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05/06 Season

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This is the Louth Branch website. Always Leeds always loyal !  

Season 2006/07
April 30th 2007.

Where did it all go wrong and where to now?

Yet again after relegation the talk came around to the blame game and Peter Ridsdale featured highly on some peoples's agenda. "It is only 12 months since Leeds were in the play-off final and yet people talk today about decisions four or five years ago that are causing their plight," he told Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme. That is clearly not the case. Until people concentrate on the future, I do not think Leeds have a chance of coming back. They have got to regroup and get stability. They are a very big club off the field. But what matters in football is on the field. Too many people are feeling sorry for themselves."
He is of course correct. The fault lies well and truly at the door of Ken Bates and the regime he has installed at Leeds. This is the man that installed Wise and Poyet at the helm. For God sake they had 33 games to keep us up. We'll come to that later.
Bates is the cancer that is running through Leeds United. He has bled the club dry this season with his false agenda, propoganda and maltreatment of the Leeds United Supporters club. When eventually he relented (regarding his overpricing of Leeds tickets) the fans came back in their thousands. Think of the revenue lost if sensible prices had prevailed from the word go. Instead the fire sales continued to prop up the lost revenue as he skulked back to Monaco after every home game. A part time chairman with a full time role of ruining Leeds United. He has taken us from one of the biggest clubs in England to the sixth biggest team in Yorkshire, behind both Sheffield clubs, Barnsley, Hull City, and the mighty Scunthorpe. Well done Ken you couldn't have done it better if you used a bulldozer. Do the decent think and go now ! Back to the fire sales again, a common thread over which he criticised the previous board ."Never again would it happen under his watch". Hulse (pic'd left), Kilgallon, Walton and Lennon all went during his reign, and none of the £4.5M received from the Woods and Taiwo to Chelsea was ploughed back into the side. Instead we went for the geriatric loan rangers. There is talk over McDonald and Sounness making a pitch for the club. Hopefully someone will come in because this club is rotting and being allowed rot. We lose the payments to ex players and managers this June which will be a huge noose off our neck and the loanees we all have now will go back to their current clubs.

Blackwell can't be blamed for relegation. The current manager brought in his own players, devised his own system, rid himself of Blackwell's players (or refused to play many of them) and had 32 games to get us safe. After all following his first match in charge (Southend back in October 28th 2006) we were actually outside the bottom three (see table attached). In the next 30 games he has managed to take us backwards and down. Back in October we were six points behind Sunderland and finished thirty nine points behind The Makems. To keep it in moderation, Barnsley were below us at that stage (Halloween) but changed manager from Andy Ritchie and with less resources than Leeds finished above us. They will be playing Championship football and not Leeds. Staggering !! You can talk about no luck and we have had little when the following comes to mind : The late winner by Heath denied against Barnsley, the penalty denied in injury time at Southend, the "equaliser" by Cresswell denied at Birmingham, the sending off at Southampton of Thompson later rescinded, etc etc but over all Wise has been poor in charge of Leeds, and has the made the third best defence in 2005/06 into the worst defence in 2006/07. He has brought in Kandol. Thompson, Stack, Michailik, Gray, Elliot, Heath, Sa, Ehiogu, Jemal Johnson, Kishichev, and Tore Andre Flo. That’s twlve players at different times that he himself sanctioned. Out went Sullivan,  Kelly (wouldn’t play him - pic'd right), Butler, Gregan, Beckford( who went on to get promotion with Scunthorpe and bypass Leeds), Crainey and Nicholls (whom he made captain but who wouldn’t play for him).His defensive streak ultimately cost us a glimmer of promotion when yet again when we went in front we put every man behind the ball playing out the whistle with forty five minutes to go. Derby lost at Palace and would have had little to play for next Sunday but that doesn’t matter anymore. Under Dennis Wise’s stewardship we lost to fourteen different teams in the Championship, including to nine men Cardiff City, Barnsley away when we were winning 2-1 and Colchester United when we were winning 1-0 with minutes to go. It was abundantly clear we needed pace around the middle of the field when old legs were in existence. The front two were frequently starved of service and Healy (the top scorer in the Euro Championship) often came on from the bench to rescue Leeds.

It’s time for a new broom. Wise and Poyet must go along with the dastardly Bates regime. Bates panicked by sacking Blackwell (above) without having anyone lined up to replace him. Blackwell wouldn't in my opinion have taken us down. We lost the impetus when Bates farted around with John Carver and then went back for public enemy number one as far as Leeds fans were concerned by appointing Wise. It's been all downhill ever since. The Leeds fans have been patient enough. They let the ex-Chelsea contingent know what they thought of them on Saturday. Hopefully Bates won't have the appetite for the non-French wine League One.  Somehow I can’t see the great bearded one  breaking his neck from Monaco to Cheltenham next season unless he wants to go to the Gold Cup.

I contend that this club would be a very good investment at the right price, but Bates will probably try and milk every last drop out of it. The fourth biggest city in England  deserves better and so do we !

Leeds 1-1 Ipswich Town - Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Foxe, Rui Marques, Gray (Kandol 88), Blake (Moore 82), Kishishev, Thompson, Lewis (Robbie Elliott 77), Healy, Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Stack, Johnson. Booked: Thompson, Foxe, Blake. Goals: Cresswell 12. Ipswich Town Goals: Lee 88. Att: 31,269. Well what can you say ? At half time Leeds were one up, Hull were drawing with Cardiff City and Barnsley were drawing with Leicester City. Everything was going Leeds way. Surely it would go to the last day with Leeds outside of the bottom three. Less than an hour later Leeds were all but relegated. Forget about the clowns that invaded the pitch. They are the very reason why people dislike Leeds United. They can't take their beaten.
It all started so well when Cresswell put the Whites ahead after 12 minutes. Leeds who started nervously against a side that had little to play for relaxed a little and had other opportunities in the first half even though it was the Tractor Boys that finished the stronger. Dennis wise (foolishly in my view) was all the time getting details from the other matches, principally the match at Ninian Park. Why I'll never know because this was a must win match for Leeds. Wise decided to go for a "what we have we hold approach" and let Ipswich come on to Leeds for most of the second half. This not for the first time this season was to prove fatal. Leeds had a few efforts from Healy and Cresswell but to sit back and invite pressure form a footballing side was always going to result in one outcome. That outcome resulted in Alan Lee equalising after 88 minutes. Wise reacted by throwing on Kandol but it was too little too late. Due to the lengthy treatnment afforded to Eddie Lewis who was carried off the refree allotted six extra minutes. The pitch invasion led to scenes not seen at Elland Road since the eighties. The genuine Leeds fans booed the louts that tried to stop the match. After a half an hour the players came back out and the match amazingly restarted with a Leeds corner which was badly taken. Leeds missed their last chance and the game finished 1-1, not an unfair score line. Credit to the Ipswich players who walked up to the Leeds fans and clapped each other off. A brave decision by the referee also to finish the game. After 88 years in the two top tiers of English football the mighty Leeds United have been relegated. Mathematically no, but we would have to put eight past Derby and hope Plymouth Argyle beat Hucll City. We are gone. I blame Bates for the fall of our great club through the Championship trap door. I also hold Dennis Wise responsible for our relegation. Wise had 32 games to get Leeds out of the bottom three and failed miserably. He must go but not before the chairman falls on his own sword. How ironic that eighty miles up the road Middlesbro entertained Spurs with five Leeds stars of not so long ago in display : Viduka, Woodgate, Keane, Lennan, and Robinson. Next season we have trips to Northampton, Cheltenham, Crewe and Doncaster to look forward to. No doubt due to a few idiots we will probably start the first home games behind closed doors. It's a cruel game. Football League spokesman John Nagle on the crowd trouble: "These actions by a minority of Leeds supporters could have serious consequences for the club.Clearly, passions will run high at this stage of the season. However, it is deplorable for supporters to enter the field of play at any time. Leeds boss Dennis Wise :
"It's a sad enough day as it is. I don't want to talk about the pitch invasion. I could say a lot of things, but I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. As a group, as a manager, it's not been good enough. Simple as that because if we were we wouldn't be sitting here in this situation. I'm not going to fob you off and say this, this, and that, this excuse, that excuse, I'll take the responsibility, it's on my shoulders.Wise, drafted in by Leeds chairman Ken Bates at the end of October, stressed he would be in charge of the team from day one of the new campaign. We'll have them from the start. There's a lot of things we'll do and we'll do it properly. We'll make sure these players we have are fit and strong enough and mentally strong enough to get us up.Wise insisted he was in for the long haul, adding: "I'll be sitting down with the chairman and discuss everything and we'll take it from there. I didn't come here just for five months. I came to be here for a lot longer than that. Unfortunately this is a terrible time for us, but one thing is for sure, we'll be giving it as much as possible to get them straight back up." Ipswich manager Jim Magilton: It was a shambolic but brave decision to come back out. I was involved in something similar at West Ham when the game was called off. This one should have been called off. It was a poor decision. The players were worried about going back out. If any of them had got hurt, I would have been knocking on the referee's door. I thought we were excellent. We were keeping and passing the ball well and deserved our equaliser. he former Southampton and Ipswich midfielder spared a thought for Leeds and their supporters. These fans are passionate about their club and Leeds have been (all-but) relegated. It's a tough day for them.It surprises me for a club of this stature but you are what you are at the end of the season."

April 24th. Is it all over ? Like hell it's not
If we beat Ipswich it goes to the last day. Forget about every other team. As long as we defeat Ipswich we take it to the last day. Many people had us relegated weeks ago. Well we are still in there fighting. Let's take it to the last day. These are the remaining fixtures :
Leeds v Ipswich Town, Cardiff City v Hull City, Barnsley v Leicester City, Derby County v Leeds United, Hull City v Plymouth Argyle, WBA v Barnsley.

