Next Season

[wiilko]

Although we will be missing out on the play offs this season, it's still been the most exciting since the Championship League days.

I go to all the home games and for the first time in years I think I have got value for money for my ST. Unfortunately the hardy souls who attend away games (I used to be one of them) have seen some pathetic performances in the latter end of the season.

Grayson has worked wonders this season and is there anyone who thought that we had a (slim) chance of a play off position in the last game of the season.

However, next season is a different matter. Expectations will rise and as manager of the largest club in this league, nothing less than a P.O place will suffice.

SG doesn't have a great track record in signing quality players but then again Nottingham Forest & Middlesbro' have spent millions trying to get out of this league without success.

Our 5 loan players will probably return to their parent clubs and we have Johnson & Kilkenny out of contract.

Personally I think that Grayson is facing his biggest challenge yet. Has he the nous to sign the extra quality we need to mount a promotion challenge next season? I really hope so because the last thing we need is a change of manager.

[JonTheBassist]

Nice post Wilko I agree that next seasons expectations will be much higher, and personally i will expect a top 6 finish at least - as im sure every other Leeds fan will.
Grayson should try sign up Lichaj permanently, or keep him here on a season long loan. I think the club should also try sort a contract renewal out with Johnson. Kilkenny can go. Obviously the defense needs a lot of work to mount a serious promotion challenge, so i think defensive players will be the order of the day.
Our attackers are pretty much sorted, but we will need a replacement for Paynter, cos i dont think hes good enough to be playing for a club like this one.
If we can keep the likes of Schmeichel, Snodgrass, Johnson, Howson, Gradel, McCormack, Becchio etc... and sort the defense out, we will be looking good

[Genghers]

Nice post Wilko I agree that next seasons expectations will be much higher, and personally i will expect a top 6 finish at least - as im sure every other Leeds fan will.
Grayson should try sign up Lichaj permanently, or keep him here on a season long loan. I think the club should also try sort a contract renewal out with Johnson. Kilkenny can go. Obviously the defense needs a lot of work to mount a serious promotion challenge, so i think defensive players will be the order of the day.
Our attackers are pretty much sorted, but we will need a replacement for Paynter, cos i dont think hes good enough to be playing for a club like this one.
If we can keep the likes of Schmeichel, Snodgrass, Johnson, Howson, Gradel, McCormack, Becchio etc... and sort the defense out, we will be looking good

Obviously agree with the defensive situation, but I think we could also do with another striker who can get us 20 a season. We've relied on the same 3/4 players to score a lot of our goals (2 of those being Somma and Howson, one super sub and the other in a midfield role), and as a result when Becchio's not in the squad, and Max is being taken out of the game (a la Burnley to an extent) we struggle to score.
Unless Grayson has been completely underestimating McCormack until now (very possible ), I do think we need another starting forward. Could do with another decent winger too, as it's clear Snoddy doesn't have the stamina/fitness for playing week in/week out.

[The Subhuman]

Obviously agree with the defensive situation, but I think we could also do with another striker who can get us 20 a season. We've relied on the same 3/4 players to score a lot of our goals (2 of those being Somma and Howson, one super sub and the other in a midfield role), and as a result when Becchio's not in the squad, and Max is being taken out of the game (a la Burnley to an extent) we struggle to score.
Unless Grayson has been completely underestimating McCormack until now (very possible ), I do think we need another starting forward. Could do with another decent winger too, as it's clear Snoddy doesn't have the stamina/fitness for playing week in/week out.

I'd wanna start with McCormack and Becchio up front next season. If macca plays 40 games next year he'll score at least 20.

I'd rather deal with the Centre midfield problems (2 needed there if both Killa and BJ walk) central defence and left back, then back ups at right back, keeper (if Kasper stays) and wing before we look at the forward positions...

[Silky]

yeah, i think between Somma, Macca, and Becchio.. plus Snoddy, Max, and Jonny, there are plenty of goals in us... Definitly centreal midfield and defence is what needs to be focussed on.

You never know, though.. he might go with Tom Lees and Pat Kisnorbo lol

[1964white]

You never know, though.. he might go with Tom Lees and Pat Kisnorbo lol

Ken will be pleased with your comment Silky, no investment needed in that position then

[The Subhuman]

Ken will be pleased with your comment Silky, no investment needed in that position then

It'd be like a western, the knarled old sheriff carrying the wounds of time but with the experience and nous to still be able to handle the "bad guys" and the young gunslinger destined to be his deputy, hotheaded, unafraid and anxious to prove himself...

I'm thinking Rio Bravo here folks....

[MikeLUFC7]

It is going to be difficult next year to gain automatic promotion unless money is invested heavily. If we go about our dealings like this year, then I believe we will finish in the play offs at best. My reason for this?

