Blackwell looks for rain to wash away pretenders - Yorkshire Post 15/8/04

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Yorkshire Post Blackwell looks for rain to wash away pretenders Ian Appleyard THE MONSOON summer is proving an asset in Leeds United manager Kevin Blackwell's search for foreign imports. Blackwell switched his sights to the continental market this week after buying British during pre-season. Feeling that his options at home were currently exhausted and with limited funds at his disposal, Blackwell broadened his horizons in the hope of landing further value-for-money signings. Cameroon international midfield player Serge Branco, 23, is currently training at Thorp Arch and players from Germany and Holland are also being lined-up. But Blackwell will not allow any repeat of last season's disastrous forays into the foreign market which resulted in Leeds signing a string of flops who were either uncommitted or unsuited to the job. "The lesson from last year is 'do not take foreign players in haste'," he said. "You do that and you will repent at leisure. "Some of the players who came in last season did not have the right attitude to hard work and the English style of football was not quite right for them." Among those short-term loan signings who failed last season were Zoummana Camara, Cyril Chapuis, Salomon Olembe and Brazilian defender Roque Junior. Branco, who won an Olympic gold medal with Cameroon four years ago, is a free agent and has spent his career in German football with Eintracht Braunschweig, Eintracht Frankfurt and VFB Stuttgart. He has recently been on trial with Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest. His arrival in Yorkshire may have coincided with frequently heavy downpours but that is helping Leeds sort the wheat from the chaff. "This week has been perfect because I have been able to say to them 'these are the conditions you will be playing in during winter, just 20 degrees cooler'," he said. "I am aware of what happened last season and that's why I am prepared to wait a bit longer with the foreign players to make sure they can train in the wet. "So long as it does not cost me anything to have a look at somebody, I'll bring them in for a trial, but they have to be of a certain standard," he stressed. "Most of them are coming out of the Dutch or German premier leagues – so I know they will be technically very good. It's whether or not they can handle the pace and power of the English game, particularly the hurly-burly of the First Division." After the euphoria of the opening day victory over Derby County at Elland Road, Leeds were brought down to earth with a bump against Gillingham at the Priestfield and now need to bounce back this afternoon at Wolves. The game offers a return to Molineux for club captain Paul Butler who joined Leeds after being released by Wolves. Butler said: "People say that you get up by beating teams such as Sunderland and West Ham – but I don't think that is the case. "Going to stadiums like the Stadium of Light and Upton Park lifts you anyway because of the atmosphere. It is winning 'ugly' at the smaller grounds which is really important." Leeds have failed with a £250,000 bid for West Bromwich Albion midfield player Sean Gregan. Kevin Blackwell: "I would love it to be all rosey and go out and win every game because we are Leeds United, but that won't happen. I don't know of any company that was built in a day, it took Virgin many years to become a power and we might be the same." Last time: December 28 2003. Premiership. Wolves 3 Leeds 1 League position: Wolves 19th, Leeds 14th. Key man: Michael Duberry

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