Definitley agree that we seem to be running out of steam, we have plenty of players but just not many that are interchangeable with Grayson's tactics and formation ideas. Some might say that is poor management, but to be honest its worked for the best part of the season so who are we to judge?

Its still worrying to know that if Johnson gets injured, banned or suffers poor form then we have no one at the club who can perform the holding midfielder role.

I know we have done well this year considering we only just came up, but my only worry is to get to the next level will take more team building than this year as I can see Snodgrass, Gradel, Becchio and possible Howson been offered deals from mid to lower prem teams. And on this years spending/loan wheeler dealing I feel next year could be a lot worse than this, when we were only the odd 1 or 2 players in the right places from the golden goose.

I think teams will be looking at taking a chance on definately Snodgrass and Gradel, not sure if they'd make it but both are still pretty young and at the right club could become decent PL players and Leeds will no doubt ca$h in if the right offer is made. Bates will bank the money and Grayson will come out and say he's got internal solutions in Lloyd Sam and Ramon Nunez.
We'll also lose Johnson at the end of the season on a free. He'll take better money from someone at the bottom of the PL and sit on the bench all season until he gets booted into the reserves when they realise he's not worthy of a bench spot. He'll then end up at someone like Leyton Orient in a couple of years time.
Becchio will stay as nobody will want him from the PL and Howson will stay as he's Leeds born and bred aswell as being captain. Improved massively this year Howson, just needs a Roy Keane in there with him or someone that will bully the opposition and get stuck in.
Also think Somma will be looking to leave if he doesn't start playing more games, he's got 12 in 12 starts this year. I know he doesn't always do alot during games but who cares along as he's putting the ball in the net. He's still new to this country and will improve the more he plays, just needs the chance to play more games. I'm sure there will be plenty of teams that would take him given the chance, Championship teams aswell.

I'm not sure whether Grayson is able to take Leeds to the next level but I can't decide whether it's his own inability to do so or whether he just hasn't been given the funds to buy or pay the wages of the better quality additional players that would have given us the impetus to push on and be where the likes of Cardiff & Norwich are now instead of being the 1 out of form team that is clinging onto a play off place and looking over its shoulder at the 4 or 5 other teams which will have the belief that they can overhaul us. maybe he has been given the money but he's chosen not to spend it or he can't use it wisely - he's hardly got the best record in the transfer/loan market IMO.

Not doubting that he's done a great job so far since December 2008.

If we don't go up, 2 out of the above 4 will leave in the summer.

I think the only way Gradel and Snodds will leave is IF they request it and it's a fairly big bid but i can see us selling Schmeichel if the offer is decent enough.
I think BJ and Killa will leave along with Naylor ,Bessone ,Grella ,Higgs then of course the loanees will return to their clubs Mcarthy ,Livermore ,Bannan ,Lichaj ,Gonzalez and Watt.
With both Watt and Livermore due OOC we should be putting in a bid for both imo along with at least 2 other CM's a new CB ,LB and of course if we sell kasper a new no1.

So, who does own Leeds United ?

Me

You'd better tell the Premier League chairman then.

That won't be necessary, not for another year at least.

I called Crewe. He'll be a Crewe player in 3 years time.

A win today. We haven't really created anything yet though 20odd mins in.

1-1

2-2

Classic Leeds

Huge game tonight. Massive.

That's the end to automatic promotion, at least mathematically although practically it's never really been on the cards.

Poor(er) form at the business end of the season could easily see Leeds stay out of the play off zones, especially with the last game of the season at QPR who will be expecting a big performance to celebrate being champions.

Looking at the season as a whole, enough goals scored, but way way too many conceded, and this with one of the best keepers in the division. It's not only the back 4 who have been terribly inconsistent, but the midfield have left a lot to be desired when the opposition have the ball. If Leeds are to challenge next year, then they need a couple of fullbacks (with pace) and at least 2 defensive midfielders.

Strikes me the "goals for" column confirms that both of Leeds top two sporting clubs are favouring the same philosophy, and largely getting the same out of it.

Good season all the same though when you consider where Leeds have been for the last few years.

