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Louth Branch Magazine articles
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This is the Louth Branch website. Always Leeds always loyal ! Edited by Gerry Cunningham.
League One Fixtures for 2009/10 now updated For details of the winners in our annual club draw click here Draw Winners For latest rants in what is turning into a frustrating season click here : Rants If you have a rant send in your e-mail now. We have had quite a few lately. Keep them coming. Sat 24th of April 2010. Leeds and Millwall both won today and United leveled the London club's goal difference which was always important. Swindon may now have given themselves too much to Sat 24th of April. Leeds United 4-1 Mk Dons. Att : Team : 12 Higgs, 06 Naylor, 19 Parker (
Sunday 17th. Congratulations to Norwich City for gaining promotion. After being defeated 1-7 at Sat 16th of April Gillingham 3-2 Leeds United. Team : 12 Higgs, 06 Naylor, 26 Bromby 33 Collins, 04 Doyle, 08 Kilkenny, 14 Howson, 22 Hughes (Parker 55), 28 Gradel, 10 Becchio (Watt 77), 23 Snodgrass (Beckford 55). Unused Substitutes : 01 Ankergren, 21 Lowry, 15 McSheffrey, 09 Beckford, 13 Grella. Leeds showed their other side again just when cool and calm heads were needed. Unlike Carlisle, the Leeds defence faced a different threat of two bustling centre forwards with pace. Unlike Carlisle, Gillingham have a decent home record and are fighting for their lives. On a ground were we have never won, we were three goals down in just over a half an hour, as the United side gave an impoverished lesson in how not to defend. Collins and Naylor were all over the place, and the Gills through simple crosses had a field day. Adam
"After half an hour we were 3-0 up and standing on the sidelines you can't really believe that. But we knew Leeds would come into the game because they've got some quality players and I'm sure they'll go on and gain automatic promotion. "But for us it was a fantastic three points and it gives us a chance now."
Next up it's Huddersfield v Millwall (live on Sky Friday night). On Saturday Leeds go to Tues 13th of April. Carlisle United 1-3 Leeds United. Team : Leeds United : 12 Higgs, 06 Naylor, 26 Bromby, 33 Collins, 04 Doyle, 08 Kilkenny, 14 Howson, 22 Hughes, 28 Gradel (Grella 88), 10 Becchio (Beckford 88), 23 Snodgrass . Unused Substitutes : 01 Ankergren, 19 Parker, 21 Lowry, 15 McSheffrey, 24 Watt. It's three wins in a row and one could hear the sigh of relief from Blessington to Emyvale, from Carrickmacross to Monday April 12th. Swindon saw nerves get to them as they could only draw 1-1 at home to Exeter City, even if they did gain a late equaliser. Whilst Leeds United were gaining three valuable points, Millwall hammered Gillingham 4-0 to go 2nd. We will have to wait and see how Swindon react to the 3-0 hammering at out of form Colchester. They had not won in six matches and are locked in battle with Huddersfield for that sixth position. No Sat April 10th. Leeds United 2-0 Southend. Leeds United team : 12 Higgs, 06 Naylor, 26 Bromby, 33 Collins, 04 Doyle, 08 Kilkenny, 14 Howson, 22 Hughes (Johnson 58 ), 28 Gradel, 09 Beckford (Becchio 58), 23 Snodgrass (Watt 85), Unused Substitutes : 01 Ankergren, 19 Parker, 15 McSheffrey, 13 Grella. Att 21,650 Three good things happened Going to wire for 2nd. Swindon travel to out of form Colchester next, followed by home games against Exeter and Walsall. They then travel to Wycombe and play at home to Monday April 5th. Yeovil Town 1-2 Leeds United. Leeds United Team : 12 Higgs, 06 Naylor, 26 Bromby, 33 Collins , 04 Doyle, 08 Kilkenny (Johnson 88), 14 Howson, 22 Hughes, 28 Gradel, 09 Beckford (Watt 88), 23 Snodgrass. Unused Substitutes : 01 Ankergren, 19 Parker, 21 Lowry, 07 Dickov, 13 Grella, Yet again Simon Grayson shuffled his pack with Gradel starting up front for Grella, Andy Hughes shifting to left back, and Lowry replaced by Bromby who played at right back. Grayson went for an experienced back four of Bromby, Hughes, Naylor and Collins. United started slowly with the hosts (backed by a strong breeze) having the better of the early exchanges. Snodgrass went close with a fine effort and Gradel was unsettling the Yeovil back four with his constant runs across the line. Many including myself would not have been enamoured by the Ivory Coast player getting a starting place up front in place of the always hard working Grella. He was to prove the doubters wrong with a blend of hard work, no little skill and some astuteness. This is not a game his striking partner, Jermaine Beckford will look back on with fond memories. On 29 minutes, Richard Naylor's looping back-post header from a Jonny Howson cross gave United the lead with their first goal in over six hours of football. Five minutes later, the Leeds captain doubled their advantage with another header from a Neil Kilkenny corner. Leeds were very much on top playing with some resemblance of their old swagger. In the second half United began to dominate but missed chance after chance. Naylor twice went close to nailing his hat-trick within the space of five minutes as Yeovil simply couldn't stop the former Ipswich town striker from getting free headers at will. It was good to see Leeds at last score goals from set pieces instead of conceding them. Snodgrass (the main offender from poor set-plays in the past) went close again forcing a super save from McCarthy and Gradel was unlucky not to score with McCarthy's feet denying him. It was all Leeds and thoughts of another 4-0 hiding against Yeovil were not unrealistic. Confidence is a fragile thing, and on 66 minutes after Doyle (who in my opinion had another terrible match in midfield) lost the ball, Yeovil broke and Dean Bowdwich fired home through Naylor's legs into Higgs' bottom left hand corner. Leeds began to panic, losing their composure and booting the ball up front at every available opportunity. The hosts had one great chance to level but couldn't force the ball home. When the numbers came up for changes, Beckford should not have been surprised to be displaced by Watt on 89 minutes, completing the