With word play that scintilating, even if we don’t win the league at least we’ll have this article title to look back on fondly. Leeds have finally dipped into the transfer market to strengthen and while the targets required another bout of Googling (and were certainly not targets Neil Redfearn identified), we do have some new faces.

Foreign faces, granted. And I don’t mean that in a Farage-esque pseudo-racist way, but in a “they’re quite new to the league and might take time to adjust”. But, it does look like we’ve got some promising players through the door, so let’s look at them.

Sol Bamba

The same Sol Bamba who played 52 matches for Leicester in 2011-12 before signing for Trabzonspor (for £750k). A big, powerful centre-back who had previously been linked with Premiership teams – Sol could well have the qualities we’ve been craving. An Ivory Coast International too, having played at the 2014 World Cup.

There are downsides too, though. Bamba missed the latter half of the 2013/14 season through injury and has played just one match so far this term so it’s unlikely that he’ll be match fit and in peak form by the time we get to use him. This could mean a difficult few games for him, immediately needing to adjust to forwards who have 20+ games of first team matches under their belt. I think he could be a good signing if he stays fit and adjusts quickly. Certainly has the CV for it.

Granddi Ngoyi

A team-mate of Bamba’s at Palermo; a defensive midfielder by trade who was described by a fan as “good, but picks up too many cards”. Right up our alley then?

It sounds very much like he’s a combative midfielder, suited to the “ball-winning midfielder” role. He’s played 25 times for Palermo since signing for them in 2013 which isn’t enormous, but should mean he’s fit-enough to get involved whenever Neil wants him to. If we’ve lamented our lack of solidity, Ngoyi could add it.

But, if I’m honest, I don’t see him being much more than a squad player. With recent form showing that Lewis Cook and Luke Murphy need to play, in the 4-2-3-1 formation it’d have to be one of those two that get dropped. Cook has consistently been our brightest performer this season and Million Dollar Murph has recently been unstoppable. As such I’d only really consider Ngoyi a tactical addition if we lack bite in midfield, rather than being a signing who pushes others out of the side.

Unless, of course, someone like Murphy is pushed higher up the pitch to make way, but that would presumably mean that Austin makes way and I don’t think his recent form would merit that. And if anyone else is going to slot into the CAM role, it’d be the recall of Adryan the Wonderhorse.

So where do they fit in?

So ultimately I’m not fully certain where Ngoyi will slot into our plans, considering the number of central midfielders on our books (Norris, Tonge, Austin, Mowatt, Cook, Murphy, Dawson) vs. our desperate need for creativity on the left. Teams have started to work out that our best attacking opportunities come via Sam Byram on the right, and while I do rate Alex Mowatt, he’s not really at that same level currently. To be more unpredictable we need to be equally dangerous down either side, so I’d have thought that would be a worthwhile position to invest in.

There is an argument for getting a proper goal-scorer in, but we’ve not been rumoured with any and these aren’t the sorts of players who move around on loan in January. In reality, Morison has done quite well and is unlucky to have not found the net yet. Antenucci has proven himself a valuable asset and Sharp certainly has the qualities on paper – I wouldn’t really be looking at fringe strikers at this point; we’re not in a position to spend and therefore we’re not in any position to sign worth displacing others for.

Whereas there are wide, creative players around who could be tempted on a loan. Hell, Scott Sinclair must be bored counting cash and might fancy putting his boots on a few more times.

Ultimately this weekend’s fixture against Huddersfield is important, we need to build momentum and I genuinely believe we’ll win. I don’t disagree with the signings as such, and Bamba certainly has the qualities (on paper) to add what we need. Ngoyi is a bit of a strange addition considering the formation and players available, but he could be a box-to-box beast – and that would be terrific. I think we’re lacking a left-sided creative player to reduce reliance on Byram, but I expect we’ll sign Edgar Çani instead.

So here we are, the Sheriff has become the Chef (I wonder if Morrisons will start stocking Massimo’s Special Pasta Sauce?) as he tries to build a squad to order. I wonder if he’s delivering dishes to Neil that weren’t requested though? There’s nothing more frustrating than ordering soup only to be faced with a plate of wings. Sure, the wings might be delicious, but I was planning on having chicken for my main course. You see, Ngoyi is the chicken wings. It’s a metaphor. Dammit Massimo, get back in the kitchen and get me what I asked for.

Oh and Billy Sharp wants a roast dinner.