Leeds Banter Archive January 03 2019

03 Jan 2019 23:04:01
January is a tightrope of recruitment and certainly not a time to gamble so any new face must have the right (MB) ethics. With the inflated prices everyone must agree that he has to be better than players already on the payroll. Not only technically gifted but have the right attitude to slot in with no disruption to the group. Any doubt then just don't even risk it.

03 Jan 2019 23:34:08
I agree with you Leodis, but there seems to be a lot of clam out for investment for investments sake without any specifics of who and whether they are actually available! I don’t think Bielsa is perfect but I think he has done enough to earn a bit of trust!

03 Jan 2019 23:36:57
Leo Disagree. Obviously the factors you list are important if not crucial but if Bub underuses excellent younglings like Shacks and Aapo then all sensible considerations are abandoned. There's a pressing need to recruit a goalkeeper. It's real simple how it's done. You actually get someone decent. There's a need albeit less pressing but it's there to acquire a winger or no.10.

Again, you get someone good. Bowen would suffice. You worry about integration later. I'd rather worry about Bowen getting up to speed with tactics which might take 6 weeks than persevering with Forshaw and playing KP continually in defence. Our worst problem should be integration. It's a simple equation now.

Twist and get promoted. Do nothing and hope to win via playoffs. We need 2 quality reinforcements. Everyone know where. Even other fans know where. It really is that simple. Leeds United need to kick their habit of overcomplicating important matters.

04 Jan 2019 07:46:07
Agreed George.

04 Jan 2019 09:51:38
Lost your trust in Bubba George!

04 Jan 2019 13:23:42
Martyn Yes, His stubborn refusal to rotate for Shacks and Halme does not sit well with me. These are fine youngsters. I don't want to see Ayling every game nor do I want to see KP get sent off because he's being played in defense. Bub is a superb coach, thinker and knows way more about the game than me but does it occur to anyone that could be his undoing and failure?

It don't take a genius to realize to rest players where you can. Maybe fact he is a genius means he misses the obvious. Mezzer made a similar if not identical point. So yes I've lost that loving feeling. I don't like foolishness. Resting overplayed personnel in a small squad when you have up and coming youngsters ought to be automatic for Bielsa brain. Instead, we get defeats and a sending off. Don't like losing and I see more of it in our future unless Radz intervenes.

04 Jan 2019 13:30:09
Where is your proof that if we do nothing we risk the playoffs George? a lot of people said that we didn't invest enough in summer and we would be mid table but has it happened?

03 Jan 2019 19:34:31
Watching the transfer news can make you envious, think Defoe could have been pretty deadly at Championship level rather than going to the two team Scottish premier.

I would still settle for a keeper and goal scoring winger but then that got me thinking that’s like playing FIFA manager.

When you consider Bub, I think his world is not that of your buy to win it Manager. I think Bub probably focusses in such minutia as whether the individual player can fit into his Bubball philosophy. I am not even certain who Bub has sanctioned to date? Blackman, Harrison were they even his choices or did he give Victor a dna printout.

So whilst I can wish and hope and refresh the transfer pages every two minutes that’s not Bubs way to date and it will be very interesting to see IF we get someone in it is not necessarily a known name but someone with the right shoe size and correct coloured eyes.

03 Jan 2019 20:25:27
Class Hence his name El Loco. We're seeing the mad obstinate refusal to look facts straight in the face as they are. Unless Radz intervenes, I foresee deflation and an attempt to scrape 6th finish.

03 Jan 2019 21:14:11
#lackofinvestment George this is what I was pulled for highlighting early in the season. Everyone knows this league is a marathon not a race. And the fact that the squad is stretched is now showing. None of Woods Taylor Cook money spent only swapped viera for bamboo Bamford.

03 Jan 2019 21:20:38
Agree george, love the guy but think he is blinkered. He doesn't stay at a club very long either on average 2 years.

03 Jan 2019 21:30:07
Think all genius is a bit flawed to be honest George. I think a theory you’ve posted previously George around Radz business challenges will mean may look to hide behind Bubs assertions that he doesn’t need anyone.

As for where we finish, think we have a genuinely strong chance of automatic promotion this year, playoffs are nailed on for me.

03 Jan 2019 22:01:46
Oh dear.

03 Jan 2019 22:02:54
Wow two losses and the sky is falling in?

Football fans . prone to self doubt

Might head over to scouser banter and see how many now doubt herr Klopp 😂😂😂😂

Keep the faith brethren

The answers come from within.

03 Jan 2019 22:13:05
Woody I think we're all clued up on what is needed to win promotion in this league. It's not doom and gloom we all want what is best for the team but the cracks are showing. We were told at the start of the season that there was 20 million for transfers and we didn't touch it.

