The Flying Scotsmen and other transfer news...

By Adam Walker

So, Robert Snodgrass has finally left. Stating he could have left a while ago too but still managed to thank us for all we had done for his career... thanks Rob.

Warnock has been telling us for ages now about the dangers of turning heads, especially from our greatest players. Us fans on the outside, mostly optimistic know half the story. If Snodgrass, a player who has been with us for a fair amount of time now see's it fit to leave for the Premier League now, instead of wait a year until our supposed promotion back to the top flight then you have to ask is there something going on that we don't know about.

Snodgrass obviously can't have a great opinion of Warnock or his former team-mates if he is not willing to wait a year. Makes you wonder whether promotion is on the cards. After looking at our squad at the moment I'm not too sure. However in better news another Scotsman, Ross McCormack has hinted at a new contract which I'm very pleased about. He's a great poacher and a great finisher of the ball too. By far our best striker at the moment.

As I write this we have a squad of twenty-five players. Some of these are transfer listed too which gives Warnock a small squad to work with. We're just two weeks away now from the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers and I'm not sure we will have the strength and depth required to compete in this division which from the past two seasons is no walk in the park. I'm desperate for Leeds to get rid of some of the players I consider to be dead wood now. There are players such as Paynter, Nunez and Connolly still lurking about Thorp Arch who need to go for the good of the club and for the good of their career. Paynter looks to be going places although his trial with Blackpool has been cut short after Ian Holloway has obviously seen all he needs to see. Not a lot I imagine. Hopefully he'll get offloaded to a club showing interest in league one as that is where Paynter can truly excel. Haven't heard of any rumours regarding Nunez or Connolly but I'm sure they'll end up going eventually. Just not sure who would want them. That said I wouldn't mind a loan deal for Nunez as I reckon he just needs more experience. I don't think he's Championship standard but when he gets going he can be a very handy player to have. Since Snoddy's departure too we're going to need some wingers.

The signings Warnock has made so far have been mixed. I believe in some players and others I don't. I believe that players such as Austin, Pearce and Kenny will be the best signings. Norris, Gray, Drury and Green I'm not too sure about. They're all ageing but not in a good way like Kenny as keepers tend to get better as they get older.

The kind of players I would like to come in are as follows;

First- Team Right- back - Lee Peltier looks like the man to fill this huge gap. I'd love him to come to Leeds after being a great servant at the back for Huddersfield Town over the years. Connolly is no good and we could even do with a backup right back too. Although Lees could fill in there if needed as he does a solid job there. The right-back needs to be strong, one who can get back quickly and can also put in a solid tackle when needed.

Rotational Left- Back - I don't believe Drury is the man to take us to new heights at left- back. I'd like to see a new, possibly younger left-back but with some experience at a good level. Someone between the ages of 20-25 maybe. Maybe someone for the long run. I'd also like them to have the dogged determination to chase down the ball like Aidy White does.

Creative central-midfielder - After Snodgrass has left I'm looking around the squad to find someone who has the eye for that killer pass to our strikers or wingers who will be trying their hardest to get in those killer positions. I'd like a more attacking midfielder as the midfielders we have and have signed this summer are more defensive I believe and don't possess the attributes we need to get the balls to the strikers. However I think Warnock has finished with his midfielder search which worries me.

Winger who can operate on both flanks : Aidy White looks to be one of Warnock's favourite players and I reckon he is going to be one of the most used players in the coming season. Although he is left-flank by trade Warnock has been playing him on the right. Meaning the opposition will study his game, knowing that White will always be looking to cut inside. In my opinion this won't work. Snoddy did this time and time again and sure enough the opposition analysed this and were able to double up on Snodgrass and regain possession. I would like to see White back on the left and a true right-winger come in on the right to deliver the right balls on his stronger foot to players waiting in the box to nod or tap home. White will also benefit from sending balls into the box on his stronger foot too.

All round striker - McCormack and Becchio are great strikers on their day but both of them suffer from goal-droughts and poor performances. This is usually when the whole team isn't performing but still. I believe that we need a striker who can bag over twelve goals at least this season and link up with whoever he is playing with well enough to secure the mighty whites the wins we so desperately desire. I would like to see a tall and pacey player make his way to Leeds. Someone like Beckford, but not Beckford because that story is utter tosh. He's not coming back, he's just the new Alan Smith story.

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