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Brendan's Postbag: My best Leeds United FA Cup moment
Hi Brendan, most people probably know what was your worst FA Cup moment, but what about the best?
DAVE, Chapel Allerton
I didn't have any FA Cup runs at Villa, although I think we once had one at Scarborough, when we ended up playing Arsenal. But I think the best moments came from when we had the run with Leeds to the semi-final in 1987.
Obviously, the worst moment came with the mistake I made in not clearing the ball against Coventry, but I think the highlight was the goal against QPR in the fifth round.
People even now tell me how much pleasure they got out of it. That's great when you hear things like that so many years on.
The goal is something I'll never ever forget, just the same as the mistake against Coventry – I can tell people exactly what happened to this day.
With my goal, John Sheridan took the corner from the left, and it was a lovely ball to the near post and "Big Bird" John Pearson flicked it on and I just timed the run right and I met it perfectly and it went straight into the top corner and David Seaman had no chance.
My momentum kept me going into the net and I was then up on the fence and looked around and there was a policeman coming towards me and I thought: "I better get off the fence!"
I remember it as if it was yesterday. You have to cherish the moment and take everything out of it.
But the whole run itself – even though we got beaten in the semi-final – was brilliant. That was all 22 years ago, but I think now the FA Cup has lost its glory with the big clubs belittling it, to be honest.
They don't really cherish it these days like we did; it's all about the European Cup and championship these days. The players now at the top don't put as much into it as we did. We always used to look forward to the cup as a break from the league and a chance to get to Wembley with everyone watching – you used to watch it as a kid on the telly.
Despite what happened, the semi-final was still a great day. We didn't let ourselves down. I remember we stayed over in a hotel in Sheffield and it was full of Coventry supporters. When we got up the next morning, Billy Bremner was taking us out for a walk and there were hundreds of their fans. But to be fair, it was all good humoured and good natured banter, it was part of the build-up. They weren't that noisy and weren't waking us up in the middle of the night! I enjoyed every minute of the day, apart from my mistake.
But we had a great run, right from beating Telford in the early round at West Brom. That probably shouldn't have been played, the pitch was rock-solid with ice and even the coach was struggling to get started on the morning of the game!
****
Hi Brendan. What do you make of the situation at Liverpool? Do you think the manager is to blame or is it the players or the owners?
DEWSBURY WHITE
I've got to admit Rafa Benitez is one manager that I wouldn't be sad to see get the boot. All he ever does is moan. Whether Liverpool win, get beaten or draw.
He's spent god knows how much money over the past four or five years and he still can't get the team to win the league. They are a two-man team these days with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. There used to be a third man in Jamie Carragher, but he's been having a bad time lately, although he's a true Liverpudlian and a down-to-earth defender who will always be that type.
But if Gerrard and Torres aren't there or one of them isn't fit, they are in trouble.
I played against the great Liverpool sides of the late 1970s and early 80s when they dominated European football and English football for six or seven years and it used to be frightening to go to Anfield.
When you saw those 11 red shirts, you used to be scared stiff! But Liverpool aren't like that anymore – they are just an average team, apart from Gerrard and Torres.
Yes, I don't know what is going on behind the scenes with the Americans owning the club and I know a lot of supporters want them out, but for me, Rafa has had the backing and it's not been working or clicking.
They are always going to be one of the top four, but never the top two.
I can't see them winning the title for a long time to come and they will be around third or fourth in the table. Or maybe fifth if Man City start picking up or Villa start putting a run together.
****
Brendan. Obviously, our game against Swindon has been postponed due to international call-ups. Do you think, with our squad, we could have done with carrying on playing and keeping up our momentum.
JOHN, Wortley
In terms of friendly (international) games, I don't see where all the benefits are coming from. But in terms of Leeds, there's two ways you can look at.
Leeds are on a great run now and have had two great victories and got over the Millwall defeat and from what you hear, everything at the club is buzzing and they all want to play because they don't want to lose their place in the team. Confidence is high and the team are playing well.
With the Swindon match getting called off, the rest of the lads not involved will be gutted. Yes, it's a week off and it will give Simon Grayson, and the management team time to get any minor niggles and injuries cleared up, but the players who are fit or who haven't been selected for internationals will have been wanting to play that weekend.
They will instead be kicking their toes and twiddling their fingers. On the other side of it, there's at least three or four of our lads recognised at international level.
****
Have you ever wanted to quiz a United legend? Now's your chance. Write to: Brendan's Postbag, Sports Desk, Yorkshire Evening Post, Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 1RF E-Mail: yep.sport@ypn.co.uk Log on to: www. yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk
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