That would make sense, as the two signings so far are signings which take effect from July 1st, when players become free agents

I think it is a fair point to not get obsessed about transfer fees, but lets not get carried away that all is well with freebies.

There is only so many freebies around, and a high percentage are a freebie for the reason they are not deemed good enough for their respective club. If that club is a premiership team or of equal stature, then nobody can complain at that.

But where the problem I see with Bates and his freebies, is that he lines one up and it is pretty impressive in all honesty, but they he fails with the miserable wages he offeres. He then moves on to the next, same story, he then moves onto the next and sooner or later he gets one. At some point you could be ending up with the 4th or 5th choice just because he is free.

Of course sometimes you get 1st choice, and people can hardly complain about the freebie signings of Kisnorbo or Schmeichal to name but two.

But the fact that Leeds have missed out on two freebie signings this week for the one position, fills me with a little bit of concern of what we will end up with in that position.

The main trouble with Smith is that he's just not very good. He's certainly nowhere near the player he was before the injury.

We should have got Hooper in January, but other clubs are in for him now. Though if he goes to Boro you have to wonder again what Bates is playing at.

Agreed with that, players have to be of a high enough calibre, and we have to offer them wages that will make them want to come, without screwing ourselves over.

That pretty much sums up my view.

Because of the number of players likely to be needed some are going to have to be freebies and there will be a few decent ones available but overall relying on free transfers means picking players from a very limited pool and potentially alot of gambles on 'damaged goods' - assuming its the club's choice to release rather than the player holding out for bigger/better things a la Beckford.

Its similar with loans. Unless its a hungry young lad looking to prove himself at first team level dropping down from the top flight then they are a huge gamble.

Missing Eustace and Montgomery means we're on third choice already, and both seem to have rejected Leeds on the basis that the Blunts and Watford will pay more. That's a bit of a concern.

The Eustace deal is the one that Bates mentioned as falling through because of medical concerns.
His manager at Watford announced he'd agreed the Leeds offer and was off then all of a sudden he decided to stay.
I also think that although we missed out on Montgomery there's rightly a "wage limit" lets just wait and see where we are when the season starts.
Up to now the 2 Freebies imo are decent business especially Schmeichel.

Interesting that Schmeichel was pictured with the no1 jersey yet Paynter hasn't been alocated a no as yet. www.leedsunited.com/news/2010060 ... 85_2063979

Interesting that Schmeichel was pictured with the no1 jersey yet Paynter hasn't been alocated a no as yet. www.leedsunited.com/news/2010060 ... 85_2063979

Yep and in doing that you're getting the right player coming to the club for the right reasons.. if we're a well run ship then the future is bright for Leeds and it is a more appealing club for an Investor to invest in thus giving us a a real good chance of getting to the Prem and staying there

Quote ="rhinoms"Interesting that Schmeichel was pictured with the no1 jersey yet Paynter hasn't been alocated a no as yet. www.leedsunited.com/news/2010060 ... 85_2063979'" I think he should get a weirdo number like 95 or 57, like what the crazy Italians get up to.

Quote ="rhinoms"Interesting that Schmeichel was pictured with the no1 jersey yet Paynter hasn't been alocated a no as yet. www.leedsunited.com/news/2010060 ... 85_2063979'" I think he should get a weirdo number like 95 or 57, like what the crazy Italians get up to.

Quote ="rhinoms"Interesting that Schmeichel was pictured with the no1 jersey yet Paynter hasn't been alocated a no as yet. www.leedsunited.com/news/2010060 ... 85_2063979'" Yeah I think there'll be a striker or two to come in yet..

Quote ="rhinoms"Interesting that Schmeichel was pictured with the no1 jersey yet Paynter hasn't been alocated a no as yet. www.leedsunited.com/news/2010060 ... 85_2063979'" Yeah I think there'll be a striker or two to come in yet..

As in "fans choice"

What?

How the hell do you get to the premiership, or indeed even stay in the Championship if you can not afford to match your rivals when transfer dealing?

Now I am not suggesting for one minute we bust ourselves on ridiculous wages or transfer fees, but lets not be simple about it. If all you are willing to trade in is lower priced merchandise to work within a constraint, then in 9 out of 10 cases you will get lower quality results.

By your method we would never be in a position to get to the Premiership. So just put that down as a pipe dream.

There is not many players players of sufficient quality that would be willing to go to club A for less than club B. I am sure there will be a few, but not enough to change a clubs fortunes.

With Eustace, from what I read, the failed medical is a bit of a smokescreen. Watford simply offered more money and the club captaincy and as a result he had a change of heart.

With Montgomery its clear it was simply down to the Blunts offering more.

If Leeds viewed the two players as squad players and Blunts/Watford saw them as key players then I can accept wage restraint - we shouldn't be offering key player money to what would be Leeds squad players - but if the role of Montgomery was the same at Leeds and Sheff Utd then I'd be concerned at being outbid by them.

Linked with 4 other free transfers - an Aussie released by FC Twente, Lee Naylor released by Celtic, Paul Connolly released by Derby and Darel Russell from Norwich. Russell and Connolly named in a number of sources as being imminent.

Naylor is a typical example of a freebie who is proven class, especially for this level. Which is what I said earlier. An example of not been too obssessed with transfer fees.

The others however are the other example I gave earlier, of possibly a choice down the pecking order to original targets, due to not been able to get first.

I read somewhere that Connolly was being released to try cut the wage bill. Not sure if thats just PR for "he's not as good as when we signed him" though

Dunno fella ask Blackpool or Burnley...they might be able to assist....granted Burnley have come back down, but if Leeds get there i'd think we'd stand a far better chance of staying there.

Don't get me wrong, I know what you're saying mate but I just think we can't go far wrong with being a well run club that won't pay over the odds

Seem to be a few like that from Derby.

You'd think though that you wouldn't release the players you really wanted unless they were on enormous salaries (e.g. Schmeicel being released by Notts County).

Anything to back that up? Or is it a story from the anti Bates brigade? (not saying you are by the way

)

With regards your last paragraph i'd agree with that totally. Lets have a little faith though that Grayson n Bates know what they're doing..

Blackpool paid out good money for Charlie Adam last season, and look what influence that had on them getting to where they are. This is the same Charlie Adam that they turned down £3 million for in January.

Can you even begin to imagine Bates doing the same at Leeds?

As ridiculous as it sounds, with how it looks at the moment we can not even compare ourselves with clubs like Blackpool when it comes to transfer dealings. Even Doncaster offered £600k for Sharp.

Like I said earlier, if you are going to go for the free transfers available that is perfectly fine, but make sure you get the cream, don't then pish around with wages and end up with 3rd or 4th choice.

Schmeichel decided not to renew his contract.

Being.

Forlorn mission Wheelio.

As of the Has and As debate that's another gear grinder.

BTW what chance LUFC go straight back down next season? By no means impossible judging by the current standard of recruitment. As for being 'contenders'. Two chances...a dog's chance and no chance.

He was 1 year into a 4 year contract on £15k per week.

The YEP reports that Montgomery had received an offer from Leeds but opted to go with a new contract at Sheff Utd.

The 'failed medical' story has only appeared on a couple of internet message boards very briefly. He'd agreed terms & captaincy (as Jay DeMerit is moving on) but talked to Leeds after a late offer but opted for Watford.