The Scandinavian support

In Denmark where I live there's always been a lot of Leeds fans, there's even more in our neighbour countries Norway and Sweden. A couple of times a year loads of Scandinavian Leeds fans take the trip over to Leeds to watch the team the started loving during 60/70/80 or 90's televised games and from reading "Shoot" or "Match" football magazines.

I've been over to see Leeds three times and seen a total of six games (Always book for two homegames so the trip has a perfect ending with a game the day before leaving again), the first time was in League One and I saw a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 Tuesday win, the time after things started brightly with a 1-0 win against Sheffield U, but then disaster struck and have been staying with me since when visiting ER - The next game was the horrible 4-6 game against PNE, so that night I witness a Leeds record for conceding, and my next trip we saw another draw and off course on the Tuesday Blackpool smashed us 0-5, Leeds biggest home defeat in my lifetime, so once again a terrible Leeds record to witness.

My point with this blog is coming now, I was meant to have been over for the West Ham and Forest games, but my education and work got in the way, so sadly I couldn't make it, but after Tuesdays result I'm actually quite happy I couldn't, it would have been unbearable to witness my team break another tragic Leeds record.

I know about 1000 Scandinavians were over, among them many I know via facebook, twitter and of course in real life, and I must say that they took the defeat nicely, but then again you can't do much else then laugh when seeing games like those can you?

The support Leeds get from overseas is amazing, I have the utmost respect for all of the fans who spent loads of £'s on trips over again and again (and of course also all of you who live closer and spent big bucks on the club), and even if we sometimes fail (A LOT !!!), I still look forward to visiting Leeds again and hopefully this time colleting six points from my double game.

This picture is me after the Sheffield U game, you wouldn't want to see me after Preston.

Marching on together!

My least favorite 11 Leeds United players.

As a follow up to my blog last week about my favorite Leeds 11, I'll now do my least favorite players. Once again it's not the ones who were the worst players, it's just the 11 players i disliked during or after their Leeds time. I will not put any loanes in my team, it would only be players who had permanent contracts. I'll once again set them up in a 442 and also pick the manager I've hated the most.

The worst Leeds goalkeeper ever: KASPER SCHMEICHEL.

He was arrogant, cocky, never had time for the fans and a declared Man U fan - worse then these things, he was also pretty shite. I am so happy he's gonna stay in the champoinship for another season, because as a Dane I'd hate to see him play on the national team, especially now that I don't have to see him play for my beloved Leeds United anymore.

The worst right back in Leeds history: JASON CROWE.

Jason was a terrible footballer, he actually started out looking ok, but things quickly turned for him and he vanished from the club, currently he's playing in league two, which might be his level exactly! The worst thing for me about Jason Crowe came on my first ever trip to Leeds. I stood outside the stadium to get some autographs from our players, and all of a sudden Jason stood in front of me, what was I to do.. I had to let him sign my shirt, and the moron signed just below the badge, so everytime I look at my shirt now, I always see his autograph right next to legends like Lorimer and Snoddy's - So that was actually enough for him to get the spot on my team.

Leeds' worst central defender ever: RIO FERDINAND.

God how I hate that guy, I actually disliked him when he joined and throughout his career in the club, but it's turned into hate after he left. Seeing him win everything in the game while at scum haven't helped him gain less hate from me either.

Another terrible central defender in Leeds: CARLTON PALMER

I know he was used in midfield, but I have so many terrible and annoying midfielders to choose from so all arms and legs will have to play in defence on my terrible Leeds players team. The money used to buy Carlton was about the same we gained when we sold David Batty, I sure know who of those two I'd rather have in my team. This guy actually played about 25 games for England, they must have had massive problems in the 90's, I wouldn't even have picked him for a Sunday league team.

The worst ever left back in Leeds and maybe the world: NIGEL WORTHINGTON.

Useless, just utter useless. I am happy to see that he's had a bit more success as manager then he did as a player.

Leeds worst right midfielder: LEE SHARPE.

Yeah, he might have been a left winger (but I had to get Kewell on), so Sharpey will get the right wing today. I hated him because I had such expectations when he joined, I thought we were going places after signing him, and well, he failed and didn't really look like he was trying not to. The fact that we spend the Gary Speed money on him doesn't ease my pain whenever I think of Sharpe in Leeds. Once again Man U got the better of us in a transfer deal, at least we managed to get ginger Strachan of them back in the day. 

Worst central midfielder in Leeds history and also a total twat: KEVIN NICHOLLS.

What an absolute cunt, you get picked to captian the greatest team in England and soon after you start crying because you want to return to freakin' Luton Town! This gut was a disgrace and I can't see many people making a most disliked Leeds team without having him in it. He actually got back to Luton a few years after leaving Leeds and here he suffered a career ending injury so at least he got what he deserved.


Another awful central midfielder: TOMAS BROLIN.

