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Leeds United v Brighton and Hove Albion: Whites lack professionalism - Redfearn
Brighton and Hove Albion's Alan Navarro is congratulated on scoring the winning goal. PIC: PA
Caretaker manager Neil Redfearn believes a lack of professionalism is running through his players, having watched them slip to a 2-1 injury-time defeat to Brighton.
Alan Navarro’s 91st-minute winner ensured the Seagulls remain unbeaten in 2012, but condemned the Whites to a sixth home defeat of the season.
That statistic alone is one of the reasons why Redfearn has been asked to mind the shop by chairman Ken Bates, who last week dismissed Simon Grayson as manager amid fears that the club’s promotion hopes were fading.
With Bates promising to take his time over an appointment, Redfearn, a lifelong Leeds fan, has effectively been given a four-game interview to prove his credentials, although the presence of Keith Curle, long-term assistant to bookmakers favourite Neil Warnock in the stands today, could suggest the decision may already be out of Redfearn’s hands.
The game was something he could control, though, and he looked to have followed up last weekend’s 3-0 win at Bristol City with a point when Luciano Becchio cancelled out Craig Mackail-Smith’s opener.
But Navarro’s late effort would win it for Gus Poyet’s side, leaving Redfearn to assess the reasons as to why he has been asked to run the side for the time being.
“Conceding two so late on is a trait that has run through this season and you can understand why it’s been a problem,” he said.
“Clean sheets win football matches, as daft as it sounds. What they (the players) don’t realise is, this is a fantastic club and a fantastic way to earn a living. I need to instil that in them. The problems that have been there in the past are there to see.
“It’s a lack of professionalism and that’s something that has run through for a while.”
Redfearn knows he has Tuesday’s trip to Coventry and next Saturday’s home meeting with Doncaster to come, and is confident that today’s defeat will not have harmed his own chances too much.
“My position doesn’t change,” he added.
“If I looked at it as though I had to win every game I’d never get up in a morning. I’m doing my best for the club. There are problems there and that’s why I am sat here. If I can help in any way, then great.”
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While Redfearn and Warnock head the betting to replace Grayson, Poyet is another to have been linked with being his successor, having worked at the club before and also being a friend of Bates.
The Uruguayan played under the veteran owner at Chelsea and was Leeds’ assistant manager during their memorable recovery from a 15-point deduction in 2008.
He was keen to express his happiness at his situation at Brighton when asked if he would like to return to Elland Road, but stopped short of ruling it out entirely.
“I had a great time here and when I came out of the tunnel and looked to the left (at the Revie Stand) it was unique. There are not many places like that.
“I always try to be honest and I try not to think about what managers will go. But Leeds is a special one. I prefer to wait. If the day is coming, it is coming and then I will think.
“I am lucky at the moment. It’s a good time to be at Brighton, I make a lot of decisions.
“I say there is no chance (of wanting to leave), but it is difficult to say when the place (Leeds) is so spectacular for me.
“It would be great. I would love, in the future, to manage Leeds. I would love to come back, but at the moment the timing is not quite right. For those who want me back, I am sorry.”
end
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 20 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
White As A Sheet
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:48 AMWhites Lack Professionalism - you're right there Neil Redfearn. Whites lack professionalism from top to bottom. Starting with Master Bates and his stooges Harvey and Williams. The comments they've all made about SG are completely unprofessional. Deriding the bloke in public does nothing for our club. I'm no big SG fan and was actually relieved when he went. But he deserves better than to be derided by these clowns in the media. SG cried his eyes out when he left Leeds, that's more than these clowns has done or ever will do for LUFC. To see my boyhood Peter Lorimer hero also jump on the bandwagon and spout Bates's Goebbelsesque propaganda about SG is really sad. Shame on you Peter, you've lost all my respect. KB was also quick to ridicule Sven for just applying for the job. How dare he ? I'm no lover of Sven, but think about the message this sends to the footballing world ! Players and managers will not be rushing to join a club that has a complete moron in charge. I would have like to see Poyet back, but he's not that daft ! Once bitten my friend. Hopefully he'll come back when we've rid ourselves of the Bates plague ! Keep up the protest LUST, and turn the screws on this idiot. He's squealing now because he's getting hit in the place that hurts - his pocket. MOT ! Bates Out !
White As A Sheet
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:34 AMPending Moderation
Yorkshire Lad
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:20 AMSpot on OzTyke. This is real football what we are talking about, not fantasy football or X box. So, NR reckons some of the player's are not professional, yet these same player's are on thousands of pounds a week in wages. When I read NR outlining the problems on the fireld at LU, I just thought, ''now where have heard that before in the past 2 yrs ?''. But, who is to blame ? SG as manager ? At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. If SG had been given a proper transfer budget, would he have brought in the defender's that he has ? NO he wouldn't ! When your given Netto money, then you can't expect Marks & Spencer quality. Bates does though ! Just show me one club in the top six in the PL or the top six in the Championship that hasn't spent money. Then, compare what SG spent in the 32 years he was in charge. Until Bates goes, nothing will change, so LU supporters get real and get used to it. If you support Bates, then don't moan with what you get.
original koppite
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 11:11 PM12allanb78....That is a precisely pertinent and accurate description of the situation. I am certain all the other fairminded supporters of our great club will endorse your view and congratulate your articulate presentation...We are being hijacked by the lunatic element and it is time for the silent majority to say to the moronic muppets go ! As distasteful a man as he is we prefer Bates to you.
