Poleon confident he make it with Leeds United INTERVIEW
YEP 8/5/13
By Phil Hay
Brian McDermott is not the first manager to think that Dominic Poleon has something to offer at Elland Road. Poleon has been a prospect-in-waiting since Leeds United took him from Southend United’s youth system at the age of 16.
His opportunity to shine against Watford on Saturday was a matter of convenience more than anything else – the only striker left once Steve Morison took an elbow to the face – but members of staff at Thorp Arch expected Poleon to break through the academy ceiling eventually. He departs for the summer now, safe in the knowledge that McDermott will give him a chance.
Poleon had a chance of sorts under Neil Warnock, the manager in situ when the 19-year-old turned professional last summer, but never quite met Warnock’s needs. He played and scored on his full debut against Nottingham Forest but was sent on loan to Bury soon after. A later appearance against Crystal Palace went badly wrong, with Poleon culpable for the lax defending which threatened a priceless Championship win. He suffered that rare humiliation of a substitute being substituted.
His contract was extended under Warnock in January but Leeds sent him on loan to Sheffield United nonetheless, at a time when their former boss was complaining regularly about the attacking limitations of his team. When United sacked Warnock, Poleon was recalled by caretaker Neil Redfearn within 48 hours, ensuring that he was available to McDermott last weekend.
The 52-year-old turned to Poleon for the first time at Vicarage Road and the forward provided ample energy up front, scoring late in the first half. Quick pace, natural strength and inherent confidence were trademarks of Poleon’s academy and reserve-team appearances, along with an undeniable ability to finish. McDermott’s message to him was simple – get fit in the summer and more appearances will come. This pre-season will be crucial for him.
“The manager has said to work hard and come back fit as a fiddle and fighting,” Poleon said. “I believe in my own ability. I can score goals and I think I can bring something different to the team by using my pace.
“I’ve learned loads this season and it’s been up and down, going out on loan and getting recalled, but you have to bide your time. When things like Saturday happen, you have to try and take your chance.”
McDermott uttered an old adage after full-time on Saturday – “the youngsters here, if they’re good enough they’re old enough,” he said – but the game at Watford gave some impression of his attitude towards junior pros.
Zac Thompson was preferred in midfield to the ageing and increasingly surplus Michael Brown, though Thompson’s ineligibility saw him replaced before kick-off. With Brown promoted to the starting line-up, Simon Lenighan took a seat on the bench. Defender Ross Killock and young goalkeeper Alex Cairns also featured among the substitutes.
A number of those decisions were brought on by a squad reduced to its bare skeleton by injuries and bans but the feeling at Thorp Arch is that McDermott’s focus on the academy will be less superficial and more consistent than Warnock’s. His promise to Poleon is likely to be kept.
Peter Lorimer, United’s record goalscorer, said: “Poleon looks promising. He’s got a goalscorer’s attitude but, like a lot of lads, plenty to learn too.
“I’m not sure he was ever Neil’s type of player and he’ll probably be more suited to the style of football which Brian McDermott likes to play but to be fair to Neil, there were occasions when Poleon showed a little bit of inexperience. Defensively there was quite a bit he needed to brush up on.
“But this is why you send players out on loan. You hope that they’ll get games every week and play in proper atmospheres, in front of proper crowds; not 70 or 80 people at Thorp Arch.
“When you get to Poleon’s age you need the feeling of added pressure that comes from producing the goods for demanding supporters.”
McDermott’s primary hope on Saturday might have been for Morison to emerge from the mediocre form which consumed him after his transfer from Norwich City in January. Morison has made hard work of demonstrating his class and is already beset by scepticism among the club’s support. His involvement at Vicarage Road ended after eight minutes when a collision with Joel Ekstrand left him with concussion.
Poleon stepped into the fray and scored on 42 minutes when a defensive error gave him the responsibility of tapping the ball into an empty net from a yard out.
It was one of several incidents which resigned Watford to a place in the play-offs on a day when victory over Leeds would have sent them into the Premier League automatically.
“Any opportunity to score, I have to take,” Poleon said. “I didn’t sky it.
“It was a ball over the top, and I had to gamble using my pace. There was a little ricochet and I couldn’t miss.
“For us it was about getting the result. Spoiling (Watford’s) party comes with that but it was more about getting the win. You go home with a smile on your face after any win but going there, winning and upsetting them was the best thing we could have hoped for.”
It was Poleon’s misfortune to see the season end on Saturday. With Morison concussed and Habib Habibou sent back to Belgium after an unproductive loan at Elland Road, he would have been in line for further appearances. But his outing against Watford prompted McDermott to talk of a “real asset” who will be heavily involved in pre-season training, despite the prospect of up to seven new players joining the club this summer.
“You have to be ready,” Poleon said. “I’ve been training and working hard and when you get the shout and cross that line, you have to be ready. These things happen in football.”
