I know it must be McGalling but, when two teams take to the field of play, what happened in the previous McCentury really has no bearing on the McOutcome. 'Arry talked up the Leeds of yore but when asked about the club's prospects of making it to the Prem inside the next two years was pretty damn disdainful. And that was before today's McVictory!
You have to feel sorry for the Leeds McFaithful. They were getting genuinely excited, and with the Mighty McCormack signing a McContract to keep him in McDonalds for the next four years, everything in the garden was suddenly coming up McRoses before today's McGame. And then along came Mc'Arry to pop the bubble and derail the McFeelgood McFactor McExpress to the English Prem.
Once again, Leeds looked McToothless going forward when up against decent opposition and this first McDefeat of the season puts everything into perspective - because one win from three home games really isn't the form of promotion contenders.
Where will Leeds be come the end of the afternoon? Seventh? Eighth? Ninth? Or lower? So much, it seems for the McDermott McRevolution!
And yes, I admit it, I was wrong. This Leeds team are not as good as I McThought they were!
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Agent pulls out all the stops to secure McCormack a 4 year deal at Leeds
Ok, there are some players who spend years and years and years outside of the top division who, when eventually given their chance, suddenly shine. Lambert at Southampton is one. But they are few and far between. Generally, the Premiership scouts know what they are up to, and if they suspect a player isn't up to it, for the most part, the player doesn't merit a chance.
And Ross McCormack is almost certainly one of those "nearly men". Fine, he has played for Scotland but that's akin to saying that you have run the London Marathon - in a time of fifteen hours and 45 minutes!
He is now 27 and apart from 11 games for Glasgow Rangers has never come near to playing at the top of the game. True, he has had an impressive start to the season but his goal against Ipswich was a keeper error and he only scored from the spot against Donny. If everybody is honest, Ross is a journeyman player who, through endeavour, makes the best of his limited God given ability.
So the excitement at him signing a 4 year deal, although understandable, is somewhat over the top. The Leeds board have set a target of being in the Prem in two years time, so what will they do with Ross for the last two years of his contract?
Of course, a player signing a contract extension is no guarantee that he will stay. It simply means that his sales value increases and he is in a stronger position to negotiate a higher wage at a buying club, but with the window due to slam shut on Monday, it looks as if McCormack will be at Leeds until January at least. Tony Nobody must almost certainly look elsewhere.
But the question is, did McCormack's agent engineer a better deal for his client than the Leeds United board needed to pay? Mind you, Leeds fans won't give a toss if the Scot scores the winner that sinks QPR today!
And Ross McCormack is almost certainly one of those "nearly men". Fine, he has played for Scotland but that's akin to saying that you have run the London Marathon - in a time of fifteen hours and 45 minutes!
He is now 27 and apart from 11 games for Glasgow Rangers has never come near to playing at the top of the game. True, he has had an impressive start to the season but his goal against Ipswich was a keeper error and he only scored from the spot against Donny. If everybody is honest, Ross is a journeyman player who, through endeavour, makes the best of his limited God given ability.
So the excitement at him signing a 4 year deal, although understandable, is somewhat over the top. The Leeds board have set a target of being in the Prem in two years time, so what will they do with Ross for the last two years of his contract?
Of course, a player signing a contract extension is no guarantee that he will stay. It simply means that his sales value increases and he is in a stronger position to negotiate a higher wage at a buying club, but with the window due to slam shut on Monday, it looks as if McCormack will be at Leeds until January at least. Tony Nobody must almost certainly look elsewhere.
But the question is, did McCormack's agent engineer a better deal for his client than the Leeds United board needed to pay? Mind you, Leeds fans won't give a toss if the Scot scores the winner that sinks QPR today!
Friday, 30 August 2013
QPR v Leeds - Clash of the second tier Titans!
So this is the big one! Leeds have punched their weight against all comers thus far, but now there is a belt at stake and a stronger chin will be called upon to withstand the ex Premiership punches.
Favourite backers will push the case for the Hula Hoops but the omens for the Reverend's choir boys are good. 'Arry 'as a complex. West Ham's record against Bastard United is dreadful, as all you Leeds fans delight in telling me, and I genuinely suspect that former 'Ammer manager and player 'Arry in in awe of Revie's boys. Why else talk up the club unless he is scared of losing?