Let's just concentrate on Ipswich Town. If we get favours elsewhere we'll take them. If not (and let's face it we've gotten feck all over the past few months especially from officials) we'll have to do it ourselves. If we get six points from two games I'm convinced we'll stay up. I said all along we'll need 51 points. I still think we'll need 51 points and I think we are capable of getting 51 points, irrespective of losing Michailik, Douglas, Nicholls, and possibly Alan Thompson. Now for my what if scenario ?

What if Hull only draw with Cardiff and we defeat Ipswich. That puts us on 48 points and Hull City on 47 points. All of a sudden we are one point clear (all be it with an inferior goal difference). Nerves have a funny habit of settling in on the last day. Plymouth have won three on the bounce. If we draw our last game at Derby County Hull City must still win theirs. Plymouth since losing to Leeds unjustly 2-1 and "with nothing to play for" have just beaten three sides around the bottom "with everything to play for". Those teams were Leicester City, Luton Town and Southend. Will they stop now ? I don't think that's Ian Holloway's style of management. Burnley had nothing to play for on Monday night. WBA were chasing the Play-Offs. Who won ? The Baggies went down 3-2. Now getting back to Leeds and this "we won't beat Derby syndrome". Why not ? Here's another what if ? What if Sunderland defeat Luton Town on Friday and Birmingham City defeat Sheff Wednesday on Saturday. All of a sudden Super Sunday means that Derby must win at Crystal Palace to stay in the race for automatic promotion. If they only draw then their 10 point advantage over the fourth placed team in the Championship becomes as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. Why? Because they are in the Play-Offs and instead of going at Leeds full tilt, they may be resting players for the Semi-Final first leg of the Play-Offs perhaps as little as four days later. Remember Preson v Leeds in May last year in the league at Deepdale ? It was a different Leeds team that Preston faced in the Play-Offs.

Now what about Barnsley - sitting nice and comfy on 50 points. What if Leicester beat them on Saturday or even if they draw with Leicester City ? That brings them to 51points. They go to WBA on the last day who will most probably need a win to secure a Play-Off position. If Leeds gain six points form two games and Barnsley succeed in earning just one, Leeds will pass Barnsley on goal difference on the last day - not impossible.

Now as you know I am an optimist, but I am definitely not throwing in the towel yet. All I ask for now is that we defeat Ipswich Town. I think it is a tricky fixture but let's do the biz and anything can happen after that. Keep the faith !

 Sometimes the glass can be half full.

April 21st. Southampton 1-0 Leeds United. Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Rui Marques, Robbie Elliott, Blake (Foxe 38), Kishishev, Thompson, Lewis (Kandol 85), Cresswell, Healy (Armando Sa 65). Subs Not Used: Stack, Moore. Sent Off: Thompson (34). Booked: Rui Marques, Cresswell, Robbie Elliott, Foxe. Att: 29,012. Yet again a case of what might have been had we got the right refereeing decision. Leeds could and should have had a penalty in the first two minutes when Cresswell was flattened in the box. Instead they were left with 10 men when Thompson tried to separate a scuffle and was unbelievably showed the red card after 34 minutes. It was always going to be an uphill struggle after that. That said with six minutes to go it looked like Leeds would go out of the bottom three to be replaced by Hull City. Bradley Wright Phillips scored for the Saints and Nick Barmby rescued a point in stoppage time for Hull City .Southampton manager George Burley: "We knew Leeds would be fighting for their lives and all credit to them, they made it difficult for us to break them down. But we kept at them, we put Bradley on the wing to give us some more finishing power and it paid off. I think we deserved it." Leeds boss Dennis Wise on Thompson's sending off ."The linesman made the decision but he was 40 yards away. Thompson pulled Viafara away from Eddie Lewis because they were going to clash, and the officials misunderstood. I'm always talking about the refs, but they should be penalised." All of a sudden we are one point behind Hull City  with two tough games to go. Leicester look safe as yet again Preston fail to do us a favour by losing 1-0 at home to the Foxes. QPR beat Cardiff and Barnsley booked safety with a 2-0 home win over C Palace. Its between Hull City and Leeds for that 4th from bottom slot. They are favourites for two reasons, firstly they have the extra point and superior goal difference   and on paper have the better run in. Luckily football is not played on paper. Realistically we will have to win our two remaining games against Ipswich and Derby and hope that Hull City can muster no more than a win and a draw at Cardiff and home to Plymouth. If we win next week and they don't it will be a nervy May 6th from 1300 to 1500.

April 20th. Southampton v Leeds preview. Leeds were rocked by the loss of big Lubo Michailik as Bolton made use of their 24 hour recall clause. Big Lubo has been super at the back and decent from set plays also. Alan Thompson will endure a late fitness test also. Soton are not without their injuries as Pole Marek Saganowski is out with a groin tear. Gareth Bale is sidelined with a torn calf muscle, Alexander Ostlund is a doubt with a groin injury and Claus Lundekvam has a pelvic problem. Saganowski has scored in five of their last six games and is a loss. Leeds are good enough to get a result at the Saints but at all costs must better the results of Hull, Barnsley and Leicester. 

Sun April 16th. Post Burnley - So what does this all mean ?
We could have done without Barnsley beating Southend but elsehwhere the results went our way. I didn't think Colchester would be beaten by Hull City and the draw does us favours by bringing us level with the Tigers, although their goal difference is superior. Leicester are in a dog fight. New boss Nigel Worhington hasn't stopped the rot and he lost on his debut as manager against his former side, Norwich City. Tomorrow they play their match in hand against Birmingam City. Guess who becomes a Blue fan tomorrow ? If they lose that match they are only two points ahead of with some tricky fixtures and limited confidence on the horizon. Barnsley are a win and maybe a point away from safety. We have a tough one at Suthampton but we are capable of getting something there. They have lost their last two and may not make the Play-Offs. Stoke play Hull and they are also chasing the Play Offs. We need to better Hull's result this coming Saturday.It will go to the wire. I'm confident we can stay up. I see us fighting all the way with Leicester, Hull, Barnsley and Southend. Luton are gone and Southend may now find it tough. Barnsley have the points and must feel confident but I think we can edge out Hull City or Leicester.

Sat April 14th. Leeds 1-0 Bunley. Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Michalik, Heath, Gray, Blake (Rui Marques 76), Kishishev, Thompson, Lewis, Healy (Armando Sa 90), Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Stack, Johnson, Moore. Goals: Heath 21. Att: 23,528. The Louth Branch were in strong attendance today and witnessed a very much deserved Leeds victory against a powder puff Burnley side who really only created one chance. For a twenty minute spell in the first half Leeds played some super football and deservedly took the lead after 21 minutes when Heath who was a constant danger all day from set pieces got on the end of an excellent Thompson corner. He was unlucky a few minutes later when a brilliant save from Jensen denied him. I've been hard on him for a long time but in the opposing half he does command a presence along side the massive Michalik and both can get us goals so fairs fair. Cresswell had another excellent header brilliantly saved and Richardson who had a good afternoon had a superb 35 yard half volley rattle the crossbar. Leeds could have easily been four up at half time. Up front Cresswell and Healy worked tirelessly and at the back Michailik and Heath performed well, with both having to go off for bloodied heads to be treated. In the second hald Wise settled for what he had and let Burnley come on to Leeds. One had to feel sorry for the front two who were starved of service. Cresswell worked like a trojan and Healy intelligently won frees to relieve pressure. A very good captains perfromance for the ex Preston player. Thompson's left foot is lethal but he was unable to get around the pitch and Kishichev was intelligent and hard working in all he did. Blake was lazy and did nothing and Lewis has had better days. Both full backs played well and Gray in particluar is an excellent addition. Leeds manager Dennis Wise:
"We've pulled Hull closer and also now I think Leicester are two points in front of us as well. It's interesting. It's been down to the players. It would have been easy to go flat (after defeat at Colchester), but they showed they were up for it, ready for it and they're having a real bash at it. One thing I can say is I can't fault their commitment and character for what they've done. It's taken us a long time to try to sort this situation out, a long time, but we're gradually getting there. We'll have to wait and see." Burnley manager Steve Cotterill:"The second half we dominated. I don't think they got in our half hardly in the second half. But that's probably going to happen, especially if they get their noses in front they're not going to gamble too much at the end. But it was frustrating in the first half because we didn't do the things we did in the second. We looked as if we'd had a few results and it was a sigh of relief for us in the first period. But after half-time we were a lot better and played with more zip, a bit more devilment, but not quite enough."

April 11th. The run in for all concerned . There will be points won and lost in unexpected fashion. This is the Championship 2006/07. Here are my predictions for the finish.
Southend v Barnsley, 15:00 Plymouth v Southend, 15:00 Southend v Luton, 15:00 Southampton v Southend, 13:00 Another 7 points = 49 points finish

Southend v Barnsley, 15:00 Barnsley v Crystal Palace, 15:00 Barnsley v Leicester, 15:00 West Brom v Barnsley, 13:00 Another 5 points = 49 points finish

Hull v Colchester, 15:00 Stoke v Hull, 15:00 Cardiff v Hull, 15:00 Hull v Plymouth, 13:00 Another 5 points = 49 points finish

Leicester v Norwich, 15:00 Leicester v Birmingham, 19:45 Preston v Leicester, 15:00 Barnsley v Leicester, 15:00 Another 4 points = 51 points finish

Leeds v Burnley, 15:00 Southampton v Leeds, 15:00 Leeds v Ipswich, 15:00 Derby v Leeds, 13:00 Another 9 points = 52 points finish and safety

Luton v Plymouth, 15:00 Derby v Luton, 19:45 Southend v Luton, 15:00 Luton v Sunderland, 13:00 Another 2 points = 39 points

April 10th. It emerged that Jon Douglas received a yellow card which puts him out of the next three games. After the match he received a red card for foul and abusive language to referee Alan Wiley which will probably put him out for the start of next season also. It's a foolish reaction which puts our skipper out of our most important campaign finish for years. Dennis Wise reacted by placing David Healy as captain for the rest of the season. The N Ireland player had this to say : "It is genuinely an honour to captain a club like this, have no doubts about that".

