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Leeds United: Howson’s move is no surprise - Matteo
I’m not shocked by the news that Leeds United are selling Jonathan Howson to Norwich City. Reading between the lines, you could see this coming a mile off.
He was into the last seven months of his contract and clearly wanted to play in the Premier League next season. It was pretty clear too that he doubted whether he’d get Premier League football at Elland Road next season. As soon as someone stepped in with a bid, it went without saying that Leeds would consider it.
Deep down I thought Howson would leave when his deal ended in the summer but it’s no surprise at all to see Leeds cashing in on him now. They’ve done it before and I’m not the only person who believes it will happen again in the future. The question at times like this is always ‘who’s next?’
The issue with Howson isn’t really the effect his sale will have on Leeds United’s season. He’s injured at the moment and wasn’t going to be fit until March. If Leeds don’t win promotion – and at the moment that’s hardly a given – then it won’t be because they chose to take Norwich’s offer midway through the transfer window.
But the sale of Howson is disappointing on so many levels. No matter what you thought of him as a player (and for the record I’ve always rated him) you can’t deny that he’s the sort of lad Leeds should be building their squad around – homegrown, talented and squeaky clean. He’s as good an ambassador as the club could ask for, and the maturity he’s shown by captaining Leeds at the age of 23 is outstanding.
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It is frustrates me, as I’m sure it frustrates the supporters, to see Leeds struggle time and again to hold on to players of Howson’s ability and reputation. It worries me too to hear the club say that he’s moving on because he doesn’t think they can meet his ambition quickly enough. That’s a pretty worrying message and something Leeds should think about. You have to ask whether other high-profile players will now take the same attitude.
To see things from Howson’s point of view, the attraction of Norwich is obvious. They’re a Premier League club with an impressive, emerging manager who will pay him a far bigger wage than he’s earning at Leeds. Knowing what I do about Howson, it’ll be the level of football rather than the money which appeals to him most.
I’ve made the point before that Bradley Johnson’s success in the Premier League this season is an eye-opener for every professional in the divisions below. I thought a lot of Johnson in his time at Elland Road but I’d be lying if I said he was outstanding in the Championship. Howson is a more naturally gifted footballer and if Johnson can make a go of the top flight then I’d fully expect Howson to do the same.
And in reality, what prospect is there of Leeds being in the Premier League next season? Or the year after for that matter? They’re 11th at the moment and they’re going to need a storming second half of the season to make sure that a play-off place is tied down in April. Howson’s a local lad with Leeds United in his blood but I’ve no doubt that if he genuinely felt that the club were heading for the top flight in the near future, he’d have signed on the dotted line a while ago.
There’s no point in pretending that Leeds should be able to compete financially with a club who have the benefit of Premier League income. In a straight fight, Norwich can beat any offer from Elland Road hands down. But I don’t believe that this is down to hard cash, on Howson’s part anyway.
For him, this seems to be about his career. He’s basically saying that Leeds don’t offer the immediate prospects he’s looking for. It’s a sad admission from a lad whose ties to Elland Road are stronger than most – and sad to think that Norwich are better placed to give him what he wants.
If I was a player at Thorp Arch today, I’d feel absolutely gutted. The squad are losing their club captain and an influential player (albeit one who’s injured at the moment). I can’t imagine any of Howson’s team-mates think Leeds will be better off without him next season.
Howson scores goals and he creates them. He’s a 100 per-cent performer and a match-winner on his day. The fact that he’s appeared so many times over the years and so much under Simon Grayson tells you how big an asset he is. Yet again, Grayson is losing someone he must have been desperate to keep. He’ll understand why Howson’s being sold, and the reported fee of £2million is not bad money, but it’s difficult to see the positives in this.
It might be slightly better if we hadn’t been here before but Leeds have a track record of losing good players – Johnson, Jermaine Beckford, Max Gradel and Neil Kilkenny for example. As I said earlier, you can only wonder who’s next. We’ve seen speculation about Ross McCormack and Adam Clayton this week and reports linking Luciano Becchio to other clubs. Opposition managers will be looking at the sale of Howson and thinking deals with Leeds are possible as long as the price is right.
My honest fear is that there’s more of this to come. If a decent offer comes in for Snodgrass, can the club honestly say that they won’t listen to it or accept it? We’ve heard in the past that players aren’t for sale but circumstances keep dictating that decent assets are sold or leave the club on free transfers. It’s hard to build a settled, successful side while rival clubs pick away at your squad.
All in all, this hasn’t been an enjoyable season so far. I can feel apathy and disillusionment among the supporters and selling someone like Howson won’t help. Don’t get me wrong, it’s probably the right decision in the circumstances and it’s better than losing him on a free in the summer but you really feel that it shouldn’t have come to this. A club like Leeds must be able to convince a prospect like Howson that they’re going onwards and upwards at a rate of knots.
