my opinion on the summer transfer window (and the season so far)

[CLIVETHELEEDSFAN]

Aaronson Ampadu Bamford Bogle Byram Cairns Darlow Firpo Gelhardt Gnonto Gruev James Joseph Meslier Piroe Ramazani Rodon Rothwell Schmidt Solomon Struijk Tanaka Wober.

This is our confirmed squad (at least until January 2025 anyway).

I think we just about have enough depth in all areas, the 8 players who we've brought in, plus the 2 returning loaned out players, plus Joseph who has gone from 3rd choice to 1st choice number 9, in itself creates a potential starting 11 on its own, albeit highly unlikely we see that 11 all start a match together.

Roughly speaking we've sold 8 players for £140 million and bought in 6 players for £30 million. From a business point of view this would likely be seen as good business. From a squad perspective, it looks very different.

Rutter Gray Summerville Sinisterra Kamara Roca Cresswell and Llorente were all sold, Koch Drameh Klaesson Shackleton Ayling Poveda and Cooper all left for free, and Kristensen Greenwood Gyabi and Perkins all left on loan.

That is 19 players that have left, now you could argue that only half of those who have left would have had gametime this season, and so to get these 19 off the books from a wage point of view works well financially, but how does this now leave the squad with so many gone.

The 11 who played vs Sheffield Wednesday looks like it could be a potential starting 11 going forward, it didnt look overly weak in any position.

The bench now looks to have some decent depth to it, Darlow and Cairns are experienced GK's, Byram and Schmidt provide cover at fullback with Wober covering centreback, Rothwell and Tanaka provide different options to the midfield while Solomon and Ramazani are added to our wings department, with Bamford Piroe and Gelhardt providing Farke with some firepower up top.

Overall I'm reasonably satisfied with the ins after the heartbreak of the major outs, only time will tell if our new players are any good, but now its down to the players to deliver and the fans to support them all the way, it will be interesting to see how the new lads get on, Farke demands a tight knit group, and to join Leeds, you have to be the right type of person, as well as ticking the ability boxes, Farke wouldn't accept any bad eggs into his squad.

I would have liked to see a number 10 arrive at the club this summer but the start Aaronson has made scoring 2 goals in 1 start and 1 sub app is an early promising sign and hopefully he can contribute with goals and assists, Gnonto also looked back to better form in our last match, close ball control and always looking to get involved. Joseph doesn't seem phased by becoming the new 1st choice number 9 and bagged 2 assists vs SW, I'm sure goals will come his way, he was a goal machine in our u21s. I'm a little concerned about Rodon who since becoming permanent while still being good defensively hasn't looked as assured with the ball at his feet and his passing at times has been woeful, but I'm sure him and Struijk will make a fine CB pairing this season, really pleased Struijk is back, a good defender and also a threat aerially from set pieces, and surprisingly can take a penalty too!

An unbeaten start to the season represents decent if not ideal value from our first 3 matches, we should have beaten portsmouth, the draw vs WBA was a drab affair but useful with a clean sheet away from home against a team who could finish top 6 this season, and the win vs SW certainly looked a lot better and closer to what we could be capable of on a regular basis this season.

I feel I can go into the next 8 matches with some confidence knowing how the squad looks now, then after the next 8, we will be about a quarter of the way through the season, i'd say if by then we are top 6 and no more than 9 points off 2nd, then we can kick on for the next 11 and by the half way point be in the top 2 where we should be if the players play their best football week in week out. After that, the January window will likely be upon us, and lets hope we don't lose anyone key in that month and if we do, lets hope they are easily replaceable. Then its a hard slog to the finish line in May, gaining promotion in the top 2 positions. It doesn't bother me if we finish 1st or 2nd, as long as we don't finish any lower than top 2, Automatic Promotion is a MUST, Nothing less will do.

MOT!!!

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Hey Clive

Agree with a lot of that. A lot that left were never going to realistically play this season anyway.

Hope all is well

[WTF11]

Aaronson Ampadu Bamford Bogle Byram Cairns Darlow Firpo Gelhardt Gnonto Gruev James Joseph Meslier Piroe Ramazani Rodon Rothwell Schmidt Solomon Struijk Tanaka Wober.

This is our confirmed squad (at least until January 2025 anyway).

I think we just about have enough depth in all areas, the 8 players who we've brought in, plus the 2 returning loaned out players, plus Joseph who has gone from 3rd choice to 1st choice number 9, in itself creates a potential starting 11 on its own, albeit highly unlikely we see that 11 all start a match together.

Roughly speaking we've sold 8 players for £140 million and bought in 6 players for £30 million. From a business point of view this would likely be seen as good business. From a squad perspective, it looks very different.

Rutter Gray Summerville Sinisterra Kamara Roca Cresswell and Llorente were all sold, Koch Drameh Klaesson Shackleton Ayling Poveda and Cooper all left for free, and Kristensen Greenwood Gyabi and Perkins all left on loan.

