Leeds-where's the quality?

28/7/2014

With less than two weeks to the start of the season, Leeds have a problem...a big one.

Despite assurances of stacks of money from the owner, the team as it is, is worse-much worse than last season...and alarm bells are starting to ring.

The team that head coach Hockaday put out on Saturday was pretty much the same as last season-less our one true quality player in Ross McCormack. Two Rudy Austin penalties did not disguise the fact that we are severely lacking in quality-all over the pitch. Several Italians have signed-names that had us searching Wikipedia and YouTube for, yet to take us forward we don't need more squad players-we need money spent on some real top players for this division. Who currently will replace McCormacks goals-as I see it, the whole team combined will struggle to match his total of 29. We are crying out for a striker-probably 2. A midfielder with flair and creativity, a centre back to sit alongside Pearce, and some wide players with pace.

Cellino may well have a trick or two up his sleeve, but these players need to be here now-especially any from overseas-they cannot learn the 'English way' in 12 days, and hit the ground running.

I'm desperately trying to stop the many knee jerk reactions I'm having, but I'm struggling. A poor team last season has been weakend. A manager that had history has been replaced by one who has none, whilst the Chairman currently seems to be keeping up the tradition of the last 10 years of promising much, whilst delivering little. I pray he proves me wrong and gets this wonderful club of ours in order-in and off the pitch, but the clock is ticking 'president' Cellino-over to you..

JDC

27/7/2014 09:27:38 pm

If the last few seasons are anything to go by, I would much rather that the whole team learned to play the Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch ways rather than "The English Way" ... maybe then we'd be able to defend (Italy), keep the ball and be creative Spain/ Germany) and score, any of the four.

The coaches are already at the club to facilitate it ... Benito Carbone and Nigel Gibbs, if not Gibbs then Gary Mac.

Jimmy

27/7/2014 09:37:18 pm

Indeed, MC said he wanted Elland Road full to capacity at home games. He also stated that ticket prices were to high and supporters would benefit from lower prices!

To accomplish the first, he needs to provide the on field spectacle that will bring the crowds, a genuine strike force, midfield play maker and a solid defence. We are told the money is there, but the will to spend enough appears lacking.

To accomplish the second, easy, stand by what you said MC!

I think everything that needs saying about the head coach, has been said across the spectrum of Leeds blogs, clearly nothing is going to happen in this department before the start of the season, the question is how many games will we have to loose before something does.

Still remaining optimistic, just, but the pre season euphoria and expectation are gradually giving way to "here we go again"!

Chareose

27/7/2014 09:52:52 pm

The author is correct in his concerns but to be fair I think Cellino is trying. Personally I don't think hes here to mug us. Buying the stadium back isn't a sign of that..and he cant get out of that really..

I think hes just naturally careful with money and is confident in his ability to judge players and not sign players for the sake of it. Kebe and Stewart come to mind..........

That said, the pressure to fill the gaping holes in the squad is starting to mount because I do agree that we are relegation material as we are currently. That's nothing against the likes of Cook, Byram, Bianchi and Silvestre but we are lacking any sort of Goal threat......... its a really big issue.

The defensive issues are in part caused by having no width so our full backs have to push forward leaving the defence exposed.

Somma Loving.

27/7/2014 11:58:44 pm

Spot on. MC is definatley trying to get quality through the door at Elland Road. So far, no good though.

We've come close to signing 4 players who would offer us genuine quality and threat to the league crown.
Belluschi is a real defender. A proper real one. Reads the game well, quick off the mark, dominant in the air and not too shabby with the ball at his feet either.

Federico Viviani, again, I think all that needs to be said about him has previously been said. He would be key in the Championship.

Andy Delort is a pacey striker who plays off the shoulder alla Beckford. only with more class, more clue, and more success.

Keiron Agard is strong and powerful, direct and a bit of a crowd pleaser.

Someone earlier has something about Hockaday - but it really doesn't make a difference who our 'manager' is. They're just a smokescreen / fall guy anyway, with big Mass running the show. Whether we do well or not, MC wins - imagine if we do well with Hockaday - MC gets the glory of unearthing a gem, probably allows him to be poached by a bigger club for a large profit, and brings in the next fall guy. Likewise, if we do poor (more likely), MC gets to pass the buck onto DH, and fire him with no expense.

It's the same with Gibbs - MC is just waiting for someother club to hire Nice Guy Bri, who will then what Gibbs as assistant. The new club will have to pay us compensation, as aposed to us having to pay Gibbs compensation for firing him....

Cellino is a shrewd operator. Given the chance, he will take this club to the EPL. there can be no doubt about that what so ever.

Aplanir

27/7/2014 10:54:44 pm

what a bullshit article the only truth in it is a shit coach and a proven defence that wouldn't make it in the non league, the signing MC as acquired are 100% better than they ones replace, it's upto a coach who couldn't make it in the non league to actually play them and play player in there correct position, this probably explain why he didn't make it as non league coach.
when the new signings came on in the second half the ball went to feet and they were not running round like headless chickens they were calm and played the ball.
Leeds supporter got on morison back why I don't know wasn't his fault our coach yes the one who couldn't make it in the non league played him on wing a position I believe he never played in his career why don't know best ask hock psychiatrist. Byram perfect for wing and then Gaetano Berardi right back I thought was no brainer.
Also you go on about selling our best player he scored 28 goals and without a doubt kept us up, but without a doubt best bit of business Leeds have done since god knows I forgot it's been that long bought him for £360000 sold for £11 mill it's a no brainer plus the traitorous lying b$%t&%d wanted to go.
Further more MC hadn't jumped in and bought the club where do you think we be now? would there be a club to support? administration getting milked by some other lying version of bates, MC has done more for this club in last few months than any other robbing conman has done in last 12yrs, and it all been positive he bought new player and as I said at the start there far far better quality than what we had and look more comfortable on the ball

Andy B

28/7/2014 02:36:51 am

So if MC is so fantastic, why did he put Hockaday in as manager? If the McCormack deal is so amazing (which it was), where's the replacement?

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Leeds-where's the quality?

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