Is Monk still the man?

[weasel]

A few weeks ago this wouldn't have even been a question but here we are and is Monk the man to take us up next season (barring a miracle this season). After the poor start to the season it seemed Monk could do no wrong. Half time tactics seemed to regularly see us going from playing poorly in first halfs to dominating and winning games in the second half. We seemed to have a team that had togetherness and was getting stronger game by game, a superb home record and the ability to gain points when not playing well. We looked nailed on for a play-off place, occasionally flirting with the possibility of a top 2 place but then the wheels fell off. Just a blip it seemed at first. For most of the season we'd bounced back from a defeat with a victory in the next match so even when we had two defeats on the bounce (v Cardiff and Huddersfield) and panic set it had all seemed like a huge over-reaction when we started winning again and gained 10 points from the next 4 matches.

Everything seemed back on track and despite a disappointing draw at home v QPR we followed it up with a cracking display and win v Brighton. However the first sign of a crack in the team spirit seemed to have opened. Jannson dropped and no explanation given. It mattered not as Cooper stepped in, and despite nearly scoring an own goal, had a decent game. The next match saw Cooper retain his place and Jannson then pulling out with injury. Whatever was going on behind the scenes seemed to have an effect as the team never got going against Reading and but for Green we could have lost heavily. Cooper seemed affected by it all as his needless stamp was completely out of character and rightly punished with a lengthy ban. With Cooper banned Jansson was healed in time for the next match and started but Leeds were all over the place as Brentford battered Leeds and again Green was solely responsible for keeping the score down. The alarm bells were ringing but once again the team seemed to respond well battering Preston and playing well, although if Preston had taken one of their early chances it could have been a very different game.

The team seemed rejuvenated and took the game to Newcastle. Pedrazza hit the bar but then we went into a shell and were pummelled for the rest of the game only to snatch an unlikely draw at the death. The fans were lifted and you'd have thought the players would be too but then a couple of days later and a woeful performance saw us slip to another home defeat and out of the play-off positions. The fighting talk began, we'd go on the attack against Burton but once again we hardly looked like scoring and looked a jaded team as the play-off place slipped away.

So we come to the start of the topic again and wonder is Monk the man to right the ship next year? Initially you would have to think yes and certainly he should be given the opportunity but the similarities between his time at Swansea and Leeds sees the alarm bells ringing. Great initial success with Swansea and counter attacking formations saw them beating Arsenal and Man U but when the wheels fell off it seemed he couldn't find a solution. Armed with a summer to find the answers will he be able to do so at Leeds?

A few weeks ago it looked like even if we didn't go up we'd still face a battle to keep hold of Monk due to the excellent job he'd done. His stock was high but perhaps chairman who were thinking of approaching him will not be rushing to do so any more.

So can Monk and the backroom staff get Leeds challenging again next season or is Monk not the magician we thought he was now that the play-off curtain has been so dramatically pulled away.

[Clacton White]

I think he's the first manger Leeds have had for a long time that knows what he's doing . While this season has ( almost ) ended in disappointment , I'd hope the board back him and get the players the club needs that will make that difference ....keep the players already there that are essential , an alternative option up front and some steel and command in midfield - a LEADER on the pitch , who can galvanise and have idea's when the chips are down and the team aren't playing well ...a Strachan or McAllister type ...mind you those aren't around any more , that sort of player .
Given Monk over Warnock , Hockaday , Darko whatever, Wise , Evans , Rosler, , Redfearn ,McDermott ..... I know who I'd go for..... Monks record beats any of those hands down and probably all since dare I say it .... O'Leary .

[Ronan]

Monk will do it next season

MOT !!!!

[gessa]

I think he's done enough to warrant another season. The pre season was a strange one, the first 6 games seemed to prove it was the wrong thing to do, Monk stating too much football pre season and teams run out of steam later on, well we had a low key one and still ran out of steam, let's hope he's learnt from that. The biggest problem for me is his tactics, we have the highest scorer in the division but also have the record for the lowest shots on goal, it's been worrying at times the games we've playe, not having a single shot on target, his only plan b seems to be swap wingers on the hour, which hasn't worked, did we really need 2 defensive midfielders at home?He is still very young for a manager and will make mistakes but is he the character that will learn from them, he does seem a stubborn sod. If he remains then this next season should be the one he's really judged on, he's now had a season to get to know the club, players and owners, it will be his first full pre season where he'll hopefully be able to bring in players he wants and shift out the ones he doesn't. I think most of us will agree on who to keep and where we need to strengthen. Next season will depend so much on the owners backing the manager as anything else, the midfield needs a big overall imo, against all the top teams we were out played there, home and away against most of them.