- The three relegated teams. If the current bottom three come down (West Ham, Wolves, Wigan), they will all spend money to bounce straight back. They'll lose players, granted; however, they will most likely be amongst the biggest spenders next year.

- Current teams who miss out on promotion: Cardiff, Swansea, Reading, Forest, Millwall, Burnley, Hull and Leicester. All of these teams are either capable of investing heavily in their squads, or have managers who help them punch above their weight. These teams will be thereabouts again next season.

- Teams who are bound to be up there: Ipswich and Middlesbrough. Under their new managers they have improved vastly, and with a summer to wheel and deal, I expect these two teams to be VERY strong contenders next year. Both are experienced in delivering promotion.

So that basically puts forth a list of 13 teams excluding ourselves who will most likely make up the top half of the table next year. Sure, other teams will likely have a good chance of punching above their weight like we have this year, surprise packages always happen. But what I am trying to show here is how difficult it is going to be next year to finish in the play off's, let alone achieve automatic promotion because of the way the club is run right now.

Fair enough on a shoe string budget Grayson got us promoted, though one could argue with the squad he possessed we should have won the league, but that is in the past. And this year, on a small budget he got us into contention for promotion. Not many fans expected it, but he did. So it could happen again next year, and I don't see why it can't if we manage to keep hold of our best players, and then invest serious money into recruits that will push this team on. But there is the hitch in my opinion - money.

For me, next year is going to be one of those seasons where money talks. I don't see West Ham, Wigan and Wolves finishing outside the top six. So that leaves three spots open for the other teams. So next year we're either going to have to be like Norwich and do it on team spirit, or we are going to have to do it by spending. Can you see Ken Bates spending big money on players?

I can't. So fingers crossed our team spirit gets us there, but with those teams who will push for promotion next year, Grayson will be pulling off a miracle if he achieves promotion next season. Because as far as I'm concerned, like 2005-6 when we lost the play off final to get back into the premier league, we have wasted the best chance of achieving promotion this year. When we beat QPR around Christmas we went 2nd. If we had pushed on then, invested in January, we could have been playing premier league football again. Instead, now we are preparing for another year in this league where we might get overtaken by other clubs who will have more money than us, and managers who arguably have more experience in building promotion winning sides. So if he does pull off promotion, kudos.

For me then, next year is make or break for his Leeds management career. Either Grayson pulls off promotion, or we fall by the wayside and he gets sacked. That's my prediction for next year, and I'm unsure which way it'll go. Head says sacked less than halfway through because we are sitting in mid table; whereas my heart says promoted in 2nd place. I hope it is the latter, I really do.

[Emsley]

Anything below a top six finish you can officially count me on the list of people who will chant "Grayson out."

[JonTheBassist]

Anything below a top six finish you can officially count me on the list of people who will chant "Grayson out."

I'm afraid I'm with you on that one Emsley...

[Emsley]

With three big teams dropping back down as we have already said - and the likes of reading, swansea, bardiff etc having more money than us coupled with good managers, you would think asking for a top six finish is harsh...
But it isnt if you take away the three who are dropping down - we already proved this season IF we had a better defence we were a better team than nearly all of them.

The problems are clear, seeing what Grayson brings in will be very interesting, and we do need a fast pacey striker, becchio and ross IMO are not the strike force I would count on for play offs/AP.

If I see the same old "Not the right players for leeds" or "No one was available for us" then we may as well bury our club to the confines of Mid table medicoracy for the next 5 seasons.

BECKFORD ON LOAN YES PLEASE!

[1964white]

we have wasted the best chance of achieving promotion this year. When we beat QPR around Christmas we went 2nd. If we had pushed on then, invested in January, we could have been playing premier league football again.

Is there an echo in here

Agree Mike, for whatever reason we certainly missed a wonderful opportunity !

[MeeTa]

Is there an echo in here

Agree Mike, for whatever reason we certainly missed a wonderful opportunity !

And who knows how long it takes to get that opportunity again, worries me

[wisconsinWHITE]

Let's hope we can nab some good players this window. Hopefully Grayson can now see what it'll take to get us up and he can make some real changes. Have to say, if we don't move 5 or 6 faces, at the very least, I'll be disappointed with the window. Let's see some more strength in the middle of the pitch. I'm pretty sure Grayson's only plan right now for the middle is to have them hoof it up to the front asap. We need some good heads out there, who can actually hold up the ball and do something with it.

[chicagowhite]

Let's see the support Grayson gets in terms of funds to sign players before we ask for his head.

If he has to resort to freebies & loanees while others spend money then its hardly the managers fault, now Ken is the owner he cannot hind behind anonymous owners and the like for not supporting the manager. Also it's not just a matter of adding players we also need to keep essential players.

