Nathan Brien continues his weekly article, this time looking at Leeds ability to find replacements in the transfer market.
We Always Find Replacements
It was over seven years ago now, when Leeds united lost their Premier League status, fans were flabbergasted by the fact that the mighty Leeds United would be playing in the second tier of English football.
I remember that summer very well, and what an awful one it was too. Being forced to off load a number of key players in a bid to aid soaring debts. Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and James Milner were the major names to return to the Premier League, followed by a number of free agent signings that most fans had never heard of, overall it was a depressing summer for everyone involved with the club.
That was then, and this is now. Things have changed dramatically; we have gone from one local hero Alan Smith to another Jonny Howson. We enter another summer but this time debt free, and after a successful season back in the Championship, expectations are very high. The club is not in a position in which they have to sell start players, this being evident in the rejection of a £3.5 million big from Norwich for Robert Snodgrass. Bradley Johnson look set for a Bosman switch to former Championship and League One rivals Norwich City, many fans seem to have mixed emotions on this departure.
I think fans forget that Johnson started 40 games for Leeds last season, so his departure is always going to leave a gap. One thing I will say is Leeds always seems to find replacements. That first season in the Coca Cola Championship was a platform for Leeds to build on. With all those players leaving in the summer, we found replacements, maybe not of the same standard but we pulled through.
When Jermaine Beckford left for Everton this summer I can honestly say I was not panicking in the slightest, Becchio stepped up to plate magnificently and our scouts spotted another gem in Davide Somma. Leeds have a way of recovering well from departures, with Johnson and Kilkenny moving this summer I`m sure we will replace them. Let`s be honest I think most fans out there know that we can do better than those two, it`s just up to Ken Bates and Simon Grayson to use their summer wisely.
Thanks
Nathan
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