Re: [LU] that bates interview in full
I don't find his ramblings funny or relevant. 78 years old . Not long to go now. Having seen his wife's passion for the team I think she might be a more suitable Chairman ( or woman). Looking forward to today just hope McCormack or Somma get the nod over Becchio. Sent from my iPhone On 10 Sep 2010, at 15:04, John Boocock IFA john.booc...@internetfootball.org.uk wrote: Ken Bates: Lunch with the Leeds chairman, and it really is a blast... The Brian Viner Interview: Age has not mellowed him. From Ferguson to Abramovich, he directs his notorious ire at the football elite past and present, and a former prime minister Sitting with Ken Bates, at his usual table outside the Cafe de Paris in Monte Carlo - this is my office, he says - is something of an education. In half an hour the Leeds United chairman, very happy to be an expatriate on account of everything that is wrong with Britain and right with Monaco, offers me the potted life histories of four passers-by, points out Turkey's richest man, recounts his last exchange with the retail magnate Sir Philip Green (who was shabbily dressed, so Bates quipped that he'd clearly been shopping in his own stores), lambasts the late Chelsea striker Peter Osgood, flirts with a toddler peering over her mum's shoulder, and earns the devotion of a pretty waitress by pressing an extravagant tip into her hand. Through all this, his charming wife Susannah and I scarcely get a word in edgeways. Undiminished at 78, Bates didn't get where he is today without exerting his forceful personality. We move on to a swanky hotel, where he is well-known by the staff, and well-liked, doubtless thanks to his tipping policy. He has booked a table for lunch, at which he sits alongside Susannah. He commands me to sit opposite her, so that she won't feel left out of the conversation, and later, when she briefly leaves the table, he half-rises, another display of old-fashioned gallantry which seems at odds with his enthusiastic effing, blinding and occasional C-ing. Please don't use that word, says Susannah, gently. It is a futile protest. Bates operates according to his own rules, and hang those who do not like them. That's how he made his millions, initially in ready-mix concrete, and how he runs football clubs. He has been owner or chairman of Oldham Athletic, Wigan Athletic, Partick Thistle, Chelsea and now Leeds United, although there remains some uncertainty about who exactly owns Leeds. It appears to be the Forward Sports Fund, registered in the Cayman Islands, but when I invite him to explain who this organisation comprises, he picks up my tape recorder and threatens to throw it into the sea. Don't sour a nice lunch, he snaps. We have complied with Football League regulations, it's all on the website, and there it is. I venture a supplementary question. I've just said I'm not going to elaborate, so don't push it. Better men than you have failed. Lesser, murmurs Susannah, sweetly. Lesser men. We move on to the slightly less contentious issue of his managers. Kevin Blackwell was in charge at Leeds when Bates took over in January 2005, and lasted until September 2006. Blackwell was followed by Dennis Wise, then Gary McAllister, who was sacked, though the chairman considers him a very honourable guy. He pauses to order an expensive bottle of Sancerre, and to kid the waiter that I am actually an inspector with Relais Chateaux and that I think the service is crap. Great players who become managers, and Gary was a great player, have problems adjusting to players not as good as them. 'I could do it, why the bloody hell can't you?' I had that at Oldham with Jimmy McIlroy, and I had it with [Glenn] Hoddle at Chelsea. The incumbent, Simon Grayson, is by general acclaim one of the finer managers outside the Premier League; indeed, I express some surprise that he was not in the frame for the Aston Villa job. Well, Simon was approached by Burnley last season. They offered him a lot more money than we could afford to pay him, but he said no. He wanted to finish the job he'd come to Leeds to do. But loyalty is a two-way thing. I'm loyal to my managers until they can't or don't deliver. Unfortunately, Dennis and [his assistant] Gus Poyet thought the grass was greener elsewhere. It wasn't. Dennis's time at Newcastle was a complete disaster. And I heard about Poyet leaving on Sky Sports News. Then he wanted to come back as manager. No fucking chance. Nobody lets me down twice. Grayson, meanwhile, has taken Leeds back into the Championship, where they currently lie sixth. The present and future are manifestly looking brighter than they have for some time at Elland Road, and no fewer than 11 new players were brought in this summer (albeit not at much expense), yet several Leeds fans of my acquaintance tell me that there is more than a little disgruntlement with Bates, not least because of hikes in ticket prices. He snorts with derision
