Howson Sold

[dezzy]

Wow any hope I have had for leeds getting into the Premeirship any time soon have gone. Howson has carried this team over the past few months, and now that he is gone he will flourish at Norwich. I am really dissapointed with what is going on at our club. Norwich Swansea Qpr, all teams we are jealous of at the moment

[normangunston]

I've read people saying SG should stand up to KB and demand we spend the big bucks. What, and do another Ridsdale?

I've read people saying we're showing a lack of ambition, when the facts are quite simple: Johnny is at a crossroads and chose the Premier league path as we're showing no signs of going up this season.

I've read people saying we're about to go into administration when Leeds are probably as financially secure as they've ever been.

It's all getting a bit tedious to be honest.

If you're parrotting the "do another Ridsdale" line... WHAT are you doing here mate? As if the only choices available to us are living the dream or selling the captain. This is a tired old argument that Bates (and Lorimer, lately) uses in order to discourage any kind of spending at all on the team.

And if you can't understand why Leeds fans are upset that their captain has been sold, a boy who grew up in Leeds, supporting Leeds, you need your head read. Imagine what Liverpool fans would've done if they'd sold Steven Gerrard at age 25. They would've torn the stadium down.

[normangunston]

Then I'm happy to call you naive.

His track record in business over the last 50 years suggests that he should never be believed about anything.

Absolutely. What a fool.

[craigboldy]

Yeah, Paul Lambert must be clueless.

Clearly Lambert believes he can get the best out of Howson! I've never said that Howson doesn't have the quality, he just doesn't show it enough. Can you honestly say Grayson can get the best out of him coz he's had long enough!

I dont understande the all of a sudden Howson wankfest going on! It wasn't too long ago that everyone was using Jonny as a scapegoat for everything, and now everyone seems to think he is Lionel Messi! Players come and go......thats football! My opinion is that its a good deal for club!

[rand3ll]

Simon has shown throughout his managerial career that he likes to work using the loan market

Because of the 2 clubs he's managed Blackpool couldn't give him money and Bates won't give him money . .

[HairyArse]

And if you can't understand why Leeds fans are upset that their captain has been sold, a boy who grew up in Leeds, supporting Leeds, you need your head read. Imagine what Liverpool fans would've done if they'd sold Steven Gerrard at age 25. They would've torn the stadium down.

You appear to be under the impression that we're selling Johnny against his wishes.

[becchio bear]

Clearly Lambert believes he can get the best out of Howson! I've never said that Howson doesn't have the quality, he just doesn't show it enough. Can you honestly say Grayson can get the best out of him coz he's had long enough!

I dont understande the all of a sudden Howson wankfest going on! It wasn't too long ago that everyone was using Jonny as a scapegoat for everything, and now everyone seems to think he is Lionel Messi! Players come and go......thats football! My opinion is that its a good deal for club!

Less of the everyone please! I've always rated Howson, never slagged him off or used him as a scapegoat. Despite what some on here say we have certainly missed him when he hasn't played. I'm actually gutted he's going.

[normangunston]

You appear to be under the impression that we're selling Johnny against his wishes.

Don't think you really got my point there. You said you didn't understand why people were getting upset about this. I explained.

No-one's saying Howson is Messi and we'll fall to bits without him. The really big thing is what this sale suggests about both the behind the scenes situation at the club and our future direction under Bates. Howson, for all his faults, represented the hope that Leeds could return to the Prem with a core of local lads who'd come through Thorp Arch. That hope's taken a serious knock today.

[Charity Shield 69]

Could this be a move by the club to force Jonny's hand on contract matters?? Just asking!
Putting aside the emotional aspects of selling a local lad and very successful academy graduate (?), might some funds obtained now for a player, who otherwise may play little part in our 2011-12 season run in, give us the scope to get in 2 or 3 influential players at this level and hence give some much needed impetus to our campaign?
I'm searching for positives in this news!
It seems that the nature of player wheeling and dealing in the next couple of weeks is going to shape not only this season but also the lead into 2012-13.

