I have been humming and ha-ing over whether to do an article in the run up. This has been the trial season of the website and this blog, and in parallel with Leeds United really, it’s been ok. In fact, in reality, it’s been pretty darned good. So in the words of that other Housemartin…..

“We’ve come a long long way together, through the hard times and the good.

I have to celebrate you Baby.

I have to praise you like I should”

This will be the quickest blog I have done, as I am setting off for the last home game of the league imminently, but I feel that I need to just quickly  reiterate what I have said most of the season. I never expected us to do as well as we have. The players that Garry with two Rs has brought in have been some of the best we have seen for a while. Who had even heard of (Captain) Kyle Bartley, Luke Ayling, Pontus Jansson last season? But now they, along with the outstanding Beradi, have well and truly stamped their authority on the Old Division 2.  In Chris Wood we have the highest scoring goal scorer in the league, I hope he gets 30 this season, two games to do it in. Phillips had a brilliant partnership with O Kane at the start of this season. Vieira and Bridcutt, as well as Roofe, Sacko, The Duke and Hernandez have made their marks, along with the new boy Pedraza. Monk and his team have managed to get a fantastic team spirit going. The only sore point was Sutton..

Up until 6 games ago, it was looking good. I am disappointed that we dropped our form, but there is still hope, especially if we go for all out attack from the start. It isn’t insurmountable, but it is out of our hands realistically, but there is still hope if the results go for us.

2016-17 has passed so quickly, it has been a long ride, quarter finals in the FA Cup for the 1st time in ages and some memorable games, like the hardest ever fought 1-0 slaughter of Derby at home, the penalty shoot out against Norwich in League Cup, last minute winner at Norwich from the Magic Hat.

We have well and truly flicked the V’s up at The EFL, The FA and Sky and every other club, pundit, newspaper hack and keyboard warrior who doubted us at the start of the season. They who condemned us to relegation before the season had even started after we lost to QPR.

It isn’t over til it’s over

So we have 5 more games left, and we are still in with a chance of going up either in the play offs or a very slim chance at automatic promotion. There is no way any Leeds fan could ever have dreamt that we could be in this position in August 2016, but let’s all just take a deep breath, and here we go…

After two losses on the trot at Reading and Brentford, most fans could be forgiven for fearing the worse. After all, history tells us that the Leeds United team tends to falter after an international break. Normally players get injured or concentration lapses, and any pre break momentum hits the proverbial brick wall.

For those individuals who slated those wishing to express their concerns, please note, in this country we still have freedom of speech (within the remits of political correctness of course). Everyone has the right to say what they want without discourse. As long as it is within reason and they don’t take to death threats, name calling, social media abuse etc. and political correctness of course. I have seen some of the comments and can I please just ask people to just have a think before they start tippy tappying on their phones? Some stuff I have read is appalling, and the worse thing is for some bizarre reason, after these keyboard warriors have slagged off fellow Leeds fans, they then sign off “All Leeds Aren’t We” or “Marching On Together”. Oxymoron anyone?

Before anyone starts with the pot, kettle, black, I admit I had a bit of a pop after Sutton, but that was an exception, and it took an awful lot for me to do that. It also wasn’t personal, it was aimed at the group of people who think that they are better than anyone else, and those people know who they are. Plus, come on! Sutton! For crying out loud!

So back to the football. After Reading and Brentford, Garry made the changes that were needed on Saturday for the return of prodigal son, Simon Grayson. The midfield has been crying out for a bit more of a holding midfielder, and Kalvin Phillips duly stepped up. Ayling was back on form after his untimely absence (timely for Mrs and Baby Ayling though), and after hanging fire on the substitutions against Reading and Brentford, bringing on Dallas and The Duke gave Roofe and Wood a well deserved break. Wood had just got booked, and frankly Roofe played his (rolled down) socks off, in his first start for the team for a while. With Newcastle dropping points as well, it just goes to show that anyone can win a game in this league. It will be funny if we end up getting promotion and Newcastle fall at the last fence.

For those who have been backing 2-0 and 2-1 at home most of the season, the signs were all there when Wood hit the bar and Captain Kyle’s header was cleared off the line. After Roofe and Pablo’s two efforts, which both incidentally felt like they took an eon to cross the line, Fate was finally sealed by The Duke, putting everyone out of their misery. Even my postman backs 2-1 at home! I am just sorry that Wood didn’t bag one of them, I hope he gets his 30 goals this season, he completely deserves it.

Speaking of which, after years of not knowing who to pick for Player Of The Year, basically because no one has actually deserved it for the last few seasons, there is a raft of candidates. Wood, obviously, fans favourite Jansson, and the outstanding Beradi and Ayling. Green has put in a good shift as well, so it is going to be difficult to pick one player, and even harder for the fans across the board to agree on it. I have said this before, and will say it again, what a brilliant position to be in, as a Leeds United fan!

