Will Leeds march on to promotion?
The most memorable match I have seen at Elland Road resulted in Leeds United defeating AC Milan 1-0 in a Champions League tie.
It was September 2000 and a remarkably wet Tuesday evening, even by West Yorkshire standards. The match seemed to be heading for a goalless draw when Lee Bowyer, in the form of his life, smashed the ball optimistically towards goal and Brazilian keeper Dida allowed it to slip through his hands and into the net.
The crowd went wild, singing their anthem 'Marching on Together', and as I walked out of the turnstiles and into the late autumnal rain there was a palpable sense that anything was possible. Leeds truly were living the dream.
Fast forward almost eight years and the same club are preparing for their second season in League One.
What has happened to Leeds over the intervening period has been the subject of thousands of column inches. What interests me right now is whether Leeds can finally start moving back up through the divisions.
United have had a couple of near misses, losing the 2006 Championship play-off final to Watford before suffering relegation the following season, and then tasting defeat to Doncaster in the League One final a couple of months ago.
But there is no doubt that the only satisfactory conclusion to the forthcoming campaign is promotion to the Championship.
"Expectation is huge," reckons BBC Radio Leeds presenter Adam Pope. "There is no alternative but to go up."
Leeds are the favourites to win the division and this season they do not have to negotiate the handicap of a 15-point deduction that they were awarded last year for breaking competition insolvency rules. Had they started the last campaign on a level playing field, United would have finished on 91 points and secured automatic promotion.
"I don't want to be in the play-offs at all this season," is how goalkeeper Casper Ankergren assesses the situation. "I'm not thinking about that. I'm only thinking about promotion."
Manager Gary McAllister took over in January after Dennis Wise left for Newcastle and he quickly impressed Pope as a wily and shrewd operator. The 43-year-old Scot has an extremely professional approach to training and a single minded determination to succeed.
"He also has respect for the history and traditions of the club," said Pope, who feels this is something that cannot be underestimated at a club like Leeds.
Season ticket sales indicate that supporters have faith in the former fans' favourite, a key member of the team that won the top-flight title in 1992. Despite an increase in price, the clubs reports that sales have already exceeded the 10,900 sold prior to the last campaign. Leeds averaged 26,546 last season, with roll-up matchday sales an important factor. Their brilliant start - they won their first eight league fixtures - was crucial to this and McAllister is under no illusions that the team must once again give the fans the incentive to pass through the turnstiles.
"We want to start well and encourage more and more fans to come to Elland Road," said McAllister recently. "We can't rely on the fans. We have to give them something back and something to feed off."
The style of play under McAllister might well be more to their liking. Long, searching balls forward towards Jermaine Beckford and Tresor Kandol soon gave way to a more cultured approach under the new manager.
Midfielder Jonathan Howson, 20, has blossomed under McAllister to the extent that he has played in almost every meaningful game since the Scot took over. Howson was on target as Leeds defeated Barnet in a pre-season friendly last weekend and his partner in midfield against the Bees, 17-year-old Fabian Delph, is another local youngster to keep an eye on this season. Delph has a burgeoning reputation as a gifted ball player and could flourish under the tutelage of McAllister.
Midfielder Andy Robinson has impressed in pre-season following his summer move from Swansea, the wonderfully named Scottish striker Robert Snodgrass is determined to seize his chance after joining from Livingston while the club are close to bringing in Argentine Luciano Becchio and Paul Telfer.
I couldn't tell you much about Snodgrass or Becchio but throw players such as Beckford, Jonathan Douglas, David Prutton and Kandol into the equation and Leeds certainly look well equipped to mount a serious promotion challenge.
But McAllister will have to do without Dougie Freedman, whose five goals in 11 games on loan at the end of last season were a key factor in the club reaching the play-off final.
Robinson, who finished top of League One last season with the Swans, has a stark warning for his team-mates.
"I became a champion at Swansea and that was through hard work as a team," he said. "It's a tough league to get out of."
Just ask Nottingham Forest, who needed three attempts to get out of the division. And despite the addition of relegated Leicester, there is no doubt that Leeds remain the team to beat.
But they will have to overcome the hurdles in front of them if they want to take the first tentative steps on the long road back to those memorable European nights.
Hello, I'm Paul Fletcher and I mainly write about life in the Football League. I have a great enthusiasm for a whole range of sports and love to spread the word about the great game of rugby league.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~08~RS~)
CommentsSign in
You need to sign in to contribute to this page. If you're new to BBC Blogs, creating your membership is quick and easy.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Ha ha very funny Article!!!
Up the mighty blues!! (Birmingham City)!
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
"Leeds are a massive club"
How so?
I don't actually think Leeds were that good last year, they scored a lot of late goals and were shown up in the play-off final to a much better team.
I'm not sure Leeds will win the League as they will be one of THE teams to beat in the division, plus I think they bottle it on the big occasion.
Complain about this comment
post no.1, typical of somebody who should keep their opinion to themselves. We have a great chance of promotion this season although anything can happen in league 1.
MOT!
Complain about this comment
MFC_DB8 I've just skimmed through again and am trying to work out where you got the 'Leeds are a massive club' comment from. I've probably missed it. Surely you can't deny that Leeds are the biggest club in the division? That doesn't mean they are the best or anything else, just on the fan base and amount of money they can generate and operate on they are miles ahead of most in this league.
Complain about this comment
Its a pity people cant look beyond their preconceptions of Leeds Utd.
The phrase dirty leeds etc have gotten so boring its stopped been even vaguely interesting.
Ive been a Leeds Supporter nearly all my life and like 95% of the fan base will support them through thick and thin.
Whats happened to us the fans pay for each season whilst the people that put the club in the financial situation have moved on and are currently doing the same elsewhere.
Theres no such thing as a casual leeds fan supporting leeds takes all your heart and soul and such passion generates a lot of jealously, comments that focus and the small percentage of yobs all teams have ignore the passion filled supporters the will be there rain or shine premiership or eggcup division 50 it dosent matter we,ll still be there.
Many clubs will never experience the passion that goes into a leeds supporter And thats in the good times of screaming my lungs out as Bowyer nets the winner vs Milan or the heartbreak of going into administration and been relegated to league 1, We had massive up's and downs and have felt every second of both.
So stop the dirty leeds comments and look at the passionate fans who make the game of football the most passionately followed sport that it is.
Leeds will be back.. when is something none of us can predict but we live in eternal hope.
Complain about this comment
The problem is Leeds fans have the 'dirty Leeds' tag from the past, and even though they were no worse than most other clubs in the Premier League or Championship, drop to League One and the amount of yobs that gave Leeds a bad name stand out more, just due to sheer numbers of fans. So yes you do have the right to be annoyed you still get branded 'dirty Leeds' but until you move back in to a bigger pond that's how it will be unfortunately.
Complain about this comment
I'm really disappointed that the moderators deleted my comment. I have nothing against the vast majority of Leeds United fans, it is a great club with a proud history.
However the club simply hasn't got its house in order concerning the fans chanting. If I mention the R word I will be silenced by the moderators however, having visited Elland Road last year, there was some seriously dubious chanting.
I would love to see the all white of Leeds grace the premiership, but the club must do more before they get here. Never again should the premiership be fouled by chanting about the Munich disaster.
Complain about this comment
Leeds got their success spending money they didn't have so why do they deserve success again?
Weren't impressed by them last season. This season with god given right to be in the premiership attitude i can see them failing to make play offs...... stop talking about leeds there are better teams in the league without the stupid wage bills.
Must supporters of league one clubs are fed up of hearing about leeds, they ain't nothing special.
Complain about this comment
As a burnley fan, I have been through the stages of hating and leeds, and calling them dirty leeds and leedsscum etc.. but after going to uni there, one can only appreciate how big a club is, and how amazing their fans are.
I went to a JP Trophy game at Leeds last year against Bury, and when they took the lead, the Leeds fans were celebrating as if they had just scored against Man U or AC Milan. Their club means everything to them and it is a great source of pride to the city.
How anyone can not say they are a massive club is beyond my comprehension. They are by far the biggest club outside the Premiership, and have some of the most loyal and passionate fans I have ever seen. They don't deserve the rubbish that has happened to their club (Peter Ridsdale etc).
Hope they go up, as it would be an enormous boost not only for the club, but for the city as a whole. The whole city was buzzing in the week leading up to the play off final, and you could sense the disappointment weeks after it.
Up The Clarets
Complain about this comment
cmr_oafc, I agree that most fans are arrogant and think they deserve to be in the Prem, but it is just pride in their club, and surely we all want the best for our club and think we should be in a higher league.
Yes they do have their fair share of idiot fans, more than most clubs I may add, but that should not obscure the view of most Leeds fans who passionately support their team through thick and thin.
Complain about this comment
I think the 15 points galvanised Leeds and without this handicap they may struggle to repeat the form of last season. I would suggest they are play-off material, nothing more.
With regards to the fans, I feel sorry for the majority as their idiot element ruins it for the rest of them, however unlike other clubs where the hooligans are mostly young chavs, Leeds seem to have a high proportion of older hooligans who simply refuse to grow up. This is why they are hated.
On the whole I think it'll be good for Leeds to spend a few seasons at this level (like Forest), it will teach their fans humility instead of believing they have a god given right to be in the Premier League. That's not passion, it's arrogance.
Complain about this comment
comment number 11...
"Leeds got their success by spending money they didnt have"
As i leeds fan myself i can see where your coming from as we did go overboard finacially, but please dont imply that the entire history, success and massive fancbase of leeds utd is built around money- as leeds enjoyed huge success for years before the Ridsdale era and i am sure there will be success to come in the near future.
Complain about this comment
Marching on Together, you wrote:
"Whats happened to us the fans pay for each season whilst the people that put the club in the financial situation have moved on and are currently doing the same elsewhere."
Is this a reference to Ridsdale and Cardiff? If so, I would advise you check out the FACTS before making such frankly libellous statements. Far from 'doing the same elsewhere', Ridsdale has benefited our club, by stabilising the financial situation created by a previous owner, got council approval for a Stadium that is halfway through construction (something a previous owner failed to do), and generally made the club a more attractive prospect for potential future investores (if the appointment of Keith Harris is anything to go by).
It is a shame for Leeds fan what has happened to their club, but the continual witchhunt of Peter Ridsdale isn't going to change what has happened. Get over it.
Anyway, all the best for the new season.
Complain about this comment
Leeds are a club that sharply divide opinion. For many, it seems to be a case of you are either for them or against them.
However, do you think they will go up? And, whether you think so or not, why?
Complain about this comment
To the person who said about the comments on the Muich Disaster.
Yes that is a sick chant and myslef never sing this and I find it hugely offensive, however why it is only Leeds fans who get tarnished with this brush. On numerous occasions I have heard fans chanting about the tradegy in Istanbul, surely this is the same as Munich; funnily enough no-one seems to care about what happened to Leeds fans.
It is not ONLY Leeds fans who have sick chants but it seems to be only Leeds fans who get the complaints, it cannot be one rule foe one and one for another.
Think about your facts before you speak
Complain about this comment
I just don't like how people tar Leeds fans with the same brush. It's the same as all clubs with such a reputation - it's always a small minority of idiots who cause the trouble.
Complain about this comment
Constantly, i read with despair just how far detached people are from reality.
Every posted comment is a biased posted comment in favour of the team being ridiculed at the time, all teams have tags that follow them round from ground to ground, its part of football, its what makes football such a joyous spectacle to watch. Do you really expect 10,000 fans hungry for excitement to sit and occasionally shout, oh well done number 7 that showed the full back a trick or two or the same 10,000 baying for the guys blood and encouraging your attacker to " skin the B***** ".
