Put up or shut up - Cellino's strategy must start now

As another season of mediocrity comes to a close, Leeds fans cannot be blamed for looking forward to the summer that should hopefully see wholesale changed to the club from top to bottom.  With Cellino promising great things and a return to the standard of football we have come to hope for rather than expect, it cannot be disputed that these hugely important changes are needed with a degree of haste. With this in mind, we at @LUFC_Calypso feel that it is time for Cellino to nail his colours to the mast, making the changes that we need whilst maintaining complete transparency, the major criticism levelled at GFH Capital throughout their turbulent tenure at the top of the LUFC hierarchy.

First and foremost, the long term future of the manager must be sorted. Offering subtle hints with minimal stature in support of McDermott offers anything but transparency, and these cryptic clues hardly assure the fans that Cellino has a coherent strategy in place ready to implement immediately. With fans still seemingly divided on McDermott, one thing that all fans will agree on is that Cellino must either back him or sack him. McDermott must either be given the level of finance to fund moves for players of a similar ilk those joining in January (ie Jack Butland and Connor Wickham), or this privilege must be given to the man considered the long term leader of our promotion push. Whether Cellino feels McDermott has got what it takes to bring this club back to the big time remains to be seen, but the on-field strategy must be based around a stable managerial selection.

Next, Cellino’s lofty ambitions to buy back the stadium. Cellino has got his work cut out to sort the financial turmoil that the club has been plunged into by David Haigh and his cronies, and buying back the stadium may be one way to do so. Loan payments are sending our finances into a spiral of financial disorder, and it goes without saying that this must be sorted as quickly as possible. In terms of future strategy, we cannot continue to be dragged through the mud and barely making ends meet. Our wage will this season is the 4^th largest in the division, and the largest of those not receiving parachute payments of some kind, and for a club sitting in 16^th this is absolute madness. Supposed reports of Noel Hunt’s £25k a week salary outed this season really highlight the strategy that Cellino’s United should avoid at all costs. True or otherwise, I’m sure that he will.

Finally, the current crop of underachievers needs tearing limb from limb. Despite improved form in recent weeks, this pleasant surprise doesn’t even remotely make up for months of poor performances and results alike. With a whole host of players out of contract in the next 12 months, United fans en masse are hoping that Cellino’s intentions to dismantle this group beyond recognition is put into practice. On this subject, it goes without saying that the major success story of this frustrating campaign has been our talisman Ross McCormack, and with fresh interest in our star striker almost inevitable over the summer it is time for Cellino to show his real intentions. Sell our best player this summer and there is nothing to base our promotion aspiring squad around. The situation is crystal clear to me, but I’m less convinced it will be to Massimo Cellino.

For Cellino, it is time to ‘put your money where your mouth is’ and start acting on the methodical strategy that our club so desperately craves. For now, it’s time to sit back and wait for the magic to happen. 

The calm before the storm: Cellino’s United

Despite notching up another defeat at the weekend to extend our horrific run of form, the Leeds faithful have finally been rewarded with some promising news. Bar dotting the Is and crossing the Ts, Massimo Cellino has seemingly overcome the firm hand of the Football League, at least for now, and Brian McDermott and his squad can finally focus on playing football for a change. Whether you’re a fan of Cellino’s or not, it is undeniable that this was the best possible outcome from an uncertain situation, and with administration kept at bay, this turn of events will almost bring with it some financial benefits. However, we at @LUFC_Calypso feel that the changes will be more noticeable in other areas, and Cellino’s successful acquisition will allow the Italian to make his mark in more ways than one.

McDermott: The hugely disappointing form displayed from a team lacking confidence, desire and skill to name a few attributes may well cost McDermott his job. Floundering in the bottom half, and looking over our shoulders rather than up the table yet again, a large proportion of Leeds fans have seen enough. Continuing with baffling tactical displays, it appears that no amount of chopping and changing can improve the fortunes of his lacklustre squad, and it remains to be seen whether Cellino’s patience will run out. Speaking on Sky Sports earlier, he insisted that Brian will be given the chance to make amends, but one thing is for sure; if Cellino feels a change is necessary, he will not hesitate (just ask departing Cagliari boss Diego Lopez). For us, it’s a question of when and not if. However, despite continued speculation about McDermott’s future and his eagerness to sack him before even taking ownership on that fateful night in January, the two seem to have built up some kind of rapport. In terms of a potential replacement, many suspect that Gianfranco Zola may be being lined up as a replacement, with the two Italians working together at Cagliari in previous years. However, @LeedsUnitedIta has highlighted their inability to see eye-to-eye (Cellino refused to offer Zola an extension to his contract while playing at Cagliari), and this may not be the match made in heaven we all thought it might be. Watch this space.

The Squad: It is with no amount of hesitancy whatsoever that Cellino will tear this gutless squad limb from limb come the summer. Drunken rants down the phone to White Leeds Radio last month proved that Cellino is well aware of a fact that Leeds fans have known for months – our squad simply does not cut it at this level. McDermott or otherwise, we fully expect plenty of incomings and even more outgoings this summer, and you can’t help but feel that the squad of 2014/15 will have a much greater European feel to it. Despite his continental persuasion, the highly entertaining yet controversial “interview” with WLR seemed to suggest that Cellino was looking for young, English internationals, yet whether that will be possible is another story. Either way, we fully expect to see the deadwood, underachievers of our squad shipped on quickly and unceremoniously. In other words, don’t expect a Michael Brown testimonial.

David Haigh: Already the subject of intense speculation, we cannot see the Cellino-Haigh relationship standing the test of time whatsoever. Again, through the phone call with White Leeds Radio, Cellino made his feelings perfectly clear, describing him as the devil amongst other things. With Haigh now becoming the Chief Executive until the end of the season at the least, it would come as no surprise to see Haigh instantly removed and crawling back to the teat of GFH Capital with his tail between his legs. This would only increase Cellino’s approval rating as GFH continue to be eaten alive by the United fans on social media.

It doesn’t take a genius to uncover the general trend of Cellino’s predicted actions. Mr Cellino’s cutthroat stance towards all aspects of a football club may well precede him, yet it appears that to all intents and purposes, Cellino will instigate wholesale changes to the club, changes that will be viewed by the majority as absolutely necessary. The shambles that GFH have created off the field is in desperate need of alteration, and Cellino is certainly the man for the job. In terms of the on-field disappointment, the role of Brian McDermott still seems to split opinion. Only time will tell on that front.

Before we let ourselves dream of landmark signings and half-time calzones, let’s see if we can try and win a football match first.

As always, we would love to hear your feedback and opinions on our article – follow and tweet us at @LUFC_Calypso to join the debate!