After the game on Saturday, the whole team came out and applauded the 30,000 strong crowd in what can only be described as a mini lap of honour. Every single player looked like they were playing for the shirt and more importantly, playing for the fans. yes, it was brilliant that we won, and had won 3-0, but it was a fabulous feeling to see fans crowd at the front of each stand, applauding the players and the players reciprocating.

There is real camaraderie in that team, even if there are a few little niggly differences in opinion. The fact is that on the pitch they are playing as one.  After decades, we may finally be Leeds United.

Today marks one of the saddest moments in the history of Leeds United, it is exactly not what football should be all about.

Many, many of us were looking forward to the first leg of our semi final clash in Istanbul. We were on a roll.  We had played in Partizan Belgrade in Heerenveen (for security reasons – war that is!), been to Moscow twice, although the 2nd visit was always going to be doomed to failure given how cold it had been the first time round. We had been on some damn good trips to Rome and Prague, and now were looking at two games to take us to the final against Arsenal. It was within our reach.

Most of us were already in Istanbul, having travelled with Big Fat Tony from UF Tours. Some of us were waiting at Leeds Bradford airport for the early morning flight with The Travel Club. None of us could have foreseen the events that took place.

For whatever reason, to this day, no one will know the full truth of what happened, two fans didn’t come home from a football game. Much has already been written about this, I do not need to and will not add anything further. I repeat, not what football should be about.

In previous posts, I have already highlighted the prejudice that Leeds United has been subject to. This season it has been the Football League and Sky joining the long list of other institutions that just cannot hide their dislike of us. UEFA has been a long standing perpetrator ( Paris, Salonika etc.etc.) and the wholly unjustified 15 point deduction in 2007 from the collective Football League Clubs to make sure we could not get near promotion, is another classic example of the disparity. Not that we all need reminding, but every year there is the constant reinforcement of the “us v them”.

Our continental cousins have always had much more hooliganism problems than us. Yes England can boast about The Service Crew, The HeadHunters, The InterCity Crew, The Herd etc. but quite frankly some of the European Ultras don’t actually have issues will killing each other, let alone have a fight. UEFA can’t deny that the problems exist, but they are happy to focus their attention on the English clubs, well, because they can, I suppose. Leeds is the equivalent in England. Whatever we do is twice as bad as any other club / player of a club doing it.

Whether it be the recent treatment of Mr Cellino ( incidentally CLEARED of all charges) by the Football League or the corrupt referees in the 1970s, the phenomenon perpetuates year on year. Liam Cooper has got a 6 match ban for something that I scarcely noticed in the ground. Yet that elbow to Chris Wood’s face was looked at, and no action needed apparently. Hmmm.

However, whatever “they” throw at us, we just keep going. Do you remember when the team used to come out to Tubthumping by Chumbawumba? I get knocked down, but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down. This is what our football is all about. This is Leeds United.

This day however, we will not forget.

RIP lads

Give them nothing, take from them everything – this is what I want to see plastered on the changing room walls at Elland Road from now till the end of the season.

After the QPR game on Saturday, the minutia of the 90 minutes was picked over, like a seasoned lobster picker armed with a titanium toothpick. The fact that we had no shots on goal let alone on target, justified the ” a point gained not two points lost” thinking. The fact that this was infuriating, is testament to how the team has grown in the last 8 months.

The defence has been the cornerstone of our team. At the start of the season, who knew anything about Luke Ayling, Captain Kyle Bartley and Pontus Jansson? Beradi, we already know from his spat with Leon Best in November 2015, has a particular set of skills and he has been perfection as a  stand in for that left back position in Charlie Taylors injury induced absence. Even though our history of playing players out of position, is not exactly glowing, our little Swiss right back has been outstanding so far and a real unsung hero. The commitment he shows epitomises the fighting team spirit our defence shows.

Chris Wood remains on fire. When he gets the ball, he takes a shot. So far he has racked up 22 goals in the League and 3 in the Cup. He is the top goal scorer as it stands in the league this season. When was the last time Leeds United could claim those bragging rights? Certainly not in the last decade in my memory anyway.

