Football League seem determined to 'get' Leeds United

It seems that the Football League is determined to 'get' Leeds United.

Their banning of Massimo Cellino as owner of the football club makes little sense, especially as the ban lasts only until mid-March. Apparently he failed the "fit and proper owner" test of the Football League.

But how can this be?

In his time at Leeds United, Cellino has:

• erased the debt of the club
• brought in new players to bring a new leas of life to the club
• brought the club to the brink of being able to buy back Elland Road
• brought more stability to the club than many previous owners had managed in a dozen years or so.

The action of the Football League will likely:

• bring doubt and confusion over ownership for at least three and a half months
• have a de-stabilising affect on the club
• put into doubt players' long-term futures
• put back the possibility of buying the ground back

The Football League seem determined to 'get' Leeds United, just when the club (having beaten Championship leaders Derby County 2-0 on Saturday) seemed to be getting back on track.

WHO exactly is failing the club in these circumstances?

Rough ride for Leeds United fans

You support a team from when you are young and most people stick with that team throughout their lives. More often than not, you'll pick a local team.

For me, in Guildford in Surrey, the choice of top division teams was lacking. Way back before they had ever won anything I chose to support Leeds United (I thought L-E-E-D-S was easy to spell).

My oh my, what a club to pick. Without dwelling on any successes in the many years since then, or indeed, on the many failures, I can come bang up to date and wonder what the hell is going on at the club.

Darko Milanic became the third manager to be sacked by owner Massimo Cellino since late May. Firstly, Brian McDermott, and then since the start of this season (six games each), Dave Hockaday and now Darko Milanic, have both been sacked. In between times academy boss Neil Redfearn had a successful spell as caretaker manager, and now might get the job on a "permanent" basis. "Permanent" might only mean half a dozen more games if Redfearn can't turn the team into a winning one. Milanic won no games of his six in charge.

After yet another defeat (1-2 at home to Wolves) on Saturday, you wonder where it's all going next. There seem to be some decent players at the club (mostly on loan!), but no consistency or a seeming steady improvement.

Johnny Giles has called for Cellino to go himself, but the owner has settled the finances at the club, brought in many new players and has talked about buying Elland Road back. Good things, surely? Of course, the Football League are still hoping they can prove him to be not a fit or proper owner, despite those good things.

It's a rough ride for all Leeds United fans, but you can't change your team, can you?

Does a club have to sell its soul to compete?

When Roman Abramovich took over at Chelsea and transformed them into League winners and eventually into European champions with his billions, football in this country was changed forever.

It meant that a club had to have similar billions to compete.

Manchester City, for example, have received that their billions and they won the League and look set to add silverware to their tally again this season.

Now, we all wish for a billionaire sugar daddy to come to our club. Or do we?

As my club, Leeds United, looks at possible investment from Red Bull, I wonder whether we'd be selling our soul.

Examples at Cardiff City and Hull City make you wonder whether life really is greener with all the money.

Fans at Hull City don't want a name change to Hull Tigers, but they like the investment. Fans at Cardiff City hate the colour change from blue to red, weren't happy that Malky Mackay was sacked, and must fear what might happen next, but they must know that they need Mr Tan's money to keep them in the Premier League.

Leeds United fans would not accept a change of club colours to the red of Red Bull, I know for sure. As for a name change to Red Bull Leeds (like Red Bull Salzberg), no thanks - I'd rather stay in the Championship.

But you need billions to compete.

Chelsea fans have been unhappy with Abramovich's eccentric sackings and appointments at various times, but they're never going to call for him to go, are they?

They sold their soul and the rest of us might have to do the same.

FA Cup still has magic

The magic of the FA Cup lives on!

Although clubs in the Premier League prefer to finish in the top four of the league than to make progress in the FA Cup, the spirit of the world's oldest football competition lives on.

It lives on in Luton Town, who became the first non-leaguers to knock out a Premier League club, beating Norwich City 1-0.

It lives on at MK Dons of League One, who sprinted into a devastating 4-0 lead at Premier League, QPR, and ultimately ran out 4-2 winners.

It lives on at Boundary Park, where Oldham Athletic (League One) humbled Liverpool 3-2 in an amazing game.

It lives on at Brentford (League One), who, playing their rather more illustrious neighbours from five miles up the road, Chelsea, twice took the lead and eventually held the European Champions to a two-all draw and earned a replay at Stamford Bridge.

It lives on at Elland Road where Championship Leeds United knocked out fourth-placed Premier Leaguers Tottenham Hotspur.

And to a lesser degree, the spirit lives on at Aldershot Town (League Two) who ran Championship Middlesbrough close, before losing 2-1 to a late, late goal.

