Love Leeds United

Lansbury Linked with ER Move

2011-08-22T11:58:00.000+01:00

The Sunday Times claim Leeds United are set to bid upwards of £1,000,000 for Arsenal’s Henri Lansbury.

Lansbury spent last season on loan at Norwich City where he narrowly missed out on the Championship’s Young Player of the Season Award to Connor Wickham. He also scored against Leeds United in the 2-2 draw at Elland Road back in February.

After a summer of little excitement for Whites fans, Henri Lansbury could well be the inspirational signing fans have been waiting for.

But with a rumoured fee upwards of £1m, Leeds United fans will be somewhat sceptical of the link. Very little has been spent on player acquisitions since Simon Grayson arrived from Blackpool and with £7m currently being absorbed by East Stand redevelopments, some fans believe the transfer kitty is empty.

Another reason not to get your hopes up is the injury crisis Arsene Wenger is currently having to contend with. Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wiltshere and Alex Song are just three players from a growing injury list at The Emirates.

Considering the rumoured fee, the shortage of midfielders currently available to Wenger and the standard caution you have to meet any rumour with, I wouldn’t suggest having “Lansbury” printed on the back of yournew glow-in-the-dark away shirt just yet.

But Henri Lansbury is the kind of player that would fit perfectly into an exciting, attack-minded Leeds United midfield. Perhaps Grayson has had funds all along and as other deals fell through he decided to throw all his eggs in one basket for a big name signing before the transfer window closes? Fingers crossed.

Fotherby urges Whites to splash the cash

2011-08-19T13:36:00.000+01:00

Twenty years ago on Saturday Leeds United kicked off their last title-winning campaign but it was actually winning promotion to the top-flight which was the big one for Bill Fotherby.

And the former Whites chairman would now like to see the Elland Road club go back to the future in a bid to return to English football’s big time as the YEP’s Wendy Walker reports

Bill Fotherby arrived back in the country from his summer break this week to news of demonstrations at Elland Road aimed at Leeds United chairman Ken Bates.

Fans’ unrest is not something alien to him. “I got sick of seeing some of the bums in the windows of the coaches in the car park,” he says, referring to his days as Leeds United chief. But on this occasion at least, Fotherby knows exactly where the supporters are coming from.

Leeds have been too long outside the top-flight – since the summer of 2004 to be exact – following their spectacular rise and fall in the doomed Peter Ridsdale era.

The striking similarities to 1989, when the Whites were facing their eighth campaign outside of English football’s top tier, cannot be ignored.

And while tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the start of United’s last, glorious championship-winning campaign, Fotherby rolls the clock back to two years earlier when he picks out the pivotal moment in his 20-year tenure at Elland Road. It was the moment Leeds decided to take a calculated gamble to get back into the big-time – and he is now urging Bates to do the same.

“The most important thing was winning promotion to the top division,” he says. “We had been languishing in the second division for too long and you can do nothing there.

Money

“You have to get into the top division to get any kind of sponsorship really – that’s where all the money was then and that’s where it is today. It opens doors for you to negotiate with the big boys and that was the important thing.

“Like anything else, it’s all about money. If you’ve got money you’ve got a chance but you have to spend it in order to make it. So we gambled.”

That gamble saw Fotherby splash out almost £3m – big money 22 years ago – following the appointment of Howard Wilkinson as manager in October 1988.

Vinnie Jones arrived from Wimbledon in a £650,000 deal, Newcastle United’s John Hendrie commanded a £600,000 fee and Chris Fairclough was talked into a half-a-million pound move from Spurs.

It was hard persuading players of that calibre to join a second division side, but Fotherby simply wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Howard Wilkinson gave me a list of players he wanted and the top one was Fairclough,” he recalls. “I went down to London to see Terry Venables, I had a chat and he said ‘you won’t be able to sign him Bill, the deadline’s at 5pm and his wife is expecting a baby at any time’.

“I said ‘just find out where he is’, he did and I went to see Chris. I gave him the sales pitch and he said ‘I’d love to sign for you Mr Fotherby but my wife’s having a baby’. I said ‘people in Leeds have babies too you know’ and that was that.”

Cash was also splashed on John McClelland (£150,000, from Watford), Andy Williams (£175,000, from Rotherham) and Carl Shutt (£50,000, from Bristol City), while striker Lee Chapman was added in January 1990 for £400,000.

