Posts Tagged ‘Goal Scorer’
From back-up to Leed
With Jermaine Beckford leaving for Everton, the race was on for Leeds to replace the striker. Not the easiest job when you take into account Beckford’s 72 goals in 126 appearances for the Yorkshire side.
Billy Paynter was brought in on a free transfer from Swindon. Although Paynter scored 29 goals last term, he is more of a target man than an out and out goal scorer. Championship betting suggests that Lucciano Becchio won’t get 30 goals in a season but he will work all day to supply other people.
Many players have been mentioned in the press, to replace 30 goal Beckford. Billy Sharp, Leroy Lita and Gary Hooper have all been linked. Hooper, who enters the last year of his Scunthorpe contract this season, has been linked with Leeds for over a year. Celtic, Burnley and Middlesbrough are all supposedly in the hunt for the 22 year old. Scunthorpe are apparently asking for £3 million for Hooper, which may be too steep for Leeds. Chairman Ken Bates isn’t renowned for splashing the cash.
Leeds manager Simon Grayson might be confident enough in what he has already to impact on the Championship and even Carling Cup betting.
American striker Mike Grella, has been used sparingly by Grayson over the past couple of season. It’s been reported that many in the Leeds squad view him as their most skilful player. He has looked promising whenever he has been used and this could be a big season for Grella.
Perhaps the most promising find of last season was South African forward Davide Somma. After signing for Leeds in September 2009, he joined Chesterfield on loan before injury cut his spell short. He was then sent to Lincoln at then end of last season to gain more Football League experience. During his 14 games at Lincoln he scored 9 times. The quality, as well as quantity of the goals impressed Grayson enough, persuading him to hand Somma a one year extention to his current deal.
In Beckford’s early Leeds career, he spent time on loan in a lower division. When he returned from a successful spell at Scunthorpe, he brought that confidence back to Leeds and became an Elland Road hero. Many in West Yorkshire will be hoping Somma follows suite.
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