Leeds v Boro 27/2/2014 - Ikea Beckons..

And that was us having a go..

Against a team who haven't scored since the days when Curling was something we did sat on the bog, we mustered precisely no goals, no shots and no threats, Boro meanwhile conspired against themselves but subbing their most inventive and dangerous player, Butterfield mid was through the second half.

Butland made his debut and made us realise that in Kenny we have a good keeper, but could have a great keeper instead. Butland was decisive and brave, agile and alert.. a great start.

Elsewhere the jury is well and truly out on Kebe and Stewart, anonymous for the most part and insipid and timid when they did show. Where has the dangerous, attacking midfielder that ripped us apart when in his Reading colours.. Austin confirmed that relieving him of the captaincy has not infact freed him up to be the attacking inventive player he very occasionally suggests he could be. Noel Hunt, well you have to question his intelligence before anything else...if you are the furthest upfield player there will be nobody to flick your headers on to. Bless him though he did it not once, not twice.

If Mario Zaliukas can get banished after one bad game, v Sheff Weds, then those players and more must be making plans to have a wander around Ikea next weekend. 

Certainly the on watching Criminal must be wondering what we all see in Brian McDermott and for the first time I questioned myself today. I do believe in him and can honestly think of nobody I would rather have in charge. But as the squad become increasingly, signed by Bri rather than signed by Warnock, are we any better off, do we have a better shape, more options? Are we really any further forward. I suppose we can acknowledge that with the glorious deep pockets of GFH seemingly dry at the moment we continue to get players we can afford rather than the ones we truly want or indeed need. Thats why we believe in McDermott, he hasn't had a fair crack, lets hope that the crim recognises that and gives him the kind of support we think he deserves.

We still talk of a top 6 players, and its more due the fact that most of those above us fail to show any consistency that indeed it may still be possible but truth is, this was a game that screamed three points. Tricky games ahead will either raise our game - see the Leicester game at home, ok we lost but... - or see us sink into mid table nothingness.

With the takeover increasingly seeming to be settled early next week, interesting times are ahead, rumours of exciting young Italians coming to Elland Road will either excite Brian or terrify him and signal his days are numbered. It all depends on whether he learns about it first on twitter or not..