When a player goes down, when a player is offside whether the supporter sees it or not he will jump with the rest of the crowd screaming that worst act of football violence has just been committed against his teams player. He will sing along to the songs which hit the very heart of the opposing supporter and the deeper it hits home the better he feels and the opposing supporter will do the same and anyone who says different either doesn't go to football or is a liar. Please take a moment to realise that the whole argument here is for one side to get the better of the other side come what may, some will do it with a bit more rational than the other and post quite educated comments all aimed at achieving the same result. Some will do it in words bordering on verbal abuse but at the end if the day albeit for a few moronic people football is still a very pleasant sport to follow.
Take a breath and see it for what it is. Take a chill pill.
Take 1000 manchester united fans and give them an option...... trade the death of your granny for one point that would secure Leeds united a place in league 1 and granny would die a thousand deaths, but its only football.
Wow i could go on for hours :o)
Complain about this comment
I believe Leeds will do it this time. Gary Mc has a very sensible head on his shoulders. Add to that the good balance between youth and experience and the amazing fans, in the positive sense. At least I will be routing for them now as every season for almost 40 years.
Complain about this comment
Nearly 11000 season tickets sold. Wow! Puts Leeds in joint second place in West Yorkshire, about level with Bradford City (Fourth Division) and only 5500 behind Huddersfield Town. Very impressive.
Complain about this comment
22 check the overall figures at the end of the season then come back with the facts, then wipe the egg of your face.
Complain about this comment
yeovil_til_i_die
I think it was in post 1, which got erased I made the comment.
I don't think they're a huge club, granted they have a good, large fanbase, however I believe that Leeds fans hold their team in higher regard than most.
The played the "15 point" saga far too much last season, and will no doubt constantly talk about it for seasons to come. IMHO they got what they deserved in that respect.
I do not think they will do as well as they think next season. They are lightweight in midfield and teams in the division will also be prepared for them more substantially this term as last season they had a point to prove.
Complain about this comment
What right do Leeds have to promotion??
There a fine example of mis-management in modern day football. Why the Football League bottled it and didn't take their golden share off them only the weak and feeble committee members know.
Oh and there is the small matter of the pitch invasion when they were relegated from the championship that somehow found its way to being swept under the proverbial carpet.
Here's hoping that Leeds stay in the lower leagues for the next 5 or so years, they deserve it more than any other club in the world.
Good Luck to them.
Complain about this comment
leeds do have the best set of players in L1,the best player signed this pre season by any L1 side was robinson(leeds)no one can say different,we have at least 2 players for every position and the rest of L1 will just have to get used to the fact that leeds will not be lining their clubs pockets after this season.this rubbish about -15 helping the team to want to win more is stupid,if any thing the players would think 'whats the point',the team is much stronger than last season.it's leeds title to lose and the bookies know that by making them odds on for promotion.
Complain about this comment
I think we'll go up. That isn't arrogance, just my opinion. We were the second best team in the league last year and we've kept that squad and added a few to it.
People are bound to hate us though, particuarly in League One as we are so by far and away the biggest side in the division. We get used to it and thrive on it to be honest.
Complain about this comment
Ah my friend the Cardiff fan, how blind you are!
Not only has Ridsdale ruined any chance you have of EVER making it into a European competition, he has also brainwashed you into thinking he cares for the club!
I am a student of one of Cardiff's best known shareholders... I won't name names (AE) but basically, this shareholder gave our group a small insight into Ridsdale... Arrogant, self centred and con-man seem to be the main words coming out of the chat we had about him!
he is using Cardiff to get the money from the stadium deal (If you didn't know, he is set to pocket £50m upon completion) he is then going to walk away and hand the club back to Sam Hammam to avoid the courts!
As for the comment re Cardiff never being able to make Europe, this is because he said he wanted to be governed by the English FA re their Cup final exploits. this means that, although they were offered the chance to let a side compete in the Welsh Premier, he turned it down, even though it was just a reserve side!
So now, as they are never going to make Europe through league positioning, they will never make Europe, and neither will any other side from Wales playing in the Englsih leagues, as they have fallen under the same restrictions!
A very shrewd businessman, but he has ripped you off!
If I was you, i would TRY and take out a loan, go to the bookies and put a bet on Ridsdale and Jones (His sidekick in all of this, hence why he never got sacked!!!) leaving by Christmas!
Complain about this comment
22 - so Huddersfield have sold more season tickets than their biggest crowd of last seaon......................interesting.
Complain about this comment
What is it with people always saying how Leeds aren't a big club. Thats what all the other League One teams said last season yet if we aren't why is it that all other League One teams had their highest attendences when playing Leeds.
Complain about this comment
superwhites7 - Do you know what odds-on means? I'm guessing not as Leeds are 3-1, Leicester are only 9-2 so you haven't been predicted to walk it.
Of course the -15 thing helped can you imagine what the players were promised if they went up or stayed in the division? Plus Leeds had a "We'll show them we can survive" attitude, which is good but will be lacking this term.
Complain about this comment
Good to see so many begruggers enjoying leeds plight. Its clear to see that mr ridsdale is doing good things for cardiff its just shameful he made all the mistakes he learnt from with Leeds. Leeds have spent more years in the lower divisions than any other top english club so nobody at Elland road feels the divine right to Premiership status, we are a club built on hard work and as one or two have mentioned "passion". It'll be many many years before leeds win trophies again but their supporters wont forsake them as other so called big clubs supporters have done.
Complain about this comment
Leeds were riding the crest of a Ken Bates induced wave of indignation last season in League one and this provided a perverse psychological boost that gave rise to their high points tally. In the end natural justice prevailed and they were given a footballing lesson in the play off final. Whereas I sympathise with the thousands of genuine football loving Leeds fans you can not escape the fact that the majority of other English fans abhor Leeds simply because of their disgraceful history. This is not helped by having had some appalling characters in positions of authority in the club, past and present. Leeds will struggle this season, it will not be a walkover. Having a huge fan base and loadsa money is not enough, they do not have a God given right to top flight football.
Complain about this comment
superwhites7 suggests that the bookies know Leeds are the best team by making them odds on favourites to go up.
These are the same bookmakers who have made my team (Peterborough) third favourites to go up. Now I love my team as much as anyone, and I am always optimistic as to their chances, but to me this just illustrates how little the bookies know about League 1.
I suggest you look a little further down the bookies odds before you use them as justification for your point!!!
Complain about this comment
Being a Spurs supporter means there isn't much to get excited about on most weekends (unless there are cup matches...) so the last few years I have derived much more enjoyment following Leeds. The club should be commended for the immense pleasure they have brought to many thousands of people who, like myself, have enjoyed watching them struggle against the likes of the mighty Milton keynes Dons. COME ON YOU DO-ONS!
Complain about this comment
I don't believe any club has a God Given right to be anywhere. But I do believe Leeds have a strong enough team to get promoted this season. Isn't that what this blog is about? Not whether or not you love or hate any other team.
When I was a kid living near Halifax it was the done thing to hate Man U and Liverpool, as well as any club down south. I think I've grown up since then, but I will still support Leeds for the football and for the tradition which they bring to which ever League they happen to be in. If they don't get promoted because three better teams did, I will be sad, but it will be OK, just like this past season.
At the end of the day, 15 points here or there, under the rules which Leeds and everyone else accepted, three better teams got promoted.
Complain about this comment
Typical Leeds, thinking they're going to get promotion simply for being "a big club" even though the season hasn't even started. They thought they were the best last season, and didn't deserve the -15 points. I don't think they did, but that's another story. (they should have started in Lge2)
Meanwhile:
Andy Robinson has been spotted working the lifts in Debenhams. One minute he's up, the next minute he's down!
(Credit to Neil in Morriston for that one)
Complain about this comment
As a celtic fan i have only one experience of playing leeds, it was a pre season "friendly". On the way up to Celtic Park it looked like a war had broken out. The leeds fans were involved in trouble all over Glasgow city centre and continued to goad the celtic fans within the ground with UVF flags, pro Ulster songs and rule brittania rubbish throughout the game. Each club works hard to build its identity, and when this becomes rotten, change must come from the top down. If Leeds means so much to so many then surely identifying and banning the rogues will bring in many more civilised fans in the long term. At Celtic Park it has taken 10 years to rid the club of its Pro IRA baggage, we now have 60,000 season ticket holders, most of whom would point out a bigot to police if the old chants started. Rangers are still struggling to get rid of the undesirable bigots and in Glasgow we have no doubt that it was the orange mob who started the recent Manchester riots. Leeds and Rangers share many parallels, passionate, loyal fans but with a warped sense of identity.
Football doesn't want anything to do with low life scumbags.
Complain about this comment
So to the question.
My answer is yes. (I hope)
We are not guaranteed anything, or the bookies wouldn't offer odds would they? Watch out for Carlisle, Leicester, Southend, Scunthorpe and one or two others.
We are a big club(in support and history) they are League 1 or Championship class players. Not the famous names of old. Can we handle a second year of Cup Finals. We again are the team they will all want to beat.
Complain about this comment
People say Leeds fans are arrogant and don't deserve the press and there are better teams in the league. Yes we are arrogant, we've had the good times and want them back any 'fan' accepting that we are happy in League 1 or even the Championship doesn't deserve to say they are a Leeds supporter. We have bigger fan base than any club outside the Prem and most in it, more passionate fans than any other club I know.
We deserve the column inches as, whether you like to admit it or not, we are the biggest team in the league (maybe not the best although its a close contest) but, as proved last season we bring in the crowds to some of the worst supported teams in the division. People say they dislike 'dirty' Leeds, good that just means we've got something you wish you had, fans with conviction and passion, large crowds and a good team that has every chance to get out of this league. Other teams hate us and I can think of nothing better, its what brings us together as a club and I'd rather that than be an average club that nobody cares about. MOT!
Complain about this comment
Why will Leeds be the team to beat? They have very little money and not many top experienced players everyone thinks they will walk the league but they most definately won't! Leicester will be the team everyone wants to play against we have Matt Oakley, Stephen Clemence, Joe Mattock, Patrick Kisnorbo, Max Gradel, DJ Campbell and Steve Howard who are all very talented players and subject to very high transfer fees. What Leeds players can you name- Beckford? Can't really think of anyone else. Leeds are a team living in the past and to say there the teaam to beat is based purely on their name, I'm not saying Leicester will certainly go up but to say Leeds are still the team to beat is silly, after all.... what team doesn't try and beat the opposition team?
Complain about this comment
Yeh ok. Leeds do have a massive fan base and due to this, are one of the biggest clubs in England.
However leeds fans are incredibly annoying. They ALL think that they are bigger than the league their in and think they deserve to be the in premiership, which is really wrong. The club are skint so no moneys coming in for players which means if they go up next season, they will have a medioka team and won't be strong enough.
Another thing that really irritates me is that leeds fans continuously say "ohh you don't know what we've been through, it's really difficult." ...... yes i know it is. Im a brighton fan and we've been to the top and back down to near obliviation from football and i you don't see me saying we deserve to be in the premiership. All i look for is realistic targets like the play-offs and then relegation if we get promoted despite previous success.
ALL leeds fans need too realise they're not going to get back to the top any time soon if ever. I would just appreciate that your club hasn't gone backrupt like mine nearly did and I'm thankful that we're still hear.
Realise that you are just lucky to see the club you love playing football still and that you didn't end up like luton and facing nearly certain relegation and possible liquidation!
Complain about this comment
For the person who said Leeds have the best set of players in League One... hahaha Name them!! Robinson? Haha- Who? If Leicester can keep all their current crop of players they have a much better team than Leeds - and maybe a few other teams do also!
Complain about this comment
Theres so many comments saying. "Just because you're a big club doesnt mean youre going to go to the premiership", well stuff along those lines, we're not saying that, we're saying that we have a blummin good set of players, and the money, to go up. We've all seen what clubs with money can do haven't we?
I think that we just want to be up there more, as we are one of the few teams in this division who have recently tasted premier league football, not only that, but we've been right up there (like being top of the league during the new millenium). Barely any of the teams down here know what its like to support your club in the premiership, and so you will not expect to be there as much, its not arrogance, its the premierships lure.
