 O'Dea doesn't feature in Warnock's plans Today it has been announced that another player’s career at Elland Road is over as Neil Warnock continues to clear the decks. The manager has confirmed that Darren O’Dea has played his last game for us and will return to his parent club Celtic, despite the player being available on a free in the summer and wanting to join us.
O’Dea seems to be quite popular among some supporters, although I along with the majority of people don’t think he is consistent enough to signed permanently. There is no doubt that overall his performances have improved under Warnock, but questions still have to be raised about his overall ability. He has been at the centre of quite a few shoddy goals conceded and bad mistakes at the back this season and has looked at best a limited and naive defender. I think if we are to make a serious push for promotion next season, we need a lot better quality and some more experience at the back. The player appeared to have convinced Warnock that he was worthy of a permanent contract with the manager stating a few weeks ago that he was considering offering him a deal… But his latest sending off appears to have persuaded the boss to look elsewhere for next season. He was clearly unimpressed with the player after the Blackpool game describing his dismissal as “quite deserved and stupid”. Later when asked if the players poor disciplinary record had influenced his decision to release him, Warnock said: “I don’t think it’s helped. You can’t be having people picking up stupid suspensions. It’s does nobody any good.” So O’Dea joins Ben Parker and Mika Vayrynen on the list of casualties as Warnock aims to bring success to our club. Meanwhile, it has been announced that Warnock will be alone in the dugout at Cardiff. His assistants Mick Jones and Ronnie Jepson will be scouting potential new recruits this weekend as the club steps up its attempts to bring in some fresh blood. Warnock is keeping his cards close to his chest, but has promised a busy summer. There will be a few more to leave us yet, and I am looking forward to seeing who will be in our squad come next season.
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 The re-shape has begun at Elland Road as Neil Warnock prepares to build a promotion chasing squad, it’s no secret that alot of the signings made by his predecessor (Simon Grayson) just aren’t good enough and the majority of us agree that big changes are needed.
Today it has been announced that Ben Parker and Mika Vayrynen have had their contracts terminated at the club. With their current deals due to run out at the end of the season it is clear that Warnock doesn’t want to waste any time and is keen to get cracking, having already confirmed previously that he is close to signing his first summer recruit. I’ve got to admit that I feel sorry for Parker, a lad from the academy who had a bright future ahead of him, and made an impressive start to his career with us. He has had no luck at all and had so many injuries and so much surgery to try and get right, but time for him has just run out at Elland Road. The fact that he was our longest serving player yet only made 54 appearances (9 as a sub) speaks volumes. Vayrynen has had similar luck this season, signing on a free in the summer, an experienced international player with a good reputation. He was also known for being very injury prone, and unfortunately that is the only side of him we have seen. To be fare, these two players been released isn’t a massive shock, we have a large squad with not many good enough to come into the first team and perform. It now remains to be seen who will survive the clearout and mix it with the players that are to be brought in. Billy Paynter has also come out in the press today stating his desire to remain at Leeds for a third season, following his two goals at the weekend against Peterborough – his first at Elland Road. Warnock though has refused though to rule out the possibility of him leaving. It is now down to the rest of the squad to prove their worth to the team as Neil Warnock will take no prisoners in his quest to get us back to where we belong, he wants to build a team fit for promotion next season... And I for one can’t wait. Good luck for the future Ben and Mika.... MOT! |
 Andy GregoryEditor of the site, life long Leeds fan and regular to games. Always has an opinion on everything to do with the club, and not frightened to express it. Love Leeds through ups and downs... MOT!!!!! Archives
May 2012
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