03 Jan 2019 22:34:58
Anything happens to pablo or Pontus and we will be in trouble, no strength in depth, if his preferred starting 11 can stay injury/ suspension free then who knows, but that’s a big ask, would be naive not to replace saiz. keeper is the one position I def think we will strengthen this month.

03 Jan 2019 23:04:33
Clued up wex? This managers forgotten more than any of us know.

03 Jan 2019 23:13:36
I’m not sure what you all expected from Bielsa! He comes with a reputation and a way of playing and managing!

Do you think he is going to come to Leeds and change?

You can’t take the bits you like and change the bits you don’t! Can you really see Bielsa putting up with somone buying players he doesn’t want!

This is his opportunity, so far he hasn’t done a bad job, when a lot of you were predicting failure from the start! So he hasn’t failed yet but he’s going to fail soon!

Surely he has earned a bit of trust and respect for what he has done, which a lot of people thought was impossible!

It all sounds a bit like, well you’ve done really well doing what you believe is right, we really didn’t think you could do it it, but now you really should listen to us!

Sometimes following is a lot harder than leading!

03 Jan 2019 23:20:08
Wex You're wrong, being inaccurate and missing the point. Try to listen to George. Understand this. Radz initial strategy worked. 2019 begins and we're top. Recruiting Bielsa and not overinvesting worked. We are top. It worked. However, what worked then doesn't necessarily work now or in the imminent future. My view has ALWAYS been since almost start of season it would be INEXCUSABLE if Radz refused to twist in January if we were this high.

I am of the SAME view reinforced by recent consecutive losses, 10 goals shipped in last 360 minutes and a red card for our pivotal player. Bielsa needs to look into the future. If he won't or can't, Radz needs to step in and produce Gomez and others. It's Radz club, not Bielsa. So please try to comprehend Wex it's not lack of investment, it's more lack of investment so far but only 3 days into the window. If in 4 weeks we are still debating this then it's lack of investment and I have no doubts we shall scrape 6th or worse. Get it now?

03 Jan 2019 23:20:20
Unbelievable. We are top of table with an injury crisis.

04 Jan 2019 00:06:05
We will get Promotion but of course George, we are Leeds. It will be a sixth scrape and extra time/ penalties in the playoffs. Anything easier would just not be us.

04 Jan 2019 07:49:36
Overinvesting George are you having a laugh Radz invested very little 3.5 million for Douglas that's what was spent. We swapped viera for Bamford. Where was the investment.

04 Jan 2019 09:54:21
Buying the ground, getting in a top manager and coaching team.

04 Jan 2019 10:13:26
15 million for wood 5 million for viera cook Taylor byram money 10 million from 49ers there's 50 odd million Martyn.

04 Jan 2019 10:14:05
And you have to pay for a manager no matter who it is.

04 Jan 2019 11:09:07
I think the balance sheet will show we run at a loss every season . Isn’t the current debt £25m?

So income from transfers will go on wages ( we put a lot of young players on long contracts ) youth investment, agents fees, improved facilities and the like, plus servicing that debt

New players coming in are generally on higher wages than those going out and that all comes out the kitty

Woods transfer is still being paid, £5m a year?

It’s always not as simple as, we got £7m in and spent £7m

Of that £7m in we probably only got a fraction up front anyway

Unless you’ve access to the accounts it’s impossible to know exactly what money is available to spend

Unless you’re an idiot like Ridsdale who tells the papers to look important and allows everyone to hike up the prices.

03 Jan 2019 14:19:55
First post guys so be gentle and future posts will be shorter . Been an avid reader for a long time helping to satisfy my voracious hunger for all things Leeds Utd . Some of my favourite posters . George and Martyn . all time favourite Spanish for his incite, knowledge and never getting too carried away one way or the other, keeping all our feet on the ground . Started supporting our team in 1972 and have been on the roller coaster ever since, through the 1980's wilderness and now the 15 long years out of the prem! I, like many, believe MB to be our best manager since Wilko but that doesn't mean to question him or occasionally criticise is some how disloyal . So here are my current thoughts -

1 - I love our playing style . the commitment to playing out from the back and of course the high press . We have done amazingly well so far despite all the injuries. I keep revisiting the table after each result and checking the gap to third . we all know Leeds don't do play offs . Being Leeds I'm also half expecting disappointment and a drop off in form and results so really hope we have had our mini slump . auto promoted teams rarely lose three on the bounce and Jan and Feb will be key for us with some massive games!

