With less than three weeks to go until the start of the season, Neil Warnock seems to be assembling a squad that is capable of getting out of this league and back to the big time. The main squad building has been done and all that is needed now are the two or three players that can win a match out of nothing.
At the end of last season the main priority was to sort out the defence and it was something that the gaffer got straight on with, bringing in Portsmouth captain Jason Pearce, then the experienced duo of Adam Drury and Paddy Kenny. All three of these are likely to be regular fixtures in the starting line up throughout the season which will give the side a more solid out look. With Martin Crainie possibly signing up it will give added competition for Tom Lees to get that centre back spot which can only be good for the team. One position in the defence is yet to be filled however with no new right back and Paul Connolly looking ever the more likely to be leaving it is something that Warnock needs to address. Rumours that Lee Peltier is the man that Leeds want have been going on for most of the summer but seem to have died down over the last few days.
One thing that will be key this season is that the club cannot concede as many sloppy goals as they did last season. Silly little mistakes need to be cut out if the club are to make a serious challenge for the title. I’m sure the gaffer will have been working on this throughout pre season and improve the composure of our players.
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One area where the club now has real strength in depth is the middle of the park with David Norris, Paul Green and already fans favourite Rodolph Austin. These three will provide the necessary steel as well as going on to score goals as well. Luke Varney came into the club last week when his deal was finally agreed and hopefully he will fill the void left by Robert Snodgrass when he departed for Norwich City. I would expect another wide man to come into the club as it is an area where we are pretty light on the ground, possibly a loan from a Premiership club might be the way off adding extra competition.
Probably the most surprising signing of the summer so far has to be the return of Andy Gray. He will provide good cover for Luciano Becchio and Ross McCormack as well as giving an extra option until Davide Somma returns from injury later this year. The club are still actively searching for another striker and Craig Mackail-Smith seems to be the man on the top of the list with rumours of talks taking place could he be the man that Warnock wants in by Saturday. Another name being thrown around is that of George Boyd. A quality wide man with an eye for a goal, he is just the type of player Leeds need. A match winner some would call him but whether or not the club make a move for him we have to wait and see.
This Championship season looks like it could be the closest one yet with most clubs doing good bits of business. However if Neil Warnock can get these crucial signings that he is talking about to the club then I don’t see another team better equipped than us to get back to the big time. Elland Road needs to be a fortress this season and the fans can help that by turning up week in week out singing their hearts out for the team, almost sucking the ball into the back of the net at times.
This could be our year!
Thomas Johnson – @tomsjohnson – borninyorkshire.blogspot.co.uk
