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YOUR VIEWS: Leeds United crash out to Histon UPDATED DEC 3
Click here to read and send us your views of Leeds United's disastrous FA Cup exit at the hands of non-league Histon.
To send us your views on the defeat, click here.
YOUR VIEWS
****
This is the most inconsistent Leeds team I have ever known. How do you go from scoring 9 goals in one week (Northampton and Hartlepool) to 2 dismal defeats the next (Northampton and Histon).With the squad we have, we should be well clear of anyone other than perhaps Leicester. We did better last year with an inferior squad.
Peter.
****
I have just read Phil Hay's column and couldn't agree more. What we need now is calm and consistency not the ranting of the those who only look at the negatives. Back the team and the management - it's the only way forward!
Adrian Longden
****
That result has been coming for a while, its not hard for teams to work out how to play us. Just keep in our faces and humping balls into our defence we are always going to concede. This has been happening towards the end of last season and all of this. The only teams that get promotion or win titles are the ones with the best defensive records. Macca should have worked this defence out close season if he is relaying on Steve Staunton's defensive advice god help us look what a poor defence he had at the republic of Ireland.Its alright playing the good football in front of teams sometimes it calls for a more direct approach like Histon.
If its not sorted soon I have grave doubts over promotion this season.
Fleetwood Whites
*****
Its not as bad as it seems. If we were in the old league system
we are in Division 3. Plenty of div 3 teams get turfed out in the FA Cup.
Stop living in the past, it will be years until we get back to where we should be.
Stuart K Perth Australia
****
I could see it coming all week and nearly had a bet on Histon just to soften the blow when it happened. However the defeat is nowhere as great a shock as the defeats over the years to Colchester, Sunderland or Cardiff and at the end of the day we are currently 7th in the old Third Division and not in our former position at the top of the English game. We were by far the better team in the second half and I'm sure the game would not even have been played had it been at Leeds. Promotion has always been the main priority and Gary McAllister has always been the right man for the job. Cut out the silly and nave defending and we have the squad to get automatic promotion and the resources to crack on again next year.
Mark Ash
Newcastle
Staffs
****
Of course we are all disappointed by the Histon defeat but its not the end of the world, after all if we go on a 5 or 6 game winning streak it will all soon be forgotten.
The game was made for the non-leaguers, even the weather was ordered. Who could play a passsing game in conditions like that!.
We must retain Gary as Manager, he will get us up this season, I'm sure - do we want to be entertained and hopefully win, or go back to the previous Manager and bore us all to death.
Ralph
Chesterfield
****
Yes it was a very disappointing result but as other people have already remarked it was a banana skin waiting to happen - why else would ITV televise it ?
But will sacking the manager after less than one year in charge do any good? I'm not saying Macca IS the man for the job but he has not really been in the job long enough to yet judge him. To those fans calling for him to go/be sacked I would ask this - what would have happened if the chairman back in the early 60s had sacked Mr Revie after only a year in charge? It took Mr Revie several years to get things right. Had he been sacked after less than a year we may NOT have any success at all to look back on !!!!!
So come on all Leeds fans - get behind the team, get behind Macca and let us ALL get the club back to where we want it to be!!
MOT !!!
--
Mark Panizzi
****
Why are we so very poor in cup competitions ? It's ok playing nice football but the defence is not up to standard at all. In my opinion Staunton should be doing more in this area, he was an international defender.
Gary Bendall
****
Same old story
All guns blazing,lack of defensive attitude unable to keep a clean sheet. Failure to rise to the occasion. How much longer have the most loyal supporters of any football club have to suffer humiliation. I never thought I would have to say this but recognising Gary mcallisters ability to manage such a high profile club has to be questioned. Changes have to be made or unfortunately It looks like being another season in division 1.
****
The farce that happenened on Sunday was coming because nobody in the coaching staff has discovered that to stop conceding goals from set plays you must have defenders capable to do this on a weekly basis. Im affraid that the defenders at Leeds are poor even for 3rd Division standards. Telfer is too old and has no pace, Lubo is just poor and Rui is just as bad. But also against Histon the team were guilty of trying to play football on a 'pudding' of a pitch and that comes from the management. SORT IT OUT MACCA !!!!!!!!!!
Keith Ingham
Keighley
****
Like all LUFC fans I am gutted but not surprised. We keep on moaning about our lack luster defense but in reality our tally in front of goal is not good either. We seem to score freely against bad teams only. Our manager is at a disadvantage in that he really can't do a thing until January, and then it will be time then to judge him. We are a massive club with an average team and huge expectations. We need quality experienced players to get us out of this division.
Kind Regards,
Michael Foley(Wexford)
****
I said to my mates and colleagues all last week that i was going to put 10 on a Histon win to soften the blow of a sure-fire defeat.
What a fool i was not putting it on !. I'm not sure another managerial change will galvanise a team which is stuttering in the league and cannot dig out a result in what became a typical FA Cup tie. ITV's biased pre-match coverage added to a complete humiliation of a once great club.
Macca sort the defence out in January and get the club out of this division
Antony , Birmingham
****
Very disappointing, but it was a banana skin waiting to happen, and it will have satisfied alot of people. Macca has got the team passing the ball, isn't that what the game is about? However we are weak down the middle, Goalkeeper should command his 6yd box, centre backs not hard enough and our final ball into the oppositons box not good or frequent enough.
Continue as we are in the league we might make the play-offs but we do another need 60pts to go straight up with 84 left. Big changes at this point in the season will not succeed, we need to make our goalkeeper redundant and concentrate on the defence and hope the rest will look after itself. The younger players will have gained experience and major surgery if needed is better at the end of the season, not during.
Best of Luck
Keith, Ilkley
****
Leeds had 3 chances. On another day one would have gone in and Leeds would have won a replay on a decent pitch.
Don't get too worried. Remember Leeds is a League 1 Team at present and would not have won the FA cup this season.
The team is nicely placed to challenge for automatic promotion and the Manager has the ability to achieve it.
The club is in profit which in the current climate is a valuable advantage and a tremendous achievement. Only a short time ago there was nearly no team to support let alone one which came within one match of promotion last season.
Regards,
BRG
****
I also have my doubts whether Garry M is the manager to take Leeds into the Championship, the defence is very poor, as it was last season no improvement at all. and playing a 35 year old at full back
too old . I would question the worth of both Goalkeepers and the centre backs .
Yes we Leeds play good football going forward, but the defence should have been sorted out before now, we cannot keep a clean sheet.
Alan
Doncaster
****
The humiliation at Histon clearly raises doubts over Gary McAllister's management. Whereas other managers set out their stall and seem to have a 'game plan' when they play Leeds, McAllister insists on keeping to his passing game come what may. His team selection, and tactics, for the Histon match led to another miserable performance and at this rate United will struggle to achieve the play offs. McAllister is always talking about the side needing a bit more 'guile' but I am afraid he showed little himself on Sunday.
E.Bowman, Lincs
****
Good luck to Histon.
They deserved their famous win - it's unfortunately for Leeds, what makes the FA Cup special.
The Leeds performance was a disgrace, a long while since I have seen such lax passing. Their attitude and inability to cope with the weather better than postman and other occupations made a mockery of Leeds' ambitions to be promoted.
I actually apologised to my son for being a Leeds fan, explaining he had many more years of misery and disappointments to look forward to!!
Another year of "back to the drawing board" is beckoning.
Chris, Alicante Whites.
****
For us that have watched LU for many years in domestic cup competitions, it was a predictable set piece goal, predictable defeat, predictable half hearted performance and predictable 'shoddy',' cheap skate' coverage by ITV.
****
Some very well balanced comments so far – given the embarrassment of yesterday. Lets not understate the importance of yesterdays result to the club and the fans. Particularly to those "lost fans" who want to come back – but find it hard to do so with such a poor team. These lost fans are important – many of them travel from London like myself – these are the guys and girls who fill the upper tier of the East Stand!!! In the premiership the trains from Kings Cross on Saturday morning were packed with Leeds fans.There is no point in supporting a team if you don't have ambitions for them to win – sometimes I feel that the current loyal support is a bit meaningless – if you unconditionally follow a team – what is the point?
This club has scaled the heights of football – and surely most of us want the club to move back to those days – rather than the mind-numbing games against Hereford and Milton Keynes Dons!!!!! Ken Bates has steered the organisation out of debt (remember – the mess that ridsdale left behind) and into profit – well done Ken!!!! We now need a savvy and streetwise manager to get us out of league one – that would be a start. I am not sure Mcalister is that man. Can you play pretty football and get out of league one?? Mcalister complains that teams try twice as hard against Leeds United. Welcome to the real world Gary!!! Imagine you are Alex Ferguson managing Manchester United – don't you think the same rules apply when they play at Hull City!!!
Yesterdays game against Histon cried out for route one football – it was pretty obvious – yet Mcalister showed his inflexibility by telling the team to play as if they were at Wembley – even Jim Beglin and Kevin Blackwell spotted this after ten minutes of the game. Add to that the cameras showing Mcalister cowering in the dug out as Rome burned – rather than stomping up and down on the touchline. Maybe Ken needs to join forces with Freddy Shephard – bring in a bit more capital – and go for someone like Sam Allardyce – for me – he has the experience and the nouse to make a silk purse out of a sows ear – I am not convinced Mcalister has that ability!!!! It's a shame Kinnear is tied up at Newcastle – he could do the job as well!!!!
I do think Ken needs to think things through very quickly. For me – it is unacceptable that with double the squad size we had last season – we are performing worse than last season. Leeds United supporters – come on – get a bit tougher rather than continue with blind loyal support – don't turn up in numbers at Tranmere!!!! Get vocal in other ways. We need to put pressure on Ken to sort this out sooner rather than later – anything less than promotion this season is unacceptable for a club of Leeds United's aspirations!!!!! Lets get a bit more business like – when is this club going to live up to its reputation again – that's what I want to know!!!!!!!
MSKA
****
I still have my doubts about Gary McAllister as a manager, he was a fantastic player but that doesn't guarantee success in management. It's not just about tactics, substitutions etc., player psychology plays such a hugh role in the outcome of a game. I'm sure the players have total respect for Gary but it takes a particular type of person to have the knack of bringing out the best in players once they cross the touch line and there's no rulebook for achieving it. I hope I'm wrong with Gary, he deserves some success after what he's been through in his life and we musn't forget that he's really just starting out in management so he's learning all the time. I wish him well, as I'm sure all Leeds fans do, and that he proves my doubts to be unfounded.
Paul
****
Im sorry to say it, but Gary Mac must go. Might be nice football but we arent winning the crunch games and this is a complete humiliation to all Leeds Fans. Just when it seemed we were gaining back some respect from the football world. We are just a one man team with very little steel and ideas to mix it up. We need someone who can get more out of the players; a real motivator and tactician. Someone who will shout at the players for 90 minutes- Gary seemed like a mouse caught in the blare of headlights yesterday in the dug out. My choice would be Aidy Boothroyd.
****
I can't fault the effort of the players selected in the atrocious conditions at Histon but I am afraid the team selection and tactics appear to have taken no account of the conditions.
Surely it was a day to utilise our "massive squad" and play the likes of Showumni and Prutton from the start and set the team up for an ugly battle.
Tactically, there was obviously no chance of us being able to play our normal passing game on such a sticky pitch, but again, the management seems to have ignored this potential problem.
We all enjoy the attractive brand of football that Gary strives to produce but I am afraid football is a results business and unless Leeds find a way to "win ugly" sometimes, promotion will remain beyond our reach.
Very Disappointing.
Regards,
Harvey
****
To be honest It was something even ITV could see happening,Leeds still tried to play football when they should have gone direct in those conditions.Fair play too Histon who worked there socks off but Leeds have got to start waking up too the fact that every game is a cup final to teams(when are they going to realize this).Love Leeds forever but they do get my back up at times and yesterday was one of them.
Message for the team now is lets get promoted and start getting nasty,lets think in every game that it is Chelscum as that might get the players going.
Kind Regards & A Disappointed Leeds Fan
****
Poor result but let's get a focus on priorities. The last we need at LUFC is yet another manager. I am sick and tired of so called fans – do they go week in week out, I doubt it – saying sack the manager. In any business you need continuity and especially in football. The most successful clubs have long standing management that they stick by. How many managers have we had in the last 8 years - at least six to my recollection and look what has happened. The defence isn't good enough and needs strengthening, but we're not dead and buried in the league so show a bit of composure and get behind the players and the manager. And if you're a stay away fan perhaps you ought to start watching a bit more , and complaining a bit less!
Adrian Longden
****
Gary M/c looked a lost cause as the cameras picked him out on several occasions during the match, as for tactics he played completely into histon strong points, ie long ball into the box, wasnt he aware they are a big side and practice continually this approach. He is a nice guy but will never ever be a manager, get out Gary let some onewho can read a game have a go.
****
Here we go again with the same old excuses!
The fact is that Gary McAllister and Steve Staunton have been working with these chosen defensive players since pre-season with no improvement whatsoever.
It is up to the manager to prepare the players mentally for these games and get the tactics right. Showumni should have been on from the start as it was a route one football day on that terrible pitch.
Tranmere next away and I think if Leeds lose this one it will be the end of Gary Mac and his support staff.
Ken Bates knows that Leeds just cannot languish in this division for another season and if a new man has to come in he needs to sort out the squad in the January transfer window.
We stopped playing gutsy football when Gus Poyet left and after that Dennis Wise was floundering and we need a bit more strength in the dressing room and a bit more guile with team selection to win games against lower opposition, which we really have struggled with this season.
Watch this space!
****
Having supported Leeds United for 60 years I cannot remember a result as bad as this losing to a village team whose total wages for the team do not possibly come up to one player in the Leeds team. Macallister stated afterwards that he is the man to get Leeds promotion I think not the results this year have not been good at all currently 7th in the division. He has no track record at all with previous clubs the same goes for his assistant manager. I moved away from Leeds 40 years ago so do not get to see them much, when I see the home crowd 20000 to 35000 what must they be thinking heaven knows.
I could go on all day about tactics etc but will not, all I will say is sort it out please.
I played golf on Saturday and said to my colleague if you want to earn some money back Histon to win. If only I was a betting man I would have earned a few pounds.
Regards
Graham Woodhead
****
Did we really expect anything else? As previously warned here, we had to endure Stan's…um…'defensive coaching' style here, and at that time we were rubbish too!! Mind you, when I saw him tip-toeing back out for the 2nd half in the puddles with his coffee/tea (or whatever] I thought…we'll be lucky to escape 1-0. Anyhow, I'll still be Leeds forever – but good God, it gets no easier!! Ger, Kildare
****
What do you expect with a defence like that.
We are kidding ourselves if we think we are good enough to beat ANY team away from home, and with Tranmere next week, expect them same, and now with Beckford missing what chance do we have staying with the top six?. It's a very frustrating time being a Leeds fan but we march on together regardless!!!!!
Despite having two better players ( Delph & Becchio ) in the team we are not as good as we were last year. I would rather see the young lads being given a chance, Webb and Gardner maybe!!!!.
My prediction up until Christmas is we will loose two more games.
Regards
Barrie
****
What was really disappointing was conceding the same type of goal again, but this time against a postman! The players must now take responsibility for correcting this problem, or we need to be looking for better central defenders in January.
Mick Webb
Surrey
****
Pathetic, do you we ever practise defending corners Gary? roll on January, spend that 4.5million, new team required or oblivion here we come.
From Very Disgruntled
****
Yes its extremely disappointing to lose to Histon..........but whatelse do we expect from being a Leeds fan. To others we are still living on the name and not the position as a football team. Alan Green again on 606 mentions our so called recent 'european glory nights' but an awful lot has happened to our club since. The club at last made a profit and can look more brightly to the future. As for the present, like with every team, we rely on a manager and his selected staff to produce a team to move forward. The teams problems obviously lie in the fact that with only 4 clean sheets to our name this season we are relying heavily on scoring 2 or more each game to win the match. Recent stats show that in most games we have far more attempts than our opposition but we just gift goals. Northampton last Tuesday one corner one goal, Sunday another goal from a corner. Steve Staunton on the Leeds website acknowledged the fact before the Northampton game about 'soft' goals. Well its now December and its still going on............so what now?
Firstly lets not go down the road of changing managers. Gary's brought in a good style of play and when we play we can play anyone off the park. But please sort out that defense. Staunton with all his experience must know how a defence should operate and its not happeneing, so time for new blood, please before we drift from the playoffs. December is a tough month for Leeds so keep battling boys.........
Finally what fans we have. For all those who spend hundreds and thousands of pounds supporting the team I salute you all. Keep the faith because if its not Garys boys the team will turn it round soon and with the club getting stronger we must believe that we can do a Man City and with a bit of luck , be back in the premiership by 2011........
Regards
Jim Dawson
****
No excuses Histon to a man fought for every ball, for there effort alone they deseved their win, we know the conditions were horrendous, but it the same for both teams, too many Leeds players just looked like they did not want to be there, 'not up for the fight', this I'm sorry to say also went for the Leeds bench, I just saw them cowering, and covering up, not off the bench encouraging the team, I was as much disappointed at that than anything. I know we have a bigger agenda this season, but a good FA Cup run does wonders for moral. Yours 'sick as a parrot'
****
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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