But the key transfer was Gordon Strachan, in a £300,000 deal, in March 1989. Crossing to the wrong side of the Pennines to sign a player from the arch enemy wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it proved a wise move and Fotherby feels Leeds could do worse than retrace their steps today.

“Gordon Strachan was the only player I can remember of quality that never had an agent,” he said. “He did the negotiations himself.

“He later wrote in his column in the Evening Post ‘after negotiations with Bill Fotherby, managing director of Leeds United, I came out buying a box and 10 season tickets off him!’.

“But what a great signing he was. If you are going to spend money, you have to pick the right men and he was the right man.”

“I feel certain I could help get Leeds United promotion now,” he adds. “I know that is a big statement to make, but I know how to do it.

“I would have got on the phone to Alex Ferguson months ago and enquired about Paul Scholes. And he has stopped playing now, so you wouldn’t even have to pay a fee.

“I would offer him £1m, £2m – whatever it took. Everyone has a price and I feel confident I could get him. I would say ‘one season, £2m, get me promotion’.

“Money makes money.

“If Leeds get into the Premier League it would make a massive difference, £60m plus TV appearance money for a start. It’s a hell of a lot and then there are the parachute payments if you do go back down again.

“I would take the gamble, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

The gamble paid off for Fotherby, with Chapman’s winning goal at Bournemouth on May 5, 1990 sealing a 1-0 win and with it promotion back to the top-flight.

United then confounded the critics to finish fourth in 1990-91. And if that surprised some, football was stunned 12 months later when they became the last side to win the old Division One title.

Defenders David Wetherall and Jon Newsome had been added from Sheffield Wednesday that summer, along with full-back Tony Dorigo from Chelsea, midfielder Steve Hodge from Nottingham Forest and winger Rod Wallace, who brought brother Ray along for company from Southampton. Decent signings, but hardly superstars.

No-one expected United to be crowned champions when they kicked-off with a 1-0 victory over Forest on August 20. No-one outside of Leeds that is...

Fotherby, who this summer sold his controlling stake in non-league club Harrogate Town but remains chairman, said: “I am the biggest optimist ever and I had convinced people it was going to happen. That’s why we had so much success, I got everybody believing. I didn’t doubt it for a second – though I would never let on if I did!

“I thought it was our destiny to win it and I am a great believer in destiny. I’d convinced myself everything was happening for us.”

Leeds led the way all through November but surrendered top spot in the middle of a run of four draws in December, the last a 1-1 verdict against title-rivals Manchester United at Elland Road.

But they went back top on the back of a 3-1 victory at West Ham on New Year’s Day, combined with a surprise 4-1 defeat to QPR for Ferguson’s men.

Wilkinson then strengthened his hand with the signing of Eric Cantona from French club Nimes.

Cantona struck his first Leeds goal in a 2-0 victory over Luton in March as they again went top in a cat and mouse chase to the finish.

The decisive moment came at Easter when Forest won at Old Trafford and Leeds beat Coventry 2-0 at Elland Road. The Whites had the edge and when Ferguson’s men then lost their game in hand against West Ham, Leeds’ destiny was in their own hands with just two games left to play.

They needed just one – on the 90s version of Grand Slam Sunday.

Leeds’ match at Sheffield United was being televised live, before the Liverpool v Manchester United showdown at Anfield later that afternoon. Wilko’s men duly delivered in a nerve-wracking 3-2 victory at Bramall Lane and when Ian Rush set Liverpool on their way to a 2-0 victory, it triggered celebrations in both cities.

“We went back to Howard’s place after our game, he cooked the lamb and we drank a couple of bottles of wine,” recalls Fotherby. “We just sat there in anticipation – Howard didn’t want anybody to watch the game. His son eventually ran in and said Manchester United had been beaten and the celebrations began. Your feet don’t touch the ground.

“When you have been involved and are close to a club when they do win it is something very special, and once you have tasted the wine you want the bottle, you want to go on having the success.

“I remember at the start of the following season I went to Geneva (for the European Cup draw). It was like a huge auditorium we were in and I am walking down these steps trying to find my seat. Right on the front row it said Bill Fotherby, Leeds United. David Dein, Martin Edwards and Peter Robinson, of Liverpool, were sat in the row behind and Leeds were right at the bloody front! They then put clips up on the big screen of our goals from the previous season.

