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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

Dec 26th. Sunderland 2-0 Leeds. Att : 40,116. Position : 23rd. Leeds: Warner, Richardson, Heath, Ehiogu (Kilgallon 72), Foxe, Lewis, Douglas, Derry (Healy 72), Westlake, Kandol, Beckford (Moore 72). Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Howson. Booked: Douglas. Another bad day at the office as we were deservedly beaten by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. We are in serious trouble as the gap between us and safety moves to five points. We created little and it was only a matter of time before the Makems scored.....and they did with two second half strikes. Wise has brought little to the party so far and Kevin Blackwell must be having a wry smile at this stage. How long before the Leeds fans turn on the real culprit.......Mr Kenneth Bates ? Leeds manager Dennis Wise on the transfer window: "Hopefully I can bring a couple of new faces in and they will give us a lift which is what we need. We're working hard and we're trying to tie a few things up. There are 21 games to go and eight wins or seven wins can get you out of it. You've got to worry if there are 12 games to go and you're struggling."  

Dec 23rd. Leeds 0-0 Hull City. Att ; 22,558. Position : 23rd.  Leeds Warner, Richardson, Ehiogu, Heath, Lewis, Howson, Derry,Douglas, Westlake, Kandol, Blake (Healy 71). Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Carole, Moore, Kilgallon. Booked: Kandol, Howson.We needed three points. We got one against our relegation opponents. Howson did well on his first start and could have scored the winner. It wasn't to be but we are in for a dog fight. Leeds manager Dennis Wise: "Jonny Howson's only a baby, and it was a gamble, but he nearly got me the winner. He is a young lad with a lot of talent. He knows the game at an early age and in practice the other day he was the one who stuck out like a sore thumb. He's got good knowledge of the game and that's something that doesn't come too often."

Dec 16th. Ipswich 1-0 Leeds United. Att 23,661. Position : 23rd. Leeds: Stack, Richardson, Heath, Foxe, Westlake, Douglas, Nicholls, Derry (Carole 62), Lewis (Horsfield 88), Moore (Healy 76), Kandol.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Kilgallon. Sent Off: Nicholls (84). Booked: Nicholls, Foxe, Healy.

 Leeds welcomed back Nicholls for the first time since we lost to WBA back at the end of September and  Lewis and Richardson went to the full back positions. We lost a goal right on half time and had a chance with Kandol in the 2nd half but ultimately got nothing from a match neither side deserved to win.

Dec 9th. Leeds 0-1 Derby County. Att - 20,087. Position - 22nd.  Derby should have been five up at half time with Seth Johnson having a free role in midfield. In the second half Leeds rallied and created some chances with Healy missing the best one. Unfortunately Padna and Geraldine Lane saw another Leeds defeat. Par for the course really.   Stack, Crainey, Ehiogu, Heath, Foxe, Blake, Derry, Lewis ( Carole 90 mins), Kandon, Healy (Moore 67 mins), Suns not used : Warner, Howson, Richardson.
Dennis Wise had this to say : “We fell asleep for the goal and we should have attacked it. Small details are costing us at the moment. We've got the squad to get out of this and I'm sure in January we'll add a couple more. There are certain people we've earmarked. We have to get a certain amount of points by a certain time but time's far from up. It (Leeds's position) will change". The sad fact is we are in a worse position under Wise than we were with Blackwell and we lie in 22nd position with a minus 18 goal difference. Are the players he brought in (Kandol, Heath, Stack and Ehiogu) any better than the ones he let out or refused to play ? (Kelly, Butler, Gregan and Sullivan) ?
Dec 12th. Leeds have admitted they broke Football League rules by fielding six loan players in last month's 2-1 defeat at Burnley. Graham Stack, Matt Heath, Ugo Ehiogu, Tresor Kandol and Geoff Horsfield all played in the game, while Tony Warner was an unused substitute. League rules state the maximum number of loan players a team can name in their match-day squad of 16 is five. A statement on the club's website, read: "We can confirm that the club broke Football League regulations at Burnley. "We will co-operate fully with the Football League on this matter and explain the extenuating circumstances.”

Sat Dec 2nd. Leeds 2-2 Barnsley. Position : 22nd. Att - 21,378. Leeds: Stack, Douglas, Ehiogu, Heath, Crainey, Kandol, Derry (Richardson 64), Westlake, Lewis, Blake (Healy 80), Moore (Carole 88). Subs Not Used: Warner, Beckford. Booked: Derry, Kandol. Goals: Kandol 8, Ehiogu 45. Leeds loan duo Ugo Ehiogu and Tresor Kandol (pic'd right)scored on their home debuts as the Yorkshire derby ended all-square. Daniel Nardiello gave Barnsley a second-minute lead after he nutmegged Shaun Derry and beat Ehiogu before burying his finish beyond Graham Stack. Within five minutes Leeds were level as Kandol rose unchallenged to head home. Just after Eddie Lewis hit the post for Leeds, Nardiello scored another superb solo goal, before Ehiogu equalised for Leeds in first-half stoppage time. Leeds thought they scored the winner in the second half when Matt Heath buried home a header from one of Leeds countless corners. No Barnsley players objected but the linesman's view was obstructed by a flying saucer over Elland Road and waved profusely. Terry McQuaid represented the Louth Branch. We deserved three points but only got one and still lie in 22nd position. Defending for both goals was awful and again Stack was at fault for the 2nd goal. Leeds boss Dennis Wise:
"It was a massive game for us. We were nervous after conceding so early but I was pleased we came back twice and we looked like the team that could win it. "We had enough chances to win the game, good chances and it's disappointing. We've got some good games coming up and if they keep playing the way they've been playing they'll be fine. I don't know why Matt Heath's goal was disallowed. We showed the video to the linesman after the game. He still says he seen a foul on the goalkeeper. Nobody else did. I can handle when they admit they are wrong but not this". 

