Who Could Make an Impact on McDermott’s Team?

Article by Alex Schroeter

Well, after a week that will last long in the memory, for all the wrong reasons, we are all looking for possible solutions to our recent woes. It is blindingly clear that we need a striker, or two, as well as a consistent midfielder to be at the heart of our team, so we don’t have to resort to our small group of midfielders whose presence in the team is not always welcome as a result of their distinct lack of quality. Just last week, McDermott made a move for Ashley Barnes with the forward eventually joining Burnley, before ‘the result’.

Follow e-Leeds United on Twitter here!

First of all, and arguably the position where we need reinforcements more than anywhere, a strike partner for McCormack. Having missed out on Barnes, we have gone on to be linked with several forwards, such as Adam Le Fondre, Leigh Griffiths and Luke Moore, who would all bring their benefits to our front line. Le Fondre would be the most ‘high-profile’ signing of the three with a reported price tag of £1.5 million, but may be the most likely as well having expressed his willingness to leave Reading. Additionally, after having worked so successfully under McDermott at The Madejski, he may feel more inclined to join us rather than our rivals, and would add some much needed goals to ease the reliance on Ross, after having scored 7 goals from just 10 starts.

Griffiths, a 23 year old Scotland international striker who is Wolves’ top scorer this season and has recently been left out of the main frame at Molineux, hence why he has been linked us, Wigan and Celtic. A £1m fee has been rumoured for any move and after a fantastic season at Hibernian last season, he could well be expected to be a success if he were to make a move this month, so should be seriously considered. The last of the strikers is Luke Moore, currently in Turkey with Elazigspor and would be available for free due to financial reasons. With over 200 Premier League appearances and at just 27 years old, he would add experience for years to come, as well as being highly adaptable in attacking positions. Personally, I would sell Varney, in order to bring in two of these, preferably Griffiths and Le Fondre, finances permitting of course, as they would help form an impressive group of strikers along with McCormack and Smith.

Another addition I believe we need is an experienced, technically impressive defensive-midfielder to help protect our defence as well as the ability to start and join in with attacks. Although the one of the following has not been linked, to my knowledge, they would both be very astute signings in our bid for the play-off’s, or relegation scrap if this current run of form does not come to a swift end. The first of my choices would have to be Jermaine Jones, the 32 year old, Schalke and U.S.A. international. This may at first appear to be quite ambitious, however, he has been told he can leave the German club for free this January and has only been seriously linked with moves to the MLS, which could mean that he would be willing to move to a club, in a more competitive league, and challenging to get into the Premier League. He would be ideal captain material, by being able to use his experience to help younger players, like Mowatt, progress technically and mentally as well as bringing know-how from the top of the European game to a disheartened squad.

Lastly, Nathaniel Chalobah, who was linked in December, would not only add an impressive midfield option but also an adaptable defensive option if he came in on loan. This flexibility, in addition to his impressive technique, meant he proved an indispensable asset in Watford’s promotion push last season and would surely prove to be a fantastic player to have in our ranks, even if it is just until the end of the season.

© e-Football 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football