It’s vital now that the money raised is invested in the team. It’s also vital that Leeds get to the end of the transfer window with the rest of their top players intact. I’ve got a horrible feeling that Howson might not be the last to leave this month – or the last to attract a bid. And if lads like Snodgrass don’t go now then what chance of them being here in August if Leeds aren’t promoted?
Assuming he signs, Howson will be excited by this move. He’s right to be excited. But he’ll be disappointed too – disappointed that he’s gone as far as he feels he can with Leeds. Some will criticise him for turning his back on his hometown club. Personally I think he’s making a hard decision and getting it right. Soon he’ll be a Premier League footballer and no-one at Elland Road can guarantee him that.
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Comments
There are 50 comments to this article
Page 1 of 4
Sportinglife
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 03:06 PMI think the line, " We are pushing hard for a Division One place!", would be appropriate the way things are going.
Chugmonkey
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 07:46 AMWhen Paul Lambert took charge at Norwich he announced that every player would get the chance to impress. I think he spent the first 2-3 months watching most in training and allowed all of them a chance to play in the first team. During this time he crearly drew up a list of those he wanted to bring in and those who he did not want. As he was brought in following the second game of the new season he had to wait for new signings anyway. He may well have ruffled feathers, but nobody leaving the club accused him of not giving them a fair chance or had a bad word to say about him. His man management skills are excellent as he always speaks to each player each week to let them know why he's left them out of the first team squad. Each yearwe've gone up he released the players he feels wouldn't cope at a higher level and brought in higher quality, young talent keen to impress (hopefully like Jonny Howson!) These seem small things, but clearly make big differences!
interm'landrover
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 07:17 AMChugmonkey I think I'm singiing from the same hymn sheet as a Canary but surely even Paul Lambert ruffled a few feathers initially.Was it all straight forward and what obstacles did he have to overcome?
whitevanman1
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 11:31 PMWhy don't the normal people on here just ignore the inane ramblings of the non-entity that is original koppite, and his fellow windowlickers? Without an audience surely they will just wither and die?
Yorkshire Lad
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 11:10 PMoriginalkoppite, will you please go away and stop preaching nonsense. You DON'T even go to LU games, but you preach on about Bates and football, but in reality you haven't a clue ! You are either in the employment of Bates, or a total and utter idiot ! I suspect your both ! CHUGMONKEY thank you for your honest opinions about Norwich and our club. The big difference between our current circumstances and that of Norwich's 2 seasons ago, is the person at the top. At Norwich you had a true Norwich supporter who wanted success at her club. That isn't the case at LUFC. We have Bates who is NOT a LU supporter, but a chairman who is only interested in lining his Monaco bank account, and not spending money that will benefit the club. At the start of this season I stated that I had never felt so low in my over 50 yrs of going to ER. I was shouted down by the likes of originalkoppite, but I am sorry to say that this season and the immediate future looks even more bleak than I envisaged 7 months ago. The usual pattern is emerging at ER, sell or let go our best player;s and replace them with free's and loanee's. If anyone honestly believes that is the way forward, then they see something I don't !
NYwhites
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 09:18 PMI'm concerned like all Leeds fans that this is the thin end of the wedge. I know SG hasn't the funds and I know the chairman doesn't release the funds required to full fill the clubs and fans ambition. So what's the answer? A new chairman........yes. Manager as well....no. Give SG some funds to match his and our ambition and then judge but not now. Let's be thankful the chairman pulled us out of administration...thanks Mr Bates but please make your money and sell the club. Our problem is to who? A new investor will only be interested in a club that can succeed at the highest level and make them some money.....that could be us. Great fans, facilities and a stadium with potential...tick. The sooner the better I'd say. One more thing a protest I fear will achieve nothing....Mr Bates will only go when somebody makes him a nice offer. I hate to say it, if you want Bates out don't protest....yeah I know...but think about it. We care and will watch Leeds and will buy the shirts and the tickets. So what's the answer......get behind the team, shout and scream, support SG to keep some stability and we might just get lucky and into the play offs. I fear the only way to get rid of Bates is to get promoted and attract a new investor!!! I don't think he's against the fans or the manager, he does things his way and no player is bigger than the team.....But either put up the cash or sell the club but this is not sustainable
paz
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 09:13 PMLEEDS (languishing in the championship) -v- NORWICH (holding their own in the premiership). SIMON GRAYSON -v- PAUL LAMBERT. IT REALLY IS A NO-BRAINER, ISN'T IT? Say no more!
paz
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 08:58 PMThe player exodus has begun! GOD help LEEDS! The only thing that may save us is if Grayson is immediately replaced by a high profile and successful manager. I vote for SOLSJEAR (I think I mispelt it but you all know who I mean).
