By Mark RasdallIn my last post I queried whether Brian McDermott's tenure at Leeds United was coming to an end. Like many LUFC fans I still really hope that he is the one to galvanise owners, fans and players and re-build our great club that we have been so passionately following for so many years. Brian is still there - perhaps it is because of the takeover not happening yet?
Today, after a ten day break which had given the team chance to 'recover' and with the promise of quick, attacking football on the 'front foot' and with 'lots of crosses into the box' more than three thousand faithful Leeds United fans went to the edge of the Tees with a true goal fest in mind. In the event the team were ponderous, at best pedestrian and always predictable - perhaps it is because of the takeover not happening yet? Jack Butland was and is a fantastic prospect but, in true Leeds United style, we will let him return to the Midlands because we won't be prepared to pay for a player that Roy might yet take to the World Cup in Brazil in the summer - perhaps it is because of the takeover not happening yet? Pearce and Murphy played their hearts out. Murphy may not yet be displaying the ingenuity we hoped of him but he tries so hard as does Ross McCormack. The problem is that, starved of any kind of service, McCormack comes so deep that his threat is diminished because of it - perhaps it is because of the takeover not happening yet? Brian McDermott tells us that the side are now playing in the formation he favours. Surely that does not mean though that he cannot see when it is not working? Noel Hunt is also trying really hard and I absolutely applaud that, but what chance did he have against giant defenders such as Woodgate and Friend (and make no mistake, If there is one Championship fixture Jonathan Woodgate will be up for every season it is this one)? Perhaps it is because of the takeover not happening yet? Brian may once have seen that our wingers had 'pace to burn' but none of us have yet. Maybe they are still unfit or just frightened to play for Leeds United? Maybe they need more time and good pre-seasons behind them? Or maybe, as with Peltier at Leicester, Reading and Palace and Hull have all bitten Brian's hand off in offloading players that they could see would not be good enough to play for their teams? Or, perhaps it is because of the takeover not happening yet? Austin was truly woeful today and he is a player who either seems to be on it or absolutely off his game. Why can Brian not see this and make changes? Why does he not see when energy levels have fallen and introduce fresh legs? Smith got eight minutes today and yet made a real impact. OK it was like watching Stoke City play but it was the only period in the match when we really looked like scoring. Maybe we really just don't have the quality players we need or perhaps it is because of the takeover not happening yet? Brian was impressed with us producing a clean sheet today against a team that have less chance of scoring than a one-legged hooker. Maybe we should watch the clothes in the washing machine go round instead then? At least we'd have more movement and see different shapes at play. Or perhaps it is because of the takeover not happening yet? You see the takeover I am talking about is not the club takeover that a belligerent and unsupportive Football League may still block. It is the one that Brian and his coaching team should have completed by now. Yes he inherited the pension fund pressure of Neil Warnock but we had no shots on target today (remember Hull and Barnsley away last season?). Yes he had to turn things around to avoid relegation at the end of last season and professed his faith in the amazing aerial ability of Luke Varney who then refused to play for him. Yes, his hands have been tied in terms of who to bring into the club but he has brought players in that he either sticks to like glue or simply lets them slide off of the bench and into obscurity. Brian has to take over the minds of players and convince them that they are good enough to play for Leeds United because whereas too many were lazy under Warnock too many now look frightened under McDermott: frightened to take players on; to try something different; to actually make penetrating passes; to take risks. Maybe Brian needs someone at the club to convince him that he is really good enough and tactically astute enough to manage a club like Leeds United? It hasn't been easy and we loyal fans may not be easy to live with but football is not about an easy life unless you are Wayne Rooney. Brown for Austin and Poleon for Kebe might have been wise replacements in the second half today but they never came. We used to hammer Warnock for his lack of technical nous and being behind the times. I still think Brian is on the way up and has much to learn himself. Everyone needs time to do that. I think he should blood younger players in our remaining games now that the Play-Offs are well and truly beyond us and if he really believes in 'taking the handbrake off' then convince the players - not us - that he really means it. Perhaps it is because of the club takeover not happening yet that it is still too early to judge Brian but I hope we see a lot more evidence of his own tactical and motivational makeover if not takeover before the end of this season.
20 Comments
Malcolm Hayes
22/2/2014 04:18:44 am
You are spot on but you missed the most important statement
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Kennybromv
22/2/2014 08:04:24 pm
Totally agree Cellino will be thinking after yesterday do I really trust him with my money seven subs might as we'll have gone shoping as he made no effort to change the outcome of the game fear for Brian' team played without any purpose or pattern and saw nothing of this free flowing attacking football we were promised last days for Brian
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22/2/2014 04:26:26 am
I'd rather see Mowatt on rather than Brown. Brown puts it about and can't be faulted for effort but his distribution is appalling. And that's not good in midfield.
