Keep Fighting...

FA Cup Semi-final fever hit this week and it once again proved that you don't have to be a publicity seeking chairman to find yourself queuing over night for precious tickets. This week it was the turn of Pompy fans who braved the elements but back in 1987, without the luxury of pop up tents, it was Semi-Final ticket hungry Leeds fans. This was to be my biggest adventure yet as a young lad and we had arrived at Elland Road at around 6.30 pm finding the West stand gates locked. The club were aware that fans had planned to sleep out, so decided to keep fans away from the ground the best they could and ensured the front of the queue began outside the locked gates at the bottom of the Lowfields road. This was our sleeping position for the night and we quickly made friends with those around us. As the night drew in, a steady stream of hardy fans began to gather. Whilst me and another lad busied ourselves by being John Sheridan and Ian Baird on the road with a ball, the adults began to reminisce about the good old times. By midnight, the queue disappeared around the corner of Lowfields and onto Elland Road itself. Fond memories of the night remain intact. Hot chocolate in hand, listening to the tales about Revie‘s heroes, before drifting off to sleep in the cold night air. What was noticeable upon awaking was how the queue that was pretty organised soon became 20 and 30 fold as people gravitated towards the front...

Fans were "saving" places for mates, others were more blatant and as time went on, heated debates began about the late comers pushing in. As 8.30am and gate oppening approached, we were near the front and I was tight against the wall. My old man took me by the hand and just said, "Stick with me son, there will be a mad dash!". I heard his words, but was not prepared for the crush and madness that ensued. As the stewards opened the gates, a mass of people pushed forward as one. Once through the gates, people were sprinting like drug fuelled athletes to get to the ticket office. It was as I came around the corner that I got caught up in a crush and my arm got bent back against the wall. Immediately my old man picked me up and carried me to reception where we were met by David Dowse, the then club secretary and my old man explained the situation. A club first aider suggested that I was taken to Casualty. That was all well and good, but my old man had our priorities at heart and argued that we had queued out all night and were now in danger of missing out on tickets. David Dowse nodded, then disappeared for 10 mins and returned with 2 tickets. I understand these were the first pair sold to Leeds fans that day. After a long wait in Casualty, my old man ushered me into school where we were met by an unhappy Head Master. Of course, we went on to lose the game 2-3 in one of the greatest FA Cup semi final games ever played...

Also this week, that Donny head groundsman left many Whites fans, including yours truly, feeling like April Fools as many of us were unable to make the rearranged date. Finding ones self stranded away from home with no access to real time scores and totally reliant on text messages from the game left nerves shredded. The unexpected result meant it was worth it and loud cheers could be heard echoing around the dark late night streets. Quite how we managed to nick it is another matter as all eye witnesses seem to agree that it really ended up being a good old fashioned back to the walls battle as we held on for 3 points. The winning goal coming from a stunning freekick from Sheehan:

What was pleasing to hear was the new found spirit and fight within the side continuing to grow. News that Macca had been rewarded with a new 12 month rolling contract just seemed to boost the feeling that, just perhaps, the club are on the cusp of some stability. It was this warm and fuzzy thought that aided the trip down to Brisbane Road in cold winteresq weather. The last time a Leeds team had run out here was in 1963. Goals from Bobby Collins and Albert Johansson gave us a 2-0 win in front of just over 12,000. Back in those days of course, those fans would have paid to get in, unlike the residents of the 4 blocks of flats, one on each corner of the ground, who got a prime free view...

Macca didn’t tinker with a winning side even though he was forced into late changes at Donny. With Casper in goal, the back four of Huntingdon, Lubo, Fraser and Sheehan continued. Douglas, Howson, Kilkenny and Johnson made up the midfield and the improving by the game partnership of Beckford & Freedman upfront. It took about 5 minutes for the game to settle, but once it did, both sides seemed committed to be playing half decent football. The home side, on the back of a poor run, were knocking the ball about well and for our part good, interchanging passing through the midfield was looking promising. After giving a ball boy a rollicking for not passing a ball to him quicker, Kilkenny got a decent shot in early doors, but it wasn't until 12 mins that we looked overly threatening. Great play from young Howson saw his cross in thrashed home by Freedman, but the flag was up for offside. It was from this moment that we took the game by the scruff of the neck and proceeded to play some of the best football away from home this season, without being over spectacular. Douglas anchored midfield thus allowing Howson and Kilkenny to have a field day. Along with Fraser & Sheehan trying to overlap, there was a swagger and confidence about the side that has rarely been seen. On 16 mins we deservedly took the lead. Fraser tried to whip a cross in, but it was handled on the right of the area...

Johnson swung in a great freekick and Huntingdon smashed a close range header home. After a couple of minutes of being thrown around like a rag doll by the big bloke at the side of me, we watched in delight and wonderment as the boys in Yellow began to rip the hosts apart. At this point, all that was missing was that final ball. Beckford's running was causing all sorts of problems as was the intelligent positioning of Freedman and it was his snapshot that was well held before Orient had their first real chance of the game. A great piece of swift play ended with Mkandawire swivelling and firing well over from close range. It was a warning shot that suggested despite the dominance, Orient were not out of the game just yet. It should have been over the next 20 mins though as we wasted some great chances. The best of which came Howson's way as he latched onto a great through ball and even though the ball seemed to get caught in his feet, he got a shot away that the advancing Morris saved well. The rebound fell to Freedman whose rocket shot was saved well too. A quick free kick was to route of the next gilt edge chance, a ball slid through to Beckford who did everything right, but failed to hit the target with a first time shot. We were getting so far on top but not killing them off and the voice was nagging away in the back of the head again. As halftime approached, we nearly paid for missed chances...

A speculative shot from distance was well held by Casper and though Huntingdon and Lubo were defending most other things well, Casper was still forced to tip over a cross shot as the home side came on strong. Both these saves made up for yet another bad day at the office for Casper with regards to kicking. The halftime whistle was met by a deafening roar of approval by the near 3,000 travelling army and we proceeded to utilise our 15 minute break with a hearty "Champions of Europe". Now we have been here before and we really braced ourselves for one of those home side rallies and for the first couple of minutes, it looked like our fears were well founded. Good pressing earned a corner and we thought "Here we go again". However, as the rain lashed down, the boys proceeded to prove us wrong. With Sheehan seeing more of the ball and Johnson now playing his best football for the club thus far, we were breaking well and getting forward in numbers. Howson was driving midfield and we were once again beginning to dominate the game. We still needed that killer goal and it came on 50 minutes. Brilliant work by Freedman saw him dummy and then skin his marker. As he strode into the box, he squared to the onrushing Beckford who twatted home and sent the away end tumbling into jubilation. It was just reward for the performance thus far and personal reward for Beckford's non stop running today...

We sang louder and the tempo of the Mighty Whites got faster. If you scrunched your eyes and looked through your fingers, I swear it was just like watching Brazil as our dominance nearly got a third. How we didn't is beyond me and I guess everyone who witnessed it. Johnson had a shot well saved, the follow up saw Beckfords overhead saved, which fell to Kilkenny whose attempt to tap in was hacked off the line which lead to another Leeds shot blocked before finally the ball was cleared to the loudest cheers of the day from the home support. Things were going so well, it was surely going to be a case of how many, however, in a second, the games momentum changed. Beckford went down under an innocuous looking tackle and stayed down as the game went on without him. After Casper had flapped at a ball into the box, we finally hacked it into touch so the trainer could come on. Beckford was having a super game, but that was ended as he was taken off. Kandol came on and the tempo began to drop. Kandol certainly put in the effort, but with every other ball forward now getting flagged for offside, we were allowing the hosts to get more into the game. We dropped a bit deeper and tried to hit on the break via midfield and it began to work well. Macca proceeded to change midfield around with both Kilkenny and Johnson making way for Prutton (went wide right) and Hughes (Went wide Left). It was the latter making the most impression...

Clearly pumped up, Hughes was steaming into tackles and the travelling army responded to his passion by notching up the noise as we looked to sing the boys home. Brilliant play from Freedman saw him release Howson, who once again was thwarted by the keeper when the lad really should have notched. Sheehan, who is now suspended for 2 games, saw a 30 yard Freekick well held too. The lad was impressive in parts today and had an almost "Dorigo like" second half. The last 5 minutes saw great banter between ourselves and the home fans to our left. It was good natured and the loudest they had sung all game, however, heavy handed policing in their end tried to snuff it out. 4 minutes of injury time was just enough for Kandol to get a shot on target as we professionally saw the game out. The players came to thank us for our efforts as we slowly drifted out of the old wood floored stand and into the pissing rain. The transformation to a side who play a decent brand of football whilst brimming with confidence has been as swift as the wheels falling off over Christmas and cleary the credit for this must go to Macca and team. The main consensus of this change seems to be the boost of Douglas back in that anchor role. It has certainly, on today’s evidence, impacted Howson's game and both players were immense today. The main worry was Beckford's injury and we pray to the gods that this isn't one of those tricks those bastards love play on us...

The old trick of "Give hope with one hand, rip it away with the other" has become far too tiresome, but you just fear that it is coming. So, we march back into the top six, with a game in hand on our nearest rival and goal difference worth a point. On top of that we have not conceded in 4 games. Next up is Carlisle for yet another "6 pointer". The power of positive thinking is possibly having the desired effect. 5 games to go, lets keep it going...

Leeds United AFC... Christopher Loftus & Kevin Speight -R.I.P. - We Will Never Forget Istanbul 2000... Keep Fighting...

This week the nation's eardrums have been subjected to an all out assault, as the should he / shouldn't he debate about Beckham and his 100 caps raged on the airways. Now it's no secret that the majority of Leeds fans have little time for the man. However, as much as it sticks in the throat, there was a time when the lad was one of the best players England had ever produced. In his prime he could even skip past Ian Harte and deliver the most potent of crosses. This is a fact because I saw it happen with my very eyes. It is of course open to debate, but had Beckham stuck to "on" field "performances", he could have gone on to be much more respected by the masses than he appears to be today. The thought behind the "Give him his 100th and send him into retirement" brigade was quite noble, but there used to be a time when playing for England was more than just a sentimental or ego driven numbers game. Perhaps given that England are in dire need of revolution at the moment this was possibly the occasion that the team resisted the overtures of the individual and his marketing power. In the end its doubtful if his inclusion meant that much to those who exist outside the bubble and marketing prowess of "Team Beckham". With all this going on, it brought back the memory of the first time we ever saw Beckham play. Back in May 1993 and Leeds United AFC seniors have, by the skin of their teeth, survived a torrid season that saw the Champions of England humbled...

A Rod Wallace hatrick on the last day of the season had kept us up with 2 points to spare and we looked forward to a break in the summer. However not before backing the youth team in the final of the FA Youth cup. We were to play Manchester United over two legs and the buzz was slowly beginning to build. This was a distraction we had welcomed and the final quickly became the focal point of the club. The young Leeds team were clear underdogs, there was no doubt about that. Ferguson himself purred when surveying the talent in his young team and made the quote of "I have never seen their like before". With over 30,000 at Old Trafford in the first leg, the hosts were stunned into the usual Old Trafford silence as first Jamie Forrester netted, then Noel "Snowy" Whelan as we took a stunning 2 goal lead into the second leg. A crowd of 31,037 gathered for what turned out to be a most amazing night. We can now recognise that the team in Red were littered with quality. Beckham, Scholes, Butt to name but three but back then, these names were unheard of and rather than being a game about stars and personalities, the game was a simple White v Red. It proved no contest as no matter how good the individual Red players were to become, they froze in front of a passionate White support. A stunning Forrester overhead kick on 12 minutes sent the home support into raptures and at 3-0 on aggregate, the game looked dead. However a Scholes penalty gave the Reds hope, but it was soon extinguished by a well taken goal from Smithard giving us a 4-1 win and the trophy...

