en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/3471038 Comments by Mark__R http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/09/boycotting-manchester-united-game-wont-work/#IDComment188725500 Good post OldLUFC. The lack of investment in the squad & salary cap = a hard financial place due to : a) Money being taken out of the club b) The banks looking unfavourabley on the current senior management / track record c) Any potential investor not wanting to work with KB Against this backdrop SG has worked well to get us where we are, and keep his tongue in his head. MOT Thu, 1 Sep 2011 14:53:16 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/09/boycotting-manchester-united-game-wont-work/#IDComment188725500 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/09/hope-leaves-leeds-united-on-deadline-day/#IDComment188698268 A fair point Kevin. Having said that I think the club's inflexible contractual stance didn't entice Beckford to the negotiating table at any stage - not even on gaining promotion from League 1. And when a club wins promotion and gains momentum, that's an opportunity to push on and support ambitions with investment in improving the squad. We're treading water instead of pushing on. MOT Thu, 1 Sep 2011 12:47:35 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/09/hope-leaves-leeds-united-on-deadline-day/#IDComment188698268 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/09/hope-leaves-leeds-united-on-deadline-day/#IDComment188669688 The lack of investment throughout summer and the sale of Max in particular - without a replacement - is scandelous.I thought KB & SG had a plan to build upon last season ? Financially we must be in a real corner as we have spent very little on player recruitment over the last couple of seasons. The fact we let Beckford go on a free, then he is sold 1 season later for £4million to rivals Leicester, is bad from from KB & Co.Not being flexible with the salary structure is a real hinderence. Improved performance related bonuses surely could bridge the gap? Relying on Paddy returning after a serious injury was a big gamble to strengthen the defence, and the welcome emergence of Clayton, Lees & White is a big gamble on inexperiened youngsters over a long arduous league campaign. This confused and unambitous player recruitment is the foundation for a current league record of 4pts from 5 games, conceding 9 goals - again almost an average of 2 goals conceded per match, whilst scoring 8. It's a worst start than last season with the defence still an issue.No amount of propoganda can mask the facts. Let's see how September progresses with another couple of loaness - unbeaten and a good performance vs. MU would be a start. MOT Thu, 1 Sep 2011 10:18:46 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/09/hope-leaves-leeds-united-on-deadline-day/#IDComment188669688 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/09/hope-leaves-leeds-united-on-deadline-day/#IDComment188659848 Nice one Ian. Thu, 1 Sep 2011 09:32:27 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/09/hope-leaves-leeds-united-on-deadline-day/#IDComment188659848 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/max-gradel-set-for-st-etienne/#IDComment188390675 Good point about Keogh's place in a front line with Becchio, Henry V. Max had a good season and a half or so with us, and really turned things around after his sending off vs. Bristol Rvrs in the Lge 1 promotion match. 18 goals last season (?) was a great return in the Championship - though playing as a winger his distribution & crossing was woeful. Thanks Max for the contribtuion. However we must hold onto Snodgrass & Becchio. Now it's time to move on and hope we get a couple of players in to strengthen the squad. MOT Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:49:56 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/max-gradel-set-for-st-etienne/#IDComment188390675 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/the-ramon-nunez-predicament/#IDComment186137105 Fair point about Howson, Dale, but I think as Brown was absent , Howson was instructed to play a more cautious containment role alongside Clayton. Right at the death when we were pushing forward for an equaliser he made an impact with the shot that came off the bar for AC to score. He's more prominent when playing just behind the strikers. I like Nunez but he's not in the mould of an English Midfielder- ie. physically or stamina wise I don't think he'll match up to Howson, Clayton etc. He could play as you say off the front two, but I wouldn't think he'd have an impact back in the midfield. As he plays more he'll get stronger and probabley in future will be challenging Howson in for the same spot. As of now though - I wouldn't change the team that faced WH. MOT Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:41:50 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/the-ramon-nunez-predicament/#IDComment186137105 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/the-ramon-nunez-predicament/#IDComment186104457 I tend to agree with Craig's view on this. Gradel runs at defenders and is a real handful for opposition defenders. These type of players are few and far between. He's proved himself at this level last season and as Premiership clubs