With the greatest possible respect, the points you make about squad requirements are bleeding obvious and would be to a blind man.
I can understand that a striker and left back would be difficult to source, strikers that can make a difference are not ten a penny and there appears to be few defenders on the market.
I don't wish to dwell on my point that Orta deliberately looks at players he knows we don't have a cat in hell's chance of signing. I cannot understand why we consistently fail to sign our targets and can come up with no other explanation.
What I don't get is how it can be so difficult to find a back-up keeper, they are putting so much faith in a couple of kids, one of whom has next to no experience at this level.

There are none as blind has though them that will not see. With the greatest possible respect why are there so many articles on here saying that certain players should be sold as soon as possible. Very few members of the squad pass muster according to some on here. Luke Ayling got Pelters on here when he first arrived, the same for P Bamford. Some people have short memories.
What is the level of success required by Orta, 100% according to some. How does he keep his job, Rads seems to be a ruthless succesful businessman? others have been fired?
It is easy to blame Orta, i do not know enough to make a judgement. I look at some players other teams buy, Leeds and Orta are just as bad as others.

I welcome you Grey Knight to this forum that offers us all a diverse and eclectic mix of opinions on the game and the team we so passionately love.

Regarding the squad size I think we would all favour a lot more depth but we have to be realistic in so much as this is only our 3rd season in the top flight and the likes of Leicester and Wolves who I would expect us to be able to emulate have 3 or 4 years head start on us.

Despite our close shave last season I feel encouraged by our slow but steady progress in reestablishing ourselves as at least a mid table Premier league outfit

Our hiatus in bringing in 3 more players in the key areas we are lacking is frustrating to say the least and Orta's role in this hiatus seems to be a key factor because to many of us there are obvious and more attainable targets out there that we could have got signed up and not be desperately scrapping around for new players so close to the start of the new season.

Hopefully 3 new additions will arrive at least before the transfer window closes and we have enough squad depth to deal with the inevitable swell of injuries we seem to rack up.

Although not perfect the squad depth is getting better slowly but surely and I think it is enough for us to enjoy a much less stressful season than last season and hopefully this time next year we are all contemplating the players we need to challenge for europa league qualification.

if radz is such a ruthless successful businessman how come we let 2 of the most in demand players in the world go for peanuts compared to the prices we paid for relatively unknowns. Havent a clue how to negotiate by the looks of the business we have done

Thanks for the welcome Macca
There are so many things for the club to build, extend the ground for one. Improve the playing staff for another In the past the club has been badly managed by some very questionable owners and it will take a lot of time to repair the damage.
1 Remain in the Premier league is probably the most important thing.
2 Getting the u21's into the top tier is important. It was not good them getting relegated. It is not much of a positive when trying to recruit schoolboy talent for a kid to have to spend the formative part of their careear playing some of the lower level clubs in the second division of the u21 league. Facing up to the best on offer is better to develop young players. The u21s are one season back, which take a lot to recover.
3. Having some form of cup run would be a nice change, January is depressing for the fans never mind the players no wonder the form seems to dip after Christmas.
4. The small squad theory has been tested to destruction. The ordinary fan cannot do much abou it, but it is nice to be able to discuss it.
The owners, the staff are not perfect, but they are trying get the club going in the correct direction. I just think that some fans should cut the board, coaches and staff a bit of slack. I watch from afar at Huddersfield and wonder why Carlos has jumped ship, was it they were selling players he did not want to go and he knew the money was not on offer to replace them?

At best Hudders could end up a yo-yo club at best, or being stuck in league 2. Bradford are puching well below their weight. I have a theory that if the Yorkshire clubs do well, Leeds will do better. Successful clubs raise the profile of the game at all levels, which is why i want Leeds United ladies to do well.

Rads has made his money selling television sports rights, he was shrewed enough to realise the European Super league was a W*nk fest for some owners. The bread and butter of football is competative local derbys, not some elite matches that nobody is really interested in.
Why football is so poor in Scotland is because it is a duopoly and Rangers and Celtic do well domestically, but they fall short in Europe compared to the big European clubs. Celtic and Rangers end up given that they have pretty good attendance selling players. The players want to play meaningful matches, rather than the usual walk overs. Which is why Rangers and Celtic want to join the English league.