Tues Nov 28th. Burnley 2-1 Leeds United.Position 22nd - Att. 15,061Leeds: Stack, Foxe, Heath, Ehiogu, Crainey, Douglas, Derry, Westlake, Lewis (Healy 72), Moore (Horsfield 72), Blake (Kandol 55). Subs Not Used: Warner, Carole. Sent Off: Foxe (52). Booked: Foxe, Westlake. Second-half goals from Gifton Noel-Williams and Andrew Gray saw Burnley end a three-game winless run against 10-man Leeds. The game came to life when Hayden Foxe was sent off on 52 minutes for handball - his second booking. The first seemed to be very harsh.  The Clarets took advantage of the extra man to go ahead when Noel-Williams fired home from the edge of the area. Gray made it 2-0 with a neat finish from 12 yards and the home side held on despite David Healy's fierce late shot. Dennis Wise : "There was nothing between the sides, we competed well, we knew we would frustrate them and we did frustrate them. The lads worked very hard and believed they could get something out of it even at 2-0 down. I think the sending-off was the difference between the two teams."

Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Leeds United. Position – 21st. Att – 17,088. Leeds Stack, Foxe, Heath, Kilgallon, Crainey, Douglas, Derry,Westlake, Lewis, Moore (Carole 80), Blake (Kandol 68). Subs Not Used: Warner, Healy, Horsfield. Booked: Westlake, Douglas. Goals: Blake 3, Lewis 61. Leeds scrapped their way out of the bottom three with a good performance on the South coast. Victory was deserved and we should have been out of sight by the end of the first half. Amazingly we went in 1-1. Best for Leeds was Lewis who made one and scored the winner. He also headed one off the line. Blake has been rejuvenated under Wise and again performed well. Worryingly Stack made a bad mistake for the goal (again) and Lewis rescued him in the 2nd half with a header cleared off the line when he missed his punch. Heath also at centre half may not be up to it. Still it’s a big three points and only our second away win of the season.

Sat Nov. 18th. Leeds Utd 0-3 Southampton. Leeds : Stack, Foxe, Heath, Kilgallon, Crainey, Blake, Derry,Douglas, Lewis (Beckford 70), Horsfield (Moore 55), Healy. Subs Not Used: Warner, Westlake, Johnson. Crowd : 19,600 You don't take your chances you don't win games. Leeds had countless opportunities in the second half to get back in the match. The second goal was always important. The Saints got it and the next. Too many average to poor players and a serious lack of pace. Butler, Sullivan and Gregan have been culled. It's time for four or five more to go starting with Crainey, Horsfield, and Lewis and Foxe. Leeds have been linked with Paul Ifill of Sheff Utd and Darren Powell (above right)of Southampton. We need both urgently because we are in a relegation scrap now with confidence at an all time low.

Sat Nov 11th. Leeds United 3-0 Colchester United. Leeds Stack, Crainey, Kilgallon, Heath, Lewis (Westlake 76),Foxe, Derry, Douglas, Cresswell (Beckford 90), Blake,Horsfield (Moore 62). Subs Not Used: Warner, Johnson. Booked: Derry, Blake. Goals: Blake 36, Cresswell 48, Blake 53 pen. Leeds finally kept a clean sheet and scored three goals into the bargain also. It was a solid performance held together by a tall back four consisting of Kilgallon, New boy Heath on loan from Coventry, big Foxe and Crainey whose passing sadly can't match his pace. Shaun Derry had a super game in the middle and Douglas never stopped running the whole 90 minutes. It was Robbie Blake who scored the first, a fine individual goal that only he in the currennt Leeds side could score. Cresswell who worked hard all afternoon added the second and Blacke converted the third from a dubious penalty. Colchester hadn't been beaten in seven but I thought Leeds were well worth their victory and a margin of more than one goal was at least merited. The Louth Branch were there in numbers now let's build on this as Wise and Poyet look to put spirit back into the Whites.

Tues Nov 7th. Local Multi-Millionaire businessman, Steve Parkin revealed to the Yorkshire Post how close he came to doing a deal to tale over Leeds, and more's the pity that he didn't when we look at who is in charge of our club. The Leeds United fan had this to say :
"What's strange is Gerald Krasner never picked up the phone to me.  I had so many discussions with everyone else, from Geoffrey Richmond to his son, Simon Morris and Melvin Helme, but never with Krasner. I put together a consortium and we had a fair amount of wealth within that to do a deal. We were willing to take it on and be the guarantor for the debt, but we needed to look at the books.
They weren't releasing the information to us. What they were saying was show us your funds and we'll show you the books.
But I was saying if you don't show me the books, how do I know how much money I need. Until you see the books, how do you know?"
Parkin has a close relationship with BHS supremo Sir Philip Green – a Monaco neighbour of Bates – and he said: He had had a look at it with Allan Leighton and he said the numbers don't add up, it needs putting into administration. You should walk away.
The passion took over and heart ruled head, so we decided we'd go ahead.
We got to a point where we had agreed in principle 'the deal' with the shareholders, which was fun and games.
Every day they were coming back and asking for different things, lifetime memberships of the club, directors seats for life, someone wanted two because he wanted to bring his wife. It was an absolute joke.
When we started the process of doing the refinancing we committed £5m of our own money between us, five of us so that was £1m each.
We were going to stand as the guarantor for any debt. The whole content of the remortage was based on the ground and Thorp Arch being worth a set amount of money. But there was no way we would ever be able to refinance on the basis of the figures that were brandished about.
From where we thought it was at with the refinancing and what the actual figure was, there was a big gap.
There was also the fact we hadn't seen the actual books. There was about a fortnight of to-ing and fro-ing between the consortium and ourselves.
We thought we were getting somewhere and we then found out the deal with the bond holders, which effectively meant that if the club had been promoted we would have needed an extra £5m. At the end of the day, the numbers just didn't make sense, we just couldn't get it all to fit.
If you want my honest opinion, it needed £50m. I suppose we could have had that between the five of us, but that was a big, big figure.
I was proved right, because when we got our due diligence report they said it needed about £48m, so we pulled out.
How close were we? I would say we were within days of signing to take over the club.
We had already discussed infrastructures. It is common knowledge now that a certain manager – Iain Dowie – was offered the job. That's true, I offered him the job. I think he's going to be a top manager, though he's not doing very well at the moment at Charlton.
He is a strong character and I think that's what was needed.
I have had lunch and dinner with Ken Bates and I find him a very nice fella, funny, witty, he has obviously still got his faculties at 74 or 75 and I got on very, very well with him. I actually quite like him. The problem Ken has got, and I have had this discussion with him, is he is calling the club wrong.
This is Yorkshire, it's Leeds United – it isn't Chelsea. What we need to do is we need to get back to basics.
We need to first of all get the crowd back. We had 30,000 when we got relegated and now I see gates at 16,000.
We have always been a big passionate club – it is one club in one city which means there's lots of potential.
Unfortunately with the pricing structure they've got it is still as expensive to go and watch Leeds United as it is to watch Manchester United.
In today's era of television you have got to offer them something and it's got to be at the right price. I've said to Ken, we are tight Yorkshiremen. People up here don't throw money about.
"Ken has kept the prices where they were.
"My idea would be if you drop the prices by £5 or £10, but then get them going into the club shop, buying programmes and using the catering etc, that would more than make up the shortfall.
"I sincerely hope we get back to where we should be, because it breaks my heart. I actually don't go now because I get so upset at where we are."
Now a director and major investor at UniBond Premier Division outfit Guiseley, Parkin – who admitted he had been shocked by the press intrusion into his private life when news of his takeover bid broke – admits to some regrets.
I'm financially relieved, because it would have been a financial strain," he said.
I'm disappointed I haven't done something for the club, because it has given me so much happiness. I've followed them since I was three or four.
I would love to be able one day to put something into Leeds United, whether that's to own it or be a director or just a beneficiary. You can never say never. At some point in the future my business will be floated on the stock market or will be sold or partially sold and I will start to take a back seat.
That maybe in five or 10 years time. At that point would I like to own Leeds United? I don't know.
But I would like to think I could put something in to enable it to thrive again. The club deserves to be in the upper echelons of the Premiership, it is a big, big club."

