Davenport at West Ham

Davenport deal still possible

Contrary to reports last night, there is still a possibility Calum Davenport could sign for the Whites.

After leaving Thorp Arch and heading back to London, several sources claimed Simon Grayson had passed on the opportunity to sign the defender. But the manager revealed today that Calum has personal issues to resolve before any decision is made on his future, and that the defender may yet sign for Leeds United.

Beuna suerte Tres!

Sky Sports has revealed that former Leeds United striker, Tresor Kandol, has finally found himself a new home after his contract at Elland Road was ended this summer. The 29-year old is believed to have agreed a one year deal with Spanish side, Albacete. We wish him well.

Paynter and Snoddy back in training

Injured duo, Billy Paynter and Robert Snodgrass are back in training following injuries that have kept the pair sidelined so far this season. Simon Grayson told the official site that the injured duo were coming along nicely, and that they are currently doing some running work and should be doing some football training ‘in the not so distant future’.

#01 – Revenge is sweet!

We’d waited a long time to avenge our play-off defeat against Watford, but a trip to Vicarage Road this week provided the ideal opportunity. A dismal display of hoof-ball football from both teams was won by Leeds, as the Whites recorded their first away win and first clean-sheet of the 2010-11 season.

#02 – Richard Naylor can defend after all?

We learnt this week that Richard Naylor isn’t so bad after all! Scoring the only goal (in the right net this time) and giving a decent defensive performance against Watford was enough to earn our ageing captain the man of the match. Unfortunately, the game was so slow that we could have pulled Jack Charlton out of retirement for an encore and had no trouble keeping up. It remains to be seen whether Naylor’s improved performance can carry over into a pacier match.

#03 – Premature end to Somma-time

We learnt this week that three goals in 110 minutes doesn’t guarantee you a game at Simon Grayson’s Leeds United. Davide Somma appears to be bursting with confidence and believes he can replace the goals Jermaine Beckford scored, but Simon Grayson moved quickly to quash our hopes and drag the striker back down to earth with an expectancy-lowering speech.

#04 – David Batty chooses appropriate career choice

Old news for some, but I learnt this week that David Batty has become a qualified butcher since retiring from football and now plans to open up a mega-butcher complex in Carlisle. An appropriate career choice for a man who could be absolutely brutal on the pitch. We wish Batts every success.

#05 – We don’t produce quality youngsters anymore

We learnt this week that the days of Aaron Lennon’s and James Milner’s teeming out of the Thorp Arch academy may well be over, as Simon Grayson told fans he’d signed Adam Clayton because the club doesn’t have many quality youngsters between the age of 18-21. A great motivational speech from the gaffer which the likes of Darville, Lees, Milne and Elliot are sure to take confidence from?

#06 – Goodbye deadwood…

A total of twelve players have left Elland Road over the summer as Simon Grayson attempts to clear the club of it’s deadwood. With the likes of Andy Robinson and Leigh Bromby still adding a touch of glamour to the reserve team though, there’s plenty of work still to be done.

#07 – …and hello quality replacements

Replacing the twelve departing players are eleven fresh and shiny ones. The general consensus is that Leeds United and Simon Grayson has had an excellent summer in the transfer market, providing the squad with a lot of attacking options and bringing in the best goalkeeper outside the Prem. It’s not all good news though, with huge question marks still hanging over the heads of Bessone, Bruce and Clayton.

#08 – “You don’t know what you’re doing!”

Another week, and another poor ref in the Championship. Both the Watford and Leeds fans were vocal in their disgust of the referee’s tireless whistle blowing, which left the game at Vicarage Road less exciting than the Jonathan Ross-less Friday night line-up on the BBC.

#09 – David O’Leary “I haven’t got a clue!”