It was a night where the future of Leeds United looked assured, however as we are aware, nothing is ever that straight forward with our beloved club. Whilst Fregie went on to build a first team around the likes of Beckham, Butt, Neville, Scholes and Gillespie and win the league in 1996, Wilko opted for a different route. Wilko had given first team debuts to Bowman, Whelan, Forrester, Sharp and Tinkler before that FA Youth cup final. However by the time the 1994/1995 season came around, hopes of moulding a team round this bunch of kids had faded. The team that had won the cup against all the odds disappointingly went on to manage just a handful of first team games between them. Today’s visitors were of course fellow Play Off hopefuls Brighton and the links between the clubs have always been very strong. A host of players have played for both sides, including Seb Carole and Ian Westlake, but it’s a tale of three strikers that interests the most. First up was Terry Conner. As we know Conner was a local lad who scored against West Brom on his debut. Terry went on to score 19 goals for Leeds before Eddie Gray swapped him for Brighton’s Andy Ritchie. Ritchie had already made a name for himself with the Leeds support after scoring a hatrick against us for the Red enemy. That didn't stop Ritchie becoming a popular player for the Whites and he went on to notch 44 goals in 159 appearances in the White shirt, before being sold to Oldham for a paltry 50k...

The other striker in question is of course the old Kop favourite Ian Baird. Bairdy made a name for himself at Leeds by being the on field embodiment of all that Leeds fans demand in a player. Passion, Pride, Commitment and Desire. Bairdy showed all the traits required to boost him up to fans favourite and would simply put his head where others dare not stick their feet. Bairdy scored 58 goals in two spells at the club between 85-87 and then 88-90 making a total of 192 appearances. Bairdy ended up at Brighton in 1996 and scored 14 goals in 44 games before retiring from the game and going into management. With Tranmere edging further ahead of us in the Friday night games, it was imperative that we got a result today. Games in hand are all well and good, but as we know, its points in the bank that will ultimately decide our Play Off fate. With the refreshing win and performance against Walsall still in the hearts and minds, it was an optimistic bunch that turned up in once again appalling weather conditions to Elland Road. Macca predictably kept faith with the victorious side and sent out the White gladiators unchanged. So Casper was once again protected by a back four of Rui, Lubo, Kenton and Sheehan. Midfield was made up of Kilkenny, Johnson, Howson and Prutton with Beckford and Freedmen up top. Leeds lost the toss and attacked the Revie in the first half. This is usually a bad omen, however with our new found positive thinking, the crowd roared on the boys from the start...

It appeared that the Whites were determined to continue where they had left off the last game and dominated the first 30 mins. Slick passing and great off the ball movement gave the crowd something to feed off and though the ref was doing his utmost to turn this into a stop start niggling affair, we really should have nicked the lead. A clutch of half chances and corners in the first 15 minutes lead to a Freedman shot being somehow hooked off the line by Whing as we turned up the heat. Brighton were not in the game and it became clear that they were willing to soak up pressure and take a point. Midfield was being dominated by both the tireless Howson and the once again impressive Prutton. Bradley Johnson was having his most influential half since his arrival and it was he who was providing decent delivers into the box from the left. The same could also be said of Sheehan who was once again turning in a performance fit of a player from a higher level. However, with the goal not coming, frustration began to kick in on the park. To the Leeds boys credit, heads didn't drop, but the impetuous did as the game drifted into niggling stop start mainly due to over fussy refereeing. An injury delay to Johnson did not help matters and once again, the failure to take early chances was threatening to damage the players confidence. Brighton's first half display was gritty and dogged without really troubling the back line of Leeds. The main danger was great running from midfield but with little or no cutting edge both Lubo and Rui were able to mop up with ease...

Up the other end Prutton had a brilliant effort just wide and as we approached halftime, Freedman was fouled on the edge of the area. The resultant freekick saw Sheehan line up Hartesq for a freekick that zipped just over the top. Goalless at halftime was disappointing, but given the overall performance, there was much room for optimism that we could push on and nick the second half. Now playing towards the South Stand and pushed on by great support, the boys began strongly with both purpose and intent. Great movement and passing was threatening to open up Albion, however as he did in the first half, the ref decided he wanted to be part of the show. He began a series of annoying decisions for both sides and he simply refused to let the game flow. This was coupled with Casper choosing this half, of all halves, to display his most woeful kicking display of the season. Every time we looked to build on our momentum, one of these two elements clean stopped us in our tracks. Despite this, we were still the better team and taking the game to Albion. Kenton was having a storming game at right back, almost managing to play most of the half as an all out winger and with Howson dominating midfield we had the visitors on the rack. Howson went closest to scoring by unleashing a searing shot that was tipped over by the keeper just before the hour. Just as it looked like we could overcome the ref and Casper elements, disaster struck. Johnson’s injury in the first half had taken its toll and he was taken off...

Though he was playing well by his standards, this in itself wasn't the cause of the disaster. It was more the decision to move Howson onto the left and bring Douglas into midfield. Douglas will be the first to admit that he is way off the pace and the loss of young Johnny to the left meant the domination we had enjoyed in midfield quickly began to evaporate. Brighton immediately began to exploit this and had the first real chance just after, however it was the Whites who should have taken the lead. A rare decent ball from Casper found Freedman who raced clear of the defence. One on one with the advancing keeper, Freedman seemed caught in two minds as he failed to get a decent shot in and in an instant, the chance of the game was gone. From then, Brighton woke up and responded well. A dodgy looking offside flag rescued us from going a goal down as the visitors sensed there could be more than a point in the game and threatened to over run us as time ticked on. Still it was the whites who created half decent chances. Notably Beckford managed to lift the ball way over the bar after a great play from Kenton found him unmarked. Macca moved to take off Kilkenny and bring on Kandol, but even with 3 up it had little effect as the stop start nature of the game continued into injury time. The final chance of the game fell to Leeds when Beckford did brilliantly on the left and put in a great delivery to Kandol at the back stick, but he failed to get a decent connection...

Disappointment was in the air at the final whistle, but the crowd acknowledged the effort and performance the players had put in. Though its fair to say we did not reach the heights of the Walsall game, it was a performance worthy of a win and once again, a damn sight better than we have witnessed in previous weeks. However, failure to take chances and kill off a team that is in close contention for the same aim as ourselves is indeed a blow. So the result leaves us now 4 points off a Play Off spot with 2 games in hand with a goal difference that is really worth a point. With an April Fools day trip to Doncaster next up and a trip to the Orient on Saturday, the aim must now be at least 4 points out of 6 and that will be easier said than done. We can do it though can't we, after all, its in our own hands...

Leeds United AFC..."It's a conflict of parallels"... Keep Fighting...

Last Easter we looked for hope and footballing resurrection but were lulled into a false sense of security. The home win over Plymouth catapulted us out of the bottom three for a few hours, only to be dragged back into the mire by Easter Monday with defeat at Colchester. Whilst the stakes this season are of a different nature, we were again on the look out for hope. Most football fans are a strange breed at the best of times. The majority of us are naturally a pessimistic bunch and that’s when things are going well. In the good times its best to savour, but always to err on the side of caution and when things are going bad, it's almost impossible to look on the bright side. Faced with the latter on the back of the last few games, we find ourselves once again looking for straw's to grasp at to give ourselves some crumb of comfort. Many Whites fans are finding it hard to lift themselves at present and its fair to say that events over recent weeks have left even the most optimistic Whites fan drained. However, given that we were still only 2 points from a Play Off berth, hope continues to shine even if it was not as bright as we would have liked. Had the season taken a different path, we would possibly have been more than happy with the current situation. If we had, for example, taken an age to over come the 15 point deduction and slowly climbed the table to this position, imagine the change in mindset...

At this point in the season, a source of hope and optimism could be found in the history of Manchester City and their escape from this division at the first time of asking. At the same time, the natural pessimistic side which shouts the name of Nottingham Forest must be ignored. Whilst the Mighty Whites were undergoing the transformation from Graham's Caterpillar to O'Leary's Butterfly during the course of the 1998/1999 season, it's fair to say City were not exactly pulling up trees. City took till November to get near a Division Three playoff spot. By mid February they fell out of the playoffs and things were looking bleak before they rallied and cemented that play off spot on the last day of the season. From there, it was hardly a march to glory. Scrapping past Wigan in the playoff semis and with 88 mins on the clock against Gillingham in the final, they trailed 0-2. There was 94 mins on the clock when Dickov pushed the game into extra time and after a nerve jangling penalty shoot out, City held out to win 3-1. City then went on to get promotion at the first time of asking the next season. Given our own Play Off history, the need for positive thinking is essential. Should we scrap into the Play Off's "Third time lucky" should become our new optimistic Play Off mantra, as we look to ignore our own previous Play Off misery...

After the disappointment of Vale, it was off field events that were once again a distraction this week. Fresh from last weeks reports that a top lawyer had seen all the documentation with regards to the High Court writ and gave us an outside chance of getting "something" back, Bates decided the time was right to announce that he had severed ties with Radio Leeds from the end of the season and bring all radio match commentary "in-house". Well, when I say "in-house", I mean that which some call "the propaganda station" also known as Yorkshire Radio. Many fans are still trying to understand the why's and wherefores of how we owed them 480K during the administration process but that aside, it seems that no longer will the people of Leeds be able to tune in to games without purchasing a DAB radio. The community is not evenly split on this latest Bates move and a lot see this as a yet another cold, callous and calculated move by Bates. Whilst Radio Leeds may not supply world class commentary or insight into the goings on at Elland Road, what it does offer is both a link to Leeds fans and more importantly, an accessible, objective and independent voice. The question many fans are currently asking is will Yorkshire radio offer the same or will the questions asked and the answers given be the ones that Bates wants people to hear...

With the results filtering through Radio Leeds of the 3pm kick offs, it quickly became clear that tonight's match was a win at all costs game. The performance was not important, only that Leeds showed some bottle and fight to keep us in contention for that 6th spot and the power of positive thinking was now having little effect as we wandered to the ground for this "Six pointer". Whilst the last visit of Walsall saw a magnificent hatrick by Phil Masinga back in 1995, its the memory of the Division Two game back in 1989 that lingers. It was the penultimate home game of the season and a terrible game to boot. Then club captain Mark Azilewood had been a solid servant for the club, but was going through a very bad patch. With a section of the crowd on his back he managed to get on the end of a ball into the box and silence his critics with the only goal of the game. His goal "celebration" of sticking two's up at the Kop was a step too far and he was immediately subbed. Wilko then stripped Mark of captaincy and soon after he was booted out to Bradford. Macca was forced into a change from the Port Vale game with Hughes picking up a 2 game suspension due to hitting 10 bookings. So with Casper in goal, Macca drafted in Sheehan back to left back, then stuck with Lubo, Rui and Kenton at the back. An unchanged midfield of Johnson, Prutton, Howson and Kilkenny sat behind Beckford & Freedman...

Given the way teams have been coming to Elland Road and attacking us, it was a surprise to see high flying Walsall come with a cautious attitude as they left only Mooney up front and packed midfield. Even given for this, it was frankly a pleasant surprise to watch what unfolded before the SKY cameras and our very own eyes. In a throw back to the game against Forest, the Whites played with purpose, passion and no little skill and desire. In fact we looked a completely different outfit to what had recently gone before. With Kilkenny, Prutton and Howson all firing we managed to create Beckford more chances in the first half than in the last 4 games. Beckford's off the shoulder running was paying dividends as he twice managed to get on to the end of through balls, just failing to find that killer touch. Prutton was trying from distance too and it was Walsall keeper Ince that was having to earn his money as Casper watched on. Only a few minutes in saw a shot from Beckford well saved. He was then put through one on one with Ince and steered the ball just wide, though play was harshly pulled back for a free kick. Shortly after, a headed ball from Howson fell at Beckfords feet and his delicate chip did not have enough on it to lift over Ince. The breakthrough came on 29 minutes, Prutton found Kilkenny who had drifted to the left, his precision pass was picked up by Beckford who swept round the onrushing keeper to fire into the net from a tight angle...

The despairing dive of the defender tracking back only managed to help the ball on its way into the net. From then the confidence levels grew and with Freedman cleverly linking up play with the midfield, we began to brush the visitors aside in a way we have rarely seen. It wasn't total football, but it was total commitment and domination and we should really have been more than 1 up by the time Prutton again went close as Ince made a terrific save just before halftime. It was difficult to sum up the mood at half time, after what we had witnessed, we wanted to be optimistic, but the pessimism was ruling the head and we hoped that our fears would prove to be unfounded. Out the boys came for the second half and we held our breath. Within seconds of the restart a brilliant flowing move down the left between Prutton and Sheehan saw Prutton put in a great cross, Freedman reached it, but his header lacked that bit of power to trouble Ince. It was just after this that Walsall finally awoke. With a couple of forays forward they got into some good positions, but didn't trouble us until a free kick was awarded just on the edge of the area. Holmes stepped up to crack a terrific shot just over Casper's bar. Moments later, we should have been made to pay for all our missed chances. Bad defending allowed a ball to come in from the left, it bobbled around before falling at the feet of Mooney, who 6 yards out, lashed it over the bar when it seemed easier to score...