And Barnsley, Brighton and Macclesfield Town will all have their own FA Cup tales to tell this morning.

It was a stirring FA Cup weekend, and we should all look forward to Round 5 with relish.

Third round weekend delivers as expected

It proved to be an interesting FA Cup third round weekend (as it so often is), from Paolo Di Canio's Swindon Town knocking out Premier League Wigan Athletic to Thierry Henry making a dream comeback for Arsenal, scoring the winner against Leeds United.

The Manchester derby didn't disappoint as we had the return of Paul Scholes, a dubious sending-off of Vincent Kompany as United roared into a 3-0 lead, and a stirring effort to peg United back from City - yet the half-time pundits on both ITV and Sky would have had City "accept and settle for the 3-0 defeat so that it wouldn't get any worse"! A pathetic assessment, and one that would no doubt have had any City fans growling with anger.

Crawley Town pulled off a giant-killing, by dumping Bristol City out of the cup, and Macclesfield Town (2-2 with Bolton Wanderers) and MK Dons (1-1 with QPR) came close and get a second chance.

As for Henry - fair play to him, and will be interesting to see if he can deliver in the Premier League, but from a Leeds United's fan's perspective, the overwhelmingly biased coverage by ESPN on Monday night was little short of disgraceful.

Gary Speed's untimely death leaves us numb

The news of Gary Speed's death on Sunday was devastating.

As a Leeds United fan, I have extremely fond memories of Gary Speed and his contribution to the winning of the last Division One Championship before the Premier League in 1992.

Speed was one of those unassuming players who plied his trade with craft and application while always remaining calm and respectful of his opponents. Therein must lie some of the reasons for his career's longevity.

I remember Speed as one of the talented midfield also consisting of Gary McAllister, Gordon Strachan and David Batty. Speed was a player with poise and elegance and a knack for scoring headed goals that you really didn't expect him to manage.

Amazingly, Speed played until late 2008, with Sheffield United, in his fortieth year. It was a magnificent career of 677 games and 103 goals.

His recent role as Wales manager looked to be turning into a success with four wins in the last five games. We'll never know where Gary Speed might have taken Wales.

The high regard in which Gary Speed was held has been demonstrated by the reaction of neutral fans in the games since his death. Watch out for reactions at Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United when their first home games come around.

We are left with a numbing death of a marvellous player, and the sad mystery of why he chose to take his own life when things were apparently going so well for him.

The Championship beckons

And so, with the weather just about as nice as it has been all year, we come to within a couple of days of the new football season for the Championship and Leagues One and Two. The spectators may bask shirtsleeved in Saturday's sunshine (if it holds!), but the players (all tans and new hair cuts) will suffer in the heat.

The Championship promises to be more competitive than ever this season. There are many strong clubs in there and all are desperate to make it to the Premier League.

Relegated clubs Birmingham City, Blackpool and West Ham United will be among the most desperate for promotion, but they will certainly not find it easy. Clubs like Leicester City (big summer spenders), Cardiff City, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest may head the rest, but consider Burnley, Coventry City, Derby County, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough, Reading and Watford! Promoted clubs Brighton and Southampton may even have a shout.

I'm sure the other seven clubs will fell that they should be included too - everyone is optimistc and hopeful before a ball has been kicked.

Whatever happens, expect the unexpected and a firecely fought campaign.

Leeds and Burnley charged: why?

I am a Leeds United fan, but sadly live over 200 miles away in the south, so getting to see the team in action is an infrequent occurrence. I did, however, get up to see the tense 1-0 win over Burnley last Saturday. It's a shame for Leeds that the hard-fought, but deserved win will probably count for little as Nottingham Forest look certain to claim the last place in the play-offs by avoiding defeat at Crystal Palace tomorrow.

I was rather bemused, however, to read that both Leeds and Burnley are to be charged by the FA for failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour.

The incident happened in front of where I was sitting - only 20 yards away. A high challenge on Leeds's Max Gradel by Chris McCann sparked a melee in which I believe McCann, and Leeds's Neil Kilkenny and Eric Lichaj were booked. The melee was nothing more than the sort of thing you can see on Match of the Day every week. I have no idea why the FA chose to charge these two clubs.

There is a bit of a paranoid conspiracy theory at Leeds (justified, as "they" are always out to get us!), but this did seem over the top.

I am even more surprised to see this morning that Leeds have pleaded guilty to the charge. No doubt they will end up with a more severe punishment than QPR will receive for their misdemeanours (judgement mysteriously delayed by the FA yesterday).

Premier League sees off Championship in the FA Cup

The four Premier League clubs duly dispatched the four Championship opponents in the FA Cup replays this week.

Only Doncaster Rovers took a severe beating - 0-5 at Wolves - and Cardiff City ran their opponents closest, beaten by Stoke City only after extra time.

However, both Leicester City and Leeds United had their moments against more illustrious opponents in Manchester City and Arsenal respectively.

On Tuesday Leicester City levelled at 1-1, then brought the game back to 2-3 to put the wind up the big-spen ders from Manchester.

On Wednesday, Arsenal brough out most of their big guns to ensure that could see off Leeds United for whom a superb 25-yard strike by Bradley Johnson had briefly given them hope at 1-2. Ultimately, though, the classy act that is Arsenal proved too much for the gutsy Elland Roaders. A 38,232 crowd brought back memories of the good old days to the Yorkshire club, who are in with a shout of promotion back to the top league.

Onward they go, then the Premier clubs:

Wolves and Stoke face each other in the fourth round.
Arsenal host another Yorkshire club in Huddersfield Town.
Manchester City face the conqerors of Sunderland, Notts County, in a potential banana-skin tie.

Clubs that made hay while it snowed

For all those who whinge about the lack of a winter break in English football, well, most of them have got their wish on the last week or two. Many clubs didn't play on Saturday, and won't play again until Boxing Day. Enjoy the break.

However, for those that did play there was a chance to bag some points rather than clutch onto "games in hand". Sunderland's 1-0 win over Bolton took them into sixth place in the Premier League, only four points behind Chelsea - what a boost for the Black Cats.

In the Championship, Leeds United took advantage of many other clubs near the top being unable to play, beat leaders QPR 2-0, and moved into an automatic promotion spot for the first time this season, and had a near 30,000 crowd to boot. Would they have preferred to stay in the warm?

Likewise, near the bottom, Hull City and Sheffield United enjoyed much needed wins, and Ipswich Town did all they could to get their game on - most of the first half being played with the blue lines obscured by the ever-deepening snow - and a rather bizarre 17-minute break only 15 minutes into the second half at the behest of referee Stuart Attwell to clear the lines (that were already showing better than in the first 45 minutes!) ensured that the game was completed and Roy Keane's team bagged three vital points. A 16,728 corwd would not have had it any other way.

Back to winter breaks - it's been said many times before: when would you book it? December? January? February? Our weather's not that predictable.

Play the games when you can. If you get a postponement, put your feet up. Otherwise, get the points.

The FA Cup still fails to shine

The FA Cup is a chameleon-like beast this season, and is refusing to show its true colours.

It revels in shocks - Leeds United, having knocked out Manchester United in round 3, will now take Tottenham Hotspur back to Elland Road for a reply; Reading knocked out Burnley; Southampton beat Ipswich Town; Notts County will play Wigan Athletic again; and Crystal Palace were close to humbklin Wolves.

Yet, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal now gone, the draw for round 5 lacks a certain sparkle.

All the weekend headlines were stolen by four-goal Wayne Rooney in the only Premier League match, despite the heroics of Jermaine Beckford, Gylfi Sigurdsson et al.

Attendance ranged from the sublime: 39,725 at Villa Park, 35,750 and White Hart Lane - to the ridiculous: 10,315 at Portsmouth (for an all-Premier tie), 16,102 at the Hawthorns for a top-of-the-Championship pairing.

The Cup has lost some lustre. It has history and tradition on its side, but whereas, before the days of wall-to-wall live games, the only live game of the domestic season was the FA Cup final, now it has competition from everything from the Johnstone Paint Trophy to the Champions League final.

The FA Cup no longer stands out. Many managers may it quite clear that it's little more than a nuisance in their quest for the Premier League/ Champions League. Top 4/ Promotion (delete as applicable).

Perhaps the award of a Champions League place for the winners would give the FA Cup back some much deserved glitter.

Leeds United humble Manchester United

The third round of the FA Cup was bumbling along in rather boring style until Leeds United knocked out Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Once mighty Leeds have been sent crashing down in recent years, but this year head League One by eight points, having only lost once in the first half of the league season, and only once in any other competition (0-1 at home to Liverpool in the Carling Cup).

Their performance in knocking out the English Champions and last season's Champions League runners-up amply demonstrated why Leeds are looking certainties for a return to the Championship next season. This wasn't a fluke; this wasn't a "backs-to-the-wall" win. Leeds took on Manchester United, scored a good goal through top-scorer Jermaine Beckford, and they might have had more, Robert Snodgrass notably hitting the home cross bar in the latter stages.

