Another renewal of the vows of loyalty. Or the belief that this may actually be the season that Leeds United may actually return to the Promised Land after our short-term tenure there was abruptly terminated at the end of the 2022-23 season. Or the hope that Daniel Farke can fulfil the role of the Second Messiah in the Common Era post-Bielsa.
Pre-season went swimmingly enough on the field although the high profile departures of Archie Gray and Cree Sommerville. The former to satisfy Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR); the latter due to a widely expected triggering of a relegation release clause in this contract. This didd cause much sadness amongst the faithful, especially Archie being a scion of the famous Gray dynasty (Frank and Eddie grandfather and great uncle respectively and father Andy being a 17 year old debutant in that ill-starred Coca Cola League Cup Final with Aston Villa in 1996).
Pre-season went swimmingly enough on the field although the high profile departures of Archie Gray and Cree Sommerville. The former to satisfy Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR); the latter due to a widely expected triggering of a relegation release clause in this contract. This didd cause much sadness amongst the faithful, especially Archie being a scion of the famous Gray dynasty (Frank and Eddie grandfather and great uncle respectively and father Andy being a 17 year old debutant in that ill-starred Coca Cola League Cup Final with Aston Villa in 1996).
Other squad departures such as Glen Kamara and Charlie Cresswell do raise some eyebrows, and Farke diplomatically cautions that decisions taken by the previous ownership mean that not all transfer income will be automatically spent on new arrivals. But other than that, we have had this summer to get all of our ducks in a row unlike that the turmoil over ownership in last year’s post relegation close season and we are installed as 11/10 favourites for automatic promotion (by Paddy Power bookies anyway).
So we kick off at Elland Road in glorious sunshine on 10th August against newly promoted Portsmouth; another great soccer name brought almost to the point of oblivion by appallingly incompetent and predatory ownership (and it is rumoured by former manager and wheeler-dealer extraordinaire Harry “Ten Per Cent” Redknapp) and rescued by the heroic and selfless efforts of its Supporters Trust who were the club’s majority shareholders between 2013 and 2017. Such democratic, participative and community involved models of civic society represent the best mechanics for football fans to stake claims in the running of the clubs they love.
But back to matters on the pitch. And what a blistering start we make. The woodwork is struck three times in the first ten minutes. Our attack play is breathtaking with new signing Jaydon Bogle (a right full back by trade) combining with Willy Gnonto, Georginia Rutter and Junior Firpo to reduce Pompey’s defence to sixes and sevens. Their seemingly dearth of quality leads to an inevitable concession of a penalty which Paschal Struijk nonchalantly converted. 1-0 and surely more to come.
But inexplicably, we take the foot of the accelerator. From nowhere Pompey first level and then take a 2-1 lead with a precision bullet strike from 25 yards from goal. We go into half time behind and the mood of Daniel Farke and the home crowd (apart from the very noisy contingent from the South Coast) is as gloomy as the downpour of torrential rain that has so suitably descended on West Yorkshire.
To quote Barack Obama, we have all seen this movie before but what will the sequel be? Just after the beginning of the second half, Gnonto goes on one of his magical, mazy runs and shoots precisely from outside the box to equalise. 2-2. Now here surely is the springboard for the opening day win which an expectant Elland Road craves for. We certainly go on the offensive but brave last ditch defending by Pompey in their box and increasingly accomplished defending further up the pitch by them thwarts us. We create relatively few chances, one of which is fluffed by young Spanish forward Matteo Joseph of whom great things are expected this season. In their forays up front, Pompey give notice that they are not here to make up numbers.
Then in stoppage time horror strikes. Bogle, held by some to be culpable for Pompey’s first goal, spreads his arms over an opposing forward who then manoeuvres both into our penalty box. The spot kick is awarded. No VAR intervention as the English Football League remains firmly in the analogue era as regards the final arbiters of justice on the field of play and does not introduce it. It is possible to have an analytical, abstract debate on the merits and demerits of VAR and goal line technology in the Match of the Day studio. But when your naked eyes see an out of the box entanglement becoming a penalty offence on the say so of the obscured vision of a referee, rational discussion is impossible. But the decision is made, Pompey score from and have seemingly won an improbable three points.
