2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Leeds United news here, transfer rumours, club affairs, players, fans, etc.
Specific match discussions should go in the category below.
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Leonickroberts
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by Leonickroberts »

The Fonz wrote:Been giving some thought about our needs for players and our so called "small squad" and not so sure that is now the case.
Does anyone else think that Gelhardt, Bate, Heljde & Cresswell (possibly Summerville & Greenwood) be considered as first team squad members. Have they done enough to justify it, I think so.
Do we really need players that would push our young uns down the pecking order now that have had a taste.
Our well documented injury list has been freakish but it is now improving.

The biggest hole in our squad imho is goalkeeper I'm not sure any of our young keepers are ready to step in in Ilan gets injured, my choice would be a decent journeyman experienced keeper on the bench.
I agree with all of this except that I think there are two holes in our squad rather than one. You're right that an experienced, older, backup keeper who wouldn't mind playing second fiddle and could help Meslier and Klaesson grow is one, but I do still think we need a sufficiently good additional player in CM.

Bate has looked good, but raw. It's easy to see things more positively after the win at the weekend, but given the rate at which we've been hit with injuries this season, it wouldn't be at all prudent to assume that we're out of the woods because players are starting to come back. I said this in a post above but I think it's worth repeating - we have Klich, Shackleton, Forshaw, Phillips, Dallas and Bate in CM. Of those, three are injured (even if Forshaw's is minor), Klich is unpredictable and ageing, we'll likely need Dallas elsewhere, and Bate is young and very raw. It's not hard to see a situation in which Phillips isn't back til April, Klich and Shackleton aren't firing, Dallas is needed at LB, and Forshaw has niggles that keep him out (or worse).

I think most of us on here are agreed that we don't need to sign loads of player for the sake of it, and that anyone who comes in needs to be good enough to improve the team, while minimising the risk of pushing talented youngsters down the pecking order. As you say Fonz, I think we're now in an alright state in defence, attack, and on the wings, but I think adding one £8m-10m no.8/10, who's good enough but still has room for improvement, would be prudent. Given we only have Bate pushing through in CM the odds are it wouldn't affect his game time much anyway.
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Selby White
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by Selby White »

Leonickroberts wrote:
The Fonz wrote:Been giving some thought about our needs for players and our so called "small squad" and not so sure that is now the case.
Does anyone else think that Gelhardt, Bate, Heljde & Cresswell (possibly Summerville & Greenwood) be considered as first team squad members. Have they done enough to justify it, I think so.
Do we really need players that would push our young uns down the pecking order now that have had a taste.
Our well documented injury list has been freakish but it is now improving.

The biggest hole in our squad imho is goalkeeper I'm not sure any of our young keepers are ready to step in in Ilan gets injured, my choice would be a decent journeyman experienced keeper on the bench.
I agree with all of this except that I think there are two holes in our squad rather than one. You're right that an experienced, older, backup keeper who wouldn't mind playing second fiddle and could help Meslier and Klaesson grow is one, but I do still think we need a sufficiently good additional player in CM.

Bate has looked good, but raw. It's easy to see things more positively after the win at the weekend, but given the rate at which we've been hit with injuries this season, it wouldn't be at all prudent to assume that we're out of the woods because players are starting to come back. I said this in a post above but I think it's worth repeating - we have Klich, Shackleton, Forshaw, Phillips, Dallas and Bate in CM. Of those, three are injured (even if Forshaw's is minor), Klich is unpredictable and ageing, we'll likely need Dallas elsewhere, and Bate is young and very raw. It's not hard to see a situation in which Phillips isn't back til April, Klich and Shackleton aren't firing, Dallas is needed at LB, and Forshaw has niggles that keep him out (or worse).

I think most of us on here are agreed that we don't need to sign loads of player for the sake of it, and that anyone who comes in needs to be good enough to improve the team, while minimising the risk of pushing talented youngsters down the pecking order. As you say Fonz, I think we're now in an alright state in defence, attack, and on the wings, but I think adding one £8m-10m no.8/10, who's good enough but still has room for improvement, would be prudent. Given we only have Bate pushing through in CM the odds are it wouldn't affect his game time much anyway.
Some good well thought out discussion here and think the point you both make about a keeper is also the way I see things. Saying that I thought it was too early for Meslier when he got his chance, how wrong I was.

