OK, I think we can all cast our minds back to that infamous Cardiff game, dumped out of the cup, the start of the rapid rise into oblivion. There are many theories as to how O'leary went from the best young management prospects, to a guy who couldn't manage a toy shop. I think the stupid book he brought out, dishing the dirt while still manager was his fatal mistake, he lost respect. Now I am not one to take the moral high ground, and i think a lot of players these days couldn't even spell morals, but, what the hell was Grayson thinking of when he decided to embark on carnal relations with an employee of the club. So he had an 'extra marital' affair, do i care? No, do I care it was connected to the club, ABSOLUTELY. in the words of Tony Soprano, you don't s**t where you eat.I really think this kind of thing so close to everyone, means a lack of respect will start to creep in throughout the staff, including the players. I hope i am wrong, but Simon needs to take a look at how it may have inadvertently affected people. I was there last night, and I think no more can be said of that defeat in this thread. What worries me as a supporter with more years service than I care to remember, is the feeling of seeing the support ebb away, with ridiculous pricing, lack of investment, management at the top who appear not to give a toss about the fans. Bates has cost this club 10k on the gate, we were getting more in L1. The sense of optimism has been sucked out of us, with the realization that Bates is more than happy to keep the club where it is, as long as he can meddle in his 'denial of retirement' projects. My hopes of a return to anything like the stature of the past, lie only in a change of regime, with success on the pitch being the main focus for any new owners. Bates tenure at Elland Road has seen us go into div 3 for the first time, and we are more or less in the same position as we were when he started! NO, no i hear you cry, we have no debts now. Mmmm.. yes you are right, we do not now carry the burden of debt we had, but any owner could have played Russian roulette and thrown us into administration, with the threat of total liquidation if they did not get their hands back on it through a rigged auction by KPMG. Has losing the debt made a massive difference on the pitch? Have we since made our intentions known, by going out and buying quality players, with the outright ambition of returning to the PL? NO, we have messed around, plugging gaps with sticking plaster, loans, emergency loans, sub-standard players nobody wants to give a decent wage to. Gradel sold, replaced, no...the story goes on. Leeds United, the biggest one club city in Europe, a fan base other clubs can only envy. Leeds United, a name dying in the embers of a glorious past. LIONS LED BY DONKEYS, to borrow a phrase from WW1. Until our Chairman slips from this mortal coil, or some form of ill health besets him, he will not release us from the vice like grip, squeezing the last ounce of pride from our pain wracked carcass of a club.
I couldn't have put it better my sentiments entirely Gray son needs for is own sanity to tell BATES back me or sack me he will get a better job at Huddersfield where the owner backs his manager to the full!
No problem LIW, glad you like it, it is from the heart of a very frustrated fan. I love my club, I HATE my Chairman.
Thing is whitemafia, I knew about the grayson affair three months, if I knew, the players and workers must have known for alot longer. I dont think that helps at all
Whitemafia I pointed out that Simon wasn@t the first manager at leeds to have an affair with a member of staff and he was fairly sucessful but it doesn't earn respect of the players when the boss is at it
I'm planning on it but ill have to make sure all the details are spot on so he can't argue with any real substance.
The crux of the thread is, there is an awful lot wrong with what's happening at the club at the moment. Graysons dalliances is a slide show, but it does smack of unprofessional conduct on his part. For Gods sake, SG could go out into town and get himself a nice young glory seeking filly anytime. It's the whole deal, the club has the feel of a dead man resigned to his fate. I think there are quite a few young fans out there, who cannot possibly understand how it felt to be a force to be reckoned with. They are the ones who are been sucked into the apathy of mediocrity c/o KB. they don't know any different than to follow also rans. Sorry guys, but we are going nowhere!!
LIW IS this when their was rumours that he was going to get compassionate leave? We had this discussion after the first 2 games am I right?
My first ever post guys, but have supported the team for well over 40 years. My view, for what it's worth, is that the chairman is like Gadaffi. He lords over his land (Elland Road) like a dictator, and abuses and puts down all who disagree with him. Make no mistake, if he could, he would have us all shot. But the revolution is building, and we all know what eventually happens to dictators, don't we? Keep the faith guys. Results like last night may be a blessing in disguise and do this wonderful club a massive favour.
I think the stuff about the affair's a moot point since it was only a low-key media revelation and the players actually improved their performances after they were told about it at the start of the season. But the ambition from Harvey and Bates to get the club promoted is almost non-existent, you're right. It's been clear since the start of the season that our strength in depth isn't very good and we needed on-pitch leadership. Spending less than 3/4 of a million won't get you that. Selling Max Gradel won't get you that. Pissing off the fans whose support is so elemental to the way the team play won't get you that. Unless we absolutely fluke it, we'll never get promoted under Ken Bates, and he loves to use that fact to irk our fans.