However, I am concerned why leicester arent as well tipped to go up, as they have made some good summer signings, and loaned players from the "big four" everyones seen what the likes of bentner, campbell and sinclair etc are capable of when they were loaned out to lower league clubs, and looked what happened to birmingham and hull. I'm not saying their success depended on one player (or in Birminghams case two(Larsson)) but they were key players in their promotion.
Complain about this comment
I think that we will go up this season.
Granted, there is Leicester, who will undoubtedly cause us problems, as well as other teams such as Colchester, Scunthorpe and Carlisle but we DO remain the team to beat.
Most of the highest attendances from League One last season came when teams played Leeds, and we are still a big club, we have the biggest stadium outside the Premier League, and the 10th biggest Club Stadium in England, as well as our unbelievable fans.
Our fans are passionate enough to keep going to games despite us being so low in the English league system. We broke the Football League's record for a third tier attendance twice last season, and we could even beat it this season.
No-one is saying it's going to be easy, but we have a striker who will score 20 goals a season at this level in Jermaine Beckford, we have midfielders who will assist as well as score in players such as Andy Robinson and Jonny Howson. We also have defenders such as Paul Huntington and Lubomir Michalik who are both brilliant for this level, and we have a brilliant goalkeeper in Casper Ankergren.
The 15 points saga was extremely tiring last season, and we will go on about it for years to come, but thats only because we feel we were hard done by. I think Luton Town were even worse done by, losing 20 points instead of 15, as well as the addition of the 10 points for going into administration. But Leeds United will be back this year, starting on level terms and ready to play as well as we can, with the fans right behind the players and Macca.
Leeds United will get promoted this season, thats not a fan's dream, its an honest opinion.
Complain about this comment
Half of these comments are ridiculous, There is no doubt LUFC are the favourites to win promotion, and so they should be, what possible reason is there for anyone else to be ahead of them.
Based on their form from last season, the additions to the squad that have been made, pre season form amongst other things, "the bookies dont know much about league 1" funny stuff, does that mean they dont know much about horses either? must do.
Peoples hate only comes from jelously, No matter what some people may beleive LUFC are the biggest club in league one, probably even out of the PL.
What are peoples arguments for not being a big club? what defines a big club?
Repuation
Fanbase
History
Expectation
Wealth
Dylanlegend.
You cant argue that leeds have got the best set of players, its impossible. on paper this team should win the league, it might not, but it should. The game goes on stats, form figures etc... The only people who dont think leeds will win promotion this season are the people that dont want them to. for whatever reasons they are.
and people like danandthebrightonfan
"leeds fans need to realsie there not going to get back to the top flight any time soon"
Hull City, Stoke City, two teams, did you think they wold be there anytime soon.
Overall LUFC should win promotion this coming year, and should win the league one title, and in my mind there is no doubt they will. So if i were you, id go to your bookmakers and take advantage of that 3/1 price.
Complain about this comment
Clarkson LUFC - you made a good point by saying half the comments on here are ridiculous - and yours is probably the MOST ridiculous!
You can't argue that Leeds have got the best set of players - What? I'm not! I'm saying they haven't got the best set of players!!
You're totally wrong... on paper Leicester have by far the better team and we will pull in 22000 + supporters on a bad day!!
We have made better signings than you - MK Dons best player last year Lloyd Dyer, Burys best player Nicky Adams, Liverpools Jack Hobbs, Arsenals Gilbert, Bulgarian international CB Tunchev - We paid £1 million for him - can Leeds really match that? Oh sorry Snodgrass - must be brillant if he can score 10 goals in the Scottish First division haha - my nan could!!
In total 3 of our MIDFIELD players scored a total of 40 goals last season - and they are all under 25!!
Basically, if you think Leeds have the best team on paper in League One! Who exactly? I've just looked at your players and not one stands out!!
Complain about this comment
Fred....how can you get so much wrong....firstly Leeds "disgraceful history" care to go into detail for me ? so we can make comparisons with a few other clubs...
Second...the dirty Leeds tag comes from the Leeds team of the 70s and stems from the fact that played the preassure game when they didnt have posession. Funnily enough that style of play is now looked on as the correct way to play football... but hey Leeds are still dirty because people need someone to hate, the brainless ones do anyway.
Third "Leeds will struggle this season"..... christ what planet are you on ??? We have good youngsters coming through, a good commited manager and almost every player in the first squad could play in the championship, a couple maybe in the prem. I dont expect us to go on a streak like the start of last season but i do expect us to win in more style when we do.
All of what you have said it tinged with emotion rather than cold hard logic. I really dont understand why people get so nasty with other clubs supporters. Do people honestly beleive that a group of people can be called in to question based on the club they support ??? There are leeds fans all over the world !!!! Thousands in Ireland, Australia and Scandinavia.... I dont hate any football club, not even Man U, infact i admire Fergie for what hes done and sympaphize with the jelous hatred Man U used to be inflicted with.
Finally all of the misguided hatred of leeds (which started in the 60s because a unkown club managed to rock the boat) means that its vital that Leeds recover so that the big middle finger can be shown to the haters, to the establishment.... and you wonder why we have a seige mentality !
Complain about this comment
'Wilbo-Baggins wrote:
Never again should the premiership be fouled by chanting about the Munich disaster. '
as a leeds fan i whole heartedly agree with you, however it is also true that leeds fans should never be met with songs about the terrible events that occured in istanbul with the two leeds fans been stabbed!!
on the subject of promotion, looks like we're bulding a strong squad and automatic should be well within our reach, on on on ....
Complain about this comment
"Nearly 11000 season tickets sold. Wow! Puts Leeds in joint second place in West Yorkshire, about level with Bradford City (Fourth Division) and only 5500 behind Huddersfield Town. Very impressive."
Yes and how much of a price difference is there between the three clubs? We at Leeds are still paying Premiership prices thanks by and large to Uncle Ken. In the current financial situation, lots of people, myself included cannot afford the £400-or so- that a season ticket would cost us.
In regards to the original blog, I think Leeds will be up there this season. It will be a stern test on the bottle and ability of our players this season, though if he can continue to produce the form we were blessed with at the end of the previous season, I do have confidence and a lot of it.
Complain about this comment
Can't see Leeds going up - last season they had a point to prove with that 15 point deduction. If it wasn't for that firing them up - and no doubt Wise used it to whip them into a fervour - I think they'd have been on the edges of the play-offs.
On the other hand, I see the Premiership taking the franchise route at some point in the next few years, and Leeds will get in that way.
Complain about this comment
Chareoes, in answer to your question what planet am I on ?' - I m on, or rather over the moon. We, that is DRFC, are in the Championship.
Complain about this comment
"Leeds are the favourites to win the division and this season they do not have to negotiate the handicap of a 15-point deduction that they were awarded last year for breaking competition insolvency rules. Had they started the last campaign on a level playing field, United would have finished on 91 points and secured automatic promotion."
Not quite, if Leeds hadn't started last season with a 15 point deduction they would've started the season in League 2.
But hey, why let that get in the way of a "we're too massive to be in League 1 and should be promoted straight to the Premiership" article?
Complain about this comment
Bloggers who question the support that LUFC enjoy to this point in time must consider that as with any other club once a supporter, always a supporter.
I go back to 1968, but the best memory is still Frank Worthingtons goal at the Oval,Belfast against Glentoran during the 70's ( or was it the 80's?) in any case we are still marching on together!
Leeds 11/4 favourites to win league one.... the bookies are never wrong!
Complain about this comment
Champions of the top league in the 60's, 70's and 90's. Winners of the FA cup and league cup. First British team to win two European trophies. First British Team to play all European Finals, second Engish team to reach final of EuropeanCup. Largest attendance for a European match , 135,000 v Celtic. Top of Premiership at start of this Millenium. First team to reach last 4 of Champions league this century. Not just a big club, a true Giant of the modern game. Good Luck Gary and the boys.
Complain about this comment
'Had they started the last campaign on a level playing field, United would have finished on 91 points and secured automatic promotion'
If Leeds hadnt had broken the rules, they'd probably be in the Championship, but they are not because the Football League saw a few rules broken.
Also Leeds arent the cert favourites to go up, we have Leicester City :D who will beat Leeds on our way to the title :D
UP THE FOXES!
Complain about this comment
League One is a graveyard for teams with big egos - until Leeds accept they are a League One side rather than being sentimental about the past, they should not assume anything.
As for "marching on together", they certainly weren't in their Championship relegation season - the truth is the club relies on a high percentage of glory-hunters to fill their ground which leaves them in a catch-22 situation with regards revenues from gate receipts.
No one takes joy in what has happened to Leeds, but they might get some more sympathy if they acted a bit more humbly
Complain about this comment
our "we're too big for league 1" was one of the reasons we started the season so well. few of us thought it was true, but it was good propeganda. it stemmed from the arrogance of dennis wise, not the fans arrogance. but the players believing they could do this league easily showed, football has a lot to do with confidence, and thats what we had.
Complain about this comment
Personally I feel very confident about the coming season. I think Gary Mcallister is an excellent coach, and proved within weeks of being appointed that he can get the lads playing good passing football rather than the more direct Wise tactics. I can understand why some of the smaller clubs feel aggrieved at the attention that United get, and also why Leicester fans, as DylanLegend pointed out, who still have most of last seasons playing staff will be desperate not to promise so much, and fail so miserably like last term.
Also "Webbyfox" it's ok you talking about clubs going into administration. Leicester were the last team do do this and come out smelling of roses, with a new ground and no points deduction. This made the football league act. So the likes of Leeds Luton Bournemouth and Rotherham know who to blame.
Complain about this comment
It makes me laugh when people say that there team has a great squad, then go on to name three or four players that few people outside of their own ground recognise.
Leicester City have far and away the best squad of players in this division, and for my money they will win the title. As for the numpty who said the bookies are never wrong - do you honestly think Posh are the third best team in the division? I don't, and I have supported them for 26 years! Other than me, nobody else has even mentioned them in the whole of the thread.
If you want to talk squads with a few classy players, how about a current member of the England squad (Joe Lewis), The rock at the heart of the Welsh defence (Craig Morgan), a highly rated, 30 goal a season striker (Aaron Mclean) and probably the most gifted player outside of the top two divisions (George Boyd).
Leeds will do well this season, but they are no better or worse than the five or six other teams who could realistically finish 2nd behind Leicester.
Complain about this comment
After ten years in this country - and ten years of going to football (I am Leyton Orient fan) I think my experience at Leeds United is a bit different. I can not, in a public forum, repeat what Leeds fans were singing as we left the ground. Kids with their fathers, kids with their mothers, using gestures that are so inflammatory and language that was horrible. From my perspective, I hope they do go up so that we won't have to see them again.
Complain about this comment
25. At 4:04pm on 29 Jul 2008, babyTeenwolf wrote:
What right do Leeds have to promotion??
There a fine example of mis-management in modern day football. Why the Football League bottled it and didn't take their golden share off them only the weak and feeble committee members know.
Oh and there is the small matter of the pitch invasion when they were relegated from the championship that somehow found its way to being swept under the proverbial carpet.
Here's hoping that Leeds stay in the lower leagues for the next 5 or so years, they deserve it more than any other club in the world.
Good Luck to them.
because if the football authorities take the golden share off every club that hits financial difficulties there will be less than 20 teams left in 10 years time
Complain about this comment
Well said Nick up North! Finally someone talking sense I hope Peterborough do well!! I can name more Peterborough players than Leeds players thats how good Leeds squad is!!
Complain about this comment
just food for thought.
what have the fans attitudes got to do with going up? so many have mentioned yobbish fans, man united have them, arsenal have them. this article was all about the team, not the fans.
