VillaJay

It happens, but a reality check. Top 10 would be a good achievement with Spurs and Chelsea around too.

4 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

According to Paddy, on the Love of Paul McGrath podcast (season preview), a club has bid for Diego Carlos and negotiations are ongoing…

Personally, I don’t want to see him leave and I want to see what he can offer..

If it happens, it might suggest that we’re bringing in a RB with Konsa predominantly being played at CB…?

Depending on the fee, I'd be inclined to let him go, currently 4th choice on big wages and from the little we've seen from him he looks a bit of a liability, which is not out of character with his performances at Seville.

Re-invest in a versatile younger player or promote one of our top prospects to 4th choice.

Squad game and all that, but he's one we could afford to let leave as opposed to Digne, who needs to stay for now.

Seems like we may do similar to Ramsay and look to sell with a buy back option, would help with FFP and enable to club to continue to progress.

The investment in our academy might just be what helps us stay competitive as even Newcastle despite their wealth are impacted by FFP

Very impressive in his maturity last night, looks good enough to be involved this season based on his showing last night.

Some players just have that natural talent or time on the ball and he looks a step ahead of even Ramsay and Philogene.

37 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

I get the feeling we may have a surprise signing lined up toward or at the end of the window…possibly a big deal that is difficult, time sensitive and more prolonged to negotiate and complete…

After hearing from Unai:

“…at the end of the transfer window in August we are going to be ready for something that can improve our team, and players can leave as well.”

We're going to try and move a few on as we're overstocked with players that won't be part of the matchday squad, and then see where that leaves us, but I don't think we'll sign anyone until that happens.

I'd expect one more big signing and I think Unai might feel Felix or Ferran Torres might be available on loan at a knock down fee towards the end of the window.

As it stands we have 23 first team players, not including Hause, Wesley, Davis or Chambers who all look expendable

Then we have young players like: Philogene, A Ramsay, Kaden Young, Revan, Kellyman and Iroegbunam.

We need to move another 4/5 on before we add to the squad, Sanson and Traore could go too.

Right back stand out as being particularly light for cover.

Would prefer him to be available for every game but in a way the rest and break is probably beneficial ahead of a potentially bug run of games this season.

Big season for Jacob and he's already shown under Emery he has the potential to go up another level or two. Will become a very important player for us, if not already, can score goals is powerful and athletic and has great technical ability to carry the ball at speed. 

2 more players at the level of Tielemans, Diaby and Torres and we have a squad full of talent capable of really challenging the top 4.

One thing about the team last season and I'd expect this season under Emery, is we have no stand out talisman - just a well drilled team. First time in a long time since we've not had to rely on a Benteke or Grealish type star player.

Ferran Torres would be a smart pickup who can arguably plays as well up front as well as out wide.

Doku looks exciting but maybe more of a risk and Brennan Johnson may cost too much.

Just a strong RB option needed, with a backup GK least pressing but cherry on top.

1 hour ago, Frodo said:

Anybody on the Al Nassr message boards sticking there up 

No, it could get chopped off for that

If we want to move to the next step it's going to require a top class coach, setup and money.

We've got the coach and setup, to keep pushing on its going to require calculated risks on ready made players who will cost big money. 

Not sure if Diaby is the one, but we most likely need be looking to find talent in that tier just below the elite who have potential to reach the Mané, Salah levels and so on that worked so well for Liverpool.

16 minutes ago, sheepyvillian said:

I totally understand the need for top quality reinforcements to the squad, however, I'm a little concerned about the effect on some of our promising youngsters. Surely Archer deserves the chance to prove himself at the level we aspire to, as do Iroegbunam and others. JJ has set the perfect example of how hard work and self- belief with the necessary talent can provide the platform to achieve your dreams of becoming a first team player. It's vitally important we keep that pathway clear so as not to disillusion any of our many talented youngsters. 

Nothing pleases fans more than seeing a player come through the ranks and establish himself as "one of our own". I really believe that both Tim and Cameron can firmly become a part of the manager's plans for this season, maybe Archer has a better chance on account of our lack of depth in the forward department,, but whatever the outcome is for both players this season, I really do hope their long - term future is with us. Imagine the inspiration that provides for all those young kids attempting to achieve that same goal.

They'll get their chances in the team and Unai will see them train everyday. if they're good enough they will make it.

Their should always be a pathway for young players into the first team but from then on it's up to them to grab the chance, they basically need to be so good we can't ignore them.

.I wouldn't be overly disappointed if we didn't get him as their might be concerns how he'd stack up in a possession based system with little space to run into, and Leon Bailey has been a disappointment too, which despite being different players puts a bit of caution on the deal.

However there's not too many obvious options available that have some pedigree. 

6 minutes ago, Mr_Dogg said:

I'm not sure how you can possibly say that after last season. And they are strengthening.

