Tuesday 16 September 2014

What kind of Leeds team will turn up at Dean Court?

If you had to pick an accumulator this weekend it is unlikely that you would want to have Leeds Utd among your bankers not to concede a goal. That is nothing to do with the threat that AFCB might pose to the white shirts but more down to the fact that Leeds have not kept a clean sheet away from home so far this season. 

A sinking ship? I don't think so. While Massimo Cellino may regret his Hockaday experiment he is not rushing into selecting his next manager. There are no shortages for candidates that might want the Leeds' managers job either with Tony Mowbray, Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink reputed to be among the interested parties. The sudden resignation of James Beattie from Accrington Stanley has put him in the frame as well. But under Neil Redfearn Leeds already managed to get a good win against Bolton before the international break and while striker Matt Smith has signed for Fulham on transfer deadline day there is a new look about the Leeds team. 

Players are still happy to join the Yorskshire club and we have seen their ranks swelled by Brazilian midfielder Adryan is a loan deal from Flamengo who has already played for the Development squad, Dario Del Fabro has signed on loan from Cagliari, while Danish midfielder Casper Sloth came in on a three-year deal over the summer from AGF Aarhus and Souleyman Doukara turned his loan move into a permanent transfer to Leeds. Another one to watch will be Brian Montenegro who has joined on loan from Nacional in Paraguay and is an international striker, while Billy sharp has already opened his goal scoring account for the Yorkshire club and is a likely starter against the Cherries. Ross McCormack might have moved on but there are plenty of other hot shots around and Neil Redfrean knows all about AFCB's game.

One imagines that it is Cellino who is making many of these signings with the connections with Cagliari certainly benifitial for the moves of Adrayan, who had been on loan there, and Del Fabro and Marco Silvestri who plays in goal, while there have been a few other signings from Italian clubs too. Whether it is a good thing that there are s many changes at the club will only be known after some time, but the managerial appointment is crucial as that person will have to get the players feeling that they are in a happy camp as well as winning games soon. I am sure that the individual skill of players like Adryan and Montenegro added to the grit of players like Jason Pearce can be moulded into team that is working to do its best for Cellino and the Leeds fans, AFCB are in for a difficult night. But I do see Leeds as work in progress.

For the Bournemouth match I can see Eddie Howe not worrying about what Leeds might do or how they might play but simply going for them like last season from the start, because there are too many variables in the Leeds squad to know who might play and what system they might play. It should be a cracking contest.

Finally, I also read that Yann Kermorgant is unlikely to play a part in the game as he has a shoulder injury following the Rotherham match. This would probably indicate that Brett Pitman or Tokelo Rantie might get a rare start.

If you fancy reading some more Championship thoughts please visit The-News Hub where I have posted a story that questions; 'Do Fulham need a change of guard?'

2 comments:

  1. I wouldn't mind pinching Eddie Howe as our new boss to be honest! Look forward to the game tonight and hopefully a start for Doukara (one to watch). If Bournemouth start the way they did against us at Dean Court last season then I can only see one outcome. We are in better shape than last year though, with one exception. We still have absolutely zero width without our full backs coming forward, and I can't imagine they'll do that regularly against a dangerous team like Bournemouth. Going for a 2-2 if we're lucky. More likely to be 2,3-1 though.

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  2. I'm not sure we are keen to let Eddie go anywhere just yet. Leeds have shown signs of improvement though in the last two games and I fear this will be a tight match like when we played you at Elland Rd last season and lost 2-1. AFCB have not played as well at home yet this season as we did towards the end of last season, but I am ever hopeful of another 4-1 even if your 2-2 is much more likely. If Leeds snatch a win, Eddie Howe will really be concerned about our home form. I am sure it will be an exciting match though - they always are against Leeds.

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