What were the stated goals of the window, replace Eddie and Jack, do the business early.
Well, we replaced Eddie and Jack and added a keeper.
Not sure we needed the keeper, one can only assume that either the U23 keepers aren't rated that highly by Bielsa or in fact the keeper is not for first team right now.
I don't see Poveda as a first team player yet, but if that's how they're seeing him then we can say we got a replacement.
We got a striker, albeit a 3rd/4th choice one.
We clearly didn't do our business early in the window.
So, didn't all go according to plan, again business done cheaply, with 2 out of 3 having zero first team track record and striker having patchy record and having to move country, these players tend not to hit ground running for us.
Are we stronger than when we had Eddie and Jack here? Well, are Poveda and Augustin match fit, Bielsa fit and Bielsa trained, clearly not, so right now we are not as strong, but give it a month or so, Augustin should be a stronger proposition than Eddie, Poveda is an inexperienced v an experience 10 mill player.
One thing that is clear is that we did have viable alternatives when first choices didn't work out, something Orta fell foul of this time last year, and we ended with a couple of days breathing space.
We haven't seen it yet, but what I'm looking for is that these players really connect with the fans and lift both the fans and the players.
Bielsa has what he asked for, he has raved about the work done, so he can have zero complaints or excuses if we don't go up now.
I wish all the new players best of luck and wish nothing more than Poveda and Augustin excelling, proving to be be exactly what we needed to go up.
The ball is now in their court!
Transfer window assessment
posted on 28/1/20
I guess i'm one of the more happy clappers in life, guilty as charged.
I must confess down the years whether it be Leeds or life in general, i'll give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Got it spectacularly wrong with Cellino, GFH as well for matter, I wanted to see the madness and corruption for myself before judging. Boy did they both.
As a manager in various roles I've had others tell me someone about to join my team is an a4sehole or similar. Never listened to it - always allowed them to prove it themselves, or not.
These 3 lads maybe duffs in time, but for now, i'll be happily clapping them from the stands tonight - even if they're in another part of the ground in a similarly icy stand.
Criticise all you want. I'll take a positive outlook over permanently maudlin any day. Life's way too short …. as SPIT rightly points out - we're only here once - enjoy the ride ….
posted on 28/1/20
VOF
very well said
posted on 28/1/20
Sometimes the unknown come on these boards and screw everything anyone says!..
A shame the unknown won't say the club they follow, but if they did it'd take the excitement out of their lives!..
But, as long as they're only looking in and screwang things up, suppose its better than them running things!..
..put ing behind screw and your blocked!.
posted on 28/1/20
Germany, nothing you ever say makes sense.
posted on 28/1/20
Lowfields, I know, like a lot of what you say!..
posted on 28/1/20
I think this has been really good business.
Clarke never played so Poveda, who may need time like Harrison did, is at least as useful even if he never plays
Augustin has fantastic movement and team play, from what I’ve seen, and will be a strong handful for defenders. Nketiah didn’t offer that, had awful touch and rarely ran with the ball. I only remember one game where he came on and we continued to play well.
So even if Augustin is our new Frank Strandli, he will be no worse than Nketiah. And no worse than Bamford
As such, both are an improvement on what we had.
Marching on together
posted on 28/1/20
Half full or half empty, do you reckon?
Don't know what's been spent in real terms but I for one am pleased they haven't signed up a journeyman like Gayle.
JKA must know he has just been presented with a golden opportunity to really make a name for himself in English football. I'm quietly very excited about this deal - even if I know very little about the player at all.
So, half full again for me, at this point in the season and after the most recent stumble. C'mon Leeds, let's do a job tonight!
posted on 28/1/20
comment by VOF - what could possibly go wrong now? (U17124)
posted 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
I guess i'm one of the more happy clappers in life, guilty as charged.
I must confess down the years whether it be Leeds or life in general, i'll give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Got it spectacularly wrong with Cellino, GFH as well for matter, I wanted to see the madness and corruption for myself before judging. Boy did they both.
As a manager in various roles I've had others tell me someone about to join my team is an a4sehole or similar. Never listened to it - always allowed them to prove it themselves, or not.
These 3 lads maybe duffs in time, but for now, i'll be happily clapping them from the stands tonight - even if they're in another part of the ground in a similarly icy stand.
Criticise all you want. I'll take a positive outlook over permanently maudlin any day. Life's way too short …. as SPIT rightly points out - we're only here once - enjoy the ride ….
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Good for you VOF - I've vented my anger at those in charge many times but now is not the time to start being negative - if our new guys perform well, we've got every reason to be happy. Besides, negativity is infectious and I can't imagine the guys in the team don't look at these message boards. Let's get behind the team – this is the season.
posted on 28/1/20
Agree with the sentiment here. Get behind the team
that we have. Despite mine and others frustration over
not having players we hoped for. We do have a team.
A team still sitting second. Hopefully, we beat Millwall.
And get stronger from there. And if we fail, we'll all know why.
posted on 28/1/20
comment by Shaun M - I can't see me loving nobody but Leeds! (U9955)
posted 4 hours, 50 minutes ago
Why risk it? Why chance it? Just because of stubbornness. Sign a midfielder and a defender, and if we didn't need them come May, then we were fecking winning and probably got promoted.
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Imagine failing and then the floodgates open about the board undermining Bielsa....