Last man standing

I suppose the exit of Alex Mowatt is no big surprise but it continues the annoying habit that the club has of emptying of the talent that comes out of Thorpe Arch for a pittance.

Its true that the youngster (yes he's only 21) has only featured in a smattering of games this season but he does posses a pedigree at this level few of his meagre years could match.

I'll admit I like the lad, I've said in articles before he has a little of the Gary Speed I saw in the late eighties. True he didn't have Speedo's pace but I saw enough to think that he would develop into a good player. What 'rankles' me more is that players are being let to run down their contracts when time and money has been spent bringing them to a standard when they are ready for the first team squad.

We have of course more that came through the same way as Alex did but only Charlie Taylor is left of the ones that were advertised in the campaign 'Real History, Real Future and Real choice', that statement seems very hollow now.

How long will it be before the emerging talents of Kalvin Phillips and Ronaldo Vieira go the same way as the others?

I've not questioned Garry Monk's judgement much and I agreed with his honesty in telling Luke Murphy and 'Dave' their future would be best served away from Elland Road in their footballing careers.

Alex's case is different, he has many years hopefully ahead of him and it's a shame that he has had to move away from the team he loved so early in his career.

My last point is this; simply wasn't Mowatt a better option late in games? When Pablo had weaved his magic? To bring on a player of Alex's calibre to close out games and offer that left peg that has brought so many superb goals. More importantly, it's certainly a lot better than using players like Matt Grimes who is a loanee and not lit any fires in his spell at the club so far.

Football is all about opinions and like it or not, this one is mine.

I wish Alex all the best in the future at his new club Barnsley. I just hope the decision to sell him doesn't come back to bite Leeds and Garry Monk in the arse! Which it has in the past on many occasions.

By Keith Ingham