23 Aug 2018 14:03:25
I am still not convinced we are promotion contenders. The squad is too small and lacks quality in depth. We have beaten teams who were supposed to be promotion rivals but everyone, including Wigan, are beating them. We struggled against Rotherham in the first half and were definitely second best against Swansea - fortunate to come away with a draw. Its interesting how the mind set changes. Not long ago the majority of fans were saying Cooper wasn't good enough, now it's a big blow he's injured. We are not strong enough at centre back yet. Cooper was back to his old tricks against Rotherham with a horrendous mistake which should have cost us a goal. Phillips came back down to earth with a bump against Swansea. Not convinced with Harrison yet and Baker has something to prove, Bailey Peackock-F. produces some very good saves but then makes elementary errors - a sign he is still on a learning curve and needs more time to make the grade. I have a feeling that whilst not as bad as last season we may not have the quality in depth to make a sustained challenge over the season.

1.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 14:32:16
Cracking post Hess.

2.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 14:33:54
Agree Hess 100%.
The diff is. We got a good manager.
All we need now is only for the owner to finish the job and loan a damn good centre back or two an we right!

3.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 14:51:23
You always bring a fair, reserved and cautious view to the table Hessian and that is no bad thing. It’s always easy to get carried away with early points and a good position in the league.

The difference this year is Bielsa and still too early to judge his effect over a long season. I still think it’s too early to make a confident judgement. Even one top quality loan before the window closes could make a big difference. Also the next three league games provide good tests, Norwich away, a team we need to beat, if we want to be up there, Middlesbrough, shaping up to be one of the challengers and then Millwall, always a potential banana skin.

4.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 15:30:08
The team, no doubt due to the Manager, have exceeded expectations up to now and long may it continue. But like you Hess the strength in depth is worry. It has just been on Radio Leeds that Cooper and Jannson are out on Saturday so a make shift defence for another tough away trip. I really hope we bring a bit more quality in before the window cloeses, especially a Centre Back as I would hate to see us struggle due to not speculating a bit.

5.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 15:33:28
You have to bear in mind these are Championship players and will make mistakes more frequently than Premiership quality. I do not understand your comments on Harrison and Baker - they have hardly play but both looked lively if not exactly at match peak - which will come with more playing time. There is very little to choose between any team in this division so there will be weird results week to week and less consistency. Have faith.

6.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 16:09:33
I think I agree with just about everybody Even that the new guys have not instantly impressed but that's just it it they are new guys in a new team, playing a new style with a new manager. I believe as they bed in and they get more playing time "Things can only get better". With the caveat, more players would help.

7.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 18:12:33
Harrison and Baker are yet to prove themselves precisely because they haven't had much game time. They could turn out to be good or not so good. It's these sorts of unknowns that make the our promotion prospects very uncertain.

8.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 18:19:28
Well said Hess, the problem I believe we will face is simply lack of bodies as we spent so much on so many players who are mostly now transferred out or loaned out .
Pre -season we have dithered on coach and players there have been some decent deals on championship players apart from Douglas we seemed to miss the boat .
Tues night not having a c/ b fit the field is just shocking, I'm beginning to get the real hump with AR .
Early signs are add 2-3 players and we could be in for a chance at top six, but I fear we won't.
One thing to add was Beradi on Tues if you watched him, played his heart out for the shirt .

9.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 19:09:20
A great post Hess but I've highlighted these points already and been told I'm too negative. I firmly believe radz thinks the manager he's got is job done. Radz has failed to invest. This league is for the taking. As like last season soon enough we will be figured out and we've very little squad wise for plan b. Already 4 games in and we are threadbare at the back. It also looks like we are short on strikers if we lose either bamford or Roofe what have we got. Radz spent around 5 million which leaves a lot out of the reported 20 million on the shelf.

10.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 19:55:41
Since we returned to the Championship we were in really good positions come January under Grayson and Monk, but the owners at the time failed to invest in the squad and we missed out on the play offs which looked both times to be well in our reach. I hope that if we are in the mix this time Radz backs the Manager because as Wex says this league is there to be won. That's why I would like to see two more come in now as several others on here have said as well.

11.) 23 Aug 2018
23 Aug 2018 20:16:47
Wex Well expressed. A central defender and striker even if journeymen so long as Championship quality wouldn't go amiss.