The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 25th March) With Radrizzani at the helm, are we seeing Ridsdale V2.0

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Friday 25th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


With Radrizzani at the helm, are we seeing Ridsdale V2.0

60 Million for an England midfielder and 35-60 Million (depending on which source you believe) for a Brazilian winger!!! Insufficient contractual terms, desperation signings like Jean Kevin Augustin and the failure to make necessary signings when desperately needed - have Leeds learnt nothing from their predecessors?

At least with Ridsdale, we were close to realising our dream before it all came crashing down around us. Whilst little can be done when a larger club like Barcelona come calling, I take offence when Aston Villa are trying to nick our best players!

If and when Raph and Phillips depart, where does that leave the likes of Meslier and Bamford? Have Leeds left it too late to attract top talent to Elland Road; do they see us as another Burnley?



Villa make Phillips their main priority

Dean Jones believes Aston Villa's aspirations for European football may be a contributing factor in persuading Kalvin Phillips to join them in the Summer. The Daily Mirror journalist also admits that working under Steven Gerrard may appeal to Phillips.

The West Midlands outfit are of the opinion that a fee of 60m would be enough to lure him away from his childhood club.

“I think if Kalvin Phillips were to leave Leeds, he would be looking for certain aspects to fit what he’s looking for. “Aston Villa have got Steven Gerrard and that, obviously, is a massive positive for them in terms of persuading him. “They’re going to be pushing for European football from this point on and that’s the aim, so that’ll suit him.”

Raphinha posts crypic message from Thorp Arch

Days after being diagnosed with Covid, Raphinha has sent a cryptic message (allegedly from Thorp Arch) to his millions of fans on social media platform Instagram; reigniting speculation it may be connected some way to his future at Elland Road!

“Whatever you want for me, I’m going to wish you double,” “If you wish me good, I will wish you good more and more. “If you wish me evil, I’ll wish you 10x good, after all, we offer what we have.”

Only the player himself, and possibly his agent Deco, know the true meaning of his post, but many believe it's related to the transfer speculation, linking the 25yo to a Summer move to the Nou Camp.

Media outfit Sport.es have today claimed "the Brazilian winger has asked Deco, who is his representative, to do everything possible to make his landing at the Camp Nou next year", but then again, they have also described him as a left sided winger!!!

[mentalcase]

We have certainly learnt very little about resting on our laurels.

[Mountain]

“Whatever you want for me, I’m going to wish you double,” “If you wish me good, I will wish you good more and more. “If you wish me evil, I’ll wish you 10x good, after all, we offer what we have.”

Erm, looks like some prayer or feel good meme to me. I don't think it says anything at all about football, but amused to see people trying to decipher what it says about Barcelona...

[The Subhuman]

Ridsdale and Rads .... Apples and oranges

Raphinha - Leeds til he isn't

Villa ain't getting Phillips

[Ratscoot]

Morning EB et all

Radz is not the perfect Owner of a football club (is there one?) but he is the best Owner we currently have and have had for a long time. Be careful what you wish for see - Newcastle, Chelski, Scum, Liverpool and I'd throw Spurs in there too. Radz is trying to make us a big club without busting the bank, has he and his board made mistakes yes but are we in a much better place then when he took us over 100% we are.

Kalvin and his family will decide where he goes next (so Scum don't waste your time never, ever happening) for me he should be looking at either Pool, Citeeee or Real Madrid.

Raph and his agent will decide where he goes next and as long as we get north of £60m its good business, but I hope he goes abroad as I'd hate to see him strutting his stuff at Elland Road in someone else's shirt, unless we are playing them in a European game

[lufc1304]

Dean Jones saying Villa are aiming for European football is no different to Radz saying we are. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, and I personally don't think Villa are equipped to break into the top 6. Not convinced by Gerard either, let's see what they're like under his stewardship over a full season. Yes, his name will be a pull, but if KP is going anywhere, it's to an already established top 4/6 club.

As for Raph, I think we all recognise that Leeds are a stepping stone to greater things for him. I'd love him to buy into JM's plans and stay another season, but I think he'll be sold to fund incomings. And I will wish him no ill will, he's been great for us. As long as he doesn't go to the scum!!

Radz, in the main, has been good for us, but I do think he needs someone at board level who really understands what it takes to run a Prem club, particularly when it comes to contracts, player purchases and sales. Someone who understands that standing still in this league invariably means going backwards.

[Eireleeds1]

Don't want Kalvin or Raph to go but they will. Key thing about Radz stewardship is how much he holds out for, what he does with the subsequent cash. If he's gonna give it to Orta or worse still pocket it, well be relegated by xmas next season. Ive seen nothing yet to suggest otherwise but we can but hope

[Byebyegeegee]

Radz will probably only be at the helm for another 8 games anyway so it’ll be the 49ers we’ll be looking to to improve the squad and progress next season.