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22/2/2014 06:58:58 pm
It depends what you expect Mowatt to do in midfield? He has no defensive quality at all - he can't tackle and he runs like someone has put concrete in his boots. As for Hunt running his bollocks off - big deal.......he offered no attacking threat, just like every other game I have seen him play in for us. He isn't good enough - simple as that. Rudy was completely invisible again and I am afraid that this one week good/one week bad thing isn't acceptable. The one thing I do agree on is that we lack a quality midfielder to partner Murphy and I would add that we need a proven goal scorer to work alongside Ross.
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Jimmy
22/2/2014 04:29:54 am
Beautifully written and very eloquent. Well done! Winning is not about who you pick or what formation you use, it's about habit,confidence and momentum. It really doesn't matter who is the manager at the moment at Elland Road unless Leeds have money and financial stability required nothing is going to change. Cellino is probably our best bet for success and if McDermott ends up losing his job through no fault of his own. Hey Ho!
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Russ
22/2/2014 05:24:47 am
Squad just not good enough! No control or creativity and certainly no excitement! Clear out needed in the summer but until then then lets have a look at some of the young lads we've got including getting back those out on loan and see if we can unearth a few gems - we've got a good recent record of developing young talent!
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22/2/2014 06:06:19 am
What we all need to realise is the pressure Brian is under.Lose and he is gone.So a draw is as good as a win in his eyes.How would you like the boss who tried to sack you stare at you from the stands.Jeeeez .Then have to listen to the fans who faught to keep him at Leeds turn their back on him.Time will tell how Cellino will react to all the sack the manager shouts he is now hearing cos his sons will will no doubt be telling him."look dad you can sack him now".
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halifax white
22/2/2014 07:28:38 am
so true but I think a bad result against qpr next week and that will be the end of his tenure
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Yorkshire whites
22/2/2014 07:22:08 am
We are a mid table side as for the take over the sooner the better
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Graham williams
22/2/2014 03:26:41 pm
Great deal for Butland which seems to show we have some money to spend? If thats the case go out and get a forward on loan!!! We are screaming out for help ip front for Ross Mac and a proven goal poacher
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Mike
22/2/2014 04:47:33 pm
Was it me or does Kebe look a defeated man, he looks like the world is upon him Stewart I have yet to see him beat a man.
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Dale
22/2/2014 09:06:15 pm
Completely agree, Kebe had a shocker and I don't rate him at all. It seems as soon as the TV cameras turn up, the team doesn't bother. Every game that has been televised we have been poor. I certainly agree about the authors Stoke comment!!
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22/2/2014 06:05:55 pm
Brian is totally out of his depth....his substitions always seem to be reactive rather than proactive....kebe is totally awful ...couldnt control a ball if he was the only player on the pitch ......has he even crossed a ball for Leeds ?
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chris corbett
22/2/2014 06:59:08 pm
I am a 60 year old from London supported Leeds from the age of 8 I had the best years with Leeds and yes we miss players like we had in the Glory Years with players like Cooper Clark Jones Charlton Hunter and so on, but dont worry we will be there again one day I just hope its before I die. Keep faith
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Peter Ibison
22/2/2014 09:38:35 pm
Ha let's hope yup live to be 120 Chris!!!
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I would have imagined that Cellino was horrified at yesterdays performance. He knows now first hand why GFH wanted McDermott sacked on Crazy Friday. After 10 months in charge there has been NO improvement in football quality and as the season is still far from over re top 6 something serious must be done.
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Neil Meakin
22/2/2014 09:17:53 pm
Having watched us play I am sorry to say we are not a football team! We don't have anyone who can have the ball at his feet then pass it ( on the floor) to a team mate. How many passes did we string together? 2 - 3 at most! ! It's all hoof it up in the air or in the channels (which is great if Ross wasn't dropping deep to help to create something).Kebe was a waste of time god only knows what he was brought in for he did sweet fa all day. Ffs we need to play with belief not fear! !! GET IT DOWN AND CONTROL THE BALL.
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dave T
23/2/2014 05:46:32 am
Kebe has exceptional talent shown in small doses at leeds. Battlers look good when playing hoof ball not footballers. The football we play now seems to be more warnock than warnock played. Leeds fans hate hoof ball and I am pretty sure an Italian will hate that very boring and unsuccessful english coaching manual style of play too.
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