April 9th. Colchester United 1-Leeds United. Ankergren, Rui Marques, Heath, Michalik, Gray, Kishachev, Douglas, Thompson Lewis, Healy  89(Blake ), Kandol. Subs unused - Stack, Elliott, Foxe and Moore. This was a game we should have won and yet conspired to lose in the last nine minutes. There was only one team in it in the first half and Lewis deservedly put Leeds ahead early in the second half. Fatigue got the better of one or two and Wise should have made earlier changes. Iwelumo scored after 81 minutes and Cureton scored in injury time to put a very unfair reflection on the match. Elsewhere the results could have not have gone any worse : Southend won 3-2 at Preston, QPR won 3-2 at home to Luton Town and Barnsley were battered by Birmingham City but still won 1-0. At least Hull are only two points ahead of us having lost 3-1 at Wolves. We are back in the bottom three some two points off Barnsley and Hull. That point could be vital but we still have enough to get clear. Burnley are safe now with a 2-0 win over Cardiiff City but Leicester have been pulled in a little with a 3-0 hammering at Plymouth. Colchester manager Geraint Williams: "It was a hard-fought win and a bit of a scrappy game. But the lads kept going. The players are writing their own bit of history here and they are doing a great job." Leeds manager Dennis Wise:"People haven't done their jobs. We asked them to be in a certain place and they were not.They were poor goals to concede because we had looked comfortable.But we had a mad 10 or 12 minutes where we didn't defend properly."

April 8th. Colchester United v Leeds United. Colchester are in confident mood and have more than 27 hours rest ahead of Leeds for this tie at Layer Road. That's a big advantage given that Leeds have a much older squad and must travel down to Essex. The Louth Branch were heavily in attendance back in November 11th when Leeds won 3-0 thanks to two goals from Richard Cresswell. Colchester are just four points of Play-Off positions and are in confident mood especially Jamie Cureton (pic'd left)who bagged a hat-trick against local rivals Southend on Good Friday. Whilest Leeds will be wary of Cureton, Colchester will be equally aware that David Healy has scored in his last three games also for the Whites or in his last five games if you include N Ireland form. Richardson won't make it for Leeds so Rui Marques may fill in for him. Leeds ideally need three points but may have to settle for one. Leeds are on their best run of the season, unbeaten in five with three valuable wins in that sequence. Colchester United's last four home games were as follows : March 31st 3-0 win over Norwich City, March 10th 0-0 at home to Coventry City, February 24th 0-0 at home to Burnley, and February 13th 1-2 at home to WBA. That's just one win from their last four home matches but on the road they have performed better of late. They have won their last three matches including an excellent 2-1 victory over Southampton. Leeds are unbeaten in their last four.

 Elsewhere in the dog fight, Burnley look nearly safe but Leicester may be anxious if they don't grab points at Plymouth. Here's the other games : Barnsley v Birmingham, 15:00, Burnley v Cardiff, 15:00 , Plymouth v Leicester, 15:00, Preston v Southend, 15:00, QPR v Luton, 15:00, Wolverhampton v Hull, 15:00

April 7th. Leeds United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle.  Att: 30,034 Ankergren, Richardosn (39 mins) , (Thompson)  Heath, Michailik, Gray(80), (Rui Marques), Douglas, Kishachev, Lewis, Blake (65) (Moore), Healy, Cresswell, . Goals - Healy (45), Michalik (87)  I said it before and I'll say it again, anything can happen in this league. Plymouth demanded changes and a better performance at Leeds. They recalled the back four who had given them a super cup run and altogether made seven changes from their previous defeat at Burnley. On another occasion the Pilgrims would have left Elland Road with all three points. But these are not normal times. Plymouth went one up against the run of play through their Hungarian international, Halmosi, but that man Healy equalised right on half time. In the second half he missed a super chance by milimetres when he was put clean through, but in truth Plymouth dominated for long periods until big Lubo Michalik scored a super Leeds winner on 87 minutes, when he converted Alan Thpmson's superb free kick from the left. The big Slovak was mobbed by delighted team mates. We have completed the double over Plymouth and are out of the bottom three for the first time since the reverse fixture back in November 25th 2006. Elswehere  Barnsley were hammered 4-1 at Ipswich Town, Luton Town lost 0-2 at home to Southampton. Not so good was the extraordinary result for Burnley winning 1-0 at Birmingham City and QPR won 1-0 at Ian Dowie's lacklustre Coventry. Luton Town, Southend, Barnsley and Hull City are really in the mixer now and it should be an interesting Easter Monday. Leeds assistant manager Gus Poyet:
"It's a great day. The last five games have been fantastic. I don't know how many months we've been there. We're feeling great and enjoying it but unfortunately you cannot enjoy it too much because there's another big game on Monday. We're very happy today, but the job is far from done, we have to make sure we keep going. The players are very happy, they've been absolutely fantastic out there, when you win a game like this, again in the last few moments of the game and with the supporters and how they were today it's difficult to come down. But fortunately we're going away today, staying together for the next two days and we'll make sure everybody calms down." Plymouth manager Ian Holloway: "I still can't believe how we've lost, but that's life. You've got to be able to win headers in your box. But other than that I thought we were terrific. We were calculated, we were calm, we looked a composed side, we looked like we deserved to have a few more points on the board than the team we were playing against. I came here not expecting to get one decision to be honest. You're going to have 35,000 people going absolutely ballistic, but what impressed me was that they didn't turn on their team. Well done to the Leeds fans and I felt their players responded to them. That's two great results they've just had so they're still in there."

April 6th. Due to Southend losing 0-3 at home to their local rivals,Colchester United,  Leeds move out of the bottom two for the first time in over four months. That's the kind of things that happen in this league. Hull also had a surprising 1-2 loss at home to Norwich City. Games that affect the Whites this weekend.:

Saturday, 07 April 2007
Birmingham v Burnley, 15:00 , Coventry v QPR, 15:00 , Ipswich v Barnsley, 15:00 , Leeds v Plymouth, 15:00 , Luton v Southampton, 15:00

April 5th. Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle - Preview
Plymouth Argyle travel to Elland Road this Saturday to play a Leeds United side who have a better league record in 2007 than the Pilgrims.
It will be Argyle's third away match in seven days and like the previous two games the Pilgrims will be flying to the game rather than take a long and difficult journey by road. Struggling Argyle have been poor in their two recent away games, losing 3-0 at Ipswich Town last Saturday and then getting a 4-0 beating at Burnley on Tuesday. Leeds are in the relegation zone in the Championship but are now just two points away from safety after hitting a good run of form. Leeds are unbeaten in their last four games with two wins and two draws. This match will see two of the games fieriest characters on the sideline, Dennis Wise and the outspoken Plymouth Argyle manager, Ian Holloway. Won't be a dull moment under the West Stand - one should think !
Indeed the Elland Road out-fit boast a better league record than Argyle in 2007, winning more games than the Pilgrims and picking up more points. Argyle have just four league wins in 2007 and have gained 17 points while Leeds have won 5 games and picked up 18 points since the turn of the year.
Argyle's excellent start to the season, that saw them flirt with the play-off zone, have saved the Pilgrims from a relegation dog-fight in the closing stages of the season. Ian Holloway's side have 52 points and currently sit in the mid-table comfort zone.
Leeds beat Argyle 2-1 at Home Park back in November and will hope to do the double over Ian Holloway`s side, although Leeds have lost 9 league games at home this season.
Leeds have used 43 players this season, the most out of all four professional leagues and manager Dennis Wise has never named the same team for consecutive games. Bottom club in the Football League, Torquay United, have used 42 players this season.
The game against Argyle is set to have the biggest attendance of the season at Elland Road following the announcement of reduced ticket prices and Leed's current good form, which may see them pull off a miraculous escape from relegation.
The previous highest attendance was 29,593 when Queens Park Rangers were the visitors at Elland Road in February.
Probable Leeds line up :                        Ankergren
                     Richardson           Michailik       Rui Marques          Michael Gray
                           Blake         Douglas      Kichichev                Lewis

                                                Healy                  Cresswell

                                                                                                                        Alan Thompson made a scoring return on Weds for the reserves against Stoke and could make the bench. In that game Johnny Howson also scored two. Hopefully Heath is on the bench and not in the starting line up. Jemal Johnson, Robbie Elliott or Stack will make up the other two.