are being linked with him, all indicates that he's highly thought of. We have a better chance of promotion with him than without. Keep Gradel and Snodgrass and we are serious contenders. Nunez has scored 5 goals in 3 games (?) which is great, but is unproven over a season at this level and is not the kind of player who runs at defenders. It's a squad game now and he'll have opportunities over the season as players get injured or fall out of form. That he is in a rich vein of form gives SG a great option - but on the bench. The team that faced West Ham currently hold the 1st team places in the Championship and creditibly so, after their great performance last weekend. It's all good. MOT Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:32:05 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/the-ramon-nunez-predicament/#IDComment186104457 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/leeds-reserves-knock-donny-out-of-league-cup/#IDComment186071816 That's my assesment as well Sparky. It's all good , we're through and hopefully with a home draw we can progress further in this competition. MOT Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:57:09 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/leeds-reserves-knock-donny-out-of-league-cup/#IDComment186071816 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/honours-even-for-hammers-and-whites/#IDComment185445912 Agree with that Chareose. Gradel can be frustrating at times but he has a proven goal return at Championship level & is a real handful for defenders. Snodgrass also back to his best yesterday. A very very good performance only blighted by 2 defensive errors to gift WHU goals, & our missed penalty. As someone earlier in the post said - if we finish beloe WH I'll also be disappointed. There was only team showing good passing moves and dominating the match - oursleves. > resulting in McCormack's goal - truely outstanding - Premiership class ! A bit more composure in defence and we will be a real force. Otherwise the side that turned out yesterday is I think currently our best side . I'm especially pleased for the young lads - White, Lees, Howson, Clayton etc. up against England Internationals of WH - we made them look ordinary. I'm sure we'll improve from the WHmatch as well - thinks are really looking up. MOT Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:52:06 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/honours-even-for-hammers-and-whites/#IDComment185445912 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/tigers-tamed-by-defiant-whites/#IDComment183962720 Good to see the Mighty Whites get up and running. Hopefully SG will only tinker in a minor way with the team - if at all. The 4-4-2 clearly suits the group of players we have so I would hope we stick to that and look to impose our game on the opposition. 4-5-1 has delivered inconsistent results for us in the past. Come on SG - keep your nerve. MOT Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:24:25 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/tigers-tamed-by-defiant-whites/#IDComment183962720 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/mikael-forssell-too-good-to-be-true/#IDComment183534767 It's all propaganda. The next 90 minutes is the only thing that matters. MOT Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:39:27 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/mikael-forssell-too-good-to-be-true/#IDComment183534767 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/leeds-cast-off-signs-for-erm-leeds/#IDComment183297791 A good summary of how the squad has remained static Mark. SG I think said that his main concern with regards to the squad was to ensure Gradel ( Inconsistent & his head not quite right ) & Snodgrass ( still unfit after injury) remained at Leeds. There is little evidence of a vision or ambtion in squad building as the squad hasn't been improved from last season. Lonergan I think will prove a good signing. The issue with the back 4 beggars belief and should have been sorted out last season - points to weakness in our training set up and organisation.Clayton & Howson are effective.We've been unfortunate with the injuries to Luciano & Somma - and we can only question why SG said this area of the team wasn't a priority for recruiting. Poor planing and no investment money.To end on a positive note things had improved vs.Boro - and Nunez & Howson's absence gives an opportunity to Nunez & Sam & Keogh & McCormack up front. MOT Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:45:32 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/leeds-cast-off-signs-for-erm-leeds/#IDComment183297791 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/grayson-contradicts-himself-on-mendy-deal/#IDComment182421385 Anyone for a game of subbuteo ? MOT Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:15:04 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/grayson-contradicts-himself-on-mendy-deal/#IDComment182421385 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/are-leeds-having-financial-problems-again/#IDComment182191040 Does it mean you'd love some of those moderate wages ? Great post by the way. MOT Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:50:19 