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Leeds United: Players will be eager for break to end - Ormsby
All the right noises may be emanating from the Leeds United camp about the benefits of a two-week international break, but one Eland Road legend is not quite so sure.
Former skipper and popular defensive lieutenant Brendan Ormsby reckons that while the fortnight-long hiatus will provide some sidelined players invaluable time to get back into pristine condition, most of the playing staff will have been wanting the games to come thick and fast.
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This rings particularly true after impressive back-to-back victories over Watford and Millwall, when United showed both facets of their game needed to make a season a success.
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Defensive steel arrived in the shape of the rock-solid 1-0 victory at Vicarage Road, which followed the attacking stardust of the stand-out 3-1 home triumph over Millwall, previously a bit of a bogey side for the Whites, with that particularly three-point haul oh-so-sweet for several reasons.
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All told, United boasted a three-match unbeaten streak in the Championship heading into the break and with confidence levels pretty gushing and on the rise, Ormsby feels the last thing many players will have wanted was a check to their momentum.
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Understandably, boss Simon Grayson has extolled the virtues of the break to enable the likes of Billy Paynter and Robert Snodgrass much-needed time to get back 'up to speed' on the fitness front, with the vibes undeniably positive from Eland Road.
But Ormsby feels he will have known exactly how the vast majority of United players will have been feeling this weekend, namely kicking their heels and raring to go!
Ormsby, who served United with distinction in the mid to late 80s, chiefly under the late, great Billy Bremner, said: "As a player, I wouldn't have wanted a break. Last week, Leeds won away at Watford, a great win, and then two weeks to wait for the next game.
"Alright, you can clean up any niggling injuries you have got in that two-week spell and ease up a bit in training and have a relaxing spell and build up to things again next week but after a great win away from home, the players would have been buzzing.
"For me, you just want to carry on playing. It's early in the season, the Premiership has only just kicked off and is two or three weeks old and now there's a two-week break.
"Billy Paynter, who I spoke to last week, is happy with the break as it gives him another extra few weeks to get fit. In that respect, the break is good.
"As for most of the other players, they will have just had a few months off in the summer and they won't have wanted a break."
Involved on match days at Eland Road with media work, the performances of United's back four always warrant special attention from former stopper Ormsby, who has singled out Scotsman Neill Collins for particular praise following United's promising start to life back in the Championship.
The craggy defender arrived for an undisclosed six-figure fee from Preston North End in the summer following a loan spell at the end of last season and has previous promotion experience in the second tier, having been promoted with both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland.
It's too early to say Collins is a lucky omen, but correct to state he knows his way around the division, and his solid performances thus far have certainly impressed Ormsby.
Once cult defender Patrick Kisnorbo returns from long-term injury, it's safe to assume boss Grayson will have an embarrassment of riches in his central defensive ranks, with the performances of Collins, so far, having outshone those of veteran Richard Naylor, according to Ormsby.
The duo did their bit to shut out Watford's forwards last weekend, handling the exacting long-ball approach of the Hertfordshire hosts consummately in their stride to earn the most meritorious of clean sheet.
Despite an early wobble, both centre halves were also solidarity personified in the 1-1 draw at the City Ground against much-fancied Nottingham Forest, while being rarely in danger in the home success over Kenny Jackett's Millwall.
It all augers well, in the eyes of Ormsby, who is happy with the strength in depth in the heart of the United rearguard after summer swoops by Grayson for both Collins and former Ipswich Town utility defender Alex Bruce, who can operate at centre half and right back.
Ormsby said: "To be fair, I think Collins is playing the better of the two centre-halves. I think Naylor has struggled a bit in some of the games.
"Collins has come on a lot. He didn't really impress me that much last season when he came in on loan.
"But from what I've seen of him so far this season, he has impressed me. He's not just getting his boot on it but getting the ball down and passing it.
"For me, he's been the better of the two centre-halves so far. Although I like Naylor, he's the same type of player as me. But in one or two games, for me, he's come up short a bit.
"I'm not sure about Bessone, but Connolly is doing a good job, Bruce – when he comes in – looks comfortable, although he hasn't really been tested yet and obviously with Schmeichel, everyone loves him anyway and from what I've seen of Higgs in the goal so far, he's a good keeper as well. The two keepers are spot-on."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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