It was a let off that we have not been used to this year and we took advantage of it. Playing some of the best football of the season, we pressed forward in search of a killer goal. Sheehan was having his best game since he arrived and Johnson was coming more and more into the game. Sheehan had a rasping free kick tipped over and Freedman again had a chance which he prodded into the keepers arms. Johnson had a header saved on the line and in an almighty goal mouth scramble, Lubo hit one over the bar. There was always that nagging voice in the head screaming "We will rue missed chances" but fortunately, it was silenced with 10 minutes to go. Walsall players lost possession midway inside there half on the right, Kilkenny played an instinctive first time through ball to the speeding Beckford. His first touch seemed to have let him down, but his pace made up for it and he lifted the ball over the onrushing Ince and as the ball nestled into the net, we went fucking mental. Game over thank you very much now let the good times roll. With the whites tails up, the question was, could Beckford repeat Masinga's feat and bag a hatrick. The lad had a couple more chances late on, but unfortunately could not put the cherry on this cake. With 8 minutes left, Douglas came on to a tremendous reception for his first run out since the return fixture at the Bescott. Howson had the last chance with a great shot from distance, but we were not to be denied our best win of 2008...

All over the park we looked assured and confident. Walsall were poor overall, but teams worse than this have come to Elland Road and got something from the game. The transformation tonight was truly astounding and unexplainable. Anybody watching Leeds for the first time this year on SKY will be wondering what the fuck have we fans been complaining about and scratching their heads as to how we have dropped so rapidly down the table. So with contradictions ruling the heart and head & with 8 games to go, we look for inspiration, we look for optimism and we look for positives. Tonight it was the players that finally supplied all three of those requirements and all credit to them for doing so. However, one only has to remember the performance against Forest and what followed to avoid getting too optimistic and carried away. The only thing in our favour is we have a run in that mostly contains those either just around us or above us. However, its to be hoped that Macca's plan relies on much more than Leeds "turning it on" against the big boys. That said, if we can, in someway, play like this consitantly over the next 8 games, we could easily get that play off spot. With the Huddersfield game rearranged due to some bizarre international call ups, including Kandol for Congo, next up its Play Off chasing Brighton at home...

Leeds United AFC... "Land of Hope and Glory"... Keep Fighting...

Flashback - Season 2006/2007

They are rubbing their hands & sharpening their knives. As every game passes and our hope begins to die. You can see a light ignite at the back of their eyes. They are loving it, praying that we drop, willing the lifeless body of Leeds United AFC to slowly slip out of the Championship and into the abyss. Fans up and down the country, fans from far flung places, fans with glee simply etched in their faces. Fans who hate us from a long time ago, others who have really only just begun to know. They have heard the stories about the mighty Leeds United AFC, they hate us far and wide, their hate is like a badge & they wear it with pride. However, lets be honest, we love it & wouldn't have it any other way. I love the thought of every single away game we play, we are a big deal to the hosts. I love the thought that the stay away fans at every ground turn out for "Dirty Leeds". I mean, other than local derbies up and down the country, you can't really imagine they get so wound up by too many other clubs, but when the "Dirty Leeds" are in town, this is how it is. They fucking hate us, we see it everywhere we travel. They love to put one over us, they look forward to our visit. Most of all, even after how far the club has fallen in such a short space of time, its a big game to the locals wherever we play and it was the same at Wolves today, another massive crowd turned out, helped by yet another magnificent travelling White army of nearly 3,500...

Desperate times mean desperate measures and given the ever expanding injury list, Wisey again tapped up a few mates and put the emergency loan system to full use. With Casper rightfully retaining his place in goal and with a back line of Richardson, Heath, Marques & Lewis, Wisey called in some favours. Somehow he managed to pull off a masterstroke and played Harpo, with the captains armband, Groucho, the Herman Munster dynamo & the French nippy little player, Zeppo Marx all in midfield. if that wasn't impressive we had the added bonus of Donald Ducks nephews up front. Huey (still getting over his broken wing), Dewey (still getting over his horrendous leg injuries) and Louie (Who looks like he's been snacking too much near the park pond again), all playing in a kind of 4/4/2ish, that at times could have been 4/3/3ish - but it could also have been, ahhh fuck it, a play where you want formation up the front. Now, it's no understatement to say that it was the most one-sided game of football I have ever seen in my life for most of the first half. This caused many Leeds fans to have a crick in the neck watching only the left hand side of the park, as the Whites rarely got over the half way line. To be honest, this was not against a team that were overly fantastic either. Wolves are on a fine run at the moment, but they will be the first to admit that they simply have a team packed with young, enthusiastic kids that work their bollocks off for each other (A novel approach to football)...

Cleary there were some tactics going on out on the park for the Whites today too, as for the first 44 minutes, Harpo, Groucho and Zeppo rarely got near the halfway line. Maybe this was due to the fear of contracting Birdflu from Huey, Dewey and Louie and if that's the case, its understandable. However, its more likely to be something to do with the fact that their "comedy routine" revolved around "clownesq" football. In a nutshell, the first half was like this. Wolves attack, it gets broken down by the Magnificent Marques or the "I am really trying boss" Heath. They pass the ball to Groucho thinking "Job done", Groucho thinks, no chance, I don't want it, here, you have it Harpo. Harpo thinks, fuck's sake, I was just thrilling the crowd with my clumsy falling over routine, and passes it to Zeppo, but it misses and finds a Wolves player. They attack, header tipped over by Casper, corner. Corner swung in, headed out by Heath, straight to Zeppo who tries to find Groucho who is smoking a cigar, can't multi-task, misses the ball. It finds a Wolves player, they attack, nearly score, corner. Corner swung in, Headed out by Lewis, straight to Harpo who tries to find Huey, but Huey, along with the other two up the front are struggling. Its not wet you see, their webbed feet can't control the ball, so it finds a Wolves player and they attack and Edwards hit the post and on and on with this embarrassing "to me, to you, to me, to you, to me, to you". Well, OK, that's the Chuckle brothers, not the Marx brothers, but I am sure you catch my drift...

It appeared that for the Whites, retaining possession in the first half was simply impossible. Thinking about it though, the Chuckle Brothers, hmmmm, has anyone got their number. Its not fair to say that Wolves were magnificent, but time and again they ran at us and we could have been 3 nil down at the break. However, for one brief moment before the end of the half, we could have nicked and amazing "against the run of play" goal. Louie, who up to this point had managed to replicate his form on the right wing very well over on the left (i.e. The left back was exposed as opposed to the right back not having cover and being exposed), swung in a freekick that Dewey managed to get his head to. 6 yards out with keeper Murray stranded, it seemed a certain goal, however he put his header into the ground and it bounced over the bar in a comedy moment that could only happen at the longest running Circus in town. I don't have a fucking clue how, but 0-0 was the halftime score. Halftime was spent reflecting on matters since "Molegate". Its fair to say, things have gone from bad to worse. The victory over Palace was shrouded in suspicion and the defeat at Cardiff was shrouded in controversy. The Leeds fans "Paedophile" taunts were plastered all over the paper's. The Cardiff fans "Istanbul" taunts were ignored by all around. Though I wonder if Liesdale heard them and what he thought, after all, he was there that night in the thick of the action...

Perhaps he simply doesn't care, but then, why should he. Moving on to the 0-0 draw against QPR and a near 30,000 crowd did their bit to show Bates what cheaper prices can do, alas, Bates wasn't there to see it. Some of the Players froze in front of the big crowd and both Healy and Blake hit woodwork. In patches though, QPR played like Brazil and got a well deserved point. Some of the fans booed at the end & you have to wonder if they turned up expecting to see so much more. But then, had they been to the ground all season, they would have seen that it wasn't the worst performance of the season by a long long way. It remains to be seen if they turn up to the Luton game, which again is a must win and again has much reduced prices. With no goals in two games and more injuries, this time layoffs to Thompson and Sa, its looking bleak. We have been cushioned by the loan of striker Johnson for a month, a lad who looks like "Predator" from the movies, but he couldn't get in this Wolves side who are no great shakes. After all the hope that was given to us on the back of the Hull and Palace wins , we have simply proceeded to fuck it up and look like we are back to square one. As the rain lashed down at the beginning of the second half, it made for more "ducklike" conditions. It was hoped that, after simply "getting away" with it in the first 45, the Whites could kick on and nick a point or maybe, even 3...

Well, OK, that was hopeful, but When Edwards smashed the ball onto the angle of post and bar from a free header, it was looking more and more likely that Wolves would be made to rue missed chances. I mean, just how many more could we give them. More and more we got a foothold into the game. I assume Wise at Halftime had told the midfield that the ducks up front might be shit, but they did not have birdflu. It worked as, though Harpo continued to play as if he was wearing clown shoes, Groucho began to get into the game and make his presence felt and we began to drag Wolves down to our level. Great thinking from the Whites, as surely a scrappy time wasting game was the best ploy to win a point. Balls were knocked for the strikers and by now the pitch was sodden and they had found their webfeet. Huey and Dewy were begin to chase balls, yes, honest guv, they ran after things and Louie, though he was still trying to do too much, was actually getting into the game. In our best period of the game we forced a couple of corners and one of which, as god is my witness, even beat the first man. With the rain now lashing down and the White army in full force, at least of each end of the horrendous "Steve Bull Lower tier" that is not made for vocal atmosphere, we were hit with an almighty bolt of lightning from the gods that may have well had "Ha ha ha ha we thought we would give you a bit of hope then rip it from your tight grasp" written all over it...

As the ball was played through, Kightly received the ball and as he proceeded to cut inside Lewis, a second ball landed on the pitch from the Leeds fans (A ploy used to great sucess by the Sunderland fans over Christmas you may recall). However, the ref didn't see it, so Kightly continued and as Harpo threw himself in a slow-motion "Power Rangers" style leap in front of him (I think he slipped). Thus obscuring Caspers view as Kightly twatted in from just inside the Box. Cue wild celebrations in the home end, cue the "Leeds are going down" chants, cue "We all hate Leeds Scum" chants, you know, the predictable. Clearly stung by this devisation, the Leeds players took the kick off with determination, pride and passion and then reverted into their shells for a few mins as the Wolves crowd shouted at them. Only realising with about 2 mins plus 4 stoppage to go that actually, the Wolves players had dropped so deep in desperation to hold onto the win, that we could get near their box. It was a freekick on the left of the box that gave us our only real chance of the 2nd half. Louie rolled the ball square and Lewis was onto it with a first time effort that was goal bound, only for Murray to tip over the bar. All that remained was for Louie to be subbed and give young Tom Elliot a run out and at the final whistle, the sheepish Leeds player's to give a half hearted gesture to the Leeds fans...

They then fucked off to the comfort of the dressing room and another undeserved wage packet, as the Leeds fans were left to run the gauntlet outside as the jubilant Wolves fans were having a party and simply pissing themselves at how bad Leeds really are. There are small things to take away from the game, Casper continues to look like a player we will get good money for in the summer. The same can't be said of Marques, though he is simply wonderful and gets better by the game (making Blackwell look a twat for not playing him), as he is out of contract at the end of the season, he may well be a bargain for someone. Douglas is working harder every game, but Nicholls continued run of poor form is dragging him down. It was good to see Young Tom Elliot again, though very briefly. it was very worrying that after the game, Gus said:

"We are running out of games and it is now or never. If we do not start getting it right soon survival will be impossible. We have not scored a goal in our last three games. That tells me when the final pass or the final cross comes in we are not making the right decisions."

