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Leeds United: We’ve proved critics wrong - Lorimer
Simon Grayson on the touchline at Birmingham City.
The only certainty about unbeaten runs in football is that they always end somewhere, and Leeds United’s ran its course in Birmingham on Wednesday.
That’s disappointing, obviously, but I still believe that when the season ends, Simon Grayson will look back on this period as a crucial spell. It never takes much to set the alarms bells ringing and I could sense a degree of panic among our supporters at the end of August. Granted, our points tally and league position wasn’t great but I said at the time that people were rushing to judgement with unnecessary haste.
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Even back at the start of summer, all I heard was criticism about what Leeds United weren’t doing and what other clubs were. Leicester City, as a prime example, were used as a stick to beat Leeds because they were spending a fortune week after week. Lo and behold, we’re not into November yet and Leicester have already sacked their manager. Meanwhile, we’re in the Championship’s play-off positions and a few points better off. Who’d have thought it?
I was always hopeful about our chances, even at the end of August. I wouldn’t say I was over-confident but I was certain of two things – that the strongest line-up at Elland Road would be a match for most sides in our division and that our strength in depth would be good enough to see us through injuries and suspensions. Our league position at this moment suggests I was correct.
By no means am I claiming that we’re already promoted or certain to be so when the season finishes but this period has answered the sceptics who wrote us off before a ball has been kicked. It’s given us a vital shunt forward. As much as I understood some of the frustration over the time taken to make signings during the summer, I never understood the negativity which surrounded the club. It completely ignored the reality of the last couple of years.
Under Simon’s management, Leeds have improved season-on-season without fail. It was unfair and a bit presumptuous for anyone to say at the start of this term that he had little or no chance of getting the club out of the Championship. On the contrary, with his track record it was not at all unlikely that he would go one better than last season and take Leeds into the play-offs. Without question this recent run has given him that chance.
The thing about football is that success is not purely down to money and the amount you spend. For all the investment Leicester have made, you don’t get the feeling that things have come together there yet. Now that Sven Goran Eriksson has gone, a new manager is going to have to work extremely quickly to make his mark.
The difference at Leeds is that this squad and Simon’s project as a whole has been put together over a long period of time. In my eyes that’s an advantage. A big part of management is about believing in your players and getting the best out of the squad you’ve got. Simon’s done that consistently and, despite the defeat to Birmingham, I’ve felt momentum building steadily. It turns out that news of our demise as a force in this league was premature and very much exaggerated.
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Comments
There are 40 comments to this article
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OzTyke
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 12:24 AMWhile he hasn't pulled up any trees so far, it was highlighted before the Cardiff game that Ross's "goals for" column prior to this season was just as atrocious as Billy's. So, can lightning strike twice? Let's hope so, and while Billy is still on the payroll and can wear the white shirt, I'll be wishing him the best. I must also add that last season the corresponding fixture was also shown live in Australia. The outcome this time, although still frustrating, was nowhere near as horrendous. Although the Cardiff outfit this time was barely recognisable. Thank God, imagine what Chopra, Bellamy and Co would have inflicted on us on Sunday. I see Leicester City managed a good win, without a manager. Doesn't say much for Sven, does it? Perhaps if no manager is better than a cr@p one, the national side should follow the Foxes' lead, and improved results will follow...
interm'landrover
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 09:39 AMWell liam8282 I find no fault with your summation as it is your reasoned point of view but as I am feeling hoarse from getting too excited and vociferous I will drink my honey and lemon prepared by my dearly beloved and offer a view that differs.The defence was rarely troubled(the mistake from O'Dea gave a decent team playing with just one up front an advantage they did not merit) the midfield although out numbered in the first half kept possession and the front men threatened on numerous occasions.Their keeper was in action throughout and made several excellent saves.The low attendance is a concern in these recessionary times but is a wider problem than just ER.To digress we all have an opinion on Billy Paynter(mostly negative) but I reckon Gus Poyet is a pretty good judge and although it is not a big commitment to take him on loan it must be worth a punt if the big Uruguyan thinks so.
Liam123
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 09:12 AMLooks like Peter Lorimer didn't prove anyone wrong. We now sit 7th, possibly 8th if Bham get anything from their 2 games in hand. Another 2 points dropped, rather than a point gained. Lowest attendance since Feb 2010. Looks like everything I said was actually correct now doesn't it?! No, I am not here looking for an apology or to say I told you so, and No, I am not here to spread more doom and gloom. It was actually a good game yesterday, but it was another game we should have won, I am seeing all these results as points dropped and they are adding up fast. Now the injuries are starting to appear, the squad looks a bit fragile, and I see I very tough month in Nov. The comments from Grayson were so predictable, blame the referee, we were unlucky, same excuses all the time.
bja
Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 11:39 AMleeds united should look to australias brisbane roar for manager and team now 32 without a loss, leeds was advised of this good team and great manager 18 months ago, pity nobody listens from leeds or cares,
interm'landrover
Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 08:37 AMMy thanks and appreciation to leodisthewhite for his rhoughtful and conciliatory post and Oz Tyke for making me smile first thing in the morning.I will make this as turgid as possible to generate a more vibrant response from all those who will be missing their Saturday ffootball fix.We're off to Crown Point Retail Park to buy a high chair (can we get it in the club's colours?) for my younger grandson.He is not going to be part of the next LOST generation of LUFC fans.Let us start the ball rolling on a move to offer young fans affordable season tickets that will ensure(using KB's words)future revenue streams from committed lifelong fans and see if the club's response is positive.Is that turgid enough?
