Has McDermott signed duds for Leeds?

There was a great deal of excitement when Friar Brian was appointed, and he still has a reservoir of good will to call upon - not least because he replaced Old Big Gob - but questions are beginning to be asked about his transfer dealings.

First off, his decision not to recruit loan signings ahead of the crucial Derby game, because of the imminent two week international break, seems like short termism of the very worst form. So what that two weeks' wages will be wasted, surely what matters is for any new recruits to be given time to "bed down" in the Leeds squad. You don't want to bring somebody in on a Thursday and pitch him into the starting 11 on the Saturday, so the break is actually a reason to sign now, rather than later. Unless money is absurdly tight.

Then there are the question marks over the players he has brought in. Murphy was dropped for the win over Bournemouth, and so was Wootton. Smith didn't start and Complete Hunt is still goalless - although to be fair, he did win the penalty against the Cherries.

With money tight, it had to be used wisely in the summer, and the evidence suggests that Friar Brian has frittered it rather than invested it. Maybe, just maybe, his signings could be justified by the "building for the future" argument, but does anybody really believe that messers Wootton, Murphy and Smith have a future in the Prem? It's stretching credibility if we are honest, isn't it?

So, the jury is out on Friar Brian and his band of merry men. Another reverse at Derby will increase the anxiety because Leeds won't have the advantage of an extra man too many times this season, and against eleven, the team has struggled of late.

McDermott was recruited to make a difference, but thus far, results have been no better than under Warnock and his recruits have done little to improve the squad. It is not the start Leeds fans were hoping for!