Well Gus, you and Wisey have not been panicking whilst the rest of us have been shitting bricks for month's. So welcome to the club fella, though its a tad late for you to join our party. Perhaps if you lot in charge and the players could have shown some urgency at say Christmas, we may not be rooted to the bottom of the league and searching the AA route map for next seasons venues. With results elsewhere again going against us and the ever mounting injury list (apt of course that we will play Birmingham on Tuesday as they are at near full strength when it should have been visa versa) & it would seem, our management team finally shitting themselves at the prospect of being the first people to ever take our proud club into the Third tier of English football, we have to remain positive...

The SS Leeds United AFC... The Captain & first mate have finally realised there is a fucking great big Iceberg ahead... Keep Fighting...

The first in an occasional "fly on the wall" series revealing the inside workings of that fine, well oiled machine known as Leeds United PLC:

There is a knock on the door of PR's Penthouse Office - February 2001...

DOL: "Alroigh Peter, sorry to bother you when you're feeding dat dere fish, but its important so it is!"...

PR: "Ididn'tdoitnobodysawmedoityoucan'tproveanything!!"...

DOL: "Whah?"...

PR: "Erm nothing, nothing. Come in David, come in. My, your looking mighty fine, what can I do for you?"...

DOL: "Grand, grand, well Oi had a little visitor last night and Oi'm delighted!"...

PR: "Visited you say? Tell me more?"...

DOL: "Oi've been visited by a Leprechaun so I have Peter, de big green one with de ginger feckin hair!"...

PR: "Right, Leprechaun you say, and what news did this Leprechaun bring you?"...

DOL: "Oi need another Robbie so I do Peter! He says dat if Oi get tree Robbie's den we will win de league so we will!"...

PR: "So, urm, let me get this straight? You need another Robbie because you were visited by a Leprechaun and he told you so?"...

DOL: "Aye, Grand, you got it! We have Fowler & we have Keane, one more and it's de title guaranteed!"...

PR: "David, you know I admire you and hang on your every word, but I can't just sanction this after all we have paid out! I need approval by the real decision maker within the PLC. Leave it with me David, I will fight your corner and get back to you"...

DOL: "Grand, grand. Oi can't ask for more dan dat Peter so I can't, seyafter"...

DOL leaves office and PR turns to goldfish...

PR: "So what do you think - can we afford another Robbie?"...

Two Days Later:

PR: "Ah, David, glad I caught you! Great news we have agreed a deal to sign another Robbie - Port Vale bit my hand off at 4.7 million plus add on's for when we win the title. What idiots, I would have gone to 7.5!"...

DOL: "Oi can't believe it, tank you so much, when will Earle arrive?"...

PR: "Earle? No David, They wanted silly money for him to come out of retirement! I got you some youth star of the future, never heard of him, but big things are predicted. Williams his name, bit of a weight problem, but you manage to make Viduka look slim, so I'm not worried"...

DOL: "Youth star you say, sounds like he will fit in with moi babies. Oi'll feckin Take That, Oi'm delighted!...

If we could have hand picked 3 games on the trot to try get the season back on track, we would not have chosen much different than Bournemouth, Cheltenham and Port Vale. After surviving against the first of those teams, next up was a home game against Cheltenham Town, in what was the visitors first ever game at Elland Road. There was a severe storm warning given out before the game and what followed was certainly a storm, but perhaps not the one the weather men predicted. It was a game that 3 points seemed to be a formality beforehand yet it was, once again, the visiting team at Elland Road that played all the football. With a goal lead after a mistake by Fraser, the visitors simply stuck to a game plan that was alien to the home side. It consisted of simple passing combined with width, pace, and ball retention. The Leeds response was feeble, weak and at times, shameful. More slow, sleep inducing sideways passing that never got anywhere and as one wag commented, it was like his sex life. 95% possession with only 5 % penetration. Kandol missed the best chance in the first half with a point blank header over the bar. The only other notable chance falling to Beckford, whose snapshot also went over...

Worse was to follow after the break. Cheltenham scored one of the goals of the season and it was rightly applauded by all four sections of the ground...

The visitors then proceeded to pick holes in both the United midfield and defence. With the Leeds fans once again asking "What the fuck is going on", the white machine froze and were simply ripped apart. Firstly a Cheltenham striker with an open goal, managed to unfathomably stand on the ball and fall over. Not long after, a searing shot from the visitors rattled the bar. It could have been 4-0 and it would not have flattered the away side. Leeds fans are a resilient lot, but tonight was the night the patience snapped. Macca's decision to take off Howson, who was by no means on form, but one of the only players still playing with any semblance of pride, was met with a chorus of abuse. Kandol, along with many others, had been having a mare, yet he was kept on the pitch as we tried to get back into the game. His apparent lack of heart had not gone unnoticed and was harshly treated by some sections of the crowd. When the ref booked him for a stupid frustration type tackle, some chanted "off off off". When Kandol and Frazer were finally dragged off, the boo boys struck again...

Elding came on a nicked a goal back, but honestly, someone should have told him before he went on that we were 2 down as his "Celebration" of shouting at the Revie was met with a volley of "Fucking get on with it!" abuse...

A final punt in the box and it was all thankfully over. Other than the loan figure of Hughes who made sure he went to all sides of the ground to applaud the support, the rest of the shamefaced twats ran off as quick as they could. There are problems at the club that we know Macca inherited, lets make no mistake about that. However, just what is going wrong at Leeds seems to be simple, but yet so complex. Lack of fight and confidence. Lack of ability and any team shape. Lack of pace, lack of width, lack of quality & a manager determined to play players out of position. Every sound bite from a player at the club is positive, yet talk is once again cheap from players who talk the talk but do not walk the walk. With the fans fury vented on the radio stations, it seemed to go almost unnoticed that the announcement of Flo's retirement had been given out. It was not unexpected and it was disappointing in many respects that we did not see the best of his last days as a footballer...

With Leeds fans at yet another low point, it was hard to see how the team would react in a positive fashion at Port Vale's self proclaimed "Wembley of the North". Around 4,000 of the white army travelled down the M6 and despite what had gone on during the week, we were in good heart, good voice and plenty of gallows humour. Macca decided on another shuffle to try and breath new life into the team. Both Frazer and Kandol were dropped to the bench and in came Freedman and Hughes. So with Casper in goal, a back four was cobbled together with Kenton, Rui, Lubo and Hughes. Kilkenny, Prutton, Howson and Johnson retained midfield positions and Beckford was joined by Freedman up front. From the kick off, it was good to see that we had at least upped the tempo from the midweek debacle. Passing was quicker and at times too quick, rushed forward passes meant that they tended to be misplaced and easily blocked out by Vale. It was Vale with the first few notable chances, 8 minutes in, Rogers beat the offside trap and Casper had to come out to deny him in a one on one situation. It was a while before Vale would beat the offside trap again as they were getting frustrated by the linesman's flag...

With Leeds suffering the same fate at the other end, our best chance came from an instinctive looping shot from Freedman that was touched over the bar by the keeper. It was hard going and for the next 20 minutes, we struggled as Vale rose to the occasion. Playing neat attacking football, they caused us no end of problems without having that killer instinct. With Lubo and Rui playing like strangers & Kenton continually left exposed by the lack of support on the right by Kilkenny, we were once again struggling to contain a team who were clearly up for the challenge. With the white support getting frustrated, we finally had a half decent chance. We actually played a flowing move that included 3 passes to Yellow shirts, only for Kilkenny to fire over the bar. It was looking like we could hold out for halftime when things began to slowly change. Firstly a simple ball through split the Vale defence, Freedman latched on to it, but could only send a feeble chip into the keepers hands. It was the best chance of the game for Leeds and we screamed at the players to produce more. They began to do the simple things better and for the next couple of minutes, everything seemed to click. Again Freedman broke clear only to be pole axed by the keeper...

It seemed a clear pen, but the ref gave a corner thus continuing our run of no penalties awarded away from home this season. The corner was swung in and it fell to Rui who kept his composure to prod home and cause chaos in the away end. It was an undeserved lead and seconds later, it was doubled. A swift move saw Kilkenny's ball fall to Freedman who made up for his earlier miss and twatted home to paper over some bloody large cracks. It was a stunning turn around and came totally against the run of play. Still, 2 - 0 up and you can't look a gift horse in the mouth. Time to shut up shop and fuck off home with 3 points. Well, that was the idea. After some great banter with the Vale keeper, the second half got underway at a snails pace. Vale were not flowing like they did in the first half and we were content to try and pass the ball around sideways again with the occasional hoof from Lubo rather than go for the throat and kill off the game. Prutton was having a half decent game in the centre again and he had a shot from distance, but we really never looked like troubling the keeper. The game started to have a friendly type feel and it was that which really was our undoing. Vale made a double sub and began to wake up. From not looking dangerous, suddenly they got a life line...

A ball swung in was adjudged by the linesman to have hit Hughes hand. Now, from where we were it was hard to tell. What I will say is this, whenever you see stuff like this on MOTD, they always say look at the offending players reaction. Hughes went fucking mad claiming it hit his head. He was booked for his troubles, but if reactions are anything to go by, then it wasn't a pen. However up stepped Harlsey who empathically twatted past Casper for 1-2 and had the small amount of Vale fans signing "Glad all over". With Hughes and co still complaining, Vale stepped up 5 gears and suddenly looked like Brazil. Whitaker curled one wide with Casper stranded and then seconds later he struck the leveller. A cross in saw the back four sleeping and he nipped in for 2-2 and the Leeds heads dropped. It was around this point that Macca made a telling change. Off went Kilkenny and on came Seb Carole. It was a simple but effective change and from then we had a "great for the neutral" school yard kick about. Both defences fell apart as both teams raised their games and went for a win. Kandol came on for the once again ineffective Johnson and it looked like the script had been written...

Almost immediately, Rui had a header cleared off the line from a corner as we probed and pressed in a way that we have not seen since the second half of the Forest game. Carole was having an impact, as was Kandols ability to win headers and it paid off on 86 minutes. Carole's great cross went over everyone and Freedman had cleverly drifted to the back stick where he met the cross for 3-2 and sent us mental. It was still underserved, it still papered over the cracks, but given the hole we had dug ourselves into, who cared. It was just a case of keeping calm, composed and shut up shop. We didn't, we tried to be clever and go for number four, We so nearly got it after a brilliant run from Beckford. He burst into the box and tried to lift the ball over the advancing keeper, but the lad got a hand to it and got play going forward again. Twice they could have levelled, before we gave a stupid free kick away in the last of the 4 added minutes. The defence again went AWOL as the ball was hammered into the box and after what looked like a bit of ping pong, Rodgers slammed home a killer, but deserved, goal to leave us fucked off and bemused...

So, we drop to 10th, but surprisingly, still only 2 points from the playoffs. The fat lady has not started singing yet, but honestly, how many more chances are we realistically going to get before we are forced to accept mid table mediocrity from a season that we have allowed to drift away. The last 15 minutes of the game were much better than we have been playing, but it has to be put into perspective. No disrespect to Port Vale, but this was the bottom of the league we were playing and both the performance & result gives the fans little confidence. We need to remain both positive & United, but admittedly thats getting harder by the week. Next up, Walsall at home...

Leeds United AFC..." Are you going backwards
Or are you going forwards?"... Keep Fighting...

* Tanks to Irish Henderson the Irish Translations...

The 1988/1989 is often overlooked by many Leeds fans. It’s a season without the romance of League play offs, FA Cup Semi finals or promotions, yet it was pivotal in the clubs rise from the ashes. After just missing out on promotion in 87 and then just missing the play offs in 88, it was make or break for manager King Billy. It turned out to be the latter and with the club struggling, King Billy was sacked. When Howard Wilkinson was brought in on the 10th October 1988, it was a bit of a coup. Wilko was managing in the First Division with Sheffield Wednesday at that time. Though the faithful had to wait until the following season for any kind of success, the foundations were beginning to be built. Wilko brought in Chris Fairclough and of course, a certain Old Trafford “cast off” Gordon Strachan. Whilst the contributions made by both these players live long in the memories, it was a £50,000 buy from Bristol City who made the more immediate impact. On April Fools day 1989, Carl Shutt’s home debut was against Bournemouth and the lad rattled in a hatrick. Shutty remains the only Leeds player in modern day history to have achieved this debut day feat and he went on to win the hearts of many fans...

