Leeds win 4-0 as Diouf signing divides supporters

Leeds overcame a shaky start to run out 4-0 winners against Shrewsbury Town in the first round of the Capital One Cup this afternoon. The Shrews started the game on top and it could be argued were the better side for most of the game. They played some free flowing football at times, but football is a results business and Neil Warnock, the players and the fans won’t mind that the majority if not all the goals came against the run of play. Leeds first goal came immediately after Kenny had saved the ball on his line. Rodolph Austin produced a stinger of a shot that the Shrews goalkeeper managed to parry, but Becchio was on hand to tap the ball into the net to give Leeds the lead. The second came after Ross McCormack saw his shot blocked, but with the rebound managed to find Luke Varney who finished from close range. Incidentally Varney had done well to stay onside during the build up to the goal. Leeds went in at half time two goals to the good.

Captain for the day (and maybe permanently, who knows) Norris made it three in the 65^th minute whilst a handball in the box four minutes later gave McCormack a chance to get off the mark this season. He didn’t disappoint and duly converted the spot kick. So a 4-0 win to kick off the season will have pleased everyone associated with Leeds United this afternoon. Brown, Poleon and new man Diouf (who I’ll come to in a minute) all came on later in the second half but neither of them really made an impact. The player who caught everyone’s eye today though was youngster Sam Byram, who has come on leaps and bounds during our pre season campaign. He impressed again today with purposeful runs whilst twisting and turning opponents, getting shots in and producing a solid display at the back. After Eddie Gray asked Neil if his performance had given him food for thought, he answered ‘he’s definitely going to be in our squad, but we’ve just got to be careful, he is a young lad’. He was full of praise for the youngster and after playing in front of 18,000 fans today Warnock said ‘he looked like he had played there all his life’, high praise indeed for the 18 year old.

Austin seems to have fitted in quickly, which is great news, he seemed to not be as involved in the second half, but I think that was down to him playing a deeper role. Paddy Kenny performed some brilliant saves to keep Leeds in the game and is really looking like a key component to our promotion hopes this season. He could prove to be our most solid goalkeeper for years. ‘I wouldn’t swap him for anybody in the country and that’s in the Premiership and Championship’ Warnock said after the game. Whilst I wouldn’t go as far to say that, he will no doubt be a brilliant capture for this division. There were reports that Ross mimicked the signing of a contract in his goal celebration, if that’s true and he does go on to put pen to paper, then that’s a massive boost ahead of the new league campaign. He is a quality player with the ability to make a chance out of nothing and is without a doubt our most important player.

The news that was on everybody’s lips before the game and last night was that El Hadji Diouf had signed for the club. It was confirmed that he had trained with the club by academy player Simon Lenighan I believe, whilst Warnock had hoped to keep the deal quiet. He said of the culprit who leaked the news on Twitter ‘when I see him on Monday he’ll be twittering’, so Simon if it was you, I’d be hiding on Monday. The signing of Diouf on a non-contract deal, i.e. pay as you play, was confirmed prior to kick off. Personally I’m not a fan of Diouf, who has in the past spat at opponents and fans, been convicted for driving offences and arrested for bar brawls. I think he has the potential to upset the dressing room and affect squad morale. The decision to get him on a pay as you play deal is a smart move on Leeds’ behalf, so that if he does step out of line, the club can severe their ties with him. Is it worth the risk? Time will tell, Warnock has a history of getting the best out of players and I sure hope he can tame Diouf for all our sakes.

Neil told Yorkshire Radio that he ‘met him six weeks ago’ and that it ‘wasn’t planned’. He said ‘I told him what I didn’t like about him and yet I told him what I liked about him’. Neil’s past with Diouf is well documented and it looks as though the two have buried the hatchet and that will certainly need to be the case going in to this season. The situation has divided fans once more and I just hope that we get some positive news at the end of this takeover saga to unite us once more. As for the cup campaign, I wouldn’t expect us to go far in the competitions this year as Warnock told YR ‘if it had been on a Tuesday we’d have probably been beaten. I would have played four or five of that squad and that wouldn’t have been good enough against Shrewsbury’. It seems the league campaign is Neils sole priority this year and too right it should be. We need to get out of this division as soon as possible for the long term future of the club. As for the signing of Diouf, let’s hope the icing on Neil’s cake isn’t saliva, because that will surely leave a bitter taste in Leeds fans mouths.

