It’s always nice to ‘freshen things up’ isn’t it? Or have a clear out. It’s what every club does at the end of the season. The trouble is – Leeds Chairman Massimo Cellino does this every few months with managers!
Garry Monk is the latest man to take the poisoned Elland Road chalice and he will need a lot of luck (and success) to still be there in 12 months’ time. Monk is highly respected in the game. He did an excellent job taking over the reins at Swansea and steadied the ship. He’s knowledgeable, can spot a player and seems like a thoroughly decent bloke. You won’t find anyone wishing him ill and most people want him to succeed in the game. But with an unpredictable boss constantly hovering over the big red ‘fire’ button, how can you progress?
Leeds Under Cellino
When Cellino arrived, McDermott-gate occurred. The former Reading coach was sacked, then hired again before eventually biting the bullet at the end of June 2014. The highly questionable appointment of Dave Hockaday came next. Anybody watching from afar could see it wasn’t going to last. It didn’t. Hockaday slinked off back to non-league less than two months later.
Neil Redfearn resumed caretaker duties soon after before being superseded by Darko Milanic. The Slovenian coach lasted just under two months and it was now three managers in four months. Redfearn was back and got a longer run before being replaced by Uwe Rosler in July 2015. Plenty of positivity about the appointment, but the German couldn’t get it right and Steve Evans was parachuted in later that year. Evans improved the Leeds side, but left at the end of the season and was replaced by Monk.
Leeds United’s 2016/17 Squad
They have a good nucleus of a squad with plenty of youngsters coming through. Lewis Cook has left and Charlie Taylor has handed in a transfer request, but there are plenty more making their way to the first team squad. Chris Wood will score goals if he stays fit. Soulymane Doukara still doesn’t look like a footballer, but does find the net semi-regularly. I’ve always been a fan of Stuart Dallas and was surprised when he turned up in West Yorkshire.
Of the new signings – Robert Green won’t have come cheap, but will offer experience by the bucket load. Kyle Bartley will be decent at this level and will be competing with Liam Cooper and Sol Bamba for the centre-back positions. One more is possibly needed in that area as Bamba rarely stays fit.
Kemar Roofe is an excellent addition and should make the step up with relative ease. He scored against Swansea in the FA Cup last season, but Monk had departed by that point. Matt Grimes should add some youthful energy and knows Monk from his days in South Wales whilst less is known about Pablo Hernandez, Hadi Sacko and Marcus Antonsson, but they should adapt easily.
How Long will Monk Last?
There’s plenty to be positive about if you’re a Leeds fan this season. But the worry is the maverick Italian who holds all the cards. How long will Monk get? I’ll give it to Christmas…
But if he makes it, I fancy them to have a good season. They finished above some big teams last season including Wolves, Forest and Reading and it wouldn’t surprise me if the same happened this campaign.
Leeds United Betting Tips 2016/17
Leeds to finish in the top half – 5/4 with SportingBet.
Leeds to finish higher than Reading – Evens with Sky Bet.
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Jack Critchley
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