David O’Leary confirmed this week that he hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing after his first match in the UAE ended in defeat. The former Leeds boss conceded that he didn’t know the league, didn’t know the players, didn’t know what he was paid to do, didn’t know where he was…

#10 – “…Leeds are going up, going up…”

It’s funny the difference a week can make to the confidence of fans, but after scoring against Watford last week our 09-10 anthem ‘Leeds are going up’ returned for an encore. From predictions of bottom-half/consolidation on opening day, to play-off’s and possibly more as we exited Vicarage Road, the Leeds fans certainly know how to keep our ambitions in check…

One that didn't get away - Ramon Nunez

Simon Grayson has today revealed how Leeds United were close to adding one more signing on transfer deadline day, but the deal fell through at the last minute.

The Leeds United manager had teased Whites fans on deadline day afternoon when he revealed there may be one additional signing to come, describing the unnamed individual as the ‘icing on the cake’ for his squad.

Leeds fans waited anxiously for news, but the revelation never came as the transfer window closed with only Ramon Nunez and Adam Clayton added to the squad.

Grayson today revealed that;

“We were close, very close, to bringing in another player, but the deal fell at the last hurdle, which was unfortunate because I thought he would have been a good signing for us.

“But at the last minute he decided he wanted to stay where he was, which of course he was entitled to do.

“We’re looking all the time. We’re looking at players for the January transfer window so it’s an ongoing thing.”

Grayson stops short of revealing who the player in question was leaving Leeds United fans to ponder who it might have been?

The Elland Road mysteries continue…

Amdy Faye at Stoke

According to the ever-reliable (ha!) Daily Mail, Leeds and Blackburn Rovers are chasing former Stoke City midfielder, Amdy Faye who was released by The Potters after sustaining a back injury last season.

Faye has served for several clubs including Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic, and has also represented Senegal 31 times at international level.

His career is one that has been marred by injury throughout, and he has also been involved with some controversy surrounding his transfer to Newcastle United.

In fourteen years as a professional, Faye has managed 274 appearances across eight different clubs, scoring just ten goals. Faye is considered by fans of former clubs to be a more defensive-minded midfielder which would account for his poor goal-scoring record and would also mean he fills a gap many Whites fans have been concerned about.

Despite playing at a decent level of football throughout his career, and now believed to be beyond his previous injury problems, I can’t help but think this is another Paul Dickov type signing from Larry and one we could definitely do without.

Several injuries throughout his career suggest he doesn’t have the best of luck with fitness and the last thing we need is someone to keep Patrick Kisnorbo and Ben Parker company in the injury room!

At 33, I guess Faye is looking for one final challenge before retirement, but I aren’t sure he’s the kind of player we need. Considering he’s played for five clubs in the past seven years, had numerous injury problems and is nearing the end of his career, I really hope this is another one of the Daily Mail’s invented rumours.

Still to come...

Two in, two out was the final days transfer trading for Leeds United as Ramon Nunez and Adam Clayton sealed deals at Elland Road, with Alan Sheehan and Lubomir Michalik heading off to pastures new.

Overall, Leeds have signed a total of eleven new players over the summer, all of which are listed below.

*All Leeds United’s transfers have been ‘undisclosed fees’ so the figures used are estimates from other sources or guess-work on my part.

The early concerns when the 2009/10 season ended was who would replace Jermaine Beckford after his move to Everton was confirmed? Over the last few weeks however, Simon Grayson has given us a dizzying array of goalscoring options and left us looking like one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

Luciano Becchio has started the season firing on all cylinders, whilst new additions Ross McCormack and Billy Paynter give us some proven goalscoring options. Add to that the emergence of Davide Somma as a real candidate to the starting XI, and you start to wonder what all the fuss was about?

Even more threatening are the two wide-men, Sanchez Watt and Lloyd Sam, who both have pace to burn and can go round a player with ease. It’s been a long time since Leeds United looked this threatening going forward, but Simon Grayson has really delivered in an attacking sense and we continue to produce goals from all areas of the pitch.