That is 19 players that have left, now you could argue that only half of those who have left would have had gametime this season, and so to get these 19 off the books from a wage point of view works well financially, but how does this now leave the squad with so many gone.

The 11 who played vs Sheffield Wednesday looks like it could be a potential starting 11 going forward, it didnt look overly weak in any position.

The bench now looks to have some decent depth to it, Darlow and Cairns are experienced GK's, Byram and Schmidt provide cover at fullback with Wober covering centreback, Rothwell and Tanaka provide different options to the midfield while Solomon and Ramazani are added to our wings department, with Bamford Piroe and Gelhardt providing Farke with some firepower up top.

Overall I'm reasonably satisfied with the ins after the heartbreak of the major outs, only time will tell if our new players are any good, but now its down to the players to deliver and the fans to support them all the way, it will be interesting to see how the new lads get on, Farke demands a tight knit group, and to join Leeds, you have to be the right type of person, as well as ticking the ability boxes, Farke wouldn't accept any bad eggs into his squad.

I would have liked to see a number 10 arrive at the club this summer but the start Aaronson has made scoring 2 goals in 1 start and 1 sub app is an early promising sign and hopefully he can contribute with goals and assists, Gnonto also looked back to better form in our last match, close ball control and always looking to get involved. Joseph doesn't seem phased by becoming the new 1st choice number 9 and bagged 2 assists vs SW, I'm sure goals will come his way, he was a goal machine in our u21s. I'm a little concerned about Rodon who since becoming permanent while still being good defensively hasn't looked as assured with the ball at his feet and his passing at times has been woeful, but I'm sure him and Struijk will make a fine CB pairing this season, really pleased Struijk is back, a good defender and also a threat aerially from set pieces, and surprisingly can take a penalty too!

An unbeaten start to the season represents decent if not ideal value from our first 3 matches, we should have beaten portsmouth, the draw vs WBA was a drab affair but useful with a clean sheet away from home against a team who could finish top 6 this season, and the win vs SW certainly looked a lot better and closer to what we could be capable of on a regular basis this season.

I feel I can go into the next 8 matches with some confidence knowing how the squad looks now, then after the next 8, we will be about a quarter of the way through the season, i'd say if by then we are top 6 and no more than 9 points off 2nd, then we can kick on for the next 11 and by the half way point be in the top 2 where we should be if the players play their best football week in week out. After that, the January window will likely be upon us, and lets hope we don't lose anyone key in that month and if we do, lets hope they are easily replaceable. Then its a hard slog to the finish line in May, gaining promotion in the top 2 positions. It doesn't bother me if we finish 1st or 2nd, as long as we don't finish any lower than top 2, Automatic Promotion is a MUST, Nothing less will do.

MOT!!!

Rubbish. Agreed we realised £140m in player sales and acquired £30m as replacements.

How in the name of anything that is close TO ANY form of reality does that deliver a squad "as strong" as that of 23/24?

[CLIVETHELEEDSFAN]

did i say it matches the quality of last season? absolutely no i did not, and maybe you should explain as to why my post is rubbish, rather than just saying its rubbish, maybe you can provide a better more accurate one, i'll wait for your response WTF11

[WTF11]

Marathe said in a very public statement that the squad for 24/25 would be as strong as doranthe previous season. Anyone who thinks that is what we have now is delusional, and anyone who suggests otherwise spouts rubbish. End of.

[norfolk white]

Very disappointed we didn’t prioritise a striker as this, as well as a left back, is the one major flaw we have had for the last god knows how many seasons, bamford is finished, piroe just hasn’t lived up to expectations, and Joseph hasn’t either, joffy isn’t going to be given game time and hasn’t got it anyway, so we go again with no recognised striker, dallying around with wingers is fine if there’s a striker to play into, we don’t yet again.

[whitestomper45]

Very disappointed we didn’t prioritise a striker as this, as well as a left back, is the one major flaw we have had for the last god knows how many seasons, bamford is finished, piroe just hasn’t lived up to expectations, and Joseph hasn’t either, joffy isn’t going to be given game time and hasn’t got it anyway, so we go again with no recognised striker, dallying around with wingers is fine if there’s a striker to play into, we don’t yet again.

Schmidt similar to Dallas can play wing or full back either side.

[Pacaman]

Given how things ended last season I’m relatively happy with the end result in this window. We do need Joseph to fulfill that potential,

MOT

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Just ignore him Clive - if he is having a go it just means you are probably talking sense.

Slightly disappointed we didn’t get one more but overall a decent window and Aaronson looks like being able to contribute too.

[Sniffer999]

I think most agree we are short of a top draw striker. I got it wrong with Piroe. I'm a Bamford fan but realise he's not going to do it consistently anymore. Joseph is impressive but will need one hell of a season to do what a top striker would do.
It's such a key position. I don't think it's all doom and gloom but we are taking a huge risk.