In the fourth of a series of pre-season reports, HarryfromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums, looking here at what has been an eventful summer at Elland Road. Reports on both Sheffield sides will follow later today with the rest of the teams in the division covered by the start of the season.
"Well, you have to say the pre-season has been remarkable. Hats off to the club for going for it. The last few months have been interesting, exciting and in some respects surprising. Things are coming together nicely”, "Everything feels positive and organised and that is a major step towards success.”
"There’s a euphoria about the club at the moment.” After narrowly missing out on the play-offs last season, the vast majority of Whites are confident of a promotion push this year with a new owner, a new manager and a raft of new signings in place. One poll has 89 per cent predicting a top six finish.
"I am quietly confident that we can sustain a challenge for the top two. We have kept last season’s core of the squad, bought highly-rated players and done our business early so they can gel”, "After bringing in nine new players at a cost of £15 million, expectations are high. We are just not used to this.”
"I honestly think we are an unknown quantity this season.” A minority of more cautious supporters fears that there are too many unanswered questions. "My sense is that the new lads will be decent but we don’t know how good they are. I genuinely have no idea how we will do this season.”
"Andrea Radrizzani is proving to be a man of his word, unlike the last three owners”, "Fair play to the new owner. He stood by his word and purchased Elland Road. Onward and upward”, "He comes in, says he will buy the ground and does just that. It looks like we are going in the right direction.”
"Did I mention I liked Andrea Radrizzani?” The 42-year-old Italian completed the takeover of the club in May from compatriot Massimo Cellino, having purchased an initial 50 per cent stake in January. Fans have both welcomed his investment in the squad and the stability he has brought to the club.
"I felt the club had lost its soul when we had to sell everything off. A massive move to restore some pride back in the club.” The club’s purchase of Elland Road in June was seen by many Whites as the closing of an unhappy chapter in the club’s history. "We are moving in the right direction for sure.”
"It’s down to an unknown manager. If he struggles, he will be out by Christmas. If he does well we will be singing his name.” The biggest imponderable question for most fans is how well their new manager will fare, having arrived at the club in June following Garry Monk’s move to Middlesbrough.
"The fact that Razrizzani has gone for a completely untested manager is a gamble.” The Denmark-born 44-year-old played as a striker in Spain - where his mother was born - and Germany, appearing twice for the Spanish national team. He moved to Elland Road after a successful season managing APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus.
"He took a team from Cyprus to the last 16 of the Europa League and beat Olympiakos and Athletic Bilbao along the way. Yes, he’s a gamble, but which manager isn’t? It’s a much more exciting move than having someone sacked by another Championship club and thinking they are world beaters.”
"Death by possession”, "He had a good crash course at APOEL where he was under great pressure but kept his composure. He likes to play 4-5-1, occasionally switching to 4-3-3. APOEL were not prolific, their main strengths were defending and keeping the ball. He will make us tough to beat.”
Most of this summer’s departures have been players around the fringes of the squad. Keeper Ross Turnbull, defender Giuseppe Bellusci and winger Carlos De Pena are free agents while midfielder Luke Murphy has returned to Burton on a season-long loan having played for the Brewers between January and May last season.
"I will cast my vote on the coming season once we have fixed the defence.” The departure of left-back Charlie Taylor to Burnley coupled with the return of centre-half Kyle Bartley to parent club Swansea after his successful partnership with Pontus Jansson is a major concern for supporters.
"It can’t be just me who is slightly worried over how reliant we have been on signing unknown talent from overseas”, "I am happy with our new signings but the only thing that does worry me is if they can acclimatise to the Championship, especially if it is a cold, wet Tuesday night at Burton Albion.”
In defence, 27-year-old keeper Felix Wiedwald has joined from Werder Bremen and full-back Vurnon Anita, 28, has arrived from Newcastle. Matthew Pennington, a 22-year-old loan signing from Everton has impressed fans in pre-season with his composed play and distribution out of the back four.
Centre-half Pontus Jansson has signed from Torino permanently having been on loan last season and winger Hadi Sacko has also been signed permanently from former parent club Sporting Lisbon, having been on loan at Elland Road last year.
Midfield has also been strengthened by the additions of Poland international Mateusz Klich, 27, from FC Twente, Samuel Saiz from Spanish side SD Huesca, 20-year-old Spaniard Madger Gomes (released from Liverpool) and Macedonia international winger Ezgjan Alioski from Swiss outfit FC Lugano.
One other area of concern is last season’s reliance on the goals of former Town loanee Chris Wood, and to date the only addition up front has been Caleb Ekubsen from Chievo Verona. The Italian-born player of Ghanaian descent played last season on loan at Albanian side FK Partizani.
After two comfortable 5-1 and 2-0 wins respectively away to local non-league sides Guiseley and North Ferriby, Leeds moved to Austria for their training camp. They were beaten 3-0 behind closed doors by Turkish side Bursaspor, drew 1-1 against Borussia Monchengladbach and lost 4-2 to Eibar.
Their starting XI (above) and final XI (below) against Borussia gives an idea of the strength of the overall squad. Most Whites expect the team to be based around the one which narrowly missed out on last season’s play-offs but defensive replacements and more goals from midfield are key priorities.
"Pennington should be a good replacement for Bartley. He has looked good in possession and is comfortable on the ball”, "Alioski looks a decent skilful player and he puts in a shift, I can see Leeds fans taking to him straight away. Saiz is similar to Pablo Hernandez, but quicker and more mobile.”
"We played out from the back pretty much all of the time against Borussia”, "We don’t look like we have anyone in the middle of the park willing to drive 10-15 yards with the ball”, "We should have addressed the loss of both defenders, especially the left-back. The full-backs have been too narrow.”
"Although I don’t know much about some of the new lads, I feel we will improve on last year. One thing for sure, it’s bloody great that everything is all about the football. For the first time in ages, I can’t wait to get going”, "There is a tidal wave at Elland Road which could sweep the rest away.”
"The club has done us proud with some quality signings so the doom-mongers can’t point the finger any more”, "No pressure Thomas Christiansen, with all this money spent we expect big things”, "Ask yourself the question. Bearing in mind all the new acquisitions, how patient are you willing to be?”
There are a good number of active Leeds message boards forums. The friendly LUFC Talk has come informed and interesting contributors while some insightful blogs can be found at To Ell And Back.