Not so much for his goal scoring prowess ( He only went on to score 25 goals in over 100 appearances) but for his tireless none stop running and fight for the white cause. Shutty’s career at Leeds may never have reached the heights that his debut promised, but who will ever forget screaming at the lad to pass to the unmarked Strach in the Nou Camp against Stuttgart in 1992. It was the replayed European Cup tie & he had come on to replace Cantona. Shutty ignored the shouts and went it alone to bag the second goal in that thrilling win. It was ironic that Leeds once again had a striker making a home debut against Bournemouth today. It had been a busy week in the loan market. Dougie Freedman was quoted earlier this week as saying that he wasn’t interested in signing for the club. A couple of days later with Warnock spelling out to him that he has not much chance of first team football and the lad made a dramatic u-turn. Not the most encouraging start to a Leeds career and there was no realistic danger that he would repeat the debut day feat of Shutty. With Constantine shipped out on loan to Oldham, (Followed by Weston to Scunny and Westlake Brighton), Macca decided to ignore youth like Tom Elliot, (reserves top scorer) and bring in more experience...

We did need another option up front. Other than Beckford and Kandol, strikers Elding & Flo have struggled to make any impact when they have had the chance and the latter was subject to rumours about his long term future at the club. It had also been a busy week as far as the arbitration and 15 points was concerned. No sooner had the dust settled on the decision to have the case heard behind closed doors, then personalities from clubs around us started making noises in the press. Ling of Orient (Though Orient came out and said these were personal comments and not that of the club) and Doncaster chairman Ryan both suggested they would consider court action if the final League One standings were affected by the outcome of arbitration. What is strange is that, whether you agree with this crusade by Bates or not, Bates has made no secret of the fact that the club was to fight the points deduction. Its not Leeds that have been dragging heels in this matter, it is the league who have steadfastly refused to enter into any discussions until Bates finally issued the high court writ. So people should have been aware this was on the cards. The rights and wrongs of the case continue to be discussed and its interesting to hear that the club does have some, albeit limited, support from other clubs...

Julian Rhodes of Bradford City recently came out in support of Leeds via the Yorkshire Post claiming that we were “A little hard done by“ and points out that the final deal giving 11.2p in the pound was a great deal for the creditors “Leeds have had more points deducted , but whose creditors were better off?”. Following this theme, Bates used his programme notes today to mention that in conversation with other clubs, some claimed the facts of the matter had not been clearly explained to them and others openly admitted to voting for the points deduction from self interest:

“Some, from wanting us to be disadvantaged and some because they don’t want to lose the huge income that they generate when we visit them” Ken Bates

Bates also revealed that the Football League themselves had openly opposed the Leeds CVA at the creditors meeting and Bates claims:

“The Football league voted against Leeds’s CVA and sent Nick Craig, the leagues lawyer to the meeting when he not only voted against the CVA but also spoke vehemently and passionately against Leeds proposals” Ken Bates

Its not clear from the Bates notes if this vote against the CVA was based on the way administration was handled what with all the suspicion surrounding Astor telling KPMG that they would only back the Bates bid. Or if the league simply oppose any club trying to follow the Leagues own rules of exiting Administration via a CVA. If it’s the latter, then of course the league will do the same to Luton and Bournemouth right? So with all this rumbling on in the background, it was down to Macca to focus on the job in hand and somehow try to ensure that our season does not rest upon the arbitration decision going our way. With the fortunate win at Swindon under our belts and another week on the training pitch getting to know the way Macca wants the boys to play it was an optimistic drive to the ground. Macca decided not to tinker with a winning side and kept faith with the same starting line up from the Swindon game. So with Casper in goal, a back four of Lubo, Rui, Kenton and Fraser. A midfield of Kilkenny, Prutton, Howson and Johnson. Kandol and Beckford led the line. Beckford of course fresh from his double award of “FourFourTwo player of the year for League One” and “Goal of the year” for his phenomenal strike whilst playing for Scunny against Rotherham...

Playing towards the South Stand and roared on by over 21,000, it wasn‘t long before the tone of the first half was set. 3 minutes in and Bournemouth winger Gradel had rounded Casper to fire home, only for Ref Shoebridge to pull play back for a free kick on the edge of the area and a booking for Rui. It was a relief, but puzzling why he had not played advantage to the away side. It has to be said that Bournemouth where having the better of a stop - start game. The ref was blowing for petty fouls was not helping the game fall into any sort of pattern. In right winger Gradel, the visitors had the type of player that Leeds fans have been crying out for all season. Pacy and comfortable on the ball, he was giving Fraser a torrid time. Centre forward Vokes was also giving Lubo and Rui the run around but it was the whites that struck first. A simple high punt from Prutton saw both keeper Forde come racing out and smash into his own defender. The ball ran loose to Bradley Johnson who simply said thank you very much and ran the ball into the empty net for 1-0 and relief all round. Any hopes of Bournemouth folding and the ref losing his whistle at this point soon evaporated as the visitors decided they had nothing to lose...

They had, however, not brought their shooting boots with them and that was their downfall. Gradel with his orange boots was a thorn in the side of us for most of the first half and it was he who laid a great chance on a plate for Vokes, who missed. Gradel then volleyed just wide and it seemed only a matter of time before we conceded. The Leeds attacks were becoming lack lustre and whilst you could see the effort levels were there, the quality was not and passes went astray time and again. Kilkenny started on the right wing, but was continually getting pulled inside, this leaving Kenton at right back exposed. Prutton was once again the heartbeat of the midfield, with young Howson showing in patches just what kind of player we hope he will be in the future. Johnson was again starting slow, despite the goal. After one of the best White moves of the game, a great one - two saw the ball returned to Howson who sent the ball over. Back came Bournemouth with Casper at his best to save from the by now down right annoying Gradel. Beckford had a couple of chances, one of which well held by the keeper, but in the main, both he and Kandol were quiet. Kandol did get his head to a great Howson cross, but failed to show anything like the accuracy of his header at Swindon...

Halftime was greeted with relief and laughter as news of another Newcastle comedy scoreline was filtering through. The parallels of the Newcastle situation resultswise and our own relegation from the Premier League are strikingly similar and most barcodes I know are now sweating. Had it not been for the fact that there are 4 or 5 teams worse than the in the league this year, they could well be going down, as it is, I suspect they will just survive. Out came the troops for the second half and just as at Swindon, we knew a second goal should do the trick. However it appeared that we were heading for a re:run of the Swindon second half. Bournemouth were quick out of the blocks and fashioned some great chances. The impressive Vokes and Gradel (who had switched from Orange to Blue boots at half time) both had chances to level early on. Talking of boot switches, with about 50 mins gone and a Bournemouth player down, 4 of our players , including Beckford and Kandol, raced to the touchline and all changed their boots. You just wonder why they didn’t bother to do that at halftime. It was just after the restart that something began to slowly change. Whilst Bournemouth were still threatening on the counter attack, the Leeds midfield began to slowly creep on top and between the four of them, take gradual hold of the game...

Kilkenny was again drifting inside and playing intelligent short passes, but the main reason for the shift was the continued endeavour from Prutton and the emergence of Johnson. Just when we were threatening to get on top, Bournemouth should have scored. Vokes held off Rui however his finish was off target. Vokes again got through shortly after, but Casper saved with his feet. The rain got worse and it lashed it down making for an exciting period of the game. Keeper Forde did well to stop Kandol, but on 63 minutes we managed to show some class and effectively kill off the game. Howson picked up a loose ball and ran at the defence before squaring to Kilkenny on the edge of the area. Kilkenny picked his spot and twatted home into the bottom left hand corner for game over and delirium. Freedman came on in the later stages becoming the 39th player we have used this season, but had little chance to shine. The goal had ripped the heart out of Bournemouth and they didn’t really trouble after that. Hollands hit one over the bar and Kuffour sent one well wide from distance. Beckford was really trying to get in on the scoring, but was off target twice...

Frustratingly, Beckford was taking up great positions out wide, only for no bugger to pass to him. If we can get him service when he takes up these positions, who knows where that might lead. Just before the final whistle, Hughes got a run out after his injury and talking of injury, Kandol limped off to be replaced by Elding. No sooner was the lad on, than the whistle went for yet another vital, if unconvincing, win. So we move to 5 games unbeaten and up to 1 point from the play offs. Despite a shaky looking defence, we have 2 clean sheets in a row for the first time since early January. Perhaps lady luck is back. Next up, Cheltenham’s first ever visit to Elland Road...

Leeds United AFC..."A man they called Sergeant Wilko, Has made our dreams come true"... Keep Fighting...

It was widely reported on Wednesday morning that the UK was hit with it’s biggest Earthquake in 25 years. This was quite incorrect as that was simply an aftershock. The original Earthquake took place the previous Saturday with Elland Road at the epicentre. It was due to a combination of Kandol falling on his huge arse and a stunned Elland Road crowd fainting as one. They had just witnessed Kandol leap higher than his usual 2 inches to nick an unlikely last gasp leveller against Crewe. It was unlikely for 2 reasons, firstly, Kandol has been playing so poor latley that when chances come his way, either he fails to connect with the ball or he sends it high, wide and handsome. Secondly, Crewe had completely out played Leeds for 80 minutes and should have been 4 -0 up by that time. Only the crossbar and Casper managed to keep the score to one. It was such a poor performance from Leeds that "What the fuck is going on" rained down from the terraces midway through the second half. In fairness, the side was shorn of Hughes due to injury and Beckford, who was suspended. However, with now the biggest, most expensive and no doubt the highest paid squad in the league, this can not be used as an all encompassing excuse...

Though we had some good chances in the first 10 minutes, when the goal didn’t come, the players lost their way and more worryingly, their fight. It was a million miles away from that performance against Forest. Only Prutton, who was drafted into the centre, never stopped running or working for the cause and came off the park with any credit. Away from the Earthquake, the big news of the week was the apparent climbdown from the Football league. In response to the clubs High Court writ, they offered the club the arbitration case Bates asked for months ago. This was swiftly followed by big talk from Bates about wanting the case thrashed out in public, but the League wanted it behind closed doors. It was then Bates who appeared to climbdown and before the week was out, agreed "under protest". Many fans are still unclear what, if any, are the ramifications of this should we lose. For example, are the club then open to further punishment from the league for, at the very least, breaking the agreement not to sue the league. The 15 points back would of course be very welcome indeed, though as it was pointed out, on current form we would probably end up in the play offs and fail miserably...

It was that conversation which rattled around the car as we bleakly headed to Swindon’s County Ground. Our last visit here had brought a 5 goal victory and history was never going to repeat. During the week Macca had decided to ship out Ben Parker on loan to Darlington. Parker, it seemed, had just found his feet when Macca arrived and it seemed very harsh that he was immediately dropped for Sheehan, especially after witnessing Sheehan’s performances to date. Macca then brought in left sided defender O'Halloran on loan from Villa. We heard the team line up outside and O'Halloran was in, with Sheehan dropped completely from the line up or subs. We got into the ground just in time to see O'Halloran being helped off during the warm up and by the time we had got into the correct part of the ground (thanks go to the stewards outside for the wrong instructions) the line up had changed. So Macca went with Casper in goal. A back four of Kenton on the right, Fraser drafted in on the left with Rui and Lubo in the centre. Midfield was again changed around, with Howson and Prutton in the middle, Kilkenny on the right and Johnson on the left. Beckford returned upfront with goal hero Kandol...

The terrible pitch looked worse than ours and a gale was blowing in the faces of the Leeds boys for the first half as we played towards the Town End. It was said that this was turning into a great advert for finding other things to do on a Saturday afternoon. Clearly the pitch and wind had a lot to do with it, but mainly you feel due to 22 players on the park that had little confidence and little ability. It reminded me of one of those games we had as kids after school in the local park. No one could trap a ball, pass a ball or tackle with any precision. It was in short, a fucking woeful advert for professional football. Still, this made for one of those "Expect the unexpected" games and we initially tried to at least pass the ball around. Swindon had the first real chance, Roberts blasting over when he should have done better given that we gave him time and space. Cox then nearly got in ahead of Lubo but we hoofed clear. Our first real effort on goal saw a ball in from a free kick on the right find Becks, but he aimed for the roof of the stand and was unlucky to only just miss. Swindon were mastering the conditions better, however it was more due to our reluctance to get our shirts muddy that they were getting sight of goal...

