Ken Bates is still around, but so are loads of new players and a new found belief in the team from the supporters and I must admit, I cant remember being this optimistic before a season in years.
Despite the failed/long underway takeover I think that NW has done a good job over the summer, he's managed to get some good players in and did his best to keep hold of Robert Snodgrass, RS is probably the one player we are yet to replace - It'll be exicting to see if NW pulls of a masterstroke of a transfer before the window shuts at the end of the month.
I expect Leeds to battle for automatic promotion and to at least get into the playoffs, I think NW can do a bit of magic, and this season he's made the team his own and not Simon Grayson (Kudos for the clean up NW - Still need Rachubka and Connolly to leave though).
I also expect Luciano Becchio to prove his worth to the team this season, if he scores 20+ goals, that could mean the difference between playoffs and automatic promotion. I'm also happy to see that we, so far, have managed to keep hold of Ross McCormack, without him we'd have been in loads of trouble last year and I'm looking for him to kick on this season and get 15-20 goals as well.
My major concern for this season is however who's going to assist on the goals? We've gotten some good players in and defence looks solid, but creativity is really lacking - we need a quality winger or two who can turn games around. Luke Varney has done great in pre-season and hopes are high for him - we need another winger to though, to become a double threat team, like when we had Maxi and Snoddy. I'd like to see Templeton of Hearts or George Boyd of Posh come in, but a loan from the Premier League might also work.
Finally my hope for the new season is that every supporter gets behind the team and help make ER a fortress and a scary place, for the opposition not for our own players, this could be our year!
Marching On Together!!
Expectations/Hopes:
Finish: Top 2
Top Scorer: Luciano Becchio 26 goals
Most Assists: Luke Varney 11
Player of the season: Jason Pearce
Young Player of the year: Aidy White
