Leeds United and Newcastle United fans plan to pay tribute to late midfielder Gary Speed at Sunday's Championship match at Elland Road. Former Wales manager Speed died, aged 42, in November 2011, having previously played 678 games for Leeds, Newcastle, Everton, Bolton and Sheffield United. Fans will honour his memory with a minute's applause on 11 minutes, the shirt number he wore for both clubs. Members of Speed's family will be attending the game. "We ask supporters of both Leeds United and Newcastle United to join together in a minute's applause as we near the fifth anniversary of Gary's passing," a Leeds statement read. Speed was in the Newcastle side that last visited Elland Road in 2003, with the teams playing out a 2-2 draw. He had made his name at Leeds and played a key role as United won the First Division title in 1992.
Absolutely. Fantastic talent. Had a dreamy left peg, and his passing was sublime. He was ridiculous in the air too and had a natural engine. A Ferrari of a football player. We have never had a player as good as him in midfield since. He was box to box and one of the main reasons Bobby's team was so competitive. We simply surrounded him, Shearer, Nobby, Given etc with pace and youth. They led them.
Vastly underrated player. If he had played for England people would have labelled him world class. Speed on his day [which was pretty much every game] was head and shoulders above others on the pitch. Not the best in terms of pure technique, but he was a massive workhorse, gave 100%, defended and attacked sublimely, had a lethal left peg and was one of the best midfield header of a ball that you will see.
Agree to a point bar technique. He was as good as any. To be honest that Leeds midfield was as good as it gets technically. Speed, Strachan, Batty, McCallister. Then you had the likes of Sellars and Hodge providing cover. Up front you Cantona. Incredible technical levels really. Batty is one of the most yechnically gifted footballers I've seen, could literally pass the ball in any direction with a simple flick of his foot. Of course that all raises two questions. What the **** was Lee Chapman doing in that team and how did Howard Wilkinson become the moron he did at Sunderland Not sure Speed was world class, really depends on how its meant, but could certainly hold his own with the very best
