If you've been a Leeds United fan as long as I have then you know how it works at Elland Road, there's no middle ground, it's either very high or very low ... thing is, we're all pretty fed up with the very low thanks to Publicity Pete, Idiot McKenzie, Krasner, Bates and Cellino ... it's been very tough for far too long, and it's remarkable how the Leeds fans haven't abandoned their club considering the consistent failures Now we find the club suffering a blip in the latest instalment of ER dramas, but it is just a blip ... I say this because Tommy is a good manager and Leeds have good players, and there have been some scintillating displays this season showing just how capable this team is when they click ... right now there seems to be a crisis of confidence in the team that's reared it's ugly head, and only positive results will change this ... the thumping 3-0 away win at a flying Bristol City seemed to be a turning point, but the fragile nature of a sportman's psyche showed just how hard it is to rise up consistently For me, the most crucial thing for Leeds United is the owner ... Radz had produced absolute magic off the field, and he has thrown his heart and soul (and a considerable chunk of money) into rebuilding the club ... buying back ER was a massive statement of intent, and he has a blueprint in place aimed at securing the long term future of Leeds United ... now he is being tested as the first blip comes along, and we will learn more about our owner in the coming weeks Radz doesn't strike me as someone who will panic and make rash decisions, and part of this is due to the fact that he doesn't make decisions on his own ... he has put in place a leadership team around him, people he trusts and takes direction from ... imagine if Bates or Cellino were still here, Tommy would be gone and another short term "manager" would be in, derailing our season completely This little run of defeats has been very tough to take, but Leeds aren't exactly in the bottom three with an awful team and no hope of improvement ... this current Leeds United have shown they are scary good when they get going, so we know the performances are there ... Tommy needs to be allowed to fight through this bad patch with his players so that the group as a whole come out of it stronger and more together than ever ... if this is allowed to happen then Leeds United will be in a very good place and in a position to have a proper tilt at promotion Changing the manager will not work, and it will signal the end of any chance of a good season ... a new manager will have to come in and learn about his players and earn their trust whilst being expected to deliver success ... that is going to be a tough ask regardless who comes in ... for Leeds to genuinely become a strong top flight club again there needs to be consistency across the board For me, Tommy should be allowed to stay until the end of the season so that he can build something good ... this will show everyone that the club's leadership is strong and together, and that they trust Tommy and his staff ... it will also show the players that the manager is here to stay and that they are responsible for their own performances, so they better buck up It is simply ludicrous that there are actually calls for Grayson to come back, or even Warnock heaven forbid ... Wilder has also been mentioned, laughable really ... this shows how hysterical Leeds United fans can get, and ultimately it doesn't help the team ... Marching On Together is the motto, so it's time to start doing exactly that ... support the team positively REGARDLESS of results, and I have no doubt that good times will follow ... a club that stands united with an unbreakable spirit is a frightening thing to face ... show no weakness, support the team fully and we will all succeed together Then again, Leeds fans can be very topsy turvy ... MOT Radz is God
I agree with you Billy, sacking TC ends our chance of competing this year. We are better than recent results suggest, keep the faith and he'll come good. And nobody ever said we'd be an invincible new regime by November, the short-sighted short-termers just increase the hysteria. This is a long-term project, support team and manager. MOT.
I like some of what Radz had done so far but he is far from being a god. He still has a lot to learn regarding running a club. He has sold our better players and has yet to get quality replacements. He has given out long contracts to players who will never be good enough for a promotion chasing side. Orta's signings on the whole have been rubbish tbf and makes me think a dof will not work. Why did we start the season without a proper left back? Utter madness. As for TC, well like Radz he has a lot to learn but worryingly he doesn't seem to be learning. As Phil Hay said, when the going gets rough he doesn't seem to be able to get the team to adjust. I'd give him till early next year but if we continue to fall get rid before. Stability doesn't guarantee success.