“I was trembling with excitement. I was so proud of Leeds and so proud of the supporters, who could be difficult at times. I was always in front of tribunals because of them and the FA was always threatening to close us down. I was sick of seeing some of the bums in the windows of coaches in the car park but you have to take all that rubbish, it’s part and parcel of it.

“I talked a lot of rubbish they thought at the time, but I made promises and it came to fruition. And that season they were great.”

While that all seems like yesterday for Fotherby, it looks a million miles away for United’s disgruntled supporters today and it might be wise to look in the opposite direction if you’re passing a coach at Elland Road – just in case.

But the ebullient former chairman, who also served the club as commercial director after joining in 1979, believes a return to the glory days could be within touching distance.

Though he is adamant it will take more than free transfers and loan signings who are as hit and miss as second-hand cars.

“Supporters have to believe you are going for success and at the moment they don’t believe hence the demonstrations last Saturday,” he said. “People don’t believe Leeds are actually trying to win promotion when they need to believe the board’s actually going for it.

“The fans need excitement creating and that’s not been done at the moment.

“Leeds shouldn’t still be in the position they are in, but signing second-hand players – and I don’t mean to be cruel – just isn’t reliable.

“They will fill a position but they are not going to be consistent enough to give the fans what they want.

“You need that little bit of quality that makes the difference between the ordinary and champions, that bit of spark, that bit of genius, and unfortunately Leeds are lacking that at the moment.

“We took a £3m gamble. I was handed an open chequebook to do all the negotiations with top players. There is no question I would like to see them do it again – just go for it.

“They have got the crowd and they are in a great position (financially) with what Ken Bates has done – he has done a marvellous job.

“But sometimes it needs a little push and a bit of a gamble. I would take it, but Ken Bates will do it his way.”

Bates’ way thus far has been to get Leeds back on a firm financial footing after they collapsed under the weight of more than £100m of debt following the catastrophic Ridsdale reign.

United “lived the dream” as the former chairman infamously put it, but two relegations later and post administration and numerous boardroom battles, only the most blinkered of supporters would argue a sojourn into the Champions League was actually worth the final price.

While Fotherby’s gamble paid off, Ridsdale’s failed spectacularly as Leeds bought players on credit they simply couldn’t afford.

Dregs

But Fotherby isn’t suggesting for one moment they commit hari-kari again.

“The most disappointing thing for me is the success of the Howard Wilkinson, Leslie Silver and Bill Fotherby era is never recognised,” he said. “People only talk about the Don Revie and the Ridsdale eras when we built the club up from the dregs to the top only for it to be subsequently destroyed.

“I was managing director for 10 years and I would never have put Leeds in that position.

“You have got to know what you are doing, that’s the first thing, and you have got to get the right men in.

“The fans don’t care where the money is coming from and some of the transfers I did...I used to do deals like Wigfalls (a former department store in Leeds) where I would make monthly payments, it was unbelievable.

“You could borrow as much as you liked but you have got to remember you have to pay it back. And you are not paying two or three per cent interest, you are paying 12 or 13.

“But it was all about getting players in and winning football matches and we were very successful with it.

“Talk is cheap but you have to make things happen and I did that.

“Not bad for a lad from Hunslet without a real education. To go on and own my own business and become chairman of Leeds United and win the league was unbelievable.”

Manchester City’s Roque Santa Cruz set for Whites move?

2011-08-18T10:11:00.000+01:00

the father and agent of Roque Santa Cruz has touted the Manchester City player for a move to Leeds.

Aproniano Santa Cruz was quoted in a South American newspaper as saying the striker would consider a drop into the Championship after asking to leave Eastlands.

Santa Cruz Snr said: “The division is competitive, with powerful teams who were in the top division and have huge stadiums, like Leeds United.”

Santa Cruz’s deal at City is believed to be worth £90,000 a week.

Leeds United 4-1 Hull City: Championship Highlights (Video)

2011-08-17T09:58:00.000+01:00

Check out the goals at: http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/08/17/leeds-united-4-1-hull-city-championship-highlights-video/

Grayson hails Whites win

2011-08-17T09:55:00.000+01:00

Leeds United manager Simon Grayson saluted a “massive” victory over Hull City and admitted his professional pride had been wounded by the sight of Leeds in the Championship’s bottom three.