To say the expectations were high when Brolin joined Leeds is to lie, expectations were massive - Brolin was a proven international who had done brilliantly in Parma in Italy. Sadly he never quite found any sort of form in Leeds, actually he was totally out of form most of time. He did love the pies and all of the other unhealty stuff you can eat so he might not think of his Leeds days with as much horror as we do, at least he got to enjoy the wonders of the british pub meals.

The worst left sided midfielder in Leeds United history: HARRY "JUDAS" KEWELL.

I was so disappionted when Harry left Leeds for Liverpool, the way he and his agent got the deal done didn't help in my eyes. But what came form Harry was far worse, when he joined G*** (SCUM) he ruined everything for himself, I am confident he'll never show his face in Leeds again, and that must be hard when you consider what he brought us when he played, he was a legend in the making and he fucked it all up by greedy and stupid decisions.

My most disliked Leeds United forward: MICHAEL BRIDGES.

Bridges had a fantastic first season in Leeds and everybody thought the O'leary had grabbed a diamond when he signed him. Soon after his succesful first season he was badly injured and saw out his big money contract in Leeds on the side lines. When he finally, kind of, returned to fitness he didn't give a shit about Leeds (who had gone from Champions League contenders to relegation) and left the club. Bridges like Kewell could have become a Leeds legend in my eyes, but also choose money over loyalty.

Another horrible Leeds United Forward: MICHAEL RICKETTS.

Another Michael finds his way into my most hated Leeds United players. Ricketts, a former England international, joined Leeds after the clubs relegation to the Championship, and much like Billy Paynter he failed to score (Well Billy actually has one league goal which keeps him off the list). I think we all had big hopes for Ricketts and thought he'd be the one who'd shoot us right back into the Prem, but instead he was a complete joke, and everyone was happy when he left the club, even though we got relegated further in "year one after the Ricketts Era" haha.

The worst ever Leeds manager: DENNIS WISE.

He was small, annoying, got us relegated to league one and he was and is Chelsea, nuff said.

Subs of other terrible Leeds players: MARK BEENEY, MICHAEL DUBERRY, JACOB BURNS, NICK BARMBY, ERIC CANTONA, TORE ANDRE FLO, JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK & KEVIN BLACKWELL

Unlike my blog about my favorite 11 Leeds players these players are of a younger date, the reason for this is that I feel it's ok to idiolize and admire people you have only heard of and seen on videos, but I feel that if you want to hate someone you have to have seen them play and have a genieune idea of why you choose to dislike them. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog, please leve your most hated Leeds 11 in the comments! 

My favorite 11 Leeds United players

I am having a few days off, and thought I'd use this long weekend on giving you all a look a my favorite 11 Leeds players, not neccessarily the eleven best players, but just the 11 that I've liked the most. I'll set up my team in a 442 and will also give you a look a my favorite manager.

My favorite Leeds goalkeeper of all time is: NIGEL MARTYN. 

Nigel joined the club a few years after I started supporting the club, and after having John Lukic and Mark Beeney between the sticks for some seasons I felt Nigel was sent from above. He was execellent and I always felt he gave it all in Leeds, my biggest regret with his time in Leeds is that we allowed him to leave for Everton (where he played great for more years) while we settled for Paul Robinson, a keeper I rate about as highly as Beeney or Lukic.


The best right back in my Leeds eyes is: GARY KELLY.

Kells was a club man, a thing you rarely find in modern football. His entire career was spent in Leeds and he was one of my first idols. I remember seeing a game on tv once against Liverpool (we lost 5-0), Gary was sent off but shortly after he was filmed in front of the Leeds crowd singing "We're Leeds, and we're proud of it".

Central Defender number one: THE CHEIF AKA. LUCAS RADEBE.

I am pretty sure you can't find a single Leeds fan with a bad word to say about Lucas. Signed along with Philomen Masinga (so Phil would't get homesick), nobody probably expected Lucas to be a icon at Elland Road but he sure is. I remember being in Leeds the day he signed autographs in his book in the Elland Road super store, the queue was insane - which goes to show how much Lucas meant and still means to the fans in Leeds.

Central Defender number two: JACK CHARLTON.

Even if I am far to young to have ever seen him play, he's still a guy I rate highly for his time in Leeds. A legend at the club after spending his entire career at ER, I always wonder why he never managed the club as well?! I mostly remember being told stories about him from older Leeds fans, and also remember him managing the Irish national team when they played Denmark in 1993. A guy who wore his heart on his sleeve in both his playing and managerial career.

Best Leeds United left back: NIGEL WORTHINGTON (NOT!!!!) TONY DORIGO.

I've picked Tony Dorigo over Ian Harte because I felt Tony was more of a defender then Harte was, he was quality without a doubt, but always felt he was better going forward, a bit like Aiden White in todays team. Tony Dorigo was a part of the championsship winning team in 91/92 and managed to get himself 15 England caps, despite fierce competition from Stuart Pearce among others.

Best right midfielder: LEE BOWYER.

