Say it quietly, but there is a feeling of genuine pre-season optimism around Leeds United for probably the first time in getting on for a decade.
As every Leeds fan knows, it has been a troublesome period for the club since the failure to get back into the Premier League in 2006 in the play-off final defeat to Watford in Cardiff. However, slowly, things seem to be getting better following Massimo Cellino’s takeover. No-one is getting carried away, of course, and there are likely to be more peaks and troughs (probably more troughs if we’re being honest) to come but fans appear to finally be approaching a new season with a bit of excitement and a cautious optimism as to what the campaign could hold. The disappointing departure of last season’s top-scorer Ross McCormack to Fulham has been tempered by the arrivals of several new players in the past few weeks. A lot of them are unproven in England but they come with some pedigree (mostly in Italy) and it is hoped they will be up for the fight in the Championship in the new campaign. Midfielder Tommaso Bianchi and striker Souleymane Doukara are expected to add depth to the first-team squad, while Switzerland international defender Gaetano Berardi’s move from Sampdoria on a two-year deal has been widely welcomed. Goalkeeper Marco Silvestri, who has joined from Italian club Chievo, also looks like a good purchase with the former Italy Under-21 international long tipped to have a bright future in the game. Cellino has said there will be further new signings ahead of the return of domestic football in early August – in fact it could be the busiest summer in years in terms of arrivals – with up to 10 new players tipped to be in the first-team squad come the big kick off. Exciting Roma prospect Federico Viviani is another name in the frame for a move to Elland Road, while experienced Napoli defender Alessandro Gamberini, who is 32 and has eight Italy caps, is believed to be weighing up an offer from the Whites. A lot of fans are, quite rightly, questioning the wisdom of bringing in so many players from Italy but the deals so far come as no surprise as it is the market Cellino clearly knows best. It would be beneficial to add some proven Championship players into the mix as well and that could happen in the weeks to come before the new season gets underway. There remain question marks, however, not least in the strange naming of relative unknown coach Dave Hockaday, who left minnows Forest Green Rovers last autumn following a run of poor results, as manager. To some, he appears to be a deliberate low-key appointment and someone who will almost work under Cellino, with the Italian businessman taking a very hands-on approach at Elland Road so far. Critics say Hockaday will be merely a ‘yes man’ to Cellino but he has vast coaching experience at Leicester, Watford, Southampton and Cheltenham and has apparently made a good impression on players so far. There has been far too much doom and gloom around the club in recent years but, finally, under Cellino things seem to be, tentatively at least, going in the right direction, even if a look at the latest football betting markets in the Championship have Leeds among the outsiders for a return to the Premier League next year. Time will tell if the summer optimism is misplaced, but at least some fans are daring to dream again.
17 Comments
Paul Painter
23/7/2014 05:38:32 am
I'm not sure that appointing a coach with very little track record and players with no English experience is a move forward!
Reply
simon pearson
23/7/2014 07:46:41 am
Exactly paul I hold no optimism for the new season foreign players who seem not wanted by current clubs and a coach that is completely unknown. My main concern is who is gona score the goals that mccormack did ? Hunt. Smith and morrison probably the worst strike force in the championship ....
Reply
Jim
23/7/2014 05:53:34 am
Surely better than well known useless managers and over paid journeymen who couldn't care less.
Reply
take a read through some Mansfield blogs .. leeds weren't even bothered at the game , no passion , naïve tactics , etc etc ... going to be a long long long season people , quality seriously needed and lets hope they gel ... in time for xmas . or we could be in the dreaded r zone ...
Reply
Leeds Pete
23/7/2014 06:01:35 am
Optimistic ? 2-0 loss to Mansfield with Viviani so not impressed he may not sign.
Reply
Franco
23/7/2014 06:20:30 am
Rome wasn't built in a day! At least Leeds finally seem to have an owner who cares about the club. Patience is required. Good, balanced article imo.
Reply
bruce
23/7/2014 06:36:30 am
i hate to say it. but im getting the same feeling as i did before the start of last season and was nearly right if not for mc mac? These signings are weak. We need proven players at this level to get us out of this division. We have still the same donkey centre backs, no real creative mid, no pace on the flanks and now only one attacker in smith. Noel hunt?? sunday league player. Vivianni aint gonna sign for us after watching that rubbish last night. Yes granted we have stabalised our books but squad is very light with lack of experienced quality. I fear it will be a dog fight at the bottom for us unless he gets some experienced players quickly
Reply
simon pearson
23/7/2014 07:53:17 am
Apparently hockaday has said he is happy with the current squad wat a joke. Hunt morrison and smith the worst strikeforce in the championship I feel relegation looms. Foreign players that current clubs dont want and no goalscorer oh dear ....
Reply
Tim
23/7/2014 06:58:14 am
Don Revie was a Leeds player turned manager, no experience. Enough said.
Reply
Lorenzo
23/7/2014 07:17:52 am
It's far too early to jump to negative conclusions. Embrace this different pre-season approach- it can't be any worse than the last 10 years of drivel. Other players will come in, but it may take time- in Cellino we trust. I cant wait to see how things unfold and I am very optimistic (although this was a familiar feeling last year when Murphy joined us). MOT
Reply
John Stanley
23/7/2014 07:33:51 am
If we are comfortable mid table great. The structure was dismantled previously. Solid foundations take time. The academy looks great and will bring good players through but this is not a quick fix. The overseas players will need time to adjust.
Reply
Shabaz
23/7/2014 08:24:24 am
What optimism. No optimism. No great signings just unproven talent, another mid table finish is the best for united. The club and the amazing fans could have been given a lift if for example we went for Rio Ferdinand and built a team around him like we did in the past with Giles, Strachan, but instead talent that could not get into their respective first teams in Italy. However we will keep on buying the new club merchandise and travel home and away. Marching on together
Reply
Disgruntledasever
23/7/2014 08:35:40 am
Will the McCormack money be recycled into new players or will Cellino be another manager to treat us as a cash cow?
Reply
Disgruntledasever
23/7/2014 08:46:16 am
We should change our song to "And we've had one up and a million downs"!
Reply
P.S
23/7/2014 09:14:33 am
This is the time for all supporters to support their team they will need us in the coming months. If the new owner can experience the passion of the leeds supporters he will likely invest more. He appears to do buisiness from the heart as well as the mind. He is the only guy who stepped up and invested in our future. It's time to get behind him and the team with patients and support. We must be realistic and say if we don't get the results the coach will go but at least it won't break the bank.
Reply
paul
23/7/2014 04:51:24 pm
take it this drivel is by rob atkinson, as he dare not post anything on his site after waccoe (who he tried to rebrand thiccoe) had his pants down, typical when he thinks he is clever someone takes him back down and his own site is silent for up to a week after due to him spitting his dummy out yet again, because some site does not want his quite sad reviews of what he thinks.
Reply
dave
24/7/2014 03:39:52 am
What's the difference between toast and Italians?
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
![]() CategoriesArchives
January 2019
|