Takeover collapses, what now? Is there still hope?

LUST have confirmed today in an official email to members and to followers on Twitter that the proposed takeover of Leeds United has collapsed. After more than two months of confirmed due diligence the deal has broken down for whatever reason. There are many rumours circulating as to why the breakdown has occurred, but the one that has the most substance is that Bates has changed his demands at the last minute. Adam Pope of BBC Radio Leeds claims that LUST have told him that Bates is an ‘unwilling’ seller and that he has ‘moved the goalposts at the last minute’. I for one firmly believe that this will be the case, with Bates no doubt wanting to still earn out of Leeds after he has gone. Remember that this is what he tried to do at Chelsea, and he is rumoured to still own shares in the hotel at Stamford Bridge.

Well as I am writing this Leeds have released a statement that to me says that takeover talks could still continue but they are willing to listen to other offers. They say the exclusivity agreement is over and that ‘the club remains happy to continue discussions, but not on an exclusive basis, so as not to prevent other options passing’. This could of course all be more spin from the club. Either way I think this takeover saga is far from over. As for what this means for our season, it could very easily all go downhill from here. Crowds will no doubt drop even further and the Bates out chants that players admitted affected them last season, will no doubt be chanted with more venom. The atmosphere at Elland Road could soon get even more venomous if results don’t go our way. The players will feel it and this season could all very soon go down the pan that is League 1.

This is of course one of many scenarios, but with Leeds, it’s the most likely as everything seems to always go against us, especially when we are down. The support has been fantastic these past seven years but I feel that we’ve all finally had enough, and if the truth be told, Bates has taken a chunk from the hearts of all Leeds fans. We seemed to have lost some of that ‘never say die’ attitude, some of that ‘us against the world’, ‘up and at them’ philosophy that has driven this great club on for decades. I for one cannot wait for the day I can just support a football club again and not worry about, what’s happening in the board room. I want us to spend reasonably and within our limits, is that too much to ask? Well I think we all know the answer to that with Bates in charge.

Burton Beaten as Austin and Peltier make debuts.

Leeds United concluded pre-season on Tuesday night with an unbeaten record. The 1-0 victory over Burton Albion was our sixth victory in seven games and whilst all the opposition were of a lower standard then the Npower Championship, pre-season is a time for regaining fitness and bonding as a group. The results were a huge bonus and as Warnock said himself, the lads will no doubt be pumped up for the Shrewsbury fixture and more importantly the Wolves opener.

I’m always optimistic for the season opener, it’s a new start and no matter how bad the pre-season or the outlook seems I can’t help but be excited for a new season and what that may bring. But I’m still undecided about how we will perform this season and where we will ultimately finish. In my eyes the defence is vastly improved on last season. The addition of Peltier, who reports suggest had a good debut and Adam Drury will give us much needed pace in the full back positions. That is something that I can’t remember having on both sides of defence since I’ve supported Leeds. Whilst the addition of Pearce will no doubt shore up the defence with his never say die attitude. I believe he will bring on Tom Lees considerably too and I’m hoping they can both be rock solid this season. I think we still need another defender for back up with Kisnorbo being the only recognised back up in truth. I know we have White who can play left back and Lees and Peltier who can play multiple positions, but that’s not enough.

The midfield is lacking in the creative, attacking quality we had last season. However I think we will be harder to beat this season and that will hopefully start with the midfield stopping attacks where they begin. Austin will be vital for this if he adapts to the English game quick enough. Wolves will be a much harder test then Burton Albion so I’m hoping he produces the goods when it comes to the crunch. Norris hasn’t had a full pre season, so I don’t know if I expect him to start much at the beginning of the season, Green has shown glimpses of creativity and if he can set up the attacks whilst getting stuck in on the tackling side I’ll be happy. We all know what Michael Brown does and if he can stay out of the book (wishful thinking I know) he could surprise us this season, who knows. Warnock knows him well and even if he doesn’t impress on the pitch, his influence on the rest of the squad could prove invaluable. Robbie Rogers seemed to start pre-season well but hasn’t got much game time in recent weeks. I for one would like him to be given more of a chance. As for Pugh, well Pugh’s.....Pugh.