Sat Nov 4th. Barnsley 2-3 Leeds United. Leeds Stack, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Lewis,Westlake (Johnson 80), Derry, Douglas (Einarsson 87), Healy,Horsfield (Cresswell 61), Blake. Subs Not Used: Warner, Foxe. Booked: Douglas, Healy. Goals: Derry 44, Blake 45. Att: 16,943. Leeds did the hard work by coming from behind to lead at half time. Once again we never came out for the Second half, and a side whose average wage is £2,000 downwards played us off the park in the second half. There is a cancer running through this club and many of the employees don't deserve their wages, ie the ones who count - the players. Wise and Poyet have their work cut out and we are now 2nd last again on just 13 points. The season has almost been written off completely already and it's difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel. as usual it's the fans that have to put up with the appaling shite on the park. The Louth Branch heads over next week for the match against in form Colchester and hopefully the ex Chelsea duo will have lifted spirits by then with maybe a loan signing or two to change things around. With the money we got from Chelsea for the two kids, Ken Bates can well afford to get in a couple of decent loanees.  Leeds manager Dennis Wise:  "I was well aware of the job when I came here and it doesn't faze me too much to be honest. We know it's a difficult job, and we know these players are lacking a lot of confidence. Also, we know we need some fresh faces - that's something we said all along. But at the present moment trying to get them is very difficult. Bringing in new faces gives the place a lift and I think that is important. I think the current players have got into a rut, and I think now is the right time to bring some faces in to give competition."

Tues Oct 31st. Preston NE 4-1 Leeds United.Leeds: Stack, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Lewis, Moore (Horsfield 50), Westlake, Derry, Johnson (Blake 49), Cresswell, Healy.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Richardson, Foxe. Booked: Moore, Cresswell, Healy. Goals: Healy 80. Att: 16,168.  Dennis Wise found out that he has his work cut out for him as Leeds wre given a lesson at Deepdale. 4-1 didn't flatter the home side. No heart, no skill and no committment - that's Leeds United 2006 version. To cap matters the best left full we have had in the last three seasons scored Preston's second  ( Danny Pugh - see right) and we let him go on a free. In fairness to the lad he didn't even celebrate. Leeds manager Dennis Wise:
"I've been involved in two and watched three games and it isn't what I want really, it's not enough. I've told the players and they know. I just think we might at some stage need to bring in some fresh faces just to give us a bit more competition. There needs to be more competition and I'm very disappointed. I'm not too pleased with it at the present moment."

Sat Oct 28th. Leeds 2-0 Southend. Leeds : Stack, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Lewis,Moore (Richardson 61), Douglas, Derry, Johnson (Westlake 87),Healy (Blake 80), Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Warner, Foxe. Booked: Lewis, Douglas, Stack. Goals: Moore 40, Blake 88.Same fixture, same venue and only a few days apart but different result. Dennis Wise "new nasty Leeds" saw Eddie Lewis at left full where he plays for USA, and on loan Ireish Keeper (from Reading) Graham Stack in goal with on loan left winger Johnson back on the left wing, Ian Moore on the right side of midfield and Derry and Douglas in the centre. Cresswell and Healy the old Preston oartnership resumed proceedings and the strike pair. Moor before half time gave the 19,500 crowd a huge lift. Leeds got bodies in the way in the second half and defended resolutely with no little luck. Still this was the first time Leeds did not concede a goal at home since defeating Norwich on the opening day. Blake, the "overweight" sub (according to Wisey) added the second with a superb free kick. It was a hugely important win for Leeds which brings them up from 23rd to 21st 0 still a massive 11 points off 6th. The manager had this to say : "I was more pleased about the clean sheet than anything because we've been leaking goals in the last few weeks and there were some tired legs. "The whole team needs a lot of work but we are taking it a bit at a time. "They were two lovely goals and I was chuffed to bits with the way we performed and defended, that is the system that we want them to follow."