A major priority is to concede less goals, if we can cut the number of goals down by more than 33% we will be in the PO's if not claiming the title.

Also remember there is a lot of competition next season

3 relegated prem teams with parachute payments guaranteed for 4 seasons
Other ex-Prem teams with parachute payments Dull, Pompey, Dingles
Leicester, Smoggies, sheep shaggers if they sack jr
Other PO teams that don't make it shrubs, ducks, Reading can't see them competing next season, baadiff or even QPR if the FA ever get their act together
Promoted teams Southampton have been building a championship squad and if the spend could easily do a Norwich less concerned about the others though
There is always a surprise like Reading have been this season

[matt leeds]

No doubt, next season will be even harder than this season with three strong teams coming down (strong compared to Championship teams). But if we want to cut it in the Premier League then we should fear no one in the Championship.

We do need to strengthen the squad, I agree with that.

Striker wise I would like to see Grayson play 2 up front, Becchio and McCormack with Somma as back up (super sub). Paynter, although i like him and think he is a strong player, he just isnt good enough for this level so we need to replace him. Depending on who we bring, depends whether we still start with Becchio and McCormack. I would like to see those two play together though as i think McCormack is an untapped talent for us so far.

Midfield, I would like to see us keep Johnson and play him in with Howson. Gradel has improved amazingly whilst Snoddy has looked off form. So a new winger please Larry and maybe a strong tackling midfielder would be good but would also mean Howson becoming a super sub himself.

Defence, Sign Lichaj please! OBrien is good enough and will Kisnorbo be back? and will he be as good? Naylor looked steady in the last couple of games but it wouldnt be long before he starts cocking up again so we need rid. Bruce will get better and Connolly does the job. (get shut of McCartney though). Bromby is ok as a back up.

We have other back up players, I do rate Killa although I think he will leave. So from what im thinking, we need another decent striker, a new winger, a strong midfield general and Lichaj. If theres a quality central defender available cheap then grab them as well. 4 or 5 signings? Is that too much to ask?

[The Subhuman]

No doubt, next season will be even harder than this season with three strong teams coming down (strong compared to Championship teams). But if we want to cut it in the Premier League then we should fear no one in the Championship.

We do need to strengthen the squad, I agree with that.

Striker wise I would like to see Grayson play 2 up front, Becchio and McCormack with Somma as back up (super sub). Paynter, although i like him and think he is a strong player, he just isnt good enough for this level so we need to replace him. Depending on who we bring, depends whether we still start with Becchio and McCormack. I would like to see those two play together though as i think McCormack is an untapped talent for us so far.

Midfield, I would like to see us keep Johnson and play him in with Howson. Gradel has improved amazingly whilst Snoddy has looked off form. So a new winger please Larry and maybe a strong tackling midfielder would be good but would also mean Howson becoming a super sub himself.

Defence, Sign Lichaj please! OBrien is good enough and will Kisnorbo be back? and will he be as good? Naylor looked steady in the last couple of games but it wouldnt be long before he starts cocking up again so we need rid. Bruce will get better and Connolly does the job. (get shut of McCartney though). Bromby is ok as a back up.

We have other back up players, I do rate Killa although I think he will leave. So from what im thinking, we need another decent striker, a new winger, a strong midfield general and Lichaj. If theres a quality central defender available cheap then grab them as well. 4 or 5 signings? Is that too much to ask?

sigh...left back where is the much needed left back, that and a midfielder to play alongside JH are the two priority signings

[1964white]

Let's hope we can nab some good players this window. Hopefully Grayson can now see what it'll take to get us up and he can make some real changes. Have to say, if we don't move 5 or 6 faces, at the very least, I'll be disappointed with the window. Let's see some more strength in the middle of the pitch. I'm pretty sure Grayson's only plan right now for the middle is to have them hoof it up to the front asap. We need some good heads out there, who can actually hold up the ball and do something with it.

We had 6 or 7 new faces last summer, they spent most of the season on the bench or out on loan

[wisconsinWHITE]

We had 6 or 7 new faces last summer, they spent most of the season on the bench or out on loan

True. But this year we're once again an established Champy side, not a newly promoted Champy side. Here's to hoping!

[Twiggster]

True. But this year we're once again an established Champy side, not a newly promoted Champy side. Here's to hoping!

YES, Wiscy! We may actually have players WANTING to play for us, now we are established and not Championship newbies. So many players we approached last summer said they didn't want to play for us, as I recall. Who can blame them, with us being newbies in the league. I didn't think we'd finish as high this season, or be doing as well at Xmas. So who could blame a player for not wanting to come to us last summer, when most "experts" and agents thought we'd be relegated again?

We are now a lucrative proposition for players, having shown our worth in this league.