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/are-leeds-having-financial-problems-again/#IDComment182191040 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/are-leeds-having-financial-problems-again/#IDComment182189520 Good post EYLEEDS. I totally agree. Treading water is where the club is at, and it's not meeting the fans expectations. Unless there is investment the team will stagnate, and as you say we'll go backwards as a club. MOT Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:45:40 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/are-leeds-having-financial-problems-again/#IDComment182189520 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/bates-blocks-simon-graysons-plans-to-sign-mendy/#IDComment182133225 Bad form and it all is stacking up to disharmony at the club and a clear issue with our player recruitment. Let's see what happens on Saturday - it could be a pivotal moment. MOT Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:40:59 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/bates-blocks-simon-graysons-plans-to-sign-mendy/#IDComment182133225 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/top-five-reasons-to-love-leeds-hate-bates/#IDComment181925298 Very good point LUA. MOT Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:24:07 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/top-five-reasons-to-love-leeds-hate-bates/#IDComment181925298 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/top-five-reasons-to-love-leeds-hate-bates/#IDComment181921009 Old man Bates is from a different era of football ownership, when transparency was not something to be aspired to. In todays world transparency in business & communicating openly with clients / the market is standard practice. Being bloody minded and not caring how he treats the media and fellow football industry colleagues reflects poorly on himself and the club, and is the road to isolation. KB lets himself and the club down on these fronts. The forthcoming BBC documentary will reinforce this and he'll become even more defensive. There are so many questions around his ownership, investment into the squad, influence on player recruitment, his former Chelsea colleagues as part of the Senior Management team, what happened to the Delph money, the cup run money etc. He could turn it all around tomorrow by being honest about all this and answering the fans questions. Principly why did he buy LUFC and why try and hide his ownership ? What are his objectives ? He needs to convince the fans he understands and knows what our expectations are, and how we'd like the money from match tickets and LUFC merchandise invested . Anyway .. time for a cuppa. MOT Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:09:06 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/top-five-reasons-to-love-leeds-hate-bates/#IDComment181921009 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/whites-comeback-knocks-bradford-city-out-of-cup/#IDComment181911959 DEFENSIVELY poor again : Parker , AOB & Paddy all returning from injury and it shows. We lack speed & organisation. With Connolly they appear unfamiliar in playing as a unit . We need to play Lees & a new younger left back or White.As SG & Coaches have been unable to organise the team to stem the flow of goals, it is now time to bring in a specialist defensive coach. MIDFIELD : Clayton has been a revelation - a lot of energy & focus. Howson - going forward ok & creative. Brown - the jury's out. Sam - very creative at times. ATTACK: Nunez - lacked composure on occasion - however a 2 goal return is good and he'll grow in confidence .McCormack is not a lone striker and needs to play off a big man.It is glaringly obvious that we need a big bloke up front to be on the end of crosses & make space & time for others. Five goals conceded in 2 games , against a a newly promoted team and a league 2 team - is extremely poor.We are now going to come up against some established Championship teams so it's only going to get harder. I know the squad is very patchy but I still think that the match strategy, tactics and player motivation is not quite right. MOT Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:37:03 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/whites-comeback-knocks-bradford-city-out-of-cup/#IDComment181911959 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/fifth-signing-imminent-says-simon-grayson/#IDComment181548128 I think it's propaganda to buy time. A convincing victory against a hyped up Bradford - will be difficult - but not unreasonable. However our ineffective scouting network has not turned up any player worth his salt over summer, so I wouldn't hold my breath now. As the club player recruitment policy is about 'unearthing hidden gems' rather than investing in proven talent then it will take some extraordinary motivational and tactical management from SG, and some real coaching expertise from his staff to turn the current squad into a team that has real potential for promotion and encourages hope and belief in the fans. He has his work cut out. Hand on heart I hope SG turns it around from tonight and onwards into the league matches. We'll see. MOT Tue, 9 Aug 2011 14:28:34 +0000 http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/08/fifth-signing-imminent-says-simon-grayson/#IDComment181548128