April 4th. Robbie Blake believes that Leeds United are now in their form of the season and have the character and skill to stay in the Championship this season. Talking to the Yorkshire Post he had the following to say : "It was our best performance of the season against Preston, especially when you consider who the opposition were. The result will have had people looking over their shoulders and thinking 'Leeds are not down yet'. We showed we have quality in abundance and I am sure anyone watching on Sky will have thought 'why are Leeds bottom of the league?'A big problem has been not having a settled side with the manager not having had a chance to play the same team every week. If everyone could play in the same position every week from now on it will help us a lot.We have most of the injured players back now and Michael Gray's arrival is great news. I asked him after (the Preston game) when he had last played and it was December. His performance was amazing.
Victory against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday could see Leeds, who fielded five full internationals and a former England left-back in their starting line-up last Friday, move out of the drop zone for the first time since November.
Blake said: "The lads' commitment to this club cannot be questioned. I think that showed in the celebrations for David Healy's winning goal. Even the players who were in the stand were up and going mad.You should have seen the dressing room afterwards, too. It was as if we had won promotion. It has given us a great chance of staying up. We have Plymouth on Saturday and we need to show the same commitment. If we can keep that togetherness for the final six games, we will be okay. The table does not lie but I have said all along we have enough quality to get ourselves out of this mess.Leeds United should not be in League One. With all the troubles we have had, staying up would be such a great achievement. It will be the greatest achievement of my career."
Blake, who netted the first goal against Preston, also believes staying in the Championship will help United keep Northern Ireland's David Healy, whose contract runs until the summer of 2008, at the club. He said: "David walks on water over in Northern Ireland, as he should as the top goalscorer in Europe.
"But he came back here and proved to everyone how much he wanted to play. Never mind that he had had only a day's rest and had done a lot of travelling, he just wanted to play and do well for Leeds.David is a class goalscorer, a 20-goal a year striker. Because of what has been happening in the league, he has not got that this time. But I am sure if we stay up then David Healy will stay."

April 2nd. Around the Louth Branch there was very much a palpable belief that the Whites can escape this mess. Healys late winner nearly lifted the roof of Wisemans with the Louth Branch in attendance. The Louth Branch Easter Bumper Special magazine has been circulated via post and should be arriving to your doors by tomorrow and Thursday. Ticket sales for the Plymouth fixture on Easter Saturday are expected to deliver 31,000, while tonight QPR and Preston locked horns and Burnley and Plymouth Argyle also did battle. Burnley won 4-0 and Rangers won 1-0. Not what the doctor ordered for Leeds but still we are in form and need to do the hard work ourselves anyway without fear or favours from anyone. 

April 2nd. Leeds legend Lucas Radebe pointed the finger at former chairman Peter Ridsdale and manager David O’Leary for starting Leeds’ demise and is unsure that owner Ken Bates is the right man to have at the helm of the salvage operation. He said yesterday: "It’s really sad what has happened. Leeds are still close to my heart. Their slump is a disaster for such a great club, with their passionate fans and great tradition. For it to happen in the time it has is alarming. Leeds need to be in the Premiership and the Premiership needs Leeds because they have such a great following. There was mismanagement under David O’Leary and Peter Ridsdale. They let the club down, overspending money that wasn’t there. The club lost some great assets and have never recovered." Bates rescued the club two years ago, but Radebe told Radio Five Live: "It doesn’t seem right; he’s from Chelsea and there is a fierce rivalry between the two clubs. If they go down, it will be a disaster but nobody has come up to buy into the club and get it back where it belongs" This was the first piece of sense I have heard from an-ex-player of that era regarding our decline from the stop.

March 30th. Leeds United 2-1 Preston NE. Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Michalik, Gray, Blake (Rui Marques 90), Douglas, Kishishev, Lewis, Healy (Robbie Elliott 90), Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Stack, Johnson, Moore. Goals: Blake 51, Healy 90. Leeds came from behind for the first time in over a year to perhaps deservedly take all three points in a very entertaining Sky encounter. The Louth branch were back in Wisemans and lifted the roof off as David Healy capped a super week with his seventh goal in seven days, a sweet last minute winner against his former club. It all looked so different after four minutes when bad defending let in former Whites loan player Brett Omerod to put Preston ahead. Leeds replied in spades but couldn’t get a goal until Blake scored shortly after half time following superb work from the never die spirit attitude of Richard Cresswell. Nugent missed a sitter and Michael Ricketts repaid Leeds faith in him by blasting over from six yards out. A clever Blake pass in the last minute released Lewis whose cross was met by the predator that is David Healy and he sent the 18,000 into convulsions with his late winner. The result takes Leeds off the bottom (there since January 30th). Ironically without even taking charge of a match yet, Leeds former manager, Kevin Blackwell finds his club last in the league. Leeds boss Dennis Wise: "People expect so much of Healy because of what he's done for Northern Ireland. This is what happens when you score at international level. Everyone expects you to do it week in, week out. Unfortunately with us he's hit crossbars, he's hit posts. "He's hit everything possible and it's not fallen for him at club level." Preston boss Paul Simpson:"Over the 90 minutes it would be fair to say we've come under an incredible amount of pressure, but we had the two clearest chances. "But our defending for the two goals was disgusting. I wouldn't expect to see that at centre of excellence games. "It was pathetic. We invited them on. We couldn't defend or finish." Well done to Padna and Geraldine Lane for finally breaking their “live” duck and bringing back the points. The last time they saw Leeds win was 4-03 v Liverpool (the Viduka game).

March 28th. Congratulations to Kevin Blackwell on being named Luton Town manager for the next four years. Kevin has his work cut out as the loan period has finished and he can't add to the current squad at Kenilworth Road. That said, I wish him well after this season has finished. 

March 22nd. Leeds have taken on a months loan Michael Gray from Blackburn Rovers.The 32-year-old Blackburn defender, who joins Leeds on loan for a second time, will stay for an initial month with an option to stay until the end of the season. Gray spent three months at Elland Road in early 2005. He told the club's official website: "I could have gone out to a mid-table Championship side who had nothing to play for, but this is Leeds isn't it? "We've got to get out of this mess we're in. It surprises me where Leeds are, but I've only seen it from afar. A lot has changed since last time I was here, but there's still a few of the lads around." Gray added: "I had a good rapport with the fans. Everyone was good to me last time - from the staff to the fans - and that was in the back of my mind." The boss who took Gray on loan initially, Kevin Blackwell has been linked with the vacant Luton Town job . If he gets it it will be his first jon back in football since Leeds sacked him in early Autumn. Best of luck Mickey, you were a good pro for us before and best of luck Kevin (but not until 2007/08 season).

March 18th. Dennis wise was facing another trip to Soho Square as the referee reported him after being sent off at Southend. Meanwhile Leeds were busy trying to arrange extensions to the loans of Kishichev, Michalik and Johnson, Current state of play with loans : Kishichev is until March 30th, Michailik is until April 9th, Jemal Johnson's ended on March 18th. Current Leeds players out on loan : Ben Parker at Bradford City until May 5th, Jermaine Beckford at Scunthorpe until May 6th, Neil Sullivan at Doncaster Rvs until April 22nd, and Sam Hird at Doncaster until May 11th. 

Sat March 17th. Southend 1-1 Leeds United. Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Michalik, Robbie Elliott, Blake (Healy 82), Kishishev, Douglas, Lewis (More 64), Cresswell, Kandol. Subs Not Used: Stack, Crainey, Carole. Booked: Robbie Elliott, Kandol, Michalik. Goals: Healy 88. Att: 11,274. Ref: N Miller (Co Durham). Dennis Wise changed his strike partnership again opting for the physical approach of Kandol and Cresswell as opposed to the one that gave Preston so many goals three seasons ago : Cresswell and Healy. After five minutes Kandol showed why he has failed to score in the previous eleven games when he headed over the top a superb cross from Richardson when it was easier to score. How costly that proved ? Fifty miles up the road on loan Leeds striker, Jermaine Beckford scored his fifth goal in five for Division One toppers Scunthorpe at Brighton. Looks like we sent the wrong player to the seaside. A few minutes later Michalik made a mistake and Southend went one up. They had chances to make it two when Eastwood hit the woodwork. On 82 minutes Leeds sent on Healy for Blake. Five minutes later Healy buried an equaliser into the corner for the Whites. It wasn't finished there. In the 3rd minute of injury time a Southend hand clearly made contact with the ball in the penalty area. A certain pen for luckless Leeds. No. Another ridiculous decision which could be added to the ridiculous  disallowed goal late at home to Barnsley, and the Cresswell equailiser that "never crossed the line at Birmingham". Those refereeing blunders cost Leeds five points. Still. Healy's late strike keeps Leeds in it....just. Southend Boss Steve Tilson on penalty claim: "Simon Francis did handball it but he was pushed in the back. I felt we had enough chances to wrap the game up and should have gone on to win it. The extra two points would have put us level with Barnsley and Burnley. But it's not been a bad week with seven points from nine and we've got to build on that." Leeds manager Dennis Wise:"You only need to look at the reaction of the Southend players, they all had their hands on their heads. I've had problems with him before. I told him I don't want him to referee for me again."

March 12th. Leeds want to buy back Elland Road stadium and their Thorp Arch training complex with the help of a loan from Leeds City Council.
Club chairman Ken Bates made the reacquisition of both assets one of his main objectives when he took control of Leeds in January 2003. The club hold a buy-back option of around £13million on the stadium and £5million on Thorp Arch.
Both sites were sold to Manchester businessman Jacob Adler in Leeds' battle to avoid administration before Bates arrived. Adler later sold Elland Road to Teak Commercial Ltd, a mystery company based in the British Virgin Islands who are currently charging the club £1.15million annual rent.
Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "We have approached the council with a request that they assist the club by providing a mortgage so we are able to re-purchase both the stadium and Thorp Arch.
"The mortgage sought from the council would be comfortably covered by security in the form of a charge over the stadium and Thorp Arch and also a personal guarantee from a prominent Leeds businessman."
Harvey added: "If the club owned the stadium then there would no longer be any mystery as to who owns Elland Road. It would enable the club to play a full part in the redevelopment of the Elland Road area and create income streams to support the club on days other than matchdays

March 11th. Leicester City 1-1 Leeds United. Ankergren, Sa, Richardosn, Heath, Michailik, Douglas, Carole (Thompson) (Moore), CRessell, Blake, Johnson (Healy). Subs not used : Kandol, Elliott,  Ordinarily a draw at Leicester City wouldn't be a bad result especially as we have strung two results together, but these are not ordinary times. It was hugely disappointing to concede a goal straight after Blake put us ahead. Elsewhere QPR drew at Derby, Southend got a last minute winner against Burnley (whom I predicted would be pulled in) and Hull won at Luton. Results did not go our way and we lost Johnson and Thompson (just back) through injury. One more concern surrounds Douglas. If he gets one more booking he hits 15 and that's a three match suspension. Souhend becomes a must win game after they went four points ahead of us. 