comment by LDL-Potato Picker and Proud (U6788)
posted 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
if radz is such a ruthless successful businessman how come we let 2 of the most in demand players in the world go for peanuts compared to the prices we paid for relatively unknowns. Havent a clue how to negotiate by the looks of the business we have done
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£100 million peanuts, strange definition. Kalvin Phillips has knee problems, do not want to see it, but will he be playing 40+ games a season in five years time? At Man City he will be rotated, to keep him fit to maximise his career. .
£50 million might not be that bad business.
Raphfa only wanted to go to Barca, so Leeds did well getting what they did for him. Rafa could be moody the bloke knows his own mind and if Leeds had kept him he could have lost interest. He was decent enough to try his best to keep Leeds up, but when he and Kalvin were sat at the side of the pitch a blindman should have known they were off. Praise to Kalvin not going to the wrong club from Manchester.
Eric Cantona did not think Leeds matched his ambitions and he lost interest after Leeds won the old first division, which is why Wilkinson got rid of him.

"if radz is such a ruthless successful businessman how come we let 2 of the most in demand players in the world go for peanuts compared to the prices we paid for relatively unknowns. Havent a clue how to negotiate by the looks of the business we have done"

I don't think the club,(Radz!)had to much to fall back on with Raphinha, they could have held onto him knowing he didn't want to be here, but that would have meant paying a player who's thoughts are somewhere else and wouldn't give as much as we know he could!..

We're lucky he decided to bury in his last game with us that penalty that he knew, if he hadn't, he'd got away even cheaper then he did!..

Phillips they should have held out for more, but the way he served the club in his time with us I'm glad he was given the chance he's now been given!..

If Leeds hadn't have let him go he would have given his all because off what the club means to him, which is a lot more than what it does to Raphinha!..

fluckme, for a newbie you aint half got a lot to say, go easy on you ?

Welcome to the forum Grey Knight! I think merging the English and Scottish leagues would benefit all and can’t see why it’s never been done. It would certainly raise the level of the teams north of the border and the England/Scotland rivalry would add some spice to the proceedings! It would also test whether Rangers and Celtic really are Prem class or just Championship level.

comment by kammys left foot (U21862)
posted 24 minutes ago
fluckme, for a newbie you aint half got a lot to say, go easy on you ?
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This board needs a good shaking up, i even miss the Dark Lord rabbiting on about beached whales, or some such twaddle.

Our squad depth has been diabolical over recent years and its starting to improve this season. Our FA Cup record is disgraceful and it really needs a kick up the 5rse going forward, as the OP said, a better squad would have helped that.

comment by Lorralorimer (U18994)
posted 31 minutes ago
Welcome to the forum Grey Knight! I think merging the English and Scottish leagues would benefit all and can’t see why it’s never been done. It would certainly raise the level of the teams north of the border and the England/Scotland rivalry would add some spice to the proceedings! It would also test whether Rangers and Celtic really are Prem class or just Championship level.
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Celtic and Rangers might take one of European places, the conference table-top pepper pot cup one and they may get to a quarter final of it. We would never hear the last of it.
I have watched some Scottish domestic football and i got more pleasure watching paint dry. How Scotish goalkeepers manage to dive around the ball has it goes into the net is a marvel to watch.
What is the difference between a scot and Jumbo jet engine the Jumo engine stops when its fuel runs out? Seriously some of my best friends are Scottish, only joking.
I think they would struggle it would not be like north of the board, where they are few competative matches. I would like to see them perform, when they have to play six of ten best clubs in a four week period. Too many easy matches up north, it would be a steep learning curve for them, playing Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal week in week out.

comment by Shaun M - Livin da vi la Roca (U9955)
posted 1 minute ago
Our squad depth has been diabolical over recent years and its starting to improve this season. Our FA Cup record is disgraceful and it really needs a kick up the 5rse going forward, as the OP said, a better squad would have helped that.
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Not having to rely on u18s on the bench might have help that and not playing wingers as centrebacks could have improved things.

are you jonty in disguise?

Celtic/Rangers in the English leagues would be too great a threat to the top level teams and the chances of qualifying for europe. Would bring spice (and riots) to the league, but would offer too much risk, so don't see it happening.

comment by kammys left foot (U21862)
posted 3 minutes ago
are you jonty in disguise?
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Wash your mouth out for suggesting that. I actually support Leeds United and do not see supporting Leeds as a vehicle for my ego. I first watched Leeds over sitxy years ago and i am not a jonty come lately telling everone what they should think.
I remember being at Elland Road, when Eddie Gray scored his goal against Burnley, the other one he scored that day was not that bad either.
I remember standing outside the West Stand watching John Charles waiting for Bobby Collins and Jimmy Lumsden to turn up to watch the match. John Charles was a giant of a man for those days and i regret not asking for an autograph. So many players some of them just names to the present day fans, but they were heros. Before they had subsitutes I remember watching Terry Cooper the 12 man warming up in his trendy for the time white boots. I remember Billy Bremner putting Alex Dawson into the advertising hoardings at the South stand end and he did not get blown up for a foul. Alex Dawson had gone into Gary Sprake unfairly, Billy sorted him out they had to carry Alex Dawson off.

