Leeds have confirmed, via the official Website, the signing of former Portsmouth captain Jason Pearce on a 4 year deal.
Pearce started his career with the Fratten Park club before spending 4 years with Bournemouth, a team he also captained. He returned to Portsmouth last summer in a £500000.00 deal making 44 appearances. He has over 250 career appearances to his name.
Pearce was the outstanding player for Portsmouth captaining them through administration and a 10-point deduction. He secured the player of the year award for 2011/2012 and won 7 of the 9 awards available for the south coast club.
Leeds had been tracking Pearce for some time with Neil Warnock admitting he initially tried to sign the defender in March. With Warnock reshaping his team for a push for promotion in 2012/13, he has moved quickly to secure Pearce’s signature.
With the season ending in disappointment and Leeds missing out on either promotion or a play-off place, Neil Warnock has finally published his retained list. There are a couple of you would perhaps expect to be leaving and vice-vera.
Staying with Leeds?
Leeds have announced they have offered new contracts to 6 players. It was initially announce a couple of weeks ago that the club had offered Robert Snodgrass a contract that would see him become the top earner at Leeds. However, the club Captain has so far not signed the improved deal. This is largely due to the lack of ambition shown by Leeds during the last few seasons with players such as Jonny Howson and Max Gradel leaving.
The list also confirms talks are ongoing with Aidy White, who is out of contract this summer. White has reportedly attracted interest from Newcastle and Bolton, with Leeds due compensation if he does leave due to his age.
One of the most important contract which needs renewing is top scorer, Ross McCormack. Neil Warnock will sit down with the representatives of our Scottish international forward with a view to extending his contract beyond next season.
Tom Lees and Zac Thompson have also impressed Warnock enough to be considered part of his plans next season. The sixth new contract will be a major surprise to most fans. Michael Brown will be offered a new 1-year deal, albeit on reduced terms. This comes as he struggled for the most part during Simon Grayson’s reign and relied heavily on the impressive Adam Clayton towards the end of the season when he did get a run in the side.
Leaving Leeds?
Clayton however is free to find a new club and has been transfer listed. After opening his scoring account against West Ham, Clayton spent most of the season in the team. He started to look jaded until suspension forced his to miss games, but came back strong on his return to the team.
Others to be transfer listed are Paul Rachubka, Paul Connolly, Andy O’Brien, Billy Paynter and Ramon Nunez. Warnock has stated that any player leaving Leeds will only do so if the club receives a suitable offer. This could see these players returning to pre-season training and fighting for their place in the squad for next year.
Five players have also been release with immediate effect after the expiry of their contracts. Mikael Forssell and Danny Webber who both signed on Short term deals join Alex Bruce and Lloyd Sam in leaving Leeds. Maik Taylor has signed a contract with Millwall after joining the London club on loan.
Paul Robinson and Darren O’Dea had both been released from their loan contracts before the end of the season while Mika Vayrynen and Ben Parker left after having their contracts terminated by mutual consent last month.
We have opened a new poll. Tell us which of the eleven players potentially leaving Leeds would you have liked to stay.
Leeds head to Blackpool tonight on the back of Saturdays victory over Peterborough. With very little to play for Neil Warnock may decide to rotate hrs players as he looks to improve his squad for next season. Kick off is 8.00pm.
Warnock may start with Billy Paynter up front along side Ross McCormack with the pairing scoring 2 goals each on Saturday. Robert Snodgrass should start on he right and if fit, Robbie Rogers could start on the right. Danny Pugh will partner Adam Clayton in the middle with Michael Brown out suspended.
Harlow Taylor will probably miss out after his nightmare meaning a recall for Paul Robinson. Darren O’Dea should partner Tom Lees in the centre. Wanock may choose to recall Paul Connolly at right full back but could continue with Leigh Bromby meaning Lees moving to right full back. Andy Lonergan will start in goal.
Lucciano Becchio, Danny Webber, Ramon Nunez and Alex Bruce will all make the bench with either Paul Robinson, should he miss out on a start, or Charlie Taylor should make he final place in the squad.
Elsewhere, Ben Parker and Mika Vayrynen have both left the club after their contracts were cancelled by mutual consent. Both were injured and were out of contract in the summer. Good luck to both players from Northeastellandroad.co.uk.
Leeds head into the penultimate home game if he season still looking for a first victory at Elland road under Neil Warnock. Leeds face Peterborough with kick off at 3.00pm.
Leeds will be forced to make changes again win Michael Brown suspended following his red card against Derby. Adam Clayton should return to the starting line up after he completed his own ban. Danny Pugh is likely to start alongside Clayton with Snodgrass on he right wing. Should Ramon Nunez start, Ross McCormack may start from the left and swap places with Nunez. Lucciano Becchio will again lead the line.
Warnock may leave the defence unchanged meaning Leeds will start with a back 4 of Paul Connolly, Tom Lees, Darren O’Dea and Paul Robinson, who has extended his loan until the end of the season. Andy Lonergan will continue in goal.
