Transfer in's and out's rumours etc.

[WTF11]

Okay WTF11 - without going to 'war' with you (again) would you like to offer comment on our transfer dealings of late in the wake of our PL return prior to Brexit shadow and today's political flexing surrounding the UK's trade deals negotiations ?
You'll be aware of our clubs policy of buying up young international players under present work visa directive - so has Orta done well and if not why in your opinion.
For me we now have an exciting UK & International youth blend players balance at last with stable signings for PL security - done without the aid of crystal ball hindsight which you may have.

I note other clubs have not been to busy & not surprised either as not many folks know what to expect from 2021 UK life particularly the investors globally.
https://www.cherylgillan.co.uk/sites...55%20sf_0.docx

MOT

Never "at war" with anyone Mrs O, just have quite firm opinions, that require (further) evidence if they are to change.

I stick by what I said about Rodrigo, he has no PL experience to speak of, plays for a middle-order team in La Liga, and was injured for the latter part of the season, so he might be a star, he might be a flop. The club obviously believe the former. I honestly hope they are right, but I have my doubts.

The other Rodrigo is equally uninspiring (IMHO) in that he plays for an even more middling club who win nothing and go nowhere. He may well have a scoring ratio that is as good as Bamford (and actually better than the first Rodrigo) but as I say, for a team that goes nowhere and wins nothing. He has no Pl or English league experience, so an even greater unknown.

I have gone on record to say I like Gelhardt, and I hope he gets 1st team game time, even if a sub or in cup competitions to see how he stands up, but he is built, fast, knows where the net is and I hope he gets opportunity to show he can "do it" in the PL, but we will see.

Robin Koch....hmm, plays for a club that flip flops between Bundesliga and 2. As a defender you can't expect him to be a goal machine, but the fact that he played as part of the defence that got Freiburg promoted to (and then stayed in) the Bundesliga suggests he has promise. We will see, again!

All the youngsters coming in? We had an excellent U23 squad last season, finishing top of the U23 standings. So what exactly are the newcomers bringing to the party that we didn't have already? None have significant English league experience,, all are coming into the squad having played in positions that have a certain degree of strength in depth, so squad resilience isn't a standout feature of any. We won't know if Orta and the rest of those who advise on new acquisitions has "done well" until they start playing and results show one way or t'other.

We had an exciting U23 squad, I don't honestly see what the newcomers add, apart from squad size (which may be useful IF they are given 1st team opportunities to provide some respite for the 1st team "regulars", over to you Sr Bielsa).

It's a strange one to be sure, given what you say about the relatively quiet transfer market this time round (resulting in large part from the Covid thing, and to an extent the impending Brexit date), that we have been scooping up relatively large numbers of youth team players.

And of course I don't have "crystal ball hindsight" (couldn't resist the dig, could you?). I say again, when I've been wrong I've said as much, (e.g. Bielsa, Harrison, Bamford (a qualified admission on my part) etc), and will do so again, if that's how the players fortunes turn out, which I genuinely hope is the case (hope triumphing over expectation). I trust that others who have differing opinions will be honourable enough to do the same.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Gvardiol is being spoken of as the next great Croatian player - you never know how they will develop but he is big, strong, quick and apparently reads the game well. A lot of Serie A teams have been scouring him for a while. Looks like he is a long term replacement for Cooper and can provide short term cover at CB
and LB.

For what it’s worth my kids tell me he has wonderkid potential in FIFA 20 so definitely has a profile and potential to be good.

Who knows if he will be but we are definitely buying better raw material for MB and team to work with.

[MrsORichSenior]

Never "at war" with anyone Mrs O, just have quite firm opinions, that require (further) evidence if they are to change.

I stick by what I said about Rodrigo, he has no PL experience to speak of, plays for a middle-order team in La Liga, and was injured for the latter part of the season, so he might be a star, he might be a flop. The club obviously believe the former. I honestly hope they are right, but I have my doubts.

The other Rodrigo is equally uninspiring (IMHO) in that he plays for an even more middling club who win nothing and go nowhere. He may well have a scoring ratio that is as good as Bamford (and actually better than the first Rodrigo) but as I say, for a team that goes nowhere and wins nothing. He has no Pl or English league experience, so an even greater unknown.

I have gone on record to say I like Gelhardt, and I hope he gets 1st team game time, even if a sub or in cup competitions to see how he stands up, but he is built, fast, knows where the net is and I hope he gets opportunity to show he can "do it" in the PL, but we will see.

Robin Koch....hmm, plays for a club that flip flops between Bundesliga and 2. As a defender you can't expect him to be a goal machine, but the fact that he played as part of the defence that got Freiburg promoted to (and then stayed in) the Bundesliga suggests he has promise. We will see, again!

All the youngsters coming in? We had an excellent U23 squad last season, finishing top of the U23 standings. So what exactly are the newcomers bringing to the party that we didn't have already? None have significant English league experience,, all are coming into the squad having played in positions that have a certain degree of strength in depth, so squad resilience isn't a standout feature of any. We won't know if Orta and the rest of those who advise on new acquisitions has "done well" until they start playing and results show one way or t'other.

We had an exciting U23 squad, I don't honestly see what the newcomers add, apart from squad size (which may be useful IF they are given 1st team opportunities to provide some respite for the 1st team "regulars", over to you Sr Bielsa).

It's a strange one to be sure, given what you say about the relatively quiet transfer market this time round (resulting in large part from the Covid thing, and to an extent the impending Brexit date), that we have been scooping up relatively large numbers of youth team players.

