By Rob AtkinsonThere are some glass-half-full types who might venture to suggest that this hasn't
been a summer like any other over the past ten years or so. After all, Bates has gone, most if not all of his cronies have departed with him, and the air around Elland Road does smell sweeter as a result. What's more ticket prices have gone down from the actually obscene to the merely extortionate, there has been continual talk of new investment and strategic partners, and yes - we have our first seven-figure signing since we bought Richard Cresswell back when Noah was a lad. O Brave New World that has such smoke and mirrors in it! Because, despite all the feel-good changes and all of the positive talk - forget the past, it's all about the future - there are still these nagging doubts. Leeds United football fans are canny folk. They know their football, and they can see quite clearly when there are gaping holes in the squad, and when the club is being stifled for lack of quality. And despite the rich promise of million-pound Wunderkind Luke Murphy, and the more gangly potential of Matt Smith, freed from his Time Lord responsibilities in darkest Oldham to provide an aerial threat for Leeds United; plus of course the elderly skills of veteran Noel Hunt - despite all this, we can all see what's missing. Width, that's what. Pace, that's what too. And a rock-like, they-shall-not-pass presence at the centre of defence, that's very much what also. And yet with a mere two weeks until this latest transfer window slams shut, we are still short of these aforementioned essential items, and we're being fed a steady diet of rumours about who will have to go in order to make room on the stretched-out wage bill for incomings. Now they're threatening our most precious possessions, and the squad's only sparks of flair and creativity. Dioufy? McCormacky?? We must keep these players, or risk becoming even more pedestrian and predictable. Surely even a Dubai-funded Tory can see that. But the situation is such that, unless we can shed some of the real deadwood - no names, no pack drill - then we're either going to have to wave a tearful farewell to some of our major players, or make do with what we've got. Brian is not happy. The board are saying nowt. Are we soon to hear the fateful words "Don't forget, there's always the loan window opening in a week or so..."? Save it, guys. We've heard it all before, year after depressing year. The fact is that Leeds United are almost certainly doomed to get yet further into a second decade outside of the top-flight. The longer we stay out of that billion-dollar glare, the more we will become ever more pallid for lack of limelight, the more chance of the club ending up perpetually moribund, like a bigger version of Preston or Huddersfield. There is an acute awareness of this among the fans - that much is obvious from the most cursory perusal of the various fan-sites and message-boards. It's no secret, that's for sure - and historically, there are few more militant bunches of fans anywhere. And yet still, the powers-that-be are following the blueprint of previous regimes, and seeking to manage our expectations, to deflect our passion and desire with blarney and vague not-quite-promises, underpinned by artfully-leaked rumours. Multi-million pound investment imminent? Bid possible for return of Maxi Gradel? Ker-ching. Another few hundred tickets sold for the opening game, and then queues all the way down the West Stand car-park for the League Cup visit of tiny Chesterfield. But you can't fool all the people all the time, and despite carefully-scripted exhortations from Brian McDermott, the crowd for the Wednesday game was way down. And why not? It's live on Sky and some of those tickets are £36. It's not rocket science, chaps. It's about time Leeds United appointed a Minister for Truth. I'd be up for the job. It's not going to happen though - but can we at least ask for a little more transparency instead of the same old, same old EVERY bloody year? We know there is no oil-rich billionaire around the corner. We know Maxi isn't coming back (or Snoddy, or Howson, or Becchio). So please - whoever you are - stop feeding us this pap, and get on with what you're supposed to be doing. Give Brian the support he needs instead of having the cheek to set two-year deadlines for promotion. Carry on engaging with the fans - you've made a start, but there's a long way to go. Learn the lesson that you need to speculate to accumulate, and then maybe we won't have to watch far smaller clubs snapping up players who would love to play for Leeds United - if the money was anywhere near par for the course. It's not easy, but it's not impossible. Stop selling us a line and give us a Leeds United to be proud of again - and then we'll be right behind you in our highly vocal thousands. You know it makes sense.
35 Comments
Mr orange
18/8/2013 03:28:51 am
Too bloody right , if this window close's with two key players out and a bunch of loanees in then it will burst the baloon of all Leeds fans yet again , for Christ sake ghf grasp the nettle and move this club on ,
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whiteblob
18/8/2013 04:30:24 am
JUST TWO PLAYERS!
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Chareose
18/8/2013 09:53:22 pm
Again Leeds fans sexual obsession with Centre backs evident, yes we need a CB but not as much as we need a quality winger...... As far as im concerned we have a steady backline, we are just short of numbers. Its lack of creativity thats the issue......... The author mentioned Gradel. Yes hes exactly what we need, a top class winger who will bag you 10 goals a season
David Naylor
18/8/2013 04:04:12 am
Self-opinionated crap - grow up and and have a look at The Economist!
