A New Optimism at Leeds

Article by e-Leeds Correspondent Gwyn Hughes

A minor miracle has occurred at Leeds United these past couple of weeks. Back then there were uncertainties surrounding the club over who was in charge (and who will be in charge as well) and the club were sliding into some serious debt. Fans were despondent and openly critical of how things were run at the club and concerned about our reputation in the football world. As I'm sure that many fans are rejoicing the woes at Manchester United this season, Leeds United were not covering itself with glory either after that infamous night in January. The mood has definitely improved among the fans and at last we are seeing proof that things can finally change for the better at the club. Even the players seem to have found a new lease of life and have arrested an alarming run of poor performances and confidence sapping defeats.

The long protracted take-over by Massimo Cellino is still on-going, but it hasn't stopped him from creating hope and excitement among the fans. It has taken a while, but I bet the majority of Leeds fans have come around and accepted the Italian as, dare I say it, our saviour, and been encouraged by his swift decision making that has brought in two quality loan signings (and when he does take over has the money to make them permanent acquisitions) and cleared the debt created by Enterprise Insurance's cessation as shirt sponsors. In my view Andy Flowers has acted as if Leeds kicked a football into his garden and he won't return it unless he got paid. Well, we now have and can get on with playing the game without him on board.

Who else were taken by surprise by the signings of Jack Butland and Connor Wickham? I did not see that coming. But what a statement to make by Cellino! I didn't think he could do that without first becoming the owner. If the Football League want proof that he can sustain and fund a club as big as Leeds United then he is going the right way about it. How can the League turn him down now? Wouldn't it be an awful situation for Leeds if he did not get approval? If that scenario occurs I suspect that he could still become an investor for the club, become part of GFH, which is not an ideal situation for me. I hope that he gets the approval and gets the chance to start a revolution at Leeds that sees us get back to the top of the football world again.

Whilst in the past we would get loan players in but have no chance of keeping them. Once they were gone we were back to our usual mediocrity and the proverbial square one. We would moan about the missed opportunities because we were a poor club financially and renting players from other clubs just seemed to underline this fact, and has never really been a recipe for sustained success. Some of these players were not even good enough for clubs who owned them, and we seem to be classed as a club that would take on these players as a way for them to 'get games'. This has never been acceptable for the fans of Leeds United.

I was also encouraged by the performance at QPR yesterday, a good point and I think a game we could have won if we had a quality midfield. I wish Jimmy Kebe would shake himself awake and not run around like a dazed child because he is losing possession at vital moments in games. It's frustrating seeing a player who came so highly recommended fail to perform like he should. We can accept that players may at times suffer a lack of confidence, but it now appears to have set in. There doesn't seem a lot of evidence that he is improving and that goes for Cameron Stewart too. Perhaps when we get a quality midfielder we will see a change in them and I for one will be the first to praise them if that happens. Oh, and Jason Pierce got the Sky Man of the Match award which is encouraging and is sure to boost his confidence.

As for our latest recruits, the difference in quality has showed from the outset and we should make them permanent signings in the summer based on what I have seen so far. I am really looking forward to the run of home games we have coming and see if Connor Wickham and Ross McCormack can work together. On paper they are potentially the most lethal striking partnership in the Championship. And I hear there will be another signing to come. With Cellino backing us, I can now be confident that we no longer will settle for discarded has-beens looking for games, but be quite optimistic to seeing a high quality, young and hungry player who wants to wear the shirt and play for my club.

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