When they did, rather than work openings, they were going for "Goal of the season" and both Paynter and Roberts tried from distance. It was good of them to give free footballs to the kids in the park behind the away end. It really was becoming desperate stuff and thoughts drifted to Focus DIY shops when, out of the blue, we scored. It was a great goal too when it came. After a boout of head tennis, good work on the left saw the ball fall to the feet of the industrious Prutton, his great cross was met by an unmarked Kandol at the back post and he guided the ball home with his head before running off to do his triple flip over and leaving us once again stunned. Clearly the Earthquake causing goal against Crewe has relit Kandol, as never before has he shown so much accuracy with his head. It was a goal that should have settled us down and prompted us to go on to better things. As it was, we dropped a bit deeper and allowed our defence to show just how shit they can actually be. For the next 20 minutes I don’t think I can recall an error strewn defensive display like it. The main culprit being Lubo as the big fella lost all his composure and poor Huntingdon, sat in front of us, must have been wondering what on earth he has to do to get a game...

Lubo wasn’t alone however as Kenton and Casper did their best to join him. Vincent, Cox and Paynter all took turns in making us look stupid, but what we lacking in defensive composure Swindon, thankfully, lacked in that killer touch. In a moment that will leave Simon Cox having sleepless nights for the rest of his life, he managed to somehow head a glorious chance over the bar. Cox was unmarked, on his knees, 3 yards out with the goal at his mercy. It was a let off that we did not really deserve and a miss that has to be seen to be believed. We continued to cling on till half time and to be fair, neither team really deserved to be winning. That said, in the position we find ourselves at the moment, we will take anything that comes. You could tell we were now fired up after Macca’s team talk because we came out of the tunnel at a speed which would have made a turtle go white with fright. We now had the wind with us and we had the lead. This was it and with perhaps a smattering of free flowing football it could be the turning point. It would have helped if anyone on or off the park had believed that but deep down we knew that it was only the result that mattered today...

So we decided to sit back and give Swindon the ball, the time, the space and say, "Come on then". Swindon accepted the challange and we basically got played off the park by a team that was up for the fight. Roberts wing work took the piss out of Kenton time and again and indeed one of his crosses look like evading Casper, but ended up on the roof of the net. A great flowing move saw Vincent overlap and his teasing cross well held by Casper & after a great move, Paynter nearly got a touch to level the scores but the ball went wide. Paynter then had a header over before Comminges shot wide. Kept looking at the big clock to our left, but it just seemed to be standing still, as did our attack and midfield. At least the defenders had now woken up and we were defending with all hands to the pump. 65 minutes gone and we were clinging on. We needed a leader, we needed a man to take charge and say "Enough is enough". Bradley Johnson decided he was that man. It was he who awoke from his slumber and tried inspire Leeds to better things. Firstly he passed to a Swindon man, then he passed into space where there was no Yellow shirt. Finally he got the ball and ran at the defence. Swindon players backed off and it was clear they were in awe...

What was this thing before them, this fireball of a footballer, this colossus and just as we were about to apologise to him for all the bad things previously said, he slipped the ball through the defence and over the goal line near the corner flag for a goal kick. I can’t think of any explanation other than blame the wind. It was at this point when the most bizarre thing happened from within the Swindon support to our right. A small group of fans, 15 at most, had assembled to "have a go" at the Leeds support and it was during a hearty version of "We all hate Leeds scum" that a loan bald fella, a few rows down from them, stood up & turned to them. He then tried to clambered over seats to have a go at them. Only to be dragged away and out of the ground by 3 burly stewards. It was certainly more interesting than what was going on below us on the park. The closest we came to scoring again was a Prutton corner that got caught in the wind and nearly beat the keeper. After that, it was back up field and we simply waited for the inevitable. It nearly came on 72 minutes, a superb double save from Casper thwarted a Comminges header and Roberts follow up. Swindon’s tails were up and Macca decided it was time to throw in some experience...

On came Thompson for Kilkenny and promptly bemused the Whites support by being sent onto the right wing. Great tactics and "thinking outside the box" from Macca and proof again that supporters would never make football managers as no one had even thought of such a move. With 10 minutes left, our last shot towards the goal came from the boot of Howson from about 25 yards out and after that distraction, it was back to desperate defending. Though the introduction of McGovern gave the home side more impetus, the final ball into the centre was becoming more hopeful hoofs than anything more clinical. With some blatant time wasting from Casper we managed to steer through the paltry 3 minutes stoppage time and hold on for a much needed and totally undeserved win. Macca punched the air in delight at the final whistle and though his record after that first defeat of 4 games unbeaten asks more questions than it gives answers to, it was one hell of a welcome 3 points. So we move to 2 points from the playoffs with 2 very winnable home games to come. The fact remains that we currently are one hell of a poor team and need to do much better. It all must seem a million miles away to those supporters who watched Leeds United AFC win the League Cup on this weekend back in 1968. Next up a home game with AFC Bournemouth...

Leeds United AFC... "Tresor Kandol, Scored a fucking great goal"... Keep Fighting...

*Flashback - 17 October 1995*

Tony Yeboah was simply majestic in the early part of the 1995-1996 campaign. His exploits included those stunning goals against West Ham, Liverpool, Wimbledon & who can ever forget that stunning hatrick in Monaco. It was this that put us into the next round of the UEFA cup and when the draw was made pitting our beloved Whites against the Dutch masters PSV, I was in heaven. Personally, being dragged up on a diet of Second division football most my early years, I could only look back in envy at the Whites exploits in Europe in the 60s & 70s. This season was really only the second taste of European football I had experienced as a Leeds fan. The first of course being the humbling experience in the European cup in 1992 -1993 season. With only the win against Stuggart at Elland Road(4-1) and The Nou Camp (2-1) to shout about before getting hammered by Rangers in the much hyped "Battle of Britain". So when the news of the draw filtered through I was delighted, walking on air, over the moon and this continued for a while, until reality sunk in. Leeds were to be at home in the first leg, not too much of a problem. With any lick we could nick a goal or two and set ourselves up nicely for the away leg. The date set was Tuesday 17th October. Nowt unusual there then, as most midweek games are Tuesday nights. What was unusual in this case and in a cruel twist of fate delivered by the gods, was the game was to be played the night after my wedding. We had chosen to marry in a registry office and to be honest, we weren't the most well off of folk at the time, so we chose the cheapest day to get married (Monday). All I could think was fuck, fuck fuck and more fuck. How on earth do I get to the game. How do I tell the missus, that what should and could have been the honeymoon, was to be her first ever trip to Elland Road...

Unless...well...could I...maybe...go without her???

After the ritual chatting it over with the whole office, the consensus was this was a no go. I would have to miss this vital game, bite the bullet and accept the responsibility of being an adult. I should take it like a man, after all, that's what marriage was clearly all about. Compromise, giving things up for the other half etc. So finally, it was agreed, my work colleagues had talked sense into me and made my mind up. So with heavy heart, I rang the ticket office with a "cunning plan". I purchased two tickets for the South Stand and arranged to collect the next day. My hands were trembling as I approached the ticket office and sure enough the tickets were ready for collection. As I drove home that night I prepared my speech to the missus, and to be honest it went kinda well in the car, but the words just wouldn't seem to come out as planned with her in front of me...

Me: "errr, you know..I was kinda thinking..its.. errr..like tradition isn't it"...

Her: "What is"...

Me: "Well, you know, for the groom to give the bride a..errr..wedding..gift"...

Her: "Awwww, that's soo sweet of you"...

Me: "Yes....well, errr, I thought so"...

Her: "I really Love you "...

Me: "errr yeah... thanks, here you are sweetheart"...(Ducks)

It was a face that I will never forget. At first it wasn't even the date, it was simply the fact I had handed her "FOOTBALL" tickets. She had that look of, "you are taking the piss". Now, to be fair, the missus and I are like chalk and cheese in many respects and its like, a simple fact of our life. She don't hate football, but she don't like football. On the other hand, Leeds United dominates my life, so that reaction was understandable and I was prepared for some sort of negative reaction. What I didn't know was what the reaction would be when she found out the date...

"Oh..err.. thanks, that's a surprise, which Saturday is it?"

Hmmmm, what an evil question, typical woman, put me on the back foot. I had to choose my words carefully. Think on my feet. Act fast. Be clever, yet sensitive. Be a man. However, before I could utter the words I heard...

"Your having a fucking laugh..."

Over the coming days, the wedding dominated everything. The excitement of buying a suit, the purchase of the rings, organising a reception of sorts, you know, all the normal things. To be fair, the wedding, as I suppose weddings tend to do, came and went in a blur. The ceremony was over in the blink of an eye, nothing like as bad as I imagined. You know, like the 90 mins of sheer hell listening to a Leeds game on the bloody radio and ending up with total nervous exhaustion. In fact, the day had gone so well I was feeling quite relaxed and happy, so my mind started working over time on more important things. Things like ,what time to arrive at the ground tomorrow. It was a Tuesday, we had the day off, we could get there really early, wait around for a few hours and get autographs. We could have photos taken with the players, she could meet my Idol Gary McAllister. We could even get Fish and chips at the "United" Fisheries. You know, really make the most of it. Now its fair to say that most folk that I know have had there first taste of football in a certain way. You know, its pissing down with rain, its 0-0 and its cold, the game is dull and if your lucky, and this really is the deal breaker, your half time pie is Luke warm. Bang, that's it, your hooked for life and that's your lot. You are indoctrinated with your love of your team. So as it was dull, overcast and raining, I was quite positive that this would be the turning point in our relationship. Going forward, I could actually involve the missus in what was and still is my religion...

We got to the ground in good time and parked up and due to the rain, we wandered up to my mates house near the ground. Richy Rich is someone you have to see to believe. He was, in fact, a carbon copy of Rick Mayalls character in "Bottom". It was only the small fact that I had just married the girl the previous day that, on this most special occasion, he refrained from oggling her and instead made us a pre: match cuppa. Richy was coming to the game too but stood on the Kop. He then proceeded to put the shits up the missus with exaggerated tales of violence and shocking acts that both he and I knew, were all in his head. The closest dear Richy had ever got to a fight in recent history was with a butch lass in the Peacock one time. Richy nearly had a heart attack after seeing Batty and Speed in there playing pool and he wanted to be the big man and play them. Only he forgot to put money down to be next on the table and by the time it was finally his turn, both Batts and Speed had fucked off. So before the missus had the chance to get any whiter, I decided that with an hour or so to go before kick off, now would be a good time to go see if we could get some autograph's...

As I had forgotten to bring a pen and after walking round the ground twice, I could see that glazed expression that only women seem to have descend over the missus's face. I decided to take her in and to wonder at the look on her face as she entered over the threshold of Elland Road for the first time. I knew that the excitement would overcome her any moment, any moment, yep, Any moment. Maybe it was the lack of floodlights. I can still recall staring in wonder at the tallest floodlights in Europe as I entered the ground for the first time. The Diamond shapes glistening high in the sky were the 8th wonder of the modern world, however, the new East stand had meant these were no more. So it was understandable, wasn't it, that she may have been a tad less impressed. Instead she looked at me and said "Is this it". A phrase that all men dread in some way or another. By now the atmosphere was building and in the South East Corner, the Dutch fans were in fine voice. What was clear passion to me as a football supporter, was being misunderstood by the missus as anger and intimidation. Of course, this thanks mainly to Richy Rich explaining how the Dutch have the worst hooligans in Europe...

This seemed to be perpetuating this myth, but in truth, the Dutch were just having fun and a good old sing song. So were the Leeds fans on the Kop which had just found its voice: "WHO THE FUCKING HELL ARE YOU". At which point, the missus made me swap seats so I was nearest the Dutch "Hooligans" as she called them. By kick off, the place was buzzing. I love night matches anyway but after putting Monaco to the sword, there seemed an extra sense of Leeds being on the verge of something great tonight. The PSV side was packed with stars, but so were Leeds. It had been a good start to the season for the Mighty Whites, aside from Yeboahs goal exploits, McAllister was playing fantastically well. Speed was scoring for fun and Carlton Palmer was actually looking not too bad, honest guv, well, OK. The defence was not leaking too many goals and managing to make the hapless Lukic look half decent and we started well. The boys were playing left to right, towards us in the south stand and it wasn't long before our superb start was rewarded with a great goal. Freekick on the left, Macca swung in a gem of a cross and Speed launched full length to head the ball home...

