Mmmm I share a bit of your frustration, and can see where it looks like it's heading signing wise with the freebies and missing out on Sharp.... but lets wait and see fella before having a go at Bates etc

Same here, it's not even the end of June yet lets wait and see where we are before we start ranting about who's in or out.

the fekking stupid half. Anyone with half a brain could see he was probably the most committed Leeds player we've had in year. So he chose to move his career on and win things. Boo Hoo. What does it matter?

Don't know why people are so obsessed with us spending money. If the squad which is assembled works well then I'd much rather it were done for next to nothing rather than spending over the odds. I hear Robbie Fowler and Seth Johnson are available. £20m will get us the pair. They must be good if they cost that much.

No transfers involving money will be announced yet. Dont they have to wait until 1 July for the transfer window to open before they can be announced?

That would make sense, as the two signings so far are signings which take effect from July 1st, when players become free agents

I think it is a fair point to not get obsessed about transfer fees, but lets not get carried away that all is well with freebies.

There is only so many freebies around, and a high percentage are a freebie for the reason they are not deemed good enough for their respective club. If that club is a premiership team or of equal stature, then nobody can complain at that.

But where the problem I see with Bates and his freebies, is that he lines one up and it is pretty impressive in all honesty, but they he fails with the miserable wages he offeres. He then moves on to the next, same story, he then moves onto the next and sooner or later he gets one. At some point you could be ending up with the 4th or 5th choice just because he is free.

Of course sometimes you get 1st choice, and people can hardly complain about the freebie signings of Kisnorbo or Schmeichal to name but two.

But the fact that Leeds have missed out on two freebie signings this week for the one position, fills me with a little bit of concern of what we will end up with in that position.

The main trouble with Smith is that he's just not very good. He's certainly nowhere near the player he was before the injury.

We should have got Hooper in January, but other clubs are in for him now. Though if he goes to Boro you have to wonder again what Bates is playing at.

Agreed with that, players have to be of a high enough calibre, and we have to offer them wages that will make them want to come, without screwing ourselves over.

That pretty much sums up my view.

Because of the number of players likely to be needed some are going to have to be freebies and there will be a few decent ones available but overall relying on free transfers means picking players from a very limited pool and potentially alot of gambles on 'damaged goods' - assuming its the club's choice to release rather than the player holding out for bigger/better things a la Beckford.

Its similar with loans. Unless its a hungry young lad looking to prove himself at first team level dropping down from the top flight then they are a huge gamble.

Missing Eustace and Montgomery means we're on third choice already, and both seem to have rejected Leeds on the basis that the Blunts and Watford will pay more. That's a bit of a concern.

The Eustace deal is the one that Bates mentioned as falling through because of medical concerns.
His manager at Watford announced he'd agreed the Leeds offer and was off then all of a sudden he decided to stay.
I also think that although we missed out on Montgomery there's rightly a "wage limit" lets just wait and see where we are when the season starts.
Up to now the 2 Freebies imo are decent business especially Schmeichel.

Interesting that Schmeichel was pictured with the no1 jersey yet Paynter hasn't been alocated a no as yet. www.leedsunited.com/news/2010060 ... 85_2063979

Interesting that Schmeichel was pictured with the no1 jersey yet Paynter hasn't been alocated a no as yet. www.leedsunited.com/news/2010060 ... 85_2063979

Yep and in doing that you're getting the right player coming to the club for the right reasons.. if we're a well run ship then the future is bright for Leeds and it is a more appealing club for an Investor to invest in thus giving us a a real good chance of getting to the Prem and staying there