Sat Oct 28th. Leeds and Chelsea settled their dispute over youngsters Tom Taiwo and Micahel Woods. Leeds have now withdrawn the complaint they made to the Football League just before the start of the season, in which the club claimed that Chelsea had illegally recruited Taiwo and Wood and attempted to recruit a third youth-team player Danny Rose, who eventually chose to stay at Elland Road. When the dispute originally erupted in the summer, Ken Bates, the former Chelsea chairman now in charge at Leeds, said a financial penalty would not hurt Chelsea. "Because of the financial strength of their owner, financial punishments alone will make no difference to Chelsea at all," said Bates at the time. "Punishments such as deduction of points, banning registration of new players or, indeed, suspension from European competition would be more appropriate." The Football Association and Premier League have sanctioned the settlement in which some newspapers are putting a figure as £5M paid to Leeds by The Blues. A confidentiality clause prevents disclosure of that actual figure but good news for Leeds at last for badly needed funds which will be hopefully given to Dennis Wise to improve the squad.

Weds Oct 24th. Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet were revealed to the press. He wanted Leeds to get "nasty". He added ; "They're down on confidence and I told them I wanted them to be the Leeds of old," said the 39-year-old.I want nastiness and togetherness and I've explained that to them. The fans get behind them and they're fantastic.He confirmed that Kevin Nicholls had replaced Paul Butler as team captain, with Shaun Derry the new vice-captain. It's important to have an up-and-coming player as the captain. They're a very talented bunch here and I said to the players I was bewildered by the side's position. I think they understand what they're getting. I'll not be afraid to pull any punches. The important part is that you know what they want and I know what they want. I also need to look at what I've got and whether there are players who wish to be at the football club. I need to know who wants to stay and who wants to leave."

Tuesday Oct 23rd. Leeds 1-3 Southend United CC. Leeds: Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey (Cresswell 69), Richardson, Douglas, Westlake, Lewis (Bayly 69), Healy, Moore (Blake 87). Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Carole. Booked: Crainey, Douglas. Goals: Moore 44.  David Geddis took charge as Leeds lost five on the bouce against a poor Southend side. Even the arrival of Wise and Poyet couldn't lift the players who were hopeless on the night. Moor equalised on the night right on half time but The Shrimpers deservedly scored a further two in the second half to knock Leeds out of the Carling Cup. Pathetic ! Geddis had this to say : "Anybody who came to this club in the situation we are in, with the confidence so low, has got a massive job on their hands. But they (Wise and Poyet) have been brought in and all the players will have to get behind them. They will have had a good look at the side here, maybe the failings of the players and not the positives. But there are a lot of games to go in the league and realistically the play-offs are not a problem if they can raise their game. Momentum has to pick up sometime because it can't get any worse."

Tuesday Oct 23rd. Leeds sacked John Carver and appointed Dennis Wise and his assistant Gustavo Poyet in charge at Elland Road after agreeing a severence package with Swindon Town.

Sat Oct 21st. Luton Town 5-1 Leeds United. Leeds: Sullivan, Kelly, Crainey, Foxe, Butler,Westlake (Lewis 71), Douglas, Derry, Johnson,Cresswell (Moore 72), Blake (Healy 63). Subs Not Used: Warner, Richardson. Does it get any worse than this ? We started off okay and although mistakes by Foxe and Sullivan lead to the firsst goal for The Hatters, big Foxe did well to equalise to make it 1-1 at half time. Luton scored again ten minutes into the second half and Leeds fell apart.The Hatters added another three as Leeds were visibly arguing with one another among a complete shambles. John Carver said he was "embarrassed and wished everyone of the players could come out and apologise to the fans". He was right. It turned out to be his last match in charge as a side that had no respect for themselves clearly couldn't be lifted by the hapless Carver. He admitted that he had no chance of getting the job (even though he turned down the Carlisle United post) and finished : "When I saw the opportunity, I thought it was a great opportunity. But [the problem] goes deeper than that. If you look at our results towards the end of last season, there is something that has not been right there, and that's carried on this season. There needs to be a new influx of players at this football club; fresh legs, youth, experience, and it needs looking at."

Oct 17th. Leeds 1-2 Leicester City. Yet another defeat. This time Leeds had little luck as Kilgallon was sent off when it was six of one and half a dozen of the other. Leeds also had an "equaliser" chalked off when Blake clearly had a header that crossed the line. Leicester scored almost immediately after that incident. Butler did get a late goal to lift the home crowd but it was too little too late.In truth The Foxes had a dozen good chances as Leeds struggle badly. Time for a change of manager and more importantly a new chairman. Leeds Team :  Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Douglas,Derry, Johnson (Westlake 90), Healy (Foxe 57),Cresswell (Blake 79), Moore. Subs Not Used: Warner, Richardson. Sent Off: Kilgallon (55).

Oct 16th. John Carver acknowledged that he couldn't blame the fans for calling : "You're not fit to wear the shirt". He has moved to improve the left hand side of the team. Alan Little (left) has already joined on loan for a month from Sheff United, and the 35 year old wasn't the worst player in white when he replaced Stephen Crainey. He was joined to day by 19 year old left sided midfielder, Adam Johnson on a months loan from Middlesboro. Both Crainey and Lewis have had little competition all season. That may change for now. Let's hope he does better than the last loanee from M'bro, Danny Graham who contributed little last season. 