But not so fast. This is Leeds after all. In the fifth minutes of added on time, Brendan Aaronson partially redeems himself in the court of Leeds United fandom by weaving and then slotting home for a second Leeds equaliser. His offence was to activate the relegation clause in his contract after we departed the Premiership and go out on loan to the German side Union Berlin. He has bravely returned to Elland Road to face the music, a mini cacophony of boos when he came on as sub. Redemption could have been complete had he taken what looked to be an easier chance in the 97th minute rather than putting it a yard the other side of the left post.
So 3-3 full-time. The entire match is a vignette of the events and emotions that is the staff of life for the Leeds United supporter. But the not unprecedented stoppage time opening day drama takes us to a particular place harmful for those many of us of a nervous disposition and perhaps those of us with coronary conditions (not me, I stress to add).
We are left in doubt as to the attacking, high press qualities of the starting XI on opening day but questions are asked about the concession of three goals particularly after our impressive defensive record last season – 43 goals conceded in 46 Championship matches. The questioning became more strident after our exit from the League Cup the following Wednesday at the hands of Middlesbrough in a 3-0 defeat at Elland Road making it the first occasion on which Leeds had conceded three goals in consecutive home matches. The first half was even handed in terms of chances and possession but Boro completely bossed it in the second half, scoring three goals in the first 15 minutes and completely eclipsing the home side in terms of possession. Farke made eight changes to the starting line up but his opposite number, Michael Carrick, made seven and showed enough to prove that they will be strong promotion challengers this season. In that second half collapse, Leeds defenders backed off and failed to make crucial challenges in the face of the missiles being fired by a rampant Boro side. Last season’s solid defenders like Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadou looked worryingly off pace as did new arrival Bogle. Farke did make five second half changes with limited impact, the high point being a Rutter volley which cannoned off the inside of the left post but from the rebound a rather rusty looking Joel Piroe failed to convert.
Mention of Leeds United’s record signing leads me onto the bombshell which struck us all on our X/Twitter feeds and Sky Sports News bulletins – Rutter was off to Premiership Brighton who had triggered a mysterious eleventh hour release clause in his contract for a fee of £40m (We had paid £35m for him in January 2023). Cue a seismic shift in the collective psyche of Leeds United fans. Last season, his first full season for the club, Georginio Rutter proved to be the beating heart of the side. Although his goal contribution was relatively modest, eight in all, his assists and his contagious effect on the forwards around him were worth their weight in gold.
The ghosts of owner incompetence and worse from the past came flooding back. Be it the sale of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle in January 2003 with the admission by Chairman Peter Ridsdale that “we had lived the dream and lost”; the cut price sale of Harry Kewell by his successor Professor John McKenzie to Liverpool for £5m (of which £2m was trousered by Kewell’s agent) in July 2003; the sale of local Academy product Aaron Lennon to Tottenham in August 2005 by Ken Bates which deprived us of the width on the right flanks which could have secured automatic promotion back to the Premiership that season and the sale of another local John Howson in January 2012 (on top of Max Gradel and Kaspar Schmeichel) by the same pecunious, white bearded demon); Leeds fans again seemed to be troubled by lack of transparency and ambition on the part of owners with the 49ers Enterprises and the Chair, Paraag Marathe in the fans’ angry crosshairs. An anger that is not mollified by the creeping Red Bull corporatisation of the club.
An essential first clean sheet was secured with a boring 0-0 draw at the ground of another likely promotion contenders – West Bromwich Albion on the second weekend of the 2024-25 season with the lack of fire power up front glaringly obvious for both sides.
As I write this, we play Sheffield Wednesday a few miles down the M1 who come into this Yorkshire derby encounter on the back of a 4-0 home win against Plymouth and a 4-0 away drubbing at Sunderland. The transfer window closes in a week’s time – a week which could be a very long week in the history of Leeds United. Largai Ramazani, a former Manchester United youth and Belgian U-21 player has arrived from Spanish side Almeria and looks to be an exciting prospect. The afore mentioned Bogle and Jon Rothwell (on loan) and Joe Rodon (permanent from Spurs) and loan returnees Aaronson and Max Wober make up the rest of squad incomings. But there has to be a signature or two of intent.