Ross McCormack and Luciano Becchio are key this season. Their partnership needs to be blossoming from day one, and they need to be banging those goals in. McCormack can create a chance out of anything and loves a shot, whilst Becchio is probably the best header of a ball in the opposition’s box I’ve seen at Leeds. Andy gray hasn’t exactly lit up the games he’s played in, but is apparently one of the fittest at the club so should give his all. Somma should be back around October- December time, but I’m not sure he’ll be the same player. He suffered a similar injury to the one that finished off Bridges and the omens don’t look good.

The youngsters have looked promising with Sam Byram and Dominic Poleon impressing. As Warnock has said himself, I think the youngsters will feature quite heavily this season, so let’s hope their youthful exuberance and ability can help us across the line this season. We need a tricky winger, a striker and another defender, and then I’ll be more confident in our ability to win games and challenge this season. Let’s hope Warnock gets his icing and his cherries to finish off his sturdy looking, but rather plain cake.

Leeds draw 1-1, O’Brien heads to Canada and Billy heads to Doncaster on trial.

Leeds contested a 1-1 draw with Norwegian second tier club Sandefjord on Wednesday night. Jason Pearce was on target again for the Whites and I for one am hoping that he continues pitching in with the goals when the Championship season begins. Warnock described the game as ‘a good workout’ and used the game as an opportunity to ‘try different things’. It was also the first appearance for new signing David Norris in a Leeds shirt, who will have been happy to get some game time under his belt.

 As it stands I’m not sure who Warnock intends to start in his midfield on the opening day of the league campaign against Wolves or even the Capital One cup game against Shrewsbury in nine days time. I think Rodolph Austin will be one of the central pair as he will be match fit and from what I’ve seen could be a massive asset for us this season. But who he pairs him up with I’m not sure. It’s good that we have options especially if Brown signs a new contract. I think White will start on the right as he has been during pre season with Varney on the left, which when compared to Gradel and Snodgrass, doesn’t set your heart racing. However I think if we get a right back in, preferably Peltier then I think we will be a lot harder to beat this season, which will certainly be an improvement on last season’s defensive frailties.

Andy O’Brien has had his contract terminated by mutual consent, so that he could complete his move to Canadian based MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps. O’Brien impressed initially in his Leeds career but his performances deteriorated drastically which coincided with personal problems that the defender was experiencing. He was also rumoured to be one of the highest earners at Leeds which would make sense, since he joined us from then Premier League Bolton Wanderers. This will make extra funds available to Warnock to maybe offer Ross a better deal or offer to an incoming player.

Blackpool have decided against taking Billy from us as his trial was terminated less than a week after joining them. He has now reportedly gone to Doncaster Rovers on another trial as Leeds try to get him off the wage bill. Personally I think Billy’s level is league 1 and hopefully he can rediscover his scoring boots for whoever he ends up plying his trade with next season. In terms of incomings, Warnock has hinted a new signing could feature against Preston on Saturday. ‘I’m hopeful we will have someone in’, ‘we’ve been working on one or two things. A lot of players have been mentioned and until we get it on the dotted line I don’t really like talking about anyone’. Well let’s hope he gets the players in that he wants, because with the season approaching, I think our squad is lacking in depth and the required quality to get us promoted come May. Of course as always, I hope I’m proven wrong, but the signing of Peltier or another similar quality defender is needed along with another three quality signings at the very least. Then I think we can realistically think about challenging this season.

Billy to Blackpool rumours circulate, whilst Warnock expects no one in by Wednesday

Neil Warnock has been talking to the press about the futures of Billy and Ross, whilst stating his desire to bring Martin Cranie in after his trial with the club ended. Billy ‘Barndoor’ Paynter seems to be attracting interest from a couple of clubs with Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool leading the race (If you can call it that) to sign the striker. Rumours are that Blackpool are offering 500k for Billy which has shocked Leeds fans everywhere, as we all thought we would probably end up paying something similar to get rid of him. It’s fair to say Paynter never looked like he was going to make it at Leeds and no doubt he’ll end up being another player that goes on to flourish elsewhere and will no doubt score against us in the future, just like every other ex player.

As for Ross we need to keep him, with rumours that we may be exchanging him with Craig Mackail-Smith populated social networking sites, I argued why keep constantly getting rid of your best players. Smith would be a good acquisition but not at the expense of losing Ross. If I were to choose one I would go with Ross every time. He was one of the leading lights for us last season and even the season before when he wasn’t hitting the back of the net, supporters could see he had good technical ability and it was just a matter of time until the goals would flourish.