OzTyke
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:40 PMI hope to be proved wrong, but who in there right mind would really want to manage Leeds? The new boss will have some level of input, but the REAL decisions on contracts, player sales, transfers in and what we're prepared to pay, have all been made by Williams, Harvey and Bates, so what's going to change? It's farcical that Bates & Co are seriously considering appointing a guy who's been in charge at Halifax Town and Scarborough, when a bloke who's led Atletico Madrid to the double, Barcelona and Real Madrid has apparently applied for the position. No offence to NR I like the way he's working with the kids, but does the LUFC Board really want success or not? MOT
Takeover2011
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:08 PMMick McCarthy would be first choice as manager if he came available in the next few weeks
Bathonian
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 07:57 PMThis season, I believe, is now over for Leeds. Regardless of the manager situation there simply isn't enough quality or even unity in the current squad to compete with the teams currently above them. I was at the Bristol game and if it wasn't for the sending's off I could have seen Bristol getting something out of the game. It's such a kick in the teeth to faithful fans, we suffered through League 1 - then get on a decent roll under Grayson and now it seems as though the brakes have beem slammed on and once again we are going in reverse. I wish I could seem positives, light at the end of the tunnel but under Bates I just can't see that right now.
luvmeteam
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 04:57 PMThis season has been a write off and the majority knew it would be from the start.The club is being run as if it were barnsley(no offence barnsley fans)but it,s not.It does worry me as to bates motives in all this why save the club and then just choke it slowly,i thought after selling Chelsea that he wanted to still sit at the top table but he seems to have put his self out to pasture.Please evening post get interviewing bates and TELL him the city needs him to invest or step aside.
allanb78
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 03:00 PMShame on you so called fans who have decided to make Neil Redfearn the subject of your latest hate campaign.Your behaviour reeks of childish,self seeking pettiness and deserves nothing but the utmost contempt.You fail,or will not acknowledge, the true facts of Redfearn's predicament Redfearn did not volunteer for the job,he was simply asked to help out on a temporary basis.What did he inherit? He was handed a group of players recruited by his predecessor Grayson.Players who then subjected to 3 years of mismanagement by a man whose lack of leadership qualities have now been publically recognised Do you really expect Redfearn ,after just 10 days in charge to rectify overnight the damage done in the past 3 years.This club of ours is currently the sick man of football and any physician will tell you that the cure is often more painful than the disease.
mccarthy
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 11:57 AMAM I WRONG BUT I READ THAT REDFEARN WATCHED ALL THE FIRST TEAM GAMES FROM THE STANDS EACH WEEK, NOW HE SAYS THEY LACK PROFFESIONALISM, DID HE NOT KNOW THAT BEFORE SOAKING UP THE GLORY OF BEATING 9 MAN BRISTOL,FOLLOWED BY THE ONLY TEAM TO LOSE THIS WEEKEND AT HOME, IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. IF HE REALLY WANTS TO HELP THE CLUB, DONT KEEP SAYING HE WANTS THE JOB PROBABLEY FOR A £3 RISE, LET HIM DO HIS COACHING, AND STAND ASIDE, AND LET US GET AN EXPERIENCED MANAGER. GAMES ARE BECOMING FEWER, SO ARE OUR PROSPECTS OF PROMOTION,
Bubionwhite
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:09 AM@9 spot on white01 ... a manager with some different ideas and you only need to look at his record in Spain to realise he has the ability to motivate and get the best out of players. If he can manage to get La Liga and Copa del Rey double at Atletico Madrid then he is good enough for Leeds United. Sign him up now ...
white01
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 08:26 AMSo then Kenneth,buddy,pal,sir,your highness,whatever, can you please just hire Antic,someone who wont just be another cheapest option for you I know, but we are after all a football club before anything else and the guy has a proven history and will attract big time attention from his big time circle of friends and who knows we may actually start to get some results on the field again.We may actually begin to be taken seriously again.He may actually even know how to use the transfer market and he may actually stop the sell off of anyone with half an ounce of talent.He may actually steer us in a direction where we could actually win something again.He may actually even know how to organise a defence. P.S. - I will get down on my knees and beg if need be.
DrD
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 10:49 PMI joined the march briefly, but only a couple or three hundred turned up. I suddenly realised that yes, Mr Bates has not spent his money on the club, but he has not bought, coached or picked the players on the pitch. These players, and some of them are damn good, are under performing and I can't blame bates for that! We could have had 18-20 professionals and 5-10 youth reserve team players, instead of 28 professionals. 5 or 6 players gave their all today, the others were very average and some of them could not cope at this level. Unfortunately I can not see some of those 5-6 players staying next year (those with 1 year or less). NR should have changed some positions on 60-65 minutes, so clearly inexperienced at this level. Need action quickly if we can save the season, the players are good enough for top 6 and pot luck. Or we have to cash in on snodgrass et al and trim the excess baggage to buy a few more decent players... But each year the team weakens. Still back in Kensington and my boy came to his first match today. Don't be upset, it was just a game of football and they did their best... Tough when your 9 year old is more serious than you.
wjohn228
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 10:27 PMI thought Brighton played really well. They play an attractive, keep the ball on the ground, high tempo passing game. with a couple of pacy wingers. They made Leeds look like a collection of cartthorses. Redfearn was out of his depth and did nothing to suggest he had a plan B i would be happy for any of tbe following to be the next manager: Freedman Robinson Poyet Hill Martinez (his last season at Wigan - the club and manger need a change)
Brain
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 10:26 PMRedfearn needs to try something different. Some suggestions: Strip Lonergan of the captaincy let him concentrate on saving shots! He is costing us too many points. Try playing a strong tackler in midfield - Alex Bruce? Try playing White in a forward midfield position. Delph is contributing very little and will be back to Villa soon.
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