Midfielder is a good debate and I'm easy either way and would only want to sign someone that is better than we have. I still think MB likes to play a more attacking player in one of the roles and although so far Rodrigo or Roberts haven't set the world alight yet I hope one of them does in the future. I'll add I don't think they are has bad as some make out either. I also think that role is Sam Greenwoods best position he usually plays it for the U23's.
Still whoever plays that role we need to run the show and if what we have can't do that when we have a full team around them then possibly the right man is out there to buy.
Going to sit on the fence on that one.
One more point I think its a decent tactic to play one of our specialist midfielders in this position from the start then switch to one of the attackers mentioned as teams tire in the 2nd half.

The Kalvin Role I'm actually happy with either Koch or Struijk covering while he's injured both offer a lot defensively to the role, add height to the team and I'll go against what some think and say both can pass a decent ball.

The 3rd midfield spot Klich or Forshaw with Dallas a contender if not needed elsewhere. All won't see their 20's again so Bate (or AN other) need to be used as and when possible to aid development.
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PhoenixUnited
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by PhoenixUnited »

Leonickroberts wrote:
The Fonz wrote:Been giving some thought about our needs for players and our so called "small squad" and not so sure that is now the case.
Does anyone else think that Gelhardt, Bate, Heljde & Cresswell (possibly Summerville & Greenwood) be considered as first team squad members. Have they done enough to justify it, I think so.
Do we really need players that would push our young uns down the pecking order now that have had a taste.
Our well documented injury list has been freakish but it is now improving.

The biggest hole in our squad imho is goalkeeper I'm not sure any of our young keepers are ready to step in in Ilan gets injured, my choice would be a decent journeyman experienced keeper on the bench.
I agree with all of this except that I think there are two holes in our squad rather than one. You're right that an experienced, older, backup keeper who wouldn't mind playing second fiddle and could help Meslier and Klaesson grow is one, but I do still think we need a sufficiently good additional player in CM.

Bate has looked good, but raw. It's easy to see things more positively after the win at the weekend, but given the rate at which we've been hit with injuries this season, it wouldn't be at all prudent to assume that we're out of the woods because players are starting to come back. I said this in a post above but I think it's worth repeating - we have Klich, Shackleton, Forshaw, Phillips, Dallas and Bate in CM. Of those, three are injured (even if Forshaw's is minor), Klich is unpredictable and ageing, we'll likely need Dallas elsewhere, and Bate is young and very raw. It's not hard to see a situation in which Phillips isn't back til April, Klich and Shackleton aren't firing, Dallas is needed at LB, and Forshaw has niggles that keep him out (or worse).

I think most of us on here are agreed that we don't need to sign loads of player for the sake of it, and that anyone who comes in needs to be good enough to improve the team, while minimising the risk of pushing talented youngsters down the pecking order. As you say Fonz, I think we're now in an alright state in defence, attack, and on the wings, but I think adding one £8m-10m no.8/10, who's good enough but still has room for improvement, would be prudent. Given we only have Bate pushing through in CM the odds are it wouldn't affect his game time much anyway.
I agree with giving priority to looking for a back up keeper and also a creative midfielder. To that I would add a back up striker to the point where Bamford can have a breather every now and then. Gelhardt at the moment would be great coming off the bench but I do feel that he needs to brought on slowly. Those old enough will remember a rough diamond that we had in Terry Connor. He was eventually sold off due to yet another financial crisis but he was thrown in at the deep end and was the sole striker it seems for ever. Did a very good job but I don't think his career blossomed as well as it should have
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superfox
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by superfox »

PhoenixUnited wrote:
Leonickroberts wrote:
The Fonz wrote:Been giving some thought about our needs for players and our so called "small squad" and not so sure that is now the case.
Does anyone else think that Gelhardt, Bate, Heljde & Cresswell (possibly Summerville & Greenwood) be considered as first team squad members. Have they done enough to justify it, I think so.
Do we really need players that would push our young uns down the pecking order now that have had a taste.
Our well documented injury list has been freakish but it is now improving.