Brian McDermott is not the first manager to think that Dominic Poleon has something to offer at Elland Road. Poleon has been a prospect-in-waiting since Leeds United took him from Southend United’s youth system at the age of 16.
His opportunity to shine against Watford on Saturday was a matter of convenience more than anything else – the only striker left once Steve Morison took an elbow to the face – but members of staff at Thorp Arch expected Poleon to break through the academy ceiling eventually. He departs for the summer now, safe in the knowledge that McDermott will give him a chance.
Poleon had a chance of sorts under Neil Warnock, the manager in situ when the 19-year-old turned professional last summer, but never quite met Warnock’s needs. He played and scored on his full debut against Nottingham Forest but was sent on loan to Bury soon after. A later appearance against Crystal Palace went badly wrong, with Poleon culpable for the lax defending which threatened a priceless Championship win. He suffered that rare humiliation of a substitute being substituted.
His contract was extended under Warnock in January but Leeds sent him on loan to Sheffield United nonetheless, at a time when their former boss was complaining regularly about the attacking limitations of his team. When United sacked Warnock, Poleon was recalled by caretaker Neil Redfearn within 48 hours, ensuring that he was available to McDermott last weekend.
The 52-year-old turned to Poleon for the first time at Vicarage Road and the forward provided ample energy up front, scoring late in the first half. Quick pace, natural strength and inherent confidence were trademarks of Poleon’s academy and reserve-team appearances, along with an undeniable ability to finish. McDermott’s message to him was simple – get fit in the summer and more appearances will come. This pre-season will be crucial for him.
“The manager has said to work hard and come back fit as a fiddle and fighting,” Poleon said. “I believe in my own ability. I can score goals and I think I can bring something different to the team by using my pace.
“I’ve learned loads this season and it’s been up and down, going out on loan and getting recalled, but you have to bide your time. When things like Saturday happen, you have to try and take your chance.”
McDermott uttered an old adage after full-time on Saturday – “the youngsters here, if they’re good enough they’re old enough,” he said – but the game at Watford gave some impression of his attitude towards junior pros.
Zac Thompson was preferred in midfield to the ageing and increasingly surplus Michael Brown, though Thompson’s ineligibility saw him replaced before kick-off. With Brown promoted to the starting line-up, Simon Lenighan took a seat on the bench. Defender Ross Killock and young goalkeeper Alex Cairns also featured among the substitutes.
A number of those decisions were brought on by a squad reduced to its bare skeleton by injuries and bans but the feeling at Thorp Arch is that McDermott’s focus on the academy will be less superficial and more consistent than Warnock’s. His promise to Poleon is likely to be kept.
Peter Lorimer, United’s record goalscorer, said: “Poleon looks promising. He’s got a goalscorer’s attitude but, like a lot of lads, plenty to learn too.
“I’m not sure he was ever Neil’s type of player and he’ll probably be more suited to the style of football which Brian McDermott likes to play but to be fair to Neil, there were occasions when Poleon showed a little bit of inexperience. Defensively there was quite a bit he needed to brush up on.
“But this is why you send players out on loan. You hope that they’ll get games every week and play in proper atmospheres, in front of proper crowds; not 70 or 80 people at Thorp Arch.
“When you get to Poleon’s age you need the feeling of added pressure that comes from producing the goods for demanding supporters.”
McDermott’s primary hope on Saturday might have been for Morison to emerge from the mediocre form which consumed him after his transfer from Norwich City in January. Morison has made hard work of demonstrating his class and is already beset by scepticism among the club’s support. His involvement at Vicarage Road ended after eight minutes when a collision with Joel Ekstrand left him with concussion.
Poleon stepped into the fray and scored on 42 minutes when a defensive error gave him the responsibility of tapping the ball into an empty net from a yard out.
It was one of several incidents which resigned Watford to a place in the play-offs on a day when victory over Leeds would have sent them into the Premier League automatically.
“Any opportunity to score, I have to take,” Poleon said. “I didn’t sky it.
“It was a ball over the top, and I had to gamble using my pace. There was a little ricochet and I couldn’t miss.
“For us it was about getting the result. Spoiling (Watford’s) party comes with that but it was more about getting the win. You go home with a smile on your face after any win but going there, winning and upsetting them was the best thing we could have hoped for.”
It was Poleon’s misfortune to see the season end on Saturday. With Morison concussed and Habib Habibou sent back to Belgium after an unproductive loan at Elland Road, he would have been in line for further appearances. But his outing against Watford prompted McDermott to talk of a “real asset” who will be heavily involved in pre-season training, despite the prospect of up to seven new players joining the club this summer.
“You have to be ready,” Poleon said. “I’ve been training and working hard and when you get the shout and cross that line, you have to be ready. These things happen in football.”