If controversy is your idea of fun, walk into any bar around the Beeston area on Saturday afternoon and mention Neil Warnock and Simon Grayson in the same sentence. Follow by ordering your pint, locating the group with the highest raised eyebrows and grabbing a nearby seat. It may be best to order a couple of drinks actually, these things can take a while.
Naturally, the controversy stems from their polar-opposite styles of play. Grayson's side are built with the purpose of promoting attacking, free-flowing football. It doesn't matter if you score three, because we're going to score four, to quote a typical mantra. Clearly, it never mattered if all twenty-thousand were clenching their buttocks in anguish every time a counter broke from the opposition, either. Under Grayson, United were built to shock and surprise. A trip to Elland Road could've offered anything from a calamitous breakdown from Paul Rachubka to having a Ross McCormack tap-in seal victory in the 97th minute.
Perhaps Simon felt guilty about the prices the Elland Road faithful were having to pay and wanted to put on a show. With Warnock's ever-impending retirement, though, the clash in direction may stem from his desire to see through his career in the most predictable way possible. Nobody wants to see Neil crashing to the floor with a heart-trauma after Danny Pugh allows yet another mediocre winger in on goal. Despite the clash in style and focus, the only thing remains evident for those who've 'treated' themselves to a season ticket at Elland Road this season - It's not going to be pretty.
This shouldn't be read in any pessimistic tone, or even viewed as a damning statement ruling out any intention of promotion for Leeds this season. After a faultering start to Warnock's era (to put it kindly), 'major surgery' has seen a new look United line-up brace the field. Equipped with added bite and composure, the Yorkshire outfit look more organised and capable of holding firm against most attacks that will be thrown at them this season. New blood in Lee Peltier, Paddy Kenny, Adam Drury and Jason Pearce have completely over-wrote any lasting memory of a defence kindling a resemblance to that of Simon Grayson's, and for it all the better.
Despite a slight fear that young Peltier, Pearce and the now seemingly ever-present Lees may hold too little experience to hold strong throughout a whole campaign, the back line at Elland Road looks more dependable than any time previous under the demise of chairman Ken Bates' seven and a half reign. The extra protection extended from the new cult hero Rodolph Austin only further stresses the point that Leeds will be one of the hardest sides to beat in the division. And irrespective of Ronnie Jespon's ridiculous waistline, the entire squad seems to have avoided a similar fate, with the side looking in great physical shape. Initially, the new-born resilience of Leeds United is something to look upon with relief.
With that in mind, though, every decision comes with it's own consequence. A lack of invention or creativity seems to be the lasting impression on the rest of the squad as a reaction to the over-dependance to protect the defence. Of those that have joined the squad, Luke Varney remains the standout purchase in terms of attacking intent, a rather poor sign of things to come. Depsite a fairly positive pre-season campaign so far, the truth remains that Varney's contributions to a side in this division has consistently been below par. Last season, his offering of just six goals and one assist proved not enough as Portsmouth fell victim to relegation. Throughout his career, his record struggles to shine much brighter than this. Fellow Fratton Park arrival David Norris was mooted as a signing to bring more attacking intent to the side, yet also struggles to raise the temperature.
Throughout the midfield and attack, a lack of pace or invention leaves the side feeling flat and predictable. At the very least, an inventive winger to replace the heavy boots of Robert Snodgrass is required, alongside a new striker with instinctive class. Since the loss of Max Gradel (and before that Jermaine Beckford), the loss of attacking prowess has been painfully clear. Replacements like Danny Pugh further dug the coffin into the ground. Whilst the likes of Nicky Maynard and George Boyd have been raised by the media as solutions to the new issue at hand, securing talent of this calibre is now looking more and more like a losing battle. Warnock's damning statement on Tuesday night, re-igniting the seven-year regular cliché 'sell to buy' sent warning signals to all those in white that the likelihood of signing players with flashes of brilliance that have oh-so often been missing will be hard to come by yet again.
It's that lack of sparkle that will leave the fans with their chins resting firmly upon their palms. Whilst some like to roll off the cliché that the likes of Newcastle United and Liverpool were born to play beautiful football, it is often forgotten in the midst of a nationwide agenda towards 'Dirty Leeds' that attractive and engaging football is also a traditional aspect of the game at Elland Road. Sacrificing this as payment for success is an acceptable route to end the demise that has been since our relegation from the Premiership in 2004. Only time will tell if Warnock's decision to play Devil's Advocate to Grayson's previous regime will prove successful. Many will feel that without an improvement on what once was, the new brand of 'anti-football' will come at a price not worth paying.
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