Leeds United fans had the chance to have their questions about the Whites answered with club writer Beren Cross.
After deadline day last week, supporters wanted some topics clearing up as they prepare for a busy schedule before this winter's World Cup in Qatar.
There were questions on Leeds' decision to allow Daniel James to head out on loan to Fulham, the club's plans to expand Elland Road and whether the Whites will renew their interest in Cody Gakpo in January.
Here is the full transcript of every question and answer.
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Olivetree: I’m intrigued by the fact that whenever another striker was mentioned in the summer window, the club was always looking at someone who can play across the line. Why the need to be able to play on the wing when we have Harrison, Sinisterra and Summerville and can understandably afford to let James go?
Beren Cross: A very good point. I think it comes down to versatility and essentially extracting more value from an investment. If you have someone who can play in more than one position, competently, they are going to be of more use in and around suspensions or injuries to other players. More pitch time means making better use of the money spent on that player. It’s also quite a fluid front four, don’t you think? Acquiring someone comfortable in the assisting and finishing of chances is better than one or the other.
Kel1: I have a couple of questions. The 49ers were in Leeds on Friday. Is this anything to do with a takeover or just bonding? Also, talk of us going back in for Gakpo in January. Is it true that he wanted to come or was it just paper talk?
BC: Members of the 49ers contingent make semi-regular visits throughout the year, so I would be surprised if the recent trip was for anything more specific than previous trips. Radrizzani said Gakpo is one the club will go after in January, but after a World Cup you have to believe his value should skyrocket and interest in his services could boom. Seems a tall order to go in and compete with Champions League clubs who want him.
Robbie67: Any concentrate news on the stadium development? I think 55k is too small looking at 36k sell out every week. I think a 60k stadium minimum is required.
BC: Nothing concrete, but Kinnear has spoken about developments with the process in the background. I don’t know if we’ll see anything in the public domain before Christmas, but I know it remains high on the club’s agenda. Staying up last season to secure a third PL season was critical in keeping the ball rolling. I agree they could probably go up to 80,000 and have a good chance of selling out, but I am sure you can appreciate the cost involved in going bigger and the associated risks. Every aspect of this redevelopment has to be assessed and done in a measured way. They will not want to bite off more than they can chew.
LordRaven: Do you feel Jesse will adapt and learn to keep his cool in the technical area?
BC: The narrative around his touchline behaviour and trying to affect referees came to a head on Saturday. Officials are not going to play into Marsch’s hands, especially when he is talking so openly about what he is trying to do. If he is banned from the touchline on Monday it’s going to be a hard lesson to learn and I would imagine he tries to modify his behaviour from here on out, though, quite rightly he deserves answers for some of the poor refereeing we have seen in recent weeks.
BMG: Was Drameh ever considered for LB and might he be in the future?
BC: It’s a theory I weighed up in a few pieces during the summer. I feel he would have the defensive attributes to do a job there, but it seems sensible to avoid muddying the waters in his development and letting him get settled at right-back first. Struijk does seem the better bet there, so I think they got that call right. Once Drameh grows in experience and confidence, I could certainly see him doing a job out there.
KentWhite007: I have a feeling we will be borrowing strikers from the U21s this season the way things are going. Does the adage ‘if they’re good enough they are old enough’ hold up in our case? Is it a risk we’re going to have to take?
BC: It does look like a risk to me. I wanted to see a senior striker added to the squad before the start of the summer because of Bamford’s injury record, Rodrigo’s unconvincing form across two years and Gelhardt’s inexperience.
Already Rodrigo and Bamford have missed matches this season through injury. That should sound alarm bells for the club’s trop brass and ultimately they left it until the final day of the window to act before unforeseen circumstances scuppered them. If, for whatever reason, those three are unavailable at the same time you would imagine much depends on Gnonto’s readiness before the attacking midfielders are tried out as false nines.
Craig92: Will between now and January effectively be a trial for Firpo? I know the club says they are happy with the LB options, but if Firpo struggles when fit, would Marsch push for a January addition?
BC: It feels like the jury has been out on Firpo since he arrived. Form and fitness have failed him throughout his 12 months here, but he could not have asked for more support this summer. The club was resolute in its backing of the left-back, but the absence of a natural back-up must mean Leeds will be tempted in January to find another option if Firpo really isn’t delivering the goods by then.
Mozza1952: Do you think Luke Ayling will keep his place at right-back after a great, albeit 20 minutes or so at Brentford? I think Llorente needs to be taken out for now, possibly put Cooper back in now he’s fit.
BC: I am not party to Ayling’s training sessions or physical data since his injury, but his body is ready to play at least an hour, I would start him at Forest. I don’t think Marsch will do that though. He will not want to harm Kristensen’s confidence so early in the season nor risk Ayling so soon after his comeback.
I would be surprised if any fans wanted to keep Llorente in on Saturday’s evidence. It just seems to make so much sense to recall the fit-again captain and take the Spaniard out of the firing line.
Jimjam74: What is the current hierarchy within our strikers?
BC: Everyone fit: Bamford, Rodrigo, Gelhardt, Harrison, Sinisterra, Aaronson, Gnonto. Right now. The same but with Rodrigo at the bottom with his injury.
Lisabee: Do you think the club will be looking at contract extensions for the likes of Ayling, Cooper, Dallas and Forshaw, and what’s the latest on Klich?
BC: We are right in the window where that quintet need to be impressing and proving they can keep delivering into the next phase of their careers. Ayling and Forshaw are the most pressing cases with their contracts expiring next summer. It really feels in the balance for those two. They are 31 and 30 respectively, which is nowhere near the hill, never mind over it. They need to get in the team for starters, if they can nail down places then I would not be surprised if they were offered terms. This summer’s arrivals would suggest they need to prepare to be back-ups in the next year or two. If they want to be first-choice starters they may need to move on.
Given how close Klich was to leaving this summer, you would imagine this is his last contract at Leeds. He could go in January or next summer if his squad status doesn’t improved. Assuming Cooper’s form follows the past two years in the top flight, I can see the captain getting another deal, while all eyes are on Dallas’s return. The ball is very much in his court.
F_Wilson6: Just a few queries on whether the seeming transfer policy of one in, one out, will remain in place in January?
BC: Given the summer window has just closed, it’s hard to really pin down the whole picture is going to look in January. There are so many variables which will play into each and every call the club needs to make in that next window.
Conniering: Dan James is a Welsh international and is going to the World Cup. With Leeds’ injury history, why have we released such a player on loan that we paid £25million for, when he was wanted by Spurs and Fulham, in order to save his wages? Big mistake in my opinion!
BC: It’s clear the entire episode involving James did not go to the plan Leeds had originally envisaged. The club suffered a net loss in experience and impact on a day they switch a winger for a striker in their squad. While deadline day was not especially satisfactory, James’s wider impact has been in question since he arrived for such a large fee last summer. He grafted, ran hard and pressed well, but in terms of threat with the ball at his feet, you can probably count his impactful appearances on one hand. He may well come back from Fulham reinvigorated and make a success of his time at Leeds, but based on the last 12 months it’s hard to see how United breakeven or make a profit with any onward sale.
Craig92: After a window of discussing strikers, have we had any word on the Augustin fee yet? If we have to pay anything would it dent the transfer budget or is it already set aside?
BC: Nothing on Augustin yet. CAS still going through its process.
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