[Ratscoot]

Monk is definitely still the man, I was completely gutted yesterday and still feel down today but we've got to be honest and realise we over achieved with this squad, my one worry is that our Jan signing haven't really improved the squad, I do think Pedraza is worth keeping as I think next season we'll see the real player.

[NorfolkWhite]

What we need is stability and continuity (and have for quite some time) to contemplate not tying up up GM would be madness. I think if we were honest we all knew we were short of quality in midfield, a superb defence and bucket loads of goals from the big man papered over these cracks for quite some time but eventually it all told. Give GM full close season and the right backing and we'll be back stronger and better next season.

[gessa]

Monk is definitely still the man, I was completely gutted yesterday and still feel down today but we've got to be honest and realise we over achieved with this squad, my one worry is that our Jan signing haven't really improved the squad, I do think Pedraza is worth keeping as I think next season we'll see the real player.

The problem with Pedraza is the price tag, honestly I think they'll never shift him at 21.8M euros but worth having on a season long loan. Personally I don't think he's worth a million on what he's shown so far.

[gessa]

What we need is stability and continuity (and have for quite some time) to contemplate not tying up up GM would be madness. I think if we were honest we all knew we were short of quality in midfield, a superb defence and bucket loads of goals from the big man papered over these cracks for quite some time but eventually it all told. Give GM full close season and the right backing and we'll be back stronger and better next season.

Backing him will be the key, the 3 that don't go up will be as strong or even stronger next season, 2 of the 3 that come down should be good enough to be up there, Villa will splash the cash and Bruce has a good record of getting teams up, plus Wolves should be a stronger team.Dderby and Norwich will probably be in the mix too..its not going to get any easier.

[weasel]

Backing him will be the key, the 3 that don't go up will be as strong or even stronger next season, 2 of the 3 that come down should be good enough to be up there, Villa will splash the cash and Bruce has a good record of getting teams up, plus Wolves should be a stronger team.Dderby and Norwich will probably be in the mix too..its not going to get any easier.

It never does get any easier but then every year it is the same with the teams that come down expected to go straight back up and the or 4 that go close expected to be stronger. Who would have predicted that we'd finish above Norwich, who were expected to go straight back up. For me the real addition to the squad needs to be a midfielder capable of scoring at least 10 goals, somebody able to score from outside the box - Tom Cairney for example. We have too many players in the team who cannot hit a decent shot, let alone score. Ayling, Berardi, Phillips, Bridcutt, Vieira & Sacko all seem to either panic or lack the technique to strike a ball cleanly at goal. Roofe is the huge disappointment for me this season as he should have been scoring and offering a threat with shots from distance. Hernandez too should have been scoring and creating more in the no.10 role.

In pre-season I suggested that our season would depend on 3 things. Cutting out mistakes leading to goals, getting 20+ goals from a striker and having someone in midfield to score double figures. We did 2 out of 3 and with a handful more goals from midfield we would have comfortably finished in the top 6, and maybe even threatened the top 2.

Next season we need to keep things tight at the back again. Taylor will be off but in Berardi and Ayling we are fine int he full back positions especially with Coyle and possibly Denton as back up. Green should still be with us but the crux will be what happens at centreback. Has Bartley done enough to attract a premiership club, will Swansea want to keep him, does he want to come to us and if he does will we be able to afford him. Jannson will be an interesting one as no one seems to know 100% whether he is a Leeds player or not. The hope is that he is and then even if he does leave we will make decent money on him which will be needed to fund a replacement. Ideal scenario is we keep Bartley and Jannson but if not then it is a huge ask to be able to replace them both and we would need to. If we don't then we definitely need to score more from midfield to compensate.