Cheers,
CS69

[Drs.Dad]

I am, by nature, a 100% optimist, but my optimism is taking a bloody good kicking at the moment! I cannot argue the sale of Howson, Jonny obviously wanted to leave and the club could have been left with nothing in the pot if we kept him until the summer. The club took that decision a couple of years ago with Beckford, and that worked out for us, we got the promotion we needed even if we got nowt for Jermaine. It's fairly obvious that we are not heading for promotion, and I dearly wish I could be proved wrong in that! Jonny is at a crossroads in his life, and opted for a move to the Premiership and the higher wages..... which of those two reasons was his main one is up to him, not us. I hope that the advance Norwich give us (and remember Naarch haven't agreed terms with Jonny yet) will enable us to pay for a good replacement, preferably in the holding middy role, as in Clayton we have a replacement for Jonny's attacking middy role (assuming we can hang on to him!!!!) If Clayton goes too, that in my opinion is the beating heart of the team gone. Perhaps the loss of Jonny will enable a bit of movement in contract negotiations with some of the other players?
However, as for renewing our Season Tickets, I will, while I am physically able, continue to support the team I love.... I am a supporter of Leeds United, not Jonny, or Simon, or Ken Bates, but Leeds United. Premiership of Blue Square League, they are the club I have loved for almost 50 years, and I can't and won't give up on that.
I hope you can see that, while I am hurting for sure, I am not broken, and I will stay unbroken while there is still a Leeds United to follow. Sorry about the rambling, I just went with the flow.

[Martyn]

Could this be a move by the club to force Jonny's hand on contract matters?? Just asking!
Putting aside the emotional aspects of selling a local lad and very successful academy graduate (?), might some funds obtained now for a player, who otherwise may play little part in our 2011-12 season run in, give us the scope to get in 2 or 3 influential players at this level and hence give some much needed impetus to our campaign?
I'm searching for positives in this news!
It seems that the nature of player wheeling and dealing in the next couple of weeks is going to shape not only this season but also the lead into 2012-13.

Cheers,
CS69

Thanks for trying hard, but do you seriously expect that any funds received for Howson will be reinvested in the team? It's just not the Bates way.

The profit last financial year was on the back of player sales, I see no reason to expect a change of strategy this year.

[weasel]

And if you can't understand why Leeds fans are upset that their captain has been sold, a boy who grew up in Leeds, supporting Leeds, you need your head read. Imagine what Liverpool fans would've done if they'd sold Steven Gerrard at age 25. They would've torn the stadium down.

Stevie G had decided to leave a few years back despite the fact Chelsea and Liverpool weren't in different divisions. From all accounts there were threats against his family that 'persuaded' him to stay. Money, and then threats, speak not loyalty.

The difference here is that Jonny, much like BJ, wants to play premiership football - something that we cannot guarantee. Comparing our ambition to Norwich's is pointless the simple fact is they can offer premiership football. Hardly like they are offering him championship football, which is all we can offer Jonny.

All the good players to have left have done so to play at a higher level, Delph, Beckord, BJ, Gradel and now Howson. Schmeichel is a different case as obviously no prem team wanted him so he took prem wages to go sideways to Leicester - however with just a year left on his contract we were right to sell him and we replaced him with better.

Bizarre how many berate Leeds for letting Beckford and BJ leave for free yet now castigate them for selling a player in the same situation.

Like it or not Jonny wasn't going to sign a new contract unless we could guarantee premiership football - it is that simple. For those who knock modern players just remember the Bosman situation wasn't around in the good ol' days. I think a lot of players would have exercised their right to move if they'd have had the option.

[Martyn]

To Doc's Dad:

You're right of course, and I'm right there with you on the 50 years of support.

This is, ultimately, why club owners always have the upper hand. They can ignore us, call us morons, rip us off, destroy our dreams and we will always come back for more because supporting a club is like no other consumer decision, you can't shop around for a cheaper option or one with more features. When the club runs through your veins then support becomes unconditional.

Bates knows that just as Glazer knows it at Old Trafford.

Yes, many of us are furious at the lack of ambition in the club that has been obvious since the lack of activity in the January transfer window 2 years ago that almost cost us promotion from League 1 but come next August we'll all be looking forward to the new season with that same tingle of anticipation and wild hope that somehow our collection of has-beens no-hopers and cast-offs can string enough results together to give us a sniff of the playoffs.

