Sunday 12 August 2012

Does Diouf Signing Indicate State of Play in Leeds Take Over?

The signing of Diouf can be read in one of two ways. He has been knocking around all summer and Leeds haven't shown any interest until now, perhaps because of the hope that they could afford much better. The move to sign him in the week that the take over seemingly floundered is an amazing coincidence unless the two are related.

On the other hand, Diouf has been signed on a non contract basis, meaning Leeds can let him go if something better comes along. So maybe the take over deal is still alive and Diouf is being used as a fall back option in case agreement cannot be reached.

Yesterday's performance against Shrewsbury was certainly encouraging. Warnock seems to have fitted his jigsaw together well in a very short time period and tails will be up going in to the first big game of the season, against Wolves. The result in this one will be crucial. People will rubbish talk of six pointers at this stage of the season, but Wolves will be there or there abouts come the end of the season - with or without West Ham target Jarvis - so if Leeds are promotion contenders, this game has double importance.

Southampton kicked off last season in rampant fashion and opened an early lead which proved crucial come the end of the season, but Reading were indifferent for the first third, only starting their charge with the 3-0 win over West Ham in November. This shows that there's more than one way of skinning a cat. However, the key, as West Ham showed, is to play to a shape that the whole team is comfortable with. This is something we never accomplished all season, which is why we staggered through to third place despite our reputation and the level of expectation.

Leeds are fancied by the bookies for a play off place but not for automatic promotion. Can Warnock inspire his mediocre charges sufficiently to do a Reading, with the sum of the total greater than the sum of the parts, or will his famed motivational powers run up against the brick wall of limited ability? Should the take over happen next week, the whole club will receive a massive fillip; if the final nail is driven into the coffin, and it transpires that Master Bates is at fault for holding out for unrealistic money, then the club could tear itself apart just as the season kicks off.

Fascinating times!

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really do not get you. The above proves that you obviously can write a good,unbiased article,so why do you often feel the need to write extremely biased troll articles with the intent of baiting Leeds fans?

It's a pity really.

Anonymous said...

F*$k off .

Anonymous said...

Finally, as a leeds fan who's ripped into your comments many of times over past couple of days, not today though, as credit where credits due, i respect this blog, your right on this 1.
Should a place off place be guarenteed today i'd settle for it.
All been well as west ham were last season we could do this.

herefordleeds said...

You make an interesting point... But I think what it maybe shows is not just one thing but many... Firstly he is a quality footballer regardless of his off field troubles he definitely has class on the field and he is cheap.... It maybe shows as well that the deal may not go through til very shortly before deadline day or maybe even after... Warnock identified the need for a striker come winter and diouf fits the bill whilst not taking up too much of the wage bill and also being easily to be rid of if our circumstances do change...

Anonymous said...

Leeds - Most hated team?
Warnock - Most hated manager?
Bates - Most hated chairman?
Diouf - Most hated player?

Fits in nicely with our clubs ethos.

"He drinks, he drives, he spits in peoples eyes, El Hadji Diouf, El Hadji Diouf"

MOT

DAVID! A N said...

ARE WEST HAM PLAYING THIS SEASON???
must be hard being a secret LEEDS FAN

Kevin Painter said...

Hey

why don't you write a Leeds blog

you seem interested in our team

ants said...

Answer me one question what is your fascination with Leeds because I've been through this site and 80% of the articles are about Leeds not west ham

Anonymous said...

Never in my 26 years as a Leeds united supporter have I read so many articles on our club from another clubs fan.. It baffles me why... West ham are about to start a new season in the premier league.. And I can count on one hand the amount of times in the last three months an article has been posted about YOUR club!! It's obviously because when you do post about west ham nobody cares and you don't get the same amount of interest that you do with Leeds.. If you want people to consider your website as a genuine west ham site.. Then start writing about WEST HAM!!!

Anonymous said...

Is this a new leaf or you going to smell fishier then billingsgate market on a hot summer day next blog?

an observer said...

Wow HF. That's quite a rational post. Is vitriol in short supply all of a sudden? Let's agree that the situation here is 'interesting' and hopefully that Master Bates is nearing his final fling.

Old Wjitey said...

Incredible, this is the second sensible post from you in the last seven days, where's the controversy, the bile? are you now masquerading as DennyLUFC on the YEP site?.If not i would sue him as he appears to be plagiarising your blog. NW has put together a capable team (capable of promotion? probably not)which will get us and keep us up nnear the top; if ever the takeover goes through then i expect will get some quality to bolster our chances. MOT

Anonymous said...

