The Loan Arranger rides again.................

After our salutary Football lesson at the hands of the Welsh invaders this week Lord Larry has moved fast to try and improve the quality of the team.  With the transfer window firmly closed he has ridden off into the football wilderness to try and find a forgotten gem that might just improve our consistently inconsistent team.  Unfortunately this is familiar territory for our leader as the Loan territory appears to be the only destination he can access with money for real transfers seemingly as difficult to find at Elland Road as it is to find a good Pork butcher in Jerusalem.  At the start of the season I bemoaned the fact that, with the exception of Kasper Schmeichel, no quality had been added to what in essence is a League 1 team and with the prolific Mr Beckford heading west on the M62 this could leave us exposed.  Well for exposed read Barnsley, Preston, Leicester and Cardiff.  The harsh realities of this tough league are there for all to see.

By the time you read this the identity of the new player Larry has indicated will be added to the squad for Saturdays short trip to Scunny should be known.  Andy O'Brien seems to be the player concerned if the "cyber gossip" is to be believed.  If that's so just who was Larry watching at Newcastle?  Again the Internet rumour mill approached overload as Alan Smith's name divided the Leeds faithful on Wednesday night.  Would he be welcome back at Elland Road? If it did happen a few classy performances would soon silence the unforgiving few me thinks?

So to Saturday's game and back to normal kick off times.  A difficult test against a solid team who will certainly examine Leeds' resolve and tenacity.  The vultures are already circling Elland Road after the recent disappointing run of form and another defeat will crank up the volume from the "sack Grayson" brigade.  Let's not forget we are only 3 months into the season after gaining promotion and this was always going to be one of consolidation?  The problem is the lack of investment in the team though and who carry's the can for that? For me it's difficult to decide if the "loan" strategy is driven by Larry or Capt Birdseye? I suspect the latter with the willing collusion of  the former.  It's a high risk gamble that could backfire if we are dragged back into the relegation dogfight come Christmas time.  It is with that in mind that the next 3 games take on a greater significance as we take on Scunny, Coventry and then the Codheads from Hull. 3 teams that we need to get the better of if we are to survive in the mid to higher reaches of the division. 5 points minimum from these games should stop the rot?  Anything less and we might just be on a downward spiral that's difficult to halt. That really would be a nightmare.
 
So will Saturday be a Trick or Treat for the Leeds faithful? Too close to call for me. Safety belts, harnesses and tin hats on we are about to enter heavy turbulence!
Can't wait.
MOT