Sensibly, the Wheeler Dealer Dog Financier Extraordinaire should be banging the "Has been" drum, playing upon all sorts of insecurities and touching nerves that this blog presses almost by the day. Like it not, and Leeds fans detest it, history counts for sod all. Just ask Manchester City and Chelsea! And Preston North End for that matter!
Great club? For two narrow windows of the last century sure, but little old Lithuania once had an empire extending across the best part of North East Europe! Time waits for no man, as they say, not even a man of the cloth like Reverend McDermott.
And player for player, QPR should piss all over Leeds. McDermott dreams of having a striker of the calibre of Johnson, Austin or Zamora, and Redknapp has all three! I'm no fan of Green, but at least he has to spread himself to block a shot, unlike Podgy who just breathes out and fills two thirds of the goal without moving a muscle. And so it goes on.
But QPR will arrive angst ridden courtesy of Redknapp's outdated awe for the ultimate All Our Yesterdays club, whilst McDermott will be telling his team that, with faith, you can climb any mountain. And I back passion and belief to overcome superior skill and mega expenditure. Correct score for tomorrow? My money's on a 2-1 win for Leeds!
Favourite backers will push the case for the Hula Hoops but the omens for the Reverend's choir boys are good. 'Arry 'as a complex. West Ham's record against Bastard United is dreadful, as all you Leeds fans delight in telling me, and I genuinely suspect that former 'Ammer manager and player 'Arry in in awe of Revie's boys. Why else talk up the club unless he is scared of losing?
Sensibly, the Wheeler Dealer Dog Financier Extraordinaire should be banging the "Has been" drum, playing upon all sorts of insecurities and touching nerves that this blog presses almost by the day. Like it not, and Leeds fans detest it, history counts for sod all. Just ask Manchester City and Chelsea! And Preston North End for that matter!
Great club? For two narrow windows of the last century sure, but little old Lithuania once had an empire extending across the best part of North East Europe! Time waits for no man, as they say, not even a man of the cloth like Reverend McDermott.
And player for player, QPR should piss all over Leeds. McDermott dreams of having a striker of the calibre of Johnson, Austin or Zamora, and Redknapp has all three! I'm no fan of Green, but at least he has to spread himself to block a shot, unlike Podgy who just breathes out and fills two thirds of the goal without moving a muscle. And so it goes on.
But QPR will arrive angst ridden courtesy of Redknapp's outdated awe for the ultimate All Our Yesterdays club, whilst McDermott will be telling his team that, with faith, you can climb any mountain. And I back passion and belief to overcome superior skill and mega expenditure. Correct score for tomorrow? My money's on a 2-1 win for Leeds!
Dare Sessegnon show his face in Sunderland again?
What a disgrace! Given the night off as his team battled for a place in the next round of the Capital One Fan Cup, pacey striker Sessegnon was arrested for drink driving. Now, of course, lots of people will get up on their high horses about that and rabbit on about how footballers should be setting an example to youngsters, blah, blah, blah.
And presumably his prospective new employers, Al-Jaish, might be just a tad concerned given Qatar is a Muslim country.
But how can you blame Sessegnon? Talk about mixed emotions! Just imagine being in his shoes. His agent rings him up and says, "Great news, I've found a way for getting you out of Sunderland" and pauses as Sessegnon ejaculates in delight and punches the air in celebration, before adding. "You're going to Qatar instead!" Talk about out of the shit hole and into the sewer!
But all of this could have been forgiven by the Blunderland fans but for one thing. Where was Sessegnon when arrested? Only in bloody Newcastle!
And presumably his prospective new employers, Al-Jaish, might be just a tad concerned given Qatar is a Muslim country.
But how can you blame Sessegnon? Talk about mixed emotions! Just imagine being in his shoes. His agent rings him up and says, "Great news, I've found a way for getting you out of Sunderland" and pauses as Sessegnon ejaculates in delight and punches the air in celebration, before adding. "You're going to Qatar instead!" Talk about out of the shit hole and into the sewer!
But all of this could have been forgiven by the Blunderland fans but for one thing. Where was Sessegnon when arrested? Only in bloody Newcastle!
Thursday, 29 August 2013
All aboard the Leeds United Feel Good Factor Express to the Prem!
Well, another game, another win! This really is becoming something of a habit! True it was the Capital One Fan Cup - and Old Big Gob Warnock did well in that - and true it was only little old Donny - but so what, a win is a win, and the more wins you accumulate, the better the morale and the easier the next win becomes.
All credit to the Reverend. He has been preaching positivity ever since mounting the steps to the Leeds United pulpit and, so far, he is making the Board at Reading FC look total twats. Leeds fans won't know this, but I was scathing in my criticism of the Berkshire club when they sacked McDermott because the club owed him so much for getting them to the promised land in the first place. For that reason alone, I hope Leeds finish above them come the end of the season.
Most pleasing of all for Leeds fans is that the kids did well, with the new lad from the Scum scoring on his debut, Poleon playing well and Smith also netting. True, Leeds left it late to find the second and third goal, but I often find myself saying that West Ham have scored too early. Get them late and the opposition don't have time to retaliate.
No negatives here. McDermott deserves the Freedom of the City and half a dozen camels for what he has achieved so far. Who knows, that Feel Good Factor Express might even make a stop at Wembley - and I don't even mean in the play offs!
All credit to the Reverend. He has been preaching positivity ever since mounting the steps to the Leeds United pulpit and, so far, he is making the Board at Reading FC look total twats. Leeds fans won't know this, but I was scathing in my criticism of the Berkshire club when they sacked McDermott because the club owed him so much for getting them to the promised land in the first place. For that reason alone, I hope Leeds finish above them come the end of the season.
Most pleasing of all for Leeds fans is that the kids did well, with the new lad from the Scum scoring on his debut, Poleon playing well and Smith also netting. True, Leeds left it late to find the second and third goal, but I often find myself saying that West Ham have scored too early. Get them late and the opposition don't have time to retaliate.
No negatives here. McDermott deserves the Freedom of the City and half a dozen camels for what he has achieved so far. Who knows, that Feel Good Factor Express might even make a stop at Wembley - and I don't even mean in the play offs!
Monday, 26 August 2013
Middlesbrough's Mowbray compares Leeds United's McCormack to Rooney and Suarez!
Ok, Tony Nobody wasn't comparing the playing ability of the Scottish international with the granny shagger and the Uruguayan cannibal, but even mentioning the three in the same breath is inviting a degree of ridicule. Mind you, given the way Miserablebrough ended last season, Mowbray must be quite familiar with ridicule.
The point he was making is that the door has not yet closed on the McCormack transfer saga. Suarez may yet go, albeit to Real Madrid rather than Arsenal, and Rooney could yet leave Manchester United. Both clubs have insisted their men are not for sale, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. Mowbray could, of course, have mentioned Gareth Bale whilst he was about it.
To be fair, in all three cases, the players have been pressing for a move, whereas McCormack has repeatedly said he is happy at Leeds. But that's before he has heard the salary Boro might be willing to offer him.
It's an old cliché but true nevertheless - money talks; and despite the history of both clubs, the Smoggies have more of it than Leeds. Past glories will not give McCormack the financial security he and his agent will crave, and if Boro dangle a big enough carrot, the Scotsman is not going to prove the stereotype wrong in a hurry.
Tony Nobody concedes that it will "not be easy" for Leeds to part with a player who has scored 3 goals already this season, but he insists, "I don't think it's over."
Leeds fans will point to the on going contract negotiations as proof that McCormack is going nowhere but he is under contract anyway so this is irrelevant. A longer contract and a higher wage simply inflates McCormack's transfer value and puts him in a stronger bargaining position when negotiating terms should he move.
And Middlesbrough may not be his final destination. Blackpool have bid for him and are now flush with £5m from the sale of Phillips. And I still have a hunch that 'Arry will make a last minute bid.
If Mowbray hasn't given up hope, Leeds fans shouldn't take anything for granted.