Tear itself apart, no, why would we, we havent torn ourselves apart when we were in division 1 so why should we now. The takeover is still on, Bates will give it up when the season starts, its his way, this is his parting gift, knowing it will be too late to sign players. We will still go to Elland road no matter what happens. 18,000 to watch little shrewsbury town, now thats support.

Anonymous said...

first sensible post you have ever written.

Anonymous said...

Very good piece, it's ten times better and worth reading when you do some professional journalism instead of just having a go. Keep it up! MOT

Anonymous said...

Meanwhile at West Ham, Morrison signs for Birmingham on a one year loan deal. Diarra comes into midfield. Maybe this time round in the Prem he will get a game.

Other news, Sam Allerdyce says he will have to sacrifice style for guile in order to survive in the Premier league. George Mcartney has revealed that there will be very little room for flair this season.

Having watched two West Ham games last season this seems implausible to me, how could there be less style or flair than last season's dour freeing?. Sounds to me like the excuses are already being lined up. Enjoy yourself Hammersfanny!

Anton said...

What's up? Aren't you getting enough attention via FaceBook?

Anonymous said...

dare I say you are being positive about Leeds?? fair play !!! mot

Anonymous said...

İf you were as smart as you claım to be, whıch you are defınatly not! you would know that we been lınked wıth dıouf sınce aprıl. You claım we got a team of old warhorses, agaın look at the facts gk- average age 32, back 4- average age 22, mıdfıeld- average age 28, strıkers- average age 26. Yeah drury, norrıs, brown, kenny, dıouf are over 30 ıt ıs called havıng a balance! İt ıs what ıs needed to get promotıon, neıl knows thış and has done ıt all before 7tımes and soon to be 8! Wıth ör wıthout the takeover we march on together to the premıer leauge :D you seem lıke you want to get the fans to argue, maybe thınk there ıs no hope wıthout a takeover lol, you wısh pal. Bates ıs temporary LEEDS UNİTED İS FOREVER!

Anonymous said...

Good post very true with what you have said. As Leeds fans we know the team is not going to light the world but we can have hope in warnocks ability to get the best out of players and control the players who push things

Anonymous said...

you cant really blame warnock for taking a punt on the sewer rat. as you stated if the take over happens he can still bring in a better option. you never know he may go on to be a good addition. still hope the take over happens. mot.

Anonymous said...

Centre alignment? Well aren't you the creative type.

Anonymous said...

Very good. Reads just like a Leeds fanzine. Can't disagree at all at all.

Anonymous said...

Drop dead wanker

Anonymous said...

Come on admit it, youre secretly a leeds fan arent you mate! Ah well, keep it up your site's a laugh sometimes, even though im a leeds fan and you end up making fun of them often!

Anonymous said...

so what does your begging to carroll say about the state about of your great clud,nice stadium on tv at the moment by the way.

Anonymous said...

At last !! It's has been a pleasure to read your comments me being a whites fan and all.
Your comments are extremely on the nail.
Come on Leeds let's get back where we belong.
Great signing with Diouf !! I think he will be a shrewd signing. Match winner with a bucket full of experience. MOT.

Anonymous said...

What is your problem with us nothing happening in the club owned by a sex club

Anonymous said...

Three articles in a row on Diouf and Leeds?

You really are one sad wet spammer....

Going to be really boring in the ar$e end of London now the olympics have finished.....

... never mind, school will be starting agian soon!

Anonymous said...

ARE WEST HAM PLAYING THIS SEASON???
must be hard being a secret LEEDS FAN"

It's no secret, just count how many Leeds articles are on this site?

Anonymous said...

"why don't you write a Leeds blog"

This IS a LEEDS blog, I still don't understand why it's not got our colours on the main page though.

Certainly no wet spam fans here....

Anonymous said...

"Answer me one question what is your fascination with Leeds because I've been through this site and 80% of the articles are about Leeds not west ham"

That's because THIS IS A LEEDS site, haven't you noticed?

This guy has only used a Wet Spam front page so the moderators don't realise...

Anonymous said...

"If you want people to consider your website as a genuine west ham site.. Then start writing about WEST HAM!!!"

When are you people going to realise this is a LEEDS UNITED site?

Why would anyone come on here and want to hear about Wet Spam??

Old Wjitey said...

See fat sam has declared that the olympic stadium will be a white elephant if they don't give it to wet spam. Question is what's it gonna be then? a pink elephant? and how do Wh intend to fill it? on a good day you might get the first three rows filled, your lot would be better off getting the velodrome, nice seating, all covered in and with opposition fans might even fill it, and as a bonus the goals will be up a height so even your strikers might get some on target. Happy Days are here again LUFC on the move up.