March 11th. Leeds travel to Leicester City knowing that a win can take them off the bottom of the ladder. Although they lost at Palace this weekend they have been on a decent run of late taking 11 points from their previous 15. The players on form for City at the moment are McAuley and Hume. I'm not going to put a "hex" on Leeds United. I believe they have enough quality to get of of this mess. I like Kishichev and Douglas in midfield and in Cresswell and Healy we have goals. Let's play Rui Marques and big Lubo at the back. Thompson and Flo can't be too far away. Stay focused and we can do it !!!

Every side  as far up as Burnley is in trouble, and remember every season one team gets pulled in. Here are the vital up coming fixtures which takes us up to Easter : Tuesday, 13 March 2007 Derby v QPR, 19:45 Leicester v Leeds, 19:45 Luton v Hull, 19:45 Southend v Burnley, 19:45 Wednesday, 14 March 2007 Plymouth v Barnsley, 19:45 Saturday, 17 March 2007 Coventry v Barnsley, 15:00 Leicester v QPR, 15:00 Luton v Ipswich, 15:00 Preston v Burnley, 13:00 Southend v Leeds, 15:00 Sunderland v Hull, 15:00 Friday March 30th. Leeds v Preston, 19:45 Saturday, 31 March 2007 Barnsley v Derby, 15:00 Burnley v Luton, 15:00 Hull v Southend, 15:00 QPR v West Brom, 15:00 Tuesday, 03 April 2007 Burnley v Plymouth, 19:45 QPR v Preston, 19:45 Friday, 06 April 2007 Hull v Norwich, 15:00 Southend v Colchester, 12:30 Saturday, 07 April 2007 Birmingham v Burnley, 15:00 Coventry v QPR, 15:00 Ipswich v Barnsley, 15:00 Leeds v Plymouth, 15:00 Luton v Southampton, 15:00 Monday, 09 April 2007 Barnsley v Birmingham, 15:00 Burnley v Cardiff, 15:00 Colchester v Leeds, 15:00 Preston v Southend, 15:00 QPR v Luton, 15:00 15:00 Wolverhampton v Hull, 15:00 

March 10th 2007. Leeds United 1-0 Luton Town. Att; 27,138. Position : Last. Leeds Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Michalik, Lewis,Carole (Armando Sa 88), Douglas, Kishishev, Blake (Moore 90),Johnson (Healy 85), Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Stack, Kandol. Booked: Johnson, Douglas, Michalik. Goals: Cresswell 50. Steven Quigley travelled from Carrick to represent the Louth Branch and give them a bit of luck. Some will say he did just that when even the Videoprinter suggested that Luton equalized through Dean Morgan's penalty with five minutes to go. Wise called it right when recalling the fit again Ankergren. He has called few decisions correct tactically all season but there is no doubt that the Dane is the pick of what we have between the sticks. In truth Leeds could have been three or four up at half time. With Kishishev and new captain Douglas dominating midfield Leeds hit the wood work three times in the first half through Douglas, Michalik and Blake. We couldn't get the break through. Cresswell (a Leed fan through and through) turned and cleverly shot for the back corner after 50 minutes to make it 1-0 and deservedly so. Cresswell gives you everything and has goals in him. Wise has another call to make. He must drop the poor Heath who nearly costs us the three points when he got caught out of position again to give the Hatters a late penalty. The big Slovak and Rui Marques would be a better partnership. Elsewhere, Southend won at Ipswich (although how Ipswich never got an early Lee penalty I'll never know), Hull (who should have been down to 10 men following a horrendous tackle) beat Preston NE 2-0, QPR drew 1-1 against Sheff Weds and  Barnsley lost 2-0 to Sunderland. Forget about the other teams. If we win out matches and build on this we will be okay, but to do so we need the Bulgarian and the Slovak for two more months.Leeds boss Dennis Wise: "I don't think anyone could argue that we didn't deserved to win. We have to maintain that level of performance until the end of the season. I think that if we do that then we shouldn't be too far away. I think it would have been extremely harsh on us had they scored with the penalty at the end." Luton boss Mike Newell: "We didn't rattle them enough, we didn't defend well at times and we didn't keep the ball. But in the last 20 minutes we showed a lot of character and to miss the penalty was galling and I'm devastated. We have nine games left which is loads of time to get ourselves out of trouble. It is in our hands."  

9th of March 2007. Giant central defender, Lubo Michalik joined Leeds United on loan from Bolton on a one month deal. Hopefully the 23 year old Slovak will go straight in and partner Rui Marques and Wise will drop the clumsy Heath. 

Wise ain't so wise so far  He may have allowed Bates be God father to his son, but how has he done since taking over from Kevin Blackwell ? By my calculations the answer is a lot worse. Under Wise we have played 23 matches. Won 6 - Lost 15 (plus 1 in cup) Drew 2
We have taken just 17 points from a possible 69. That's a 24.6% success rate. We have scored 25 goals and conceded 36. Absolutely pathetic. Defensively we have released Kilgallon, Gregan and Butler and ignored Gary Kelly. Last season we had the 3rd best defence in the Championship.We currently have the worst defensive record in all four divisions. Wise has used Heath, Elliott, Marques, Foxe, Butler, Crainey, Kelly, Richardson, Ehiogu, Douglas and Sa in his defence and four different goalkeeprs in Sullivan, Stack, Ankergren and Warner. Heath is possibly the worst central defender we have ever had and his partnership with Foxe is possibly the worse we have ever used. Would we be as low under Blackwell ? I believe not. Amazingly we are still not out of it as the sides around us are equally as bad and can't break free. Wise made a bad mistake with Nicholls as captain. Butler provided leadership and organisation to the back four (and admittedly a lack of pace), but would he or Gregan not be better along side the pacy Marques (who Blackwell foolishly ignored). Believe it or not I think we can still get out of this mess, but the defence needs another quality loan signing at the centre. The Bulgarian Kishichev is a very good player but nothing less than seven points from our next three matches will suffice. Am I living in dreamland ? Probably. But then again who could have scripted that we purchase Dave Livermore and sell him a few weeks later because Kevin Nicholls becomes available only for the manager that bought him to be sacked. The new manager likes the injured player that he inherits and appoints him club captain only for this player not to fancy it after all and want to join the opposition - one of our main relegation candidates - who we also happen to face next. Throw in a mole and 41 players used this season - a new club  record and you have the soap opera that is Leeds United. Elaine, pass me the number for the Samaratans.

March 3rd. Amazingly it transpired after the match that Leeds United captain, Kevin Nicholls had demanded to return to Luton Town on loan after being purchased from the Hatters for £700,00 during the summer. Leeds never do things easy do they ? This is what Dennis Wise had to say about it : "He came to see me on Thursday but I had already had a phone call from Mike Newell on Wednesday asking me if I was interested in letting Kevin go. "I'm very disappointed at the way I've found out. It takes Mike to ring me. He was the captain of this football club and you expect him to dig in like the rest and get us out of this mess and not jack it in. This really, really disappoints me and this is just some of the things you have to put up with. Nicholls has made just 15 appearances for Leeds after suffering with a knee ligament injury earlier in the season. When asked if Nicholls had played his last game for Leeds, Wise added: "We'll have to wait and see. What do you say to that? I told him I had to accept his decision and told him he wouldn't be captain and wouldn't be involved in the game this Saturday. He actually wanted to go straightaway. To go to Luton to try to help them and I can't understand it. We want our money back, simple as that. If he wants to go to Luton, give us our money back. Do they think I'm mad, to go and loan him to Luton for the rest of the season? Is he seriously crazy, or what? This is what you deal with, chaps. Good isn't it?" Ian Moore was less diplomatic : "It’s awful. I’ve never known a captain to do this - it’s part of your job. He’s got to rally the players, and if he’s not pulling in the same direction as the rest of the lads you’re in massive trouble. To decide he wants to do that is a bit of a kick in the teeth. Luton are down there as well, and we’re playing them next week. The timing couldn’t possibly be any worse. If that’s what he wants to do then so be it, but I’m pretty disappointed and I’m sure most of the rest of the lads will be. When Dennis Wise came he, he made a big decision to take the captaincy off Paul Butler and give it to Kevin. For me, that was a surprise at the time. If I was made captain of a big club like Leeds, I’d be very proud. I just can’t understand his motives and I’m sure the fans won’t be happy when they find out. There was no indication at all. The players were asking what had happened on Friday when he wasn’t involved in the team, but it was pretty hush hush. It’s one thing after another at the moment. There are so many things, it seems to be snowballing. At 3-0, it was the lowest point of the season. It was embarrassing more than anything. The club is going through the worst days it’s probably ever had. Things don’t look good at the moment."