PS – We defeat Wednesday 2-0 to secure our first win of the season and our second clean sheet on the spin. Small steps! We have also completed the loan signing of Manor Solomon from Spurs with hopefully at least two more arrivals before the transfer window guillotine falls this Friday night (30th August). Marching on Together!
So we kick off at Elland Road in glorious sunshine on 10th August against newly promoted Portsmouth; another great soccer name brought almost to the point of oblivion by appallingly incompetent and predatory ownership (and it is rumoured by former manager and wheeler-dealer extraordinaire Harry “Ten Per Cent” Redknapp) and rescued by the heroic and selfless efforts of its Supporters Trust who were the club’s majority shareholders between 2013 and 2017. Such democratic, participative and community involved models of civic society represent the best mechanics for football fans to stake claims in the running of the clubs they love.
But back to matters on the pitch. And what a blistering start we make. The woodwork is struck three times in the first ten minutes. Our attack play is breathtaking with new signing Jaydon Bogle (a right full back by trade) combining with Willy Gnonto, Georginia Rutter and Junior Firpo to reduce Pompey’s defence to sixes and sevens. Their seemingly dearth of quality leads to an inevitable concession of a penalty which Paschal Struijk nonchalantly converted. 1-0 and surely more to come.
But inexplicably, we take the foot of the accelerator. From nowhere Pompey first level and then take a 2-1 lead with a precision bullet strike from 25 yards from goal. We go into half time behind and the mood of Daniel Farke and the home crowd (apart from the very noisy contingent from the South Coast) is as gloomy as the downpour of torrential rain that has so suitably descended on West Yorkshire.
To quote Barack Obama, we have all seen this movie before but what will the sequel be? Just after the beginning of the second half, Gnonto goes on one of his magical, mazy runs and shoots precisely from outside the box to equalise. 2-2. Now here surely is the springboard for the opening day win which an expectant Elland Road craves for. We certainly go on the offensive but brave last ditch defending by Pompey in their box and increasingly accomplished defending further up the pitch by them thwarts us. We create relatively few chances, one of which is fluffed by young Spanish forward Matteo Joseph of whom great things are expected this season. In their forays up front, Pompey give notice that they are not here to make up numbers.
Then in stoppage time horror strikes. Bogle, held by some to be culpable for Pompey’s first goal, spreads his arms over an opposing forward who then manoeuvres both into our penalty box. The spot kick is awarded. No VAR intervention as the English Football League remains firmly in the analogue era as regards the final arbiters of justice on the field of play and does not introduce it. It is possible to have an analytical, abstract debate on the merits and demerits of VAR and goal line technology in the Match of the Day studio. But when your naked eyes see an out of the box entanglement becoming a penalty offence on the say so of the obscured vision of a referee, rational discussion is impossible. But the decision is made, Pompey score from and have seemingly won an improbable three points.
But not so fast. This is Leeds after all. In the fifth minutes of added on time, Brendan Aaronson partially redeems himself in the court of Leeds United fandom by weaving and then slotting home for a second Leeds equaliser. His offence was to activate the relegation clause in his contract after we departed the Premiership and go out on loan to the German side Union Berlin. He has bravely returned to Elland Road to face the music, a mini cacophony of boos when he came on as sub. Redemption could have been complete had he taken what looked to be an easier chance in the 97th minute rather than putting it a yard the other side of the left post.
So 3-3 full-time. The entire match is a vignette of the events and emotions that is the staff of life for the Leeds United supporter. But the not unprecedented stoppage time opening day drama takes us to a particular place harmful for those many of us of a nervous disposition and perhaps those of us with coronary conditions (not me, I stress to add).