I think Rice improves them hugely despite the view of him being overrated by many, I just don't think they were overly convincing last season, and they outperformed their expected points by 10+ points too. Their fall away was no disgrace, but also no surprise and most could see it coming.

I think they'll be in around the top 4 again, but after such huge spending, huge fan expectation and still a very inexperienced manager it wouldn't surprise me to see them struggle in relation to fan expectation.

Not convinced by Arteta or Arsenal, wouldn't be surprised to see them struggle for top 4 if it wasn't for how average Chelsea, Utd and Spurs look right now.

9 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

That was a great interview, so much better than the norm

Seems a great guy, well done Moreno too!

Maybe we should seriously consider conducting all our interviews in a foreign language!

Very well informed about Villa, seems an intelligent enough fella too.

1 hour ago, Herman22 said:

I think after looking at Diaby videos the player I’d like most is Frimpong! He either scores or assists every goal Diaby is involved in. 

Maybe we could do a double deal? 

I agree, Frimpong looks very good going forward, and I believe plays right back too, stands out more than Diaby who looks quite similar to Bailey.

If we are signing him it's to play now, we won't be spending 30m and loaning him out. I haven't seen enough of him, personally would prefer someone with pace and composure, but I'd trust Emery if he feels he can make an impact, similarly to Asensio, he's not the quickest either so it looks like we're favouring technical ability.

Kessie would be a great pickup if we can move some on.

Kamara, Luiz, Tielemans and Kessie for the central midfield places with the option of playing a 433 would be a brilliant window.

Ramsay, Buendia, Bailey and another wide option plus Watkins/Archer and a wide forward like Ferran Torres and that would be an unbelievable window.

Most likely after Pain Torres I'd guess we'll see 2 more at most though which if it's any combo of Ferran Torress/Kessie/Diaby would be fantastic.

Adams could be a decent option, Kamara is almost too good to be the sitting midfielder, if Adams as his stats show he can replicate the defensive side of Kamara's game.

It could provide us with the option to utilize Kamara at centre half at times and help with building play from the back.

Players and staff are all either on international duty or on holiday right now, I'm sure there's plenty going on behind the scenes and we'll start seeing more movement in the market from the start of July.

There's been very little transfers domestically so far, June is generally that bit quieter and with the level of targets I'd expect us to be going for, it will take time, selling clubs can afford to wait it out a bit right now.

The most important thing is we've identified a sporting director who can work well with Unai in Alemany and when that fell through we went after another who will and has worked well with Unai. Proper planning, all too often you see conflict between sporting directors and managers at other clubs.

This will be a good move and if it doesn't happen, I've no doubt we will have another in mind.

This really shows the ambition of the owners too, they want success and are putting the structure in place to make that happen.

Did a very good job on the whole, his business and political acumen is his strong point and it sounds like Heck will take on a lot of the commercial side of things, but he was as strong as any this area, and will need someone similar to do this work, which is not a sporting director duty imo.

His football knowledge was never a strong point and his appointment of Gerrard only amplified that, a new sporting director will help us get more competitive on the pitch.

1 hour ago, useless said:

Just looked at last few pages on Rodrigo thread on Leeds forum Waccoe.

He's a million miles off Hernandez's passing ability, all his through balls have too much pace and go straight out of play
get this **** word removed out of our club
Too little too late for me , cant wait for him to leave. He irritates me massively with his pretend pressing.
Hopefully some other stupid words removed will buy the lazy rocket polisher now.
Spain must be desperate
God he's been shite overall really. We shouldn't bother with expensive signings anymore, waste of time
Best game I’ve seen him actually close players down and make a challenge... His 3rd season

And there were lots more negative comments beside those, there were some positive ones as well, such as might do a job in the Championship, better than Bamford, and 'he's our best finisher', but overall he hasn't been great at Leeds at all, feel like people are just looking at the fact he scored thirteen goals last season and the reported low transfer fee in coming to the conclusion that we should sign him but truth be told overall he's been poor, thirteen goals this season, but just eight and seven in the previous two, and only four assists across three seasons, also won't be as cheap as people think as wil cost a lot of money in wages.

We've just done well in selling Ings, an older player who we were paying a lot of money just to be a back-up option, why would we then replace him with Rodrigo who would have the same role, would be on similar wages, but is older and isn't as good in front of goal, it's not even as if Rodrigo's general play has been good.

 

I'm not saying Rodrigo is the answer, and he certainly hasn't impressed me when I've watched him, however, I took a look at the Leeds consensus a couple of days ago and it differs quite a bit from your summary. 

In general very mixed as expected for a relegated side but mostly slanted positively with many feeling he was their best striker who is quite a few regarded as the best finisher in the league(huge pinch of salt needed here) also just been called up into the Spain national team again. Their views up until the last 2 months of the season were considerably more positive than their latest comments.

Overall, wouldn't be my first choice but as long as a dynamic wide forward comes in, he could be a smart pickup on the cheap.