And of course I don't have "crystal ball hindsight" (couldn't resist the dig, could you?). I say again, when I've been wrong I've said as much, (e.g. Bielsa, Harrison, Bamford (a qualified admission on my part) etc), and will do so again, if that's how the players fortunes turn out, which I genuinely hope is the case (hope triumphing over expectation). I trust that others who have differing opinions will be honourable enough to do the same.

Thanks for your considered response.
To clarify one point 'tho - for work permits criteria we needed to buy International capped players and to keep that profile those said players must be released for Internationals whether they be 'Mickey Mouse' tournaments or not other wise their status would create ongoing difficulties.

Leeds finances are tight,make no mistake on that point,so the club has done well in securing decent signings,IMO particularly in these Covid 19 times.Hopefully we won't become a yo-yo club between the top two tiers by approaching this campaign sensibly as TV money won't I suspect becoming into the game at levels as it is now.You would think several of the last crop of U23's will now go out on loan to get valuable playing experience before decisions are made on their futures and those successful kept.

Just hope that fans don't expect too much to soon in the early weeks as it'll take time.

MOT

[whitestomper45]

Never "at war" with anyone Mrs O, just have quite firm opinions, that require (further) evidence if they are to change.

I stick by what I said about Rodrigo, he has no PL experience to speak of, plays for a middle-order team in La Liga, and was injured for the latter part of the season, so he might be a star, he might be a flop. The club obviously believe the former. I honestly hope they are right, but I have my doubts.

The other Rodrigo is equally uninspiring (IMHO) in that he plays for an even more middling club who win nothing and go nowhere. He may well have a scoring ratio that is as good as Bamford (and actually better than the first Rodrigo) but as I say, for a team that goes nowhere and wins nothing. He has no Pl or English league experience, so an even greater unknown.

I have gone on record to say I like Gelhardt, and I hope he gets 1st team game time, even if a sub or in cup competitions to see how he stands up, but he is built, fast, knows where the net is and I hope he gets opportunity to show he can "do it" in the PL, but we will see.

Robin Koch....hmm, plays for a club that flip flops between Bundesliga and 2. As a defender you can't expect him to be a goal machine, but the fact that he played as part of the defence that got Freiburg promoted to (and then stayed in) the Bundesliga suggests he has promise. We will see, again!

All the youngsters coming in? We had an excellent U23 squad last season, finishing top of the U23 standings. So what exactly are the newcomers bringing to the party that we didn't have already? None have significant English league experience,, all are coming into the squad having played in positions that have a certain degree of strength in depth, so squad resilience isn't a standout feature of any. We won't know if Orta and the rest of those who advise on new acquisitions has "done well" until they start playing and results show one way or t'other.

We had an exciting U23 squad, I don't honestly see what the newcomers add, apart from squad size (which may be useful IF they are given 1st team opportunities to provide some respite for the 1st team "regulars", over to you Sr Bielsa).

It's a strange one to be sure, given what you say about the relatively quiet transfer market this time round (resulting in large part from the Covid thing, and to an extent the impending Brexit date), that we have been scooping up relatively large numbers of youth team players.

And of course I don't have "crystal ball hindsight" (couldn't resist the dig, could you?). I say again, when I've been wrong I've said as much, (e.g. Bielsa, Harrison, Bamford (a qualified admission on my part) etc), and will do so again, if that's how the players fortunes turn out, which I genuinely hope is the case (hope triumphing over expectation). I trust that others who have differing opinions will be honourable enough to do the same.

Is it any wonder folk wonder about your flip flop attitude towards signings.... you don't like any of the signings/targets currently on international duty yet you approve of a player who played for a 2nd tier club and like Rodrigo has been sold in a firesale, yet from the 20 2nd tier matches he played as a CF he scored 1 goal.... I wish him well like all our signings but what is your logic in differential assessment of these signings???

[WTF11]

Is it any wonder folk wonder about your flip flop attitude towards signings.... you don't like any of the signings/targets currently on international duty yet you approve of a player who played for a 2nd tier club and like Rodrigo has been sold in a firesale, yet from the 20 2nd tier matches he played as a CF he scored 1 goal.... I wish him well like all our signings but what is your logic in differential assessment of these signings???

I would have thought that was obvious, and I'm not "flip-flopping, as I made clear in my response to Mrs O.

The players from Spain and elsewhere have no English league experience, and despite what many would suggest, there is a huge difference, even between the Championship and the majority of what is played in Europe, particularly when the European situation applies to those outside the top 3 - 4 in each prime division. This was the point I made in response to BB and others, when I mentioned that PL clubs from top to bottom in the league have played a part in European competitions (often doing well), whereas once you get beyond the top 3 - 4 in premier European divisions the achievements are considerably inferior.

Remember all teh hoo hah there was when JKA was rumoured to be joining (Bundesliga player, then playing for Monaco in Ligue 1, big powerful etc etc etc)? I say again, proof of the pudding playing in the PL is when the player pulls on a shirt and does the business, not before. Try finding a comment from me where I said the player was rubbish, or I disliked him, or, or, or? I have always supported my opinions with fact (who they have played for, number of appearances, how many goals scored (if appropriate) etc). Whether you or others accept or like those facts is up to you

If we expect players from Europe to fit in with what most would suggest is a pretty individual system even for those who HAVE played either in PL or Championship before, then they (IMHO) need to be a bit more than those we have signed. i hope I am wrong, honestly I do.

As for the Gelhardt lad, sold in a firesale or not, Leeds weren't the only club interested, we will see if the interest was worth it (and if not, we have wasted not so much).