If we go up, who is good enough?

[joellufcprice]

Now, ill preface this with I ain’t saying we are up though given we have a 5 point gap, the two behind us have to play each other and there’s only 4 games left there’s only Leeds United who can mess that up.

With that said, if we were to be a PL team next year who is actually good enough to try get us to 16th, would we have to do a Forest and completely decimate the squad or try what we did under Bielsa and change very little but add quality?

Manager Farke- I don’t think he is good enough personally, he has one plan and when that plan doesn’t work it is kinda game up. I don’t see his possession style winning us games because better teams won’t let us keep the ball, we’ve seen recently how quickly our players **** the bed when they’re pressed in defense and options out are cut off they panic and go long or just end up knocking it out for a throw in. Does he deserve the chance? Absolutely and I’d frankly be disappointed in the club if they did anything different. Do I think he is good enough to keep us up? A lot depends on good signings but truthfully, no.

Players
Good enough
Rodon- Absolutely, solid bottom half defender
Struijk- I sometimes think people massively over hype how good he is for someone who makes so many errors, but as a PL option he is fine.
Ampadu- Yes, but I’d want him in midfield
Darlow- As back up, fine as long as we have someone high quality as number one.
Tanaka- Easily
Gruev- as a back up option
James- yep
Solomon- we need to try sign for sure
Gnonto- yep
Ramazani- yep, but if Farke isn’t going to trust him then what’s the point, just replace and move on.


Unsure
Bogle- Guy can attack but defensively he’s suspect and I am not sure in the PL you can have someone so weak against top level wingers.
Byram- If he is happy to play emergency back up, fine, if he is starting games we would be going down.
Schmidt- Who knows, looks decent, Farke never trusted him till now.
Aaronson- As a back up for his energy and attitude ain’t bad but he is nowhere near starter quality.
Rothwell- isn’t ours so wouldn’t want to drop big money and honestly I’d hope the space he vacates would be replaced with a high quality starting option, however as a back up he is definitely good enough.
Piroe- I don’t think he has enough strengths to his game to be a PL striker, he can finish but that’s it

Not good enough
Meslier- no matter what league, its done, much like Wiedwald, Rachubka, Casilla etc there’s no coming back.
Firpo- Contract up, let him move on with the pride of promotion.
Wober- once looked a good PL player, now looks out of his depth constantly.
Guilavogui- no
Joseph- needs a loan to get experience
Bamford- he is good enough, but injuries just means he is never an option, better to let him move on and replace his spot with someone who can actually play.


Squad as a whole

GK- NEEDED + Darlow + Cairns
LB- Needed + Byram
CB- Rodon + Needed
CB- Struijk + Needed
RB- Neeeded + Bogle
CM- Ampadu + Gruev
CM- Tanaka + Needed
CAM- Needed + Aaronson
LW- Solomon + Ramazani
RW- James + Gnonto
ST- Needed + Piroe/Joseph

I don’t think you can overhaul an entire squad so you have to keep your strengths in there and replace the weakest links with high quality, don’t make the mistake Ipswich have done, go out and get some PL experience

[joellufcprice]

I’ve no idea where all those weird As have come from, I certainly didn’t type them!

[Billyni]

Can we leave the Rev and Andy in the championship.
They’re Aldi and Lidl level.
Premier ball skills required now.

[BelfastAndy]

Glad you've sobered up. Thought you were going to miss the run in whilst on one of your po**** benders.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Pretty decent summary Joel - feel like we need to sign 6 good players in some key positions. Not sure Farke is up to the PL either.

[RedRocks]

The key will be not just who we sign, but how many are truly ready to walk into a PL starting XI. No more rolling the dice on raw potential, we need a few players who’ve done it before

[Monaco_Totty]

The key will be not just who we sign, but how many are truly ready to walk into a PL starting XI. No more rolling the dice on raw potential, we need a few players who?ve done it before

Very true but gonna need required quota of 'Home Grown' players meaning a player who irrespective of nationality or age has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of 3 entire seasons or 36 months, before his 21st birthday.

Obviously our rookie Under-21 players are not included on the 25-man squad lists but are still eligible to play in the PL.

So each clubs squad must contain no more than 17 players who do not fulfil the 'Home Grown' Player criteria. The rest of the squad up to a total of 25 players must be 'Home Grown', tho.