United claimed up the table after claiming their first league win of the season last night, easing to a 4-1 victory at Elland Road and recovering impressively from prior defeats to Southampton and Middlesbrough.

United sat in 23rd position ahead of yesterday’s fixture – an early ranking which Grayson said “reflects on me as a manager” – but a flowing performance against Hull secured their first Championship points at the third attempt.

Grayson said: “The results that we’ve had could have had a negative effect on us and we were down to the bare bones last night. It’s a massive result.

“You could use the word embarrassing when you see the team in the bottom three because it reflects on me as a manager but I’ve got confidence in these players. We made a good Hull team look ordinary and that’s not easy when you’ve lost your first two games.

“There’s immense expectancy at this football club and the longer you go without a win, and the further you go down the table, the more the pressure increases on the players. They’ve shown a lot of spirit.”

United scored twice in either half to get the better of Hull, setting themselves up for a visit to pre-season title favourites West Ham United on Sunday.

Captain Jonathan Howson and winger Max Gradel will return from suspension for that fixture after serving one-match bans last night, and Grayson said: “We’ve got to build on this. One game and one performance doesn’t make your season.

Hull blown away by near perfect Leeds United

2011-08-17T09:53:00.000+01:00

Leeds’ stuttering start to the season ended in the most spectacular of fashions as they hit local rivals Hull for four at Elland Road.

Having lost their first two games of the Champion-ship campaign and with off-field protests against chairman Ken Bates causing a stir, manager Simon Grayson desperately needed a win against City and his players duly delivered.

In a near-faultless performance, Ross McCormack, Tom Lees – whose own goal had brought Hull level – Robert Snodgrass and Ramon Nunez all found the net against a Tigers side who came into the game well-fancied.

Having won at Ipswich on Saturday and with Leeds running with a threadbare squad owing to injury and suspension, a first Hull win in West Yorkshire in 24 years had looked to be an option but Nigel Pearson’s men were rarely in the game.

With Max Gradel and Jonny Howson suspended after their red cards against Middlesbrough at the weekend and Leigh Bromby injured, Grayson was forced to make three changes, the most notable of which was the handing of a second debut to new signing Andy Keogh.

Hull made just the one alteration, with the injured Tom Cairney replaced by Andy Dawson, but it looked as though it were they who had made the most changes as Leeds dominated the opening exchanges.

Scotland winger Snodgrass was at the heart of all their industry, with his cross nearly falling for Darren O’Dea, before he cut inside to work Peter Gulacsi at his near post.

Hull then failed to deal with a Snodgrass cross but Nunez could only send a tame effort wide, before a counter-attack ended with McCormack’s shot being deflected wide.

The chances continued to come and it was of no surprise when Leeds went ahead, although McCormack needed three chances to do it.

First of all he headed over after Nunez’s 20-yard shot came back off the bar. Then, in the subsequent move, Snodgrass stood up a cross and, although McCormack’s first header was beaten away by Gulacsi, he was able to nod the rebound home.

Eager for a second, Keogh cut in and drilled over, and Hull looked to be void of ideas until, in the 20th minute, Robbie Brady’s cross fizzed across the Leeds box and Lees, under pressure from Matty Fryatt, rammed it into his own goal.

Hull enjoyed a spell of pressure after that, with their five-man midfield overpowering the four of Leeds but, with two in attack, United were able to get their foothold back and scored again five minutes before the break.

Keogh won a tussle with Jack Hobbs to allow McCormack to get a shot in and, although Hobbs recovered to block it behind, from the resulting corner Nunez’s low centre was spilled by Gulacsi, with Lees on the spot to score at the right end.

Hull brought on Aaron McLean at the break in a bid to create more chances but before he could even touch the ball his side were two goals down.

Hobbs felled McCormack inside 15 seconds and Snodgrass, who scored his first goal for his country last week, gave Gulacsi no chance with a replica of the 25-yard free-kick he scored against Hull last season.

Battering ram Dele Adebola was also thrown on by the visitors as they looked to stay in touch, but even when they did get a chance with McLean’s back-post header, Andy Lonergan was equal to it.