Warnock was quoted as saying ‘There have been a couple of clubs ask about buying him, but we don’t want to sell him unless there is a player exchange’. This caused many fans to think that Warnock was resigned to losing Ross as well as Snodgrass, I could be wrong but my theory is that, the comment was aimed at Huddersfield. Rumours have been around for a long time suggesting that Grayson was weighing up a move for his former striker and I believe that Warnock was basically saying ‘you can have Ross if we can have Rhodes’. Now I don’t think for one minute we would get or that Huddersfield would let us have Rhodes without a large sum of money going the other way. But I think it was Warnock’s way of warding off interest from our West Yorkshire neighbours.

Martin Cranie seems to have done enough to impress Neil during his trial with the club, ‘he’s a steady player and what I’d call a squad player’ Warnock said ‘where it goes from here really depends on what Martin’s looking for and what we can afford to offer him’. Personally I think that Cranie would be a good addition to the squad. With the seemingly impending departure of Andy O’Brien, the release of Alex Bruce and the fragility of Kisnorbo, we are lacking in depth in that area. The former Coventry man would offer steady cover for Pearce and Lees.

After Sky Sports confirmed a bid for Peltier and rumours of a bid for Beckford in the offing, fans are hoping for some new acquisitions this week, however Warnock doesn’t expect any new signings before our friendly against Sandefjord on Wednesday. ‘I wouldn’t have thought have thought any of my targets will come in before then, although you never say never with us’. That’s right Neil anything can happen when it comes to Leeds.

McCormack double sees off Torquay as Cornish pasties and Bahrain banks become the subject of choice for Leeds fans

On a day when 31 year old David Norris’ transfer to the club was confirmed and the takeover rumours took an unprecedented turn, with Adam Pope’s tweets about a Bahrain bank, advised by a sheik, becoming the new frontrunners for the ownership of the club. Leeds took on Torquay at Plainmoor in their final pre season friendly of the south west tour.

An attendance of 3,925 witnessed Leeds 2-1 victory with 2,050 of them being Leeds fans. Chants about Cornish pasties at Warnock’s house had fans in stitches, whilst there were calls for Beckford’s return home after rumours of a bid for him were gathering pace on Twitter. All this created a lively atmosphere within the ground and those fans were rewarded when Ross McCormack opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a well hit strike from distance, whilst he scored his and Leeds’ second on the 11^th minute with a superb free kick. Ross subsequently kissed the badge leading many on Twitter to say he would be the next one on his way to Norwich. Torquay however did get one back in the 79^th minute with a headed goal, that Jason Pearce would maybe argue shouldn’t have been allowed after he seemed to be fouled as the ball was whipped in, nevertheless the goal stood. As Leeds understandably tired towards the end, after three games in five days, Torquay threatened more. But their attacks came to nothing and in the end it was another good run out for the lads and another victory to take it up to three in three for pre season.

Once again our fans were fantastic and the number of fans we take to away games continues to astound onlookers, whilst Warnock once again praised our supporters ‘Look at the fans. What can you say about them? I don’t think the new lads knew what had hit them, it even took me by surprise’. Our fans will no doubt have a massive part to play this season, as always, but I hope we can make Elland Road a fortress once again this season. If Warnock can acquire these ‘marquee’ signings he has talked about then I think the fans will once again flock to the ground and make Elland Road the intimidating fortress it once was. With the Snodgrass money, should he be allowed to use it, I think he could sign Peltier and maybe Templeton or Boyd. Whilst he has denied being interested in Templeton I think he could be a good replacement for Snodgrass as he seems to be a tricky winger with something Snodgrass didn’t possess, and that’s pace.

As for the takeover, everyone seems to know as much as everybody else, absolutely nothing. Adam Pope’s tweets were apparently denied by the YEP’s source, so who knows what’s going on. I along with everyone else I can imagine cannot wait until it’s finally confirmed on the official site. It seems to have been dragging on forever now, but understandably due diligence with Bates books would take anyone a substantial amount of time. Let’s just hope these road blocks are navigated as soon as possible, which will allow Warnock to acquire his ‘icing on the cake’ and complete a squad that will hopefully challenge for promotion.