 The month's between May and July usually are never quiet at Leeds and this year followed a regular routine. An old Head Coach dispatched after a season, new one brought in after a multitude of names had been thrown 'into the hat'. It was arrivderci Massimo Cellino and ciao Andrea Radrizzani as the two Italians agreed the sale of Leeds United FC, no figure given but rumoured to be quite a few quid! The ground bought back for a considerable amount of money, just short of 20 million pounds if we are to believe the rumours. Finally an owner (Radrizzani) who did what others had promised but failed to do, he put his money where his mouth was! The new owner then brought in trusted allies to help him run the club, Angus Kinnear as Chief Executive, Ivan Bravo as Director of Strategy, Andre Tegner a Director and Victor Orta the new Director of Football. Ben Mansford left the club as part of the restructure. Thomas Christiansen is now in the Head Coach's chair, the latest in a long line of people given the opportunity to take Leeds United to the next level. He is joined by Julio Banuelos and Paul Butler as his assistant's and Marcos Abad as goalkeeping coach.  Will TC have the magic touch at Leeds United? Garry Monk and his entire backroom staff has departed, Beattie and Flahaven have joined him at Middlesborough, Pep Clotet is now manager at Oxford United FC, who Leeds United will play in their final preseason fixture at Elland Road this Saturday. We wish Pep every success in his new appointment. New Players In Felix Wienwald: Goalkeeper - Previously at Werder Bremen Pontus Jansson: Defender - Torino (previously on loan) Hadi Sacko: Midfielder - Sporting B (Previously on loan) Mateusz Klich: Midfielder - FC Twente Samu Siaz: Midfield / Striker - SD Huesca Caleb Ekuban: Striker - Chievo Verona Ezjian Alioski: Midfielder / Striker - FC Lugano Vernon Anita: Defender / Midfielder- Newcastle United Mathew Pennington: Defender - Everton (season long loan) Players Out Luke Murphy: Season loan to Burton Albion Lewie Coyle: Season loan to Fleetwood Town Charlie Taylor: Tribunal fee to be decided, to Burnley Giuseppe Bellusci: Contract cancelled. Marco Silvestri: undisclosed fee to Hellas Verona Jordan Boraka and Ross Turnbull both were given free transfers  Alioski, Pennington and Samu Saiz could be instant first team stars at Leeds United
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 This summer Uncle Radrizzani has dug deep into his companies coffers to acquire Elland Road and ten football players but are we the fans the ones to pay it forward?
On the whole the announcement of Match day prices for Leeds United FC left most fans aghast as there was a increase. The first time in two years but it puts the price of watching Leeds United up to £49 in the West Stand if you purchase the ticket on the day of the game. Yes £49! A new category of A+ has also come into being, probably used if Leeds achieve a top six place come April and May. I'm 57-years old and have followed the mighty whites around forty three years and when I started my journey as a fan, if I'm remembering well it was 50p to get as a junior. I set off from Bradford with around £5 in my pocket and it was enough to watch my favourite team. In the years that have followed the cost of football has gone through the roof and me as a grandad would need around £100 to take two of my grandchildren to Elland Road if on the day of the game I decided to take them. That does include travel but it's still a sizeable amount of my weekly wage. The argument that a full Elland Road with fans charged £30 is worth considering, although 18,000 season tickets have been sold it means that if you want to go you better have planned it to get your ticket a few days before. It looks like the days of deciding on the day will become a thing of the past. That to me is a shame because surprising a young fan can be such a joy and a generation of fans could again be lost with the likes of Bradford City and Huddersfield Town offering cheap deals. The LUFC Trust have said that they will ask the club for the reasons why football in Leeds is cost in some cases more than Premiership clubs and to seek a meeting with new club owner Andrea Radrizzani. It is hoped that the owner takes on board what the Trust has to say. I ask the owner to look again at the pricing structure and remind him that the great work he has done in the summer is in some eyes being undone by what most fans see as a 'kick where it hurts' when it comes to watching their favourite football team. Mr Radrizzani, the fans are this club's life blood and they travel from far and wide to see them, surely they deserve a better deal. MOT By Keith Ingham  Leeds United could be set to shock the Championship with a potential move for Bristol City pair Joe Bryan and Aden Flint. The club have so far been extremely active in this summers transfer market, picking up players in the positions that are needed and bolstering there squad. The only two positions left that still need sufficient backup are left back and centre back respectively, this is where the Bristol City pair come in to play. Both come off a very tough season as Bristol fought off the prospect of relegation and could be wanting more from their careers than a repeat this coming season. It's understood that the club have made contact with Bristol for the park, having first been interested in club captain Aden Flint. The move would surely be a heavy investment and statement of intent with both players commanding a fee of over £2.5million.  Could Leeds be set for a massive move for these two talented players? Flint, a 6'3 no nonsense defender is seen as a perfect partner for Leeds' Pontus Jansson and the pair could be part of a defensive dynasty should they be out together.
Strong, stern and a leader on the pitch, the former Swindon man could be a brilliant capture for the club and at only 28-years old could be with Leeds for some time. He's also able to pitch in with a few goals having scored 28 in 170 appearances for Bristol. Bryan on the other hand is a marauding left back with the ability to not only be a key defensive signing, but a potential support for Leeds' new attacking quartet. The 23-year old is adapt at playing as a wingback in a 3-5-2 formation and is very capable at playing as a left midfielder should he be asked. With Bryan's contract only having two years remaining, it remains to be seen whether Bristol would be forced into any sale, but never say never in this day and age. The duo would link up with former Robins defender Luke Ayling and Pontus Jansson to create one of the strongest back lines in the league. If Leeds make this move, the club will surely be a force to be reckoned with next season. Can the deal be done? Adam Pope says yes, Phil Hay says no. You decide! By Ryan Ingham  Yesterday came the announcement that Marco Silvestri had departed the club for Hellas Verona.
The Italian stopper has joined the recently promoted club on a four year deal for an undisclosed fee. The 26-year old was set to leave the club this summer having fallen out of favour last summer with the signing of Rob Green. It's now expected that Green could be in a two horse race for the number spot with recent signing Felix Wiedwald. Silvestri joined Leeds with an influx of Italian signings back in 2014 on a four year deal and now only leaves Souleymane Doukara and Gaetano Berardi as the only remaining remnants of a rushed transfer window. Silvestri made 98 appearances for Leeds during his three year spell and at one point was regarded as a talented stopper. However, he was involved in the infamous 'sick six' that refused to play for Neil Redfearn during a game against Charlton. Leeds have now decided to send Bailey Peacock-Farrell to Austria to join the training camp having seen his loan transfer to Oldham cancelled by the club. With the race for the number one spot hitting up and Silvestri now departing along with Ross Turnbull and a rumoured move for Rob Green, who will actually be challenging for the number one spot come August? By Ryan Ingham  Leeds United have today bolstered their defensive line with Matthew Pennington.
The young defender joins Leeds on a season long loan deal from Everton having made 7 appearances for his parent club. Pennington had been heavily linked with a move away from Goodison Park this season and joins Leeds on a temporary basis with a keen possibility of a permanent move should he impress. Hull City, Wolves and Middlesbrough were all linked with the defender prior to his move to Leeds. This will be the 22-year olds fourth loan spell having spent time at Tranmere Rovers, Coventry City and Walsall. The talented youngster was pivotal in Everton's development squad as they won the Premier League 2 divisional title last season. Pennington is a natural at either full back positions but is more regarded as a centre back and will join Pontus Jansson, Liam Cooper and youngster Paudie O'Connor at the heart of Leeds' defence. This is Leeds ninth signing of the summer as Thomas Christiansen focuses on more defensive additions after improving his attack and midfield earlier in the summer. Leeds will now look to add at least one more defender with heavily links to Bristol City captain Aden Flint and former Bayern defender Holger Badstuber materialising over the past week. Pennington makes history by being confirmed as Leeds' 100th loan signing since relegation in 2004. The big difference? This is Leeds' only loan this summer. Change is happening at Elland Road lads; let's strap in and let the ride commence. By Ryan Ingham  In years gone by the end of the season was met by a 'sigh' and a maybe next year would be the one, but it never was!
The signings that came in just weren't up to the challenge, but last season might, just might be the turning point. Robert Green, Pablo Hernandez, Kyle Bartley (on loan unfortunately), Pontus Jansson and Kemar Roofe a few of the names that turned a slow start into a seventh placed position, missing the playoffs by a few points. But looking at the fantastic work of our new owner Andrea Radrizzani and the work he has put in place this summer, including spending over £11million on summer signings, it could be a lot worse and here's how... I take you back to the preseason of the 2012/13 season under Neil 'Colin' Warnock, most of the names that came into the club in that summer had followed 'Colin' around the leagues, Michael Brown, Paddy Kenny, David Norris and not forgetting Luke Varney.  After the poor decision to cancel Leeds' friendly with Inglostadt just 48 hours before they were expected to play on Sunday, the sun may have shone again for Leeds. The rumours that Leeds would be 'doing something special' for the fans to make up for it look very promising and last night Bursaspor announced that they would be taking on Leeds United today. The game is set to be played at 6pm GMT and the best news is, you can watch it live for free! The game will be covered by Bursaspors YouTube channel and be broadcasted live from 6pm this evening. Although a rushed fixture, fans will have the chance to see new signings Samuel Saiz and Egzjan Alioski for the first time as they take on a strong Turkish Super League side.  Your best chance at an in depth look is tonight's live friendly The link for the YouTube channel is as follows;
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwR4mXD5d5jTbdZUadFfhFg Fill your boots lads from the comfort of your own home! By Ryan Ingham  With Leeds United experiencing one of their most effective transfer windows in a long time, Thomas Christiansen is going to be spoilt for choice when it comes to August. The new head coach at Leeds has been given full support as Leeds confirmed their 7th and 8th signings of the summer yesterday. The signings of both Ezgjan Alioski and Samuel Saiz are real eye openers. Not only for the fact the club has reportedly paid over £5million for the pair, but the fact they are both respected as high quality players prior to joining for Leeds.  Saiz and Alioski could be a new threat for Leeds this season There's no doubt Leeds needed to strengthen this summer in all areas. Our attacking force while potent because of Chris Wood's stellar season, didn't have the goals between them to support the Kiwi captain.
Leeds lost out on the playoffs because they didn't have the type of players who can go and contribute to our goals tally, now that's not an issue. Victor Orta and co have been likes kids in a candy shop while the club have already outlawed over £11million on transfers so far this summer, with another 6/7 weeks before the window slams shut. The job now is for Christiansen to pay attention while Leeds train in Austria and try and find a settled XI in the three friendlies that will be played while abroad. |
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