Leeds United: Win or Bust

Article by e-Leeds Correspondent Jeremy Taylor

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Once the dust had settled on the result at Loftus Road on Saturday, most Leeds fans will have realised that it was a good point earned and a step in the right direction. Still, the team didn’t exactly bathe themselves in glory either, so, where exactly are Leeds United now and what lies ahead?

One of McDermott’s biggest headaches has been how to get winning performances out of a very limited squad of players. It’s obvious now that he expected a lot more in terms of backing from GFH at the beginning of the season and again in January. It was a real shame that he ended up being left high and dry by his pal David Haigh and the rest of the “good people” behind the scenes. Otherwise he’d have surely done something about the lack of width, creativity and goal threat in the team long before now.

Things have changed dramatically though in the past fortnight now that a different person is pulling the purse strings. We’ve seen the arrival of the talented Jack Butland and the equally impressive Connor Wickham. There’s even talk of another addition, with Jack Collison being the name strongly linked with a move to Leeds.

All three players represent the antitheses of what the club had been trying to shed from their squad in that they are young, talented and experienced at the highest level. Before now only the latter of those qualities could be expected to find it’s way into Elland Road.

All this positivity can only mean progress for the club. These are the calibre of players Leeds United should be signing, and not just on loan. The words on McDermott’s lips must be “finally”!

However, as happy as the manager will be, he has nowhere to hide now in terms of results. No longer can he be defended with claims that he doesn’t have what he needs to win.

While overnight miracles cannot be expected, the signings of Butland and in particular Wickham should inject much needed impetus into the team. This was clearly evident in the first half hour at Loftus Road where, while not exactly slick or fluid, Leeds took the game to their opponents and were unlucky not to be multiple goals to the good as half time approached. Wickham was a real handful, and perfectly contrasted with the lively McCormack who was buzzing around him into the channels as he does so well.

The equaliser was unfortunate to say the least and knocked the stuffing from Leeds at a time when they could have really done with a half time lead. Still, it left the rest of the game wide open and there to win for either team.

The second half was less impressive for Leeds and served to highlight the lack of quality in areas where McDermott will have hoped for more. Kebe and Stewart in particular looked lost and totally at odds with the game going on around them. As wingers, one would have expected their natural game to involve running at defenders, getting to the byline and trying to find the imposing Wickham with crosses. But instead, time and time again, both would receive the ball, head inside and either give the ball away or have it taken from them with minimal effort at all.

What Leeds lacked above all was some control and calmness in midfield. Someone to collect the ball, look up and pass it to a teammate. Of course this sounds incredibly flippant in its simplicity but the fact is this basic function seemed completely beyond Rodolph Austin, a midfield enforcer who has shrunk over the season to the point of uselessness. What was once ‘the beast’ looked afraid of the ball and unsure of where to be, where to go and what to do should he be unlucky enough to find the ball at his feet.

Luke Murphy, while bolder and more willing than his midfield partner, still looks somewhat less than what his potential promises. The boy clearly has ability but looks unlikely to reach the desired level until someone with equal or more ability slots in next to him and shows him how. Is Jack Collison this player? He could be. Alex Mowatt showed when he came on what a bit of vision and creativity can bring as Leeds’ offensive optioned opened up somewhat. But still the ball was gifted back to the opposition with alarming speed and regularity.

This problem of ball retention was also rife with the Leeds defence. Tom Lees looked nothing short of dreadful whenever he had the ball, incapable of even a basic pass along the back line. Pearce is committed and passionate but his distribution is almost as bad.

Until the Leeds defence start receiving the ball to feet from the goalkeeper and then passing to another Leeds player and building rather than pumping the ball in the air for anyone to claim, possession will never be an ally for this team. Marius Zaliukas looked far more assured on the ball than Lees or Pearce early on in his Leeds career, but it’s anyone’s guess when he’ll play again following his horror show against Sheffield Wednesday.

Watching the better teams in the Championship, they all move the ball around well on the ground. Leeds just don’t. They try to, but panic and then hit it long. Hopefully the introduction of a midfielder with genuine quality will prove to be the link so desperately missing between a limited defence and an eager and capable front line. It could be the piece of the puzzle that makes the rest slot into place.

Maybe that’s what Kebe and Stewart are missing; a player who can give them the ball as they are running rather than with their back to goal and opposition all around them. Put simply, someone who can play through balls.

As things stand though, both of McDermott’s wing solutions look hopelessly mis-cast in this Leeds team and surely can’t survive to many more showings like at QPR. Stewart is young and will last longer in this squad by coming off the bench to inject pace. But Kebe, he has nowhere to hide at all. He’s not young, doesn’t look especially quick and to date hasn’t shown any sign that he has the guile or knowhow that comes with experience either. He just looks disinterested and in a totally different groove to his teammates. Surely he needs to make way for the hugely talented Sam Byram for the next outing, a player who has already shown he can wreak havoc down the right wing.

Looking at the next 6 fixtures, there’s only Burnley away that fans would have to fear for. The rest are all quite winnable and will without question shape the rest of the season for Leeds.

A respectable haul of 12+ points and Leeds United will be right back in the playoff mix with the belief to go all the way. If things don’t improve though and McDermott persists with players who are clearly letting him down then he will pay the ultimate price at the end of the season.

Equally though, he’s shown himself to be unafraid if changing things round and effectively holding his hands up to previous bad decisions. The opportunity is there to get it right and pull off another Birmingham style result, to turn up and take the opposition apart in such a ruthless fashion so as to send a message out that finally things have clicked and he’s found the key to open the lock.

Whatever happens though between now and May, McDermott will look back on this season as a disappointing one. He’s had to put up with a lot of nonsense, but at the same time he will know he should have got more out of this team. Scenes like those at Rochdale and Hillsborough simply shouldn’t have happened, no matter what problems lay at the clubs door.

In terms of his future, one still feels it’s in his own hands. Mr Cellino doesn’t strike as a particularly philosophical chap and it’s quite likely a case of win or bust. Get promoted and the opportunity to keep the club there is yours. Fail and it’ll be thanks but no thanks. We’ll take it from here.

For Leeds United though, the past week or so has been a shot in the arm at the last available opportunity. Fresh blood at the final leg of the season and only time will tell if it’s enough to make it count. Whatever happens though, the Cellino family will be relishing what lies ahead, as should every Leeds United fan.

@jezaldinh

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