Underwhelmed

cardboardbox?Youwerelucky · Underwhelmed

I have been thinking about this season's transfer activity and I have to say it is a very long time since I have felt so uninspired by the signings coming in.

Before Ben goes off on one Twisted Evil

just hear me out.

It is not about living on the premiership years memories and the signings we had and were making at the time, I am going much further back to being in (old) league division 2 in the mid 80's.

I can remember making signings like Noel Blake, Vince Hilaire, Glynn Snodin, Bobby Davison, Ken De Mange(!), Carl Shutt (a little later), John Pearson, Andy (somebody) who scored a goal against plymouth (or was it walsall) at home when he walked it into the net, and then a period of Chirs Fairclough, Chris Whyte, Tony Dorigo, Mel Sterland, Vinny Jones, Lee Chapman, Gordon Strachan

At the time, I remember feeling excitement about most of these signings, and most of them went on to become "heroes" IMHO. Okay there were a couple of duffers but you always had a sense (rightly or wrongly) that they were coming to Leeds BECAUSE it was Leeds and a massive challenge. Now it feels like we just get cast offs, freebies, and players looking for their final paycheck. I am sure there were more that I missed off the list who WERE shite and that is why I can't remember them but even players like Imre Varadi had me excited (and to be fair got a fair share of goals!).

I hope I am wrong but I have just felt so uninspired by many of our signings this year and last year. Andy Robinson seemed a decent signing at the time, I remember feeling excited about beckford when he signed as his non league record was astounding. But for some reason (and it could be football in general) I just can't connect with many of the players there today.

Is it because I am older?
Is it because I don't go anymore, whereas back than I was at every game?
It certainly isn't that I care any less about Leeds, as every time we lose it STILL puts me in a bad mood regardless of how hard I try not to let it effect me Twisted Evil

Is it down to money? I don't remember being bank rolled when we were signing the Noel Blake's of the day. They seemed like shrewed buys who became cult figures and gave everything for the club.

Maybe I have rose tinted glasses about those years, but I was far more excited about the close season back then than I have been for the last three years.

wewantourdarbyback

All I shall say is this

Crowe >>>> Richardson
Higgs >>>> Lucas
Kisnorbo - Experienced CB to partner Nayls.

There's still over a month of the transfer window left.

BillH

I don't feel too negative about the squad - I think there's plenty of quality there and also some potential yet to mature. That part's OK.

I am also pleased we haven't rushed into selling our best players this summer - though of course there's plenty of time to still do that!

What I am less excited about is the incoming transfer activity. Crowe and Kisnorbo are solid signings given the level we are playing at and the fact that they came for free, but I'm not sure they make us any stronger than we were last year. Feeney - who was fortunately injured and so couldn't pass his medical - would have been a very ordinary signing even at this level and most of the other players we've been linked with have been of equally dubious quality.

You have to give Grayson some leeway though, as he's clearly not been given any funds to spend this summer, so he has to make do with freebies. I'd like him to sign one or two hot Premiership prospects on season-long loans but you have to assume the manager knows what he's doing and the lack of activity won't leave us unprepared when the season starts.

Personally, I think we are in danger of becoming a club with a lower-league mentality, which is a bit galling when you see a number of other (smaller) clubs being bought by obviously ambitious owners. Not all will succeed, but at least they;ll try. With Bates, I get the feeling on-field success would be something of a bonus but not something he'll lose sleep over if it isn't achieved.

30 Mill

To be fair, and yes Im unused to the lack of activity too, is probably more an indication of where we are as a club

Last season we were THE form team for the last 1/3 of the season. We had a squad playing very good football, well managed (and just for Bill, the administration all seemed ok!!) So we have lost 1 or 2 and we knew defensivley we needed 1 or 2 more more

So basically, using a Christmas tree analogy, we have a great tree, trimmed some dead wood and bought a few glittery pieces we didnt have last season

Plus Tres is back - so all is good (alcohol - you are no longer my friend)

BillH

Those new glittery bits are a bit dull if you ask me. I'm not overly convinced they are much better than the dead wood they replaced, but time will tell.

The real catch is that while we were one of the form teams at the end of last season, I think the competition this season is going to be much fiercer. None of the clubs that have come down look too shaky to me and several of the clubs that were also-rans last year are busy strengthening their squads.

By comparison, we seem to be treading water. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that we think we're already good enough to stroll to promotion, so why worry?

...but I do know better. I expect Mr Bates has some much more pressing priorities this season than worrying about promotion, so Mr Grayson will just have to make do with what he's got and what he can scrounge from the free transfer market. He did it at Blackpool and that's why he was brought in to the club: to repeat the feat under similar conditions.

weasel

I'm sure most fans were decidely underwhelmed when we signed Naylor, Carl Dickinson and Sodje and they gave their all for the club and didn't cost a penny in transfer fees.

Most of Wilko's signings were very underwhelming at the time yet went on to achieve great things as part of a team. Take Vinnie Jones for example - bought with the cash raised frm selling Sheridan who was at the time the golden boy. Nobody was excited about that signing, a signing of someone who couldn't pass, couldn't shoot and got yellow carded every time he tried to tackle. £650k for a thug basically. Yet he went on to become a huge hero (despite only playing 1 full season). Most of Wilko's signings were 'journeymen' signings (most having already played for Wilko at Sheff Wed) but he knew what he was getting with them and blended them with the exciting talented players (such as your Rod Wallace, Gary McAllister etc).

Grayson is doing the same. Getting solid players in to do a job which means we stay solid even if the flair players don't perform. Under Macca it was all flair all great to watch football that saw us either win 5-0 or lose. Grayson suceeded in building a side that whilst it never really hit great heights was very consistent. So far this summer he has kept his flair players and made the defence stronger with players that are tough and no nonsense. He has done that without spending any money which puts us in a strong position should we need to buy someone in January (i.e. a striker is out for the rest of the season).

Don't also forget that in signing someone like Kisnorbo we will be paying him championship wages. So the option is to get a solid experienced centre back and spend the 'transfer money' on his wages or gamble by buying someone on cheap wages.

BillH

raveydavey

The most worrying thing for me is that we see other smaller clubs attracting mega investment and being able to build for a successful future, whilst we are still scraping round for free transfers and showing no signs of any inclination to get out of the third division except by luck.

wewantourdarbyback

30 Mill

halfaperson

Some great points here, cheers, cant add anything to them already made. Would just say i was excited about World Cup Winner Roque Junior signing for us

BillH