Hull then withdrew the dangerous Brady, sending on veteran ex-Leeds forward Nick Barmby, but he could only watch on as the home side made it four with 22 minutes left as Nunez’s precise finish from McCormack’s inch-perfect pass gave him his third of the season.

Lonergan was called into action on a couple of occasions as Hull staged a late rally, but it was too late by then.

Ditch 4-5-1 for 4-4-2

2011-08-15T15:08:00.000+01:00

With Gradel and Howson suspended for tomorrows game against Hull it is the perfect opportunity to revert to 4-4-2.

At home and needing 3 points this is the time to go at a team that will be up for the fight ant put them to bed early.

With Keogh coming in (replacing the suspended Howson) he will be the ideal foil for Ross McCormack up front. On the wings Snodgrass down the right and Nunez or Sam down the left wing.

If Brown and Clayton can be disciplined and sit in midfield we have the making of a good shape for our home games. Use the 4-5-1 system for away games to catch teams on the counter attack with our pace out wide.

With loosing Howson for this game maybe SG will ditch his current formation that he uses to accommodate him.

Possible team to Play Hull.

                                                                       Lonergran

                                  Bromby             Lees                  Kisnorbo          O'Dea

                                    Snodgrass         Brown                Clayton            Sam

                                                             Keogh                McCormack

Good luck Leeds we need 3 points to get the season back on track and loose all the negativity surrounding the team.

Lets get behind the team and roar them to victory.

Wolves let Andy Keogh rejoin Leeds

2011-08-15T10:52:00.000+01:00

The 25-year-old, who travelled with the Wolves squad to Blackburn on Saturday, is returning to the club where he started his career.

Keogh becomes the 12th departure from Molineux this summer following the exit of David Jones, goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, Greg Halford, Nathan Rooney, Johnny Dunleavy, Michael Mancienne and Geoffrey Mujangi Bia.

Danny Batth, Scott Malone, Steven Mouyokolo and goalkeeper Carl Ikeme have also been loaned out.

Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey told the Express & Star today: “Andy is going up there today and we’re doing some paperwork to let him go on a standard loan until the next window.

“I spoke to him yesterday and asked him what he wants to do and he’s prepared to go.”

Moxey added that the loan could become a permanent transfer but was a temporary agreement at the moment.

He said: “We are of the view that we would prefer a sale for his sake but Leeds need some help more than anything, so this loan is a good arrangement for everyone.”

Leeds United v Middlesbrough: Let’s stick together - Grayson

2011-08-15T10:49:00.000+01:00

A defiant Simon Grayson called on Leeds United to put the frustration of their defeat to Middlesbrough behind them after taking pride in the performance of his nine-man team.

The United manager stressed the importance of quelling disappointment among his players in the aftermath of a second successive Championship loss.

Leeds slipped to a 1-0 defeat in bizarre circumstances at Elland Road, falling to 10-man Boro during a game of three red cards and 10 bookings.

Grayson berated his side after their first league game of the season ended in a heavy 3-1 loss at Southampton, but he praised their attitude on Saturday and vowed to lift them quickly ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Hull City.

Leeds are waiting to register their first points of the season and Grayson said: “It could be a real downer for everyone but I won’t let it affect the players.

“I’ve told them how proud I am of them and how committed they were. I also told them how positive we can be about the game.”

United were left to rue the red cards shown to Max Gradel and captain Jonathan Howson, both of whom will serve one-game bans during United’s meeting with Hull.

Grayson spent Saturday night and much of yesterday engaged in talks about possible signings and was hopeful to adding players to his depleted squad in time for tomorrow’s match.

The Leeds boss said: “We know we’re short in the striking department and we need another midfield player but we’ve been on the phone to see what we can do.”

Leeds United: Whites push on with plan to sign new striker

2011-08-13T10:55:00.000+01:00

Maybe a chance fro Grella to make the Bench

Leeds United will push ahead with their plan to sign a new striker next week as Billy Paynter battles to be fit for Tuesday’s meeting with Hull City.

