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Sam Byram as a winger and the new shape of the squad

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So we’re about 3 weeks away from the start of the 2014/15 season and the new look Leeds United is really beginning to take shape. I think we’ve all had our fair share of skepticism, I know I certainly have. However as we roll closer and closer to the starting line I have to say that I’m also starting to see the method to The Don’s madness. It looks like the gaps in the squad being slowly filled in with new goalkeepers, new defenders and if we land Fredrico Viviani (at the time of writing this it’s still not certain) we may finally have that creativeness in midfield that we’ve been craving. Now aside from the lack of a new star striker, which I’ve heard may come in the form of French Ligue 2 ace Andy Delort, I still feel we’re missing the component that we’ve all been wanting and people know what it is already, wingers.

With any luck Bianchi, Murphy and Viviani (if he comes) will have a great deal of midfield creativity, but up the sides we rarely have any firepower. The relative failure of Stewart and Kebe last season left a very bad taste in my mouth, because I thought at last the winger problem had been solved. Unfortunately now we find ourselves nearing the start of the season and I’m still not seeing many moves from The Don to rectify the situation. I have heard it said that Doukara has the ability to function as a winger, though it seems as though the Hock may be more interested in using him in a striking capacity, only time will tell on that front.

The recent signing of Gaetano Berardi strikes me as interesting as he specializes in the role of right back, a position that was rather firmly held by Sam Byram in the last couple of seasons, albeit due to some unfortunate spells with injury. Still I don’t get the feeling Cellino would bring in a new right back in his prime just to have him play second fiddle to Byram, especially when Wooton is capable of playing back up if that unfortunate situation were to arise. By the same token it seems strange that Cellino would want to stunt Byram’s growth by having him move to the back up position when after the departure of McCormack he has arguably moved to the lofty position of being the most promising player in the team.

This leads us to address the whispers that have been going on ever since Sam Byram started rising as a Leeds United star. I remember reading an article that branded him as “The New Gareth Bale” and if we want to be protecting him from Real Madrid’s rather lucrative clutches in the future, perhaps the best move for him is to follow in Bale’s footsteps and move into the role of winger. It does seem like the next logical step for him and even McDermott tested him a little in midfield last season and we’ve been hearing of the Hock doing the same in this pre-season. We know he’s comfortable down the wing, we know he’s good with the cross, he’s pacey and he’s comfortable enough in front of goal. I would like to see Byram moved to the right-wing this season, at least on a trial basis and see if we can unleash his attacking power a little more. With a more reliable defense, seemingly in place this season, I think Cellino and Hockaday can afford to experiment a little more with the make up of the squad. Perhaps with this new look Leeds we’ll see a more dynamic and threatening squad on our hands and with any luck we’ll also see a return to form and fitness for one of our rising stars.

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  • Andy Baptiste says:

    Seems a fair appraisal. Surprised he’s not been tried there before. I am certainly hoping we get a proven English goal scorer with some of the McCormack money as I only really rate Smith amongst the present crop.

  • Ropey Wyla says:

    Would much rather we resign Mad Max Gradel and for Byram to keep the right back spot if his form/fitness justifies with Berardi on the bench or filling in at left back when necessary but your suggestion seems much more likely. MOT

  • stelufc says:

    Berardi can also play at left back.

    Viviani normally plays in the holding role, he’s not really a traditional playmaker, although he’s very good on the ball. He’s more the sort of guy who would play in the 2 in a 4-2-3-1 setup, pulling the strings just in front of the defence.

  • only1jdc says:

    I can see where you’re coming from Ropey, but surely an international class full back is too good to be left warming the bench … Massimo cellino could go and sign an out an out winger, but there’s no guarantee that he / they will be better than Stewart or Kebe, whereas Sam Byram has been brought up by the club and has the talent to fulfil a variety of roles, including wide midfield where he is perfectly capable of providing the necessary width. It’s also worth remembering that one of the most successful Leeds sides had a midfield of Strachan, Batty, McAllister and Gary Speed … none of them out and out wingers.

    • stelufc says:

      Yeah, but Wallace wasn’t a traditional number 10, he would drift out wide and interchange with strach and speedo

  • PAUL W says:

    Viviani is also fantastic at free-kicks and will be a good signing, but I really hope that Championship players are signed from now on, because I fear that Leeds will become a soft touch, if foreign players are constantly signed and they might be bullied and knocked off the ball, by the more physical opposing Championship players.
    A new central defender, winger and striker, have now got to be top priority signings, otherwise Leeds will struggle next season and make the same mistakes as last season.
    Hudson, Gradel and Becchio, would be my ideal signings to give Leeds a good chance of getting in the play-offs.

  • gazza says:

    he can 100 percent def play there, remember the goal he scored in the league cup beat three men through ones legs and chipped the goalie, if that was brazilian we d be raving, every time he went forward he got a cross in from the by line or if i remember a few penalties with his dribble and pace , keep your money leeds you wont get better than him unless you sign bail ! ive watched him for years as a scout for the club too, get a top striker poacher and a top centre half thats whats needed prob 2 centre halves and the french kid their looking at is a brilliant finisher hope theirs some legs in that, theyll have some team if they pull that off .

  • stelufc says:

    It’s nice to have all these new players, with more to come, plus the youngsters coming through and try and work out who’s playing where. Most exciting pre season in a long while.

  • I think our right-hand side would be dynamite if we played Byram at RB with an out and out winger. We’ve seen with Aidy White how playing a young player in different positions before they’ve established themselves can have a negative impact with White being only seen as a back-up player at both left-back and left-wing. Bryam can offer a solid defensive option whilst providing plenty of attacking support and the occasional cameo on the wing when needed. If we play him at RB this season he’ll be our established right-back for years to come if we manage to keep hold of him!

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