By Jason BathamWith only 3 weeks to go until the 2014/15 campaign gets underway with a tricky trip to London to face Milwall, excitement and optimism is building once again as Leeds United begin a new era under Massimo Cellino.
This time last year, we had already captured the signature of Luke Murphy from Crewe Alexandra, pipping Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers to the highly rated 23 year old midfielder. Luke came through Crewe’s academy system and was their club captain before joining Leeds last July. Luke became the club’s first seven figure sum signing since Richard Cresswell joined the whites in 2005. With the £1 million price tag weighing heavily on his shoulders, all eyes were on Luke as the 2013/14 season kicked off at Elland Road and he didn’t disappoint the expectant fans as he netted an injury time winner to give Brian McDermott’s men all 3 points against Brighton and the Leeds faithful were expecting more of the same from the talented youngster. Unfortunately, he didn’t score again for over 8 months, yes 8 months, when he netted a brace at home to struggling Blackpool which proved to be the club’s first win under Cellino. It was revealed after the game that Cellino himself had asked Murphy to play in a more advanced role to try and get the best out of him and he ended up scoring in each half with 2 fantastic finishes. Coincidence? I think not. Having travelled all over the country following the lads last season, disappointingly I only saw glimpses of the player who scored 9 goals, created 12 assists and was named in the PFA league 1 team of the year the previous season. His work rate was second to none every game but he didn’t fulfil his potential or improve as the disappointing season wore on. He is brilliant at breaking the play up, getting stuck in and playing the simple pass but I found it frustrating as we didn’t see much of the attacking side to his game, running with the ball, taking men on and scoring on a regular basis like he did during his time with Crewe including the 2011/12 season as they won promotion from league 2 via the play offs. You have to wonder what this was down to. Was it the lack of quality playing alongside him? The constant switching of formations? The pressure and expectancy? The step up from league 1 to the championship? The off field mayhem? Not getting paid on time? The truth is that all of the above have contributed to a dreadful season for us which ultimately meant that we didn’t see the best of Luke Murphy. With Cellino’s decision to hire a coach, Dave Hockaday, the players rolling in with a transfer budget of £15 million including wages, Luke having adapted to the championship and all the off field problems and debt finally cleared, things are looking stable once again and I believe that he will fulfil his potential and remind us why we were so desperate to sign him last summer. With the correct coaching and tactics, we should see a much better player and have a positive season, I’m sure I said the same last year though! A consistent and confident Luke Murphy can only be a good thing for Leeds United.
14 Comments
Tare
19/7/2014 06:07:43 am
Chris Dawson v Luke Murphy well no competition at all. In any given day CD is my selection.
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paul
19/7/2014 07:04:41 am
That's funny tare you fool cd has not been anywhere near first team since his appearence when colin was desperate and gave in to fans demand for youth and he was only one worthy of chance as poleon was shite. Well cd hardly set game alight with his own physical stature did he hence why he has not been mentioned again on a leeds teamsheet
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MiggyWhite
19/7/2014 06:12:46 am
Good article, I'm also pretty sure that Murphy will only get better and come good
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paul
19/7/2014 07:01:32 am
Shit article and as for one mil price tag, do you actually beleive what media cook up? Of course leeds will say wolves and blackburn were after him but did either clubadmit it? Leeds were just trying to look good as after all if one of these two really did bid one mil then leeds would have lost out as at time they had no money of that sort
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J
19/7/2014 07:18:06 am
paul, you need to do some research, both clubs had £1million offers accepted for murphy and he was at blackburn when leeds contacted him, they thought they had signed him and we literally pinched him just before he signed. It was a crazy day or 2 when it happened.
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Tare
19/7/2014 09:25:54 am
Paul some feedback here Chris Dawson v Luke Murphy well any given day it is CD. And why this comes from the long LUFC history when Midfield Generals were the Head Lines in National Press. John Giles, Tony Currie, Alex Sabella (yes coach of Argentina) John Sheridan, Gary McAllister, you name it. This boy LM is nowhere near in this class but CD is. I have seen him playing six times U21s last season and there he is MF general from our ranks....
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Jeff
19/7/2014 11:49:44 am
Tare, you never make sense do you even watch Leeds or Football?
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Tare
19/7/2014 08:07:26 pm
Sorry to say but I stick to my view but LM well he was a legend at Crewe but bum boy role at Leeds is more probable.
Ropey Wyla
19/7/2014 11:48:02 am
Murphy/Chris Dawson, no real need to compare them as of yet, besides IF Viviani signs I doubt we'll be seeing much of either of them apart from on the bench.
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True White
19/7/2014 05:11:29 pm
Good comments. If we get all of that lot on board plus a couple of surprises then we are really on our way! It will be interesting to see who is going through the exit door in the next couple of weeks as well.
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NottsWhite
19/7/2014 06:47:28 pm
Tare, you are talking absolute nonsense. I watched Dawson being tossed around like a rag doll by Coutts in his one and only 1st team appearance. Suggesting that Murphy is physically inferior is a joke
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Tare
19/7/2014 09:47:29 pm
True White, I never ever talk BS in any sites where I visit.
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Buzza
19/7/2014 08:30:42 pm
CD /LM neither player good enough if we av aspersions of champions league again we need to focus on new quality players comin in. Up the LEEDS!!!!!!
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LUFC white
20/7/2014 01:34:29 am
Seriously lads where is the positivity. Everyone slagging off Chris Dawson the guy is 19 give him a chance, he has lots of potential and maybe could do with a loan spell to further develop.
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