The Scratching Shed

I mentioned the possibility of a predictions league for the new season in an earlier post, and now seems as good a time as any to start things rolling.

Firstly, the predictions league is only open to members. Registration is quick and free, but unfortunately necessary as your predictions may otherwise get confused with that of another member. Unregistered members can post as anything, so we may end up with 2 Colin’s, 3 Matt’s and so on. Registered users need a unique username for the site, so this will prevent any confusion as the league goes on.

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With Ken Bates keeping the purse strings tightly held together, and Leeds United still in need of a new striker I thought it was time to take a look at who is currently available that meets Ken Bates’ favourite price-tag. (Free)

Jérémie Aliadière

Cost: FREE
Age: 27
Former clubs: Arsenal, Middlesbrough

Jérémie Aliadière

Former Arsenal and Middlesbrough winger/striker, Jérémie Aliadière has never quite managed to make it in the Premier League despite showing some great potential in his youth which won him a place in the French U21 team.

Now 27 years young, Jérémie finds himself unattached and in need of a new club. At his last club Middlesbrough, he only managed 11 goals in 78 appearances during his three year stint, but it should be noted that Jérémie wasn’t commonly played as a centre-forward, so it’s not a bad return all things considered.

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With Billy Paynter missing the friendly games against Bury and Hartlepool, there had been reports that our new summer signing was set to be out for a lengthy spell, leading to further concerns about the strength of our striking options.

Despite the reports however, Simon Grayson insists Billy Paynter’s absence was nothing more than a precaution after picking a knock up in Slovakia.

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With just a couple of weeks remaining before the season gets under way, Leeds United still haven’t signed the long-awaited replacement for Jermaine Beckford.

Whilst it’s always difficult to judge the state of affairs based on friendlies, one goal in three doesn’t suggest Paynter, Grella, Becchio or Somma are going to live up to their predecessors goal-scoring prowess.

The summer has been rife with rumours linking everyone from Leroy Lita to the highly rated Gary Hooper, but with time running out, the noises coming from Elland Road don’t suggest anyone will be joining us soon. With Grayson hinting at a lack of funds, it seems our current list of strikers may be the final line-up.

With all the above in mind, the new TSS poll asks whether you think a new striker will be joining the ranks, or if Billy Paynter will be the only centre-forward we sign this year?

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Not quite the pre-season showing of strength we’d all hoped for last night as Leeds United crumbled away to Bury and left with an embarrassing scoreline of 4-0.

With just one seemingly disastrous result, any optimism the Leeds faithful may have had ahead of the 2010/11 season has vanished and it’s back to the drawing board as the “inadequate” defence, midfield and forwards are scrutinised.

But should we really be all that concerned? After all, this was only a friendly and on display was a team who still aren’t 100% after a lazy summer celebrating promotion. It’s only natural that it’ll take  a few games for Leeds United to get back into gear. We’ve had extremely poor friendly results in seasons past, and it’s had no effect once the real stuff got under way.

Anyone wanting further proof that friendlies give no indication as to how good the team are needs only to look at Newcastle United’s faltering pre-season campaign last year. Most of the country were writing Newcastle off after some terrible pre-season results, including a 6-1 hammering at the hands of Leyton Orient. But the Geordies turned it on when it mattered and stormed back into the Premier League as champions, as the friendly results were quickly forgotten.

To sum up, a 4-0 hammering to Bury wasn’t ideal, but at the same time it means absolutely nothing. Friendlies are for the sole purpose of gaining fitness and working the kinks out. It does seem that Leeds United have plenty of kinks to work out at the moment, but it’s better to find that out now with time to heal before Derby visit Elland Road on opening day.

Keep the faith!

Show me the money!

Seems like an age since Leeds were last linked with a possible takeover, but fear not, the takeover rumour mill is back in business ready to destroy our hopes once again.

The rumour goes that Chris Akers – who some may remember as chairman of the Caspian group who took over Leeds United in 1996 – is leading a consortium of Australian businessmen hoping to gain control of Leeds United from everyone’s favourite businessman, Ken Bates.

An easy link to the club given Chris Akers previous involvement, but many of us were expecting some interest once we returned to the Championship so I suppose anything is possible?

After completing the takeover of the club in 1996, Chris Akers was replaced by the fish-loving supremo, Peter Ridsdale who later guided Leeds United into total oblivion via a short stop in the European Champions League. One can only hope he has a more suitable chairman lined up this time!

Another day, another rumour courtesy of the tireless editor of Betfair’s football blog. Today it’s back to Leroy Lita and an alledged 500k bid being prepared from Simon Grayson.

With this apparent obsession with Leeds United continuing, I’m starting to think that a day in the life of Betfair’s CEO goes as follows;

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Somma prolific at Lincoln

An article in the Nottingham Evening Post reveals that Simon Grayson has done a complete U-turn on his plans for Davide Somma next season.

According to the Nottingham newspaper, Lincoln City had requested to continue Davide’s loan into 2011, after the South African striker impressed on loan there last season. They claim Simon Grayson was happy for Somma to return to Lincoln to gain further experience. However, it seems Larry has gone full circle with his plans and now wishes to keep Somma at Leeds – presumably after his performances on tour in Slovakia.

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Hallelujah!

After finally guiding Leeds United out of third tier hell, and despite ‘enticing offers from other clubs’ (Ken Bates’ words, not mine), Simon Grayson has finally put an end to speculation over his future by agreeing a new three year deal with the Whites.

Larry has experienced the same rollercoaster of ups and downs as every Leeds United manager must inevitably face, but in the 18 months he’s been here so far, he’s come out of it smelling like roses almost every time.

Save for a dodgy season end as Leeds United insisted on doing it the hard way, Simon Grayson has got pretty much everything right. Aside from a few ineffective loan signings, his often controversial dealings in the transfer market have plugged all the right holes, allowing Leeds United to finally move forward after almost a decade of demise. Signings like Patrick Kisnorbo and Max Gradel have brought much needed strength and excitement to a team previously void of ideas, with gaping holes in key areas.

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Leroy Lita

Bookmakers Betfair have stumbled across (or ‘invented’ for the more cynical/realistic amongst us) some more Leeds United rumours to keep our attention firmly focused on their company. Only a couple of days ago, Betfair linked Leeds United with a move for Chelski youngster, Scott Sinclair, and eager to keep the attention on the firing line after Jermaine Beckford’s exit, the betting firm has highlighted two more strikers we’re allegedly interested in.

It seems the team everyone wants to be linked with in the Championship is newly-promoted Leeds United, and reports today suggest that Simon Grayson is looking at two strikers. Middlesbrough’s Leroy Lita could be the target of a £500,000 bid from the Whites, while the United gaffer is also pondering a move to take Aston Villa’s England Under-21 international Nathan Delfouneso on a season-long loan.

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