The Game's Gone Crazier

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Friday 5 April 2013

What in the name of Don Revie is going on at Leeds?

Well, just before I went away to the mountains I posted that, should Leeds win at Ipswich, they would be back in the promotion mix. Just as I predicted, all their rivals struggled in that round of fixtures and had Leeds played their part, they would have climbed back to within touching distance of the playoffs. Better still, had they then beaten Derby County at home, they would now be sitting just three points behind sixth placed Brighton. But, just as downhearted Leeds fans responded, that involved a big IF - because it assumed Leeds could actually win a game!

That said, until Lees was sent off, it was all going to plan. I had a tenner on a 1-0 win for Leeds at Ipswich and with 11 men on the pitch, the Warnock's old nags were in with a shout. I was certainly hopeful. Then came the red card and it was curtains!

Warnock screamed "Stupid!" after the game and it was somehow deliciously appropriate that the sending off of a guy called Lees should end the dreams of promotion for yet another year. Dirty Dirty Lees became Stupid Stupid Lees as the red card was shown.

Perhaps if the Warnock had criticised his namesake's horror tackle in the home game against Millwall, the young Lees might not have made that challenge. Perhaps had the Warnock not defended Varney's elbow in the first Millwall game, Lees might have thought twice before making that challenge. Perhaps had the Warnock tried to build a footballing team rather than a clogging team, the young Lees might have shown a little more restraint. But like the IF, that involves a big PERHAPS. The Warnock only knows one way, and that one way is not subtle!

But as I posted back on March 18, it is not the Warnock's fault that Leeds are where they are in the table. I asked then why the Arab bank built on sand had left the Warnock in charge and why they had failed to invest in the squad in January when on the shoulder of the play off pack . Indeed, on March 19, I posted that the Board must sack the Warnock immediately if Leeds were to mount a challenge for the play offs, because Old Big Gob had given up hope and Adkins would not be in the job market for long.

But did GFH Capital act? Did they hell as like! They prevaricated, waiting until all hope of promotion had disappeared before showing Warnock the door, and waiting too until both Adkins and Il Duce Di Canio were in jobs before taking decisive action. And even now, they don't seem to have a replacement in mind.

Why? In the name of Don Revie, why? The "no need to hurry" mantra has been repeated even after the Warnock's departure and even as Leeds sink towards the relegation quicksand. No need to hurry? The Board have had four months to source a replacement! Hurry? A snail high on cannabis would move quicker than Patel and Haigh!

Sadly, Leeds United are now beyond a joke. Somebody needs to grab the club by the throat and shake it. The world has moved on since the great days of Revie and the heady interregnum of Wilkinson. Leeds will now miss out on the massive rewards on offer to Prem clubs next season so the gulf will simply widen. And with GFH Capital's ownership diluted, there's another "decision maker" in the already utterly confused mix of what purports to be the Leeds United Board.

So Leeds go in to the remaining fixtures with a rookie manager, a rookie Board and as much sense of direction as a blonde with an upside down map - and with the loose cannon of the Warnock gobbing off from the side-lines.

It is now beyond funny, it is now downright bloody ridiculous. Over the last 12 months, I have grown to care about a club I once loathed, and whilst I have jested, I would never have wished this mess upon what was once a great club. Yes the morons who issue death threats deserve this, yes those who sang in support of Savile deserve this, yes those who aimed foul abuse at Dave Jones deserve this, yes those who hid the assailant of Kirkland deserve this, yes those who arrogantly insist that Leeds are a huge club in the face of all the facts deserve this, but the average decent Leeds fans do not deserve this. Proper Leeds fans deserve a well run club back in the Prem.

Don Revie must be turning in his grave.

37 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. we didn't need you to tell us all that...we already know thanks

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  3. we didn't need you to tell us all that...we already knew thanks

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  4. This next appointment is massive for Leeds United. We absolutely have to get it right.

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    1. I really respect your blog, mate (if that is you of course) but have to completely disagree that the next managerial appointment is a big one. In fact, I predict it will be the least significant one in our history.

      No money, no players..best thing we can hope for is 'another' mid-table finish next season. Sure there's a few good kids coming through but the harsh reality is if they ARE any good then we won't get more than a season out of them. Consequently we won't be able to build a team around them.

      This is exactly why O'Leary needs to be appointed. Bring back a bit of nostalga and let the good times roll, temporarily at least! Sure, the outcome will be the same but my pulling record (and hairline) at the turn of the century was phenomenal!! Who knows, maybe lightning can strike twice.