So comes the contentious issue of our midfield. Regular readers of this page will know how much I am in favour of the Phillips & O Kane partnership utilised to such good effect at the beginning of the season before O Kane got injured. To me, the physical presence of those two in the middle winning and then  holding the ball up, made those two my first choice picks. However, O Kane struggled after his injury and young Kalvin’s love affair with red cards so far this season, means that this dynamic duo may not reprise their roles again this season. I still think this is where we are lacking, a Luke Murphy or Big Dave ( aka your modern day Vinnys and Kamaras – thanks Dave), would make a huge difference. Unlike most Leeds fans, I don’t think we needed to get a striker in January, we have Roofe and The Duke. Garry with two Rs just needs to play them up front if and when the need arises. Whilst I cannot fault the effort that Vieira and Bridcutt put in, both their displays on Saturday ( and other games recently) were woefully lacking. Bridcutt is playing far too deep and bartley and Co certainly do not need any cover, thank you. The substitutions made a massive difference, but too little too late. The Duke should have come on a lot sooner, really the changes should have all been made within ten minutes of the second half, as we did not look like we were going to score at all. Pablo still looks like he is struggling to get fit. Again, I like him, but he still doesn’t look like he can last the full 90 minutes. Starting with Dallas would be a better option at home, with Sacko coming on as sub. Our two new wingers have potential, but realistically Luke Ayling proved more effective at getting forward than any of our other players.

We still have a chance at second. I am not bothered about going up as Champions. Newcastle and Brighton are not invincible, if anything Fulham are playing well and are a worry. We need to maintain our defensive capabilities, and with Ayling out for a couple of games, it may be time to play Taylor, Jansson, Capt Bartley and Beradi in front of Green. Wood is on International Duty again next weekend. He is one of our hardest working players and by far, he is the one who racks up the most air miles when it comes to “weekends off”.

Like it says at the top of the page, we need to give them nothing and take everything we can get in the run up to the end of the season.

Come on, let’s do this.

For those of you who never did O level Latin, viribus unitis means with united forces or with all ones might. Thanks to a bit of opportunistic photography at a half term stadium tour by a certain former Branch Secretary, this is what appears on the changing room walls at Leeds United.

Now you could be forgiven thinking that this has always been there, after all, we are Leeds United, but given it is emblazoned on a poster of our current team ( Wood, O Kane and Ayling), somehow I think not. Coincidentally, it was also the name of Emperor Franz Joseph I’s favourite Dreadnought Class battleship which was commissioned in 1911. Despite spurious attempts to link the Austro-Hungarian ruler to anyone in the current squad or management team, I can only conclude that this is mere coincidence.

So what is the relevance of this?

To me (and as usual PLEASE read The Disclaimer), this sums up where we are and what we are. United. Finally.

Today, pre match in the pub, there was a palpable air of uncertainty. For the first time in ages, it was brought up that we may be getting our 25% return on our season tickets, and it wouldn’t be a bad thing. Come on! Its not even March yet! There are still 12 games to go, that’s a quarter of a season, everything to play for. It’s not as if the teams above us are runaway leaders. As it stands right now, we are 9 points off 2nd place, 3 games basically. The only game this season where I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say that we were outplayed throughout the whole 90 minutes was QPR, the first game of the season. Oh yes, and Sutton, f***ing disgrace, yes I am still very annoyed…… But in the league, QPR,  7 months ago, when Garry with two Rs was just finding his feet, and yes, people were already calling for his head.

Look where we are now. Remember this?

https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/56/2016-17-season-tickets-now-available

After the first few games, this was all people could talk about and the main discussion was how Mr Cellino was planning on getting out of paying this, as there was clearly no way we would ever achieve this and he would probably do a runner and leg it before he had to pay up anyway. There’s no point denying it, you all thought it, and yes, there are probably some who still think it now. Unfortunately if you follow the link, the watermarked poster boys are Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt…oops!

So back to today. Everywhere you go (not just the Golden Lion pub), you hear how Cellino’s lack of spending in the transfer window has let us down. How we are never going to amount to anything with all these loan players. How we should have got Nugent or Fletcher and jumped at the chance of signing Rhodes. I am sick of hearing how much we need a proper striker and how much the midfield is lacking.

Today the team exemplified the word united. A sterling team effort by all. We do not play attractive football, but today, like we were doing in October and November, the result was ground out. Wood poked in his goal after his first controlling touch from a beautiful Beradi cross and even I couldn’t knock Green’s save from that “penalty”, which realistically was 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Beradi, who has been playing out of position since Charlie Taylor got injured, has been outstanding. He is clearly a right back, but he has slotted in so well, and unlike Sacko today, clearly can use his right and his left foot equally. O Kane, another unsung hero also put in an excellent shift. As for The Duke, when he has a good game, he does have a good game. I still think Bridcutt is playing too deep and gave the ball away a bit too much for my liking, but where the gaps appeared, someone came in to fill in, and again, Luke Ayling had another class effort in defence and going forward, apart from that poor clearance which he should have left, which led to the corner from which they got the penalty.