Into midfield and everyone is under contract. We have plenty of battlers in central midfield but need more creativity and goals. As such if we keep the formation of 2 defensive midfielders then we need much more output out wide. Roofe has threatened to be a decent player but needs to be more involved in matches and I feel needs to add a bit of muscle as he is too lightweight and hasn't the express pace to get past players who are physical. Pedrazza, if we sign him, looks to have goals in his locker, Dallas too is capable of cracking goals in from distance whereas Sacko for all his pace has looked lost in most games, has no end product and looks like he doesn't believe in himself. Hernandez needs to be more influential but I do feel at times he has been left isolated by the formation, especially when the wingers have been defending.

Up front and there are 2 question marks hanging over Chris Wood. Firstly we will get offers and if he gets premiership offers we could see an unhappy player forcing a transfer, will the club look to keep him if we get big offers and he is wanting to move? Secondly, if we do keep him, is he capable of scoring the amount of goals he did this season again? A lot of times he has been in he right spot at the right time but with strikers it is very easy for the chances to suddenly dry up, they then snatch at the few chances that come and we see the Chris Wood of 2015-2016.

The team is in a good shape but we could easily lose the spine of the 2 centrebacks and striker. I don't see any of our other players either wanting to leave or attracting offers that would make them want to leave - perhaps Vieira but I feel it might be another year before premiership clubs seriously start sniffing as he would likely simply be a bench player at best at this point in his career.

[gessa]

The Tom Crainey we let go for being too small and ineffective.

[The Subhuman]

Monk should stay regardless of of what we think his shortcomings are. He will at least keep us competitive and continuity is all important. Whether he wants to stay is another matter. He may have done enough with a cash strapped football club to have a few lower end premiership clubs come sniffing around.

[liggy]

After feeling the need to have a pint of nightmares last night.
Everything became much clearer
Is monk the Man, possibly
Will monk gain automatic promotion possibly.
If Shaun Dyche was manager Definitely.
Would he leave that mill town....Hell yeah

[Norm]

Monk needs to get past his sticking point, which happened at similar times with Swansea and us. I feel he would be quietly grateful to be given that chance. He knows he screwed up and recovery from that will sweeten everybody's pot, plus it will enhance his man-management skills, cool that slight aura of arrogance/disdain and hopefully he will mature nicely to our mutual benefit.

[liggy]

Look leeds utd is still a big draw.
If I was a gambling man & I,am us villa & swansea ( if relegated )
Is where my money's next season.
I backed Fulham a few weeks ago because momentum is massive this time of year.
Monk needs to hit the ground running next season if we don't make the EPL..
We'd come straight back down anyway.
My point is would we have Dyche. ? Hell yeah
Disclaimer all IMHO
The fortunes of LUFC can go up as well as down ,
Do you're own research and always get independent advice


Would we have Claudio back

[liggy]

Ps

You could also argue that the 2 krauts
At hudds & Fulham have done a lot better.
Just saying

[liggy]

Ps

You could also argue that the 2 krauts
At hudds & Fulham have done a lot better.
Just saying

[lufc1304]

In a word, yes. As others have said, one thing any successful club needs is stability. He has, I think, exceeded expectations this season despite us looking like missing out on the play-offs, and the board would be rash to even consider getting rid of him. I would hope they will back him in the summer, both in terms of rebuffing bids for any of our better players and backing him with the players he wants to bring in. If we go backwards next season, then questions may need to be asked but, for now, keeping Monk is key to our continued progress.

[whiteswan]

Norwich will come in for him. They're just waiting to see if we make the play offs. ( just a thought)

[liggy]

Norwich hahaha Ermmmm why ( he's very very privileged where he is )
If hudds don't make it we can enrich our midfield no end.
What nags away is monk .
A very exceptional coach yes ,a manager not sure.
He got the boot at Swansea, yes harsh but why.
Was he better than laudrup No.
Is Laudrup available Yes
Would Dyche come yes
Would Brendan Rogers come why not ffs this is Leeds!!!
Wakey wakey.......

[NorfolkWhite]

Norwich will come in for him. They're just waiting to see if we make the play offs. ( just a thought)

I really hope not