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  5. your so right again hammers fan

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  6. Nice piece, you're bloody spot on. (makes a change from calling you a wanker :)

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  7. Let's here it for one of the leading racist clubs, West Ham United.

    I'd sort your vile fans out first before you comment on another club.

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  8. For once I totally agree with you.

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  9. This sums it up perfectly. Honest candour. It sticks in the craw of all true Leeds fans, that this is exactly what is happening. Best piece you've written on Leeds. Something has to change, surely.

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  10. stick to your own team

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  11. Which manager worth his salt would want to come to Leeds now?? The place is in total dissaray! Martin O'Neil is the best of the bunch that are left unemployed but why would he want to commit managerial suicide and take the job?

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  12. I did wonder where you disappeared too HF. Alot has gone on since youve been on your hols. You need to catch up on your reading you failed to mention my all time favorite, O'leary and apparently he still lives up north. Not that it would ever happen but it got me watchin utube memories 98-2002 Great team

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  13. So it's true. You are a Leeds Fan after all.

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  14. Thank God your back. We had no idea what was going on your absence.

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  15. From a leeds fan you are spot on pal.

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  16. hf,where have you been for the past few weeks? vegas? new york? barcelona?

    where are you gonna pretend you have been this time? lol

    yawn

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  17. Its called the ups and downs of being a Leeds fan. Ah well we will see what looms around the corner for us.

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  18. I actually feel so sh*t about Leeds now that your blog is the only thing I enjoy reading. We are beyond a joke and until someone sorts it out I won't be paying any attention to the team or the games. Wake me up when it's over.

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  19. Thanks HF, as usual an excellent post. The club is sadly in free fall without a parachute.

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  20. Couldn't agree more with you HF, wondered why you hadn't posted for some time. In the mountains hey ! I must say some nice big words in there for us northerners to get our heads round, interregnum ! what the bloody hell does that mean lad.
    W.A.C.C.O.E

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  21. I for once,agree with u cockney boy.our great club is a shambles.its been run by muppets for to long.gfh dont have a clue how to run a football club,and will probably dissapear soon when the going gets tough.if we get mark scum hughes,then i will never set foot in elland rd again.oneil maybe.oleary for sentimetal reasons may be good to get the fans excited...but what has he done lately,and we still won fuck all under him.another season of failure.never mind the playoffs,we need 3 points saturday to fend off relegation.

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    1. True after 4 years incharge we didnt Win any silverware under O leary. But we were once again respected at home and abroad. Id rather have that than the shit thats come through the door since, to be fair Larry did a good job. And we soon cleared the 15 points under Gus and Wise. Mot

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  22. why do u feel the need to tell us what we already know

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  23. Well written, like a true Leeds fan.Could you please send this to Elland Road.

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  24. Thanks for filling us all in with your wisdom I've only just got back from my luxury villa in Miami the servants never told me warnock had left !!!!!!!! Dick head

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  25. Nobody else has mentioned it. Did you know them?

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  26. Which one, Coleone? Howe? Or Well, Medium, Rare or Bloody as Hell?

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  27. Hmmm. Yapping Post sums it up with least dramatic headline of the century: "DOZENS mourn anniversary of murdered Leeds fans". Sad for the guys and their families but it was hardly world news it seems.

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  28. Where do I make fun of them? Did you not read "Sad for the guys and their families"?

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  29. Ur horrible, u only care about ur ego!

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  30. i think a few of them go to elland road on the anniversary every year hf.a lot of his family.so that would explain the dozens part.i didnt know either of them and i was 11 when it happened but its very sad.mocking how many people turned up is low mate.just like those posts you did about gary speed.u awful man

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  31. Thought you were f____g off when Warnock was?

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  32. Some of you seem to be misunderstanding, perhaps deliberately so. I was accused of being disrespectful for posting on the anniversary of the death of these two guys. My point is that I could hardly be expected to know when it was not widely reported. The fact that only "dozens" showed up at the ground illustrates that the event passed many Leeds fans by as well. If you really feel so strongly about it, you should have been there with the family; if you weren't, it can't be that big a deal for you, so why show disrespect by using it as a blunt weapon with which to beat this blog?

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  33. Wrong. I actually like your blog but sometimes you ruin it by being an absolute penis. I know this is only you trying to be 'controversial' or 'provocative' but it really isn't, it's pathetic like I said. This event didn't 'pass me by' or any other Leeds fan for that matter.

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