Sat Oct 14th 2--6. Leeds United 0-4 Stoke City. Leeds: Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Wright, Douglas, Westlake (Stone 59), Derry, Lewis, Healy (Blake 59), Horsfield (Cresswell 26). Subs Not Used: Warner, Foxe.Goals: Hendrie 7, Griffin 58, Higginbotham 62, Fuller 88. Att: 18,173 .Shameful, gutless, clueless, and disgraceful. These are the first four words that come to mind immediately. Having attended the Sunderland match last month I really thought we would never sink any lower, but this is Leeds United and being a fan should come with a Government health warning - "Supporting the Whites can seriously damage your health". I thought John Carver could steady the ship. He cleary has no respect from players who clearly have both no respect for themselves or us the long suffering fans.This was Stoke City for God's sake who were even below us in the league. For the record, Lee Hendrie (a clever signing on loan) put the Potters ahead after seven minutes from a free kick which Sullivan was badly positioned for. Pulis has made some astute signings, players that are hungry with things to prove, like Hendrie from Villa, Diao from Liverpool, Delap from Sunderland, Higginbottom from Southampton, Griffin  from m Newcastle and Pericard from Portsmouth. Leeds United on the other hand appear to have an assembly of overpaid and underper forming individuals. Only one of our so called stars was missing - Nicholls but Cresswell can be forgiven some what for his lack of match fitness. Back to the game again. Sullivan was beaten at the near post from full back Griffin's shot, and the next two goals were meaningless as the game was over. Our club is in free fall. We need a change through out our club from top to bottom. Bates must take most of the blame. The disillusionment he has caused within out club with supporters and everyone connected with the club is criminal. He is only interested in a quick buck and has not got the best intentions of Leeds United at hand. Go now !!! We need a hungry manager who will come in and kick a few arses around the dressing room. "You're not fit to wear the shirt" echoed all around Elland Road at 4:45. How long before our fans shout what is really needed ? : "You're not fit to run our club". This club needs guidance and change immediately. Okay Bates you did a few decent things at the beginning at Elland Road, but you are now running this club into the ground. Take your few pieces of silver by putting it up for sale and piss off back to Monaco with your quick profit. The latest hot favourite os Gary McAllister at 11/10. Is he a strong enough personality to make these players perform to their ability?  

 Current News Sept 30th. WBA 4-2 Leeds United. Att : 21,435 Leeds: Warner, Kelly (Stone 45), Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Douglas, Nicholls (Westlake 54), Derry, Lewis (Moore 70), Horsfield, Healy. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Foxe. Booked: Derry, Douglas. Goals: Horsfield 82, Stone 88 John Carver's second game in charge exposed some of Leeds United's limitations this season and this performance did little to enhance his chances of securing the role permanently. How different it may have been had David healy converted a first half penalty? To add insult to injury The Baggies improved when McShane was sent off and Leeds were facing 10 men. The first goal was scored by Albrechtson after a terrible mistake by Warner, who missed the cross from the corner. That was on 40 minutes. Leeds lost Nicholls and Kelly to relatively long term injuries. Douglas went to right full back, Stone to the right wing, and Westlake to the middle. WBA caused Leeds continuous trouble through the pace of Kamara who came on for Hartson at half time. Leeds couldn't cope with his pace. He raced on to Caerter's pass for the second after a good Baggies break, and for the third he beat Kilgallon and Butler with ease before beating Douglas to slot across for Phillips to finish. That was the third goal and effectively game over. Leeds at last found some heart against possibly a tired side and the lively Horsfield scored an excellent goal on 82 minutes against his former side. Six minutes later it was game on when Stone converted Horsfield's effort and it was very much an exciting finish for the large travelling Leeds support. Leeds chased the game with Moore, Healy and Moore playing as a front three. There were half chances but when Westlake slipped the Baggies broke and the pacy Kamara (pic'd after his 2nd goal) finished superbly to make it 4-2. Leeds will be disappointed they couldn't defeat 10 men all be it against the best squad of players in the Championship. They showed some heart at the end when they were chasing the game. The loss of Kelly and Nicholls is a huge worry and the lack of speed in the team was fully exposed especially when Kamara was introduced in the 46th minute. Kilgallon again did not do himself justice for the first team this season by not staying on his feet when making challenges but what would have happened had the normally reliable David Healy scored after the half hour mark. Personally, I would have liked to have seen Seb Carole introduced and played on the left for the once again poor Eddie Lewis. Has John Carver done enough to be in charge after the International break or will we see another face in the dug out ? A week is a long time in politics. A fortnight is an eternity in football.

   Sept 23rd. Leeds United 3-2 Birmingham City. 18,898 Leeds  :   Warner, Kelly, Kilgallon, Butler, Crainey,Derry (Stone 81), Nicholls, Douglas, Lewis (Westlake 69),Horsfield (Moore 77), Healy. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Foxe. Booked: Derry. Goals: Healy 6, 15 pen, Tebily 85 og. Same players different manager and different performance. How many times do we see it in football ? It was John Carver's first game in charge of the football club since the sacking of Kevin Blackwell. Leeds played like a side released from the shackles of bondage. There was a raw passion and hunger about their play against one of the league leaders, and perhaps there was one more ingredient as well ......................belief .United attacked from the off in a determined,focused and cohesive manner. They kept their shape. Horsfield and Healy played up front and were well supported by a hardened midfield of Lewis, Derry, Douglas and Nicholls. The crowd loved it and gave their support willingly. Nothing was forced. One has to give credit of John Carver as each player looked like he was enjoying his football. There was high fives between Butler and Kilgallon when the former made a good interception and there was encouragement and Yorkshire grit among all the other players.

Had we some luck ? Possibly, but no more than Birmingham and let's face it we deserved a bit of late. McSheffrey rattled a crossbar and Leeds went down the field and saw Healy score one of the goals of the season. Brum then had their luck when Taylor's shot rebounded off the post and off Warner into the net. Horsfield was flattened for a dead cert penalty and Healy was nervless against his N. Ireland colleague to make it 2-1. Johnson saw red in the second half and the talented Bendtner on loan rounded Crainey easily and saw his shot beat Warner too easily for my liking. That was 2-2. Stone came on and his cross was aimed for Moore but Tebilly kindly headed into his own net. Should Birmingham have had a penalty when Bendner rounded Kilgallon in the box ? Probably, but then again lady luck didn't smile on Leeds at Selhurst Park or Loftus Road or in the 93rd minute at home to Wolves. Is John Carver a lucky manager ? I hope so but footballers are a selfish lot and the self preservation society saw all play for themselves against the Blues. Carver served under Keegan and Bobby Robson and his philosophy is certainly to attack teams, something we have been missing at Elland Road for some time. I liked what I listened to live and saw on TV highlights. I also liked the quiet reassurance both before and after the match from John Carver. The Leeds fans pronounced during the match what they thought of Denis Wise, and Alan Curbishly's agent has severed the link between Leeds or WBA. Leave this man at it for a while and don't make any hasty decisions. If we produce the passion and skill that was evident yesterday maybe the answer, for now, is staring us in the face. Come on Leeds !!!!!!!