Powerful drug, football.

[rand3ll]

I would never criticise any player for wanting to better themselves.
I will however criticise the club and the way it's ran. Jonny should have been tied down over a year ago.
Do you honestly think that if we'd have offered him a new deal when we were in second last season he'd have turned it down?
We've left it too late and now we're going to lose our captain and a very good young prospect. No doubt Bates will offer Grayson no money but claim it's all gone into this 'pot' he talks about.

[Silky]

Its far too soon for sense weasel old mate. Our captain, and my favourite player since Smudgier, is gone. F#@king gutted.

[The Subhuman]

Clearly Lambert believes he can get the best out of Howson! I've never said that Howson doesn't have the quality, he just doesn't show it enough. Can you honestly say Grayson can get the best out of him coz he's had long enough!

I dont understande the all of a sudden Howson wankfest going on! It wasn't too long ago that everyone was using Jonny as a scapegoat for everything, and now everyone seems to think he is Lionel Messi! Players come and go......thats football! My opinion is that its a good deal for club!

most sensible posters here believed Howson was the best and most influential player at the club..and none of us waivered in that belief. Snodgrass being the only player one could say is in the same ballpark,

[ldj90]

if you strip everything right back and look at what we KNOW today the decision is the right one.

Jonny is injured, not sure how much longer he is projected to be out for but it is still a significant period- which would then be followed by another period of getting upto match fitness. Ergo he was never going to play a significant part in the rest of the 2011-12 season.

Jonny is also out of contract at the end of the season.


Where the problem lies is in that it shouldn't have got to this stage in the first place. As our leader and one of our best players, everything that represents Leeds United, the team should have been built around him, utilising him in his best position-so that he thrived and could influence those around him. It all boils down to the lack of philosophy (citing WR, 2011, 2012) and lack of ambition at the club.

This is a sad day for Leeds United, anyone who suggests otherwise is a tool.

[craigboldy]

Stevie G had decided to leave a few years back despite the fact Chelsea and Liverpool weren't in different divisions. From all accounts there were threats against his family that 'persuaded' him to stay. Money, and then threats, speak not loyalty.

The difference here is that Jonny, much like BJ, wants to play premiership football - something that we cannot guarantee. Comparing our ambition to Norwich's is pointless the simple fact is they can offer premiership football. Hardly like they are offering him championship football, which is all we can offer Jonny.

All the good players to have left have done so to play at a higher level, Delph, Beckord, BJ, Gradel and now Howson. Schmeichel is a different case as obviously no prem team wanted him so he took prem wages to go sideways to Leicester - however with just a year left on his contract we were right to sell him and we replaced him with better.

Bizarre how many berate Leeds for letting Beckford and BJ leave for free yet now castigate them for selling a player in the same situation.

Like it or not Jonny wasn't going to sign a new contract unless we could guarantee premiership football - it is that simple. For those who knock modern players just remember the Bosman situation wasn't around in the good ol' days. I think a lot of players would have exercised their right to move if they'd have had the option.

:thup:

[The Subhuman]

Could this be a move by the club to force Jonny's hand on contract matters?? Just asking!
Putting aside the emotional aspects of selling a local lad and very successful academy graduate (?), might some funds obtained now for a player, who otherwise may play little part in our 2011-12 season run in, give us the scope to get in 2 or 3 influential players at this level and hence give some much needed impetus to our campaign?
I'm searching for positives in this news!
It seems that the nature of player wheeling and dealing in the next couple of weeks is going to shape not only this season but also the lead into 2012-13.

Cheers,

CS69

all the sale of Howson may have given us is some room on the wage bill for loans..our track record suggests we do not re-invest money back into the squad in the way of player purchases

[Dr.Leeds]

Speaks volumes, imo, total lack of ambition from the club has rubbed off on the players and all they want is to play to thier percieved potential. Were going nowhere fast.

Hate to say I told you so, but........

Aha! The first "I told you so of the thread"...

Didn't think it would be long...