Leeds Banter Archive January 07 2015

07 Jan 2015 20:38:37
I've read all the posts over the last couple of days, weighing up the issues, points and opinions raised. What emerges is a picture of a club in complete disarray. The manager (Coach?), bless him, appears tactically inept at this level and unable to put a team together that will dominate any other team we play. Posters were divided about the likes of Warnock and Pierce, whilst others definitely want "Average Joes" like Norris, Hunt (now thankfully gone) Sharp and Murphy out. Developing the younger players by playing them as first choice divides opinion, and the only popular Italian import appears to be Antenucci. I know we lost at Sunderland, but shouldn't the changed line-up be giving Redfern a big fat clue? And now we are contemplating bringing in nonentities like Bamba and Grandi O'Goyi, or past servants like Luciano - sadly over the hill. Nobody at the club seems to have a sensible, coherent, strategic and tactical plan - more a blueprint for headless chickens. I have actively supported this club for 53 years and despite the disasters of the last decade (thanks Ridsdale, Bates and GF), cannot ever remember the club drifting rudderless like this. Unless the owner, and a good, experienced coach/manager AND the players take some responsibility and soon, rest assured, the club will go down. Maybe a group of us who post on here and can see through the fog should offer to meet MC and Redfern and tell them a few home truths. One thing is for sure - meandering around pretending everything is going to be OK and getting rid of inadequate players and replacing them with more passengers just ain't the answer. This is always a depressing time of year - but it's getting more and more tempting to veer towards the suicidal! (only joking. it's not quite that bad yet!) MOT!

Great post
We are headless
What is the clubs philosophy
We need a staergy like Swansea had
Even if we was like Crewe developing players to a point then selling them on for money to invest into a stabilise the club and move forward gradually
If I knew the philosphy of the club I would be happier
Or is it
Buy a lot of cheap Italians pay them peanuts and hope a team appears out of it very shoddy in my eyes
As it clear is not working

Good post, it's worrying times.

07 Jan 2015 23:22:05
Great post jag.If someone gets to have a word with MC & NR just tell em width width width to give our strikers a chance!

08 Jan 2015 05:21:38
Top top post marktenjag

07 Jan 2015 20:31:59
Hey bw where u been? Me and speedy missed your banter and regarding becchio I would have him back on loan whatever people thought of him he did cause problems for defences with his no nonesence battling in the box worth a punt?

07 Jan 2015 18:44:10
Still no wingers linked hope redders dunt think the formation at sunderland is the answer better than the dimound though what was is so wrong with 4-4-2 bamba n 3 wide men jobs a good en 4 me dint sum1 on here say chris eagals is a free agent now if so iwould of thought redders would be on a player in that mould?
lufc4life

07 Jan 2015 16:30:05
not sure how our finacnes are but even if they are good I would think beccio and lennon would be amazing signings
. I never call for ex players and prefer to look forward however both have class and know club and division well-ish. better than what we have and could do a great job and seem to be no real risk in terms of fees and would be happy for chance to play and be hungry to do well MOT as things have not gone as well as I would of hoped. becchio and annucci would be best partnership in division and sharp and becchio is also full of goals, with lennon giving pace and maybe even sign me, I am a zidane type player but would fill in the batty role as that is needed and I am happy to put clubs needs above my own and will do this for just 25k a week bargin

BW, where the F*** have you been?
I've heard it was a med cruise with the Hock.
I feel even keener to get Beccs back when I hear that he's virtually begging us to come and get him. There would be no shortage of effort from him, and if you were playing you could make sure he had plenty of service

{Ed001's Note - 18-30 holiday maybe?}

Where did the Lennon link come from or is it just another joke. We could also move for Milner and Delph>!!

09 Jan 2015 00:46:57
Lennon link was my suggestion to Cellino.

07 Jan 2015 15:52:45
Aaron Lennon has pace. We into former players. Let's go in for him. He leaving Spurs this month.

He is probably on 4 times our top earner, we could probably afford his left boot.

Mind you, that would be an improvement on what we already have.

Oooooh, Alan Smith.

Bloody hell, he is still only 27.

There will be a host of decent sides after him, West Ham and Liverpool to name 2 although he'll probably stay in London

07 Jan 2015 18:13:49
Would it be so terrible to offer him 15 a week? Sharp would fill his boots with service like that.

07 Jan 2015 19:14:28
We have a sell on clause, so a decent fee for Lennon will put some money into next season's transfer kitty.

07 Jan 2015 14:14:16
In regards to the rumour regarding bringing Becchio back on loan, Becchio's fitness is questionable and nobody can possibly know what sort of form he is in, however as he is readily available on loan I would suggest that he is not in great form. He may well know the Club and the League but we do not have the time for a player to try and regain match fitness and form.

If we were guaranteed the Becchio that left the club in Jan 2013 then I could see the merit in bringing him back but due to the transfer restrictions and our current league position I would see Becchio as a luxury we could not afford. I would even go so far as to say that Redfearn is demonstrating a lack of experience or common sense by indulging with this flight of nostalgia.

Good point, however nor do we have the time for a player to get used to the league and level of football in the hope they can provide us with what we need.

If we can't get a proven player who knows the league and have to gamble on a fit unknown and an unfit known. I would take the latter.

07 Jan 2015 15:44:16
It's only a good deal if Norwich agree to pay 80 per cent of his weekly wage.

If it came down to a choice between, Hunt, Doukara, Morison, Sharp and Becchio and likelihood of most goals scored - my money would be on Becchio scoring the most. He is more versatile, good close in, can score from long range and good with his head. As other posters have said he is capable of helping out in defence as well.

Not sure if he is the answer but given the choice above he would be the one for me.

{Ed013's Note - Doukara is terrible! Sharp needs to play with a Becchio or Morison type player to win balls in the air for him to nick a goal. I know Doukara has scored a few, but I see the others as better strikers}

Forget the flight with Nostalgia, we have scored only one goal in open play in the last 6 games, we can't buy anyone so any loan player is going to be taken on at some risk, also Redfearns options will be limited so to me it's worth a punt.

Morison good in air joking doesn't put in any effort if ball is to far he just stand there

I agree that any signing comes with an element or risk, more so with loan players as it is likely they are on loan as they are not getting playing time with their club. It is the amount of calculated risk that Becchio (who has not played much competitve football in the last two years) represents is the concern to me. I also feel that there are more pressing positions to use our limited transfers on i.e. midfield and defence. At the moment a fit and on form Becchio would not score the goals because we generally don't create enough chances

Doukara would score for fun if he was given decent service I.e through balls to run on to, same goes for Antenucci

07 Jan 2015 12:57:17
Becchio back, no thanks, was never good enough, scored a few goals but down to supply, his tough is awful and the slowest forward going. Need to go forward not backwards.

07 Jan 2015 12:33:01
Apparently Bechio wants to come back. Why don't we offer Norwich a straight swap for Morrison. See how they like it.

Quality post

Fantastic idea

07 Jan 2015 10:07:35
{Ed001's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Is Luciano Becchio the answer to Leeds United's goal scoring problems?