Leodisthewhite
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 09:11 PMinterm, like any business there is stuff that goes inside that those who have never experienced it will never know. If you learn to be a plumber for example until you have worked with a time served plumber there are tricks of the trade you never know about. Even if you have played in amateur football you do not fully comprehend what goes on inside a professional club. Neither is it like a normal business, Alan Sugar in a program earlier this year said that his businesses have still not fully recovered from when he owned Spurs. To some degree it's like owning a business where all your major employees are children. Again in a program a few years ago Alan Hansen was talking to players who had retired and one of these was Razor Ruddock who said when he got a cold after retiring he didn't have a clue what to do it was his wife that sorted out the doctor, he didn't know how to do the basics as while a player everything was done for him and it was still like been in school. We are not party to what goes on on the training pitch or the internal atmosphere among the players people like Lorimer are so they have information that is not known to us. That does not mean he or anybody else very closely associated with the club are puppets to the Chairman, whoever he may be, they just have more information that us the fans. This applies to every sport not just football. there was a section of the crowd at Headingley that was having a go at the Chairman and coach saying the Rhinos were going nowhere but down. The players kept saying different as did former players but those fans knew better but where did they finish up? It's when the players that have kept their close associations with the club sart to voice concerns is the time when we need to worry.
OzTyke
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 09:06 PMMorning all! I saw 7 pages and looked forward to some interesting debate & opinions, but sadly it turned into a turgid trawl (that was for IntLandrover) through lots of name-calling. Come on lads, there's more that unites us than seperates us, and Leodis and Liam in particular I recommend you two book a room at the Premier Inn on Citygate, apparently the place is a favourite for undercover lovers... just picture the slow arousal and foreplay... just make sure neither of you yells out "oh yes, Ken!!" in the throes of passion...
interm'landrover
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 08:31 PMLeodisthewhite31 surely you got that one wrong "half full"is optimistic. According to your logic all ex-players are infallible with insights and opinions that we mere fans cannot aspire to.Logically we who have been fans(ex-players are now fans)for longer than them must have more experience and fundamental awareness than those who were attached to the club as players.There is a closing of ranks with some disingenuous utterances from ex-players whose independent views are compromised by their loyalties.There are those who would regard PL and you as quite remarkable (that you may have your heads so far up the Bates anal cavity it is a miracle you can breathe let alone see another point of view).Not me of course! Your starring role in'Allo 'Allo as Herr Flick of the Gestapo opposing freedom of expression is still available.Football in general and Leeds United in particular have been good to those respected players but now as pundits and journalists critical scrutiny and the fact they cannot be asked to give direct answers to probing questions leaves the whole slant open to some debate and your rather self important sarcasm and superiority only convinces many that there is an alternative view.Even the insiders gossip about (perish the thought)feuding and fighting over disagreements by our ex-players.Cheer up leodis at least you are not as boring as me.
LeedsBulldog
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 08:24 PMHmmmm.... ive read all the comments so far - Bit like world war 3 in parts !! good job interm' has a great sense of humour to cheer us up.ive been in arguments on here before just for making my comments known about the monaco snake - we all have our views about him but i wont open up that can of worms (or baby snakes) tonight. i would just like to say that - Remember we are 5th and 3 points on sunday would do the players egos the world of good for the start of the run up to crimbo besides keeping the "we are all doomed" club members quiet for a while.i cant wait for the match and hope macca does the biz against his old club, leeds83 is right - get yer harris's down to ER and SUPPORT em - as Yazoo said in her song THE ONLY WAY IS UP - lets us forget our differences on sunday and shout encouragement for the famous all white strip.- yer know it makes sense - roll on sunday afternoon.MOT 4 EVA WHEREVER WHENEVER WHATEVER!!
Leodisthewhite
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 07:39 PMsuperwhite, we can listen to Lorimer for a number of reasons; 1) he has a lifetimes experience inside football, whereas you have non. 2) Eddie Gray is saying similar things. 3) Norman Hunter is on the same songsheet. 4) Matteo is in agreement. So there are 4 reasons to start with. Now based on your thought process they are all now in Ken Bates 'gang' or is it that anybody that does not agree with you automatically goes into the Bates gang? I have been supporting the club for almost 50 years and as I have said many times before, throughout that period there have always been people like you superwhite who always see the glass half full when it comes to the club regardless of what is happening on or off the pitch.
WhiteMagic
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 07:20 PM#22 that is funny! lol. Well said and roll on Sunday!
superwhite
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 07:11 PMHow can we ever listen to Lorimer and his protests, he's in Bates gang, taking him seriously is like Turkeys having a vote on whether there should be a Christmas.
Liam123
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 05:00 PMLeeds83 - You go searching for my comments after the Doncaster game, I can't be bothered. I await you taking your comments back as you said you would. I will reserve my judgement of the team until the end of the season, not after 13 games, as I have said all along I hope I am proven wrong and if we are promoted I will be the first to admit I was wrong and will be very happy doing so.
Leeds83
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 04:56 PMCan't find a positive post......? Answers that question, would like to say that I’ll see you Sunday where we can put our differences aside and support the team and I haven’t got a problem with anyone on here giving it back, I would expect a fellow Leeds fans to have enough spine. With you last post fair enough it's not slander but there's a line and you crossed it. I'm really getting bored of this tit for tat so before you go on your next Ken Bates style rant read back in the posts - I've not insulted you personally - I’ve said you're negative towards the team, manager and club. I've also said that you show signs of a follower and not a supporter. To be honest I’m not interested if you want to prove me wrong or not, by constantly criticising the club, team and manager when we're sat in 5th place in the league you haven’t got a clue.
interm'landrover
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 04:27 PMLeeds83 it's libel actually and not that funny.
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