Whilst the attacking options look good, the defence is an entirely different story. Neill Collins has been the only good addition in this area, giving pretty consistent performances in all his games so far. The two full-backs, Federico Bessone and Paul Connolly however, haven’t impressed and with Richard Naylor somehow holding down a first team place, our defence would appear to have more holes in it than the German Bismarck.

A lot has been said about the need for a holding midfielder, but for me, that’s simply papering over the cracks. The real issue is the defence, and what we need is a centre-back with some pace – but maybe the addition of Alex Bruce will solve that?

Overall, the additions have been pretty good from Grayson. The defence has it’s flaws, but it could just be a gelling process that will sort itself with time? In the meantime, the best signing of this summer has been keeping us in it.

Son-of-Scum, Kasper Schmeichel has been an absolute revelation since his surprise unveiling early-doors. His command of the area, handling skills and impressive shot-stopping ability instantly impressed the Leeds United faithful, and the keeper could prove to be the difference between the play-offs and an instantly forgettable season.

With so many players added to the squad, naturally, some had to leave – below is a full list of the players that have left Elland Road;

In total, twelve players have left Elland Road this summer with five of them on loan elsewhere. Obviously, the biggest loss was Jermaine Beckford, but as we’ve already seen, Simon Grayson has done an excellent job of sorting our attacking options out.

It’s good to see the youngsters, Darville, Elliot, Lee and Martin getting some valuable first-team experience elsewhere, although Simon Grayson’s record so far doesn’t suggest we’re ever going to see them in a Leeds United shirt.

With Aidy White and Ben Parker out injured, I think releasing Alan Sheehan was a mistake. I remain hopeful that it’s just a gelling process for Fede Bessone, but he’s hardly set the world alight with his performances so far and whilst Sheehan was never the best left-back, he was a reliable option if needed.

With twelve players out, you can’t complain too much. We knew the squad was a bit heavy on deadwood, and Grayson has done his best to address that. Andy Robinson remains a bit of a stalling point, but I still expect his contract to be terminated in the coming weeks (if no loan offer is forthcoming).

I suspect there will be other players heading out on-loan throughout the season, most notably, Mike Grella who has fallen so far down the pecking order now that he’s lost his place on the bench. There’s also the likes of Leigh Bromby, Andy Hughes and Jason Crowe that are not going to be happy making the numbers up and may be eager to get some games elsewhere.

I said before the season started that I thought the play-offs were a realistic aim, and after a promising start and some excellent additions, I think Simon Grayson is heading in the right direction. I keep coming back to the defence as a concern, but if we can sort that out, then we’re looking very strong.

Four goal hero!

“Remember, remember the fourth of November…” Mark Viduka certainly will, for it was on that date back in the year 2000 that Viduka set off the fireworks early scoring all four goals in a 4-3 thriller against Liverpool at Elland Road.

Leeds got off to bad start, falling 2-0 behind with Hyypia and Ziege putting the Reds 2-0 up after just 18 minutes of play. Mark Viduka responded quickly though, getting his first after 24 minutes, leaving Leeds only a goal behind at the break.

With just two minutes of the second half played, Viduka levelled the scores and set things up for a stunning finale.

Liverpool regained their lead just after the hour mark with Smicer the goalscorer this time. But two goals in two minutes (73, 75) lifted the roof off Elland Road as Mark Viduka capped his finest performance in a Leeds shirt, silencing his critics in process.

Historically, Leeds don’t fare too well against the Scousers, but 2000-01 proved to be a welcome exception to the rule as Leeds did the double over them with a 2-1 win at Anfield in April 2001.

Apologies for the music I’ve added to the following clip, I’m aware that it won’t be to everyone’s taste but the sound quality was so poor I had to overwrite it. Enjoy…

The Scratching Shed has recently launched a new YouTube channel where you can see more of our greatest games and selected Leeds United-related clips. Click here to view/subscribe now.

Elland Road newbie Clayton

With just over one hour remaining before the close of the transfer window, Manchester City confirmed that Adam Clayton has joined Leeds United on a permanent basis.

