Heckingbottom's saying all the right things at Leeds but he needs to walk before he runs
COMMENT
Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom is setting his sights high by stating that the play offs are still in sight but he really should be forgetting about any chance of notable success this season.
The new manager revealed his short term plans for consistency in the hope that it would breed success, with a top six spot said to be an achievable aim, mirroring what the likes of managing director Angus Kinnear has been saying all season.
The new man obviously wants to impress his new bosses and is therefore saying what they, and the fans probably, want to head, but it is a mistake to commit to aiming for such heights when they appear to be out of reach.
He has just made the massive step up from Barnsley to Leeds, and while he might know about the history and the size of the club, he still needs to learn to walk before he can run considering the magnitude of the task ahead of him.
His comments on consistency and stability are exactly what the club need but that has got to be not just their short term aims but the target for the rest of the season and beyond, helping to build a mindset of high quality from every performance throughout the squad.
Seven points adrift of the play offs is not a lot at the end of the day but with the form other club’s are showing, and the fact the Whites have just appointed a new man to the helm, it is time to start afresh and give the manager time to bed in, even if it means ending hopes of a top six spot.
In other Leeds United news, the boss has confirmed action has been taken to stamp out a major issue plaguing the club.