Less than ideal territory for signing a striker, but Leeds United can still count home turf support for Millwall visit - Graham Smyth

At full-time on Saturday Ben White was one of the last Leeds United players to trudge towards the 2,973 Whites in the School End at Loftus Road.
Leeds United fans travelled to QPR, were put through the ringer again by their side but still showed their support at the final whistle (Pic: Bruce Rollinson)Leeds United fans travelled to QPR, were put through the ringer again by their side but still showed their support at the final whistle (Pic: Bruce Rollinson)
Leeds United fans travelled to QPR, were put through the ringer again by their side but still showed their support at the final whistle (Pic: Bruce Rollinson)

An irate youth craned forward in the direction of the defender and flailed his arm dismissively, venting the still-raw emotion only a defeat can bring, at a 22-year-old loanee who can claim to be one of the club’s best-performing players all season.

There were plenty of others with their arms above their heads, but they were applauding White as he applauded them.

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That intensified as he took off his shirt and offered it to a young fan.

Leeds fans like White. Even the supporter who was expressing his despair in such an animated manner must like White, how could he not? The Championship rookie has been superb for the vast majority of the 2019/20 campaign.

Leeds fans still like this team.

It is a team who play good football, a team who have given them plenty to cheer about and a team who have given Leeds fans a good chance of celebrating something in May.

And on Tuesday night when Millwall arrive, intent on worsening the mood around Elland Road by pushing over a United team mid-wobble, Leeds fans will serenade their players on to the pitch, as per usual.

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There might be a decibel or two more, in the roar that greets Marcelo Bielsa’s men when they walk out at 7.40pm, because Leeds fans aren’t stupid, they know how pivotal this period of time could be for this football club.

In the midst of a poor run of form – a blip if viewed through a glass half full, a worrying trend if your glass is half empty – and with no sign of a breakthrough in the striker hunt just yet, the last thing the players need is to feel anxiety pouring down from the stands ahead of kick-off.

And they won’t. Of course they won’t. The nerves that Leeds fans feel at present only tend to make themselves apparent later in games, if it’s tight.

It would certainly do no harm for the general atmosphere if a new striker was paraded before kick-off but, at this stage, it looks like the January hunt could eke into the final days of the window which follow the game against the Lions.

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Leeds are in less-than-ideal territory as they attempt to bag an important signing.

A glance to the left shows the Profit and Sustainability [P&S] rules that prevent a huge wad of cash being thrust in the general direction of Southampton, Watford or Hull, for the kind of players everyone would like to see in the Championship.

And it would take a huge wad of cash to get those players, outright.

Even if a truckload of £50 notes arrived in the form of new investment, the club have said they’re right up against P&S and could not spend big, without breaching the rules and risking a big points deduction in the near future.

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Gambling on Premier League status and failing to secure it could be extremely costly in the long run, for a club that knows all about financial irresponsibility from bitter historic experience.

A look to the right shows a stagnant January transfer market, yet to move in a way that sparks a cascade of deals, from the Premier League and down, making the Che Adams and Andre Grays of this world available on the kind of deals Leeds can afford.

A loan, with an option or obligation to buy appears to be their best domestic bet, but only if one of their targets becomes surplus to requirements at his club.

At present, that isn’t the case.

Gray is not for sale at Watford, Southampton have rejected three bids for Adams and, although Leeds won’t retract their interest, they have to look and move forward.

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It is still possible and, as of right now, most likely that the continental market will hold the key to strengthening the strikeforce.

Things can and do change in January though, particularly when clubs in the top flight start to blink, or have their heads turned by something new and shiny elsewhere.

None of it is particularly relevant to the next game for Leeds United, a deal isn’t expected to be done in time for a new player to sign, train and impress Bielsa sufficiently with his fitness in training and, most likely, an Under-23s game or two, to earn a place in the senior matchday squad.

So the Leeds United who take to the pitch on Tuesday night will be the same Leeds United side the fans know and love.

They still like this team.

They’ll show it.