Recall discussing this subject on 'here' prior to Christmas '24 on what will be needed for PL & I still believe we need at least 10 proven players to be bought in minimum. 👍

Reading today that our Aussie billionaire backer Peter Lowy ordered free drinks for our South Stand ER fans after win against PNE, the same bloke who refuses seats of directors boxes in our away games choosing to stand with our voiciferous packed away end instead.

Hes been flying in from Los Angeles to attend Leeds games since arriving in 2021 as part of the 49ers Enterprises ownership as the biggest investor through the Lowy Family Group, who are now expected to be pivotal in the refurb of ER & redevelopment of its surrounding area.

So maybe the board could have 11 words, starting with 'please' in his ears regarding what new will be needed, player wise. 😉

[WTF11]

Using the official Leeds website for players confirmed as being in the 1st team squad;

Manager

None

Goalkeepers

None

Defenders

Firpo (although maybe not as conventional back line player)
Rodon
Struijk

Midfielders

Rothwell
Tanaka

Forwards

James
Solomon
Ramazani
Gnonto

If we go up, the 49ers Enterprises best have deep pockets!

[whitestomper45]

Been impressed with all things SF69?rs since they took control. Am sure we will get some loanees in too. Still not 100% but..It will be great if we can get promotion done soonest rather than last day of season, they can begin targeting players for a PL season

[Monaco_Totty]

Total Ownership Investment of 49s ?

2018: 10% stake 10-15m.
2021: Increased to 37%.
Increased to 44% 70-90m cumulative.
2023: 100% takeover 170m for remaining 56%, total investment 240-260m

Squad Investment Influence pre 2023.
Indirect support via minority stakes, enabling Radrizzanis 300m + spending 2018-2023.

Post-2023: Direct control, 50.9m spent Summer 2023/Summer 2024 offset by sales.

Post-2023: Elland Road ownership secured, upgrades planned via millions projected, specifics TBD. 🤞

Nitty gritty since 49s take over ?

Majority Ownership Achieved 2023
49ers Enterprises assumed full control of Leeds United, July 17, 2023.
EFL ratified the 170m deal ending Radrizzanis era with Paraag Marathe as chairman and Elland Road fully owned.

Transfer Buys from Summer 2023.
Joel Piroe 10m from Swansea City.
Ilia Gruev 5m from Werder Bremen.
Glen Kamara 5m from Rangers.
Djed Spence loan from Spurs.
Jaidon Anthony loan from Bournemouth.
Joe Rodon loan from Spurs.
Luke Ayling contract extension, no fee.
Total Spent: 20m plus loans.

Transfer Buys Winter 2024.
Connor Roberts loan from Burnley.
Total Spent: 0 loan only.

Investments Made to the Club Squad Investment:
20m spent post-takeover, bolstered by 170m takeover funds enabling a competitive Championship squad.

Infrastructure ?
Commitment to Elland Road upgrades announced, though specific costs undisclosed (estimated millions over time.
🤫
Transfer Buys Summer 2024.
Joe Rothwell loan from Bournemouth.
Jayden Bogle 5m from Sheff Utd.
Joe Rodon 10m from Spurs, loan made permanent.
Alex Cairns free from Salford City.
Manor Solomon loan from Spurs.
Largie Ramazani 10m from Almeria.
Isaac Schmidt 2.5m from St. Gallen.
Ao Tanaka 3.4m from Fortuna.
Total Spent: 30.9m plus loans fees.

Transfer Buys Winter 2025 up to February 20, 2025 ?
No signings completed by this date window closed with Leeds opting not to reinforce despite bids e.g. Cameron Archer loan rejected.
So total Spent: Zero.

So, investments made to the Club.
squad Investment were 30.9m in summer 2024 reflected 49ers Enterprises strategy to balance spending with sales 142m from departures like Archie Gray & Crysencio Summerville.

Winter 2025 inactivity highlighted 'caution'. Infrastructure: Ongoing ER redevelopment plans with Red Bulls minority stake 2024 adding commercial investment, the amount undisclosed but significant for branding.

This comprehensive timeline integrates transfer buys & investments reflecting 49ers Enterprises evolving role from minority backers to full owners, with a shift toward sustainable spending post-takeover. Transfer fees are approximate, while investment estimates align with reported valuations & timelines.

The time line has been done in 4 Phases currently, for the record which I condensed.
As for Phase 5 then e shall all see. 😇