Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:30 pm  

Can I add two loan rumours to my prayer list: Carlos Vela and Gael Kakuta

Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Fri Jun 04, 2010 1:22 pm  

Puig-Aubert wrote:

I wouldn't disagree with that Sibbs - to a point.

If the signings are made and its just slow to start with then all well and good. What worries me is another year of free transfers and loans - and the freebies to generally be cast offs from lower clubs. The last couple of years the excuse was that we were saving in order to buy back Thorpe Arch or that we just couldn't attract players to drop one or two divisions. Well, we didn't buy Thorpe Arch back and we're now a division higher.

There's some rumours about that Bates is only interested in surviving next year and doing it with as little as possible spent in order to sell the club in 12 months time. That's a concern.

What I'd like to see is the signing of a mix of players. Some youngsters hungry to prove they can make it in the Premier League but see Leeds as a way of proving themselves through week in week out Championship football and going up with Leeds. I'd be happy to see a few gamble freebies from the lower leagues as long shots/investments. I'd also like to see proven players from top Championship clubs or even also ran Premier League clubs.

Look at how Howard Wilkinson recruited for the promotion push - Chris Fairclough, Strachan, Sterland, Hendrie, Chapman, Vinnie Jones - all players with something to prove but still having had careers largely in the top flight. Add on the like of Andy Williams and Mike Whitlow - low league bargains to pad out the squad and grow in value after promotion.

What he didn't do was get players in on season long loans or go for free transfer older players from mid table sides or lower divisions.

I know there's plenty of time left but there's been precious little ambition shown in the transfer market for a couple of years and I'd hoped that after promotion Leeds would make a statement of intent.

Still, Gary Hooper to be the new Chapman and Alan Smith to be the new Strach.

Great post very good points well made. You know your stuff

Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:10 pm  

One of the July trialists is alegedly Maheta Malongo a Swiss striker.

27 years old, he's made 33 appearances in the conference, league 1 and league 2 over a 4 year period, scoring three goals in the process.

Top drawer.

Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Sat Jun 05, 2010 12:26 pm  

Frosties. wrote: I see that the Paul Connolly deal is all but done. Lets hope so. Held in enormous regard by the Derby fans: http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tn ... 2121385905 "He is so stupid...i reckon weeds must be favourites to go down selling beckford and signing the useless connoly...I cant understand why anyone in the ccc would want him he's slow, always caught out of position, cant make a tackle, cant jump, struggles to make a 10yrd pass, i could go on and on. He's just not a footballer. The guys a waste of space!...I'll be delighted once he's off our books...what a flop this guy has been...This is almost better news than a signing...It's about time he was bagged off... He was responsible for a number of goals against us ...lethargic and awkward ...completely inept ...he lost us so many goals...he's not even the back up RB for Derby..."

Frosties. wrote: I see that the Paul Connolly deal is all but done. Lets hope so. Held in enormous regard by the Derby fans: http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tn ... 2121385905 "He is so stupid...i reckon weeds must be favourites to go down selling beckford and signing the useless connoly...I cant understand why anyone in the ccc would want him he's slow, always caught out of position, cant make a tackle, cant jump, struggles to make a 10yrd pass, i could go on and on. He's just not a footballer. The guys a waste of space!...I'll be delighted once he's off our books...what a flop this guy has been...This is almost better news than a signing...It's about time he was bagged off... He was responsible for a number of goals against us ...lethargic and awkward ...completely inept ...he lost us so many goals...he's not even the back up RB for Derby..."

Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Sat Jun 05, 2010 12:57 pm  

Linked with Andy o'brien and Billy Sharp again. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... Sharp.html

Linked with Andy o'brien and Billy Sharp again. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... Sharp.html

Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Sat Jun 05, 2010 1:37 pm  

I've decided to be optimistic.

I believe that we'll sign 2 decent centre backs; 2 full backs, Alan Smith, Watt on loan, another really promising kid on loan, McArthur, and one of Hooper/Sharp/Nugent/Johnny Foreigner.

That is all.

Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Sat Jun 05, 2010 2:58 pm  

Puig-Aubert wrote:

I've decided to be optimistic.

I believe that we'll sign 2 decent centre backs; 2 full backs, Alan Smith, Watt on loan, another really promising kid on loan, McArthur, and one of Hooper/Sharp/Nugent/Johnny Foreigner.

That is all.

You normally are so why you posted that bitter bile from Derby fans and the sarcasm re-Connolly signing is out of character for you mate imo

Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Sat Jun 05, 2010 3:29 pm  

There isn't really any precedent that Papa Smurf will give Larry much to work with transfer wise despite the apparently healthy financial position, and activity to date, including those that have opted to go/stay elsewhere doesn't contradict that.

However, my optimism is that as Schmeicel and Paynter were signings with very little warning beforehand perhaps we'l be surprised by a Nugent or Smith and some of the dross we've been linked with - such as Connolly - will prove to be smokescreens.

Regarding Connolly specifically, I knew he was a back up player at mid table Derby, which didn't excite me, so i had a look at a link from Waccoe to what a Derby board had to say about his departure. There wasn't a single positive comment about him: he's seemingly 3rd choice right back and considered a complete liability.

Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Sat Jun 05, 2010 5:31 pm  

Puig-Aubert wrote:

There isn't really any precedent that Papa Smurf will give Larry much to work with transfer wise despite the apparently healthy financial position, and activity to date, including those that have opted to go/stay elsewhere doesn't contradict that.

However, my optimism is that as Schmeicel and Paynter were signings with very little warning beforehand perhaps we'l be surprised by a Nugent or Smith and some of the dross we've been linked with - such as Connolly - will prove to be smokescreens.

Regarding Connolly specifically, I knew he was a back up player at mid table Derby, which didn't excite me, so i had a look at a link from Waccoe to what a Derby board had to say about his departure. There wasn't a single positive comment about him: he's seemingly 3rd choice right back and considered a complete liability.

I personally wasn't really impressed when we signed Higgs last year and thought we could of got better when i heard we'd signed Kisnorbo.
Both turned out very good signings and whilst Connolly isn't rated by Derby fans i'm prepared to give him a chance and trust SG.

Re: OT - All New Leeds United thread : Sat Jun 05, 2010 5:39 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

I personally wasn't really impressed when we signed Higgs last year and thought we could of got better when i heard we'd signed Kisnorbo.
Both turned out very good signings and whilst Connolly isn't rated by Derby fans i'm prepared to give him a chance and trust SG.

For Higgs and Kisnorbo there's Crowe, McSheffrey, Dickov and arguably Doyle, Bromby, Gradel and Naylor.

When a manger is limited to freebies he's got to be very, very lucky to get many real gems.