We are left in doubt as to the attacking, high press qualities of the starting XI on opening day but questions are asked about the concession of three goals particularly after our impressive defensive record last season – 43 goals conceded in 46 Championship matches. The questioning became more strident after our exit from the League Cup the following Wednesday at the hands of Middlesbrough in a 3-0 defeat at Elland Road making it the first occasion on which Leeds had conceded three goals in consecutive home matches. The first half was even handed in terms of chances and possession but Boro completely bossed it in the second half, scoring three goals in the first 15 minutes and completely eclipsing the home side in terms of possession. Farke made eight changes to the starting line up but his opposite number, Michael Carrick, made seven and showed enough to prove that they will be strong promotion challengers this season. In that second half collapse, Leeds defenders backed off and failed to make crucial challenges in the face of the missiles being fired by a rampant Boro side. Last season’s solid defenders like Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadou looked worryingly off pace as did new arrival Bogle. Farke did make five second half changes with limited impact, the high point being a Rutter volley which cannoned off the inside of the left post but from the rebound a rather rusty looking Joel Piroe failed to convert.
Mention of Leeds United’s record signing leads me onto the bombshell which struck us all on our X/Twitter feeds and Sky Sports News bulletins – Rutter was off to Premiership Brighton who had triggered a mysterious eleventh hour release clause in his contract for a fee of £40m (We had paid £35m for him in January 2023). Cue a seismic shift in the collective psyche of Leeds United fans. Last season, his first full season for the club, Georginio Rutter proved to be the beating heart of the side. Although his goal contribution was relatively modest, eight in all, his assists and his contagious effect on the forwards around him were worth their weight in gold.
The ghosts of owner incompetence and worse from the past came flooding back. Be it the sale of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle in January 2003 with the admission by Chairman Peter Ridsdale that “we had lived the dream and lost”; the cut price sale of Harry Kewell by his successor Professor John McKenzie to Liverpool for £5m (of which £2m was trousered by Kewell’s agent) in July 2003; the sale of local Academy product Aaron Lennon to Tottenham in August 2005 by Ken Bates which deprived us of the width on the right flanks which could have secured automatic promotion back to the Premiership that season and the sale of another local John Howson in January 2012 (on top of Max Gradel and Kaspar Schmeichel) by the same pecunious, white bearded demon); Leeds fans again seemed to be troubled by lack of transparency and ambition on the part of owners with the 49ers Enterprises and the Chair, Paraag Marathe in the fans’ angry crosshairs. An anger that is not mollified by the creeping Red Bull corporatisation of the club.
An essential first clean sheet was secured with a boring 0-0 draw at the ground of another likely promotion contenders – West Bromwich Albion on the second weekend of the 2024-25 season with the lack of fire power up front glaringly obvious for both sides.
As I write this, we play Sheffield Wednesday a few miles down the M1 who come into this Yorkshire derby encounter on the back of a 4-0 home win against Plymouth and a 4-0 away drubbing at Sunderland. The transfer window closes in a week’s time – a week which could be a very long week in the history of Leeds United. Largai Ramazani, a former Manchester United youth and Belgian U-21 player has arrived from Spanish side Almeria and looks to be an exciting prospect. The afore mentioned Bogle and Jon Rothwell (on loan) and Joe Rodon (permanent from Spurs) and loan returnees Aaronson and Max Wober make up the rest of squad incomings. But there has to be a signature or two of intent.
PS – We defeat Wednesday 2-0 to secure our first win of the season and our second clean sheet on the spin. Small steps! We have also completed the loan signing of Manor Solomon from Spurs with hopefully at least two more arrivals before the transfer window guillotine falls this Friday night (30th August). Marching on Together!
⏩Barry Gilheany is a freelance writer, qualified counsellor and aspirant artist resident in Colchester where he took his PhD at the University of Essex. He is also a lifelong Leeds United supporter.
Leeds 2000 - ' 01 were fantastic . More entertaining than the modest points tally title winning side of ' 92 .
ReplyDeleteLiverpool trip to Man U has a new k o time # 16 : 00
Reds need to buy a # 6 & a replacement for possible departure Gomez .