Sept 20th. Leeds United announced around 4PM today that manager, Kevin Blackwell had been sacked.  "The club would like to place on record its thanks to Kevin for the work he has put in over the past three-and-a-half years, the past two and a half of which were as manager," said a Leeds statement. Blackwell never recovered from a disastrous tactical Play-Off debacle and an even poorer start to the season. He first took charge in May 2004 when Leeds lost 0-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, their last game in the Premiership. After helping stabilise the club with some serious wheeling and dealing, his cautious tactical approach eventually frustrated many who were regularly watching the Whites. A nice man whose devotion to the club was never in question but ultimately could not make the step up from good coach to good manager. It's ironic that in March of this year he signed a new three year contract and will be doubtless the third manager currently on a salary at Elland Road before the new man takes the helm. The decision was the correct one. None the less thanks for the good work you have done, Kevin. Leeds legend, Eddie Gray had the following to say : "As a football manager you live and die by your results.It's unfortunate it's happened, but that's the nature of football. Everybody knows that financially in the last couple of seasons things have been difficult for the club.I think the chairman Ken Bates has backed the manager very well. If you look at the players that have come to the club since Kevin was manager, he's signed a lot of players. A lot of players left the club as well, but I think the chairman has backed the manager for the majority of the players he's wanted.". William Hill have installed Alan Curbishley as 5/6 favourite to succeed Kevin Blackwell as the next permanent manager of Leeds United. Hills make Glenn Hoddle 13/2 second favourite and also offer 7/1 Dennis Wise; 8/1 Claudio Ranieri; 10/1 John Carver; 12/1 Micky Adams; Gary McAllister; Mike Newell; 33/1 David O'Leary; Bryan Robson; 50/1 Eddie Gray; Dave Penney; Peter Reid; Gordon Strachan; Paul Sturrock.
LEEDS are currently quoted at 7/1 by William Hill to be promoted; 40/1 to win the title, and 14/1to be relegated

.Tues sept 19th. Leeds 3-1 Barnet CC. 7,200 Sullivan, Foxe, Kilgallon, Kelly, Crainey, Lewis, Nicholls, Stone, Douglas, Blake, Horsfield, Subs used Moore for Horsfield,  Derry for Nicholls and Howson for Stone. Leeds had virtually a full strength side out against the side that eliminated Cardiff convincingly from the last round. Ian Moore grabbed his first and second goals in a Leeds shirt (when he replaced the injured Horsfield in the first half)  after the impressive Robbie Blake put us ahead in the first half. Good to see Derry back (he came on as sub) but better still to see young Johnny Howson make his debut. The side needs a lift and the kid (fresh after signing a new two year contract) could be the player to come in full of confidence, talent and youthly endeavour. Kevin Blackwell will be relieved to get a win but it is only useful if it is followed up on Saturday with three points against Birmingham City. He still remains a man under pressure and some would even say a "dead man walking".

Sept 17th. Names linked with Kevin Blackwell's job at Leeds in the papers today included the following : Lawrie Sanchez - N Ireland boss, Glenn Hoddle - unemployed, Alan Curbishly - unemployed and Denis Wise - Swindon Town.

Sep 16th. Coventry City 1-0 Leeds United. Leeds Team: Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Carole (Stone 69), Nicholls, Gregan (Douglas 45), Westlake (Blake 85), Healy, Horsfield.
Subs Not Used: Lewis, Moore. Booked: Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey. Att: 22,146  We hadn't lost at Coventry in the previous six matches.There were chances for Horsfield mainly but Healy hit the bar twice. Still Coventry had their chances and took one of them through Stern John. If QPR had grabbed a draw at Colchester we would be last right now. Second last for the side "that is stronger than last season" and made the Play-Off final. Blackwell has not stopped the rot. He has had every chance now. We are missing just Derry and Cresswell. Today Lewis was dropped (not before time) but Healy had to drift wide to cover for him. Also, Gregan to replace Douglas lasted just 45 minutes, as Lewis came on in the 46th minute. Elsewhere Danny Pugh scored (again), as did Rob Hulse and Simon Walton and Leeds haven't scored from play since Adam was a lad. Sorry Kevin it's time to go. No more excuses about working with threadbare squads. You have had every opportunity. Other managers now will have a chance of getting more out of Healy, Blake, Douglas, Kelly, Nicholls, and all the rest. Let's see what Bates is made of now, because he has assisted in the conspiracy by forcing the crowds away. Let investors come in and move heaven and earth for Alan Curbishley. It's still not too late to salvage the whole season. We are just six points off the Play-Offs.

