Leeds are still re-building for Promotion
Article by Gwyn Hughes
The Championship season is a long and gruelling one. If ever a team needs to do well in it, they have to supply it with a decent number of players and good ones at that. Add a forward thinking manager who can influence games and a board willing to get the right players for him then you have a chance.
We can see every week how certain teams have already built their squad to a level that can ultimately gain the promotion their hard work and planning deserve. Garry Monk has already pointed out that the teams he is competing with have already got at least a season of this under their belt.
Leeds seem to re-build every summer! A new crop of players, mostly on loan, come in and try and get Leeds up in one season.
A tall order in my book.
The likes of Brighton, Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham are those teams who have consistently shown this season how to pull results out when needed. How many times have Leeds fans lamented the fact that these teams seem to win every week, keeping Leeds stationary in the league. That’s happening because of the hard work and planning invested from previous seasons.
As Leeds fans, we can be a bit arrogant when we dismiss the likes of Huddersfield and Brighton as inferior. But the proof is in the results. They may not have stellar names in their squads but they have players who put in stellar performances. How else are they above Leeds?
At times, Leeds have competed toe-to-toe with these teams and instilled a belief that promotion is a viable option. But results from these last few weeks have shown, however, the power of those other teams I mentioned earlier. They keep on doing it and Leeds have faltered lately.
Others, such as Newcastle and Norwich, have Premier League squads. They were able to keep the players they had last season thanks to the parachute payments they received by being relegated. Newcastle, despite a few unexpected losses, have proven early predictions that they were certainties for promotion.
Norwich are the ones that have surprised everyone. Although still in a relatively good position in the league, they should be up there with Newcastle. Inconsistency may cost them a definite play-off place but I still wouldn’t rule them out of getting there.
Leeds’ final league position is still a mystery. Pundits still claim they should be ok for a play-off spot bur recent performances have made me think again. When I saw them against Derby and Preston I really thought this team had stepped up another gear. The performances against Cardiff, Ipswich and even the home win against Bristol City, have placed the seeds of doubt in my mind that this team is not ready yet.
I hate to say it but some of the players in the team need another season in The Championship before they can be ready for the Premier League.
Ronaldo Viera and Kemar Roofe are outstanding prospects, and that‘s all they are in this moment in time. Kalvin Phillips is another. I have no doubt that the likes of Chris Wood, Pablo Hernandez, Pontus and Kyle, and even Rob Green can all cope in the Premier. Bridcutt and O’Kane were released by Premier League clubs which suggests that they were not up to scratch at that level.
If Leeds did make the play-offs it would be a huge achievement, considering the squad we have. But at the moment we are not playing that well. Certainly, not good enough to win the play-offs. There are teams coming up behind us who I fear will overtake us if we continue in the form we have been in lately.
The one team that I can see getting close is Cardiff. Only on 45 points at the time of writing, they have plenty of points to play for and have been on a terrific run, including beating Leeds at Elland Road.
At the moment, Leeds are relying on togetherness and spirit, and a bit of luck as well. That can’t last until the end of the season. I have a feeling that something is not right in the background. The intensity of the performances are not there and the defeat at Sutton can’t be the reason, surely, though the dip in form seemed to start after that embarrassing defeat.
I have a feeling that Monk wants to start a legacy at Elland Road but he can’t do it on the type of contract he is on. I was under the impression that he was going to be offered a long term contract at the club. There has been a silence on this lately and I’m wondering if Monk is looking at his options. If the owners can’t give him the financial support then he will realise, if he hasn’t already, that he won’t be given the opportunity to fulfil his vision with Leeds.
Leeds have also been hit by ‘fake news’ (very popular at the moment!) and I hope that there aren’t elements out there who are focussing on spreading negative rumours. Fights between Pontus and Kyle, and Monk off to Rangers have been swirling around the internet lately. Lord knows we’ve had our hopes up with the amount of players we’ve been linked with this season. All have come to nothing. More fake news folks!
To finish, it certainly appears to me that the team looks a bit jaded. A trip to Ipswich a few weeks ago seemed a relishing prospect. In reality we scraped a draw and did not look like a team gunning for promotion.
Lots of teams have productive spells within a season but only a few can achieve this consistent enough to get promotion. There are plenty of teams that are in better shape than Leeds to go up. But we Leeds fans can hope that the team can find a second wind and keep the pursuing teams away for a little longer.
© e-Media Group 2017 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of @e_media_group
Great Leads and great job. Everything fair in Soccer lover and war. For best and skilled soccer betting tips always trust on professional tipsters.
ReplyDelete