I was never really behind Warnock's appointment. Sure, when he first arrived he said all the right things that charmed me to believe him. But since then he has failed to motivate the squad like had been hoped. What's worse is that he has taken every opportunity to remind us that it's not his squad that's apparently letting him down and making sly digs at the previous regime's signings.
Through all the excuses and the disrespectful comments however, Warnock has failed to address the fact that he has taken over a team that was 8th in the table and in contention for the play-offs that now find themselves 14th. This is quite an impressive achievement considering that the only changes that Warnock has made are to bring Danny Webber and Paul Robinson in, with Webber only making substitute appearances so far.
How has such an experienced manager with such a pedigree at this level managed to get it so wrong? It was alleged that Grayson had lost the dressing room. So if this is the case shouldn't the players have returned to their normal, above average form? Instead, we've dropped like a stone. It's hard to look past the fact that the only thing that has changed is Warnock.
Leeds haven't been able to defend well since returning to the Championship last season. So it seems odd to play a style of football that will put more pressure on the defence. With players like Snodgrass, Clayton, McCormack and Becchio it seems a complete waste to continually pump balls to the Argentinian's head. Why would Snodgrass want to remain part of a side that completely bypasses the midfield? "Norwich, here I come," he must be thinking.
Warnock's loyalty to old players also worries me. He has stated on a number of occasions that the squad is threadbare but in reality for most positions there are two options. I find it difficult to believe that he rates Michael Brown and that Mika Vayrynen isn't at least as good as him.. He's definitely quicker, that's not hard. From what little I've seen of him he can get closer to players and doesn't just randomly kick anyone in sight. He wants to get involved and can actually add something to the team. Leigh Bromby's inclusion also worries me. After his three assists at Brighton, I was happy to never see him again.
On a number of occasions Warnock has also said he's going to give players a chance. This has been something of an empty promise. Warnock has only made changes so far due to injuries or suspensions. Why are we persevering with Paul Robinson at left back when he's already too old and a threat to the side with his wreckless challenges. With four games to go, this would be the perfect chance to play Ben Parker, give him a few games to prove himself. We've been paying him not to play most of the last few couple of seasons, why not actually make use of him and vaguely justify the wages we're paying him for the rest of the season?
There are a number of other players who we might as well get some use of for the rest of the season so we can make a decent evaluation of them. Bruce, Nunez, Rogers and Webber need to more than the odd game, or in most cases the odd subs appearance, here and there. Nunez, Rogers and Webber especially have the potential to have a great impact on games but never have the chance to do so being brought on with 10 minutes left with the side losing. Bruce may not be the answer to our defensive woes, but he's no worse than O'Dea.
I was happy when Warnock said he was going to try and tie a number of players down to new deal. McCormack, Clayton, Snodgrass and White, great stuff. Darren O'Dea? Really? O'Dea has been nothing but a liability for the majority of the season yet Warnock wants him permanently. Say what you want about the boredom we suffered under George Graham, but he knew a good defender when he saw one. Warnock clearly doesn't have such gifts. Given that we only seem to be linked with his old players it doesn't seem that he would consider someone different. Someone possibly better than the likes of Clint Hill and Paddy Kenny.
The style of football since his arrival is awful. Except for against West Ham and Southampton, every game has been a slog that Leeds look like losing, and often have lost. He has even said the side lacks strength and height, yet his tactics for last few games have been to pump it long, which Becchio often loses out on and then the midfield don't have the fight in them to get it back putting the defence under more pressure. The cycle continues if they eventually get it away.
The Reading game was the clincher for me. When down to ten men against the most inform side in the division, why would you keep hitting long balls to a lone striker who has no midfielders anywhere nearby to pick up on the scraps of any balls he does occasionally win? It's just a stupid and ultimately fruitless tactic. In situations like that, you have to keep the ball and make the opposition chase it and wear themselves out then go for the sucker punch. Instead, we gifted it back to them over and over again. There was no heroic defending, it was just a good job that they didn't have their shooting boots on. Ian Harte alone could've have a hat-trick.
Once the game reached the hour mark changes needed to be made. Some players looked knackered. Becchio is always tired around this time anyway, Snodgrass hardly had a touch all game and Brown was getting nowhere near anyone. So why wait until the 85 to make the subs. Sheer stupidity. Three red cards in three games has also added to the missery. I sit at Elland Road wondering if he's ever thought about trying to play football instead.
Warnock has got it wrong. For me, this can't be debated. Simply by being as stubborn as only Neil Warnock will be, he has cost us what little chance we had at the play-offs. Week after week he is trotting out the excuse that it's not his squad. If the supposedly inferior Simon Grayson could take Leeds so close to the play-offs and get sacked, why do I have to watch someone who has failed so miserably plan for another season? It's not a prospect I'm looking forward to.
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