away.                                                                Sept 13th. Leeds 0-3 Sunderland. Leeds team :  Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey,Stone (Carole 54), Douglas, Westlake, Lewis (Nicholls 45),Horsfield, Healy (Blake 63).Subs Not Used: Gregan, Moore. Kevin Blackwell had the following to say after one of the blackest days in Leeds last ten years ( and there has been some black days among them) : "They can keep on calling for my head (the supporters) . All I can do is do my job. I turned this club around from nothing. If you look at where we've come from, with no players, then I think I can turn this around ? no problem." You are wrong Kevin. This is not your club but our club. We are grateful for the sweat and tears you put in, but do the decent thing and walk away. I was there last night. I too have put in sweat and tears.  Our first shot came after 81 minutes and it went wide. It was embarrassing. I was also there on Sept 7th 1996 (ten years ago) when I witnessed a similar drubbing to Man United and the man in charge did more for Leeds United than your good self Kevin. It was time for him then and it is time for you now. We all acknowledge that you inherited a shell and over all you did a decent job but now my club is going backwards. You started off very well to even get a team on the park. This is documented and repeated by you many times also. But you can't take us to the next level. I saw that in Cardiff and i saw that again last night. It's not about funds. It's about getting the best out of every player - management. You are now taking Leeds United backwards. Sad but true.  Every player who played last night (bar Kilgallon - our best player) was signed by you. No excuses. That was a pitiful display lacking heart, imagination belief and leadership. Even Carole arguably our best player against Wolves was left out of the starting line up. You are probably a great coach but the three years at Elland Road is enough. I take no pleasure in saying that, as I take no pleasure in watching three Irish players score last night. I have rarely see a midfield lacking any shape or discipline. Horsefield was like a Street League player up front and every ball Healy got he would have had to have been an acrobat to control it.The lad has averaged one in two for N Ireland and one in four for Leeds. That sums it all up for me.

Sept 10th. Leeds 0-1W   Wolves Wolves.Leeds Team : Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Carole,Douglas, Westlake, Lewis (Stone 83), Moore (Beckford 78), Healy. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Gregan, Blake. Leeds were unfortunate to lose 0-1 to Wolves today. That said we waited very long to make substitutions. Surely 12 minutes to go is not long enough. Lewis contributed little and may have come off earlier and Douglas tired hard in the second half after a good first half. There were chances for Healy, Kilgallon, Moore, Stone and half chances here and there for others. Wolves too had chances and McCarthy was shrewder with his substitutions taking off the booked left full, Mulgrew after 44 minutes and the ineffective Cort for match winner Boothroyd. Yet another injury time winner was hard to take, but that's football. Leeds are trying to play more football this season. That much is definite, but Crainey and Butler are slow and it was the latter who backed off and backed off to allow Boothroyd bury one in the top corner from 30 yards. One further note I watched Sky yesterday and three goalscorers in a row came in on the video printer from 65 minutes to 67 minutes. Danny Pugh scored the winner v Cardiff City, Simon Walton equalised for Ipswich from the spot and Dave Livermore scored for Hull City at Birmingham.The first two could dearly do a job for Leeds still. One final comment. The crowd today was 16,268. Hang your head in shame Bates because you are totally the blame for this. No doubt your programme notes will call us fickle. I'll be there against Sunderland on Weds but then again you don't want "wet day supporters" like me do you Ken ?

Sept 1st. Transfer deadline day saw the following : Jon Douglas (below left) arrived for an "undisclosed fee" on a three year contract. Tony Warner (below right) arrived back on loan until the season end. This deal probably scuppered the Stephan Anderson season long loan from Charlton. Officially Leeds were unhappy that Charlton could recall the lad at anytime, but realistically I can't see Leeds paying for three keepers when they are skint. Left full ( and a badly needed one) Olivier Barnard decided at the last minute to re-join Newcastle after agreeing terms with Leeds. The last of the O'Leary/Ridsdale era (apart from Gary Kelly) ended when Leeds agreed a severance package with Eirik Bakke as he left for Brann Bergen in Norway. All is not finished as Leeds can still agree loans with clubs and a left full is a priority for the pedestrian Crainey's competition.

Sun Aug 27th. Sheff Weds 0-1 Leeds United. Team : Warner, Kelly, Crainey, Butler, Kilgallon, Westlake, Lewis, Carole (Foxe 81), Derry, Healy, Moore.
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Richardson, Blake, Beckford. Leeds went into the two week break on the back of back to back wins. This win was hard earned although deserved. Bakke wasn't risked as Kevin Blackwell announced on Sky before the match that he was involved in a move out of the club. Leeds forced corner after corner but it was Wednesday that had the best chances in the first half. The second half saw Leeds take control. Carole was proving influential and had a decent shot saved while Lewis should have scored the follow up. Derry missed a gilt edge chance before Healy won and converted a dubious penalty. The keeper saw red. Instead of pressing home the numerical advantage, Blackwell took Carole off and put Foxe on. Leeds soaked up pressure needlessly for the last 15 minutes but held on. Personally I would have put on Beckford for Moore and used his pace. Against a more potent attack we could have been in trouble with such methods. Still a win in Sheffield is always pleasing and Blackwell would have been pleased with Westlake and Carols his new signings. Cresswell is needed back badly and once again Crainey was exposed for his lack of pace although his distribution and work rate is always good.

Tues Aug 22nd. Leeds 1-0 Chester City CC. Leeds team : Sullivan, Richardson, Gregan, Foxe (Kilgallon 89),Crainey, Carole, Bakke, Westlake, Lewis, Blake (Healy 89),Beckford (Moore 74). Subs Not Used: Howson, Rose. Eirik Bakke scored his first goal for Leeds since his Premiership goal v Liverpool in a 2-2 draw 3 seaons ago. Leeds were poor in the first half but never in any trouble as Chester came with five across the middle and a slow centre forward. Blackwell obviously read the riot act at half time and Leeds upped the tempo in the 2nd half. Beckford, Carole and Westlake all went close but Bakke's goal sent the majority of the 10,000 fans home relatively happy. Efficient but not inspiring. Only three players started from the line up that went out to play Cardiff on Saturday and it was nice to see Foxe in particular get a run out.