Leeds have been poor defensively for a few years and succesive
managers haven't sorted the problem. Until they go Leeds will go nowhere. Doesnt help bates keeping all the moneymind

Good result.

Decent performance against an in form Reading side but we should really have beaten them. Some of the chances we created really deserved a goal and the Reading keeper kept them in it. Johnson should have scored when he hit the bar and Watt had a great chance at the end but the kid is all left foot and snatched at it when he had more time than he realised.
I dont like Billy Paynter up front, he never looks a threat when he does play and struggles holding the ball up for us. I dont think he looks the fittest either and maybe needs to work on that. Why o why Somma is stuck behind him when it comes to Becchio being out is beyond me, he should have stayed in the team earlier in the season when he was scoring instead of being left out everytime he scored, that must surely knock your confidence and then to see Paynter get in ahead of you must be so annoying.
What is wrong with Lloyd Sam? He looked like he was gonna be a good player for us at the start of the season but Gradel and Snodgrass have kept him out of the team and now he doesn't even make the bench with Watt picked ahead of him. I personally dont rate Watt too much and think Lloyd Sam should be in the squad ahead of him everytime, Watt is only on loan and wont be here next season whereas Sam will so give him games.
Next season we need to sort the defence and midfield out. Conceding goals is our main problem and needs addressing in the summer. The full backs have been problem areas all season, more so at left back. McCartney will be going back so we've only got Parker who isn't great anyway and has had his injuries over the past few years. Naylor and Kisnorbo are both OOC and i dont think any of them will be offered new deals unless Paddy can prove his fitness. That leaves O'Brien, Bruce and Bromby as the only centre backs available and we will need at least 1 quality centre back will need to be signed.
In midfield Johnson and Kilkenny are both OOC and will leave IMO, i dont think Kilkenny is up to much at this level and we have Howson in the team so desperately need a ball winner to play in there. All the loan signings will go back and midfield is an area we'll be light in if Johnson and Kilkenny do leave so maybe a couple of solid midfielders will need to be brought in. Hopefully we can keep hold of Gradel and Snodgrass but i'm not sure we will be able to, if a PL team comes knocking both will want to go and test themselves at that level aswell as getting more money and nobody can blame them for it plus if the right money is offered Leeds will sell straight away and bank the money. The strikers we've got are good enough, Becchio has signed a new deal, Somma has really come on this year and proven he can score goals at this level and will only improve. McCormack hasn't really had a chance this year but has proven himself at this level, just needs games but might leave IMO if an offer comes his way and Paytner is okay for the bench, has struggled this year but hasn't played much and has been injured, similar to McCormack. If one of them leaves we wont miss them, especially with us only playing one up front.
Dont think we'll make the play offs now, we've hit some poor form just at the wrong time. But whatever happens it's been a great first season back in the league for us. They've done themselves and the club proud, they've been the most entertaining side in the league with the goals scored in games and will have learned an awful lot as alot of these players haven't played much at this level before. A few quality signings and keep the players we've got and we'll be up there again next season. Just hope Bates doesn't ca$h in on our best players and then get Larry to bring freebies and loan signings in.

Fantastic post LS14.
Agree re-Paynter we were is the SS and the Reading CB's had tome to "brew up" before he got anywhere near them.
I do think we'll beat Palace and Burnley but it then depends on Forest dropping points but like you i think it's a great 1st season back.
As for player retention i hope but don't think we can keep all our better players but i think we've more chance of keeping Snodds than Gradel not least because he's already publicly stated his willingness and desire to stay at LUFC.
There's some quality Freebies about and hopefully SG will also have some money to spend for another push next year.

We had a load of money last season . Either larry chose not to spend or bates kept it.which is true I'm not sure. What I am sure of is without buying some quality in key positions we won't go anywhere

For once I actually think it has been Grayson unwilling to spend big on players. There was several interviews in which he stated that he had funds available to him if he needed it, but just didn't seem to use it. Or, Bates has grayson hung like a puppet and getting him to shine the light differently on the situation.

I agree we need to add quality no matter where we end up but i also think the performances of players like Becchio ,Howson ,Snodds ,Gradel and Somma have saved us plenty of ££££ aswell.

A big win today. 4-0

Doubt it. Palace are fighting for there lives. A draw at best