What a start, the crowd went mental and the look of horror on the missus's face as she was thrown around the South Stand was a picture. Fucking hell, we were leading the mighty PSV 1-0 and the place was going mental. I couldn't believe it, this was magical. Maybe, just maybe, she was my lucky charm. I was beginning to think all those stupid thoughts that football fans do. You know, the normal bollox like I must wear my lucky pants to the game, or put my left sock on first in the morning of a home game. I have to wear my lucky cap & listen to my Lucky song on the way to the ground. I was all making sense at long last and, well, maybe the missus was my lucky omen. After all, we had barely started and we were beating the Dutch masters 1-0 and it had all gone quiet to my right. Unfortunately this didn't last too long. A mistake at the back let the Dutch back in and with all fairness to Lukic, even at his best he was shit. It was soon 1-1 and just as Leeds were beginning to reassert ourselves in the game, the jammy twats got a lucky second. A deflection that wrong footed Lukic and all of a sudden the mood turned, from where there was joy and smiles, there was anger and grimaces. The crowd were slowly turning against the white's...

One lad in particular, somewhere behind us, was getting really wound up. "GET A FUCKING FOOT IN SPEED YOU LAZY BASTARD" .."GET SOME BLOOD ON YOUR BOOTS PALMER YOU FUCKING FAIRY".. If the missus had seen the good side, it was only fair that she should see the other side I thought as Leeds probed, but to no avail. The ball wasn't getting through to Yeboah & Deane & we suddenly didn't look like scoring. Near the halftime break another Leeds attack broke down and PSV swept up field. The ref gave a free kick around about 25 yards out & in front of the Kop, to the right of the penalty area. A dangerous position, but no one could have expected what was going to happen next. With the wall back more than the full ten yards, two PSV players stood over the ball. The game seemed to go into slow motion as one player scooped the ball into the air and Vonk, the other player, twatted a stunning volley into the top right hand corner (Think of the Sheridan freekick against Derby in 87). Lukic was left in his familiar grasping thin air" pose to leave us 1-3 at half time. To be fair to the Leeds fans, its not often an opponent goal is applauded. Most fair minded fans in the ground knew they had just witnessed another very special goal at Elland Road, the like we had become accustomed to with Yeboah...

It was cold & it was raining. I should have been on my honeymoon and we were 1-3 down. I looked at the missus and she said the immortal words that you just know come from someone who doesn't understand, someone who just doesn't have the passion, but is trying...

"Oh dear, well that isn't good is it, but its only a game. Do you think you could go get me a hotdog and oh, and a coffee would be lovely"...

After a failed mission to get to both the bog and get through the queue for food before the players came back out, I decided to go back to the seats and explain that they had run out. I got abck just as the players were talking the field. "Sorry love," I uttered, "but you know, big games like this, it sometimes happens". Boy am I glad I did. Leeds came out pumped up and were now regaining the initiative and fighting for every ball. It wasn't long before we got a foothold in the game. Yeboah found space in the box and played a lovely ball across the area. It landed at the feet of Palmer who rocketed in a fantastic goal. We had hope & we went mental. The Dutch started lighting flares & the missus wanted to go home. I told her to calm down because this is it, the come back is on. We pushed forward again, with the home crowd in fine voice. Where was once silence, now gave way to the strains of "Marching on Together". As a cross came into the box, Weatherall challenged the keeper and knocked him for 6. Both players lay on the ground as the ball came out to Gary McAllister who without looking, from 30 yards, lobbed the ball into the back of the Kop Net for 3-3. It was fucking amazing, we were back in the game, and Elland Road bounced around like those old glory nights of Bremner and co. The missus asked me for that cup of coffee but I was on cloud fucking 9. My main man, the star of the show, the Rolls Royce, Captain FanFuckingtasic had got us level. This was it, this is what European football is all about. This is what Leeds United AFC are all about, never say die, stick that in your Dutch fucking porn and smoke it!

Though we had conceded 3 away goals, surly the fact that we had made such a comeback would mentally scare PSV. I was thinking about the next leg, we could do what we did to Monaco over there. We could easily take this tie *FREEKICK TO PSV* We could show Europe that United were really back *FREEKICK LOFTED OVER THE UNITED DEFENCE* and I tell you what, if the missus was such a lucky charm *LUC NILLIS LEFT FOOT VOLLEY* She could come Every Game *GOAL.3-4*. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK. Fantastic goal again, the Dutch were bouncing and again, the wind was out of our sails. I mean, yes, it was a great goal but due in no small part to our shit defence. Before we could rally & 2 more simple defence splitting balls later and Nillis was in again for 3-5 and that was really it. Game over bar the shouting. All that passion had evaporated, all that optimism had simply disappeared and it could only be one persons fault. The missus was clearly a bad omen. How could I have even thought about bringing her to a football game, let alone the biggest of the season. At the final whistle as I sat devastated, head in my hands, my world collapsing around me, she tenderly lent over me and whispered...

"Can we get that hotdog now..."

After the preseason "buzz" due a host of new signings that included Tony Dorigo and Rod Wallace, the start of the 1991/1992 campaign was frustratingly delayed. The game at Palace had been postponed due to work ongoing at Selhurst Park that was not finished in time. So United’s season began at home to Nottingham Forest in bright sunshine. Its doubtful that anyone leaving the ground that day would have predicted that the mighty whites would go on to be eventual Champions of England. The old big’ ed Clough brought a side that oozed class, but in front of 29,450 fans, it was a 13th minute goal from none other than Gary McAllister that settled the game. Batty’s long throw, flicked on by Chapman and McAllister fired home from the edge of the area. It was the springboard for a team destined for greatness. The midfield of Strachan, Batty, McAllister and Speed were almost unrivalled in the league at that time. The sublime and silky skills of Strachan & McAllister were perfectly complemented by young Batty and Speed, both of whom had come of age and the four of them were pivotal in the clubs success. The thrilling climax to that season saw the team clinch the Championship on a sunny day in April. We arrived back from a nail biting Bramall lane victory to see the scum lose at Anfield. The celebrations that ensued in City Square that evening are still fresh in the mind 16 years on. If someone had tapped me on the shoulder that night and foretold me the future path the club would follow, I doubt neither I nor anyone in earshot would have believed them...

At that point in time, Leeds were almost untouchable. Risen "Phoenix like" from the ashes to the pinnacle of English football in just 3 seasons. It’s unlikely that kind of meteoric rise will ever happen again for any club, let alone Leeds United. It’s a sobering thought not only as to how far we have fallen, but how the game itself has mutated. In the run up to tonight’s game, a frenzy was being whipped up after news broke of a press conference to be held at the club on Monday night. After the disappointment of the Northampton game, fans speculated and rumours were beginning to spread as to what it was about. Bates selling up? The fifteen points being reinstated? Chinese whispers snowballed on the net and hopes were being built up to meteoric heights. It was possibly one of the cleverest ploys Bates has ever put into play, even McAllister himself claimed not to know. When 5pm came round, we held our breath and awaited the news:

“Leeds United are delighted to announce a four-year deal with emerging Italian striker Brando Macron. Macron, who is well-established on the continent, is currently coveted by many clubs in Europe but chose the mighty Leeds United AFC in a deal that could rise to 7 Million pounds.”

Well, OK, after all the fuss, that’s what we were hoping to hear! The news of a new kit deal, no matter how good it sounded for the club, was hardly what many fans were hoping to hear about. Still, you have to hand it to them, as some fans commented, only the current Leeds board could spin the fact that the likes of ADIDAS, Umbro, Nike, Puma, Admiral etc are no longer arsed with having Leeds United amongst their portfolio into something positive...

Talking of positive, that was the last thing we were heading to the ground. On the back of this dismal run, Forest were the last team we needed to face. The team news didn’t do anything to change the mood. The only positive was that this was the first time in month’s that we had fielded an unchanged side two games on the spin. So with Casper in goal. Kenton, Rui, Lubo and Sheehan at the back. Prutton, Hughes, Howson and Johnson made up a midfield quartet that would have had trouble getting in that 1991 squad. Leaving Beckford and Kandol to lead the line. Beckford of course owing the fans a massive performance due to his stupidity in picking up a 5th yellow card at Northampton, ruling him out of Saturdays game at Donny. With the 29,552 crowd in good voice a cracking atmosphere was building as we set about erasing the pain from the weeks before. Attacking the South stand the game began at a high tempo. With a noticeable and welcome tactical switch from Saturday. Hughes moved into the centre to protect young Howson and Prutton back out wide right. We had a lack of width at Northampton and we had no “wide” player out there again tonight, however it was evident that we were using the full width of the pitch to try and stem the Forest wingback system. With the ball being moved to feet and at pace by the Leeds side, it was hard to believe these were the same players we had just watched lumber to a point. It was however Forest, breaking with pace, that had the first couple of chances. Sheehan nearly put a clearance in his own net and Commons blasting wide from the edge of the area. The game was fast and both sides were playing neat, open football...

Howson crashed a long ranger at keeper Smith before Forest came back and had a header just over. Breathless stuff and a world apart from the drivel we have been getting used to. The first controversial point of the evening came when Kenton’s ball into the Forest box hit an arm. Premiership ref Halsey waved the appeals away and he was just beginning to divert the focus of the game onto himself. It was a shame really as the game was going fine, but in a period of 15 minutes, he began making decisions that bemused both sets of fans. One of which saw a Beckford shot sail well wide and he gave a corner. Refreshingly, Leeds pressed and with Hughes doing the dirty work in midfield, it was left to Howson to try and dictate and with Prutton having his best game for weeks, we were playing good football and creating half decent chances. Kandol was still struggling to hold the ball up, but at least tonight, if he lost it, he tried win it back and Bradley Johnson was showing tiny glimpse’s of why we bought him. Just as it seemed we would be the first to score, Forest swiftly broke and Tyson missed a glorious opportunity when one on one, but Casper did enough to put him off. Both Lubo and Rui had their hands full with the pacy Forest attackers. As halftime approached, the best chance of the half for Leeds broke to Johnson as he met a Hughes cross, but shot wide. Halftime was greeted with an ovation by the surprised and delighted home faithful. With hope growing on the terraces, the boys came out to a wall of noise. This clearly stunned the home side as within a minute, we could have been 1 down. A great move saw Commons fizz one at Casper who did well to save. Seconds later, a ball through found Tyson and it looked easier to score, yet he pulled his shot wide...

It was the sort of quality ball through that Beckford would dream about, but we lacked anyone in the side that would be able to match it. What we did have tonight though were bollocks the size of coconuts. Though Forest had another break that went begging, the home side rallied and we should have had a penalty. A ball into the box clearly struck Hoskins on the arm, but amazingly, Halsey waved play on. That sent the noise levels up and aggravated the home side and from here on in, we took the fight to Forest. Howson stepped up to the plate and took midfield by the throat. Hughes battling for all he was worth and Prutton's main of hair was simply everywhere in what was turning out to be his best preformance in a white shirt. Sheehan had a shot deflected and we piled on the pressure with some of the best passing moves of the season. It was in danger of all falling flat though. With one sublime cross from Commons our asleep back line allowed Bennett to rise and head home for 0-1. For a second, a hush descended as the crowd, dumbstruck, watched the Forest fans and players celebrate as one. Within seconds of the restart, Tyson was put through and expertly lobbed Casper. It looked for all the world that Casper was beaten, but somehow, don’t ask me how, Casper leapt like Superman and clawed the goalbound shot away to safety. It was the pivotal moment of the evening. It was the signal for an all out onslaught from Leeds players and fans alike. The noise levels grew and after all the talk pre:match about European Cup’s, it felt like we'd been transported 15 years back in time to Leeds v Stuttgart. The white of Leeds playing the Red of those who came to conquer and a packed and passionate Elland Road, roaring the whites on...