2 - Some real highs and lows over the 4 holiday games and the desire and passion from the team was amazing . However, I have noticed a consistent theme over most of these games which put us in trouble . The commitment to passing out from the back and the slick inter passing is a joy to be hold when it works . However, it requires focus, discipline and precision from the keeper, back 4 and holding midfielder . When these things aren't there we shoot ourselves in the foot aka West Brom and periods in each of the 4 holiday games where we got caught in possession too close to our goal . So sorry, but for me Foreshaw has been a bit of a let down of late . I have lost count of the times his sloppy passes have got us in to trouble, I really hope it's just weariness as we'll need better from him with KP suspended . Ayling too has disappointed me . he was giving away possession too cheaply before his injury and the four games in ten days to be kind were asking too much . I think Shackleton was great in that role after Dallas got injured and should have had more game time over these 4 games . I also think it's high time Jack Clarke got a start . I know he lacks fitness for 90 minutes but this will only come with opportunities. Harrison frustrates me . He has the pace and work rate but seems to lack the confidence and decision making vital in the final third which JC naturally has in abundance .

3 - The January window . My wish list : obviously an experienced keeper as Bailey is not a number 1 ; a Saiz replacement at 10 and by that I mean the Saiz who started the season . it's no coincidence we played our best football in those first few matches with Saiz picking up the ball in the centre circle and running at the opposition . will be hard to find! ; the alternative would be a class winger to allow Pablo / and may be Brown to fill this role ; finally and I doubt they will do it but yes that mythical experienced centre back we've all been wanting for more than two seasons . Phillips, Berardi, Ayling are all capable footballers but they are not centre backs and can only fill in in short bursts before getting found out . we need a third option to PJ and LC . just wish MB saw it .

03 Jan 2019 15:50:54
Welcome on board Currie. Can not fault any of that apart from your poor choice of posters.

03 Jan 2019 16:07:33
We have no money. loan player (s) at best.

03 Jan 2019 16:19:29
Top post Redhot and welcome aboard. Good point about foreshaw but I've noticed pablo giving the ball away a lot too lately but he gets away with it being further up the field. I think the Christmas period tests every players fitness and we will be fine now bubba can give a few players a proper rest and when they come back fully charged we will resume our form. Its not just physical its mental fatigue that comes with 4 games in 12 days as we spend a lot of time studying the opposition. Jan and Feb will be harder when the rain falls and the pitches are more muddy but I believe in bielsa. MOT WACCOE.

03 Jan 2019 16:20:56
BIEGE 🤔😋.

03 Jan 2019 16:28:55
Welcome red hot! Great first post, great to have you on board! Obviously a poster of great intellect and even better taste!

03 Jan 2019 16:43:40
RHC Welcome! Superb debut post.

03 Jan 2019 16:52:32
Welcome onboard Currie. the more the merrier!

03 Jan 2019 16:55:46
Martyn, you are right about Pablo. Think he needs a rest! A lot of things he tries not quite coming off. Usually still one that does but lots not. The forshaw mistake in the last game came from a poor Hernadez free kick that Forest got hold off and broke away. I don’t want to see Hernadez or Klich anywhere near the Fa Cup side!

03 Jan 2019 17:10:43
I agree BIGE. Welcome to the mad house Red.

03 Jan 2019 17:49:04
Re Pablo, I also think it’s coincided with his switch to ten . Much more space out wide, at number 10 its such an unforgiving position it’s so tight inside that you are often having to thread passes through the eye of a needle .

03 Jan 2019 21:09:34
Welcome aboard curry!

03 Jan 2019 21:45:22
Welcome aboard red hot but I never found Edwina red hot only john major did.

03 Jan 2019 23:42:11
Boston LOL 😄.

04 Jan 2019 00:13:59
Welcome on board Currie. My only advice is to ignore the wild meanderings of some on here and merely read my balanced, inciteful posts. You will gain great knowledge, Grasshopper.

03 Jan 2019 09:06:30
Could be a long window for a lot of championship clubs! The drivers for a lot of activity will come first from the premiership big boys, Will they spend big on any UK based players? If they do that money will tumble down to the middle ranking clubs to spend. They could buy from the the relegation clubs and championship clubs whilst the relegation threatened clubs will be looking for salvation in the championship as well.

Benitez won't want to sell anyone unless he can use the money to strengthen.

At some stage somone will come knocking for Roofe, so we might need to have a last minute solution if that happens.

For me, a good window is
1. Hold onto Roofe
2. New goalkeeper capable of playing as number one
3. Gomez or the like!

Anything else a bonus!

03 Jan 2019 10:22:05
agree and throw in keep hold of pontus and I will be a very happy bunny.

03 Jan 2019 10:53:59
And another towering cf please.

03 Jan 2019 11:26:35
Which cf of ours is towering aus? Most of our centre forwards are 6 foot or below.

03 Jan 2019 11:31:59
No everyone’s getting greedy!

03 Jan 2019 12:36:12
Cb. Sorry boys. Not cf.

03 Jan 2019 18:22:30
As soon as read it I thought CB, only after I read the other posts realised Aus had put CF. I must be on the same wavelength as Aus.

Off to the Docs tomorrow!

04 Jan 2019 00:18:00
Anyone found to be on the same wavelength as Aus is immediately diagnosed as clinically insane and excused all household chores.