Radz has done a pretty good job all in all, and at least has partially realised the potential of this renowned football club, which is more than can be said of our previous owners in the wake of the Ridsdale meltdown, Cellino, GFH, Bates et al. But we have a long way to go yet before we can be said to have fully realised our potential if that is ever to happen again. I think the comparison with Ridsdale is misplaced anyway as Ridsdale wildly over spent and if anything Radz has under spent, although both could equally be accused of wasting money; Rids on the likes of Seth Johnson and Radz on JKA for example.

I, like others, would think it slightly demeaning if Phillips ended up going to Villa, as I consider ourselves to be at least their equals in size and stature as a club so why should players believe they have more potential in the long run than we have. If he decides to go I would certainly prefer him to go abroad or if he wants to stay in the Premier league then for him to go to Citeh. Then at least we would have the compensatory satisfaction of knowing that he’s only gone there because of their endless supply of money.

[The Subhuman]

Dean Jones saying Villa are aiming for European football is no different to Radz saying we are. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, and I personally don't think Villa are equipped to break into the top 6. Not convinced by Gerard either, let's see what they're like under his stewardship over a full season. Yes, his name will be a pull, but if KP is going anywhere, it's to an already established top 4/6 club.

As for Raph, I think we all recognise that Leeds are a stepping stone to greater things for him. I'd love him to buy into JM's plans and stay another season, but I think he'll be sold to fund incomings. And I will wish him no ill will, he's been great for us. As long as he doesn't go to the scum!!

Radz, in the main, has been good for us, but I do think he needs someone at board level who really understands what it takes to run a Prem club, particularly when it comes to contracts, player purchases and sales. Someone who understands that standing still in this league invariably means going backwards.

I don't think we stood still, we're among the top net spenders over the two seasons we've been up. The 16 yr break is a massive obstacle to overcome too, no sugar daddy owner.... I think we certainly tried to move forward, but a down season was always likely and it's a credit to us we've never been in the relegation places despite long term injuries to core players and short temr and in game injuries that has affected line up and partnership consistency.

Are we even at Rads 5 yr plan to get back to the prem yet? ... think this is the yr 5 coming to a close now so we're 2 years ahead of schedule. I love this squad of players, some will go, most will stay, the kids get a year older, more experienced. I know fans are an impatient group as a whole but if we have nailed Marsch then that's stunning work from the FO. You seldom get two successful managers in a row. Manure still haven't replace AF!

[Johnboy1965]

The only way Kalvin will leave is for Champions League football and Villa are miles away from that at the minute so that won't happen.
If Barca want Raph then they'll get him. Anything over 60M would be OK.
Radz has done a brilliant job overall with the resources available.
Sure he's made mistakes but I shudder when I think of Bates and Cellino. Crooks the pair of em.

[Rook]

The club imploded under Ridsdale because he was spending money we didn't have.

Calling Radrizzani ' Ridsdale V2.0 ' is absolutely ridiculous. One of the worst takes I've seen on this forum yet.

[Orange Box]

When a Radz goes, and I admire what he’s done for us in stabilising our ship, if he makes a bob or two good for him. But he doesn’t have the wherewithal to take us to where he wants to take us. When the 49ers take over, that’s when it should get interesting, theirs is a fund management business, which means they have a duty to protect the assets of those who invest money with them.

Will they really invest in us or milk the PL cashcow despite what they say?

“The funds invested by 49ers Enterprises will remain inside the Club and will go towards investment in the first-team squad.”

The above words come from the SF49 website.
https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-enterp ... strategic-

[William]

The club imploded under Ridsdale because he was spending money we didn't have.

Calling Radrizzani ' Ridsdale V2.0 ' is absolutely ridiculous. One of the worst takes I've seen on this forum yet.

Agreed Rook.

I know it may be a slow news week with no domestic games but that one takes the biscuit.

[lufc1304]

I don't think we stood still, we're among the top net spenders over the two seasons we've been up. The 16 yr break is a massive obstacle to overcome too, no sugar daddy owner.... I think we certainly tried to move forward, but a down season was always likely and it's a credit to us we've never been in the relegation places despite long term injuries to core players and short temr and in game injuries that has affected line up and partnership consistency.

Are we even at Rads 5 yr plan to get back to the prem yet? ... think this is the yr 5 coming to a close now so we're 2 years ahead of schedule. I love this squad of players, some will go, most will stay, the kids get a year older, more experienced. I know fans are an impatient group as a whole but if we have nailed Marsch then that's stunning work from the FO. You seldom get two successful managers in a row. Manure still haven't replace AF!

