With Leeds for once hoping for continuity going into next season, there are areas of the team where the right additions could make all the difference.
The last three campaigns have seen Leeds limping towards the end of the season with a squad requiring major upheaval, question marks over the team management and ownership uncertainty.
While the ownership of Leeds United is consistently up in the air, and remains so today, Neil Redfearn has the support of both players and fans in terms of taking the club forward next season. Furthermore, wholesale changes to the squad don’t appear necessary, and where Leeds have looked weak in almost every department in past campaigns, they end 2014-15 in good health and with the makings of a settled and cohesive unit.
That is not to say key additions are not required to finally make Leeds a side that can challenge at the right end of the Sky Bet Championship. In addition, many squad members are out of contract in the summer or are loan players that have failed to stake a major claim for a permanent move, so another influx of players is likely in the summer, regardless of who is holding the purse strings.
So which positions do Leeds need to strengthen to challenge for promotion?
1. Centre-half. Sol Bamba arrived on loan from Palermo in January and immediately looked the dominant centre-half that Leeds have lacked for a number of years. Many players have arrived at the club in recent seasons and been hailed as ‘leaders’, such as Lee Peltier, Michael Brown and Jason Pearce. Bamba is the first of this breed that has actually played the part and led by example; organising, cajoling and taking responsibility in crucial situations. Errors have crept into his game recently, but many attribute this to an intense period of games following an inactive spell in Italy, and match fitness only slowly being achieved.
Bamba clearly wants to join the club permanently and his signature at the beginning of the summer could set a template for the club’s intentions. Alongside Bamba, Leeds have Liam Cooper, Giuseppe Bellusci and the untried Dario Del Fabro. The future of the two Italians could well depend on whether Massimo Cellino returns to the club, and therefore cover may well be required for the improving Cooper.
2. Left midfield. Previous managers Neil Warnock and Brian McDermott have one thing in common with the three men that have sat in the Elland Road hot seat this season; they have all failed to sign an effective wide man. Neil Redfearn changed his formation to 4-2-3-1 in January, to utilise Sam Byram in an advanced wide role rather than at right back. Byram has excelled in the position and remains the only wide attacking threat at the club.
While the formation has coincided with Leeds’ fine second half of the season, the left-side of the midfield three has proved the weak link, with centre forwards such as Steve Morison, Mirco Antenucci and Billy Sharp often asked to play there. Alex Mowatt has filled in on the left but does not quite have the pace to be effective in wide positions, and in recent games left-back Charlie Taylor has been moved forward into midfield as others have covered for injuries or suspensions in the back four.
Leeds have been too reliant on Byram’s pace and mobility on the right wing, and with a twin threat on the other flank, if only an option from the bench, it would give Leeds an attacking dimension they have not had for years.
3. Lone striker. If Leeds are to stick with the lone front man formation they need to improve on Steve Morison and add goals to the unforgiving industry that position requires. The 31-year-old has yet to score in 18 appearances for Leeds this season, but has played his part and proved crucial in allowing Leeds’ talented young midfielders to thrive in their natural positions. With Sharp and Antenucci on the books, Leeds have a proven goal threat in reserve, but as the spearhead of the attack they need to add goals from their main striker.
On their recent run Leeds have relied on spectacular goals from midfield, from the likes of Luke Murphy, Alex Mowatt and Rodolph Austin, and the team’s lack of attacking cohesion was shown up in the recent 3-2 home defeat to Watford. The Hornets clawed the game back from 2-0 down and attacked as a unit with a developed understanding and great link-up play, albeit with a different formation. Leeds don’t quite attack with the same fluidity and while they need more attacking intention from midfield, as above in point 2, they need a consistent goal threat from their front man. It is the prerequisite of any team intent on challenging for promotion.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