Re: [LU] that bates interview in full
Cannot see it Rich - I think it will be a case of 'stick with a winning team' Whilst I doubt they have any inside info ,Sky Sports text (page 751 for us) has us starting with the same team but with Nunez, Clayton and McCormack all waiting on the bench to show what they can do. Also says Faye will not be in the squad. We will see. I hope that SG does a bit of squad rotation, picking the best formation and players for the oppositon \ occasion over the next week. 3 games in 7 days will be tough on some of them (eg Naylor) and with 2 being supposed 'yorkshrie Derbies' with big turn outs of Leeds fans and the other being against one of the better teams , this week will go a long way to giving us an idea of how the season as a whole will go - will it be a relegatin fight / mid table safety / play off or even promotion battle ? Dave --- On Sat, 11/9/10, Richard Walker richleed...@yahoo.co.uk wrote: Looking forward to today just hope McCormack or Somma get the nod over Becchio. ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER
[LU] Mastermind
On Friday next week, one of the contestants is doing 'Leeds United - the Don Revie years' as their specialised subject. That's 8.00-8.30, BBC2. I've always thought that if I could ever be bothered to go on the show then that would be my specialist subject, but now I can finally test myself from the comfort of my own armchair. Tim W. ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER
Re: [LU] Moyes
Oh come on, he's been in the premier league for 4 games, he isn't going to be rivalling drogba yet, its going to take him time to get used to the defenders, the speed, the time he gets on the ball. I cannot understand the glee at the fact he isn't starting and scoring hattricks each week, he served us well, he moved on to a great opportunity good luck to him. He owes us nothing. -Original Message- From: leedslist-boun...@gn.apc.org [mailto:leedslist-boun...@gn.apc.org] On Behalf Of Dr. Michael Benjamin. Sent: 11 September 2010 14:38 To: LEEDSLIST Subject: [LU] Moyes Must really reckon our Beckford He preferred the tea lady and groundsman up front. Sent from my iPhone Dr Michael Benjamin Community Psychiatry ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER
Re: [LU] Moyes
No glee from me. Quite the opposite. I see we are losing. Sent from my iPhone Dr Michael Benjamin Community Psychiatry On 11 Sep 2010, at 17:27, Matt Anderson m...@leeds-united.net wrote: Oh come on, he's been in the premier league for 4 games, he isn't going to be rivalling drogba yet, its going to take him time to get used to the defenders, the speed, the time he gets on the ball. I cannot understand the glee at the fact he isn't starting and scoring hattricks each week, he served us well, he moved on to a great opportunity good luck to him. He owes us nothing. -Original Message- From: leedslist-boun...@gn.apc.org [mailto:leedslist-boun...@gn.apc.org] On Behalf Of Dr. Michael Benjamin. Sent: 11 September 2010 14:38 To: LEEDSLIST Subject: [LU] Moyes Must really reckon our Beckford He preferred the tea lady and groundsman up front. Sent from my iPhone Dr Michael Benjamin Community Psychiatry ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER
[LU] Interesting factettes from the BBC
*...Let's hope they're not famous last words...* * * *Damian* * * *Leeds* • Leeds have recouped an unrivalled four Championship points from losing positions this season. • They have had 59 attempts on goal - 31 of them on target - and hit the woodwork seven times. • United have committed 61 fouls this season - more than any other team in the division. The Yorkshire side's high-tempo style has caught the eye, and has seen them have more attempts on goal this season and hit the woodwork more times than any other team in the division. But at the other end of the pitch they have been prone to the odd lapse - especially early in games. They have let in three goals in the opening 15 minutes - more than any other Championship team - and are yet to concede in the league after the 27th minute. ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER
