Is it time to add some sparkle to Leeds United?
Article by Jeremy Taylor
Follow e-Football on Twitter - Click Here!
After a prolonged absence, Massimo Cellino faced the media again yesterday to deliver another stark reminder of what everyone working under him has to deal with.
The club owner’s press conference, with Adam Pearson by his side, featured yet again a bizarre blend of language, metaphor, possible poetry and frequent incoherent rambling that has become his trademark. So much so that anyone not accustomed to the eccentric Italian might be left thinking he spends his days mopping the floors of Elland Road.
However, after wading through the rhetoric and deciphering the riddles of Cellino’s comments, a familiar picture is again being formed. The same self-parody and hand opening ‘admission’ that he may have made mistakes. The same expression of exasperation at the sheer scale of problems he’s had to tackle, but all framed with the optimism that the worst is behind him and the future looks bright for the ‘sleeping giant that is awake, but not fit’.
The gathered journalists wasted no time in bluntly asking what will happen to Neil Redfearn, a question that Cellino deflected with the promise that such a question would be answered later on, and answered it was, sort of. No definitive answer was given naturally, but Redfearn will be forgiven for dusting off his CV in the wake of his boss’s comments.
The other point of interest was of course Adam Pearson. He’s no stranger to Leeds and has been welcomed back with a good reputation and a sense of optimism. For a man not known for good decisions, Cellino must surely have got this one right. Pearson knows the club, the division, the country and the game of football. All things that, barring perhaps the latter, Cellino requires considerable help with.
Of course though, the first and immediate decision Pearson needs to get involved in is that of the head coach. Even if he has stated that he’s leaving this to Cellino, sense tells you that he’ll have something to say about it. When a decision has the capacity to be the difference between great success and abject failure, he’d be very silly to turn his back on it.
The fans are of course loyal to Redfearn. He’s exactly the sort of no-nonsense footballing man that the club needed during the past twelve months of court cases and FA bans. The team needed a man that instinctively cared only about football matters over constantly generating media soundbytes loaded with clichés such as Brian McDermott or Neil Warnock.
But is he what’s needed now? This is the million dollar question and is what will be puzzling Cellino and Pearson now.
If fans are to believe the current suggested situation then Leeds are in fine financial fettle, have (at last) a settled and prepared boardroom staff and have freshly stripped away another layer of ‘deadwood’ playing staff. One could argue the toss as to whether Rodolph Austin should have been released, but most fans will end up with the conclusion that he can and will be replaced by someone with a bit more to offer.
So on paper, the club in a better position now to tackle an oncoming season in the Championship than we’ve been in a long, long time. All we need is the right person in the dugout. But who is that right person?
As said, when you’re firefighting then you need a Neil Redfearn in your corner, but when everything is in place and there’s money to spend and squad numbers to fill, do you need someone with a bit more… ambition?
Names like Adkins, Poyet, Warburton and Hasselbaink are being suggested by the bookmakers, and it’s hard to argue that anyone of those (besides Warburton perhaps) would bring a certain sparkle and flair that simply isn’t in Neil Redfearn’s make up. One suspects it’s this that Massimo Cellino really wants. He is Italian after all.
When Redfearn was winning football matches then all was well, but anything other than sheer success is going to see Redfearn grate on Cellino. They’re just chalk and cheese and you can see it a mile away. Cellino never wanted Redfearn, but after the debacle of Milanic he had no choice.
So, all things considered and providing Pearson is heavily involved in the decision and interview process, it may actually be a very good move for Leeds to finally bag one of the names that have been linked with the club on and off for the past few years.
Very few Leeds fans would grumble if Gus Poyet came to the club. His record is a mixed bag but he ticks all the boxes, loves the club and has endless enthusiasm and energy; all things that the club have arguably lacked for a long time.
Adkins wouldn’t command as much enthusiasm and some would worry that he’s just another Brian McDermott, only less follically challenged. His record is the same as Brian’s in that he’s had a strong instance of success followed by failed attempts to recapture it. Plus, he has that flavor about him that says he just doesn’t quite feel right.
Hasselbaink will split opinion with some still upset at his departure as a player, but it’s hard to doubt the sheer magnetism of a man who’s started his managerial career in such impressive style, never mind the fact that is has strong roots at Elland Road. There’s just something very exciting about the prospect of him hitting the ground running at Leeds. Two wins in and he’d be an instant legend.
Moving onto the other elephant in the room (and yes… Elland Road does still resemble a circus in this respect), the team needs strengthening significantly. Again, Pearson’s arrival is a reassurance as far as this issue goes and he’s already said that experienced players who know English football are what’s needed to compliment the ever growing batch of young talent Leeds have – ironically music to Redfearns ears no doubt.
But where does Cellino fit into this? It’s hard to imagine he’ll no longer have an overwhelming desire to bring random foreign players in that catch his eye, like a WAG walking in the front door of her husband’s mansion with a new Gucci bag on her arm.
Will the signings begin once the coach position is finalised? Can Cellino even wait that long?
Whatever ends up happening, one suspects it will happen sooner rather than later. Cellino might still be about as predictable as an August bank holiday weather forecast, but Pearson is no mug. He knows what it takes to succeed in this division and he will know what his remit is. Cellino will understand enough to hand over significant responsibility to him. The real challenge lies with Pearson and whether he can ‘up-manage’ Cellino in the right way. Massage Massimo’s ego correctly and he could have a very pleasant time back at Leeds. Get it wrong though and he could last as long as Nicola Salerno – someone who was a friend of Cellino’s!
Looking at the body language at the press conference though and it seems they have got off to a good start. There’s clearly mutual respect there and by the looks of it plenty to smile about.
The head coach decision is undoubtedly the key one and it should be made in the next week or so. At that point, it should (in theory) trigger a chain of events that will shape the season to come.
The only sensible thing to do is sit back, enjoy the ride and see where things are come July.
Here we go again *clicking my seat belt*.
@jezaldinho
© e-Media Group 2015 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of @e_media_group
Follow e-Football on Twitter - Click Here!
After a prolonged absence, Massimo Cellino faced the media again yesterday to deliver another stark reminder of what everyone working under him has to deal with.
The club owner’s press conference, with Adam Pearson by his side, featured yet again a bizarre blend of language, metaphor, possible poetry and frequent incoherent rambling that has become his trademark. So much so that anyone not accustomed to the eccentric Italian might be left thinking he spends his days mopping the floors of Elland Road.
However, after wading through the rhetoric and deciphering the riddles of Cellino’s comments, a familiar picture is again being formed. The same self-parody and hand opening ‘admission’ that he may have made mistakes. The same expression of exasperation at the sheer scale of problems he’s had to tackle, but all framed with the optimism that the worst is behind him and the future looks bright for the ‘sleeping giant that is awake, but not fit’.
The gathered journalists wasted no time in bluntly asking what will happen to Neil Redfearn, a question that Cellino deflected with the promise that such a question would be answered later on, and answered it was, sort of. No definitive answer was given naturally, but Redfearn will be forgiven for dusting off his CV in the wake of his boss’s comments.
The other point of interest was of course Adam Pearson. He’s no stranger to Leeds and has been welcomed back with a good reputation and a sense of optimism. For a man not known for good decisions, Cellino must surely have got this one right. Pearson knows the club, the division, the country and the game of football. All things that, barring perhaps the latter, Cellino requires considerable help with.
Of course though, the first and immediate decision Pearson needs to get involved in is that of the head coach. Even if he has stated that he’s leaving this to Cellino, sense tells you that he’ll have something to say about it. When a decision has the capacity to be the difference between great success and abject failure, he’d be very silly to turn his back on it.
The fans are of course loyal to Redfearn. He’s exactly the sort of no-nonsense footballing man that the club needed during the past twelve months of court cases and FA bans. The team needed a man that instinctively cared only about football matters over constantly generating media soundbytes loaded with clichés such as Brian McDermott or Neil Warnock.
But is he what’s needed now? This is the million dollar question and is what will be puzzling Cellino and Pearson now.
If fans are to believe the current suggested situation then Leeds are in fine financial fettle, have (at last) a settled and prepared boardroom staff and have freshly stripped away another layer of ‘deadwood’ playing staff. One could argue the toss as to whether Rodolph Austin should have been released, but most fans will end up with the conclusion that he can and will be replaced by someone with a bit more to offer.
So on paper, the club in a better position now to tackle an oncoming season in the Championship than we’ve been in a long, long time. All we need is the right person in the dugout. But who is that right person?
As said, when you’re firefighting then you need a Neil Redfearn in your corner, but when everything is in place and there’s money to spend and squad numbers to fill, do you need someone with a bit more… ambition?
Names like Adkins, Poyet, Warburton and Hasselbaink are being suggested by the bookmakers, and it’s hard to argue that anyone of those (besides Warburton perhaps) would bring a certain sparkle and flair that simply isn’t in Neil Redfearn’s make up. One suspects it’s this that Massimo Cellino really wants. He is Italian after all.
When Redfearn was winning football matches then all was well, but anything other than sheer success is going to see Redfearn grate on Cellino. They’re just chalk and cheese and you can see it a mile away. Cellino never wanted Redfearn, but after the debacle of Milanic he had no choice.
So, all things considered and providing Pearson is heavily involved in the decision and interview process, it may actually be a very good move for Leeds to finally bag one of the names that have been linked with the club on and off for the past few years.
Very few Leeds fans would grumble if Gus Poyet came to the club. His record is a mixed bag but he ticks all the boxes, loves the club and has endless enthusiasm and energy; all things that the club have arguably lacked for a long time.
Adkins wouldn’t command as much enthusiasm and some would worry that he’s just another Brian McDermott, only less follically challenged. His record is the same as Brian’s in that he’s had a strong instance of success followed by failed attempts to recapture it. Plus, he has that flavor about him that says he just doesn’t quite feel right.
Hasselbaink will split opinion with some still upset at his departure as a player, but it’s hard to doubt the sheer magnetism of a man who’s started his managerial career in such impressive style, never mind the fact that is has strong roots at Elland Road. There’s just something very exciting about the prospect of him hitting the ground running at Leeds. Two wins in and he’d be an instant legend.
Moving onto the other elephant in the room (and yes… Elland Road does still resemble a circus in this respect), the team needs strengthening significantly. Again, Pearson’s arrival is a reassurance as far as this issue goes and he’s already said that experienced players who know English football are what’s needed to compliment the ever growing batch of young talent Leeds have – ironically music to Redfearns ears no doubt.
But where does Cellino fit into this? It’s hard to imagine he’ll no longer have an overwhelming desire to bring random foreign players in that catch his eye, like a WAG walking in the front door of her husband’s mansion with a new Gucci bag on her arm.
Will the signings begin once the coach position is finalised? Can Cellino even wait that long?
Whatever ends up happening, one suspects it will happen sooner rather than later. Cellino might still be about as predictable as an August bank holiday weather forecast, but Pearson is no mug. He knows what it takes to succeed in this division and he will know what his remit is. Cellino will understand enough to hand over significant responsibility to him. The real challenge lies with Pearson and whether he can ‘up-manage’ Cellino in the right way. Massage Massimo’s ego correctly and he could have a very pleasant time back at Leeds. Get it wrong though and he could last as long as Nicola Salerno – someone who was a friend of Cellino’s!
Looking at the body language at the press conference though and it seems they have got off to a good start. There’s clearly mutual respect there and by the looks of it plenty to smile about.
The head coach decision is undoubtedly the key one and it should be made in the next week or so. At that point, it should (in theory) trigger a chain of events that will shape the season to come.
The only sensible thing to do is sit back, enjoy the ride and see where things are come July.
Here we go again *clicking my seat belt*.
@jezaldinho
© e-Media Group 2015 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of @e_media_group
No comments: