Leeds United: Ideal Signings

Article by Lucas Whitehead

It is clear to me that Leeds United are lacking something, it is disputed openly what we lack, is it width? Is it pace? Is it goals? Or could it be a combination of all three? I have thought for a while that it could simply be a kick up the backside that we need.

Goalkeeper

I like Paddy Kenny. I think that he is a quality shot stopper all around and I also like Jamie Ashdown his comrade. Brought up in and around Halifax, Paddy began his career at Bradford Park Avenue ( A team I play at my level, Under 15’s) before our favourite and the self proclaimed greatest manager to ever grace any sport Neil Warnock bought Paddy at Bury and a beautiful friendship ensued. Paddy was loaned out to Whitby Town before a three year stint back at Bury was brought to an end by Warnock taking his buddy to Bramall Lane. Eight years as a firm fans favourite at Sheffield United followed before Warnock signed him for QPR and two years later he joined us, signed by Warnock... again. Jamie Ashdown is Paddy’s understudy and an able goalkeeper in his own right, he has played for Reading, Gravesend, Arsenal (technically he didn’t play for Arsenal or Gravesend), Rushden & Diamonds, Portsmouth, Norwich City and us. He is yet to make his league debut.

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Who else?

In my opinion, Kasper Schmeichel, Luke Steele, Alex McCarthy and Paddy Kenny are the best goalkeepers in the league, but Paddy is aging. If Paddy leaves or retires then we have numerous options, we could get a young and upcoming keeper in the Premier League on loan or Jamie Ashdown could take a place in the first team. In my opinion, the best goalkeeper outside of the championship and Premier League is Swindon Town’s Wes Foderingham. Foderingham began his career at Fulham where he was loaned to Bromley once before he was signed by London neighbours Crystal Palace and like at Fulham, he never played. Loaned out to Bromley, Boreham Wood and Histon he made a name for himself at a non-league level which lead to interest from Swindon Town and an initial loan was made permanent in 2012 where he is becoming an object of interest from clubs in higher divisions.

Defence

At right back we have in my opinion the league’s second best right back in Sam Byram, behind only Kieran Trippier. So we shouldn’t replace him! Lees, Pearce and Wootton are three able defenders but I think that they all lack something. Thomas James Lees was born in Birmingham but raised in Leeds and he came through the academy which he joined as a nine year old, two loans at Accrington Stanley (who are they?) and Bury were profitable but upon his return from Gigg Lane, Lees cemented his place in the heart of defence at Elland Road. Lees sometimes looks shaky to me and he does make mistakes regularly, is this down to age? Or is it ability? Hopefully, it’s the former but I think an excellent replacement would be David Wheater of Bolton, but do GFH Capital have enough clout to make such a signing? Jason Pearce is clumsy but I rate him highly and he has played for Portsmouth and Bournemouth, Bognor Regis Town and Woking.

Scott Wootton is a bit of an unknown entity for me, from what I have seen he is able, calm and calculated but somehow Lees is keeping him out of the squad when he has been shaky. Again at Left back, Stephen Warnock is my favourite player for Leeds but what he lacks in pace he makes up for in ability. For the sake of general opinion which is again one of inconsistency, an able replacement would be Jonathan Parr although Palace would probably be unwilling to let him let him go for a pittance and another player to sign could be Ben Davies, a man frozen out of Swansea’s side by Neil Taylor at the moment but it is unlikely that anyone could sign him in our position.

Midfield

Width is something we lack, I would begin with a right winger but we don’t have one! Right wingers to sign could be Serge Gnabry on loan, again slim chances! Kyel Reid of Bradford is speedy, young and he has torn League one to shreds so far, a realistic signing methinks. In the middle of the park, first team players are Paul Green, Rodolph Austin, Michael Tonge, Luke Murphy and Alex Mowatt. Paul Green is a fast midfielder and he can be prolific but he is inconsistent and has bad periods of eight or nine games followed by a good period for the same length of time. Rodolph Austin, captain of Leeds United is hit and miss in my opinion, he has played for Portmore United in his home of Jamaica, SK Brann and us. The idiots in the crowd at ER shout shoot whenever he is on the ball, even though he has only scored for us twice, once a free-kick against Cardiff, once a cool finish versus Burnley. He has never scored in open play from outside the box!

Michael Tonge is a hard worker and he is tenacious, he has played permanently for Sheffield United (Warnock) Stoke City and us but he is aging! He tires easily because of his work rate and sadly he is substituted regularly. Luke Murphy is similar to Wootton, promising but again his full range of qualities haven’t been seen. I do not mean to denigrate McDermott, but the former Crewe Alexandra talisman hasn’t had enough chances to succeed but this is probably down to the revelation that is Alex Mowatt. After joining Leeds’ academy at the age of nine, Mowatt has gone from strength to strength, having solid performances against Doncaster, Bournemouth and Newcastle United in the cup. If we were to sign a midfielder, one in the holding role who I have always rated is Nicky Law Junior. Law has recently signed for Rangers but previous spells at Motherwell, Rotherham United and Bradford City were fruitful. Full of energy, Law is a man I have always rated and I think he would be a great player for us. A creative midfielder is also needed, Jesse Lingard has played well on loan at Birmingham and the Manchester United player could provide youthful exuberance and pace, both things we need.

Left midfielders are Ryan Hall and Aiden White. Hall is a reject of Crystal Palace and Southend, leaving both due to bad behaviour and he was a Warnock signing. White is an academy graduate whose position isn’t clear, left back, left midfield and attacking midfield have been positions he has played in and he hasn’t performed with much aplomb. Jerome Thomas was quality for us last year on his loan spell but he is now in the first team at Crystal Palace. Primarily a right winger, Chris Burke has been utilised on the left wing and we did try to sign the Scotsman, watch this space! Another name we have been linked to is Craig Noone, a left winger who has the potential to terrorise defences, frozen out by Malky Mackay, watch this space again!

Forward

Ross McCormack is rated by many to be the best player on our books at the moment but since has gained his contract extension he has been a little off the boil. Half of my family are Scottish and my grandfather was previously a season ticket holder at Motherwell and I support Scotland when they play, I am wearing a Scotland shirt now! McCormack was quality at Motherwell and he always puts a shift in for the tartan army but for Leeds at the moment I think he has been insipid. El-Hadji Diouf is a man I like and I think on form he is quality, I have met him a couple of times and he has always been willing to talk to me and he is witty! What he lacks is pace though and he does have a creative spark but he sometimes is too inventive.

Noel Hunt is a hard worker but he isn’t prolific and I call him the Irish Heskey! Matt Smith isn’t prolific as well but he does offer a different angle on attack and his header against Burnley was very good. Dominic Poleon is a great young player with lots to learn, I am sure he will become a great player in the near future but at the moment I do not think he is decisive enough and he spends too much time on the ball without finishing for my liking. A cheap option with high resale value would be Coventry City’s Callum Wilson. Two footed Wilson is worth around £650,000 according to Transfer Markt and he is League One’s top scorer at the age of 21. Britt Assombalonga is another youngster with lots to prove and he has scored seven this season so far.

1. Foderingham

25. Sam Byram

5. Pearce

6. Wheater

3. Davies

4. Law

7. Reid

8. Lingard

11. Noone

44. McCormack

9. Wilson

Subs: Poleon, Cairns, Assombalonga, Lees, Mowatt, Dawson, Messi

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