Aug 19th. Leeds 0-1 Cardiff City.Leeds team : Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Westlake, Stone (Bakke 32), Derry, Lewis (Carole 85), Healy, Blake (Beckford 68).Subs Not Used: Gregan, Richardson. Booked: Bakke, Healy, Derry.  Leeds made a few enforced changes as Blake came in for his first game of the season to play along side David Healy who won his 50th cap for N Ireland during the week. Steve Stone lasted just a half hour and was replaced by Eirik Bakke who when into the middle beside Shaun Derry with Westlake moving out wide right. Cardiff arrived in confidence with two wins and a draw to their name with Stephen McPhail playing in midfield for the Bluebirds. It was even steven in the first half with few chances created. The second half saw a little more action and Leeds played better when Beckford came on for Blake. Alas another mistake from Kilgallon saw Flood race away and from his one-two with Choppra Leeds went one down with six minutes to go. Purse saw red after pushing Healy in the last minute but for the third time in two seasons Leeds lost all points against 11/4 Cardiff City. Questions must surely be asked over the manager as Leeds Millennium hangover shows no signs of abating. We can argue as much as we want over players missing through injury but we had enough players available to beat Cardiff City. There were just 18,200 present as many are voting with their feet both at Bates' regime of screwing the fans financially and at what is on offer on the pitch. Not good enough by a long shot and I for one am not happy. 

Aug. 13th. C. Palace 1-0 Leeds Utd. Leeds team.  Warner, Kelly, Crainey, Kilgallon, Butler, Westlake, Derry, Stone (Carole 90), Lewis (Richardson 74), Horsfield,Healy (Moore 76).

We returned to London. Different location but same outcome, ie injury time goal conceded. That's were the similarities ended. Leeds started well and Horsfield was unfortunate to be red carded, although foolish to react. Leeds in effect played for nearly 80 minutes with just 10 players. I thought they got the ball down and played good creative football. Lewis was unlucky to hit a post and Derry should have scored in the 2nd half with a free header from eight yards out. Healy worked tirelessly up front and was unfortunate to be substituted. Left back Crainey was again a problem with his lack of pace, but ultimately Kilgallon was at fault for the Morrison goal having been wrong sided by the Irish international to score in the 91st minute. We didn't deserve to lose and personally I believe with 11 we would have won. Palace are top with nine points from three games while Leeds have just four points from three games. I will be disappointed if we are not above Palace at the end of the season as they are a poorer outfit and Taylor has definitely too much of a cautious approach, one Blackwell may have learned from so far this season judging by our more positive approach to games. Bakke was a big loss, Cresswell will be a huge addition and Nicholls should add steel, but we need to get more points on the board quickly. Horse will miss three games but we need to continue with two up front. Why not try Blake and Healy ?

Aug 8th.QPR 2-2 Leeds Leeds team :  Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Stone,Bakke (Westlake 50), Derry, Lewis, Healy (Carole 77),Horsfield (Moore 84). Subs Not Used: Gregan, Blake. Rangers equalised through the penalty spot after Lewis put us in front. Pace again at the back was a problem for us. Horsfield put Leeds back in the lead, but instead of holding on to the ball we reverted to punting the ball up the field. QPR put on a 17 year old kid and in the last minute Crainey failed to stop a cross coming in and Warner was beaten at the near post. Two points dropped and no excuses against a side who will be relegated at the end of the season. 

Aug 5th. Leeds Utd v Norwich City. Crowd : 22,407.  Team : Warner, Kelly, Crainey, Butler, Kilgallon, Stone, Bakke, Derry, Lewis, Horsfield, Healy. Subs : Carole for Healy 69 Mins. Westlake for Bakke. Moore for Crainey. Unused : Robbie Blake. A David Healy penalty just before half time gave Leeds a goal against the run of play. We were better in the 2nd half with Man of the match the mercurial Steve Stone. Good to see Carole and Westlake get a run and the latter did very well. Big Horse up front is not fully fit but lead the line well. It's a good start for Leeds !!  The Pete Sebine View : "I thought we did better than the Media gave us credit for. Apart from a couple of instances we looked comfortable. Horsfield will improve with games, Bakke and Stone have that bit of class although obviously Stone can't get up and down like he used to. Overall I thought we deserved the win and if we can add a bit of pace to the side I think we can be a threat. I thought Healy was looking class and didn't understand why he came off. The substitutions didn't work although Carole looks useful and the team definitely holds the ball better "

Aug 4th. Hard to know where to start. Livermore (pic'd below) arrived for circa £400,000 and without making a competitive fixture left for Hull City because he couldn't be guaranteed a place as other targets in midfield now immerged. Definitely a future Quiz question.  Meanwhile £700,000 midfielder Kevin Nicholls was ruled out for a minimum of three months after a clash in training with Paul Butler. Cresswell is also months away and Hulse is gone to Sheffield United. Saints' David Prutton allegedly the target that Livermore couldn't displace failed a medical and scuppered a £400,000 move to Elland Road. Leeds "swopped" Dan Harding for Ian Westlake of Ipswich plus around £400,000. That makes him worth around £1.2M according to the value we placed on Harding. Big Geoff Horsfield arrived on loan until Christmas from Sheffield United with a view to a full time move. Sheff United already turned down £600,000 for the 32 year old. Tony Warner arrived on a months loan from Millwall after Bennett moved to Sheffield United for £100,000. The manager admits he needs another three players to boos this squad. We are 9/1 to go up.

July 30th.  Latest News - Leeds defeated Notts Forest 3-2 away, having lost a few days before 1-2 at Hartlepool. Nicholls may be out for a long period following knee ligament damage and Cresswell has yet to feature. Hulse is gone to Sheff Utd as has Bennett. Walton has left for Charlton for £1M and Douglas and Miller will stay at their respective clubs. In cominngs so far are Carole from Brighton, Livermore from Millwall and Nicholls from Luton. Blackwell insists he needs two more players. Meanwhile Bates is trying to get up to £20M from Chelsea for "illegally" signing two of Leeds youngsters and insists that Blackwell will "prove himslf as a manager this year by taking Leeds up". The squad is strong enough to go up but the manager has to be brave enough to attack teams all season.

July 16th. Millwall skipper, David Livermore (26) is due to undergo a medical at Elland Road tomorrow with a view to completing a £400,000 move to Elland Road. He has played over 300 games for the New Den club and is mainly a midfielder.

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July 5th. If you want to read my review of the season 05-06  (concentrating highly on Cardiff in May 2006) click to "Diary of a season" on "Other Articles" in blue on left hand side of column.

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