Leeds Utd has a seemingly unlimited capacity for always being able to find another level of “the ridiculous” to stoop to; another bottom of the barrel that we already thought had been scraped clean. This has been a truly unbelievable 48 hours even by our standards… and I think that any one who claims to know what is going on right now is deluded or a liar.
There’s only two things I’m sure of - McDermott’s treatment has been despicable; and I haven’t enjoyed a half of football as much as yesterday’s second half for far too long. Neither GFH or the new Italian mob have any credit with the supporters - that really takes some doing in the case of the Italians, who have shit on their own doorstep before being given the keys to the door…unbelievable that anyone thought they had the legal right to start sacking people before the deal was signed…and how spineless/desperate were the previous (and current) owners to allow them this kind of free hand. I fear long running court cases and employment tribunals unless someone comes to their senses quickly and begins putting things to rights. But what now for BMcD? So he is still our manager on Monday morning…but he will be a dead man walking if/when the Italians finally seal the deal. Sounds like the crowd still want him. I guess that some of that came from the sense of injustice of what we all understood to have been his dismissal on Friday, and some from a certain sense that he seemed to be getting things working well for the team up until December - and how much has the bad form since then has been the result of all the off the field stuff - we will never know. But at least the crowd’s response seemed to indicate that they think he’s worth giving some more time to, so that we can at least say he’s had a fair crack at it. Personally I’m for keeping him. If the stuff about the history of the Italian group is true, how can they pass the F&PP test? Someone else has already written well about the endemic corruption at the heart of football these days - at every level - you only have to look at the on-going scandal of workers dying in Qatar in the construction of the new stadia for the most ridiculously mis-placed world cup in the competition’s history to see this. For us who just love the game and our team, it is sickening. All we want (I think) is the chance to see a fair game - hopefully with some flair, good commitment - for reasonable price, probably with a couple of pints in the pub with some mates for a load of blether before or after the game…how hard is that to leave alone and not fuck up? Surely the whit of man can manage that. Before the game none of us had a clue what to expect - demos outside? riots? BMcD riding up Lowfields Road on a white horse…just about the only thing we agreed on was that it was unlikely to be a 0-0 draw…although Dowden had come prepared with extra pies, just in case... Saturday 3pm - I’m not going to do a match report - Rich And Dave N have covered most of it…the good the bad and the Kebe. Just a couple of points…Byram at RBack - we have established that this fundamentally a bad idea and he was wide open again a few times in the first half…but, where was his cover? midfield nowhere; Kebe still trying to find his way back over the half way line… Tom Lees will continue to look like a bad player on the ball if the rest of the team continue to give him the ball and expect play to start from there (especially when there is little movement ahead of him)…the guy is not Beckenbaur/Moore etc Kebe and Stewart - still agnostic myself - all the talk round us at half time was that we were playing 9 men…yes the second half was a lot better and Kebe in particular linked well with Ross - Kebe’s goal was excellent - his attempted flick of Stewart’s cross just before Ross buried his 3rd, was laughable. Glad the midfield of Austin, Mowatt and Murphy looked the part for once…there is hope there - perhaps bring Byram up to make it 4 man and move Kebe alongside Ross…which leaves Stewart out and us needing a RBack - which I guess would be Peltier. Final word for Ross McC who has come out of this last few days with his reputation on and off the pitch much enhanced…he actually seems to have some principles, some loyalty and a feel for the club - a pretty good man to have as captain (even though I’ve never liked forwards as skippers). And he does bang em home when given the chance. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] John 'Grampa' Sykes Rest In Peace old lad 28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013 MARCHING ON TOGETHER
