Leeds United – Manchester United September 20th 2011 – Carling Cup

The glory days will return to Elland Road for a while on Tuesday night when fierce rivals Manchester United arrive in Leeds to play a 3^rd round game in the Carling Cup. The history and rivalry between the two teams go way back, the rose’s derby or the derby across the pennines have been the most important game for supporters of both teams since the 60’s, in the last couple of years we haven’t had to many of the games though, due to Leeds fall from grace. The most recent game was of course on January 3^rd 2010 when Jermaine Beckford’s winner gave, then third tier, Leeds United a 1-0 win at Old Trafford. Many players have left one team and gone to the other, the most important (for us) being Johnny Giles and Gordon Strachan who both guided us to big triumphs, our sale of Cantona to them being rather important too, unfortunately not for Leeds United who sold one of the 90’s best footballers for basically nothing.

Manchester United will arrive at Elland Road full of confidence after starting the season great with maximum points in the league were they have torn everything apart, beating both Arsenal & Chelsea on their way. In Europe they managed to snatch a draw in Portugal with a reserve side, probably the same side we will face on Tuesday night. I am pretty sure that Sir Alex Ferguson won’t underestimate Leeds United, and will be aiming to gain “revenge” after the humiliating defeat last year.

Leeds United will look to keep a good run going, having won the last two games. We haven’t managed to keep a clean sheet all season though, and with Man United scoring 21 goals in five games I am not too sure that Tuesday will be the day we get the first one. Patrick Kisnorbo will miss the game following his red card against Bristol, which will most likely give Leigh Bromby the chance to play against our rivals. Ross McCormack will be looking to keep his great season going, he has scored in his last five games and is finally melting into the Leeds line up. Luciano Becchio will also be in contention for a starting spot after being put on in the last two games, giving him one goal and one assist, Mikael Forssell and Andy Keogh will also push on, so once again Simon Grayson will have an overload of offensive power to his disposal. One thing that I would like to see is that Simon takes Ramon Nunez off, he’s looked out of position in the last two games, and I feel he will do better as a impact player instead of a starting player, Lloyd Sam could easily fill his place on the left side of midfield.

Following the game we look likely to sign Danny Pugh, Stoke wants him to play the cup game for them, making him ineligible to play for us in the next round, but we need to focus on the league so that’s probably okay.

Manchester United’s last two games before our FA Cup meeting last year ended with them winning 5-0 and 3-1 and then crashing to Leeds, yeah you’ve guessed it, last weekend they beat Bolton 5-0 and Sunday they beat Chelsea 3-1 – Coincidence? I Don’t think so ;)

I dream of a Leeds win and hope that we will get it, 2-1 Becchio and Howson scoring!

M.O.T – Hopefully these games will soon be played week after week at Elland Road.        

The problems on the left wing

After selling mad Maxi Gradel to St.Etienne, Simon Grayson has played Ramon Nunez on the left wing that Max left behind. Ramon had scored in all of his starts in a Leeds shirt before last weekend’s game against Crystal Palace – starts coming in the league cup against Bradford & Doncaster, and in the league against Hull. I however doubt that Ramon is the player we need on the left side of midfield, I see him as more of an attacking midfielder or even deep laying striker – I feel that he has had problems in his last two outings, maybe because he plays out of position? Maybe Grayson should realise that, like Somma and Maxi (at first) he is more of an impact player, he might need a season in Leeds were we play him from the bench and ease him into the games and let him have a go at some defenders who are tired.

The question is who should play on the left then, I have two bids in our current squad, and one bid on a player we are rumoured to sign in the next few days.

In the current squad I feel that Lloyd Sam might just do the trick, we could potentially put him on the right and move Snoddy over (another player not performing to ability??) on the left. Lloyd have looked lively in the games he has played and also had a wonderful game in pre season against Newcastle – I have always felt he was a bit underrated by Leeds fans, started great last year, but got injured and had trouble getting back in a well performing team, this might be his shot to make the starting 11. Another possibility is to move Aiden White up from left back to midfield, Aiden is fast, he is really fast, he has great movement and is a threat when going forward from his position on left back, I am thinking that he would be ever more dangerous if he got a shot at left wing (even though I am not sure who to put on left back if Aiden was moved).

Our last possibility is to go on the loan market and find a guy who can cover the left side of midfield, and rumours say that Grayson and Bates have done just that and brought back Danny Pugh. Pugh played for Leeds between 2004 and 2006, playing 50+ games and scoring five goals, so he will return to a well known environment if he joins. Pugh can cover both the left back and the left side of midfield, I believe Grayson will sign him as a midfielder, believing that he can fill the shoes left by Max Gradel. He is certainly a different player then Max, not a flashy or dangerous, but definitely a harder worker and probably more of a team player (won’t have the discipline issues with him either). Rumours online say a loan move is imminent and a fee of £500.000 have been agreed if we want him.