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The Tubbster
18/8/2013 04:09:40 am
Well written and accurate except the bollox about 'Dioufy'. He's an overated shite. No pace. Attitude stinks. A very poor mans Darren Anderton. The twat needs to follow Bates and Warnock out of the door.
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I have said before the whole thing is a joke we look pedestrian as a team are crying out for two or three players with pace and quality ! BM keeps going on about a centre half yet we don't look like scoring ! I can't see where the goals will come from? Hunt? Do me a favor! Jimmy five bellies Diouf ? Er me thinks not! What about the wages from the released players? Somma, Rahubka , kisnorbo , Connolly and bromby they alone wil have been on decent wages! Go get the hot prospect from Bradford or some prem quality on loan but for the love of god do something ! Here is a phrase out Dubai friends haven't heard obviously!! " speculate to Accumalate!! Give the fans what they crave and it will sell out every week! Therefore any signings will be self funding! Der
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Darran Pryce
18/8/2013 04:34:36 am
If we sell more of our key players then what is the use in trying to build a team? If our key players go, I promise this, WE HAVE NO CHANCE OF PROMOTION.
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Exiled Rover
18/8/2013 04:46:39 am
Whilst I can't disagree with most of your sentiment I am clinging to the fact that we have a good solid bloke at the helm (BM)and some great youngsters coming through the system. We are carrying some right pants signed by the last 2 managers that other clubs won't touch with a barge pole. Watching Pugh at Stevenage pre season was frightening, the Portsmouth cast offs etc. We are though in a better place than we were a few months ago albeit not one that will get us back to the promised land yet, but BETTER than it was under the dinosaur Warnock. We are the champions, CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE
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Bowie
18/8/2013 04:59:39 am
Same old boring comments. Glass half empty, moan moan moan, there is reason for optimism and it needs building on slowly on a solid foundation !
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19/8/2013 03:11:37 am
Absolutely Bowie I mean the young premiership regular wouldnt even get a look on our mid table championship bench....clearly. The club benefitted immensely from his sale.
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Fudd
18/8/2013 05:07:09 am
Why not wait until Sept and then post a factual story rather than stir up the nest mid August. GFH have made changes so far not enough for some but then for some its never enough
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Chris Moore - wales
18/8/2013 08:44:24 am
Your wrong,,Leeds fans have waited almost a decade and it not enough to wait another 2 to 3 years..I don't trust these new Owners they make promises but never deliver and do the opposite. we where told when they arrived that BM Would have their support..I don't like this talk of a Few Years when we have been waiting for about 8 years already while smaller clubs than Leeds qualify and some been relegated and one or two gone back up//where the hell is the Money? it not much,only a few Million,,someone said you have to speculate to accumilate that is 100% true..we can't depend on 2 to 3 years time who knows what will be the situation..Now is the right time not in 2 to 3 years time..NOW IS THE TIME FOR LEEDS FANS TO PROTEST AND STAY AWAY TILL THEM BASTARDS WHO HAVE TAKEN OVER LEEDS PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS..AS FOR BRIAN,HE SHOULD ALSO TELL THEM THAT HE CAN'T STAY BECAUSE HE IS AN AMBITIOUS MANAGER AND CAME TO LEEDS KNOWING IT WAS A MASSIVE CLUB AND NOT A LOWLY READING. It all Stinks!
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swalesey
18/8/2013 05:05:45 pm
It's comments like this that stop people coming to ER. The football is getting better, the LUST brigade are only happy if they have some reason to boycott games. Worse than toddlers, no forward vision and screan and cry when they don't get what theythink they diserve
Lowfields71
18/8/2013 10:35:53 pm
Stupid comments, typing in capitals makes none of what you say fact, we are in a bad position financially and require sensible ownership which seems to be the case, few insentives already have the crowds up and so far we havnt sold any of our better players whilst bringing in a few, give this lot a chance they seem to be heading in the right direction.
Life after Luciano
18/8/2013 05:08:10 am
PACE AND WIDTH, we all see its what's missing every week, and when i bumped into Brian in the summer he agreed and so now we all know the problem,lets sort it GFH! That said, keep an eye on Luciano,warming a perch at Budgie road each Saturday afternoon cannot be that exciting week in week out!
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leedsls27
18/8/2013 05:35:41 am
unbeaten start to the season, including two games against strongly fancied opposition, we look solid as a rock from front to back, byram has yet to kick a ball in anger and there's still two weeks until the transfer window closes.