Bow was the first player I had on the back of a Leeds shirt and I always rated him very highly, the day he left for West Ham was one of the worst days in my life as a Leeds fan (recently topped by Speed's death and the sale of Howson). Bowyer was a controversial guy, but whenever he fucked up off the pitch he just got better on it, who can forget the games he played during his court case. I never quite felt he got the career I expected him to, but then again many of the players we had in that period never really managed to play as well anywhere else.

The very best central midfielder ever in Leeds United (and the world): BILLY BREMNER.

There's not really much reason for me to explain this one, anyone connected to Leeds United will know why I've picked the captain of the crew - LEGEND!

Another great central midfielder in Leeds: DAVID BATTY.

A local lad who hated watching football and hated training football, but sure did love playing it. Tough tackling guy who always controlled the center of the pitch when he played. He was sold from Leeds to Blackburn shortly before I really started following Leeds, so my first memories of him is from when he returned - a masterpiece by David O'Leary to bring back a fans favorite in my opinion - He played really well, and was, much like Gary kelly, able to up his level whenever a new great player was bought for his position.

Best left sided midfielder in my Leeds history: EDDIE GRAY.

It was really hard to leave out Gary Speed for this spot in my team, but I just love watching old video clips of Eddie Gray, the goal he scored against Burnley was amazing, and in my opinion the best Leeds goal ever scored. Eddie's career was troubled by injuries, but when fit there was nobody better in the country. He is still very much connected to the club, having both managed us in the 80's and also a short spell as caretaker when the ship sank in 2004 - But typical of Eddie Gray, at least he tried to give his all and save Leeds United. Currently working with Thom Kirwin on matchdays on Yorkshire Radio, so still to this day he knows whats going on in the club.

One of the best strikers I've ever seen: JERMAINE BECKFORD.

A bit of an outside choice I'll be the first to admit, but despite all the great forwards we've had over the years, I still feel that Jermaine gave us all something we really had been crawing for years. He was a natural goalscorer and off course it didn't hurt his chances of getting in my team that he scored the vital goal on the 8th of may 2010 (oh and also on Old Trafford January 3rd). Without Jermaine I fear that we'd still be in League 1 today. Had we managed to keep him at ER after the promotion I think we would have been playing Premier League football now, but I always did understand his decision to try his luck at Everton (not so much his decision to join Leicester however).

The best Leeds United striker of all time: ALLAN "SNIFFER" CLARKE.

When becoming a Leeds fan in the early 90's one of the first things anyone older will tell you about is the great team of the 60's & 70's, and about the things that they won. When you ask them about specific games on players who scored game winners, they always say Allan Clarke - the fantastic flying header against Arsenal in the 1972 final is something that I enjoy each time I see it, and always dream that I'd one day see Becchio do the same, in either a cup finale or even better in a play off final.

My favorite Leeds United manager: SIMON GRAYSON.

Simon did so many great things for our club, and he always gave 100% - There was nothing better then seeing him celebrate a Leeds goal, he'd sometimes go more mad then the fans, he loved the club and we loved him.

SUBS: CASPER ANKERGREN, DOMINIC MATTEO, PAUL REANEY, ROBERT SNODGRASS, GARY SPEED, GARY MCALLISTER, LEE CHAPMAN & DON REVIE

Feel free to leave your favorite team and remember, it's just the ones I liked the most, probably not the best ever.
MARCHING ON TOGETHER!

Leeds United - Southampton March 3rd 2012

So Leeds United will finally be back on Danish tv tomorow, and I am really looking forward to seeing Neil Warnocks effect on the team. We had been promised a few new signings during the week, but in the same old Leeds style we were let down and no-one has come in, well exept Danny Webber who hasn't played since March 2010, so... - But there is still about 29 hours till kick off so I guess they an still dig someone up, unfortunatly Jack Charlton just broke his hip so Ken Bates won't be able to pull him into the team ;)

Hign flying Southampton will come to Elland Road with loads of confidence after tearing the league apart even though they were just promoted in the summer. They have an amazing home record and also dished out a 3-1 thrashing at the opening day to Leeds. Their away form is less frigthening and I hope that a buzzing ER and a team yelled on by Warnock can surprise them.

Leeds have lost three players in the last weeks, with the loans of Delph, Adam Smith and Andros "alien head" Townsend ending. Alex Bruce will also miss Saturdays game due to the injury he caught last week in Pompey. David Somma and Robbie Rogers will also miss out on the game but apart from those three, NW can pick who ever he wants, I think he'll go with the same players that played last week, only with Bromby replacing the injured Bruce.

I've got a good positive feeling about Leeds under Warnock, I had, much like anyone else, hoped for a signing or two of quality during the week, but I still feel that the team we have right now is better then where were at, so hopefully a good crowd at ER and a fired up team can start our push for promotion by beating the saints tomorrow.

I hope the crowd will cheer the lads on in NW's 1st homegame and show him what we can from the stands if we feel the team and management is fighting for us.

I think we'll win the game 2-1 with goals from strikers McCormack and Becchio.