Of course, Manchester United had chance, but they squandered them or were met by firm resistance from the Leeds defence and goalkeeper Casper Ankergren. If Fergie called his team's performance "shocking", then he might consider his own team selection, although with Rooney and Berbatov up front, and a defence that he would have dreamed of having in their defensive crisis a month ago, it was really only the midfield that was under strength.

As for Sir Alex Ferguson calling the five minutes added on at the end "an insult to the game and the players out there", he really should listen to what he says: that was embarrassing. Five minutes was plenty and fifteen would probably not have been enough anyway.

Simon Grayson has begun to shape a Leeds United team that can take on the best. Although Tottenham Hotspur away might be too tough in the fourth round, the real goal for Leeds is promotion, and for that they look a sure thing.

League One and Two half-time report

It's half-way through the season in Leagues One and Two, so let's have a half-time report.

In League One, it's hard to see past Leeds United for top spot, as they sit eight points clear of Charlton Athletic with a game in hand. Charlton, however, are probably looking over their shoulders and they'll see Norwich City three points behind with a game in hand - and they're in good form - together with Colchester United with the same points and games.

A further seven points adrift are Huddersfield Town and Swindon Town. Millwall, MK Dons and Bristol Rovers will be in the scrap for the play-offs, but anyone else will have to hit good form to join them.

At the bottom Stockport County are ten points from safety and have lost 11 league games in a row. They look doomed. Wycombe Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers don't look to have enough to escape, and there'll be a fight to avoid joining them between Leyton Orient, Brighton & Hove Albion, Oldham Athletic, Gillingham and Hartlepool United - at least. A bad run of form can suck anyone nearby into the battle.

In League Two Rochdale are top of the pile and look to be getting out of the bottom tier for the first time since 1992. They are five points clear of Bournemouth, but have played a game more. A further seven points behind are Rotherham United who have two more games in hand. With three automatic promotion places up for grabs, the four play-off spots will be hard fought between Notts County, Dagenham & Redbridge, Aldershot Town, Chesterfield, Shrewsbury Town, Bury, Morecambe and Accrington Stanley.

At the bottom, Darlington look doomed, and Grimsby Town have a tough fight to avoid joining them in the Blue Square Premier in 2010.

Oldham v Leeds live on the FA website - for free!

I noted from the fixtures in Sunday's paper that the Oldham Athletic v. Leeds United FA Cup first round tie is due to kick-off at 5.15pm on Saturday 7 November.

It also said "Live on the FA website".

As a Leeds United fan based in the south of England, I found that interesting, but following the Ukraine v. England game being shown live on the internet last month, I wondered with sinking heart how much it would cost to watch.

My research today on the FA website found this banner:

But I could find nothing more - no information on how to access it or how to pay etc.

Next port of call was the Leeds United website, where they are selling tickets for the game, but letting fans know that they must buy tickets before the game.

At the bottom of the ticket advice page was this line: "The game will be available to watch live on the internet free of charge at www.thefa.com."

I'm looking forward to it already!

How on earth did this happen?

As England approach their latest World Cup qualifier with Croatia, it brings back to mind the European qualifier of two years ago and England's 3-2 home defeat to the same nation. With Steve McClaren in charge.

How did we come to end up with this man in charge? For he unquestionably proved incapable of doing the job.

Following the era of Sven-Goran Eriksson, the clamour of the English press was for a return to an Englishman to take charge. McClaren had managed Middlesbrough and won the League Cup in 2004 and finished runners-up in the UEFA Cup in 2006. He was also assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson when Manchester United won the Treble in 1999. That was apparently enough. It reminded some of us of the appointment of Graham Taylor, who had only had minor successes with Watford.

However, the choices were few. Glenn Hoddle had been sacked and Kevin Keegan had resigned prior to Sven's appointment, but the dearth of English managers in the English league (and the situation is just as bad now) meant that McClaren's flimsy CV was sufficient to get him the job. (Note that the last England manager to win the English league was Howard Wilkinson with Leeds United in 1992.)

McClaren managed England between 1 August 2006 and 22 November 2007, and was dubbed 'The Wally with a Brolly', after he used an umbrella to protect himself from rain during his final game in charge.

Note to the English press: Be careful what you wish for!

Introduction

I'm here to let off steam about football from time to time. Here's a bit of background about me.

Nationality: English
Supports: England
Supports: Leeds United
Lives: Woking
Follows: Woking F.C.
Born: Guildford
Assists with: Guildford City Weysiders F.C. (www.guildfordcityweysiders.org.uk)
Facebook: Garry Pierrepont
Twitter: Weysider
Book written: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Could-Only-Happen-This-Level/dp/1904181082/ref=sr_1_1/276-6819538-1308515?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252308490&sr=8-1