Reflections on the window

[MOTForum]

The international break has come at an odd time, just as the season was starting to get into full flow and immediately after the commotion of the transfer window comes a lull. A time of peace and tranquillity, a time to reflect on the success of our transfer window dealings, or indeed lack of it.

Leeds United have started the season playing some nice football but the results have not come and we find ourselves languishing near the bottom of the table. Not a great start when this seasons objective must surely be the playoff places. There have been some positives, Ross McCormack finding the back of the net regularly, Ramon Nunez has shown some of the potential he promised so much,  Adam Clayton has been an absolute revelation and Andy Lonergan is a more than capable replacement for Kasper Schmeichel.

We did however in the summer loose two experienced midfielders in Neil Kilkenny in Bradley Johnson and many fans thought the latter stages of the window would be a good time to replace them. Instead we lose one of our best and youngest players to a French club for a paltry fee leaving our midfield threadbare to say the least. Grayson and Bates will tell us of deals lined up and ready to sign had it not been for last minute complications but other clubs did not seem to have similar issues and our ‘rivals’ have strengthened well in the window. It worries me what these complications are, is it the inflexibility of the wage cap, is it Bates reluctance to give his manager money to spend or is there a perceived lack of ambition at the club?

But don’t worry Leeds United fans, it is emergency loan time, Simon Grayson’s favourite time of the year. Since relegation in 2004 Leeds United have loaned over 55 players, that’s over 8 a season. Unfortunately I’m not sure I need more than the fingers of one hand to count the number of successful loan signings. In a season where we are supposed to be pushing on, have money to spend from players sales and cup runs it is concerning that we are relying on the loan market yet again.

Leeds United’s transfer window performance was so poor we couldn’t even manage to offload Billy Paynter despite interest from two clubs. Though we did manage to get Fede Bessone off the books, who is now apparently a Premiership quality left back.

After Steve McLaren’s crisis talks at Nottingham Forest last week about lack of investment in the squad Simon Grayson is the next manager in the spotlight. He is favourite with some bookies for next Championship Manager to be sacked and is under pressure to get a result against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

[Armleywhite]

Good article. But I did initially think this was some posh eoru nouvo arty farty thread on photography, from the words on the title