To bid or not to bid?

 

Over the past couple of weeks twitter has linked Dundee United winger Gary Mackay-Steven with a possible move to Leeds. As far no media outlets have linked Mackay-Steven with a move south of the border. This does not necessarily mean it is untrue. It could be just “twitter rubbish” or it could have some substance.

It is no secret that Leeds do need at least one winger. The loss of Elland Road favourites, Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass, has been hard to take for Leeds fans. Add to that the lack of replacements and it has made the Leeds team lack width of any kind. IF Gary Mackay-Steven was to sign it would go some way as to helping the width problem at Leeds. Plus sunder Brian McDermott I feel he would flourish as a player due to McDermotts gift of getting the best out of people.

So what can we expect from Mackay-Steven as a player?

Well Mackay-Steven is regarded by many as an “old fashioned winger”, his main aim is to reach the byeline and cross the ball. Being predominantly left footed, he hugs the touchline and has a unique running style. A feature part of his game is to use many dribbling skills to gain advantage of his opponents. He is currently playing for Dundee United and is only twenty-two years of age. He has just under three years left in his current contract and is a Scottish under 21 international.

For me Mackay-Steven is a perfect fit for Leeds. A quick, young winger. I can’t see too many other alternatives to Mackay-Steven. If we were to sign him it would give a great chance of getting promoted and with the other signings made would be a huge sign of intent.

Good things come to those who wait

8 tortuous year of Ken Bates’ reign as Leeds United chairman came to an end today as Leeds United announced a new chairman. In addition to the chairman Leeds also agreed a deal to sign Crewe captain Luke Murphy on a 3 year deal.

Salah Nooruddin was announced as our chairman today after the transitional period ended from GFH Capital’s takeover of Leeds United. Salah was appointed vice chairman in may, which gave hints it would be him to succeed Ken on the 1st of July. Another wonderful piece of news came when it broke that Shaun Harvey was to step down as Leeds’ CEO and David Haigh was to step up from director to Managing Director. Which shows GFH Capital’s intentions start a new life for the club.

In other great news today Luke Murphy made the switch from Crewe to Leeds, signing a 3 year deal. This signing is significant as it is the first time Leeds have paid over £1 million for a player in over 7 years. As well as paying over £1 million the signing of Luke Murphy also shows intent from the board and the manager. Murphy played nearly 200 times for Crewe and captained the side to the JPT last season.

After what has been the best day for Leeds United for a very long it is finally time to say the giant is awakening.

Leeds handed tough start.

By @wardylufc

Leeds have been handed a tough start to the 2013-2014 Npower Championship season. The first game of the season will be played at Elland Road against Brighton, who are in turmoil over the situation regarding ‘poo gate’ and manager Gus Poyet. Leeds’ first away game will come a week later against Nigel Pearsons Leicester City, who in recent seasons have splashed the cash in order to return to the Premier League. Leeds will then go onto face Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and Reading in August. Leeds will play host to Derby County in the last game of the season.

The usually busy Christmas period will see Leeds host Barnsley on the 14th December and travel to Blackpool and Nottingham, on the 26th and 29th of December. This is usually the make or break part of the season. Put a good run together through December and you’re looking good. Have a terrible month and you will begin to lose touch with the promotion places.

The tough start to the season will show the intent of Leeds United and hopefully prove our promotion prospects. Hopefully Brian McDermott will have all his summer targets in place by the time we play Brighton on the 3rd of August. In my opinion if Leeds are to mount a serious promotion push then we must beat the like of Yeovil, Bournemouth, Doncaster and Millwall. No disrespect to them teams but I feel they will be down the bottom of the table. Usually it is those teams who are near the foot of the table that we have struggled against.

It won’t be easy this season with the likes of Reading, QPR, Wigan, Bolton, Watford, Brighton and Leicester all putting very good cases forward for promotion. But if we stay consistent and focus on our own game and bring the right people in I see no reason as to why come the 3rd May Leeds will be celebrating promotion back to the big time, the Premier League.

Who do Leeds need to sign?

By wardylufc

Following Leeds’ disappointing campaign last season it was a general consensus that Leeds needed to strengthen in order to maintain a promotion push during the coming season.

I feel we need another striker to accompany Matt Smith, Ross McCormack, Steve Morison and Luke Varney. Two midfielders, a battling, defensive midfielder. An attacking, playmaker. Also a central defender to partner Tom Lees as in my opinion Jason Pearce is too inconsitent and prone to a mistake. I also feel a change of captaincy will bring a freshness to the dressing room. However the biggest weakness we had last season was not buying wingers and replacing outgoing captain Robert Snodgrass. A lack of width in the playing style and a lack of natural wingers meant it was going to be very tough to be a creative team.

With Noel Hunt reportedly a Leeds player and with the rumours flying around about possible other signings such as Anthony Stokes, Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Gary Mackay-Steven and Lewis McGugan, Leeds fans finally have a summer to look forward to and under the management of Brian McDermott it should be a good season in which we should challenge for a promotion place.