The point he was making is that the door has not yet closed on the McCormack transfer saga. Suarez may yet go, albeit to Real Madrid rather than Arsenal, and Rooney could yet leave Manchester United. Both clubs have insisted their men are not for sale, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. Mowbray could, of course, have mentioned Gareth Bale whilst he was about it.
To be fair, in all three cases, the players have been pressing for a move, whereas McCormack has repeatedly said he is happy at Leeds. But that's before he has heard the salary Boro might be willing to offer him.
It's an old cliché but true nevertheless - money talks; and despite the history of both clubs, the Smoggies have more of it than Leeds. Past glories will not give McCormack the financial security he and his agent will crave, and if Boro dangle a big enough carrot, the Scotsman is not going to prove the stereotype wrong in a hurry.
Tony Nobody concedes that it will "not be easy" for Leeds to part with a player who has scored 3 goals already this season, but he insists, "I don't think it's over."
Leeds fans will point to the on going contract negotiations as proof that McCormack is going nowhere but he is under contract anyway so this is irrelevant. A longer contract and a higher wage simply inflates McCormack's transfer value and puts him in a stronger bargaining position when negotiating terms should he move.
And Middlesbrough may not be his final destination. Blackpool have bid for him and are now flush with £5m from the sale of Phillips. And I still have a hunch that 'Arry will make a last minute bid.
If Mowbray hasn't given up hope, Leeds fans shouldn't take anything for granted.
After West Ham game, Newcastle are learning the cost of buying French!
With Cabaye refusing to take to the field against West Ham, and those who deigned to do so playing with all the passion of a eunuch on potassium bromide, poor old Pants Down is learning the cost of banking on the French. Basically, they show up when they want to, but when not in the mood the best you are going to get out of them is a shrug of the shoulders and an oral ejaculation which is less "Over the top lads" and more "Pah!"
As a West Ham fan, I was delighted with the ease with which we protected our own goal on Saturday. That freakish cross shot apart, we didn't look in the least bit troubled all afternoon, with the back four looking as water tight as the Italian national team in their miserly pomp. It wasn't that the Newcastle team lacked ability, it was that they lacked any drive and desire. It was almost as if they thought they were still in pre season.
Now we have seen at World Cups how a French dressing room can settle into a collective sulk when they decide somebody else should porter la boite de conserve and another failure against Fulham is likely to trigger all sorts of mutterings about the manager, the tactics, the unflattering kit, the miserable weather, the uncultured women, the horrible English food, the traffic jams, the distance from La Manche, the Director of Football, British television, the state of the pitch, the odd way that Pardew looks at their wives, the funny currency, warm beer, the failure to assign masculine and feminine to nouns, the inability of the locals to speak French, the inability of the locals to speak English and living in a country with a monarchy! Mon Dieu!
These are worrying times. The imminent departure of Cabaye will leave Newcastle little or no time to source a replacement, and the Laurel & Hardy of football, messers Pardew & Kinnear, are unlikely to agree on targets anyway. Pardew said he should be judged after the next two games; well half way in, and the guillotine is being sharpened!
As a West Ham fan, I was delighted with the ease with which we protected our own goal on Saturday. That freakish cross shot apart, we didn't look in the least bit troubled all afternoon, with the back four looking as water tight as the Italian national team in their miserly pomp. It wasn't that the Newcastle team lacked ability, it was that they lacked any drive and desire. It was almost as if they thought they were still in pre season.
Now we have seen at World Cups how a French dressing room can settle into a collective sulk when they decide somebody else should porter la boite de conserve and another failure against Fulham is likely to trigger all sorts of mutterings about the manager, the tactics, the unflattering kit, the miserable weather, the uncultured women, the horrible English food, the traffic jams, the distance from La Manche, the Director of Football, British television, the state of the pitch, the odd way that Pardew looks at their wives, the funny currency, warm beer, the failure to assign masculine and feminine to nouns, the inability of the locals to speak French, the inability of the locals to speak English and living in a country with a monarchy! Mon Dieu!
These are worrying times. The imminent departure of Cabaye will leave Newcastle little or no time to source a replacement, and the Laurel & Hardy of football, messers Pardew & Kinnear, are unlikely to agree on targets anyway. Pardew said he should be judged after the next two games; well half way in, and the guillotine is being sharpened!
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