Where Grayson buys bread and butter.
In this weeks Teenage Kicks In our young writer Darragh Mullen graduates into the Leeds United school of fleeting joy.
First of all I would like to say that I personally am somewhat glad we are out of the FA cup after our valiant performances so now we can concentrate on the Johnstones Paint Trophy!
This week though I’m approaching something Grayson said today with a bit of scepticism. Today I read what was meant to be a very inspiring article from the Official Site where Grayson was rousing us as fans into finally believing that we have turned a corner and that its now only a matter of time before the Leeds United Train hits full speed in our ride back to the top! For those of you who haven’t read the same rousing article…
http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20100204/boss-this-club-is-ready-to-take-off_2247585_1954901
Now I have absolutely no intention of being pessimistic throughout this whole thing, in fact I am very up beat after the whole cup campaign. Actually I am very up beat with our season so far! I really could not have asked for much more at the start of the season and hopefully now we simply don’t bottle it. The thing I just disagree with is how simple things seem to be coming together. My basis of this argument is simply that We are Leeds United and things are never that easy. Obviously I realise what Grayson is saying is that all these things with alot of hard work can be achieved etc. but through the little experience I have as a fan I simply don’t think that even with alot of hard work and even a bit of luck and money, things will be that simple!
The comment that annoyed me in this article was when Grayson said “Our bread and butter is getting results at places like Hartlepool and Yeovil, and getting to the next level.” Now I might be misinterpreting that quote but for me it sounds like he is saying making it very simplistic. Now of course I do not think he believes that himself about those two respective teams but to me it sounds like a tendancy to almost get somewhat complacent and as stated above We are Leeds United and nothing is that simple. I suppose looking at my own argument I see that I have nothing other than’ it won’t happen so easily because we are Leeds United’. Really the thing that we need most is patience. Man City’s two promotions in two seasons was a very rare event that I wish would happen to us but after the last five seasons or so I somehow doubt will happen. It took us 3 years to settle in league 1 so one FA Cup run is not going to suddenly change all that! The way I see it if it took 10 years for us to hit rock bottom so it must be at least twice that before we build up to where we once were at the turn of the millenium.
I don’t mean to put a downer on the whole article which I suppose is just trying to build a bit of morale but I’m not willing to get caught up in the whole thing. I am not sure what makes us so special from everyone else which means we have a divine right to be in the Premiership and the gap between rich and poor that has developed since our departure from the top flight will only make things even harder. No special switch is be going to be pressed that suddenly we will always be succesful. The three main things needed really ,apart from on the pitch, is time, money and luck. Forest got promoted really on luck on the last day of the season 2 seasons back when results went their way so that shows the importance of a bit of luck. Money will not come from Bates and it will take a new owner willing to spend to get us there while still keeping in mind it was over-spending that got us here in the first place. Time is what is needed for all the things on and off the field to gel together.
I set out with this trying not to be a pessimistic bastard but I think I royally failed in that attempt. It must just be January or my terrible but brilliant years of supporting this club thats made me this way but I am very cautious about letting any of my feet drift in any way off the ground. This season is far from over and the Championship is more competitive than ever. Hopefully promotion this season will bring a couple of the fans back and maybe England winning the 2018 World Cup bid and the stadium being revamped will be a catalyst in itself but unless something extraordinary happens I am getting the feeling that the next couple of years will be just as nail-biting as those I have ever experienced. The one thing I have realised though in my time as a Leeds fan though is that it is all part of the package. If I didn’t like it I could always go and be like the typical Irish fan and support Chelsea etc. by watching them on tv when theres nothing else on.
Consider this then the anti-article to the one linked above. Nothing has changed in the last 2 weeks. The task ahead is as tough as ever but in no way impossible. Eventually we will be back but it will be down to the hard work rather than the magic fix. One thing I can honestly say I enjoy is that there has never ever been a boring season for me as a Leeds fan! Now lets beat Hartlepool on Saturday and get out of this Damned League!