Mikael Forssell, Billy Paynter, Leigh Bromby, Danny Webber and Robbie Roger should all make the bench. Warnock may however decide to give some of the youngsters a chance to impress in readiness for next season.
Leeds face Derby County today at 3.00pm at Elland Road.
With several defeats in recent weeks, Leeds will be looking for a confidence boosting victory but will do so with a team still depleted with suspensions. Zac Thompson joins Paul Connolly and Adam Clayton in missing out.
Darren O’Dea returns to the squad and may get an immediate recall at centre back which could see Leigh Bromby or Alex Bruce miss out.
Danny Pugh should start alongside Michel Brown in midfield with Robert Snodgrass on the wing. With Aidy White likely to miss out again through injury, Ramon Nunez could come in for a start.
Ross McCormack and Lucciano Becchio will continue upfront and will be looking to find the net again after not scoring for around 3 games.
The bench should remain pretty much unchanged meaning Mikael Forssell and Billy Paynter likely to take their usual place.
Leeds face an in-form Reading side on good Friday kicking off at 2.00pm.
Neil Warnock will be forced to make changes to the team which lost to Watford last weekend with Paul Connolly, Darren O’Dea and Adam Clayton all suspended. In comes Thompson in Midfield with Danny Pugh replacing Aidy White.
Leigh Bromby starts in defence with Tom Lees, Alex Bruce and Paul Robinson. Andy Lonergan continues in goal.
Lucciano Becchio and Ross McCormack start up front and Michael Brown continues in the anchor role. Robert Snodgrass starts on the left and stays on as captain.
Charlie Taylor returns to the squad as a substitute alongside Billy Paynter, Mickael Forssell, Danny Webber and a comeback for Robbie Rogers.
Leeds face Watford at 3.00 pm today at Elland road sitting 3 points adrift of a play-off place.
Neil Warnock will be forced to make one change with Darren O’Dea suspended after he picked up his tenth booking of the season. Tom Lees and Alex Bruce should team up in the centre with Paul Connolly at full back. Andy O’Brien and Leigh Bromby will miss out after coming through 45 minutes in a training game.
Aidy White could miss out through injury meaning Danny Webber could start. Lucciano Becchio will continue upfront alongside current top scorer Ross McCormack. Robert Snodgrass will again captain the side.
Adam Clayton will partner Michael Brown in the centre of midfield. Paul Robinson will continue at left full back with Andy Lonergan in goal.
As for the bench, it will be a choice from Mikael Forssell, Zac Thompson, Billy Paynter, Ramon Nunez, Alex Cairns or Danny Pugh.
Leeds head to Milwall looking to bounce back from Tuesday nights heavy defeat. Kick-off is 3.00pm.
Neil Warnock will have limited faces available so is likely to name a very similar side to Tuesday Night. Andy O’Brien could come into contention although he has only played around 45 minutes of reserve team football in recent weeks. Darren O’Dea could be the one to miss out.
Paul Robinson should continue at left full back meaning Danny Pugh sitting on the bench again. Paul Connelly should start after looking better in recent weeks.
Andy Lonergan will start in goal and will have his understudy, Maik Taylor, at the other end of the pitch in goal for Milwall. This comes after the Leeds manager allowed him to face his parent club. Warnock has confirmed Taylor has no future with the club.
Ross McCormack will start alongside Lucciano Becchio with Robert Snodgrass on the wing. Warnock may decide to start with Danny Webber meaning Aidy White Would miss out and start on the bench. Adam Clayton and Michael Brown should start in midfeield.
Mikael Forssell, Billy Paynter, Zac Thompson and Ramon Nunez will all be in the squad and hoping for a place on the bench.
Leeds face a Nottingham Forest team struggling at the wrong end of the table. Kick-off on Tuesday night at Elland road is 7.45pm.
Again Neil Warnock is likely to name an unchanged starting line-up from the one which should have secured all 3 points against West Ham United on Saturday. This will see Michael Brown start in midfield alongside the resurgent Adam Clayton.
Up front, Lucciano Becchio will look to his recent goal tally. He will again be supported by Ross McCormack with Robert Snodgrass leading the team. Aidy White will be on the right wing.
Paul Robinson will start at left back after impressing since joining on loan. Tom Lees will continue his partnership with Darren O’Dea in the centre with Paul Connolly completing the back line.
One or two players could return from injury, which could see Andy O’Brien potentially replacing Zac Thompson on the bench. With rumours of an injury sustained to one of the other strikers, Billy Paynter could find himself back on the bench after his loan deal to Notts County was cancelled.
Warnock will again chose to not have a keeper on the bench. So Ramon Nunez, Danny Webber, Mikael Forssell and Danny Pugh should all make up the final places in the squad.
Mika Vayrynen, Leigh Bromby, Alex Bruce, Patrick Kisnorbo and David Somma all remain on the injury list.
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