I think Warnock will take a real shine to Lees, Brown, Snodgrass, Sam and Becchio. Lees - exactly his sort of player. Strong, good in the air, disciplined and young. Can see Warnock and Jones being just the men to mould him into the great centre-back we know he can become. Brown - worked with him before at Sheff Utd and was one of his favourites there. We know that he still has ability based on a few of his performances this season, and a familiar face round Thorp Arch and Elland Road might be just the shot in the arm he needs to refind his energy. If a diamond-type formation is being brought in, Brown might be preferred to Pugh and Clayton for the deep midfield spot. Snodgrass - Warnock's already raved about his ability and made it clear he's to get a free role. Wouldn't be surprised if he becomes captain and Lonergan is dropped sooner rather than later. His passion, humility and skill surely make it hard for a manager not to like the lad. Sam - Our new manager's admitted he's tried to sign Lloyd Sam before, and in fairness, his direct running, pace and defensive commitment can't be baulked at. If we can make him do what Gradel did last season, fantastic. But it will take a real shift in training which we know the lad's not too comfortable putting in. The pictures of him and Warnock grinning at each other in a training session are trivial in terms of importance, but they're still relevant. I think Sam might be one of the aces up Warnock's sleeve, and a vacancy has certainly appeared on the flanks now that Snoddy's moving central. Becchio - "he'll win every header from now till the rest of the season" is a pretty convincing statement of intent from NW. Seems pretty obvious that he'll be retaining his place up front - but will it be in the same lone role he had last season with a fluid trio behind him? I certainly hope so. Let's hope he keeps banging in the goals and can recapture his coveted all-round game which we've seen over the last couple of years but has been lacking since his hamstring injury/surgery ****-up. A couple of players I'm worried will be neglected or won't improve: Lonergan and Clayton, and to a lesser extent White and McCormack. Warnock has something of a reputation for bringing plodders in - for example when he sold Billy Sharp at Sheff Utd and brought in all manner of journeyman centre forwards. Let's hope he gets the best out of these players rather than looking to the transfer market for answers we don't need. Bates' transfer policy happily (for once) suggests that won't be an issue. So plenty to look forward to, but of course we have to be apprehensive about change as well as excited.
I agree with Lees, Brown and Snoddy. I think Sam will definitely get more of a look in and i've always thought sam has been unfairly overlooked. He is a good and useful player to have and offers something not many others in our team do, can be inconsistent at times though which is why i hold back from saying he will becomeone of NWs favourites. Everyone knows my views on Becchio by now. He can be infuential in our team but the more he is playing the less I think he can do for our side. He is starting to score goals again now and hopefully that continues but his lack of a football brain is my real issue with him. All good big CFs have a good football brain and it is needed in this position especially. Just take Lambert as an example as this is exactly why I raved on about Keogh as well, he needs to understand where to make runs, when to flick the ball, when to hold on to the ball and when to pass, and when to ghost away from his marker in the box. All of this I hope NW can get into the lad and if he can Becchio will far surpass my expectations of his ability. The players that I think will be neglected are probably White, Thompson, Smith and maybe Clayton a little. I think he will stick by McCormack. The only 2 players worthy of player of the season at the moment would be Snoddy and Rosco so I can't see him dropping him. Also Rosco 'apparently' headbutted Diouf which can only help his reputation with NW
There might also be a case for Andy 'Assistant Caretaker Manager' O'Brien, and Connolly, since Smith was tellingly left out of the line-up against Donny and played in the behind-closed-doors game against Hull. Edit: then again, I'm talking **** because Connolly and Sam also played in that game. Still think Connolly and O'Brien might get a starting place based on mainly their experience, mind. In these first few games, anyway.
I wouldn't mind O'Brien given more chances seeings that he was very impressive against Leicester. In truth I just want O'Dear out of the starting line-up
Don't forget Bromby. A solid defender and he played under Warnock at Sheffield United. Hopefully he'll be given a chance.
