After only two weeks of the new Championship season, Leeds United find themselves near the bottom of the table after two defeats. Over the summer period, Leeds have lost a couple of key players, and the replacements that have been brought in by Simon Grayson, have plenty of Championship experience. Although influential players such as Luciano Becchio, Billy Paynter and Davide Somma have picked up injuries, ruling them out for several weeks. This has left Leeds with a shortage of options upfront, with only one recognised striker available in Ross McCormack.
During the close season, a couple of major players left the club and were replaced, but many Leeds fans would think they could be better. The young goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, left the club and Simon Grayson brought in Preston’s shot stopper, which many would be happy with as Kasper let in a high number of goals last season, along with a couple of mistakes. The other two big departures were midfielders Neil Kilkenny and Bradley Johnson, who left to join Bristol City and Norwich City respectively. Experienced midfielder Michael Brown was brought in to replace them, although he is at the end of his career, which means the club still have to find a long term replacement for the midfield.
Before the game on Saturday against Middlesbrough, a large number of Leeds supporters protested against the Chairman, Ken Bates, because of his running of club. Simon Grayson is struggling with the team he has available and needs money to bring in multiple players to help strengthen the squad. With three of his main strikers injured and a number of top players out of form, Leeds United are finding it difficult to compete and improve on last seasons performance. Although to make matters worse for the manager, two of their most creative players, Max Gradel and Jonathan Howson were sent off at the weekend, making the team selection for their midweek game against Hull City even harder.
On Monday morning Leeds brought in Andy Keogh until January to cover for the current injuries upfront, bringing in a player that knows how to score at this level. Other players still need to be brought in as cover, otherwise they will fall to far behind the other teams chasing the play off positions by the time the injured players return. At the moment Simon Grayson is having to use a number of youngsters, such as Zac Thompson, when he would prefer to play someone with more experience.
With only two weeks left of the transfer window, Simon Grayson needs to bring in a few new signings, either permanently or on loan for the season. Leeds face a couple of difficult tests against Hull City and West Ham in the next week and their under strength squad will struggle to compete.
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With some key players missing through injury, suspension, and no new players arriving simion has now got too give some of the fringe and younger players the opportunity to be blood in, players need matchs to find their feet to know what it is all about, whether you bought a team or developing a home bred squad, let’s all get behind our team even if your not happy with things, we have a completely new defence and keeper , a new strike force, numaz will shine if he gets games and in time that confidence and new enthusiasm of youth, experience and leadership will rub of all, great result tonight against hull, l have seen Andy keogh play for rep of lre , he a bag of energy and will always give you 100% fantastic signing