I find myself agreeing with this middle ground point of view.Its not wrist slashing time yet but I dont see the reasons for the blind faith in TC either.He could well be a dud and so far theres not much to suggest otherwise. The bulk of our better performances have been against bottom six teams. Weve been awful against most of the top half lots.If manager is beyond criticism, the players and the owner then who the hell is responsible for the six defeats in the last eight? Imagine what the reaction would have been if Cellino had replaced Wood with Lasogga
Got to get a grip here, chaps. I won't go into the other games (although I could), but I will mention only the Derby match: * We should have had a penalty, and we were very close to scoring another couple. * Their goals #1 - cross from our right. Where was our RB (Ayling)? 10 yards into their half. Where was our RW (Ruth)? 10 yards into their half (just to stress my point, in case you miss it - equal distance away!). Who tackled to try to prevent the cross? Our RW! Where was our RB? Ambling back, never even made the 18yd box before they scored. Once the cross had been fired in, was the goal still preventable? Yes, if Pontus didn't ball-watch & stayed with the goalscorer, who he should have been watching. For conspiracy theorists - watching the replay, I would say, if I was a little more cynical, that Pontus' movement was exactly what you would do if you were wanting the opposition to score but not look at fault. Just sayin' .... Watch it again & specifically watch him. * Their goal #2 - we all know now, as there is adequate photographic evidence, that it was no a penalty. But it was given, and these things have a way of evening themselves out in time. So why was it given? Again, our RW (Sacko) ran searingly fast back from 10 yds inside their half and tackled rashly. Ref got it wrong, but in real time, these things happen. So the question for me is - why did our RW have to make this tackle? And the answer is, he had to, because our RB (Ayling) watched it all unfold from within the comfort of his 18yd box. Did our RB move to make the tackle? No. Could he have moved to make the tackle? Yes. Should he have moved to make the tackle? Absolutely! Was standing having a breather & leaving it to everyone else an option? Clearly, yes! Should it have been? Absolutely not! 'Shot at dawn' are the words that spring to mind. * It never ceases to amaze me how many opportunities I get to say this - this ref was the worst we've ever had at ER! Truly awful. Some of the tackles, holds & shirt-pulls that were inflicted on us were totally ignored by him. Sadly, he missed not one jot when it came to us doing it. Don't know if you witnessed this, but he lectured Saiz after he jumped in the air, heels at backside, to avoid losing his legs. No free kick given. Clearly the ref's rule book was missing the section about 'intent'. You don't have to be maimed to get a free kick, the rule book says. Unless you're wearing a Leeds shirt it would seem. There were many similar issues. Simply breathtaking. Now if you've managed to get though the comments above, especially the bits about the goals, tell me in clear, simple sentences why this is the fault of either Radz, Orta or TC. Did they tell Ayling to swing the lead for both goals? Did they tell Pontus, an experienced internationalist, to disregard Fooball 101, and ignore the guy you should be marking in favour of ball-watching like a rookie instead? Nope! So why should people shout for their removal?
Do you think it might have something to do with the fact they have offered these 2 players long term contracts when clearly in your words they make sunday soccer mistakes ? just asking is that clear and simple enough ?
That might be all fine and dandy if this result was a one off WJ but it wasnt. The last eight weeks have been awful for me to watch,admittedly from my armchair. Back to the old days of dreading the live matches and expecting the worst. I dont intend to drone on about it for ages, unlike some, but there surely comes a time when we have to suspect there are problems within that squad/ coaching/dof setup. BTW had a very pleasant weekend past up your old neck of the woods in Glasgow
I could go into the other games & pull out other stuff, but chose only to highlight the latest game (wasn't the post long enough???? My point is that there are a lot of individual mistakes. Far, far too many. And a frigtenlingly huge amount of bad luck. Truly. Getting rid of TC, Radz & Orta will not solve that. It's not a system failure, the wrong tactics, poor players, and all the other nonsense served up. Yes, they may contribute, but TC is not sending players out & saying 'don't bother tackling anyone, Ayling - you just sit on your hands & leave it to everyone else', or 'No need to watch the man you're marking, Pontus, ball-watching is much more fun - it's like being back in primary school - try it"! It has been said elsewhere on here that we need a settled back 4. You'll go nowhere chopping & changing, especially at CB. Most of this has been inflicted on us, tbf. I'm actually pleased with Dallas at LB. He & Alioski worked well together. Both have played LW & LB, so know the drill & we may have a bit of a partnership to build there. Dallas could actually make the spot his own. He wouldn't be the first LW to revert to LB. an Harte did. So did Eddie! So there was a bit of positivity last night. Wis I could say the same for the RW/RB combinations. Or the CBs.
Not TCs fault they keep getting picked for the team week in week out is it ? Ayling has played every minute of every game so who keeps picking the useless twat game after game ?
They get picked because they're the best we have available - in form or not. I think it must be Gloryhole that picks Ayling for every match. He gets writers cramp every time he writes to enthuse about him So much cramp that he can't pick up the tissues correctly!
We're a second tier team, and have second tier players. These players will always make mistakes. We all tend to forget this, but still blame the manager rather than 'heroes' like Pontus (even though he himself admits he's shiit atm!). 1st tier players won't sign (readily) for 2nd tier clubs. You must surely experience this yourself at Millwall when you try to sign 5th tier players!
we grow our own m8ty or pick from lower leagues and second strings thats why we are light years behind you
You have 2nd tier players from Europe - not used to the nitty grityness of the English game. Same with the manager. There is no pace is your midfield apart from Sacko & and he is useless. You lost Taylor, Bridcutt, Bartey, Wood and Green in the Summer - all good at this level. O'Kane and Phillips must be your worst CM pairing EVER - both too slow. How many of your players can you rely on to roll up the sleeves and get stuck in when the fight is on?
Taylor? Hardly played. Bridcutt? Awful. Green? Similar start to Weidwald. Bartley & Wood? - no real choice in the matter. O'Kane & Phillips? - wonder where you got that from. You're not describing the pairing I've watched since July. The sleeves question - all of them & some of them - i.e. completely inconsistent & your point is already recognised, but not yet addressed.