Manager Simon Grayson turned his mind to recruiting another forward after a thigh strain suffered by Paynter compounded an injury list which already featured Luciano Becchio and Davide Somma, two of the club’s leading scorers last season.
Paynter was expected to miss today’s meeting with Middlesbrough at Elland Road and, having seen a proposed half-season loan with an unnamed player fall through on Monday, United made further moves to bring in another striker in the build-up to this afternoon’s game.
Leeds have being linked with Ipswich Town’s Tamas Priskin and they are also believed to have assessed the circumstances of Mikael Forssell, the former Birmingham City forward who is out of contract.
Grayson admitted that the repeated loss of players in the same position had altered his priorities in the transfer market, saying: “I looked at the squad after the Southampton game and thought we needed strengthening in this position and that position. Then suddenly you’re down to very few fit strikers because we’ve got three big target-men out.
“We could sign someone for a month, six months or on a permanent deal but we need a different striker on our books.”

Leeds United v Middlesbrough: Team news

2011-08-13T10:50:00.000+01:00

Leeds United host Yorkshire rivals Middlesbrough at Elland Road in the Championship.

Billy Paynter has joined Luciano Becchio and Davide Somma on the injured list so unless Simon Grayson’s attempts to sign a striker on loan are successful before lunchtime today, Ross McCormack will again be United’s only fit forward. Robert Snodgrass, Max Gradel and Darren O’Dea all return from international duty and are likely to start.

Leeds United will play at Doncaster Rovers in the second round of the Carling Cup.

2011-08-12T10:08:00.000+01:00

Ties take place the week of August 22

Millwall v Morecambe
Blackburn v Sheff Wed
Bury v Leicester
West Ham/Aldershot v Carlisle
Bournemouth v West Brom
Crystal Palace/Crawley v Wigan
Peterborough v Middlesbrough
Aston Villa v Hereford
Bristol City/Swindon v Southampton
Exeter v Liverpool
Everton v Sheff Utd
Brighton v Sunderland
Shrewsbury v Swansea
Reading/Charlton v Preston
Norwich v MK Dons
Northampton v Wolves
Wycombe v Nottingham Forest
Bolton v Macclesfield
Burnley v Barnet
Scunthorpe v Newcastle
Leyton Orient v Watford/Bristol Rovers
Doncaster v Leeds
Cardiff v Huddersfield
QPR v Rochdale

New Striker to ER?

2011-08-11T10:29:00.000+01:00

Simon Grayson was back in the market for a new striker today after admitting that his Leeds United squad is in need of another centre-forward.

United’s manager lost his leading goalscorer, Luciano Becchio, to a hamstring injury last month, just days after Davide Somma was ruled out for up to six months with a torn cruciate knee ligament.

A thigh strain sustained by Billy Paynter at Southampton on Saturday reduced Leeds’ group of fit out-and-out strikers to one - Ross McCormack - and having played down the possibility of bringing in a new recruit in the aftermath of Becchio’s set-back, Grayson is now searching for a recognised centre-forward.

Grayson said: “We were close to doing a deal on Monday but at the last minute the other club changed their mind. That was frustrating but we know what we need to get.

“It’s an area we need to look at. We’ve got some great options here but we haven’t got that dominating centre-forward who you need at times. It’s something we want but everyone else might be looking for similar players too.”

Leeds chairman Ken Bates put the blame for the failed deal at the door of the player’s agent, saying: “His club agreed to let him go on loan until Christmas and the player wanted to come but then his agent got busy.

“What the agent wanted was for the club to pay the player off and him to sign for us for a year. We said we’re signing him so he can play on Tuesday night and if he doesn’t turn up on Tuesday with his boots then he can forget it.”

Middlesbrough role for starlet Lees

2011-08-11T10:26:00.001+01:00

Tom Lees could be handed his full debut against Middlesbrough on Saturday after helping inspire Leeds United’s fightback against Bradford City.

The young defender made a crucial impression on Tuesday’s Carling Cup first-round tie, creating the second goal in a 3-2 win and shoring a defence which was breached twice by the Bantams.

Lees’ 28-minute cameo was his first competitive appearance for Leeds and the end of a long wait for an opportunity with a club which sent him out on loan to Accrington and Bury in the past two seasons.

The 20-year-old returned to Elland Road from Gigg Lane this summer with 96 senior appearances behind him, and United manager Simon Grayson promised that he would be part of the senior squad and given a fair chance to claim a starting place.

