Over the last few weeks, it has been clear to the majority
of Leeds fans that the team is progressing towards the efficient style of play
that McDermott teams are known for and, as this weekend proved, we are starting
to get the results to match our improvement. Since our article on the 3-5-2
formation, debate has rumbled on about our tactical strengths and weaknesses
but, with an international break to come and a pleasing away victory under our
belts, we at @LUFC_Calypso thought that additional criticism of our tactical
pitfalls should be saved until the formation has undergone further testing.
Instead, this week’s article focuses on developments that we feel should be
made OFF the pitch, alterations that should in turn contribute to continued
on-field success.
Set up a scouting network
Brian McDermott’s television appearance last week revealed a
worrying revelation about the infrastructure behind the scenes at Leeds United:
fans watched on with disbelief as the boss revealed that the club does not
currently have a chief scout. Before McDermott’s arrival, the ever-unpopular
Neil Warnock had employed his long-time friend Kevin Randall as our chief scout,
a position he had also held under Warnock at Sheffield United, Crystal Palace
and QPR. One look at the average age of Warnock’s sides is enough to tell you
that Randall did not have a keen-eye for young talent; it appears that the only
player investigations that took place under Warnock were to discover how much
longer he would have to wait before his old favourites (Michael Brown et al)
were available for free transfers. It is pleasing, though long overdue we
concede, that McDermott intends to fill this vacancy and build a scouting
network around the new head of recruitment. LUFC have a huge catchment area and
a world-renowned academy, and a scouting network will help to improve the level
of gifted youngsters in our setup even further.
Redevelop the stadium
An iconic and traditional football stadium, Elland Road
stands as a symbol of the rich heritage of the club since its inception in
1919. The ground has hosted some of the greatest teams to ever play football
and, though we speak from a biased viewpoint, the atmosphere generated at home
games is almost unrivalled in the UK. It is clear, however, that the stadium
needs significant redevelopment if we are to harbor hopes of returning to the
summit of the Premier League. Rumours circulated during England’s 2018 World
Cup campaign that Elland Road would be drastically redeveloped to incorporate a
two-tiered North Stand, bringing our total capacity closer to 50,000. While
improvements to the East Stand were a significant step forward, we believe that
a sustained period of enhancement is required to elevate the status of the club
to that of a Premier League outfit. Bates’ proposals for a casino and hotel seem
to have stalled indefinitely, a situation that fills us at @LUFC_Calypso with a
feeling of relief. Developments should increase and improve fans’ ability to
watch the team, not our ability to line owner’s pockets in the pre-match
build-up.
Improve Leeds United as a brand
Without doubt, Leeds United is some way behind the times
when it comes to promotion on a global scale as is the norm with modern day
clubs. While initiatives such as Family Stand activities, ‘Paint It White’ ticket
drives and player visits to stores and local communities are great for building
a connection with existing fans, we believe that the club should also make a
concerted effort to increase the marketability of the club to untapped national
and global fanbases. We took a look at the number of followers for some mid to
lower table Premier League clubs (a minimum position that most Leeds fans feel
the club ought to be) to prove that we are lacking. Some of the statistics
included Newcastle at 306,000, Sunderland at 178,000, Stoke at 150,000 and Norwich
at 157,000. Leeds has just 52,000 followers on twitter, a statistic that does
not demonstrate our lack of support, but more our outdated approach to
marketing. Greater global exposure brings in greater levels of investment and,
ultimately, greater success on the pitch.
As fans, we all want to see the club play well and achieve long-overdue
promotion. Of course, our ability to galvanize the squad and deliver consistent
performances is an essential element in the process if we are to achieve our
goals. Off the field matters so often dictate the rise and falls of football
clubs however, and we feel that more could be done in the boardroom to get us
heading in the right direction. As ever, we would love to know your thoughts on
our article, please tweet us at @LUFC_Calypso. Do you think there are other
ways we can improve? Do you think stadium redevelopment is essential? Let us
know!
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