By Rob AtkinsonIt's been a whirlwind twenty-four hours for Leeds fans. A body of support which had grown moribund on a relentless diet of pessimism and discouragement has suddenly had the equivalent of a million volts pumped through it. The twin news stories of boardroom changes (the good sort) AND a possible seven-figure signing, the first since 2005, have acted like the proverbial bolt of electricity on Frankenstein's monster, or a major injection of caffeine to revive a comatose model of apathy. Good news? At Leeds United?? You're kidding me. Hmmmm, where's the catch?
There may yet be a catch, of course. Things rarely turn about so positively, so fast or so completely down at LS11. The last time we signed a player for over a million ponds, it was Richard Cresswell in 2005. We weren't that long out of the Premier League, and the memory of being big fish in the transfer pond was vivid to us then. Now though, it seems like another lifetime, with a succession of loans and freebies making up the bulk of the playing staff over the last eight years. And yet the news today - Day One of the post-Bates era - is that Luke Murphy, a highly-coveted, richly-promising young midfielder from that cradle of emerging talent Crewe Alexandra, may be signing for Leeds United for a fee in excess of one million pounds. So what next? More signings in the same vein, as Brian McDermott builds a squad to his own liking? Or will it be a case of "after the feast comes the reckoning"? The cynics - and I'm normally of that brotherhood - will immediately raise the spectre of outgoings to "free up money" for this apparent incoming. Sam Byram's name will be on many lips - surely a done deal for the sale of our boy wonder is what's behind this sudden flash of transfer market confidence? There's been a whisper also of a bid around a million being accepted for Ross McCormack, the deal failing to materialise only because the player himself didn't fancy the move. Whatever the case, Bates being gone and the strong hint of a richly-talented passing midfielder coming in for actual money - that's heady stuff for long-suffering Leeds fans. We'll have to see whether the summer carries on in this new and unfamiliar, upbeat direction - or whether we're all about to be brought back down to earth again with an almighty bump, as normally happens. Meanwhile, it's good to see virtual smiles on virtual faces in the Leeds United web-world; long may it continue. If the new regime at Elland Road wanted to start the Bates-less epoch at Leeds United by hitting the ground running, they've certainly managed it - just by the increased quality of the rumours. If this trend continues, then the next couple of weeks might just be very interesting indeed.
10 Comments
Gibbo27
30/6/2013 11:21:02 pm
I smell a rat... I think that we have offloaded Lees or Byram and GFH are softening the blow with a PR stunt. Where else could the cash have come from...
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Tyler75
30/6/2013 11:43:31 pm
Just maybe GFH aren't quite as skint as they would have us believe ? More likely quite a few contracts expired on 01 July plus Morrison's move to Millwal has probably freed up a chunk of money that could be re-invested. Other possibility of course is there's an agreement in place for Byram to be sold with a year long loan -back and Brian Mac given the funds to bild a squad;I can't see him putting up with Byram or Lees being sold over his head.
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Gibbo27
30/6/2013 11:52:41 pm
I hope it is good news, but for me there's to many high profile people, Gray, McCormack etc. talking about lots of interest from prem clubs for Byram and Lees. It was only a few days ago the club said a one in, one out policy. Then 1mil appears from nowhere... The maths don't add up without an hitherto unknown x. Hope I'm wrong.
Irving08
1/7/2013 12:05:51 am
I agree that BM would not want tehm sold over his head, but he's a realist and has a job to do, which is to build a team that can actually create something: personally, I think we would be still vulnerable to goals against, with the defence we ended with last season, no matter how well they are coached - no height and little height in central defence and now at left back too with W. What we could do, with a creative mind in central midfield, is to be much more effective going forward. Tough choices may have to be made, but at least BM appears to be choosing well, if Murphy is coming - and we haven't had that since Gary Macr (bar Gradel).
Mike
1/7/2013 08:03:31 am
Maybe just maybe they didn't want bates to take any glory
Tyler75
1/7/2013 12:29:50 am
The club have just announced a new partnership deal with Sky BET- looks like this is where the money has come from for Murphy. Hopeully there's some more for Brian Mac to spend on Matt Mills.
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Chris Meegan
30/6/2013 11:27:25 pm
Am just overjoyed by the latest transfer news! Really thought most of the signals from our beloved club were negative for the coming season....and suddenly this has happened! Am I dreaming? I know success is hard earned....but the promise of young, hungry players with a point to prove may be fulfilling before our very eyes!! Pudseyjunior
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Danny
1/7/2013 12:22:59 am
I dont think we are selling anyone that McD needs to build his team, the dead wood has freed up the wages, Morrison has helped with more money, it annoys me that we cant take good news without trying to to but a damper on it, we dont know the money McD has, only him and club do, he may have millions but why does the club have to tell the fans, they dont, he has been told to wheel and deal which doesnt mean sell top players, if we have 11 midfield players, get rid of some, wheel and deal with them, if we do sell Byram, it doesnt mean club have no money, he is a good player but football is about a team, not a player, if we got 6m for him and McD got three good talents for that, which he is proven to do, isnt that a good thing for the team, we as fans need to stop with the dark ages, Bates has gone, get behide McD, the owners and sing proud
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shazzan
1/7/2013 12:33:03 am
Perhaps we have been so drained of good news ever since Bates took over that we are like Pavlovs dogs and we now only expect bad news on transfers. If Murphy comes in that will be a show of ambition but we do need to keep all our best players. By the way Leeds when are we going to see an updated first team squad on the official website. MOT
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Mr orange
1/7/2013 12:48:07 am
The signs have been there for months , GFH are going to do the business , first step push Colin out the door , second get Brian in and now back him ,,, get on odds checker boys and back the mighty whites for promotion this season , we are going up !!!!
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