comment by VOF - Have a nice day y'all ... (U17124)
posted 1 minute ago
Celtic/Rangers in the English leagues would be too great a threat to the top level teams and the chances of qualifying for europe. Would bring spice (and riots) to the league, but would offer too much risk, so don't see it happening.
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They flatter to deceive, when their division contains no disrepect to them, Livingston, Ross County, St Mirren and St Johnson for examples it is hardly like playing Liverpool. Man City, Arsenal and Spurs.
Norwich would stay up in the Scotish Premier League. The two Scottish clubs would be better served trying to get into the Dutch, Danish and Belgium top divisions.

comment by Grey Knight (U22886)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by kammys left foot (U21862)
posted 3 minutes ago
are you jonty in disguise?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wash your mouth out for suggesting that. I actually support Leeds United and do not see supporting Leeds as a vehicle for my ego. I first watched Leeds over sitxy years ago and i am not a jonty come lately telling everone what they should think.
I remember being at Elland Road, when Eddie Gray scored his goal against Burnley, the other one he scored that day was not that bad either.
I remember standing outside the West Stand watching John Charles waiting for Bobby Collins and Jimmy Lumsden to turn up to watch the match. John Charles was a giant of a man for those days and i regret not asking for an autograph. So many players some of them just names to the present day fans, but they were heros. Before they had subsitutes I remember watching Terry Cooper the 12 man warming up in his trendy for the time white boots. I remember Billy Bremner putting Alex Dawson into the advertising hoardings at the South stand end and he did not get blown up for a foul. Alex Dawson had gone into Gary Sprake unfairly, Billy sorted him out they had to carry Alex Dawson off.
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Great recollections Grey for those of us who were not as blessed as your good self to witness in the flesh such legends that represented the club and I also sense a
bro-mance forging between you and Kammy! 😊

comment by Grey Knight (U22886)
posted 25 minutes ago
comment by VOF - Have a nice day y'all ... (U17124)
posted 1 minute ago
Celtic/Rangers in the English leagues would be too great a threat to the top level teams and the chances of qualifying for europe. Would bring spice (and riots) to the league, but would offer too much risk, so don't see it happening.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They flatter to deceive, when their division contains no disrepect to them, Livingston, Ross County, St Mirren and St Johnson for examples it is hardly like playing Liverpool. Man City, Arsenal and Spurs.
Norwich would stay up in the Scotish Premier League. The two Scottish clubs would be better served trying to get into the Dutch, Danish and Belgium top divisions.
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But the old firm clubs wouldn't be playing those teams - they'd have the fanbase, globally, plus the income that prem league offers to then compete in the top league, they just would. They'd become an investment opportunity both in terms of owners and sponsors. Wouldn't happen overnight, but they'd evolve and develop into major clubs. My take on it anyway ..........

Not wanting to fall out, but i question the composition of the world wide fanbase for them. How much of it is expat Scotts around the world in places like the USA. I wonder who the locals support in South Asia.
The population of the world is near as damm it 8billion, so to have a fanbase of 10 million world wide is is no great percentage. Getting 50 million of the world population to pay a couple of quid a match on the internet is £100 million pound per match, the figures the money involved could be mindblowing.
If they can set up a world wide football channel, football will be unrecognisable in ten years time. V.A.R would have been like Startrek when i first started watching football and the development of the technolog seems to accelerating by the day.

Always good to get new posters on here.

Cheers Grey Knight

And riots?..

I was at the Burnley v Celtic game in 78's Anglo Scottish cup game with my work mate who was a Scottish Celtic fan, the Celtic fans wrecked the place!..

Me and my work mate worked at Peter Blacks in Keighley, he asked me if I wanted to go with him and I went with a Celtic and a Leeds scarf, no idea if it was luck or they had nothing against Leeds, but I'm still alive!.

comment by Batty 🇺🇦 (U4664)
posted 56 minutes ago
Always good to get new posters on here.

Cheers Grey Knight
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Absolutely, agree 👍

Welcome to the mad house Grey!