McGurk played 45 minutes so could see them play a part. We will still see players going out on loan or be sold this week because Stevens, Gotts, Hossanah and Kamwa are still at TA and training alone. 8 are already out on loan and some sold too, so for the 23s its been busy with plenty out of the door and 4 in and thats without including Ubongo and others for the U18s
Another one bites the dust s Athletico pick up yet another player Leeds would have liked. First De Paul who was MoM in their opening game and now this This will probably mean Man Utd will get their man for around £23m as they have chased him all summer. Athletico will get most of the money for this for Trippier
Problem is Doc we've had no season ticket money this summer. Fans wondering why we're not splashing the cash here there and everywhere should perhaps remember that.
Totally agree with ghis, but the problem is that the club and Bielsa know we need another couple if top players. Yes Kinnear and Bielsa can dress it up anyway they want but the facts are last season we went for a new midfielder in Cuisance and didn't sign him, yet didn't have time to get a replacement after it fell through. This summer we made plenty if enquiries about midfielders and actually went for Gallagher and he turned us down and we still haven't got someone else in yet. What we do know is that the players we have gone in for were all quoted as being too expensive. It now looks as if we have made the decision to use last seasons squad and hope for an improvement. However we also have Berardi, Poveda and Pablo no longer here, and I would also suggest we have taken a gamble on Tyler Roberts being a regular first teamer who can deliver. Lewis Bate was excellent last night. Gelhardt also excellent. Will Bielsa throw them in? Summerville can replace Poveda, but the facts are that if we cannot improve upon last seasons performances we have little choice but to have a go with some of the kids I inow Bielsa is peed off with some of the crazy prices quoted for some players and he would rather do without than spend stupid. Players who have trebled in value from ghe end of last season to the start of this: Noa Lang £6m to £20+m, Noni Madueki £9m to £30m, Cunha £11m to £30m. So I have respect for what the club are doing in making a stand, however it seems nobody else is making that stand in the top half of the Premier League, which will only make our cause that bit harder this season as other clubs improve their staff
I think most people thought clubs were going to be desperate to sell their prized assets, due to financial difficulties but it seems it is the complete opposite that's happened, if they are going to sell then it will be at the price they want.
As long as we avoid relegation then I expect us to be in a much better position financially next summer. If fact we can already look ahead and it's clear to see that we are heading for an important period in Radz stated aim for growth and success. This season is all about consolidation but next season will be different. Possibly a change of coach and with that some significant spending to replace some of our loyal servants who've reached their ceiling.
It wasn’t a criticism of anyone at the club, more an observation and it usually gets fans up and optimistic to see (exciting) new additions to the team. We have a very thin squad so will need to be lucky on the injury front.
This is a very important point as all the players we brought in last summer all bought into a project. Obviously we are not party to what they were presented with, but I bet part of it wasnt to bring any new faces in this summer. Junior Firpo is a great addition, but besides that our No1 target was a loan move for Gallagher and not replacing Pablo or Berardi
I messaged him a few weeks ago, he said he pops in for a look but he has been very busy Afternoon all
Personally I see it as more of a necessity that we sell one of our crown jewels to fund the upgrading required next summer. My money is Raphinha going for around £80m....we'll then buy 3 players in the £30m+ category. Summerville will hopefully then be ready to take Raph's place.
Personally I think we have a big chance of losing Phillips next season if we don't progress. His England call up will give him the desire to play at the top and top players want Champions League football, regardless of the love of their own town club,especially at his age, he will be soon coming into his prime,as with Grealish. Every season since Radz arrived we have progressed but without the extra couple of signings required this could be the one we stagnate at best, it's ok buying for the future but the first team as to be priority, especially with Bielsa's resistance to blood young players unless through necessity.
Doesn’t always work. Spurs wasted the Bale money initially and Southampton are steadily going backwards each season.