Agree on both counts, but I think part of the reason we haven't moved forward this season has been spending in the wrong areas. Especially failing to get an AMF/replacing Pablo. I'll counter that by saying that we massively over achieved last season, riding the crest of our promotion wave, and this season was always going to be more difficult. But the board, and perhaps Bielsa, were blinded by last season to the year on year demands of the Premiership. And ignored the historical impact of Bielsaball, glorious as it was, on squads. Summer past should have seen a refresh and it didn't happen.

My OP wasn't a dig at Radz, I think and said that he's done well, in the main, but I think he lacks the financial muscle and football nous to match his stated ambitions for the club. A more canny man might temper the talk of Europe if he really knew what it took to take a club there.

[The Subhuman]

Agree on both counts, but I think part of the reason we haven't moved forward this season has been spending in the wrong areas. Especially failing to get an AMF/replacing Pablo. I'll counter that by saying that we massively over achieved last season, riding the crest of our promotion wave, and this season was always going to be more difficult. But the board, and perhaps Bielsa, were blinded by last season to the year on year demands of the Premiership. And ignored the historical impact of Bielsaball, glorious as it was, on squads. Summer past should have seen a refresh and it didn't happen.

My OP wasn't a dig at Radz, I think and said that he's done well, in the main, but I think he lacks the financial muscle and football nous to match his stated ambitions for the club. A more canny man might temper the talk of Europe if he really knew what it took to take a club there.

Spending ain't easy, miss your fist target and your second may have moved on. .Man City for all their billions have failed to land a striker for the last two windows.

MB didn't finish what he started so unsure of what the plans might have been but he was highly adept and changing players positions. Kalvin had the comfort of learning his a division down. He wasn't great first season as DMF/3rd man in defence. Much better season 2. Alio/Dallas the same.

Everyone says James is not a 9, correct, neither was Lineker/Owen and others of the old fashioned 10 in a 442 playing off a 9. Marsch likes playing a 2 up front at times so James off Bamford could be very profitable next season ...

[Cjay]

I'm not the biggest Radz fan, whilst appreciative of getting us promoted and I recognise that the club has improved financially off the field because of him I think he has got quite lucky.

Bielsa is his saving grace really.

Until then we were appointing crap managers, recruitment was very poor (and still is) PR was poor (Myanmar, the badge, his embarrassing rants).

Bielsa was the best decision he made (and no that doesn't mean it was wrong to sack him).

But he gets a lot of freedom does Radz.

What happened to the Wolves model using all his contacts?

What happened to the when we get to the Premier League then I play quote?

Dangled QSI but keeps pleading poverty and getting us roped in with a venture capital fund because he underestimated the funding he needed for the club


He always to me has seemed like someone desperate for attention and desperate to show off and I don't think he even knows what he wants, how many different clubs has he named as a model to follow? 4,5?

He got us promoted and will always be grateful for that but I won't miss the crap recruitment, pr disasters, baseless boasts, twitter rants at fans, stupid interviews where he tries to come across as the big i am (yeah I'd have paid Conte £20mil and signed Ibrahimovic) nonsense.

Definitely wont miss Orta, how he hasn't been sacked is a total mystery.

[Cjay]

Not worried about KP going to Villla at all, that only happens if he is forced out of the club and Villa are his only choice.

Raph is going we all know that, he often posts inspirational quotes apparently so no clue if that has any link to his transfer stuff.

[whiteswan]

Agreed Rook.

I know it may be a slow news week with no domestic games but that one takes the biscuit.

Ellandback1 strives every weekday morning to find a topic for his breakfast debate to get everyone talking. (No one else bothers) I'd say he's succeeded this morning by the amount of posts its received....
Keep it going Matt, it's very much appreciated

[William]

Ellandback1 strives every weekday morning to find a topic for his breakfast debate to get everyone talking. (No one else bothers) I'd say he's succeeded this morning by the amount of posts its received....
Keep it going Matt, it's very much appreciated

Dont disagree that he makes a great effort but to compare and owner who dragged us out of the doldrums and contributed to some of the best Leeds times in two decades to the owner who put us in that mess in the first place rightly should be challenged.

[Clacton White]

Don't want Kalvin or Raph to go but they will. Key thing about Radz stewardship is how much he holds out for, what he does with the subsequent cash. If he's gonna give it to Orta or worse still pocket it, well be relegated by xmas next season. Ive seen nothing yet to suggest otherwise but we can but hope

Not sure which is worse though. Radz pocketing the dosh or giving it to Orta , imo giving it to Orta is a complete waste as the bloke hasn't a clue what he is doing, he is totally out of his depth , clueless .......numpty. First thing Radz should do is get a director of football in with an actual clue , knows what they are doing and can get something done. Let Orta go to Barca , one way you could be sure they then wouldn't get Raph......I am to be honest pretty resigned to Raph and Phillips going , get decent money and have someone ( that isn't Orta ) spend it wisely and decently in positions requiring upgrading . While Orta is at the club , the club will not progress imo .