Complain about this comment
dear fred, your pathetic reply kind of proves a point doesnt it....
oh and whats with the leicester city this leicester city that, upset that the media havent labeled you favourites ???
most importantly who cares.... it will all be judged at the end of the season now sod off and get a life lol
Complain about this comment
dylanledgend.
you seem to base a players quality on how well known he is.
plenty of people knew of tresor kandol after his first season with us, i rest my case.
Complain about this comment
Oh sorry I shouldn't base a players quality on how well he is known!!
I definately think Snodgrass is a much better player than Cristiano Ronaldo - OK not as well known but people just haven't realised Snodgrass is one of the worlds best players!! haha!!
Complain about this comment
well done, clearly a premiership player will be more known than a league one player, who has just been playing in scotlands first tier. you were talking about peterborough players. remind me, does ronaldo play for the posh? ah, thought not.
just heard on LUTV, snodgrass was offered a trial from barcelona, which he turned down.
Complain about this comment
Don't blame him!! Why would you want to play for Barcelona when you can play for Leeds? Ha
Complain about this comment
it was when he was at livingston actually. dont seem to be saying much about what the whole debate between us two was about though, damn.
Complain about this comment
lol!! Dont worry mate lets agree to disagree! I'm actually looking forward to playing Leeds and hope we both go up
Complain about this comment
I agree that being a leeds fan has been difficult over the last few years. But spare a thought for Leicester. They are Wowing over the same squad that they will be fiercely slagging off in the Leicester Mercury in a few months time.
Complain about this comment
i seem to remember at cardiff vs leeds 06-07 it started from leeds fans about Dave Jones being a paedophile and led onto major chanting about Aberfan, which has absolutely nothing to do with Cardiff and is sick to the core chanting about a village which was devastated by a pit collapsing on a school. Im not saying that cardiff are whiter than white as i know as a fan they are not, but that type of sick chanting has made me never have any respect for leeds fans. I can understand the sheep things and welsh/english things but, the same as munich chanting, to chant about something that happened 42 years ago with 144 people dying (116 kids) gives me no reason to ever think anything else about leeds fans.
Complain about this comment
Goon169, you are generalising! A few idiots maybe, but not the whole Leeds mass. I was at the match and truely did not hear this. But I seem to remember Istanbul taunts. But of course thats ok
Complain about this comment
All this 'my club is better than your club' comments are very lame. The playground is over there!!
Complain about this comment
38. As a catholic Leeds fan for 35 years I agree with much of what you say and really don't llike the young lads sometimes singing no surrender ... something they have no clue about in my opinion - just windy up rubbish
Any rational person will tell you though that we have the squad to get promoted this season
Complain about this comment
Well im a Leeds fan from Nottingham so i dont go up to ER as much as i would like but having been to many different grounds and watched many different teams (including forest- to which their support doesnt compare!) i can honestly say that i have never witnessed support like it and its that support which makes me love the club even more the more i go and watch, as for the fans who give our club a bad name i think that every club has its trouble makers and we are no different but we seem to be judged more than other clubs? but i guess that is one of the lures of being a leeds fans (the siege mentality)
In terms of who is going to be promoted (which is supposed to be the basis of this blog) i honestly think we will be up there but this league is tough and there are many good footballing sides. We have bought in some promising players and if we play the passing football that gary mac is trying to instil into the players, i think we will do well!
MOT!!!
Complain about this comment
Leeds are a massive club and have to, some how, find a way back into the Premiership sooner rather than later.
Complain about this comment
it was somewhere around the middle of reading these 80 posts that i realised just how much i despise everything that goes with football other than the game itself.
it's only when it gets to this point of the year that i actually realise how little i miss all the bullshit that gets spouted about this supposed "beautiful game".
this bloke writes a fair and unbiased account of leeds' recent history hoping to provoke interesting debate and all you ever get is a bunch of moronic comments every time.
if you are one of these people, next time you think about posting childish comments from within your cosy little bubble of anonymity, just ask yourself what you're trying to prove, and who the hell you think is actually going to care what you think.
Complain about this comment
Bless, the poor poor (enter your club name here) people who met those nasty, nasty Leeds fans.
Grow a pair.
Our support is no worse than any other club in any league in the country. I personally like being hated, its great that people like to make comments about LUFC, because it helps me when I'm feeling sad that we aren't famous anymore.
As for the team, we should win the league this season, Leicester will need to rebuild whereas our lack of any meaningful signings show that Gary McAllister is happy with the players. Obviously Doncaster were a better team on the day, so thats fine, but without the unjustified 15 point deduction, we would have finished second, the continued fallout should see us get enough confidence.
As for the guy who said he didn't know an of our players, but knew some from Peterborough, well, you musn't know much about football then because most of our players have played in different leagues.... So should you really be commenting on players you've never heard of?
Complain about this comment
Ref Posting No.8
"I've been a Leeds Supporter all my life and like 95% of the fan base support them through thick and thin."
Well as the article points out, the average attendence was 26,546 last season. This compares to averages close to 40,000 before the 'big bang'.
Now, 95% of 40,000 =38,000 so correct me if I'm wrong but haven't you misplaced 11,454 'loyal' fans there buddy!
As for the bit about experiencing the passion of Leeds fans. Do you REALLY believe that drivel?!
The only way Leeds will ever be back competing as a top club is if they uncover a billionaire somewhere. That's the reality of where the game is at now.
Leeds gambled all and lost, and it couldn't have happened to a 'nicer' club.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Amazing isn't it. How many other teams fans find it compelling to seek out leeds united blogs and comment.
We're not famous anymore.
To all the Leicester fans(dylanlegend especially), if your players are so great why did you get relegated numpty?
Go to your own blogs and comment you are not wanted or needed here.
Or alternatively when the greatest show on earth comes to your little town, come voice your opinion in person.
MOT on n on
Complain about this comment
I can't wait for the season to start so the posturing gets done on the pitch instead of the blogs on the BBC website....
If Leeds are good enough to go up then they will do, if they aren't, they won't. Describing them as favourites because they were in the Champions League 8 years ago, and the whole "divine right" nonsense is just undignified, quite frankly. Leeds got relegated to League One of their own free will and saying they don't deserve to be there because they can get 30,000 people in to watch them is just a bit naive.
Most Leeds fans I've met both in League 1 last year and at Wembley back in May (being a Donny fan) have been good-humoured, genuine football fans who are as passionate about their team as the next guy. They have a small minority like every other club does, but their small minority is just a lot bigger than most, as you'd expect from a team that can fill a ground the size of Elland Road without much effort.
My hopes for League One this year are that the best team wins, and that the competition is as closely fought and as thrilling as it has been in previous years, when it's put the pre-written script of the Premiership to shame time and time again.
Complain about this comment
The point of this blog is to debate whether or not we think Leeds will go up. Putting my bias aside, I think Leeds will go up. I think we have a good squad. On the other hand, as much as I don't want to be drawn into the debate about whether or not Leeds is a big club. The number of posts on this blog confirm that this club is big. You have to be a big club to be hated by so many people. For Pete's sake, we're in League One and still getting all this attention!!!!! That confirms that many people (including fans of premier league clubs) are still following our progress in the lower leagues. I don't think that would happen if we were not a big club. The number of posts that follow mine will continue to confirm that we're a big club. Keep posting :-)
Complain about this comment
It's no use, despite attempts to put it behind them, or focus on here and now, Leeds will continue to be linked in the popular imagination with Ridsdale's follies. The whole sorded tale is so bizarre, it still has yet to be fully sorted out, and despite the passage of time, still holds more fascination for most non-Leeds supporters than such mundane matters as their present prospects for promotion. To fondly recall European glory or other matches from that surreal era only serves to call attention again to Ridsdale's murky dealings in the background at the time. The fact that this 'artful dodger' could actually have taken up new offices at another League club after the Leeds debacle beggars belief. It's almost as bad as that other world class charlatan Nick Leeson at Galway United. Football is turning into a real Rogues Gallery.
Complain about this comment
Leeds like all the other clubs in League One are there on merit. That is where they deserve to be. No club has a right to be in the Premier League or the Championship and if they are to go up this year then it will be through the hard work of everyone at the club.
Good luck to Leeds and good luck to all the other clubs who don't benefit from the publicity that Leeds receive which is way out of proportion to where they are now.
Complain about this comment
From the article: "Had they started the last campaign on a level playing field, United would have finished on 91 points and secured automatic promotion."
I cannot believe that Leeds would have had the start to last season that they did, had they not felt the injustice (to them) of that 15-point penalty, and the desire to get back to nil points as soon as possible.
Anyway, realistically Leeds have to be a strong bet for promotion. But as other clubs have shown in the past (Nottingham Forest recently in League One, and Hull City for years in League Two), the weight of expectation can sometimes be too much...
Complain about this comment
To the fans of clubs who think our season ticket sales are low:
On average we are paying £500 pound for a ST. Compare that to the £160 and £100 (I think!) for Bradford and Huddersfield respectively, and I think you can appreciate the scale of support Leeds have this season. The ST prices are higher than some teams in the Premiership.
To the fans of clubs who think our fans notoriously misbehave and chant inappropriately:
Of course Leeds has the minority few who try to goad other supporters and spoil the match day experience for other people, but let?s face it; they aren?t the only club with this problem. I?ve seen fans from Manchester United, Swansea, Millwall and many others acting in a similar fashion. Not to mention the ?Istanbul? chants Leeds fans suffer. Don?t forget there are countless other examples of bad chanting not involving Leeds fans ? Hillsborough and Hysel chants aimed at Liverpool, Munich aimed at Man U... this is a part of the game that probably happens at the vast majority of grounds, yet only really gets highlighted because it?s Leeds.
To the fans of clubs who can?t name any of Leeds? players:
You?ll soon learn in League One that whilst you know the names of your own players, you?re often left scratching your head when other teams come to town. League One isn?t the Premiership, not every player is a household name.
To the fans of clubs who think Leeds fans are misguided:
I?m sure there are fans out there who believe Leeds have a God-given right to be in the Premiership, but the vast majority do not. Several years of on and off field torture means that many fans are grounded and know that Leeds cannot and will not just walk promotion to the Championship or beyond that, the Premiership. It?s a badge that needs to be earned through hard work, and Leeds fans can appreciate this.
To the fans of clubs who are basing their judgment of how Leeds will do on one TV outing last season:
The back end of last season, after the hoofball of Dennis Wise, Leeds fans saw a more cultured approach by Gary McAllister to the way they played. Passing football, movement and some attractive football. Granted Leeds weren?t at the races for the play-off final, but those who witnessed the second semi-final and some games towards the back end of last season would have seen a glimpse of what McAllister is trying to do with the club. Let?s not forget McAllister inherited someone else?s squad last season, and also came in half way through. With a full pre-season behind him and signings of his choice, then we may see a more consistent standard of good football than we did last season.
To the fans of clubs who seemed to have missed the point of an article entitled ?Will Leeds March to Promotion??
Well Leeds have kept the core of last season?s squad and made a few shrewd signings (Robinson could prove to be the buy of the campaign). They have a good coaching staff and with the ?12th man? effect for home games, there is no reason why they can?t push for automatic promotion this season. Fans of Leicester need to realise that this league is not the walkover they seem to think it will be. At least two thirds of this division, on their day, could beat anyone. Do not take anything for granted!
Complain about this comment
to naitch1982
Thanks mate. This is what has been missing throughout this discussion.
I agree with all you say. Leeds IS one of the bigger clubs outside the Premiership, like it or not. Nevertheless the only way back in is through hard work and a solid management team. And maybe a little bit of luck from time to time.
Let's hope this combination will give us a season of good and successful football!
Complain about this comment
Dylanlegend, the word, "definitely" is spelled thus, definitely, not definately. You definitely saved a fortune on your education.
Complain about this comment
Keep the knocks coming, its like water off a ducks back now. Wilbo-Baggins, what do you know? We have a number of black players at the club that have nothing but respect for leeds fans. One of the clubs most influential and inspirational players Lucas Radebe is still a hero and his name can still be heard at home games by the same fans as you accuse of the 'R' word.
Leeds is one of the greats clubs of english football. The average attendence was higher than many premiership sides and most of Serie A last season with rediculous ticket prices. Regardless of your opinions of the club nobody can deny the size of the fan base and the passion of the fans. It is this more than anything that makes great clubs along with L'Pool, Man U, Arsenal etc.
Complain about this comment
One more season in League one, I think, then they can come off the naughty step.
Complain about this comment
I have nothing against Leeds as a club but I am gettiing rather bored of the mentaility that follows the so-called big teams around once they get relegated. Leeds and no doubt Leicester and Forest last year all demanded automatic promotion like it was a divine right seemingly just because they have a large fanbase and were in the top flight a few years ago.
I have news for you fellas - you all did something very wrong to be relegated in the first place and you have to work just as hard as everybody else to get promotion. You don't deserve it for any other reason!
Complain about this comment
Leeds fans have finally got the team and are in the division they deserve. Long may they stay where they are so the championship and premiership do not have to put up with their abusive chanting and consistant involvement in the negative aspects of football.
Complain about this comment
I think Leeds United have definately been very unlucky with administration and all that malarky.
However, people are saying how they are loyal, passionate etc however whether it be in a school, college, university, football club the majority is summed up by the minority.
Im not sad enough to sit through this and read the 95 comments or so but from the first bunch a lot of people are defendng leeds and i think they need to step back, accept they are passionate however afterearing about the Munich Air Disaster chanting quite frankly that is disgusting and they need to sort out their ways.
The Munich event was the worst thing ever to happen from football, it is much more than Leeds United, so the "dirty Leeds supporters" branding name will go as soon as the supporters ( the minority) sort out their ways !
this is how it will be for years unless a change is sort out.
Complain about this comment
For fans of clubs who can't be bothered to read the previous 95 posts:
At least read mine!
You'd think Leeds were the only team in the country to sing about Munich etc. This isn't the case.
Complain about this comment
Where are people getting this "We have a right to go up because we are a big club" stuff from? From what I have seen no Leeds fan has come on here and said this. On paper we have the best team in the league so we SHOULD go up, thats not me saying we will though, or that we have the 'right' to.
People seem to be desperately looking for tiny pathetic reasons to have a pop at us.
You must all be very proud.
Complain about this comment
As a Leeds fan for more years than I care to remember I am sick of people slagging us off. Leeds are the most passionate fans in the league and believe me I have visited nearly all the 92 clubs and some non league clubs. Barnet last Saturday could have been the Champions League Final the fans were so noisy and passioante, with no nasty chanting. Believe me I have heard Munich chants at Eastlands too. Not that it makes it right. Its the real MCcoy. Roy Keane was right about the prawn sandwich brigade. There isn't even any atmosphere at Old Trafford cos they certainly act like they have a God given right to win, and visiting teams are just there to make up the numbers. League one - like the others is a hard league to get out of and Leeds could have shot themselves in the foot saying they would get promoted. Everyone wnats to beat them and Man U still sing chants about them so were not famous anymore eh! Lets not forget Forest would have been in the play offs this year if they Leeds hadn't lost their points, and might noth have been promoted either, and they still live on past glories. Its not about yesterday no matter who you are its the here and now that matters. All I can say is marching on together!!!!!
Complain about this comment
Right... I admit that I say on bbc that people argue about pety things however this isn't exactly small and irrelevant to the post.
OT is not exactly a bad atmosphere... I agree the fans think they should win every match but lets be honest it is true.
The likes of wigan against ManU....
The only reason they lose is if they are mentally and physically tired.
Anyway besides the point. If the whole consensus was that we don't remember the past football wouldn't be a violent game.
I would also like someone to tell me which teams are worse at the Munich chants than Leeds and if there are worse ones I seriously hope that people sort their lives out.
However, I agree that apart from the Munich air I have no grudges to bear at all with Leeds. I am sure one of the first teams people think of when its not premiership is Leeds.
Many tourists will go and see Elland Road o know a lot about it.
Its now or never really for Leeds.
If they don't go up this season.. the fans who are funding effectively... their money and upkeep will im sorry to say get bored.. or some will and it will have a domino effect.
no matter what the club is that is the truth..... we all know it.
Good luck Leeds and stop the rude chanting!!!!
Complain about this comment
Well, all said and done. Its obvious some folks are so bitter about the confidence leeds fans exude and i understand with them. Unfortunately some fans have earned the club a bad image by the unfortunate chants but that is not enough to undermine the passion of the fans and the support the club enjoys. Very few clubs in the world and I say: World; would be where leeds are today and would still command as much followership. My heart is somewhere up there in Elland road..... cheering Beckford and co to winning the division this time around. I am Nigerian and in Nigeria
Complain about this comment
maybe someone else has stated this, but i wanted to make sure someone had.
Wordsofwisdom said
"Now, 95% of 40,000 =38,000 so correct me if I'm wrong but haven't you misplaced 11,454 'loyal' fans there buddy!"
maybe leeds fans havent said it enough, big ken closed off the top tier of elland road, (minus the last two games of the season) throughout the whole season, and the two seasons before. i know 30 000 - 26 000 = more than 5% but can you get a grip. stop analysing our comments so hard because you cant think of anything else to say about us, so you point out the tiny things, because you love knocking us. but yeah, as also said by leeds fans, we cant be famous anymore if you all hate us.
Complain about this comment
I agree Bognor. The only people who are taking about Leeds have a 'god given right to be in the Premiership' are fans from other clubs telling us that that is what we believe. Probably the same fans who turned out in their masses to watch us at their grounds last season. Probably the same fans who try desperately to find an obsentity in our chants so that they can claim we are the roughest set of fans they have ever encountered... ah bless em!!!
Why we can't have a discussion about Leeds without songs about Munich being mentioned is beyond me. Just because the newspapers reported on it once, fans of other clubs seem to think that it is a weekly occurance. For so many fans to believe it still occurs is astounding and proves people will only believe and quote things which support their 'arguments' even though they have no first hand experience of it.
As for Leicester fan Dylan.... top flight experience is going to do the world of good in the third division!!!! Steve Howard coming to town sure is going to put an extra, erm, two people on your attendances away from home, and one of them will be his wife!!
Complain about this comment
Anyone with half a brain would buy a season ticket for £100! so not very suprising that Huddersfield have sold so many!!!!
Complain about this comment
Lohengrin - What are you doing now? Going through every comment written to check for spelling mistakes? Like mines gonna be the only one!! Just because you don't have anything interesting to argue about football you comment on my spelling - what are you? a woman?
Complain about this comment
As with most headlines ending in a question mark, the answer is no.
The only preconception regarding Leeds is that they are a "Massive club" who deserve to be in a higher league.
No one deserves success. Least of all Leeds.
Complain about this comment
are any of the comments from people supporting other teams reading leeds fans comments? their arguments are repetitive, , just echoing previous comments from other hatred fueled fans, which we have answered, its frustrating.
Complain about this comment
I've seen it on here and across other forums Sid, as soon as 'Leeds' are mentioned, hate-fuelled fans of other teams jump on the band wagon of slating our team\fans.
No-one ever seems to look at Leeds neutrally (As I try to all the time with other teams), we're dirty, we cheat, all our fans are neanderthals and we 'deserve' to be relegated\have points deducted\enter administration etc. (Note to other fans - Don't bother quoting this bit out of context, you'll only look an idiot)
What's ironic is, that for being such a badly behaved motley crew of fans, its a large number of fans of other teams that have spoilt Paul's blog by being unable to answer the question he asked in his blog title!
If you hate Leeds United, have a go!
Complain about this comment
Being A Stockport Fan but living in Harrogate i am looking forward to playing leeds at Elland Rd. For a team like us to b playing a big team in abig stadium is massive 4 us.
However, i do agree that leeds' squad isnt that strong. Having gone to the recent harrogate town V leeds Revserves with leeds playing the likes of Kandol, Westlake, Carroll and Lund i though that Kandol looked as dangerous as a goldfish and this is against a BS north team.
Seeing people with leeds stickers on the back of their cars makes me wonder how many of those fans acually go to games.
Stockport are not the biggest team in the league but we've sold close to 4,000 season tickets and we have a loyal fan base as shown by the highest away support in L2 last season. These are the people who call them selfs fans not the so called fans of 'leeds' who once went to a game in '99, the people who call them selfs fans of premier clubs i.e. United fans who live in surrey and even an extent to leicester fans who want to sack the managar after every defeat. This makes me pose the question what do u define as fans????
In question to the blog i think it will be Leeds and Scunthorpe with the 2 other relegated teams in the play-offs
Complain about this comment
It makes me laugh that all the teams that complaining are the most boring teams ever
i know we will play premiership football or championship football every year and dont even move anywhere. e.g teams such as boro .. BORING.. we get more fans than you and where two tiers below you.
Teams like that are a team with no passionate fans and nearly ejaculate when you sign someone mediocre and as soon as you see some talent in league one or championship your managers bending over the chairmans desk for some money.
support a decent team
or at least be passionate.
leeds deserve this more than anyone
any other team wanna start on minus 15 and end up in the final
please stand up and be counted
if not just go away and watch footy on the telly with your slippers on .. or at least come back when you know how to play football.
Complain about this comment
The question.............. Course Leeds will go up! I cant believe its this debatable, had they not lost those points they would have have gone up last season, so I think its a bit of a joke everyone is getting so wound up about it!
Second debate.... Leeds fans!
I have to say being a Man United fan living in Leeds (I appreciate its not the most clever move but my life does not revolve around football), I have met some funny Leeds fans who enjoy a joke and will have a laugh at you, and the scum name never goes away?! However, I have to say that I have been sat in the middle of North London watching a United/Gunners game and got stick but nothing like what I have experienced from "some" Leeds fans! Bitter and twisted springs to mind! I can think of several occasions where I have been sat in my local and some Leeds fan has sniffed me out, doesnt even know me and then basically called me every name under the sun. How they love mentioning how their beloved Leeds wouldnt have rammed Munich down peoples throats like Man United have, and whinge about the fact United is all about money. Well reality check for all you Leeds fans out there, you would give your right arm for Leeds to be as big as United, and while you got Ridsdale, we got Edwards who had the sense in the early nineties to a) Float the club, and most importantly b) Not go silly with wages. Grant you the Glazers are not my cup of tea but theres not much you can do about that. Lastly... if you want someone to blame, blame Howard Wilkinson, he sold Eric Cantona to United! That was the catalyst!
Complain about this comment
Leeds fans are annoying, they think they deserve to be in the premiership, they think they are the biggest club in the league this that and the other!!
I'll tell you whats annoying, everyone who hates leeds thinks we all think we deserve to be in the premiership!! Ive never said that, i don't even think theres a comment in the 106 comments above that say it. Everyone deserves to be in the premiership if they work hard and get there. Everyone knows that. Problem is when people think of leeds fans they are deluded. I personally haven't ever started a fight at a game, said we deserve to be in the premiership or anything like that, nor have most leeds fans going to the games!!
Heres a question, if we can't say we deserve success (which unless earned i don't believe we do) Then why is it ok for other fans in this blog to say we don't deserve success??? Can I now blow this out of perportion and say "Anyone who doesn't support leeds thinks that there team and there team only deserves success???" No I can't, because thats not how it is, its just a minority!! Same with all cases stated above!!
Who is going argue the fact that we are the biggest club in the league??? I personally don't care if we are the biggest club in the league or not, it makes not difference to me. But if we're going to have this argument, who is bigger. All i here is oh leeds aren't a big club anymore, not the biggest club in league one???? There is no club in league one that has got any bigger in terms of stature?? So who is bigger than us??
Another thing, if your gunna say we not good enough for promotion, why aren't we?? Second best team in the league last season, we have a bette team now and less "off the pitch" problems. I saw every team in this league last season, relegated and promoted aside, but I was only impressed by the likes of carlisle and oldham, maybe leyton orient also, but look at their end of season form..
I'll tell you why people think we won't get promoted, because everytime we do well, people try and find something to knock us down a few pegs, and what did they find last season?? They all said the mentality of the -15, yet when we confirmed our play-off spot, we were second in the last six games form guide, we were the best team in the league at that time, bournemouth aside who won like 6 out of 6. There was no mentality then, playing well wasn't gunna effect the arbitration panals decision was it?? NO it wasn't.
Even if the -15 mentality was the reason we didn't do so well, then why can't we argue that the reason we only lost any games was because teams worked harder when playing leeds. The mentality of playing Leeds United, most likely had the same effect as the proving a point mentatity!!!!
Anyway I have to go to work, but you carrying on hating leeds, I'll carry on Loving leeds with all the passion I posess, as will the rest of the YRA.
you keep slagging us off and hating us . . and I think i speak for all leeds fans when I say
WE LOVE IT!!!!!
Complain about this comment
I couldn't care less if Leeds were stuck in League One for the rest of their short future.
The Premiership and Championship hasn't missed them, I don't see why they will missed the season after next.
If we are to really sort the financial timebomb in football then Leeds going bankrupt due to poor decisions years ago would serve a real warning to the rest.
Myself I don't think they will be promoted.
Complain about this comment
Sid me old mate...we're all havin' a laugh, and enjoying it immensely!
Many of the Leeds fans on here question why they are hated so much. I'm sure there are many reasons but the fact is you are, so that in itself says something.
Complain about this comment
90% of the people who call Leeds, 'Dirty Leeds'. Haven't got a clue why they do so they just do it because everyone else does.
And i bet about 95% of people who say they hate Leeds don't know why they do either. Man Utd, Sheff Wendies/Blunts, Huddersfield, Bradford. All have reasons to dislike Leeds. All the other clubs 'fans' just follow what Man Utd do.
I noticed somone commented about the leeds reserves playing a strong team???
Kandol, is rubbish. We all know it.
The comments from some people on here (no. 1 especially) sound so childish its untrue. Grow Up.
Comment no.5
I don't have a clue where it says leeds are a massive club but you said they werent a massive club because the team they had last season wasnt that good.
What makes a big club-
Big Fanbase
Good History
Decent Team
Leeds have 2/3 of those.
As for this blog, Nothing like putting a bit more pressure on the Leeds team is there?
Leeds will hopefully walk this league, with Leicester in a distant 2nd. But Leeds are now a league 1 club, Next year hopefully a championship club and maybe in a couple of years a premiership club.
Complain about this comment
For a start I am a Leeds United fan so my points will no doubt be set upon by packs of non-Leeds fans as biased arrogant ramblings but here goes...
I think that we have a good team who are more than capable of going up. We have a good crop of youngsters coming through (though again we are still failing to produce decent strikers) with the likes of Howson, Delph, Gardner, Parker and so on.
I enjoy the banter (even though most of it is pure delight at our plight) with other fans - its part of the game of football. There are a few things that can't be denied though.
We have a massive fanbase both within the city and over the world and, unless we stay at this level for some years to come, we will always be seen as a big team in England. I'm not saying this gives us a right to be promoted but we are a big team. Oh and 100+ comments on a throwaway article about our promotion hopes with probably over half from non-Leeds fans just proves it!!
Complain about this comment
Dirty Leeds, Massive club, yeah, you're all right. You all hate us and we don't care, in fact we LOVE IT! It's called envy. Fight it out for 2nd place. MOT
Complain about this comment
Think the last comment sums up exactly why every other football fan hates you
Pure arrogance.
This whole 'you only hate us because you jealous' attitude is a typical example.
Personally, I'm sick of listening to Leeds fans bleating about the whole -15 points thing - you broke the rules, and made a deliberate and conscious effort to cheat, and as such were punished for it.
If you want to feel sorry for a club, feel sorry for Luton. If they'd have had afew more glory hunting supporters like LUFC they might not have been handed a ban that effectively puts them out of the football league.
But thats the league for you. Bottleless.
I have nothing but contempt for your tiny Yorkshire club and am happy to see such arrogant fans be given such a humiliating lesson.
Other football fans hate you for a reason - It just shows your level of arrrogance that you think the fans of EVERY other club are misguided.
And on a final note - based upon the final league positions from last season Leeds United are currently ranked 49th in the country - and thats the stat that matters.
Big club my arse.
Complain about this comment
There is no denying Leeds are a big club, it would be daft and rather blinkered for anyone to say otherwise!
But this doesn't mean we deserve anything, nor does it mean we will be promoted this season. Only performances on the pitch will and should decide that.
I think where some Leeds fans get carried away is just a simple matter of not explaining it properly and thats what gets up other teams noses.
We are not saying been a big club guaranees us or makes us more deserving of a top flight position, but if you look a the past big clubs normally do bounce back (ala Man City, Both Sheffield clubs, Birmingham, Notts Forest and probably many more throughout the years).
Complain about this comment
Re: Comment 38 by Jock Stein - I was sorry to hear about the antics of the idiots in Glasgow.
Living in Florida now but having been a Leeds fan since the late 60s, I remember the close "Friendship" that Leeds and Celtic fans had in the 70s. There was one time that Celtic visited Elland Road and Leeds fans gladly 'shared the kop' and mingled with Celtic fans without any trouble at all, singing and drinking together.
Complain about this comment
Leeds are in League one for a good reason. They are rubbish! History means nothing in football - it's all about the here and now and while the gap between top and bottom for English clubs keeps getting bigger, if you're not there now - short of getting a nice Russian on board - you're never gonna get there.
Great start to last season and then faded away - Leeds are where their fans deserve to be - at the bottom of the pile...
Complain about this comment
spurs fan.
never really lyked leeds bak in th day i must admit, but want them to win th league this year nd start pushin bak to th big prem.
Complain about this comment
Spoketoosoon, number 118,
And I think that you will find you have proved every Leeds fan correct too! You wait until post number 117 to find a post which 'proves your point' although there are many many others prior to this which are completely reasoned arguments. However, clearly we are all arrogant because Idlehero thinks you are envious of us.
Read what you want to read, believe what you want to believe. The attitude of far too many non Leeds fans.
I would suggest that the behind which you refer to in your last line is sizeable as you obviously spend too long sat on it to bother researching the truth!
Complain about this comment
I came on here wanting to write something constructive to do with the article. However, having seen the comments of Tman04 all I have to say is...
Learn to spell you total plum!
Complain about this comment
lol. I can spell if i want to, it's just quicker this way.
You total plum.
Complain about this comment
To comment 121
How can you say 'history means nothing in football'.
Surely history is what every great club, top footballing nation, club and world competition and fan base build their foundations on?
Without its history what would the FA cup mean (see League Cup for answer)?Without their history Celtic would not be remembered for the Lisbon Lions? without their European history Liverpool would be the equivalent to any other top flight team without a league win to their name in more than a decade (Everton for example)!!
Just the same as Leeds would not be a big club without the Revie team.
You can say history doesnt matter all you want but you are kidding yourself, its no surprise that (barring maybe chelsea) all the current bog clubs have had a rich and sustained period in their history at some point and thats not to say Chelsea are not building theirs now.
Complain about this comment
Leed walk the league???? Your having a laugh! As many posts on this article have stated Leeds have an average team and average fan base (granted they get large gates sometimes).
Fact of the matter is, League 1 championship is coming to Leicester! When we were relegated, I was very scepticle over whether we'd bounce back up, but we have a great manager and made some simple but very effective signings. And from what I've seen of the pre-season friendlies the Walkers stadium is going to be the fortress it once was!
LCFC till I die!
Complain about this comment
It would be naive to think Leeds aren't going to get promoted.
Anyhow, Supporters of teams in League One should be grateful that the addition of Leeds has given the League so much media attention and coverage. Yes that's an arrogant thing to say, but it is also a fact. Your teams can feel big, important and a bit special when they play at Elland Road.
So stop bad mouthing Leeds and appreciate and enjoy their presence in the League whilst you can. They won't be there next season.
Complain about this comment
"average fan base"
---
Average??
What on earth have you been on.
Highest Ever Attendance for 3rd tier football.
38,256
I cant believe Leicester fans, they're even more arrogant than we were when we came down.
The fact is it a hard league to get out of and no one is going to walk it.
People call Leeds fans arrogant.
But if we werent arrogant we wouldnt be true leeds fans!
History DOES matter in football. Big Clubs will always be big. BUT history isnt going to get us out of this league winning games will.
A big club in league one is just a league one club.
I'd like to see Leeds and Leicester promoted this season, but there are a lot of contenders to go up (laugh if you will leicester fans), you dont realise how hard this league is till your down here. NO ONE will walk this league.
Wait till May 09 to see who has gone up, ANYTHING can happen in this league.
Complain about this comment
Kezlop, post 123.
I didn't have to wait until post 117 to find justification for my argument. You only have to read through the pages and pages of drivel posted by the rest of the Leeds faithful to find countless examples.
How you can sit there and preach that the rest of the entire football world is ill informed and that we all simply 'read what we want to read, believe what we want to believe' is beyond belief - just another outstanding example of the sheer arrogance of you and your clubs supporters.
Then we have the likes of Squaremonkee (post 128) who seems to think the rest of League 1 are privilaged just to be playing in the same division as your mighty club!
If it wasn't so utterly laughable it'd be insulting.
Complain about this comment
There are not many teams, as a Liverpool fan,that get relegated, who I hope get back up to the premiership. West Ham went down and I was rooting for them, mainly because they try to play good football, and we always beat them!
However, I really think the premeirship is all the poorer for not having Leeds United in it. No question one of the big names, and as one of our countries greatest cities, its a big miss not to have them represented in the top level.
Leeds has great fans, and a great tradition, but you have had some really bad ownership issues, something I am beginning to understand with JR and Cliff Barnes running Liverpool!
I do have one sore memory, though- Wilkinson sold Cantona to Man Utd (for 1million!) and that sparked Uniteds revival. If I could turn back the clock on that one.....but I reckon Leeds fans feel the same way?
I am also a big fan of MacCallister, he was a joy to watch at Anfield and a real player.
Good luck next year, and lets hope we can see a Liverpool v Leeds prem game soon, as long as we win!
Complain about this comment
Keslop your inability to detect sarcasm is laughable.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Will Leeds get promoted? I think so, my picks are Leeds, Huddesfield, and Hereford in the play-off.
Are Leeds a big club? Obviously.
Is their presence beneficial to League 1? As they improve the attendance of every other club, yes.
These comments are from a Huddersfield supporter.
Complain about this comment
Leeds will be promoted without any doubt
They have the best squad in the league and have a lot of youngsters progressing from the academy
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Comment 134 from the hudds fan . . . . . thanks mate, exactly what im trying to say!!
Also history obvioulsy means something in football, if it didn't mean anything, football would be no different without it!! Would man united have 75,000 watch each game had they not won so much in the PAST???
No they wouldn't, of course it means something!!!
The huddersfield fan can admit that leeds are a good side in this league, so why can't others . . . if you've seen all the teams play, you know who are good!! I know whos good in this league, other leeds fans know, we just never get a chance to say as were defending leeds!!
Anyway . . . . . . . keep um coming, ive got nowt else to do!!!
Complain about this comment
Squaremonkee,
Who rattled your cage?
I don't recall commenting on your post! I think maybe your comment was aimed at Spoketoosoon.
Complain about this comment
Spoketoosoon,
Why can't you just see that you are backing up my point over and over again? Please tell me where I showed arogance? The rest of the entire football world?...Yep thats exactly what I said word for word!
Seriously... quit whilst you are behind, cos you are digging your own grave so quickly!
Complain about this comment
The negative comments towards Leeds in this blog demonstrate how stupid and blinkered alot of football fans really are.
I never criticise another club unless I have good reason, most of the fans on here have no good reason to have a pop at us (arrogant?, I can't find one message that says we have the 'right' to be any higher than we are).
If we weren't a big club then why are you taking time out of your lives to comment on a League One clubs blog?
Complain about this comment
Post 59 -
Dont start blaming Leicester for what you did.
We played by the rules!!!!
Gary Lineker and his gang brought us out, it was our old Board that did us over.
Bates didnt follow the rules and threw his toys out of the pram.
I dont think its Leeds title, there are 23 other clubs mind you, same goes to you Paul Flecther, dont start saying a team will go up yet when the season has yet to start!!!!!!!!!!
Complain about this comment
So who did countless interviews with League One players, show up to be the team that they all looked for?
As for Leicester, I know you can gather lots off pre-season friendlies. By your logic Barnet are going to finish above Arsenal in the Premier League (roll-eyes).
As for the chanting and alledged racism, please, just please grow a pair. It's pathetic, I don't see you on the Man Utd blogs talking about the 'Istanbul Reds' banner they brought to Elland Road, or the Millwall, Huddersfield, Hartlepool, Crewe, Swansea, Doncaster, Southend, Brighton, Bury and Forest fans signing songs about Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight, or the four fingered brigade from Huddersfield who turned up in the middle of the night to deface the Billy Bremner statute the night before the 10th anniversary of his death.
Go post on their boards about that you ridiculous hypocrites.
Complain about this comment
presto_west_end
One more season in League one, I think, then they can come off the naughty step.
Ha ha. A lot of drivel on this page, who cares really boys. But that post was a belter.
Well done
Complain about this comment
I have read a lot of the blogs on here and am struck with the idea of the "biggest club" syndrome. No club has a divine right to call themselves the biggest club in the division or the favourites. At the minute all clubs are equal with an equal chance.
I would like to think that Leicester are equipped for the division and the signings we have made bode well for the coming season.
As to whether Leeds will march into the championship, resources wise they are probably better equipped than most teams in the division the main difference that i can see amongst the teams in this division are facilities Leeds have always had a good youth set-up as have Leicester.
The fact that these type of teams in the past years have been in higher divisions have alowed them to attract a better calibre of youth player, which from a Leicester perspective the young players coming through like Gradel, Weslowski, Chambers and Mattock. This has helped take the pressure off the need for new signings. I see the same with the Leeds team littered with signings and young talent.
I think Leeds will be up there but to say they are favourites is premature from the little I saw of them and the division last year they'll need to play a lot better if they want to win. Leicester I hope will be strong but everyone will be gunning for them as just readings these blogs would gee up any team playing the likes of Leeds or Leicester.
We know its going to be tough this year in this division but we have players that have played at this level before and higher and a lot of our signings are young hungry players.
Whilst I think Leeds have signed a good player in Robinson I think they will find it tougher as people will be aware of the singings made last year and will be better prepared to face them. The likes of Beckford will find the going tougher I believe.
Complain about this comment
Why does every one think that Leeds will march on to win promotion ?
The team to watch this season is Carlisle United.
Setanta sports have given Carlisle the top tip to finish as champions of league one for the 2008/09 season .
I think at best the bubble has burst at Leeds and they will still be licking their wounds from the wembely play off defeat.This is football and strange things can happen.
I would like to think that Notts forrest are an example of a once big club who tried and failed for a few years before they got promoted to the Championship and I honestly believe that Leeds will NOT get promoted this forthcoming season.
Put your Money on Carlisle United to finsh as champions !
Complain about this comment
Why this?? It's enough to have to deal with Leeds fans invading every single page of 606 with their claims of greatness,
If I ever see the letters MOT or WUM used in conjunction, I may just stop using the BBC website.
PS Carlisle fan here - we beat you twice last season - remember us?
Complain about this comment
Leeds are one of the biggest clubs in england, has easily the best fanbase in england, and are gonna march to the title this season.
Enough said.
Complain about this comment
In response to the Carlisle fan, we also beat you twice last season and won in the play-off semi final, the match that actually mattered.
Super Jonny Howson
Complain about this comment
Dylanlegend, please explain your bizarre response. Am I a woman? Do women exclusively check through spelling mistakes? A generalisation if ever I read one. You are correct, there are plenty of errors in response to the original question but when a case is presented, as was yours, as almost empirical evidence against Leeds, I was inclined to point out your grammatical error.
Complain about this comment
they won't have the perceived injustice of their (actually richly deserved and legally upheld) 15 point deduction that spurred them on at the start of last season. I suspect they will have their bubble burst fairly rapidly this time round
Complain about this comment
'singing their anthem' - The only thing they ever sing.
I suppose if we all allowed our clubs to spend as if money was no object we'd all be playing in the Premier and Champions league. However, we spend within our means and pay all of our debts to the penny and although that doesn't always bring us 'glory', we have a club to be proud of!
Complain about this comment
Lohengrin why are you talking out of your backside? This is a football blog and words like "empirical" just make you sound like a complete idiot!
As for my mistake - what about yours?
"I was inclined to point out your grammatical error"
You actually pointed out a SPELLING mistake it had nothing to do with GRAMMAR!!
You may be able to spell its just a shame you can't THINK!
Complain about this comment
I don't know why I bother arguing with some of the idiots on here, but will you tell me the hearing at which the 15 point deduction was 'legally upheld', oroadfc? I know you can't because it never was, and there was no mention of 15 points in any FA rule book you can show me, so check your facts, if you weren't involved in the process don't comment......
Complain about this comment
What? You write, "You pointed out a SPELLING mistake it had nothing to do with GRAMMAR rather than, "You pointed out a spelling mistake; it had nothing to do with grammar." Imbecile.
Complain about this comment
So, "empirical" makes ME look like an idiot and is presumably not to be used in association with the game of football? How about we limit the discussion to words of two syllables for Dylanlegend's limited benefit?
Complain about this comment
My best friends kelly told me she met a black guy at a club called
(((((==== Mixed mingle.c o m====))))
where many black and white singles like sports there. I'm a white girl, can I meet my black guy there? Single guys, will you find your girl there?
Complain about this comment
you gotta love peter ridsdale
Complain about this comment
You know what Lohengrin i'm beginning to like you! Your replies are hilarious!! Keep em coming! In fact, will everybody please stop talking about football and lets just discuss grammar!! Its much more fun!
Complain about this comment
Look, let's get this into perspective. Leeds are the biggest and best football team in Europe, if not the world.
Complain about this comment
Who says Leeds will win Div1? You've got to win games and earn respect to do that. They are no longer a 'big club', they are just another Yorkshire also ran club these days.
Complain about this comment
Mixstar, you have to earn respect to win division one? Damn, we should have recruited a PR firm not a couple of new strikers! I'll phone Gary Mac now and let him know.
Complain about this comment
I remember when we were in the Champions League Semi-Finals and there was an odd respect for us from the neutral fan.
This despite the fact David O'Leary was manager (find a non-Arsenal fan with something nice to say about him), we had such lovely chaps as Bowyer, Woodgate, Ferdinand, Kewell, Huckerby in the team and we had spent loads of money.
Looking at it now we have one of the most loved footballers in charge and a spine of young and grounded talent (a fair bit home grown too) and no money and everybody seems to hate us. Add in to the fact that the large majority of Leeds fans have taken our plight with a good dose of self depricating humour we should be the most liked we've ever been (minus the Bates factor).
Complain about this comment
63. At 9:22pm on 29 Jul 2008, Dylanlegend wrote:
Well said Nick up North! Finally someone talking sense I hope Peterborough do well!! I can name more Peterborough players than Leeds players thats how good Leeds squad is!!
No, it shows how many Leeds players you can name...how many people had heard of Arshevin etc before Euro 2008? I can't name any of the Australian, NZ, SA rugby teams but it doesn't mean they're no good, just that I haven' heard of them
Complain about this comment
Let's be completely honest here (as a lifelong Leeds fan) if we cannot beat a team of the "quality" of Doncaster then we don't deserve to get promoted.
That aside, maybe this year they will learn to make their home stadium the fortress it used to be. Then we can really make a promotion push a reality, otherwise I truly believe it will be another year of near misses!
Complain about this comment
Not a big club.....
For all other fans, who were you playing for your largest gate last season?
Who did you most want to beat?
This season will prove to be the same answer.
I'm not arrogant, I'm a loyal supporter. Last seaon I would have been happy like most to have finished mid table. But we didn't, we again lived the dream, which was shattered by a better team on the day. Well done Doncaster!
I will again this season cheer on Leeds, most of the time from a distance, as I don't have the money or the time to be at ER!
Yes I want them to get promoted, who doesn't want their team to?
Yes I want to see them back in the Prem, just like you'd like to see your team there.
It's time to stop the bickering, role on the start of this season and let the battle commence.... on the pitch!
COME ON YOU WHITES!!!!!
Complain about this comment
31, mfc_db8,now read this slowly,LEEDS ARE ODDS ON FOR PROMOTION 8/13 AND 3/1 TO WIN L1.promotion and winning it are different.egg and face come to mind.
Complain about this comment
dylanlegend,leeds have an ave age of under 25yrs old,have more internationals playing for them than leicester and spurs bid £4mill for howson in may(that makes him more expensive than the leicester team.still bitter that sheehan left you for the much bigger leeds utd.leicester are in a mess,they are slow and will be passed to death by some of the teams in L1.leeds players won 91pts last season which is good enough to be promoted and are better this season.leicester players you think are good enough sent you down,most of leeds players were bought from prem or chose leeds ahead of ccc teams during last season and would be good enough to get a top 10 finish in ccc.you will need more luck than leeds for promotion.
Complain about this comment
CMON CARLISLE CMON CARLISLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Complain about this comment
didnt bradley johnson join leeds ahead of leicester last season, when leicester were in the championsip?
Complain about this comment
I was fair with my comments before but this Rubbish about Leeds having more internationals playing for them is unbelievable. As for Alan Sheehan he left Leicester to get regular first team football as he was competing against Joe Mattock a younger better player who is the second youngest player to get capped at england U-21 level after Theo Walcott and he was seleceted by Stuart Pearce who is no bad defender.
Its fine havng international players but it depends who they play for as for the average age of the side. Leicester have signed 6 players all of them under 30 including a bulgarian international defender and players highly rated by both Liverpool and Arsenal. Leeds last season signed on loan 2 leicester players and yet claim that leicester are weak thats a bit of a double standard, players that were'nt good enough for Leicester last year are great players when they play for Leeds????
I don't think Leicester will walk the league but i think we will be very competitive and have a good bunch of young players coming through especially Levi Porter who will do great when he's fully fit and will be one to watch.
Complain about this comment
"Looking at it now we have one of the most loved footballers in charge and a spine of young and grounded talent (a fair bit home grown too) and no money and everybody seems to hate us. "
I hate to say this but they hated you before as well. Leeds have been detested since the 60's. Brian Clough had it right.
Perhaps if your club didn't spend money it doesn't have, perhaps if Leeds supporters didn't have this "We're too big for this league" conceit, perhaps if it weren't for the taint of the administration scandal and the constant bleating about the 15 point deduction, the rest of us might treat Leeds with respect, or at least apathy.
At least now Leeds have company in the "We're a big club and we're too big for this league" stakes. I think Leicester fans are going to have to learn to eat humble pie too.
Enjoy League 1, Leeds fans, and count yourselves lucky that you didn't have to start again from the bottom of the pyramid.
Complain about this comment
to all of you who claim leeds are not a 'big' or 'massive' club, it is not just success on the pitch which makes a club huge. look at the fact that leeds are the number 1 club in the 3rd biggest city in britain. and that our stadium and training facilities rival those of the worlds top clubs. we have one of, if not THE most widespread football fanbases in the world. our average attendance in league 1, and i repeat that this is league 1, was 26,546 (higher than some premiership clubs)with a high of 38,256.
we also have, as mentioned before, fans from what seems like every other club in england who are so jealous that they have resorted to nit-picking for any possible fault in the argument that leeds will get promoted this season. and those faults seem to turn out to be errors in grammar.
there is no doubt that leeds are a massive club
Complain about this comment
and for people to say the club needs to stop thinking its too big for this league, well surely thats the reason all your clubs are stuck in league 1 whilst leeds made a valiant effort last season considering they we had a 15-point deduction (which in my opinion we shouldn't have had but thats an argument for another day).
aspiring to reach such heights as the premiership is called setting a goal and working for it. if you resign to the fact that you are in a low division then you're starting each season in reverse.
i look forward to a competitive season which leeds will almost certainly win. i wish all other teams the best of luck
Complain about this comment
RE: Excumbrian (171)
I realise we were hated before but I was merely pointing out that for a short while people seemed to not hate us despite having some of the most detestable (Lee Bowyer) players ever to have graced the premiership.
And with regards to the 15 points I have put my point to many a Luton fan that I think that they have been even harder done by and should appeal. I don't think that putting clubs out of business is in the best interest of football fans or the league itself. As a non-league fan also I am well aware of the situation with clubs such as Scarborough having to start down the pyramid and I don't think it is right - especially when MK Dons (not rule breakers I accept) seek money, sell out all the fans of Wimbledon and start as normal.
Complain about this comment
I love the fact everyone hates us. It's an extra incentive to beat the small time clubs (bar Leicester) week in, week out. We will be back in the Premiership before long, and we will stay there. It just takes time, and money, and there is certainly a lot of that going about.
Complain about this comment
Poster 45 - "We broke the Football League's record for a third tier attendance twice last season, and we could even beat it this season."
Really? How about the 49,309 at Hillsborough on 26/12/79 for Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United? Or the 48,000+ at the return at Bramall Lane on 5/4/80?
As your ground capacity is 40,242 I'd suggest you get straight on to your club's safety officer about that one. Or could it be that your record attendance was actually 38,526 and not a Football League third tier record after all?
A small point? Yes, absolutely. But also just another example of a Leeds fan making out what a "big club" they are without even bothering to get their facts right.
Complain about this comment
Everyone stop giving Leeds fans so much stick! Leeds are one of the biggest clubs in the UK! Leeds United are a bigger club now then everysingle Champioship club and half of the Premier League, and when they get back to the prem they will be the biggest club outside the top 4, just like they used to be!
So all you wums critising Leeds for saying they are a big club, shut it! Because Leeds are a big club and they are to big a club to be outside the Prem.
Complain about this comment
Post 176 "As your ground capacity is 40,242 I'd suggest you get straight on to your club's safety officer about that one. Or could it be that your record attendance was actually 38,526 and not a Football League third tier record after all?"
So we don't have a big enough ground??
Hillsborough - 39,814
Bramall - 32,609
Complain about this comment
Er, no, didn't make that point at all. Simply saying that the poster was claiming "records" which actually have no basis in fact.
Leeds didn't set a FL attendance record last year. I simply looked at the list of div 3 attendance records and saw that the real record was 10,000 more than Leeds got. Therefore, the Leeds attendance wasn't a record, nor was it even close.
I also said its of no real consequence, except that it's funny how often when you look into these claims by some fans of wannabe "big" clubs how often their claims turn out to be pure fiction.
I couldn't care less how big or small the Sheffield clubs' grounds are - just wanted people to know that some of the otherwise well-reasoned arguments on here aren't always backed up by the facts.
Complain about this comment
tonkatsu_dave - The attendance record that Leeds broke was since all seated stadiums came into place, I think the poster just forgot to mention that bit. Not that it particularly makes any difference because 38,000 for a league 1 game, with nothing riding on it, is still pretty impressive.
There's a lot of rubbish posted on this blog, from both Leeds and other supporters. All this about whether Leeds are a big club or not, they are, but it doesn't really matter, I don't understand why people get so worked up about it. The fact is we are in this division because of poor performances on the pitch, which is unsurprising given the amount of off the field distractions, and changes in management and playing staff that have occurred during the last 6-7 years.
I genuinely believe we have finally turned the corner now. With no more debts and a good manager in place whose heart is obviously in the job, who is also putting together an exciting young team aiming to play football in the right way. Why shouldn't us Leeds fans be optimistic for the coming season?
Dylanlegend- At the start of last season I could barely name any Swansea or Doncaster players, but that didn't stop them being promoted and playing great football along the way. In this league there is barely any coverage, so if you're looking at teams other than your own then you might well struggle to name all their players.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this season, I honestly think we'll be in the top 2, it should be a good battle with Leicester, but I also think Southend and possibly Huddersfield (with a decent crowd behind them thanks to £100 season tickets) will be there or there abouts. I don't think I can stand it if we end up in the playoffs again!
Marching On Together!
Complain about this comment
I can understand why people don't/won't accept or believe we are a big club. Imagine your a hull city fan, and we argue that we are a bigger club than them, which IMO we are, but any hull city fan is gunna say well hang on, we're in the premiership, buying some decent players and have just had a promotion successful season, leeds don't have any of that!! I think the concept that annoys most fans is that we at the moment don't have anything to show for our clubs size but our fanbase and thats it!!
If anybody reading this has a copy of the PO final program, have a read of it, coz Gary mac crealy, and rightly states that we are just a well supported club in the third tier of english football!! And we are! TBF we are a huge club, but the size of this club won't help us get promoted this season, it won't stop the likes burnley, ipswich, preston beating us in the cup, even though they are smaller clubs (with all due respect).
This argument can go on for ages but the fact of thee matter is, it makes no difference to what is really important . . . . . whether leeds will get promoted or not. I don't think anyone will be ruling us out of the title, neither will they leceister . . i just know its gunna be a damn good season to be a part of!!
Complain about this comment
Here we go with Leeds United
We're gonna give the boys a hand
Stand up and sing for Leeds United
They are the greatest in the land
Every day, we're all gonna say
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
Everywhere, we're gonna be there
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
Marching on together
We're gonna see you win (na na na na na na)
We are so proud
We shout it out loud
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
We've been through it all together
And we've had our ups and downs (ups and downs!)
We're gonna stay with you forever
At least until the world stops going 'round
Every day, we're all gonna say
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
Everywhere, we're gonna be there
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
Marching on together
We're gonna see you win (na na na na na na)
We are so proud
We shout it out loud
We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
The above song is loved by Leeds fans because it's about our club. We don't ask anyone else to like it or the club. If you aren't a Leeds fan that's ok by me.
We are a big club in support and potential.
We have been THE best club (1964-1975)but not now. There are at least 44 who are ranked better.
I hope we win our league and it doesn't concern me that fans of other clubs hope the same for their own team, clearly some on here can't cope with us supporting our own side.
We can win it but so can a few others and we won't know until next year.
Complain about this comment
i honestly think LEEDS will set some kind of record by 1st becoming the team that clinches a playoff spot earlier than any other then the earliest promotion and 3rd they will set a points record
i don't think this is being big headed
its just my opinion and I'm sure a lot of Leeds fans feel the same way
M.O.T
Complain about this comment
Here's a history lesson.The 'Dirty Leeds' tag came about from the team that won promotion in 63/64. It has nothing to do with the teams that followed the Revie era.
It has nothing to do with the genuine Leeds fans (we did,and still have,more than our fair share of morons but after attending a few away fixtures last season,the morons of a few other teams made an appearance when Leeds were in town).
As for the posts about the amount of season tickets we've sold, a hundred quid to see Udders and a hundred and whatever to see Bratfud,we don't seem to be doing bad at four and a half hundred a pop!
Dan who posted number 42, Leeds did go bust,we didn't know until about this time last year if we even had a team to support.As for your comment about Luton I feel sorry for them but,just like us,their problems stem from a previous regime,although turkeys voting for Christmas springs to mind.
I can't see why we won't go up automatically,I agree we had the siege mentality last season but that management regime has now disappeared,Gary Mac seems to have brought some quality in.
As for Dylanlegend, buying players from Bury and the MK Dons won't get you out of this division.If you buy 4th division footballers you'll get 4th division football.
Gilbert from Arsenal as well...hmmm did you miss the 'o' from the end of his name?
Complain about this comment
Comment 184 - buying players from Bury and MK Dons won't get you out of this division. And I suppose buying players from the scottish first division and the spanish third division will get you out of this division!!
Lloyd Dyer was one of if not the best player from MK Dons last year when they got promoted.
To the person that said Leeds will break all the records of the third division this year - why? The trouble with Leeds fans is that although they "say" they know it will be hard to get promoted they don't believe it! They think they will walk the league because they did well last year. However, they had a good start last year due mostly to Gus Poyet who is an excellent coach - When Poyet left they started going crap and thats why Wise jumped ship! Even Leeds fans said last year they didn't play well and were surprised they won all the games at the start! When Macca came in he did OK - started off poor but you had a decent finish or you wouldn't have even been in the play-offs - then you got beat in the play--offs by Doncaster.
Since then, you have bought in a few players of average ability to add to the average players you have - the squad to have is poor and although granted you are a big club and have terrific support you JUST DON'T have a squad that is in any way capable of beating the points tally for a third division club and will stuggle to get promoted. I will honestly be surprised if Leeds win the league this year your squad just isn't strong enough!
Complain about this comment
we are champions champions of europe!!!!
Complain about this comment
right so leicester bought lloyd dyer was the best player from the best league two team last year, i guess leeds cant compete with that, not even with andy robinson, the best player from the best team in league one last year.
Complain about this comment
The town fan does not give the full picture re season tickets sold.Town,s are £100 per ticket to coincide with the clubs centenary.City,s are not much more either.Leeds prices have increased from last year but this is the real economy.Plus Leeds average of 26,000 in gates beat both town and city,s put together....FACT !!!!
Just concentrate on your own small clubs affairs.Leeds United,s fan base is massive and is loyal to the core.Most of your misguided views comes out of jealously as usual,which I can understand.Though it does make me laugh everytime I see smaller clubs having a dig at Leeds,this only strengthens our resolve and determination to succeed.
Complain about this comment
It will be a very close-run thing between Leeds and Leicester, I suspect. I saw Leicester at Palace yesterday and they were excellent -full of young, pacy, attacking players and played a very decent passing game, which surprised me from them. Also got a superb winger -Max _____?- who is full of tricks and very dangerous. Leeds and Leicester will definitly be in top two places -just remains to be seen in which order.
I'll enjoy looking at you two scrap it out down there....
Complain about this comment
All this venom and bitterness!!!
I wouldn't even waste my time logging onto a blog about another team to slag them off, as I only care about Leeds UTD
It just shows that Leeds are still mean something to these other teams' supporters that thay have to log on and write the repetitous garbage about 'big club, 'dirty', etc.
Thanks all for showing all us Leeds fans that we are still held in high regard in the football world despite our current positon. Love or hate Leeds - you still take the time to write on this blog, and it means a lot to us that you care, and are helping to maintain Leeds Utd's (still) high profile, even in the league we currently find ourselves in.
Thank you again.
Complain about this comment
just want to wish the team good luck and hope within a couple of years they,ll be back where they belong
Complain about this comment
No!
Complain about this comment
lets hope leeds dont go up, in fact lets hope they go down. that would be brilliant.
Complain about this comment
No I don't think so. Last time they lost a Play-off final they got relegated the following season, I can't see that happening again however I don't see them as a contender for Championship football. Doncaster worked them out last May - keep Beckford out of the game and they start shooting from long range which if you have a half decent keeper you can deal with. I think they will finish midtable with nothing to play for with three games to go.
My tips for promotion are:
Yeovil
Carlisle
Leicester.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS