Leeds Banter Archive May 05 2015

05 May 2015 14:26:48
Mixed opinions as to whether Redfearn should be retained as the Head Coach for next season. Personally, I do not believe that Redfearn is the man to take us forward however I do accept that many would struggle under the current regime. In coming to this opinion I have considered the following points: 1. Under Readfearn's tenure we have achieved enough points to remain in the championship - Whether this should have been the height of our expectations this season is debatable however given the unstable ownership of the club what Redfearn has achieved should be appreciated. 2. No head coach/manager should have to do their role without their chosen support team - The top coaches/manager's in the world i.e. Mourinho, Guardiola etc. would struggle to operate on their own. The stats demonstrate the de-stabilising affect of removing ST. Redfearn's season Played 37, Won 14, Lost 15, Drawn 8, win percentage of 37.8%, total points 50 out of a possible 111 (1.35 points a game). With Steve Thompson Played 18, Won 8, Lost 5, Drawn 5, win percentage 44.4%, total points 29 out of a possible 54 (1.6 points a game). 3. Redfearn was not allowed to sign "his" players during the January window - Again a coach/manager should have some influence as to who is brought into the club. This point is however a double edged sword as Redfearn needs to accept that these are the terms he accepted when he took the job and if the situation was different then a coach will his limited CV might not have been considered to coach Leeds Utd. I would also be concerned with the quality of Redfearn's choices given the names being banded about during the January window included Woolford, Becchio and Danny Ward. In regards to some of the negatives of Redfearn's tenure I would consider 1. Time taken to understand when a formation is not working - Redfearn persisted with the dreaded diamond when every man and his dog clearly saw that it did not work. The move to a 4-5-1 has produced positive results but again he has become dogmatic in using that formation irrespective of the opposition. 2. Reluctance to use the players made available - Again this point comes down to the acceptance of terms when he took the job, if he is not prepared to use the resources made available then he is wasting his time under Cellino's regime because Cellino will not change. Admittedly some of the players were not up to standard i.e. Doukara however some players were never given an opportunity under Redfearn and by doing so reduced the options available to him. 3. Tactical frailty - Unfortunately the stats do not lie. In games under Redfearn where we conceded first we have picked up 10 points from a possible 48 points (16 games. In games where we scored first we have picked up 38 points from a possible 57 points (19 games. This goes to show that if plan A does not work we do not have a plan B which is demonstrated by Readfearn's reluctance to use the bench or change the tactical formation significantly. 4. Rose tinted specs for academy players - Don't get me wrong it has been the gems from the academy that have probably kept us up however Redfearn is wrong to absolve these players from all responsibility whilst condemning other players for mistakes made, it can and obviously has created division. I will also suggest that he has gone too far in pushing the academy agenda with regards to a player such as Aidy White who will again be given further opportunities if Redfearn stays because he is "one of our own". Apologies for the lengthy explanation but in summary, thank you for what you have achieved in difficult circumstances but I don't think you are the man to take us forward

05 May 2015 18:56:09
Very in depth and informative analysis of the situation regarding our current coach Notts. The answer is plain to see! Taxi for Redders! With his cv he shouldn't be out of work for long!

05 May 2015 19:49:36
Good post Notts. Whether you're in the 'team Redders' camp or not those stats are hard to argue with but then again you can make stats appear to give credibility to any argument. I'm not saying I don't agree here but these are circumstantial. What if Thompson was allowed to continue in his role? What if Cellino wan't pulling the strings and picking the team? What if Redders was given the green light to bring his own players in and not forced to play the dreaded diamond due to lack of personnel? The man should surely be judged over better circumstances. I wouldn't let my dog manage Leeds in the current climate, mind you he's strictly a 4-4-2 mongrel but he does tend to chew my slippers so swings and roundabouts me thinks.

On a more serious note, I appreciate what you're saying and you make a good argument but I still think under different circumstances with Redders we'd have achieved a top ten finish.

MM

06 May 2015 04:57:19
Good post Notts, well thought out. Biggest failing for me is that lack of plan b. Managers have to have imagination, a way to change a game favorably. He does not have this so he is not the right man. His squad and sub use is abysmal. He should still be given his Academy job but we need complete restructuring. No sporting director and a manager with autonomy and who is backed but this only happens once Cellino feels no pressure from the FL and that ain't going to transpire. We will be sold. If we are not, expect another low finish under Redfearn next May.

06 May 2015 07:43:26
Can not believe some of you are still saying Cellino is picking the team. If he is we owe him a big thank you for getting us to safety, I am just surprised he did not pick any of the players he signed, lol

06 May 2015 13:13:00
A big thank you for getting us to safety? I reckon you're on a wind up BIGE. Cellino is an egotist and loves to be in the spotlight. If he'd kept away from team affairs from the beginning and didn't make us the laughing stock of the entire football league with his constant meddling we would've finished in the top ten. Yes, I'd thank him for taking us over as we were in a complete mess under GFH, but that's all. Explain to us exactly how Cellino got us to safety when he wasn't even in the country for the most crucial part of the season? And please don't site the player he has brought in with his pal Salerno as the reason as the better players from this season were already on the books and the resurgence of Murphy and the emergence of Charlie Taylor (two of our better players) has nothing to do with Cellino.

MM

06 May 2015 20:36:10
He put Redfearn in charge,so we can thank him for that, he never picked the team any manager would have played the new players with the carp we had from last season. The formation was rubbish was that him maybe but it changed so it was not written in stone. And he was absent for an important part of season but it was Sylvestri, one of the players he bought, who ensured we got to safety not academy lads or Redders. If it was not for him we would have got hammered by Middlesborough, Ipswich and Bournemouth. We are 15th with a lot of luck not skill. The young lads are class but we need some backbone to the team, they looked out of ideas at times, not knowing how to mix it up

09 May 2015 15:33:16
I wouldn't say it was just silvestri who saved us against Middlesbrough's and ye he was best player on pitch but we still had to score n the 2 cb was great that day aswell

05 May 2015 12:19:24
I recon that we need another CB and two wingers nothing else needs changing to be honest we were just missing them quality positions i'm my opinion.

{Ed013's Note - A striker with pace would also be nice}

05 May 2015 13:21:17
Ed, I thought Ante was the pacey striker we had. I believe we should be pushing Walters up from the youth side and possibly McDaid. Not sure where they are in their development, but someone young as a plan B and doesn't mind sitting on the bench waiting for his opportunity.

With the 4-5-1 / 4-2-3-1 most teams play now, needs all the pace down the wings with point men up top.

Controvecial here, But we could retain Morison, Sharp and Ante. And have Walters pushing for a start.

Down the wings, sign 2 and keep Ajose and white as back-ups.

{Ed013's Note - I just cant see him staying mate, he did ok once he learnt the offside rule, but due to his contract issues I think he will leave. Would love to see a youth player come and play up front}

05 May 2015 14:22:13
Is it April 1st? No
Right then
Don't get that post at all then!
Must be thinking he is on Bournemouth site.

05 May 2015 15:05:47
What about 2 quality strikers mate?

{Ed013's Note - Now now, getting greedy Wilko ;-)

06 May 2015 12:34:42
I did say it was my own opinion I might get some things wrong but yeah we probs do need another striker but then think about the academy players.