Chugmonkey
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 08:45 PMThanks Steve50. I actually work at Carrow Road (although not for the club - they have several offices there) and I see Paul Lambert wandering aboutt. He's the most understated person you'll ever come across. He also never takes any credit in interviews, it's always all about his players and other staff. I'm not sure what Grayson is like, but if he has half the respect that PL gets then he'll do just fine. Seems that from reading many comments though, people don't see him as being the one who's the problem!
steve50
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 08:28 PMGreat call Chugmonkey unfortunately many Leeds fans see the problem as purely Bates, to read some of the posts you would think Grayson was the best manager in the country. Like your club we need a clean sweep, new chairman, new manager with fresh ideas and a number of new players, other than that we are ok!!! I also think that Lambert has been brilliant as opposed to Original Koppite on here who seems to think he's been a bit lucky, oh how I wish Grayson had half of that ability sorry I mean luck.
Chugmonkey
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 08:04 PMHi, I discovered this article by chance and read with interest the reaction of many Leeds fans about the current state of your club. Being a Norwich fan I know I run the risk of being shouted down by offering my opinions, but as my club are on the verge of sighing Jonny Howson I thought it would be interesting for a few of you to hear an outsider's opinion, bearing in mind the mess we were in not so long ago. I don't need to document too much the shambles created at Norwich under the guidance of Glen Roeder and a Chief Exec, who didn't have a clue for years on how to run a football club properly (this went from bad to worse when Brian Gunn was appointed - fantastic bloke, but clueless as a manager!). Once we were relegated (again!) Delia Smith and her board made the bravest and best decision of thier footballing lives and appointed a Chief Exec (David McNally). This one decision along with McNally's immediate appointment of Paul Lambert changed the club's future and fortunes literally overnight. These two key figures have re-built the club into a force on the pitch and re-structured it's finances off of it. Kevin Costner's film line - 'Build it and they will come' has never been more apt than for Norwich City. Sell out gates every week from League 1 through to the Premiership isn't a co-incidence. When Norwich signed Bradley Johnson from Leeds last year, to be honest many of our fans, including me had never heard of him. Although many Leeds fans commented that he worked hard, he was hardly seen as a great loss to you. We were sceptical too, but what he has given us is a player who will run and run and gives a physical presence, which we severely lacked. There's others there to do the skillful stuff. Paul Lambert builds teams, not individuals. It's the sum of the parts that counts. He has largely crafted a team out of young, talented lower league players. There's others there too, like Grant Holt who have a point to prove, but they share one thing common - a hunger to win for thier manager and club. Although Jonny Howson may not be the best player in the world, I can guarantee, before I even see him kick a ball, that Lambert has seen him as his type of player. He will pull up trees for his new team and I know this because Lambert demands nothing less every game. I've also never known a Norwich player under his care to whine or complain about not playing either. There's total respect. That has to be earned. You can probably tell that how much respect I have for my club at the moment too, but it's not always been that way. It seems like many of you are in that place at the moment. However, it seems like brave decisions also need to made at Elland Road before your great club (and I mean that honestly), end up in the lower leagues like we did. Everyone knows there isn't a magic formula for success in football, much of it still relies on luck and hard work. However, Norwich kickstarted this with new men in charge, on and off the field. Who knows - Leeds might need to do the same too?? Good luck for the rest of the season and I hope to see you back in the Premiership soon at Carrow Road!
D Bowden
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 07:54 PMWell said everybody, except you know who! I just had an idea, I don't know how we'd go about it, but why don't we all do what we can to support the FA and Inland Revenue in trying to shop Bates and his smorgasbord of dummy companies? It's not only us he has done this to, just read his wiki page, FFS!, he's been doing this since his 20's, and i'm sure those who have been victim of him in the past have had their ten penneths worth with the people who need to know, so us adding to it will hopefully do the trick. Sue him for libel for referring to us as moron's; Chelsea fans did when he called them 'parasites' though he may have had a point on this occasion ; ) , he settled out of court, which says it all. Let's hit him from all directions, like Leeds United teams always used to do; let's finish this parasitic leper off once and for all. MOT!!!
waccoe
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 07:07 PMWho next in the January sale Well White, Parker & Sam all have contracts that end this June. & Snods in 2013 (looks like he will run down his contract now) Clearly we are looking at mid table this season now - Not happy
Bluesman
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 05:57 PMGrayson should back the fans on this one. How can he ever make an impact when all of his best players are continually sold from under his nose! He couldn't persuade Howson to sign, because he knows the truth. Bates is just milking the club for what it is worth and taking the money of honest fans who pay at the turnstiles, season tickets and buy merchandise. BATES is laughing. BATES is a second rate loser who cannot run a football club and needs to go for trhe sake of Leeds United. Grayson should back the fans by walking. Everyone knows that things wil have to get a lot worse before they get any better, but do the fans want the fight? It will take more than a few protests under the watchful eye of Sky! Those who don't hit the club financially in the pocket week after week are condoning BATES's bad policies and behaviour!!!!! Grayson should resign out of principle like Martin O' Neil did at Aston Villa. I have to say that principles come at a high price! Leeds fans can lead the way and show their disgust. Season over now! Don't renew season tickets, Dont renew season tickets!!
WhiteMagic
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 05:51 PM@#33 . In an ideal world...maybe! But then the owner isn't that creative in squad matters...but he knows how to develop hotel businesses!!!
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