TOMA complete?
The protracted second takeover in a year of Leeds United looks as if it will be made official today, according to a story carried by Reuters.
According to the news agency, Bahrain-based investment firm Gulf Finance House (GFH) has agreed a partial sale of its stake in English football club Leeds United The firm said in a statement on Wednesday that the sale was agreed with British investors, whose details the firm did not specify in a bourse statement. The investment firm did not provide details on the stake value or the size of the stake sold.
No confirmation was made of the necessary Football League approval, though it would be highly unusual for the above announcement to be made if that were not now a foregone conclusion, and further developments on this front might well be expected later today.
Leeds United meet Championship leaders Leicester City on Saturday, fresh from a dismal run of results after several poor performances. The club has been linked heavily with Reading’s want-away striker Adam le Fondre this week, as well as free transfer prospect Luke Moore, formerly of Swansea and Aston Villa.
Despite securing the loan signings of Cameron Stewart and Jimmy Kebe last week, Leeds suffered an embarrassing 6-0 defeat to local rivals Sheffield Wednesday in a televised game on Saturday. The TV cameras will again be present for the Leicester City clash.
It remains to be seen whether any completed takeover will loosen the Elland Road purse-strings for more team strengthening. Boss Brian McDermott had ruled our further incomings ahead of the Foxes match, but that has not stopped intense speculation surrounding Moore and le Fondre. It may well be that other names will now be put forward, but McDermott likes to have business completed before making any comment.
Leeds United stand 11th in the Championship, only a few points outside of the play-off zone.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Appears we’re also linked (along with Celtic and Wigan) with Wolves striker, Leigh Griffiths. He bagged 28 goals in 42 starts on loan at Hibs and 12 in 18 this season for Wolves in League 1.
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Hi Rob:
This is good news about the latest takeover. I just want them to give us sufficient funds to buy decent players – forget about buying back Eland Road or Thorpe Arch until we can push forward to the Premier League.
Sorry about Smith getting a 3 game ban for an innocuous plunge. Varney should play the next 3 games. Brian should not buy anymore players unless he can unearth a jewel of a striker – if not let’s use the squad that we have for the rest of the season before the clear out and be happy with finishing mid-table
Brian needs to make changes for the Leicester game. MZ should be a sub as well as Austin and make Jason the captain. The new wingers should start but not at the same time. Hopefully we will get the formation right this time.
I was calling for McD’s head but I think he is a good manager but has to get the squad working right in the next few games.
GO SEAHAWKS!
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Up until Saturday I had faith in McDermott…..he was making the best of round pegs in square holes and the ‘system’ with the use of wingbacks seemed to be nothing other than temporary until he got his wingers. Although results were poor I had faith as once he got his wingers I truly believed normal service would resume. 4 4 2 although old fashioned and not trendy, works with the right personnel…..smith, McCormack, two wide players, Austin holding and mowatt freed up would have been too much for wed and been basic enough for players to adapt to easily.
I then saw the lineup against Sheffield Wednesday…….,at first I couldn’t fathom how it could work……six in midfield ???? Well that should have at least made us solid ???? Although it appeared every time we lost possession we were overrun in midfield ???? Austin and young mowatt chasing shadows……while others simply lacked the desire to track back.
Is this the players fault??? Do they lack the hunger to tuck in to a rigid midfield formation once possession is lost??? Or were they at best totally confused by what was being asked of them that they didn’t know if Peter or Paul was the best option…..or at worst…..couldn’t give a shit and lacked respect for the club, the fans and McDermott and didn’t want to fight???
My point is….and i apologise its taken so long (Saturday still not out of the system yet)…..throwing money at McDermott may not be the answer…..he has to have the ability as a manager to make the best of the talent at his disposal…..picking the shape of the team around the players he has…..not some mad scientist gamble of a formation he put together on Saturday……I really do hope I’m wrong about this but I’m not sure if I were bankrolling the club I’d be giving my cash…..or that of the supporters to McDermott to play championship fantasy manager and confuse our players or fail to get the best out of them.
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Well this news would be welcome, but what would make it good news is if it comes with a new cb and striker to take the load of Ross.
Personally I would like bm to give poleon a good run of games and see if he can strike a partnership up with rm. my team may not be everyone’s choice, but it can’t do any worse than what has been put in front if us in the last few games can it???
4.1.3.2 formation with the team as follows.
Carins
Byram. Lees Wotton. White if fit/ warnock if not
Green
Kebe. Murphy. Stewart
Poleon McCormack
Subs:-
Kenny
Varney hunt
Pearce
Mowrtt
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lets hope so rob , this prelonged take over has had a negative effect on the players already at the club , yes brian got the tactics oh so wrong on saturday but the players have not been right since before christmas , i can’t help but feel the prospect of being made redundant has had an affect on certain players , i could be wrong but to go from 5th to 11th and out of the FA cup to Rochdale in such a short space of time i have to ask why ?, and i know everyone is going to say that we’ve been found out etc but i just dont buy it
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better than any investment news would be ‘aBirmingham’ style performance 3 pts and raising of our spirits again
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Jon Stanhope, absolutely agree mate.
In terms of the takeover we will have to wait and see, most people think GFH are doing the right things but don’t have enough money to do it quickly enough. The new owners need to bring FAR FAR more money with them otherwise what’s the point in a takeover.
With investment for me we need to look at the spine of the team we need a good solid leader in midfield (Austin is none of those things) to work with and develop Mowatt and Murphy who are both good players.
Any of our 3 great Scottish captains of the past would do as perfect role models for selection of this player. We need another good striker to play alongside Ross and we need to work on a settled back 4.
I truly believe with some tinkering we have good enough players to defend well but we chop and change and no-one seems to know their role in the defence.
For me the biggest change has to be the formation and team selection, 4-4-2 simple nothing else. The 4 in midfield should be midfielders not defenders who can’t get in their own spot (Peltier, Byram et all).
For me given what we have I would go
Kenny, Warnock, Pearce, Lees, Byram, Campbell, Mowatt, Murphy, Brown, Ross and Varney.
Austin would barely get on the bench right now for me as for captain who cares , none of these players are leaders. Until we have a leader it would be an insult to previous captains to give the armband to anyone.
Time to turn up and get on with it this weekend, no excuses work your bllx off and give everything
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