Come On Leeds!

ps thanks to former Branch Secretary for the photo

Lost In Translation, despite being nominated for 4 Academy Awards, was sadly exactly that to the MPO (In fairness, Bill Murray as his Garfield persona would have been made it a better film), and much is the case in point at Leeds United right now.

I don’t mean the Club itself, as frankly the team is going great guns at present and as I said before Excelsior! The dizzy heights of The Premiership beckon. Don’t get me wrong, I am still VERY cross about Sutton, and as far as I am concerned, it will be a monumental stain on the history of Leeds United for the foreseeable future. Every cup draw, whether FA Cup or League Cup, Sutton will be mentioned in the same breath as Histon and Colchester ad infinitum.

What I mean is, that in this age of social media, it has been far too easy for fans and fan groups to get carried away with what they think being a fan is all about. Twenty years ago, the only opportunities fans had to make public comments about our beloved team was via the then Yorkshire Post (and after 3pm the Yorkshire Evening Post) fans page on the Wednesday after the Saturday game. The Leeds United fanzines, like our own “We Are Leeds” were another outlet for fans to voice their opinions in writing.  Old fashioned writing I mean.  By letter, relying on Royal mail of course, and often by the time your letter got to the required destination, things had changed anyway, so sometimes you were unlucky enough to be out of date with your comments.

Enter the age of social media, where you can communicate to the world in seconds in 140 characters. You can post pictures via instagram and snapchat, post youtube videos and live stream via facebook. Even the Luddite led Harrogate branch have begrudgingly had to go into the internet age! Alas, with this great power there needs to be great responsibility, and this is so very sadly lacking.

I have always said that all fans are entitled to their own opinions. We pay hard earned money for the season tickets, gold memberships, away tickets, bus travel on the coach etc. Not to mention those that actually buy programmes and other Leeds United merchandise and of course there is the food and drink that we spend our pennies (pounds more like) at the home games. So, people have the right to say what they want. Within reason of course.

As Sean Connery would say, here endeth the lesson… within reason.

I had quite a bit of feedback from my rant the other month, some people agreed with it, some didn’t. Some people have added us to groups on facebook as well, so when I get a spare few minutes, I have a little perusal and I have seen some of my comments repeated on others posts. What is disturbing of late is the number of comments, whether in jest or not, of fans calling other fans “plastic” and some fans / fans groups generally thinking that they have the right to call themselves better than others.

I believe that this started when a certain person took over our club. As a result of his sad misguided belief of his own self importance, a wedge was driven between us. I remember having a heated discussion with someone who continually sang “Dennis Wise’s Barmy Army” politely referring him back to frequent visits to Stamford Bridge and having to put up with Wise and Le Saux on that touchline. He was a bit miffed when I said I would never sing his name, even if he got us promoted and won the Champions League. However, the munchkin helped us into Division 3. Enough said about that ! Subsequent years under the (un) shrewd guidance of the puppet master and his muppet / puppet, including the takeover by the poorest Arabs on the planet, led to further divides, with fans getting involved and taking sides vociferously. Fast forward to the press heyday of our current owners landing blows with everyone from the FA to the television gods, and every man and his dog has an opinion. It’s like a mad Venn diagram!

Back to the point, no one has the right to say that they are a better Leeds United fan than the next bloke. I certainly don’t agree with anyone speaking on my behalf either, I am very capable of making my views known. Whilst we ( Harrogate branch) are members of the LUSC, anything that the LUSC says publicly is only said with a majority agreement of all members. This does take time given that LUSC members are spread far and wide, and some don’t use social media. It is hard enough to get the Harrogate branch to tell us who they want to vote for as player of the month, let alone any major issue like what they think of new Chairman. So, transpose this on hundreds of thousands of Leeds United fans all over the world, and I find it difficult to believe that any single fan group can wholeheartedly say that they speak for the majority of Leeds United fans, even when blessed with fibre broadband!

The new man Andrea Radrizzani met with some selected fan groups earlier this week, we are being told that the Club would like to engage with the fans more. What I would like to see is that we all have an equal voice about the issues we feel are important to us, and not whoever shouts loudest. We have an opportunity to start a new chapter of the history of Leeds United, so rather than argy bargy, lets get our heads together and bring our collective voices, whilst still maintaining our individual entities and merits, around the table. I am sure there are some good ideas that we can all agree on, which we can realistically take forward. When I say agree on, I don’t want a repeat of the “Who votes for a move to Swillington?” debate in the 2000s where allegedly we all wanted to move out of Elland Road…….

I want us to buy Elland Road back and get the West Stand redeveloped, I would gladly buy a bond to help….. anyone else?