An exaggeration, perhaps, but anyone witnessing recent games will forgive our enthusiasm at seeing a Leeds side that finally wanted to play football and refused to let their heads drop. We worked hard and always wanted to get play going and provide attacking options. On the occasions when we did go backwards, it was genuinely to keep the ball for the next attack, rather than working all the way back to Casper due to lack of ideas. Johnson was replaced by Sweeney and he immediately gave us fresh ideas and new momentum. Questions were asked as to why Prutton was taken off for Flo, but it did not stop us pushing forward. Howson leading, the rest of the team responding and the Elland Road crowd, simply irresistible. Within moments of coming on, Sweeney burst into the area and his shot looped over the keeper and it took a stunning goal line headed clearance from goalscorer Bennett to preserve the lead for the visitors. Flo was getting in the thick of it and had a shot blocked, before another corner came out to Sweeney and he smashed one inches wide of the post. Still we refused to surrender. At this point, after playing so well, defeat would have ripped apart the season and left us desolate and inconsolable. With time now against us and after seeing a late counter attack from Forest snuffed out by the immense Rui. We headed back up field in search of something, anything. Tactics changed to a more direct route as we went all flat out for that one chance. It duly came with 8 minutes to go and a ball into the box saw Kandol get pulled down by a Forest defender, Halsey pointed to the spot without hesitation. This was it, this was the big chance. Beckford, who had not had the best of games, grabbed the ball and put it on the spot. To the back beat of “Leeds, Leeds Leeds,” Beckford steadied himself, as the majority closed their eyes and prayed...

Becks stepped up and coolly sent the keeper the wrong way to send the ground into total delirium. A deserved leveller and one that left the players dancing jigs of delight on the touchline. Yet, there was time for either side to nick a winner. As the crowd settled, Halsey again took centre stage, a flurry of soft free kicks had given Forest the advantage, but they were damaged by their own substitutions. Commons taken off leaving no one who could really trouble us with crosses. Casper dealt with the final hoofs into the box and the final whistle was met with appreciation for both sides in one of the best games of football seen at Elland Road this season. So, it remains to be seen if this was simply just Leeds United raising their game against one of the promotion hopefuls or whether this is the start of things to come. It will be disappointing to say the least if its not the latter. This performance was not without fault. With shooting boots on, Forest could have romped this. We still lack strikers who are able to hold the ball up, a left back that can not get beaten so easily and a midfield that lacks that bit of quality to rip open a visiting defence with one pass. It was however a welcome display of Pride, Passion, Commitment and Desire that we feared had left the side with a bonus of one of the best passing displays from a Leeds United side all season. We visit Doncaster on Saturday with renewed hope...

Leeds United AFC... "Champions of England 1991/1992"... Keep Fighting...

Bates: I wish to make a complaint!

Northampton Town: We're closin' for lunch…

Bates: Never mind that my lad. I wish to complain about this player what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very club…

Northampton Town: Oh yes, the, uh, Bradley Johnson...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?

Bates: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!

Northampton Town: No, no.....No, 'e's stunned!

Bates: STUNNED?!?

Northampton Town: Yeah! Your crowd musta stunned him, Bradley Johnson’s stun easily in front of over 10,000 crowds major…

Bates: Um...now look... mate, I've 'ad enough of this. That player is definitely deceased, and when I purchased it not 'alf an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged session with some WAGS!

Northampton Town: Well, he's...he's, ah...probably pining for more!

Bates: 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This player is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PLAYER!!

Northampton Town: Well, I'd better replace it, then. (he takes a quick peek behind the counter) Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of players. We got a slug?

Bates: Pray, does it play football?

Northampton Town: Nnnnot really…

Bates: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT, IS IT?!!???!!?

Northampton Town: N-no, I guess not. (gets ashamed, looks at his feet)

Bates: Well?

Northampton Town: (quietly) D'you.... want to come back to our place?

Bates: (looks around) Hang on, I have to make a call first- Hello, yes, is that Leicester City - I wish to complain about this Sheehan player what I borrowed...

There is currently a strange feeling of “Déjà vu” whilst watching the Whites. Flashbacks to the second half of the 2005/2006 season and Blackwell’s charge for 2nd spot have clouded the thoughts of many. That season, the Whites had peaked away at Plymouth in a New Year 3-0 victory. Whilst we carried on edging the odd result, something changed in the players attitudes in the aftermath of that game. The run up to the Play Offs saw the club win only 6 out of the last 18 games. Away from home, other than a superb win at Palace, the team were limp, lifeless and dire. This season, since Bournemouth, we had won only 5 in 18 league & cup games. That tally only includes 1 away win before todays game. Its not unfair to say that some of those performances have been similar to those back in 2005/2006. The club has undergone massive change’s in recent weeks. However that should not be a whole hearted excuse for what has been happening on the pitch. Though the team has suffered from a lack of a settled and consistent line up it should not prevent the players, individually, possessing a fighting spirit for the shirt they wear and the club they represent...

During the first part of this season, we saw poor performances spared criticism due to late goals. Late goals that came off the back of the team showing this fighting spirit for 94 minutes and we reaped the rewards. We fought like tigers and made our own luck in the process. Its something that has disappeared out of the players and with it, so has that edge, that arrogance, that confidence and the ability to make something out of nothing. McAllister is the man charged with re:establishing that fight & injecting that confidence. Its to be hoped he does not become the fall guy for taking on what appears at the moment to be Mission Impossible. After the speculation about Sammy Lee ended due to complications involved in his pay off from Bolton, Macca went for his old mate and Ex Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton as his assistant. With most Leeds fans not knowing too much about "Stan", it was left to the Irish contingent to take their heads out of their hands to let us know that some fans were so impressed with his Republic of Ireland interviews they made "Youtube" compilations and from what I have seen of these, Stan would have had no problems auditioning for a role in Father Ted...

With ex Carlisle manager Neil McDonald coming in as first team coach, Macca had taken his first full weeks training just as the club had served the much talked about High Court writ on the Football League. We headed for "Sixfields" hoping that Macca and Stan had got a grip of things and we were on the look out for some minor miracle to occur. The stadium only holds around 7,500 and the "Sold Out" signs were up. This left many ticketless fans watching the game from the unique vantage point of a hill behind the far home stand. The travelling 1,200 Leeds support were again split, mainly behind one goal and about a third of the stand to our right. The return to fitness by Casper and Rui’s return from African Nation cup duty meant another changed teamsheet. Macca went with Casper in goal. A back four of Kenton, Lubo, Rui and Sheehan. A Midfield of Howson, Hughes, Prutton and Johnson. Kandol retuned from an argument with Macca / sickness bug depending on who you believe to partner Beckford up front. It was noted that once again, the team sheet was lacking any width or pace and more worryingly, there was no sign of any players on the bench that would bring these qualities to the team...

Hughes was again out right. Prutton had joined Howson in the centre & Johnson, making his return to his former club was out left. With young Parker and Huntingdon sat with long faces amongst the Leeds support, we set about looking for a vital 3 points. The home side had a lot more abut them and were quickly picking up second balls and showing a lot more desire to win the ball. We were happy it seemed to sit back and try hit on the break. The opening exchanges were made up of niggling fouls and both teams inability to retain the ball. After having the ball in the net ruled out for a clear offside early on, the Cobblers grew in confidence and it was mainly due to the magnificent form of Rui that we didn’t concede. Twice in the first 15 minutes, Sheehan was left exposed and out of position. On each occasion, the ball in the box wasn’t the best and with Lubo seeming half asleep, Rui was there to block or pick up the pieces. We allowed Gilligan the space to try lob Casper from an angle, but thankfully, he was off target and Rui diverted another chance with his head that forced Casper into a smart save...

Our first real chance came soon after. Beckford latched onto a hoof and tried a lob, but never troubled the keeper. Back came the cobblers and a Rui blocked proved vital as Haynes shot deflected just wide. For the next ten minutes, we were not in the game. We were pushed back by the enthusiasm of the home players, who were winning midfield but thankfully they lacked a cutting edge to trouble us. With little to get excited about on the park, the biggest cheer came as we saw a group of Leeds fans appear on the hill in the distance. With a huge police escort, they were being marched towards the ground and apparently had walked miles from the train station. On 27 a long clearance from Sheehan looked like it took a deflection as it fell nicely into Beckford’s path Becks raced clear and one on one, it was just a case of him putting it away. It was a reflection of his current confidence levels that he delayed too long and a defender got back to put it out for a corner. With the chance gone, again we were getting pushed back. All attempts to break out of our half were halted by the offside flag or the inability of Kandol to control / retain the ball...

Northampton, for all their possession, were still not creating clear cut chances. Most balls into the box were now being headed clear by Lubo. However, the quickest player to the clearance was always a Cobbler, who would swiftly launch the ball back into the box and Lubo would head out again. On 38 minutes and to be fair, against the run of play, we nicked the lead. A great passing move in the middle seemed to have broken down with an over hit Prutton pass. Johnson chased it into the corner and swung over a half decent ball in from the right. Howson had gambled and broken into the box. He met the cross on the volley and smashed home a stunner that gave the keeper no chance. 1-0 and finally, something to shout about for the travelling support. With a goal in the bag, we sat back and defended our way to halftime. On the face of it, winning away at halftime and not playing well again was not too bad, it was however papering over cracks. Out they trooped for the second half, but from the restart, only one side was pumped up. Immediately we were forced on the back foot, Northampton took the game to us and for long periods kept us in our half...

Only sporadic hoofs up field to Kandol’s head were giving us any sort of relief. Lubo and Rui were having their work cut out as both Kenton and Sheehan were getting beaten too easily. It was evident there was something not right about the Leeds attitude. Beckford managed to get himself a stupid booking, He is now suspended for Doncaster away, with a petulant kicking away of the ball. The rest of the game he sulked and at one point just ignored his teammates as they were shouting at him. Our only real chances were again on the break. The most notable being Beckford staying onside to burst through on the right, but his wayward shot nearly hit me. With the hosts making 2 changes before the hour mark, the Cobblers midfield had the game by the scruff of the neck. Howson, Prutton and Hughes had disappeared. Hughes again being wasted and ineffective wide right. Perhaps the time has come to try him just in front of the back four. Johnson reminded us he was still on the pitch on 71 minutes when he was subbed for Sweeney. His cross for the goal his only real contribution to the game and he got a standing ovation from the home support. Not something we are used to seeing when a old player goes back to his former club in a Leeds shirt...

On came Sweeney and immediately, we had someone on the left who was prepared to at least try go past his man. As it was, the Cobblers got a deserved leveller on 75. Kenton went AWOL as they broke down the left. Rui was pulled out of position to try and intercept the cross, he failed and Lubo failed to cut it out and it was left to big Akinfenwa to brush off the feeble attempt by Sheehan to bundle past Casper for 1-1 and party time in the home end. Down went the Leeds heads and for the next few minutes, it could have been 2-1 but for some brave blocks from Rui in the midst of goal mouth scrambles. On 81, to the amazement of the travelling support, Macca took off Prutton and brought on Flo. Whilst Prutton was not having the best game, he was damn more effective that Kandol, who was winning the odd header but his inability to either retain the ball or pass 6 yards to a team mate was sending some fans over the edge. Flo at least could do that and we finally started to show some urgency. Indeed, against the run of play, we nearly nicked a winner. Sweeney did brilliantly on the left and rolled a peach of a ball across the 6 yard box that Flo was inches away from converting...

Stunned by the sudden urgency of the not so Mighty Whites, Northampton began to sit deep and hold on for a point. A long ball into the box was punched up in the air by the keeper and Beckford tried to loop a header in, but it lacked that bit of pace to beat the lad on the line. In the final seconds, Howson’s break through the middle was halted by the most cynical of challenges. Sweeney took the ball, placed it down as we held our breath for a Thompsonesq finale. Sweeney had other ideas and with the last kick of the game passed it into the keepers arms. Had that last 5 minutes of urgency been seen throughout the game, we could have taken them to the cleaners. It’s not really fair to assess Macca’s reign at the moment, but in the context of time running out for a Play Off push, it has to be said, nothing much has changed. The “impact” of a new manager has not yet been felt. The players do not appear to be busting a gut to impress and that remains both worrying and frustrating. So, the week ahead starts with a home game with Forest and then a trip away to Donny. As it stands, we will be lucky to still be in the race for 6th spot come 5.50pm Saturday night. It would seem that “Shit or Bust” has never been a more apt phrase associated with our club...

Leeds United AFC... "Passion, Pride, Commitment & Desire"... Keep Fighting...