Originally Posted by Coen:
“Ok, here's some more detailed comments how I see things so far!
We should be fine for mid table this season but we're just too inconsistent to realistically aim for playoffs just yet. Which is fine with me, we've only just come up after all.
Overall I thought we did well with the summer signings, 12 new players coming in and hardly any money spent, but I think the midfield is our weakest area.
The problem in midfield is that we sent Michael Doyle back to Coventry when his loan finished, and he played a crucial holding/defensive role for us in midfield last season - and was pretty much ever present, with over 40 appearances. But we've lost him and rather than replacing him, have ended up signing no end of lightweight attacking midfielders/wingers instead.
As a result the midfield too often goes missing defensively in games, which is what has led to the big defeats so far - when teams (e.g. Watford) play long ball against us we're fine and can deal with it defensively, but when teams pass/run at us through midfield (e.g. Barnsley), or have a striker intelligent enough to drop off and find the space between our defence and midfield (e.g. Derby, Preston) they just tear us apart.
So despite all the summer signings, what we still lack is a defensive central midfielder who basically needs to play every game. We have signed Amdy Faye who is supposed to be able to do this role, but he hasn't featured yet, is 33 and has questionable fitness so I'm not convinced he is the answer.
Overall, though, we have enough attacking options and quality going forward to score goals, and should do well enough this season to stay up. I just can't see us pushing on for playoffs etc until we get some steel in central midfield.
Best signings of the summer for me - Kasper has been fantastic, I have no doubt that we wouldn't have conceded 5 or 6 if he had been playing, hopefully he'll be back fit again very soon (he was still wearing a protective cast on his foot on Saturday.)
Sam and Watt have also been good if a bit inconsisent - but fall in to the category of lightweight attacking wide players who offer nothing defensively. Same with Gradel.
Bessone has been awful but it's hard to be too harsh on the other defenders when they get no protection from the midfield.
Somma has also been a revelation up front and should start every game. I'm not sure who the best partner for him is, but with Becchio, McCormack and Paynter we have options in attack.
I'm enjoying the season so far anyway, and looking forward to seeing how we bounce back from Tuesday's performance against Ipswich on Saturday!
”
“Ok, here's some more detailed comments how I see things so far!
We should be fine for mid table this season but we're just too inconsistent to realistically aim for playoffs just yet. Which is fine with me, we've only just come up after all.
Overall I thought we did well with the summer signings, 12 new players coming in and hardly any money spent, but I think the midfield is our weakest area.
The problem in midfield is that we sent Michael Doyle back to Coventry when his loan finished, and he played a crucial holding/defensive role for us in midfield last season - and was pretty much ever present, with over 40 appearances. But we've lost him and rather than replacing him, have ended up signing no end of lightweight attacking midfielders/wingers instead.
As a result the midfield too often goes missing defensively in games, which is what has led to the big defeats so far - when teams (e.g. Watford) play long ball against us we're fine and can deal with it defensively, but when teams pass/run at us through midfield (e.g. Barnsley), or have a striker intelligent enough to drop off and find the space between our defence and midfield (e.g. Derby, Preston) they just tear us apart.
So despite all the summer signings, what we still lack is a defensive central midfielder who basically needs to play every game. We have signed Amdy Faye who is supposed to be able to do this role, but he hasn't featured yet, is 33 and has questionable fitness so I'm not convinced he is the answer.
Overall, though, we have enough attacking options and quality going forward to score goals, and should do well enough this season to stay up. I just can't see us pushing on for playoffs etc until we get some steel in central midfield.
Best signings of the summer for me - Kasper has been fantastic, I have no doubt that we wouldn't have conceded 5 or 6 if he had been playing, hopefully he'll be back fit again very soon (he was still wearing a protective cast on his foot on Saturday.)
Sam and Watt have also been good if a bit inconsisent - but fall in to the category of lightweight attacking wide players who offer nothing defensively. Same with Gradel.
Bessone has been awful but it's hard to be too harsh on the other defenders when they get no protection from the midfield.
Somma has also been a revelation up front and should start every game. I'm not sure who the best partner for him is, but with Becchio, McCormack and Paynter we have options in attack.
I'm enjoying the season so far anyway, and looking forward to seeing how we bounce back from Tuesday's performance against Ipswich on Saturday!
”
Hi all , nice to see the Leeds thread alive again I agree,considering the national fan base we have it is strange there arnt many on here maybe they don't like DS.
Coen I agree with everything you have said in your well worded post. I posted in July and said then consolidation is all I want anything else will be a bonus.
Doyle is not a player i'v ever taken too , but to his credit last season he quietly just got on with his job and I agree not been replaced in the defensive midfield role. Lloyd and Watts as you say are lightweight and seem to get knocked of the ball to easily they are good going forward but need to beef up a bit as this makes Howson and Kilkenny job a lot harder , Johnson in his fairness gets back and is not scared of mixing it but he gives to many free kicks away in the process.
As for Kasper what a keeper he has made some world class saves at times and is like a defender himself when he comes out of his area to take a kick , I like that because passing it around at the back is a recipe for disaster for us, this way we are on the attack straight away. Another positive is young Bruce i like him and he will improve as the season goes on ,what we are missing is Pat Kisnorbo does anyone know when he is due back, what a player. As for the rest of the defence they are not used to eachother and it shows.
Atacking im happy with no problems there we will get plenty of goals and i'm confident we will stay up. this division every one can beat everyone it was the same last season as Grayson said there will be good times and bad this year but it beats the hell out of going to Hartlepool and Herefords of the football world I'm happy so far.
Hope we all try to post on here a bit more and keep the thread alive and fresh.
