Yorkshire Post 27/12/11
Defeat sees United Leeds drop out of play-off places
By Richard Sutcliffe
SIMON GRAYSON has reaffirmed Leeds United’s intent to strengthen during the January transfer window.
But the United manager admits that complications including the club’s own busy schedule and the FA Cup third round means predicting just when signings will be made is nigh on impossible.
Leeds fell out of the play-off places for the first time since early November yesterday when former Sheffield United striker Jamie Ward settled an entertaining contest at Derby County.
Grayson still feels his side are handily placed for launching a push for the Premier League in the second half of the season but admits to wanting to bring in at least a couple of new faces.
He said: “I’ve had meetings with the chairman (Ken Bates) and we have had targets identified. We will try to bring them in once the window opens.
“Every chairman in the Championship wants to get promoted and a club this size needs to be in the Premier League.
“We are still in a decent position but a couple of new players here and there would help. We have had those discussions.
“When you bring them in is another question. A lot of teams have got FA Cup ties coming up and we have got a busy schedule over New Year as well.
“There are factors that don’t help you get players in but we are working hard to do that.”
Danny Pugh’s £500,000 deal from Stoke City has already been agreed between the clubs and will go through as soon as the Football League offices are open for business in January.
Grayson was reluctant to discuss whether any new arrivals would be on a permanent basis or brought in on loan.
Speaking after the 1-0 defeat to Derby, he said: “I like to do my business in private.”
On United’s fifth straight defeat to the Rams, Grayson added: “The team who deserved to win it was probably us.
“We were frustrated with how we played at Watford and disappointed with how we played against Reading but you’ve seen the response from the players here.
“No-one who knows football can say we didn’t deserve to draw or win the game. If you lose a game there’s a right way and a right manner to lose. We have lost in the right manner. But I would rather play poorly and win.”
Defeat sees United Leeds drop out of play-off places
By Richard Sutcliffe
SIMON GRAYSON has reaffirmed Leeds United’s intent to strengthen during the January transfer window.
But the United manager admits that complications including the club’s own busy schedule and the FA Cup third round means predicting just when signings will be made is nigh on impossible.
Leeds fell out of the play-off places for the first time since early November yesterday when former Sheffield United striker Jamie Ward settled an entertaining contest at Derby County.
Grayson still feels his side are handily placed for launching a push for the Premier League in the second half of the season but admits to wanting to bring in at least a couple of new faces.
He said: “I’ve had meetings with the chairman (Ken Bates) and we have had targets identified. We will try to bring them in once the window opens.
“Every chairman in the Championship wants to get promoted and a club this size needs to be in the Premier League.
“We are still in a decent position but a couple of new players here and there would help. We have had those discussions.
“When you bring them in is another question. A lot of teams have got FA Cup ties coming up and we have got a busy schedule over New Year as well.
“There are factors that don’t help you get players in but we are working hard to do that.”
Danny Pugh’s £500,000 deal from Stoke City has already been agreed between the clubs and will go through as soon as the Football League offices are open for business in January.
Grayson was reluctant to discuss whether any new arrivals would be on a permanent basis or brought in on loan.
Speaking after the 1-0 defeat to Derby, he said: “I like to do my business in private.”
On United’s fifth straight defeat to the Rams, Grayson added: “The team who deserved to win it was probably us.
“We were frustrated with how we played at Watford and disappointed with how we played against Reading but you’ve seen the response from the players here.
“No-one who knows football can say we didn’t deserve to draw or win the game. If you lose a game there’s a right way and a right manner to lose. We have lost in the right manner. But I would rather play poorly and win.”
