Leeds United did not enjoy the best transfer window during the summer of 2011 as they prepared for their second season back in the Championship.
With Leeds enjoying their best season for many years, the upcoming summer transfer window is going to be crucial whatever division the Whites are set to play in next season as they look to build on the promise they have shown this year.
With that in mind, HITC Sport is taking a look back at some of the best and worst windows that Leeds have enjoyed or endured down the years, starting with the fairly disastrous 2011 summer window…
The previous season
Leeds finished the 2010/11 season in seventh in the Championship, narrowly missing out on a play-off place in their first year back in the second tier. The fans were hoping for a big summer window to help them take that next step.
That is certainly not what happened…
Who left?
As well as the likes of veteran pair Shane Higgs and former captain Richard Naylor and youngsters such as Jonny Birbeck and James Booker, a number of key men departed Elland Road.
Kasper Schmeichel left for Leicester City, Bradley Johnson went to Norwich, Neil Kilkenny headed for Bristol City, and perhaps most painfully for Peacocks fans, Max Gradel departed for Saint-Etienne right at the end of the window.
Max Gradel
Who came in?
Leeds made six permanent additions to their senior squad, but the fact that three were goalkeepers perhaps highlights how poor a window it was for the Whites.
Of the six, Andy Lonergan was the best addition, doing a decent job of replacing Schmeichel, while Michael Brown could never be accused of not trying when representing the Yorkshire side.
Meanwhile, Finnish pair Mika Vayrynen and Mikael Forssell both arrived on free transfers but struggled to make an impact. 40-year-old veteran Maik Taylor also arrived on a free.
But it was the addition of Paul Rachubka that will be most remembered by the Leeds supporters, and perhaps best encapsulates what went wrong during that window.
The goalkeeper endured a miserable time at Elland Road, making numerous mistakes when called upon and his final appearance for the club saw him endure a horrible night in what became a heavy defeat to Blackpool. Despite not carrying an injury, Rachubka was replaced at half-time by youth team stopper Alex Cairns.
Lomana Lua Lua (C) scores the first goal for Blackpool against Leeds keeper Paul Rachubka
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