The biggest hole in our squad imho is goalkeeper I'm not sure any of our young keepers are ready to step in in Ilan gets injured, my choice would be a decent journeyman experienced keeper on the bench.
I agree with all of this except that I think there are two holes in our squad rather than one. You're right that an experienced, older, backup keeper who wouldn't mind playing second fiddle and could help Meslier and Klaesson grow is one, but I do still think we need a sufficiently good additional player in CM.

Bate has looked good, but raw. It's easy to see things more positively after the win at the weekend, but given the rate at which we've been hit with injuries this season, it wouldn't be at all prudent to assume that we're out of the woods because players are starting to come back. I said this in a post above but I think it's worth repeating - we have Klich, Shackleton, Forshaw, Phillips, Dallas and Bate in CM. Of those, three are injured (even if Forshaw's is minor), Klich is unpredictable and ageing, we'll likely need Dallas elsewhere, and Bate is young and very raw. It's not hard to see a situation in which Phillips isn't back til April, Klich and Shackleton aren't firing, Dallas is needed at LB, and Forshaw has niggles that keep him out (or worse).

I think most of us on here are agreed that we don't need to sign loads of player for the sake of it, and that anyone who comes in needs to be good enough to improve the team, while minimising the risk of pushing talented youngsters down the pecking order. As you say Fonz, I think we're now in an alright state in defence, attack, and on the wings, but I think adding one £8m-10m no.8/10, who's good enough but still has room for improvement, would be prudent. Given we only have Bate pushing through in CM the odds are it wouldn't affect his game time much anyway.
I agree with giving priority to looking for a back up keeper and also a creative midfielder. To that I would add a back up striker to the point where Bamford can have a breather every now and then. Gelhardt at the moment would be great coming off the bench but I do feel that he needs to brought on slowly. Those old enough will remember a rough diamond that we had in Terry Connor. He was eventually sold off due to yet another financial crisis but he was thrown in at the deep end and was the sole striker it seems for ever. Did a very good job but I don't think his career blossomed as well as it should have
I'm with Leonickroberts here: a central midfielder and a goalkeeper-sub would be ideal.
As I said a few times before, the biggest cliche is to think another striker would solve our goal-scoring problem.
As Bamford is coming back, there is absolutely no need for a striker to sit on the bench, while we have Gelhardt, and Roberts also played in that position with satisfactory results. Also James played a striker against West Ham, where he did well too. Oh, I almost forgot Rodrigo.
If we had endless cash however, than I would say, why not, but this is a different world.
CanuckMightyWhite
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by CanuckMightyWhite »

We also signed a highly rated Striker in Mateo Fernandez. He adds to the striker pool.
Another young highly rated advanced MF in the mold of a Knight or Raskin would be excellent business. We need to keep on finding young gems with loads of potential and keep developing them. There is a pathway to the first team squad here.
Last edited by CanuckMightyWhite on 18 Jan 2022, 15:44, edited 1 time in total.
Metro1962
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by Metro1962 »

I would love to see Deli Alli at Leeds as I believe Bielsa could work wonders with him.
whitedancer
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by whitedancer »

cant see bielsa making any big name signings whatsoever, not hes style.
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Another Northern Soul
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by Another Northern Soul »

whitedancer wrote:cant see bielsa making any big name signings whatsoever, not hes style.
Rodrigo, Raphinha, Koch, Llorente, James, not exactly small signings were they?

Not that I think you're wrong though, 'big name' signings aren't generally available in this window anyway.
Shadwell White
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by Shadwell White »

Metro1962 wrote:I would love to see Deli Alli at Leeds as I believe Bielsa could work wonders with him.
He would certainly be about 2 stone lighter, thats for sure
Kronen
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Re: 2021 - 2022 Transfer Rumours and Squad Discussions

Post by Kronen »

Christian Eriksen has been rumoured to Brentford. Surely Leeds would be a much better place for such a good player to roam the midfield?
I think he would be the perfect signing, we need some quality on the midfield.
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