Kloke ord fra Dominic Matteo:
Leeds United: Money talks and Whites silence is deafening - Matteo By Dominic Matteo
Published on Thursday 21 July 2011 15:17
Writing this column during the past two months has been my equivalent of Groundhog Day: a different week but the same old complaint.
Every Thursday I look for the chance to talk about next season with anticipation and optimism, and every Thursday I find myself talking about Leeds United’s lack of signings.
It’s July 21 and here we are again, devoid of any inspiration from Elland Road.
Transfers take time and I never expected Leeds to finish last season on May 7 and complete five deals within 24 hours. But would Simon Grayson have been happy if you’d told him then that two-thirds of the way through July, he’d have signed one midfielder and a goalkeeper who might well be second choice?
Would he heck. He’d have laughed you out the door.
However his squad shapes up in two-and-a-half weeks’ time, nobody could convince me that the current situation was part of the grand plan at Elland Road. I simply don’t believe that Leeds expected their business to be taking place so late in the day or so urgently. It worries me to see the club under pressure at this stage of the summer.
If you spend any time in Leeds, you can see the effect that the absence of real progress is having on the supporters.
The dissatisfaction is oozing. Some of the people I speak to are pessimistic and others are angry. It’s not the way the city should be.
They see a squad that is arguably weaker than it was in May and a division that is definitely going to be stronger. The feeling amongst everyone – and Grayson included, to go by his comments – was that the squad needed to improve.
Michael Brown fits the bill in that respect but so much more is required. I really can’t feel confident about the club’s prospects at the moment.
The sad realisation is that the average Leicester City fan will be far more enthusiastic about the new season than the average Leeds supporter. I’m not saying that I’m totally convinced by all of Leicester’s new players or that every one has been good value for money, but the Foxes look like a club with fierce ambition and a real chance of going up.
If it all goes wrong for them, the more honest fans will still say that Leicester had a go and gave themselves an opportunity.
Should Leeds struggle, you’d be more inclined to ask if their season was always going to go that way. It’s been difficult to see much in the way of vision this summer.
In reality, we’d all hoped to be discussing four or five quality signings by now and arguing over what we think is Simon’s strongest line-up. Those conversations fill the hours in a pub when the Championship’s on holiday and pre-season friendlies are all supporters have to fight their withdrawal symptoms. I’m not even sure that Grayson could tell you what his team will be on August 6. It’s completely dependent on who comes through the door between now and then.
It’s so late in the summer that I can only assume a number of his first-choice targets have not materialised.
Brown is a midfielder who I’m sure Simon was interested in from the outset but claiming that his preferred signings are all still out there is probably wishful thinking. Sought-after professionals who’ve been made available don’t usually find themselves waiting for offers a fortnight before the season begins.
My guess would be that, in certain cases, the players he’s looked at have chosen to go elsewhere or decided to stay put. In others, I’d guess that he wasn’t able to afford their fee or their salaries.
I can’t comment on the exact wage structure at Elland Road but it’s clear that many teams in the Championship are able to compete with Leeds when it comes to finance. And as much as Leeds are a hugely-attractive club, money often wins the day. It’s naïve to think that they’re the only sizeable draw in the division at present.
I know from reading comments from Ken Bates and Shaun Harvey that the board at Elland Road are always wary of inviting another financial collapse. I understand why. I was captain of Leeds when we were relegated from the Premiership and nothing explains the stupidity of excessive spending better than that.
But if you were being honest about the outcome of last season, you’d say that Leeds lacked that little bit of class in certain areas to get themselves over the line. That little bit of class was what they should have been looking for this summer and, to be quite honest, if you want quality then you have to pay for it.
It’s one thing walking away from players who are trying it on and taking the micky. Some lads simply aren’t worth the money they’re asking for. But class does cost and to compete in the Championship, you really need it. If finding players of that ilk means stretching the budget then Leeds should think about doing it and doing it quickly. Otherwise I can’t say I’ll be optimistic about where this season is heading.
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds_united_money_talks_and_whites_silence_is_deafening_matteo_1_3603053
