..okay now this might not go down too well with the majority of fans but lets look at this with a level head and not one that seems intent on crucifying Bates at all costs. I for one am one of the most ardent die-hards about and find it hard to come to terms with whats been going on at our beloved Leeds Utd over recent years. Good players allowed to leave (Gradel) and others looking to move on (Snoddy perhaps) time and again we become frustrated with the decisions made by Bates and the apparent lack of courage forsight and mettle to deal with the situation on and off the field by our manager Simon Grayson who I think should be moved on if we dont win our next match. And now to Howson, a player that is now being sold to Norwich because he feels and wants to play at the highest level , for this we can not accuse him of not being loyal, he is obviously not convinced that Leeds will make it up soon and he is not willing to stay at Leeds and play another season on a decent wage...so be it...not the first not the last. in this case he has 6mths left and could walk away on a free. The right business decision is therefore to cash in and bank on an asset that we have...and one that doesnt want to play for us!! Football is a business and survival is paramount. Now about the player ..yes he made a great impact when he arrived on the scene and had a few good matches in which some he was instrumental in winning the match. A great prospect yes but is he a player that can go on to be a great player, one who can make a change to a match on a consistent basis, one who can stamp his mark on a match, ..I think not. Yes we are losing our beloved Jonny boy but dont be blinkered into believing he is the be all and end all. No club is bigger than the club...we cash in and move on...and on another note most "average players" eventually get a cap for England so lets not see him as a future England legend. Bates is right to sell.There are bigger issues to be tackled at the club and losing a player that lets be honest hasnt been doing the business on the pitch and often goes AWOL on it should not be seen as a massive rick...
posted on 19/1/12
Aye
posted on 19/1/12
Antrim ..cool I agree SG is not exactly the best man-manager or motivator in the league...time for change!..
Highland..yes ..local boy makes good..but we had to cash in the chips..!..its a shame that the club has little ambition and can not fork out the dosh..wonder what he was asking for anyway?...surely little Johnny was not being a greedy little moneygrabbing soccer mercenary!!...was he?
posted on 19/1/12
GBZ, wash yer gob out wi carbolic,
as if any home grown academy produced Leeds United Fan playing for his dream team would even Think of such a thing
posted on 19/1/12
And Howson view is not based on recent events - he has been in contract talks for 12 months and would not sign even when we were in the playoffs for a considerable amount of time. Makes you wonder what is happening behind the scenes.
posted on 19/1/12
..its probably the greedy money-grabbing agent then that wants the best deal for his coveted asset..."no Johnny dont sign that until I scrutize every last zero"!
posted on 19/1/12
Aye GBZ, a most definite probability
posted on 19/1/12
Just wanted to shed a bit of light on the whole howson thing, my mrs is a teacher at bruntclife high where howson went to school and regularly returns to visit and he knows a number of the staff. He was due to pay a visit to the school yesterday but cancelled due to the Norwich interest but apparently until it was announced in the press he wasn't aware of/looking for any interest and talks were ongoing regarding a new contract with Leeds which was his prefered option make of that what you will.
posted on 19/1/12
It would suggest to me that he was made a better offer!
posted on 19/1/12
Great thread, GBZ, you bring some much needed perspective to our plight. Some excellent comments from Highland, Antrim and 20/20. Howson's sale may make business sense, but it will wreck morale in the dressing room.
How Grayson can stand above this shambles and call himself a manager is beyond me. I've held back from criticising him in the past and I've advocated restraint among fans, but this wretched performance reeks of cowardice, ineffectuality and plain stupidity. He should be ashamed of himself.
posted on 19/1/12
Money is the evil here!