Even on a day like Saturday something overshadows the club
Graeme would like to see a playing pattern decided.
It’s not so much Leeds United losing their opening game for the first time in over 20 years, as the manner of the defeat. It was a mess. Some people were trying to play a neat passing game. Most of these were midfielders, whilst the rest were intent from the minute we went behind on playing as if we were in perpetual Fergie time. A small part of the blame for this goes to Kasper Schmeichel. He had an outstanding game, keeping us in it till the very end with some courageous saves but was guilty of hoofing everything as high and far as he could – a kind of latter day Danny Mills. Somebody should have said something along the lines of, “Whoa there, son of Peter, steady on and follow the plan.” Except there was no plan.
Leeds tried to get on with things, playing with a high tempo and real sense of urgency since they were desperate to please the fans. Tempo, yes. Urgency, yes, but you only use these to build on a pattern. Only the most blinkered of supporter would say Leeds actually outplayed Derby. Derby were yet another team that clearly knew each other better and knew what they wanted to do. Some day the penny will drop and Leeds will start playing to a pattern but until then, I fear we will be looking up at the top of the division from some way off.
The biggest problem came, as ever, with the defence. The back four looked terrific right up to the moment when the opposition got the ball. Whereupon they melted into nothingness. I can still with a shudder, recall the glee that opposition players felt when attacking Leeds as we fell out of the Premiership. Quite simply, Grayson has to sort this out. Presumably, Bruce didn’t play because his tractor was only just pulling in from Ipswich. I bet he plays next match.
It was sad to read that Nigel Clough, far from revelling in winning one ‘for his dad’, was upset by the present Leeds set up. “I felt more pleasure because my little lad had not been allowed to walk on the pitch one-and-a-half hours before kick-off. Apparently it was a club rule.” What a stupid rule. Opposition manager’s sons shall not walk on the pitch – by order.
It is also sad that Leeds fans have to try to put a positive spin on a shambolic performance to keep up the hopes which have grown over summer. The less often Leeds play, the more hopes rise but it won’t be long before Grayson’s optimistic talk of aiming for the Premiership is replaced by something more sensible. It won’t be long, either, before the correct focus is placed on where the club is really going. In the Daily Mail on Saturday, Des Kelly had tried to pretend he hadn’t been bought by Chairman Bates giving him some Pinot Grigio. He had, though. What does he care about Leeds? Kelly was still able to have some amusement at our expense about who really owns the club (Ken Bates and a couple of his chums, Kelly believes) and everything Bates talked about was related to money. Everything.
Kelly had a nice time – and who paid for the ‘free’ Pinot Grigiot? The Leeds fans, of course. Kelly admits, “We part on good terms. It has been a fun day…if I were a Leeds fan, I’d be quietly thankful he was in there fighting for my club.”
You’re not a Leeds fan, Mr Kelly, and he’s not in their fighting for our club.
Graeme Garvey.