Sat March 3rd. Leeds Utd 2-3 Sheff Weds. Leeds Stack, Richardson, Rui Marques, Heath, Lewis,Howson (Blake 46), Douglas, Kishishev (Carole 83), Moore,Healy, Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Johnson, Foxe.Booked: Healy.Goals: Bullen 88 og, Cresswell 89. No good creating all the chances in the world when we have a defence that looks like it will concede every time the opposition has the football. I thought this was a banker for Leeds and yet again we failed to deliver. Ten men Sheffield Weds scored three goals away from home for the first time this season . Results went our way elsewhere (except Southed's late equalizer against Leicester City) but no good if you can't do it yourselves. We even had to have the opposition score for us today. At least Cresswell grabbed one and we even could have grabbed a late equaliser.   Dennis Wise :"Please don't knock my players. My players have done fantastic. It's better that the fans have a go at me. Bring it on. Have a go at me. They have got to be disappointed with the position we're in, but have a go at me, don't put my players under more pressure. t's not fair to say the players are not giving me everything. They're all in it together. They are trying to dig in and get out of it. You'll not see one of my players jack it in at the moment. They are giving me all the effort I could ask of them and they have got to keep doing what they're doing and keep believing. I genuinely believe we'll get out of this. I do not regret taking on this job in a million years, I'm telling you."  Elswhere Jermaine Beckford can't stop scoring for high flying Scunthorpe  and "Reject" Andy Keohe scored for Wolves and Rob Hulse scored for Sheffield United again. 

Friday March 2nd. Leeds have signed midfielder Radostin Kishishev from Charlton on loan until the end of the month. The 32-year-old Bulgarian, who has been capped 59 times by his country, has spent seven years at the Valley. He has made 18 appearances for Alan Pardew's side this season but has not featured since the 1-0 win over Portsmouth on January 20.Kishishev has made more than 150 league appearances. His arrival at Elland Road takes United's tally of loan signings to 12 for the season, and he is set to become the 41st player to turn out for Leeds this term against Wednesday tomorrow. Meanwhile, ex-Leeds defender Clarke Carlisle has joined Luton Town on loan from Watford. Carlisle, who was signed by United in 2004 but left the club 12 months later, has agreed a month-long deal at Kenilworth Road and is set to face United when Luton travel to Elland Road next weekend.  

Next Up in the matches that affect relegation  Saturday, 03 March 2007 Barnsley v Norwich, 15:00 Coventry v Hull, 15:00 Ipswich v QPR, 15:00 Leeds v Sheff Wed, 15:00 Luton v Wolverhampton, 15:00
Southend v Leicester, 15:00

Tues Feb 27th. 2007. Birmingham City 1-0 Leeds United. Att : 18,363. Position : 24th.  Leeds Stack, Richardson, Rui Marques, Heath, Lewis,Howson (Moore 60), Nicholls, Douglas, Blake (Armando Sa 57),Healy (Johnson 67), Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Einarsson, Carole. Leeds played much better than their performance at Wolves but even though they were unlucky and appeared to have a goal chalked off by Cresswell that appeared to cross the line, it's another game without points. We are staring the abyss. Time to take chances and go for the jugular. Next up it's home games against Sheff Weds and Luton followed by trip to the seaside - Southend. Nothing less than nine points will suffice as games are fast running out. Birmingham boss Steve Bruce: "We are delighted to be top of the league and we have an outstanding chance to earn promotion. There are still going to be some ticklish moments before the end of the season, but we now have home games coming up against Cardiff and Derby and they should be cracking matches. We are going to try and enjoy ourselves - if 'enjoy' is the right word. What we have to guard against is this air that seems to have been about the place that we have a divine right to go up because we don't. I'm told the TV replays are inconclusive but, judging by the reaction of their players, we might have got away with it". "Leeds manager Dennis Wise:"We have told the players where we feel we can get the points we need to keep us up and I think they started to realise what we need to do is still more than possible. We have got to look at things in a positive manner and I would be worried if we were not creating chances, but we are, and we should have had at least a point out of Birmingham. If we had got video evidence to call on we would be at least a point better off now but we have to work with what we have got.

Sat Feb 24th. Wolves 1-0 Leeds United. Position : Last. Att - 24,134.Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Rui Marques, Lewis, Douglas, Nicholls, Carole (Moore 80), Blake (Tom Elliott 89), Healy, Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Stack, Foxe, Howson. Booked: Blake, Rui Marques. Another chance to get points and another failure. We are running out of games. This fixture was largely dominated by Wolves, and it was a player signed for just £25,000 from Grays Athletic who was the star of the show and scored the only goal, Michael Kightly with just 14 minutes to go. Elsewhere, Hull had a terrific win against our next opponents (Birmingam City on March 1st) and there was a draw for QPR and a defeat for Southend at Sheffield Wednesday. We are showing a lack of creative quality the the middle of the field especially, with Douglas having to overcompensate for the ineffective Nicholls. Three is no doubting Thompson's loss. His involvement gained us valuable points. In defence Heath is poor. Wise has failed to ignite this side since Blackwell departed. Our squad looks stronger than the other relegation candidates but all the ex Chelsea captain has succeeded in doing to date is takes us to a position where we are staring up at Southend, QPR, Barnsley and Hull City. It will be unforgivable to both Wise and Bates if this side is relegated but we need wins and quickly. Wolves manager Mick McCarthy: "Forget about these people saying we are dark horses for promotion or coming up on the rails. We are contenders for promotion. We are out of the play-offs on goal difference and only four points off top of the league. I think the players are starting to understand how intense this season is going to get." Assistant boss Gustavo Poye Leeds asst:"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."

Tuesday Feb 20th. Leeds United 0-0 QPR Position : Last. Leeds: Ankergren, Armando Sa (Foxe 76), Rui Marques, Heath, Lewis, Blake (Johnson 72), Douglas, Thompson (Howson 32), Nicholls, Healy, Cresswell.Subs Not Used: Stack, Moore. Booked: Douglas, Foxe. Att: 29,593. This was a disastrous result fan and many of our diehard fans now expect the worst. Sure we had chances and hit the woodwork but this was a six pointer against a side who hadn't won in five. The fans put Bates and his ridiculous ticketing policy to shame  by turning out in their droves (almost 30,000) and one wonders if  Dennis Wise deserves them because he has not turned our fortunes around. Healy, Cresswell, Douglas, Lewis and co should be putting the likes of QPR to the slaughter. We are making it very hard for ourselves as a new manager at Coventry has given them the lift that we never got, Luton have got four points from their last two and Barnsley did to Hull what we should have achieved against the BBC neighbours. One point from  two games against nine men and relegation candidates does not make for good reading and for the life of me, Yorkshire folk who are normally as stubborn as mules, I can't understand how they haven't turned on the sham of a chairman that occupies our director's box. Will we stay up ? We have left it difficult for ourselves and we need to go to the Midlands and take three points this weekend and hope results go our way. The games are starting to run out but surely even this poor Leeds team are better than Hull, QPR and Southend ??

Sun Feb 18th. The Daily Express reported that millionaire Leeds fan, Peter Wilkinson is considering buying Leeds United. The Internet tycoon is the creator of Freeserve and the founder of Sports Internet – which he sold, in a breathtaking deal, to BSkyB for £301m in May 2000. The 49 year old is a Leeds United fan from childhood and likes a "calculated gamble", although he is on the record in the past having said : "I am never ever buying Leeds United". Hopefully it is a smokescreen and he arrives to help our ailing fortunes and get rid of the old goat currently in residence at Elland Road. 

Sat Feb 17th. Cardiff City 1-0 Leeds United. Position : Last. Att: 16,644 Leeds: Ankergren, Armando Sa, Rui Marques (Foxe 41), Heath, Douglas, Westlake (Cresswell 60), Lewis, Nicholls, Moore, Kandol, Blake (Healy 60). Subs Not Used: Stack, Howson. Booked: Foxe, Kandol, Nicholls. Sent Off: Chopra (66), Walton (84). This fixture had everything (goal, sending offs, Crowd trouble, history). Everything that is except badly needed points for Leeds as Ridsdale got one more over Leeds again. Leeds had plenty of chances notably efforts that fell to Moore, Westlake and Douglas. Luck deserted Leeds when a clash between Douglas and a rejuvenated Rui Marques saw the latter replaced by the inferior Foxe. Armando Sa who had a terrible afternoon conceded a needless freekick which let Chopra put the Bluebirds undeservedly one up at half time. The second half saw Cardiff miss a penalty and lose two men but Leeds lacked the guile to break down Cardiff City. True they had a penalty turned down when Kandol was flattened in the box but when you can't defeat nine men (albeit the last for less than 10 mins) you may not deserve anything. It wasn't fatal as Southend and Barnsley were hammered, Luton gained a good away point and Coventry were defeated again. The game against QPR on Tuesday is a must win game .  Cardiff manager Dave Jones: "The red and yellow cards handed out today were in the main for nothing challenges. At one stage I didn't know how many players I would end up with, but my players were magnificent. If you are not good enough for the Premiership then you shouldn't referee in the Championship." Leeds assistant manager Gus Poyet:
"We have missed a great chance of getting something from this game but when you are down there at the bottom something always seems to happen. Crucially they scored on the stroke of half time and after that we were always chasing the game. I think it was the best 30 minutes we have played away from home this season but when you are down there no-one will help you and we must pick ourselves up for the next match." For the recod the last time Leeds won at Cardiff, another sleazeball scored the goal, Peter Lorimer (former Legend now current Bates Puppet) in his second spell at Leeds in a 1-0 win. 

Feb 14th. The "whodunnit" fiasco reached a crazy point when Dennis Wise and Shaun Harvey admitted that they didn't know who "leaked" the team to Palace. Graham Stack and Shaun Derry were quick to issue statements of denial and one now looks at the implications. Was it simply a case of a player talking innocuously to a fellow professional as Peter Taylor has suggested rather than the leaking of the entire team sheet that was the early inuendo provided by Dennis Wise. Storm in a tea cup comes to mind. Richard Creswell suggested "there are more important things to think about right now - like the game at Cardiff". I couldn't agree with him more and if we can keep him fit I think he will score the goals to drive us to safety .Time to move on Sherlock and build on the three wins from our last five league games.