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18/8/2013 05:38:38 am
Thats the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen written and you call yourself a Leeds Fan , get a grip on reality , we have a huge wage bill that needs to be brought under control and we can only do that by moving on players we dont want , The problem is they are on good money and other teams wont pay the same . Not this new boards fault , but they are trying to deal with it . We all know what is missing in the team , a center back and a winger or two , but to say that the board are fooling us by posting rumours of this and that signings is just rubbish from you trying to justify your article . Give me proof that Leeds have ever tried to get or bring back any of the players you mentioned ?? Its just total speculation and you have tried to base it as fact ..Support the team through good and bad times and if you cant support them in the bad times go and join the Man Utd , Chelsea , ManCity,ect bandwaggon and enjoy being a "fan " of a winning team , instead of being a loyal fan of our great club .
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Joe
18/8/2013 05:50:02 am
Where is this so called "smoke and mirrors" you're complaining about?!
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chris
18/8/2013 09:19:08 am
that the problem..Leeds fans don't want to wait 3 more years and then might not make it at that time..the fact they want to sell our strikers is bad bad bad news..a bad sign
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lowfields71
18/8/2013 10:38:35 pm
Who says they want to sell our best strikers.
Dave
18/8/2013 06:04:57 am
Moan moan moan. They've only had full control of the club for a few weeks, and its no secret they haven't got loads of cash. You just need to accept rebuilding the squad is a work in progress.
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chris
18/8/2013 09:27:48 am
this progress has been for 8 years and is unacceptable for a big club like leeds? 3 weeks?,,you must have been sleeping for the last 7 Month..and it was them who first said prior to the deal that they would spend at least a few Million..If I remember i heard talk of over 10 million being spent,,.I DON'T TRUST THEM! THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THE LEEDS FANS THINK
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Steve
18/8/2013 06:10:24 am
GFH just had to finish paying for the East Stand £3.5million otherwise that cash would have gone on players. Imagine if fat ken were still in charge - he'd be looking at just building more exec boxes ?
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Thomas
18/8/2013 06:41:49 am
Yes you're right the cheek of them to ask us to wait two years.
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andy
18/8/2013 06:44:28 am
Everything you say is right! Why did GFH buy Leeds if they have no money? BM is in same position as NW was had to get rid to get new players remember Norris for Clayton? He exchanged players for no imptrovement. Do we have to sell RM where will we get someone as good for 1.3million. I spend 000s of pounds on watching Leeds is money I could use elsewhere and can understand why 10k decided to use money on kids clothes or or putting food on table or paying lecci.
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john wilson
18/8/2013 06:55:10 am
You should read The National - a Bahraini news outlet available online. That gives a good insight into what is going on. Apparently, according to Nooruudin us fans have bought into a 3
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chris moore
18/8/2013 08:52:38 am
". It's
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Stuart
18/8/2013 12:46:36 pm
Well said leedsls27. GFH are trying to take Leeds in the right direction. New manager, new players and new investment. Think back 12 months and then think again. Okay we might not get promotion this year but I think (and it's just my opinion) we're in a much better place than we have been for the past number of years with Bates in charge.
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Whites till I die
18/8/2013 05:21:48 pm
Im sick of fans continually moaning about lack of spending. Have you even read what FFP means?!
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Jezaldinho
18/8/2013 07:12:27 pm
I think the whole world and his dog knows what our squad requires. Believe it or not, Brian McDermott knows it too! There's no point banging on about it now. There is obviously a very good reason why Brian's hands are currently tied and it's probably exactly as they say - the inflated wage bill. We're paying around £30k a week for players that are not going to play for Leeds United. It is very bad business to increase the wage bill when you need to be reducing it. Simple as that.
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18/8/2013 07:57:30 pm
I honestly do not know why I bother to open this site because day after day you just write negative bollocks time and time again. You call yourself a Leeds fan I cant recall you ever having written a positive supportive bloody line. We all know the issues and crap that we have been through we all know the problems GFH have picked up from Bates We all know the issues McD has picked up from that clueless long ball Warnock and not those tossers have gone and these guys are trying to rebuild you do nothing but put the boot in. Do you think Chelsea or Man C would be chasing the title without some oligarths or would they be having to build and try and find bargains eg Everton so get off your negative bollocks keyboard and go and wash the windows as I am sure you should be wearing a red shirt and be in th stadium of shite in Salford with the rest of the scum
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Mike
18/8/2013 08:25:44 pm
A bit harsh, plus there are lots of writers on here, not just one, with loads of positive articles. Top site I say MOT
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fraquar
18/8/2013 11:57:27 pm
If I was running this club my first priority would be to fix the financial mess and get back the pawned off infrastructure. To build anything worthy of sustaining requires a solid foundation.
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alwaysleeds
19/8/2013 02:44:10 am
We badly need a major investor with cash on the hip to come in and pay off the contracts of the hangers on in the team. None of the teams around us want them, they've got more sense. The only place they could go is in the lower leagues, and they probably can't afford them. There is one positive out of all this, we haven't lost a game yet.
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