January: The most pivotal month in Leeds United's season

Article by Gwyn Hughes

It is starting to becoming evident that Leeds United's season hangs in the balance yet again. We have been here before most notably last season when we thought that we were in a good position to challenge for the play offs only to just about stave off relegation. The Championship table takes no prisoners and does not respect teams with reputations as big as Leeds United. The present transfer window offers an interesting time in the development of the present squad and could determine which direction the club goes.

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After the latest defeat by Blackburn Rovers alarm bells are starting to ring that much louder as a repeat of that sinking feeling we had a year ago threatens to repeat itself. Every Leeds fan is waiting and wondering about the details of the takeover, and especially keen to know how much cash Brian McDermott will have to recruit more players to help galvanise a push towards promotion and quickly banish the fears of another disappointing second half of the season. The groans from my Twitter feed on Wednesday afternoon during the match reflected this fear as fans recognised the oh so familiar scenario of another match that held so much promise and anticipation only to be let down by a poor defence. Giving an unhealthy head start to the opposition seems to be a regular trait. When Matt Smith scored early in the second half I felt that a comeback was on the cards similar to the one mounted against Watford before Christmas, but it was not meant to be. We had tired legs out there and had too much to do. Alex Mowatt, back after a couple of games out, was hobbling off with a few minutes to go. He was replaced by Michael Brown (further moans from the Twitter crowd) with McDermott hoping that the experienced midfielder could conjure up a rare 25 yarder into the top corner to save the match. We the fans are crying out for a team with consistency and reliability and with attendances reaching the 30,000 mark at times it is remarkably how loyal the fan base is. When you don't know how your team is going to perform every week I take my hat off to those who consistently turn up to support the club.

I've already stated in a previous article that I feel that we are a long way from gaining a spot in the Premiership. A defeat like this makes it seem even further away from our grasp. The likely injection of cash will not suddenly transform us into title contenders though I hope that it will at least prevent us from suffering a fight for Championship survival like last year. I hope that the manager will continue to invest in young, hungry players who will run through brick walls for the cause. This will inevitably mean that we have to wait a little longer for genuine success as these players mature and gain the experience necessary to do a good job for Leeds in the Premiership. Leeds have a history of acquiring older, experienced players in the past who have not delivered and have belatedly proved that their best years have slipped by them. At first we got excited about their arrival, then quickly realised at being suckered that we thought we had the players to do the job. I remember being buoyed about the arrival of Tore Andre Flo being at the club a few years ago only to realise that he could not stick League 1 football.

I agree with Peter Lorimer's view in his article in The Yorkshire Evening Post. What Leeds United need is an experienced midfielder who can boss a game. He mentioned how Andy Reid took charge of our recent match with Nottingham Forest which meant that Forest were in a better position to win the game. The fact that it only ended 2-1 to Forest is of no consequence - on another day we would have been battered. Again I hark back to a previous player who instigated the glory years of the early 1990's. A player similar to Gordon Strachan is what Leeds are crying out for and have been for a number of years. Back then he bossed the midfield but we were also blessed with young talents such as David Batty, Gary Speed and later Gary McAllister. That midfield quartet almost guaranteed that Leeds were in a great position to win games. I'm not saying that we should revert back to that same winning formula (though I would welcome even that at this stage of the season) but it's not rocket science to fathom out that a strong midfield is essential to control matches. It doesn't give guarantees to win games but it helps to not lose them. We could do with someone like Strachan to help the current crop of young midfielders to realise their potential.

“We’re squeezing everything out of the players here and they’re doing what they can but it’s time now to bring in some new players to freshen the squad and help those who are here".

Brian McDermott (1 Jan, 2013)

Brian McDermott is a manager who has gained the trust of the majority of Leeds fans but he had a good reputation before he joined the club. I think we were lucky to get someone of his calibre. I also think that the owners of Leeds United will give him the time to create a better Leeds United. Trust in his judgement is vital for this to happen. There is no point giving him an unrealistic deadline to get the team right and then sacking him when the expected transition to greatness does not occur. Even Alex Ferguson took four seasons before he got it right at Manchester United. The difference this season is that he will be backed by more money than previous managers had available to them. And of course it helps to have responsive owners who clearly want the best for Leeds United. To date he has had to work with a majority of Neil Warnock's signings and he has managed to make them play better. I can't wait to see who he gets into the club and see what he can do with his own team.

We are now in January and expectation is high as usual but I feel that this year will be different. I think that there will be serious money (Championship level) available to Brian and I trust his judgement. The new board have to take a few risks and commit a sizable amount of money to get the players he wants. Otherwise what's the point? Fans are sick and tired of our club projecting the perception that we will be okay and things will get better, only for another false dawn to be experienced. The club have finally woken up to the fact that the goal of getting to the Premiership is not attainable on the cheap. This time they have to deliver. The time is right, the management is right, the owners are right. Let's all pull together and get this right!

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