This particular signing won’t come as any major shock to Leeds United fans as a permanent deal has been expected all day, with Sky Sports reporting that a fee had been agreed this morning. Simon Grayson later confirmed the reports on Yorkshire Radio where he told listeners that talks were ongoing.

Clayton is a bit of an unknown entity with his only professional experience gained on loan to Carlisle United (as well as the two games he’s featured in for Leeds United so far).

Clayton grew up in Manchester and signed professionally for his hometown club two years ago. The closest the youngster came to a first team appearance however was being selected twice for the subs bench, as Manchester City’s owners choose to splash the cash rather than develop their youngsters.

Naturally the fee is undisclosed, and we’ve yet to learn anything about the contract he’s signed, but I’ll update as this information becomes available.

Simon Grayson

Simon Grayson has just been interviewed on Yorkshire Radio (14:15 GMT) as the transfer window heads into it’s final few hours.

The Leeds United gaffer confirmed Sky Sports earlier reports that a fee has been agreed with Manchester City for the permanent signing of Adam Clayton. Contract talks are currently ongoing with the youngster.

Grayson also spoke of Lubomir Michalik’s move to Carlisle, wishing him the very best and adding that he expects one or two more players to leave Elland Road today. The most likely candidates would appear to be Andy Robinson and Alan Sheehan.

Finally, Simon Grayson finished off by teasing Leeds United fans with the hint of one more signing before the window closes, saying that it would be ‘the icing on the cake’ for his 2010-11 team, but admitting he wasn’t too concerned with the emergency loan window open afterwards.

Keep updated with all the latest on deadline day with TSS’ live feed here.

Nunez at Chivas USA

The official Leeds United site has confirmed Ramon Nunez as our latest addition, after the Honduran midfielder spent a month with the club on trial.

24 year old Nunez, grew up in the United States and started his career in the MLS, before moving to Olimpia in 2008. Nunez has made 122 appearances at League level scoring 22 goals. He’s also represented Honduras at full international level 21 times, scoring 3.

A selection of Nunez’s goals can be seen below.

No details about the midfielder’s contract have yet been released.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest happenings on transfer deadline day in our live updates thread here.

10:20 - Sky Sports are reporting that Leeds United have agreed a fee with Manchester City for the permanent transfer of Adam Clayton.

10:37 – Leeds linked with Rangers striker, Kyle Lafferty. With a likely fee of £2-3,000,000 and Blackpool also in the hunt, this one seems unlikely. Leeds also seem to be suitably covered in the striking department.

11:30 – Rumour circulating that Luciano Becchio could be on his way to Blackburn Rovers. He was allegedly spotted outside Ewood Park earlier today. Sounds like nonsense.

11:52 – The official Leeds United site has confirmed the signing of Ramon Nunez, who has been on trial with the club for the past month. No details about contract length have yet been released. Full story here.

12:17 – The BBC’s live transfer rumours feed also has us linked to Man City defender Dedryck Boyata. Norwich apparently leading the race, with us and the Toon keeping a close eye on proceedings.

12:48 – Betfair claim that we’re keeping tabs on Jason Roberts should his move to Wigan fall through.

13:39 – Michalik gone to Carlisle on loan until January the 3rd. One down…

14:15 – Simon Grayson on Yorkshire Radio confirms that a fee has been agreed for Adam Clayton with Manchester City. Contract negotiations currently under way. Expects one or two others to leave today after Lubo went to Carlisle. Hints that another player may sign today too. Full story here.

14:38 – Yorkshire Radio presenter, Thom Kirwin confirms that Luciano Becchio was training with the Leeds team this morning. This quashes earlier rumours that he was at Ewood Park (unless he’s got a body double?)

17:00 – With just one hour to go, Manchester City have confirmed that Adam Clayton has joined Leeds United on a permanent basis. Full story here.

17:47 – A very brief statement on the official Leeds United website reveals that Alan Sheehan has left the club after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.