The next set of fixtures for the relegation candidates:

Saturday, 17 February 2007 Cardiff v Leeds, Leicester v Coventry, 15:00 Southampton v Barnsley, 15:00 Stoke v Luton, 15:00 Sunderland v Southend, 15:00 Tuesday, 20February 2007 Barnsley v Hull, 19:45 Coventry v Southampton, 19:45 Leeds v QPR, 19:45 Luton v Sheff Wed, 19:45 Southend v Crystal Palace, 19:45 Saturday, 24 February 2007 Crystal Palace v Luton, 15:00 Hull v Birmingham, 15:00 Norwich v Coventry, 15:00 QPR v Plymouth, 15:00 Sheff Wed v Southend, 15:00 Wolverhampton v Leeds, 15:00 Tuesday, 27 February 2007 Birmingham v Leeds, 19:45 Saturday, 03 March 2007 Barnsley v Norwich, 15:00 Coventry v Hull, 15:00 Ipswich v QPR, 15:00 Leeds v Sheff Wed, 15:00 Luton v Wolverhampton, 15:00 Southend v Leicester, 15:00 Tuesday, 06 March 2007 Hull v Ipswich, 19:45Saturday, 10 March 2007 Barnsley v Sunderland, 15:00 Colchester v Coventry, 15:00 Hull v Preston, 15:00 Ipswich v Southend, 15:00 Leeds v Luton, 15:00 QPR v Sheff Wed, 15:00 It should be all a lot clearer after this set of fixtures.

Win soured. We seem to have a traitor in the ranks. Astonishingly a Leeds player "who wasn't involved" in the Palace game gave our team to the opposition on the morning of the match. Dennis Wise had this to say just after the match : "It was a fantastic result for us but unfortunately I'm very disappointed. One player gave my team to the opposition at my football club and I found that out. It disappoints me immensely and he won't be playing for this football club again. "The player in question said a couple of other things and it's not acceptable. I found this out at about 1pm. I don't want to go into it any more." A Leeds spokesman told the club's official Web site (www.leedsunited.com) the matter "will be dealt with internally".  So who could it be ? Alan Thompson wasn't involved and was a late omission (very unlikely), Shaun Derry (ex C Palace), Seb Carole (wasn't at Brighton when Taylor was there). Who knows ?

 Feb 11th. Leeds Utd 2-1. C Palace. Position - Last Att :19,228 Poitions : Last. Leeds United: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Marques, Lewis ( Sa,), Blake  (,Foxe, 87 mins) Douglas, Nicholls, Westlake, Moore, Kandol (Cresswell 69 mins).Subs: Sullivan,   Howson. Thompson joined the injury list but Douglas came back early from his hamstring injury and Cresswell made the bench through his desire to fight for the club he supported as a kid. The latter came on for Kandol (dislocated shoulder)to make the winner for Blake after Heath had given us the lead in the 27th minute. Cort scored on 82 minutes to make it a nervous finish but Leeds deserved the win and well done to Liam Quinn of the Louth Branch on bringing us a bit of luck. Elsewhere, Hull City drew at Derby, Southend hammered QPR, Barnsley lost to Colchester and Coventry drew with Cardiff City. This was a massive win for Leeds who brought Peter Taylor's team's eight match unbeaten run to an end. Cresswell arguably was the catalyst which helped Leeds to all three points. 

Feb 4th. Norwich 2-1 Leeds.Position - Last Leeds: Sullivan, Richardson, Heath, Rui Marques, Armando Sa, Douglas, Nicholls (Tom Elliott 81), Howson, Thompson, Kandol (Moore 71), Blake.Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Westlake, Foxe. Booked: Douglas. Goals: Howson 20. These two sides played on the first day of the season at Elland Road. Leeds started with a completely different 11 from that fixture - an absolutely amazing statistic. Johnny Howson, the 18 year old put Leeds ahead in the first half. Dublin equalized and old boy Huckerby got the winner in the last quarter. It was slightly harsh on Leeds who perhaps deserved at least a draw. Still it's three points from our last two away games. I would have liked four, and no doubt the half empty glass brigade will be proclaiming relegation certainties. We are down to the bare bones currently and Healy and Flo are big losses from the last injured trench. The loan market opens again Wednesday and hopefully Wise can get in another striker and a central defender.Young Tom Elliott (just 16) had to do a shift for us up front with hardly a reserve team appearance behind him, and Johnny Howson looks to be a real find.  We have some quality with Thompson, Douglas (playing really well currently), Marques, Sa, Blake, Richardson, and Lewis (to come back soon) as good as anybody in this division. Hull City, Coventry, QPR and Barnsley can be caught. QPR and Luton have yet to come to Elland Road, and although we are last we need to pull back teams just one at a time. There is plenty of time and points to be won and any team up as far as 15th is yet to be safe (believe you me). Unlike some of you I believe  Leeds will still be in the Championship next season. Norwich manager Peter Grant: "It's a massive three points, no doubt about that, at the moment I feel absolutely ecstatic. The lads made it difficult form themselves on the first half, and then we lost a bad goal, but I don't think there's any doubt that they deserved the win. In the second half we were brave, if at times a little naive, but we dug very deep to make sure we got the result we all wanted." Leeds manager Dennis Wise:
"I was pleased with the lads, and I can't ask any more from them. If we keep performing like that I'm sure we'll be okay. This one is gone now and we've got to look forward. I think we need to win eight of our 16 remaining games and we've got some good looking matches coming up against teams around us. I'm still very confident."

Jan 31st - Transfer Deadline - Day. Leeds United have strengthened their goalkeeping options with the loan addition of Casper Ankergren. The Danish shot-stopper has moved to Elland Road until the end of the season, when the Yorkshire club have an 'exclusive option' to make the deal permanent. Ankergren currently plays for Brondby in his homeland but will now provide competition for Neil Sullivan and Graham Stack in Dennis Wise's ranks. The 27-year-old has featured in his country's international squad and has made over 100 appearances for Brondby. However, Stephan Andersen's arrival from Charlton at the start of January has seen his first team chances restricted. Elsewhere former Leeds favourite Simon Walton (who was on loan with Ipswich and belongs to Charlton) joined Cardiff City on loan until the season end. 

Hull City 1-2  Leeds United. 24,300. Sullivan, Sa, Richardson, Heath, Marques, Lewis, Douglas, Howson, Thompson, Healy, Kandol. Subs - Crainey for Lewis, Einarsson, Carole, Blake and Tom Elliott. This was a fantastic result with a depleted squaad. Flo (with a broken foot), Elliott and Nicholls were all injured as was Kelly and Cresswell. None the less Heath (not my favourite player) stabbed us ahead early on from a Thompson cross. On 45 minutes Hull got the half time killing goal, but dead ball expert Alan Thompson curled in a beauty from a 30 yard free kick to earn Leeds a priceless three points. Amazingly we go last because Southend had a fantastic win at Birmingham City 3-1, but QPR, Hull, Luton and one or two more are catchable over the next few weeks. Credit where credit is due. This was a gutsy performance from the Whites.

Leeds 2-3 WBA. Position 23rd. Att - 20,019. Leeds: Sullivan, Armando Sa, Foxe, Rui Marques, Elliott (Kandol 57), Blake (Moore 57), Nicholls, Thompson (Einarsson 83), Lewis, Healy, Flo. Subs Not Used: Heath, Howson. Booked: Blake, Thompson. Goals: Flo 3, Thompson 66. Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse it does. We gave home debuts to Flo, Thompson and Sa. All three did reasonably well but outside of the first three minutes Leeds were given a lesson by the Baggies. Foxe is poor. I have said it a dozen times before and Kamara scored his fifth goal in three games this season versus Leeds. How long does it take to kop that both Heath and Foxe are just too slow (even though Heath didn't play). We are now six points (really seven when including goal difference) adrift from safety. Instead of taking our "heroes" to Cypus I'd send them to the Isle of Wight for a game against the local convicts. Wisey insists we were unlucky "again". What planet is he on ? I contend if Blackwell was still there we would be around the top ten with the defence not as leaky as a soup strainer. Here's Wisey's comments after he was sent off : "We deserved something out of this game today, we really did on our second-half performance. I don't understand how they can perform like that in the second half and perform like that in the first half - and I told them so. I was disappointed with the goals we conceded today.You can't defend the way we defended. We were asleep at times at the back.They were a little bit afraid of Kamara's pace. It's easier to drop off and let them have it. It's braver to be closer to them."

Jan 19th. Leeds allowed Jermaine Beckford join Scunthrope on loan for the rest of the season as rumours spread they were to sell Adam Keogh (who Leeds sold for £50,000) to Wolves for £500,000.

Jan 12th. Leeds completed the signing of 33 year old Alan Thompson on a free transfer from Celtic. The left footed midfielder will stay initially until the end of the season and at last adds a bit of quality to out midfield, although another 30 plus player. This guy is quality and if we can keep him fit he will be a big player for us with his superb left foot and cast experience.

Jan 8th. As expected Mattie Kilgallon put pen to paper and signed a three and half year deal with Sheff Utd. For years we took Jones,  Currie, Sabella, and Deane from the Blades. Now it's payback time as Killer joins Hulse and Bennett at Bramall Lane. The fee this time was a paltry £1.75Million to rise to just £2Million and a 20% sell on clause going to Leeds. If we thought he was that valuable why sell him in the first place ? Our team is leaking goals like a sieve and we sell our best defender. Bates is bleeding the club dry and far from being the Saviour has put our club on the fast track to Division One. Who is next to vacate the premises ....David Healy ????