Grayson said: “If you look at the backline (on Tuesday), we’re talking about experienced professionals who’ve played in numerous games – Lonergan, Connolly, Kisnorbo, O’Brien and Parker.

“We’ve got to stop the flow of goals against us. It’s something we’ve tried to address and maybe we could bring another player or two in to make us better.”

Snodgrass scores winner for Scotland

2011-08-11T10:23:00.000+01:00

Leeds United midfielder marked his first start for Scotland with the winning goal in the friendly against Denmark at Hampden Park.

Snodgrass stooped low at the back to post head home on a rain soaked pitch, just before half time.

The game was the 23 year olds third cap for Scotland since making his debut in February.

Read more: http://www.leeds.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=250389#ixzz1Ui7VctPU

Leeds can't afford smith

2011-08-10T19:55:00.000+01:00

Newcastle were hoping they could loan out their former captain, Alan Smith, to his former club Leeds United for next season, but that will not happen.

Alan Smith – his high wages are preventing a loan move to Leeds

It turns out that Leeds cannot afford to pay the £1M of Alan’s £3M in wages, for that deal to go through, so it’s not worth it to Newcastle either.
Alan will get very few games in the Newcastle first team this coming season, with top Ivory Coast International Cheick Tiote the current holder of the central defensive midfield at Newcastle, and Tiote was one of Newcastle’s best players in his first season at the club last season.
Central midfielders Yohan Cabaye and 18 year-old Slovenian Haris Vuckic have both impressed in pre-season, and given that Joey Barton, Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling can also play in central midfield, Smith will see very little first team action next season.
Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has admitted there is little chance of their former player Alan Smith returning to Leeds on loan for next season, and this is what Bates said today to Yorkshire Radio:

“We were interested in Alan Smith. Alan Smith was prepared to consider coming to us. He was on £3M a year and Newcastle wanted a £1M a year contribution.”
“As I have said before, £1M plus government tax equals £1.15 million, we cannot afford it, it is as simple as that.” “The result is of course that Newcastle have a player they don`t particularly want,”

Smith has been put on the transfer transfer list at Newcastle as a free agent, even though he has one year left on his five year contract, but if Newcastle are going to pay the vast percentage of Alan’s wages next season, why would they let him go play for Leeds?
Smith will be available as a free agent next summer, and Leeds United must be in with a very good chance of signing their former player.

Leeds United 3-2 Bradford City

2011-08-10T06:49:00.000+01:00

With a game that would potentially lift the spirits after a poor performance at Southampton, Leeds did their best to lose an encounter that should have been easy pickings against a mid table Bradford side full of young new signings.

Leeds went in at Half time 1-0 down and in need of a lift after a poor first half. Again certain players looking out of form. O’Brien, Parker, Brown, McCormack but to name a few.

After an earful at halftime They came out and took the game to Bradford scoring within 20 seconds. The majority of whites fans, myself included, thought that Leeds would go on to win the game easily from there but United never do it the easy way. Just before the hour mark the visitors took the lead again with a strike from Michael Flynn. First look suggested that it was a brilliant strike, however, on reflection Leeds hesitant defence could once again take the blame. Furthermore, United’s new shot stopper Andy Lonergan should have done much, much better with it. Nonetheless the Bradford fans were once again in dreamland as they took the lead for the second time at Elland Road.

The Leeds management had finally seen enough of the abysmal defence and Grayson swapped O’Brien and Connolly for Lees and Bromby. With the omission of O’Brien, the defence automatically looked more confident and organised and it was Lees, making his first team debut, who supplied a magnificent cross on 69 minutes for Ross McCormack to head home his first of the season. The little Scot worked hard up front on his own and deserved his goal.

Leeds finally then took control, something that they should have done from the first whistle. Lloyd Sam delivered a low driven teasing cross from the right only for a Bradford defender to get a toe on the ball taking the City goalkeeper out of the equation. Ramon Nunez was on hand to prod home his second of the game into the empty net. Leeds were in front for the first time.

The 3rd United goal seemed to take the stuffing out of City and from then on there only looked like one winner. Lone striker Ross McCormack seemed to be on a mission to grab another goal and had a few long range attempts palmed away by Bradford keeper Jansson.

On a plus note great to see Nunez Get 90 Minutes and Adam Clayton seems to be a great addition to the central midfield with his energy, bite and good use with the ball.