Lewis I actually think bromby is quite reliable as well. He is getting on a bit now but still was kinda reliable last season and first bit of this season when given the chance. Sadly he wasted his chance against Brighton by having a shocker and never got another look in. Which I dont understand what O'Dear has to do to get dropped Bromby - Quite a reliable defender, done reasonably well in his years with Leeds. Plays a bad game and gets dropped never to be seen again Connolly - Same as Bromby, has 1 bad game and never gets seen again O'Dear - Is the ****test player ever seen in a leeds shirt. Every second game makes a catastrophic error and makes a lot of reasonably big errors every game. Is slow, bad at tackling and constantly out of position, backs off his man and causes players around him to look worse yet gets picked every game. Where was the consistency?
O'Dea simply hasn't been as **** as those 2 this season, no matter how much you say it. He's not good enough to be a starting CB for a promotion chasing side but he's been consistently average.
He's been consistently below average with a catastrophic mistake around every 3 games. All im saying is Bromby has a bad game (pretty sure he has only played 2 or 3 games this season) and gets dropped. Connolly hasn't been great this season but again has one very bad game and gets dropped. The amount of incredibly bad games I have seen O'Dear have and he still hasn't been dropped. He is the worst player I have ever seen in a leeds shirt, the sooner he ****s off the better. I'd seriously have anyone of our defenders playing CB instead of him
reminds me slightly of hughes. Used to call him hughes-hits-it-long because thats all the commentator used to say when his name appeared
I.m hoping Smith gets the nod as I said he would be a great aquistion. I also think that Brown will come good along with Bromby perhaps and I,m sure if anyone comes in some will depart to compensate
I don't actually rate Lees that much. He has suffered for the traditional 'he's from Leeds' overhype. I'm not saying he's bad, but for me he's not as good a prospect as some suggest. Will be a decent player at this level though in the future. I expect Bruce, AOB and Connolly will get back into the side. Sam as you say will probably get more of a chance, although we still have Townsend at the club for this season. The team will be built around Snodgrass and Becchio, which is great. Snodgrass has been a great player on the right wing for us, but it's exciting to see him play a more central role and get on the ball and in the game more. Becchio does win a lot of headers and battle too, so with the midfield closer, we'll benefit more. I also think Clayton has been overhyped like Lees. He's a very likeable player, and has great ability, but hasn't been as good as people say. It'll be interesting to see though how the team shapes. I could see McCormack be used less too, which isn't great, because of Snoddy central it may mean a midfield 5. I expect White to continue playing - who else would we play at leftback?
Doubt he'd leave Ross out. More likely that him and snodgrass will interchange roles playing just behind becchio or pulling out wide
Great article. Good point about Sam & I thought Grayson may come in for him on a loan deal because he has the ability to tear league one apart. Would love to see him have a pop on the wing with Snod roaming. "he'll win every header from now till the rest of the season" statement about Becchio screams I know what the lad can do, his goal tally last season proved it & there wont be a free ride under Neil Warnock. Expect to see anyone wanting to nail down a shirt up front to give everything because I dont think your find an immediate 442 under Warnock. Not until he is confident we can pull it off and lets be honest our weak link has been the back four for so long. Brown & Clayton to anchor. Maybe there's even a place for Bruce in that role if a right back can show Neil there ready to take that shirt.
Sam seems really upbeat on Twitter so I'm guessing Warnock's told him he'll get a chance. The fact that he's tried to sign him should confirm this. I think he's a good player at Championship level and is a very good crosser of the ball. Brown needs a chance too. He was quality when he came on against Donny and will give bite to the midfield. It's a shame that McCormack might get left out more but I reckon he'll get a chance on the wing. I reckon the team could be; Lonergan Smith/Connolly-Lees-Bruce-White Clayton-Brown Sam-Snodgrass-McCormack Becchio Subs; Taylor, one of the cb's, Pugh, Townsend, Rogers
