03 Jul 2018 12:44:53
Ok, we got Baker but here's who I think we would need to challenge for promotion next season. I stress these aren't necessarily rumours, but what I think we'd need in detail.

GK - We need something here. It sounds like Miazek is pushing on so happy with him for emergency 3rd back up. BPF is a toss up for 1/2. I think pre-season will tell there. (I'd give him the chance personally as he did nothing wrong last season) . Don't want Stockdale, he's been really poor for awhile and I don't want us to pay him what he'd demand for a maybe fix. Blackman possible.

DF - This got really stretched last year. I think losing Ayling when we did cost us top half (tho still not play-offs) . Cooper might be a leader off the field but defo not on it. Pontus had a below par season too but for now I say that's because of inconsistency and not being able to trust Cooper/Berardi/De Bock. I'd demote Cooper to backup, De Bock out completely, and Berardi backup as he can play both sides. Joe Bryan in from Bristol for LB, bit surprised we loaned out Coyle. Bartley or similar commanding CB in.

Midfield - This is where changes need to happen. Can we continue to rely so heavily on Hernandez as he gets older. No. Poor injury record career to date, and stamina already in decline. quality player but can't carry the team like he did 2 yrs ago and some decline evident last year. Saiz might just blossom under Bielsa, but he could wilt too, real hard to call. Alioski similar. Some glimpses of talent last season went missing too often after excellent start. Call it season 1 adjustment or he's been found out already? Sacko out.

Personally had a soft spot for Dallas but lots of injuries last term. Hold til Jan. O'kane not even worth a discussion out, Klich is an odd one seems to play well in Holland, not here, out. Midfield three of Vieira forshaw, Baker. Bring in one from Foden, P. Roberts, Harry Wilson fr wide creativity to take over-reliance on Hernandez. Phillips needs to add something to his game asap or he's gone.

FW looks like most focus is here. Out Grot, Antonsson, Ekuban. Roofe is worth a role but backup. in Vydra, and I desperately think Erling Haaland. A quality player who says he wants to win PL specifically with Leeds? Give him the chance to prove it by trying to sign him. Passion like that is almost worth more than his talent which is considerable. don't want Hernandez/Mbakgou.

Hernandez seems to be waiting for best deal, no commitment there. Mbakgou over Haaland would be a joke. Would seem risky to go just with Vydra, Roofe Haaland, but we have Clarke, Dalby, Edmondson, Temenzukhov all doing great things. I actually expect one of them to break pre-season with the big club.

Future is bright in this position and Haaland could lead the line for a decade (or more if we go up) . Why would Haaland sign for United after what went down between his dad and United? Makes you wonder why they'd even try

1.) 03 Jul 2018
03 Jul 2018 13:01:35
great post. haaland seems good and yes he sleeps in a leeds kit or whatever but they said all this about martin odegaard when he signed for real. he's now been relegated into the second dutch division after a season long loan there. for me you need a number 9 like mitrovic. appreciate his price tag so something of a lesser extent is required. i'm feeling Griffiths, or hooper maybe. Norwich have just signed pukki, and he's an excellent striker imo. if we don't have another signing by the end of the week ill be seriously worried. Defence I think we need to give up on bartley. I think we need a left back more than a cb, we have cover at cb, but nobody really knows what the plans are except orta and bielsa. who saw baker coming, that was pretty much a 24 hour thing. can see bryan going to Bournemouth with daniels the wrong side of 30 now. as for us, I like the look of that augustinsson for Sweden at the world cup, keep an eye on him this afternoon he's a solid lb, and would work well with jansson and fit in well. Auxterennte keeps coming back up who worked under bielsa before. I hope he does sign a few of his favuorites that he's worked under. I like that he came in with the immediate target of vyrda, I think that one will be done soon. Hernandez should be dropped now, he is all about the money and is a glory striker looking for a happy pay day, we want someone with haalands ambition, but whos proven, maybe shane long worth another go. GK situation really needs to be assessed.

2.) 03 Jul 2018
03 Jul 2018 13:09:15
Well looks like Mbakogu isn't an option anymore as Bielsa scuppered another naff target of Orta, still a few quality players short of an assault on top 6 but signings of the ilk of Vydra and Bartlett and were looking good, agree on Stockdale he ain't good enough think Bielsa may have an ace or two up his sleeve yet, hope so.

3.) 03 Jul 2018
03 Jul 2018 14:24:02
Alex are you related to Samo?

4.) 03 Jul 2018
03 Jul 2018 15:58:22
Lol Martyn! You mean we have another novelist among us? Good post tho, with some good points Alex. Now that I've taken the time to read it all!

5.) 03 Jul 2018
03 Jul 2018 18:15:45
What happened at the end. I feel asleep. Only joking. 😂😂😂
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