Just Maybe...

The signing of Kyle Barkley and the departure of Bellusci sent a good message to this particular Leeds United fan, inward bound a Premiership defender and outward a trouble causing, selfish, Italian, mistake waiting to happen.

So far so good with good appointments around the club and interesting signings on the playing side.

A Head Coach left and a new one came in, Steve Evans like Redfearn last season wasn't treated well but in Gary Monk I see a coach who will have his own criteria on getting the best out of the players in his charge. His assistant Pep Clotet from his days at Swansea has also joined along with Darryl Flahaven as goalkeeper coach and James Beattie, ex-Everton and many other clubs as first team coach.

It's a step in the right direction but as always it all depends on them being left alone to do the jobs the club is paying them for.

Upstairs has been boosted by a couple of appointments too, they hopefully will keep Massimo away from Monk. Ben Mansford the new chief executive arrives after three years at Barnsley and is well respected within the game. Paul Bell returned after a year away after moving to Sheffield Wednesday to become chief operating officer. He was heavily involved in commercial department previously at Leeds.

Players so far brought in; Marcus Antonsson, a striker from Sweden who has an impressive record of scoring and is seen as an excellent signing.

Kyle Bartley was brought in on a year long loan from Monk's old club Swansea. Added to these Leeds youngsters Peacock-Farrell, Stokes, Purver and Mulhern signed extended deals. Ronaldo Vieira Nan has signed as a professional and it is hoped he continues his progress he made last season in the development squad.

I understand that we've been here before with signings and good appointments and it's gone horribly wrong because a certain Italian probably got out of bed the wrong side, we can only hope that he lets it run in a professional way.

If it does I see a better season than I thought it was going to be, we aren't perfect, a few more signings are still needed; an experienced midfielder for one is needed and they don't come cheap, unless one can be picked up from a Premiership team on the cheap. Liam Bridcutt would be ideal but his wages seem a little too high for Leeds.

We await with interest the coming weeks and months to see if finally we can concentrate on good things on the pitch and quietness away from it.

MOT

By Keith Ingham