I think Pugh would be a good signing, and hopefully he would solve our problem on the left wing otherwise Simon Grayson will have to find a youngster to put in the team, he’s had decent success with Lees & White so maybe we have a gem in the academy ready to step up.

Leeds United - Bristol City 17th of September 2011

Next up at Elland Road is Neil Kilkenny and Bristol City, they have had a horrible start to their season, gaining only 5 points of a possible 18 – Good to see that Killa got to go to a bigger and better club. Bristol City have a few big names, among them former England goalie David “calamity” James and Nicky Maynard, they will be looking to kick start their season so Leeds will have to do well to get the three important points on Saturday. They have played some of the better teams in the division, and have actually beaten big spending Leicester City, so the table may lie a bit when it shows Bristol in 22^nd. Kilkenny went on record during the week claiming he never wanted to leave Leeds, and also saying that he didn’t feel he had anything to prove in the game. If he never wanted to leave that means the club chose to let him go, and if they did I don’t understand why he doesn’t feel he needs to prove anything towards the team, but I guess that’s typical of Killa, always hiding and playing it safe.

On to the home team SUPER LEEDS UNITED! Simon Grayson will face selection headache when choosing his attack, McCormack and Keogh have done well, McC scoring 6 goals so far this season, but both Becchio and Forssell will be pushing for a start, Luciano got the important equalizer last weekend, and Forssell set up McCormack’s winner – so a nice change for Simon after starting the season with injury problems. The Leeds defense have had problems so far, and are yet to keep a clean sheet, I have, in an earlier blog, called for changes in defense, and maybe even putting Kisnorbo on the bench, I do however not think Grayson will listen to me, so I guess the only question about defense will be whether Charlie Taylor or Aiden White will start on left back. In midfield new signing Mika Vayrynen might feature for the first time, and Adam Clayton could also return after missing last weekend’s win with an injury. 

They say never change a winning team, but I think that Grayson will put both Aiden White, Adam Clayton (if fit) & Becchio back in the team, and those three will give us the boost we need to get back to back wins for the first time this season. I have to believe that we will get out first clean sheet as well, so my guess for the weekend is a 2-0 Leeds win with Becchio getting a brace.   

 

The day I met Ken Bates & Peter Ridsdale

This blog is a personal story from my days living and working in London. After I finished school in the summer of 2000, I decided to take some time away from home with my best friend Jonas. Instead of going to India or Australia like everybody else, we decided to go to London. England for us meant football, beers & music – things we both rated higher then cows, smog and surfing. We found jobs on a hotel near Kings cross station, bellboys with a massive £3.20 an hour, but included in that was three meals a day, and a room in the hotels staff house.

We had loads of good times, we saw a lot of football and drank a lot of beer, a perfect ending to three years in business school. Among my favorite moments working in the hotel were the day Bryan Robson came in and asked for directions, obviously I send him the wrong way, another brilliant moment was when Taribo West, the former Inter Milan & Derby player came in and asked if he could rent a room for an hour or three, the fun in the story being the three girls he had brought with him into the reception, we had to turn his offer down though ;)

My very favorite anecdote however includes our current and former chairman. My boss told me that the hotel were going to host an FA conference and that all the Premier League chairmen would attend, so we should be on our best behavior and have complete control. The big day arrived and our hotel was buzzing when the first taxi pulled up in front of the entrance, out stepped Ken Bates (then of Chelsea), I welcomed him to our hotel and was about to show him the way to the suite were the conference were held when he looked at me and said; “Do you know how expensive the taxis are in London, it’s a complete joke”, I was stunned, the man owns more money than I could imagine, and he complains to me, a guy working for £3.20 an hour…Talk about cheap!

Minutes later another taxi pulled up, and the man stepping out from that was way flashier then Ken Bates, the man was Peter Ridsdale. I welcomed him too and congratulated him on signing Rio Ferdinand (Didn’t know at the time we couldn’t afford him), and told him that I was a massive Leeds fan and how pleased I was seeing the team doing so well. He gave me his “Ridsdale million dollar smile” and we talked a bit while I showed him the way to the suite, when we arrived I joked about the Ferdinand transfer and told him that I would gladly have signed for half the amount of Rio, Ridsdale looked at me and said; “Just come to Leeds and give it a go then”, still smiling the Ridsdale way. Once again I was stunned and mumbled something and then laughed and left.

Looking back I think that I should have taken him up on the offer, he paid around £30000 a week to anyone who could kick a ball, and even if my talent is limited I do manage to kick the odd ball around - but then again, if I had been paid that much by Leeds, I would have had part in our downfall, so actually I am quite happy just to tell the tale and not to be at fault for the meltdown that followed Ridsdale.

My days in London were great and filled with fantastic memories, I won’t “bore” you with the rest, but I did feel that the “Leeds” story was worth telling. M.O.T

Is Kisnorbo playing because of reputation or because of form?

I saw this question asked on a Leeds United facebook site and decided to write a blog about it, since it is a thing that I’ve been wondering about for a couple of weeks now.