substitutions with Johnson for Kilkenny It was our first glimpse of the Arsenal loanee (much too short a glimpse) but he battled gamely and could be a worth while addition. Goodness knows that Simon Grayson must be due a good one by now. The good bits today complied of 1. obviously gaining three points, 2. the energetic and useful contribution of Gradel up front (which may be of more use away from home when teams have to come on to us) 3. the better set piece deliveries from corner kicks and Naylor's captain's performance. The bad bits compiled of 1. how we gave the initiative away to a poor side after they scored, 2. the continual misplacement of Jon Howson wide on the right who looks like a fish out of water and this puts extra pressure on Bromby who is a centre half and not a right full, even though I thought he had a useful game, and always tries to use the ball intelligently. Lastly, I thought Doyle was very poor in the middle and surely Howson could have been moved in there instead of losing Kilkenny who at least tried to keep hold of the football. We went second for a few minutes until Millwall continued their rich vein of form with a win at dreadful Colchester. Swindon not surprisingly won at home to 10 man Tranmere and Charlton have gone a little unnoticed with their 1-0 at home to Carlisle. People keep telling me that this Leeds side should be good enough to go up automatically. I beg to differ. In fact, I believe we were stronger last season. The side that drew 1-1 against Millwall when the manger got his tactics wrong in the away leg was as follows : Ankergren, Douglas, Naylor, Sodje, Parker ( Johnson 78), Snodgrass, Kilkenny (Robinson 36), Howson, Delph, Beckford, Becchio . Apart from the goalkeeper can you honestly tell me that Lowry is better than Parker, Doyle better than Douglas and who was better than Delph ? How we have missed Delph's scintillating runs through midfield this season. �8M has been replaced by who exactly ? Is this Simon Grayson's fault or Ken Bates ? Perhaps a mixture of the two. Our loan signings have been disastrous. We have spent approximately �350,000 in acquiring Bromby and Gradel. Lets look at the loan rangers : Sam Volkes (did modestly okay without setting the world on fire), Shane Lowry (very poor), Collins (average), McSheffrey (contributed nothing). Gradel when on loan was very good, but no sooner has the ink dried on his contract than he has hardly kicked a ball. Shall I continue ? Panic has set in now with the manger changing tactics like skittles especially at the back. Are we good enough to go up automatically ? Injuries to key players like Kisnorbo, Parker and Becchio have not helped. Millwall started the campaign badly because they had so many players out injured plus a hangover from losing at Wembley to Scunthorpe. Not my words but those of manager, Kenny Jackett. Swindon invested heavily and that is paying reward and Norwich lost none of the players that played in the Championship. Leeds on the other hand invested in the loan market and have been found out. Charlton, the side nobody is talking about are level on points with Leeds, just one behind Millwall and two behind Swindon. Our own Terry McQuaid who attended the game yesterday, and is therefore better qualified than most to comment has this to say : "In the first half yesterday we were miles better. It was Leeds v Lucas. They scored and we collapsed. That said I fancy us in the Play-Offs if only for third time lucky". The sad thing is that it will be the fourth time. Don't forger 1987. Then again maybe I'm being too harsh, and as Simon Grayson suggests "we are well capable of winning all the remaining games". Possible but improbable. One thing for sure which can only be a good thing for me personally is that I suspect we won't have a clamour for Play-Off final tickets based on all of those who said they would never travel to watch Leeds again at Wembley in a Play-Off decider. Of course there is the little matter of getting there first. Thanks for that any way lads. You don't know how much easier that will make my life.
Sat April 3rd 2010. Leeds United 0-3 Swindon Town. Leeds United team : 12 Higgs, 06 Naylor (Parker 60), 21 Lowry, 33 Collins, 04 Doyle (Gradel 60), 08 Kilkenny, 14 Howson, 22 Hughes, 09 Beckford, 13 Grella (Dickov 75), 23 Snodgrass Unused Substitutes : 01 Ankergren, 26 Bromby, 16 Johnson, 24 Watt. Billy Paynter scored twice as Swindon went second in League One with victory over faltering Leeds at Elland Road. Leeds have now gone 385 minutes without a goal and lie 11 points behind leaders Norwich in fourth place. Andrew Hughes wasted their best chance from six yards before slipping to allow Paynter in to fire home from close in. Soon after the break Paynter turned and fired into the top corner and with Leeds in disarray he crossed for Charlie Austin to head the third. Leeds were team in the first half but collapased when they went one behind. The second half was one way traffic as an average Swindon team made Leeds look like Choirboys. They were the second team in the the last two home games to take maximum points of United this season. How Simon Grayson must regret letting man of the match, Jon Douglas leave for free last season. The Monaghan player controlled the midfield as the Wiltshire side put six goals past Leeds this season without reply.
Leeds have now lost four games in a row and are in danger of having to compete in the play-offs for the third consecutive season
Index Nov 14th 08 to Dec 31st 08 For Archived Files for December 07 click here For Archived Files from October to November 07 click here For Archived Files from August to September 07 click here For previous news stories, please click here. For what you think of Leeds, click here to send in your rants and I'll include them in the "Rants" page.12 Higgs, 06 Naylor, 26 Bromby, 33 Collins, 04 Doyle, 08 Kilkenny, 14 Howson, 22 Hughes (Parker 55), 28 Gradel, 10 Becchio (Watt 77), 23 Snodgrass (Beckford 55), Unused Substitutes : 01 Ankergren, 21 Lowry, 15 McSheffrey, 09 Beckford, 13 Grella, 24 Watt. |
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