Maybe Lees for O’Brien at the weekend??

Leeds: Lonergan, Connolly (Lees 72), O’Brien (Bromby 62), Kisnorbo, Parker,, Brown, Clayton, Sam, Howson, Nunez, McCormack (Taylor 90). Subs: Rachubka, Bruce, Thompson.

Bradford: Jansson, Branston, Mitchell (Hannah 85), Threlfall, Moore, Flynn, Williams, Syers (Jones 63), Compton, Stewart (Rodney 78), J Hanson Subs: Oliver, McLaughlan, Wells, O’Brien.

Referee: C Webster

Predicted team for tonights Game Vs Bradford

2011-08-09T18:30:00.000+01:00

                                                   Lonergran

      Connelly                 Kisnorbo                Lees                  Parker

                                    Brown                 Clayton

     Sam                                       Howson                       McCormack

                                                   Paynter

May play 4-4-2 tonight which will see a change in personel but lets see what Simon goes with.....

Cup tie to go ahead...

2011-08-09T14:30:00.000+01:00

The club can confirm that contrary to reports elsewhere, Tuesday's game against Bradford City at Elland Road (7.45pm) is not in any doubt and will go ahead as planned.

Fans attending the game are advised to book in advance and arrive early to avoid congestion.

A number of Carling Cup ties have been called off on Tuesday, following another night of rioting in certain areas of the country.

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110809/no-cup-tie-doubts_2247585_2414927?

Leeds United: Fans deserve so much more - O’Dea INTERVIEW

2011-08-09T13:48:00.000+01:00

The 24-year-old said: “Without bigging up the fans too much, I’ve not seen what I saw on Saturday before. We were 3-0 down and expecting to get booed off, but it was fantastic they stayed and clapped.

“But they deserve a lot more after travelling down for five hours and seeing that. Everyone knows we need to do better and we certainly will.

“It was mentioned in the dressing room that it wasn’t good enough (for the fans). Predominantly, we need to do it for ourselves and the coaching staff, but it was disappointing to see such support and let them down.

“No-one would be happy with the performance or result and we need to move on now. We’re lucky it was the first game of the season and not a difficult game towards the end. There’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves and we need to pick ourselves up and get on with it.”

It was the proverbial baptism of fire at St Mary’s for O’Dea, pressed into service at left-back, with the defender the first to admit centre-back is his most natural and favoured position.

“I’m predominantly a centre-half, so moving to left-back was a different type of running, but I’ll feel stronger for the game.

“I’ll never have any qualms about playing at left-back and I’m delighted to be here and playing. Saturday was disappointing. We simply weren’t good enough and I think all the lads know that and we need to put it right on Tuesday. It’s a massive game made even bigger now, coming off the back of Saturday.

“As team, we weren’t good enough defensively – not just the defenders, but the midfielders and the forwards. We didn’t defend right and we got punished.

“We started not too badly and Jonny (Howson) had a good chance and if that had gone in, you never know...then we conceded a poor goal and it just rolled on from there. Nothing about our game was really up to scratch and it’s something the lads all know. There’s plenty to work on.”

Big Match Preview: Leeds v Bradford

2011-08-09T12:39:00.000+01:00

Carling Cup First Round
Venue: Elland Road
Date: August 9 – Kick off: 7.45pm
TV Coverage: Like on Sky Sports 2
TEAM NEWS
Leeds trio Max Gradel, Robert Snodgrass and Darren O'Dea are all unavailable for tonight’s game against Bradford because of international duty. Davide Somma and Luciano Becchio, both of whom missed the 3-1 defeat at Southampton, are also ruled out.
Bradford centre back Steve Williams could replace Lee Bullock, who hurt his hamstring on Saturday. Defender Luke Oliver is still nursing a foot problem and is unlikely to feature.
Local pride at stake as Bantams look to ruffle Peacocks’ feathers
Bradford boss Peter Jackson turned up the heat on Carling Cup rivals Leeds by insisting all the pressure is on the Npower Championship side ahead of what promises to be w white-hot Yorkshire derby.
Both teams kicked off their respective league campaigns with defeats at the weekend; Leeds going down 3-1 at Southampton whilst Bradford were on the end of a 2-1 home defeat by Aldershot.