I believe most Leeds fans were very pleased to see Paddy Kisnorbo take the field in our last game against champions QPR last season; I know that most Leeds fans were annoyed when rumors of his departure from Elland Road started flourishing on various web sites. Crystal Palace among others were interested in taking him on after Leeds decided that they wanted him to prove his fitness before offering him an extended deal. The relief among Leeds fans was big when it was announced that Paddy and Leeds had agreed on a new deal, meaning he could help lead us back into the Premier League this season.

When Paddy came on against QPR I thought he looked slow and a long way away from the player I remembered, but I also knew that he was coming back from a career-threatening injury so I was sure that a good pre-season with loads of fitness would bring him back to the great player he was before the injuries. The question, after 6 games of the season is, will Paddy ever be the same player? I still think he looks insecure, he is slow in both mind and feet, and what we need from a player like him is leading by example, in a positive way, not the way he is doing right now. With a new goalkeeper behind him and two young and very talented backs beside him, him and the other central defender, being O’Dea, O’Brien, Bruce or Bromby needs to show more experience and coolness in their game. The Kisnorbo we saw before the injury was different, he was going after every ball and fighting till blood streamed down his face – maybe he just needs to put his bandages back on? The “new” Kisnorbo is a player that I suddenly feel we could do without, I believe that if Alex Bruce was given a fair chance he would do more good for the team then Kisnorbo is right now – and knowing how Ken Bates feels about high earning players, he must certainly feel that we could do without him too. Next chance for Kisnorbo to find his feet is Saturday against Bristol, followed by Manchester Uniteds visit at Elland Road, hopefully he will be better in that game, otherwise I fear that Rooney/Hernandez will eat him alive.

I sincerely hope that Paddy Kisnorbo will find his old self again, he is a great player (when fit and ready) and is a true fighter, something deeply appreciated at Elland Road – But right now, I am sad to say that I feel Simon Grayson is playing him because of his name and not because of his current ability. 

M.O.T!

Leeds United - Crystal Palace 10th of September 2011

Our guests at Elland Road on saturday are Crystal Palace who is managed by former Leeds loanee, Dougie Freedman, Dougie did well for us in our run in which ended with us losing the play off final to Doncaster. Palace arrive at ER in great shape, having tasted defeat only once, in their first game of the season against Peterbrough, since then four games have given them ten points, even though the have had good opponents like Burnley, Hull & Blackpool among others.

On to the homeside, Leeds United have had a rough start to the season gaining only four points so far, in a season troubled by red cards, own goals and a missed penalty. Four points leaves us in 19th place and three points on saturday would really help boost the team. Luciano Becchio returned from injury in a behind doors friendly against Hull and off course he scored a goal - He will be able to play against Palace, but I think Simon Grayson might rest him for another week. Other striker news is the signing of Mikael Forssell, the finnish international have been in Chelsea & Birmingham, and have spent the last three seasons in Germany, playing for Hannover96, he is also able to play against Palace, and I think that he will get his chance, given his form is decent, he scored in a 4-1 Finland win last friday. Aiden White will miss from the team after being given a red card in the last game against Ipswich, Grayson will probably put Ben Parker or Darren O'Dea on the left back in Aidy's place.

Our last game against Crystal Palace was a Selhurst Park and they won 1-0, which basically meant that they survived in the Championsship, but it also meant that we missed out on the play offs, so revenge is on my mind! I think Leeds will win the game 3-1, coming from behind goals will be scored by Keogh, Howson & Forssell.

Our season so far

Seven games.  Five in the league, two in the carling cup.  Three wins, one in the league, Two in the carling cup plus one league draw, not the best start, actually one of the worst ever. In the 3^rd round of the carling cup Manchester United will arrive at ER, I would gladly have traded that game for another league win and then have gone out in the cup to Doncaster. In the five league games, we have gotten three players sent off, scored own goals, missed a penalty. We were outplayed totally against Southampton in the first game, but after that Leeds United have actually done pretty well, but have paid the cost for taking red cards and not scoring on our chances.

We have just seen a VERY quiet transfer window go by, the only notable thing happening was the departure of crowd favorite Max Gradel, who asked to be sold to St.Etinne, despite promising Leeds fans that he would extend his contract (empty words Max, empty words indeed!!). Other exits included Mike Grella and Fede Bessone. As always Leeds were linked with a lot of players, among them were Henri Lansbury and David Bentley, who both opted to stay in London and signed with West Ham, Sammy Clingan of Coventry was also heavily linked, but a sell on clause from Scott Dann’s transfer to Blackburn meant that they didn’t need to sell. So after the window closed we were left without signings and missing one of our best players from last year in Max Gradel. The loan window is opening soon and once again we are linked with almost anyone who can kick a ball.

Mikael Forsell have been training with Leeds for a few weeks now, and he is expected to sign a deal at the club shortly, so with him and, hopefully, a few decent loan signings from the premier league good times are coming to ER!

Positivity! Keep the faith!!