[NOT HAPPENING] Barry Douglas

This year's Matt Connolly, get him in!

Seriously though, Ivic said himself this week that we need a back-up LWB. He seems happy to have Sema first choice there.

Leeds fans seem quite split on him. Some don't rate him at all, some say he's quality, some want him to stay as back up. Seems quite popular as a bloke though so hopefully can be a good, experienced character in the dressing room, as well as a decent, if not exciting back-up option.

 

Sema is wasted at LWB imo. He played well in centre mid today before switching. Or will be good on wing if Ivic has the tactical acumen to utilise Sarr and Sema in their best positions. I think we need a first team LB or at least a rotation option.

 

Agree. Can see why he's being used there after the season he just had though. Hopefully we bring in a 1st team quality CM in the next couple of weeks.

 

I think this is what's ruining us at the moment - Capoue, from the little i've seen, has had little interest from English sides - If he's here past Monday he might play - And Hughes coming back will be huge. IF these two are around do we need a CM?

 

Good point. I've kind of mentally said goodbye to Capoue, and could still see someone like Fulham coming in for him late on. If we keep him a selection of Capoue, Cleverley, Hughes, Quina, TDB, Chalobah, Garner and Sema should be enough, on paper. Maybe not the most solid, especially if Capoue were to get injured.

 

I'd like to see him given a full run of games before I agree that he's crap.

 

No, he left Tannadice to try his luck in Poland with Lech Poznan and won the league there. Played in the champions league too. He's praised the level and different coaching he received abroad. Also won a cup in Turkey. Not Premiership standard leagues but no mugs either. Then he gets 2 promotions to the Premier. And folk are moaning? 2 year contract and he'll be fine.

 

There are plenty of awful footballers who have achieved promotion the PL. And he played a minor role last season whilst being labelled as not very good by those who watched him most?

 

Would rather have Michael Douglas.

 

He's also been labelled quality by those who watched him most. And bang average.

To me he sits in the category of Connolly, Andrews, Watson. These types of players were the difference, imo, between our 12/13 squad not getting over the line and our 14/15 squad getting the job done. Can't be underestimated.

Not the most exciting player but knows the league, will do a job when required and should hopefully be a good influence on our very young squad.

 

Very harsh words. He was involved in 15 of their 46 games last year and provided one assist. Leeds wouldn't have got promotion without him.

He's the key to being Champions.

 

If the Pozzos like him, then I trust them. They are obviously choosing him because he's ace and no because he's **** and cheap.

 

Seen much of him?

 

Would rather sign a Douglas fir, can do a job over the busy Xmas period.

 

A fanbase is rarely United in their opinions on a a player - we should know!

But you don’t have to look far on Leeds forums from last season to see the majority don’t rate him highly as a player. Although I agree with you about him bringing experience. But that’s only worthwhile if he plays - we have plenty of experience sitting around doing nothing right now.

 

My mistake. We wanted him when he was at Queens Park and he went to Dundee United. I knew we were linked with him at one stage!

 

"So Vlad, we've got this lad Barry from Scotland..."

At least if he signs we know he'll cost nothing as Gino popular won't pay anything.

 

Bringing in some 31 year old no-mark called Barry when there are genuinely talented young players out there who wouldn’t cost us any more. The Pozzo scouting network myth needs to die.

 

The "model" now is simply buy whatever cheap s**t that's available and might just about be passable at the level we play at. That's about it.

 

Can you give some examples?

Are there any teams who got promoted with just talented young players?

 

Be fair, don't forget we don't buy the odd s**t cheap player, we're treated to a bus load of them.

 

We're building a solid squad to win League 1 next season!

 

I really cant imagine Manning would cost a fortune.

Norwich got promoter with a team of largely young talented players.

 

And people say we haven't progressed with Gino!

 

I'd hazard a guess that Manning would be £5m and Douglas would be closer to £1m but just seen his contract apparently expires next year like Douglas so you could be right.

Norwich, like us, had promising young players like Buendia, Cantwell, Godfrey, Aarons, Lewis. Supported by more experienced players like Krul, Pukki, Stiepermann, Klose, Tettey, Zimmermann, A good mix, which I think we need too. Foster and Cleverley is a good start in terms of players you'd want starting games.

 

Would much rather have Manning, and I don't imagine for one minute he'd be expensive (though we might be blown out of the water by Prem clubs), but Sema is good as a wing-back, so I'm a bit eh about this. Only thing is, what if we use more conventional full-backs? Are any of these options up to the job playing a bit further back?

 

Good point. If we did end up switching to a back 4 I wouldn't feel comfortable with Kiko, Sema or Douglas at left back tbh

 

Manning's contract expires and he is not involved as he wants to move.

Suspect he would want greater wages / longer contract, but he is also a considerably better long term option either if we get promoted or stay down.

 

Oh don't worry about that, that's never put off the Pozzos!

 

Barry Douglas on a five year deal is going to be excellent business.

 

It will and I don't think you can underestimate the potential resale value here. A good season and a whole host of Spanish teams will come knocking and we could easily sell for £3m (rising to £6m). Gino does it again!

 

Why would we sell when we can loan him with an option to buy.

Don't you know Belgian clubs pay £1m loan fees per season.