Jan 7th. Leeds were linked with a move for Danny Dichio, the striker with Preston. Stoke were also linked with the same well travelled 32 year old. Once again no spring chickens heading for Elland Road, as the quality of Kilgallon and Healy were linked with exits. Go now Bates !!! Read Louth Branch Christmas editorial highlighting his destruction of Leeds. 

Jan 6th. WBA 3-1 Att : 16,957 Leeds United. FA Cup 3rd Round.  Sullivan, Marques, Elliott, Heath ( Sa 46th mins), Foxe, Nicholls, Howson (Derry 46 mins), Blake, Moore (Flo 46 mins), Healy, Lewis. Subs unused - Lund, Westlake.. On the negative side a ten minute spell in the first half illustrated all our defensive shortcomings in central defence with Heath not up to it against the physical Hartson and Foxe past his spell by date. We are out of the FA Cup for the fifth time in six seasons at the 3rd round stage but survival is a bigger fish to fry. Rui Marques did well initially at right full back and better again when he replaced Heath in the centre to mark Hartson. Flo looked a handful when he came on at half time and could have bagged a brace. When his fitness comes he could be a big influence for us alongside either Healy or Blake. Sa came on at half time and look a good right full with pace. Derry also came on and both he and Nicholls could have scored perhaps two. Those two will be our central midfield. We may not have deserved to win this match but it probably could have been 4-3 to the Baggies.If Kilgallon goes which seems likely (due to Bates and his raping of the club) we need a quality centre half. This was another defeat but it will be interesting to see the performance next week at Birmingham. I expect to get something from the game. 

Jan 5th. Alan Thompson said he would be interested in coming to Leeds if he could reach an agreement with Celtic. Sean Gregan and Lees have agreed a package to cancel his contract. Sheffield United assistant manager, Stuart McCall said the Blades were interested in Kilgallon and Mark Lawrenson in the Daily Mirror questioned Dennis Wise's experience in the Leeds job and felt that the side should be a lot higher "with strikers of the calibre of Healy, Cresswell and Blake in an average Championship". Are we right to replace the proven Butler and Gregan with Sa, Heath and Elliott (who wasn't good enough for us in the summer).

Jan 3rd. Leeds have signed former Chelsea striker, Tore Andre Flo, a prolific goalscorer (pic'd right) for Chelsea a few seasons back and a teammate of both Poyet and Wiae. The 33-year-old, 6 foot 4 inch Norwegian striker was a free agent following a spell with Valerenga in Oslo and has signed until the end of the season. Flo scored 50 goals for Chelsea before spells with Rangers (where he moved for £12M in 2000), Sunderland and Italian side Siena. Barnet striker Tresor Kandol (pic'd left)who was on loan since November has signed a three and a half year contract with the club. Subject to international clearance, 32-year-old Armando Sa will arrive from Spanish side Espanol and will initially join the Whites until the end of the season. He has 16 caps with Portugal and has also played for Villareal. These players will become the 3rd, 4th, and 5th signings at least until the year end. Elsehwere, Ugo Ehiogu and Tony Warner have returned to their respective clubs after loan spells at United.

Jan 2nd. Leeds have parted company with Paul Butler ( who was on loan with MK Dons) and allowed Geoff Hosfield return to Sheff Utd. 25 year old central defender  Matt Heath (from Coventry City) and 33 year old Robbie Elliott (pic'd left) (from Sunderland) have both been signed deals until the end of the season. They become our first and second signings of the January transfer window. Elliott had this to say : "A permanent move makes a difference to a club and player. I am here for the long haul and it's going to be an enjoyable week with people coming in with smiling faces. Like a lot of people I can't believe the situation here. It's a massive club.The fans get right behind you here and are very vocal".  Elswehere  Leeds are believed to have tabled a bid for 23 year old striker, Dean Morgan (pic'd right) who is out of contract at Luton at the end of the season. Leeds have also been linked with ex-Chelsea striker 33 year old Tor Andre Flo who was playing in Italy and is currently without a club.

Jan 1st 2007. Leeds 2-1 Coventry City. Position 23rd.Att ; 18,158 Sullivan,Richardson (Westlake 65 mins), Marques, Foxe, Elliott, Blake (Howson 75 mins), Douglas, Nicholls, Lewis, Moore (Kandol 73), Healy. Unused subs : Warner and Carole. At last a great start to 2007 as we defeated Coventry by 2-1.There were six changes and Rui Marques made his league debut as did new signing Robbie Elliott. We dominated the first half and had Blake and Lewis both hit the crossbar. It would not have been an injustice to go in 3-1 up. Douglas put us 2-1 up deservedly on 53 minutes. Then disaster struck when the influential  Richardson went off with a hamstring injury.Leeds reshuffled and Coventry threw on Adebola and McKenzie. Sullivan was superb on his return to goals and Marques did well but Foxe is no the answer. Covenrty went close but so did Westlake and we held on for a valuable three points. Unfortunately Hull won at Sheff Weds, QPR won also but Barnsley have been pulled closer. New additions are needed especially in defence, and on the flanks but it's a good start to 2007. Leeds boss Dennis Wise on striker David Healy:
"Healy did fantastically well and I was chuffed to bits for him. He's been going through a bit of a barren spell and he knew he wasn't doing great but we've tried to help him. He's taken it all on board and he's doing well. This is what David has to do for himself, and he seemed like he had an extra yard today. He was probably lacking a bit of confidence but he's gradually getting back into it."

Dec 31st. We have twenty games to go and twenty games where we need more wins than defeats to stay in this division. (See League table left - the final one for 2006) Who would have thought it back in May when many of us where heading to Cardiff with the smell of the Premiership in our nostrils ? Wise and Poyet have this month to get it right because the lift promised by new management has not come. Contrast that to the job done by Brian Laws at Sheffield Weds with less talent at his disposal. It is probable that around six players may come in as Wise gambles hard with our future.To date arguably Wise and Poyet have let better players go than those that have arrived. Don't be naive as Bates will look to move on our greatest assets. Kilgallon valued at around £3M will depart and Wise has failed to get the best out of Healy not unlike Blackwell. The latter may go to Watford while the former will probably share a taxi with Rob Hulse to Sheffield. Gregan will stay at Oldham, Sullivan and Butler will also move on. Heath, Kandol and Stack aren't good enough. Warner can go back to Fulham.  Will there be takers for Crainey, Einarsson, Beckford or Foxe ? Who are we linked with ? The following are the players we are linked with : Right sided Midfield :27 year old  Paul Ifill of Sheff Utd, David Thompson of Portsmouth, Chris Taylor of Oldham, Centre half - 35 year old Chris Lucketti of Sheff Utd, 27 year old Andy O'Brien of Portsmouth, Armando Sa of Espanol (Spain) Left back, Darren Powell of Soton,  - 33 year old David Unsworth of Sheff Utd, Right full - Danny Mills of Man City (on loan with Hull City) Strikers - 25 year old Steve Kabba of Sheff Utd, Dale Adebola of Coventry City. Should be an interesting month.

Dec 31st. Leeds agreed a deal with Sunderland for their left back Robbie Elliott  He played a friendly v Darlington with Leeds earlier in the summer but will stay at least one month with Leeds once the window opens tonight at 12 Midnight and will go into the sqaud v Coventry on New years day.

Dec 30th. Stoke City 3-1 Leeds United. Crowd : 18,128. Position 23rd.Leeds: Warner, Richardson, Ehiogu, Heath, Lewis, Westlake (Kandol 61), Douglas, Derry, Howson, Healy, Moore. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Carole, Rui Marques, Beckford. Booked: Westlake. Goals: Moore 41.  Leeds finished 2006 in 23rd position in the Championship, a shameful position. In fairness, this was a game we actually played fairly well (by our standards) in. Despite going behind to an early Sidibe goal, Leeds dominated the first half and deservedly equalised through Moore. An OG by Ehiogu put Stoke City ahead in the second half. This should have been canceled out when Kandol missed a sitter in the 62nd minute but a further mix up between Ehiogu and Warner presented Fuller and Stoke with all three points. It's up to Wise and Poyet to utilise the transfer market in January and see where at least six new players can take us. Leeds assistant boss Gus Poyet: "It is difficult to analyse because the first half was the best we have played in the last month. Most people probably expected us to fold after going behind early, but we proved them wrong and played very well. But the pace of our play slowed and we got punished for making mistakes. Things are not going for us and we must work hard to make sure the tide turns.

Dec 26th. Leeds have confirmed Elland Road has been sold to new owners, but have assured fans the ground's future is in safe hands. A weekend newspaper reported Elland Road, sold by the financially stricken club's previous board in November 2004 to Manchester businessman Jacob Adler, had been sold for a second time in as many years to latest owners Teak Trading Corporation, based in the British Virgin Islands. United chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "We can confirm that the change in ownership in relation to Elland Road actually took place in excess of 15 months ago."The change of ownership has no material effect on Leeds United as we still have the same lease as originally entered into, albeit with a different company."More importantly, the buy-back provision has also been transferred. The club have no concern that the company who now own Elland Road is based in the British Virgin Islands. It makes no difference to the club. "The ownership of the stadium is noted at the Land Registry and has been on the public record for a significant period of time."  I didn't see this in Ken Bates programme notes and he had 13 months to write it. One must surely question the motives of a chairman who stands idly by as we head directionless for the old Third Division. Mind you it it is also reported that The Yorkshire Evening Post (Leeds biggest newspaper) is barred from Elland Road due to Phil Rostron's reporting on Kevin Blackwell's departure. We may have Bates burning books outside Elland Road next !!!! Time to piss off back to Monaco !When will the fans discover the real culprit at Leeds ???? Read my article - Ken Bates - From Saviour to executioner