McDermott: miracle man
The unthinkable has happened. It’s been the talk of football for the past few weeks, the subject of fevered speculation. Debates in pubs and clubs up and down the country have raged white hot, with arguments put passionately on either side. And now, after a comprehensive two goal defeat at the weekend, the sensational news can be confirmed: Brian McDermott is still in his job at Leeds United.
In other news, Man U have sacked David Moyes.
On the face of it, these two facts have very little to do with each other. But McDermott’s continued tenure at Elland Road is, if anything, much more unexpected and sensational news than even the sacking of Moyes. The received wisdom has been than Man U are a club that do not subscribe to the hire and fire cycle common to – well, more common clubs. This is all part of the Man U self-image as something special, the hollow “biggest club in the world” façade that is rapidly being eroded away by a new, post-Ferguson reality. The news that Moyes has finally gone is, really, no surprise. He had been struggling with a job at a club founded on self-delusion, the “Biggest & Greatest” myth. Anybody would have struggled. The next man will too, unless Man U wake up and smell the coffee. But that’s their problem, and I wish them endless bad luck with it.
The point, as far as Leeds United are concerned, is that there is now a managerial high-roller on the market, at a time when our incumbent man – nice guy though he undoubtedly is – has a record which would normally have earned him a whole pile of P45s under previous regimes at Elland Road. It might be that people would scoff at the idea of somebody like Moyes at Elland Road – and yet ex-England boss and former Dutchman Schteve McClaren has been in charge of comparative minnows Derby County this season, to good effect. It may also be that Moyes himself, once bitten and twice shy, would not wish to work with a character like Massimo Cellino who appears to change managers on a whim, depending how he feels when he gets up that morning. But the question is still there to be asked: would Leeds United fans welcome Moyes to Elland Road?
The immediate objection is the fact that he’s been in charge of “them”. But really, the Man U pedigree is a non-factor. Let’s not forget, two of our favourite sons in Johnny Giles and Gordon Strachan were denizens of the Theatre of Hollow Myths, until they saw the light and bettered themselves. And Moyes was a square peg in a round hole at Man U – he started out by trying to act like a Fergie-Lite, attempting to carry off a whinging and moaning act worthy of the Govan tyrant. It wasn’t in him; he’s not that type of guy, and the Man U experience has worn him down to a twitching and Gollum-esque husk of a man, bug-eyed and hunted – it’s easy to feel relief for him that his misery there is over.
What could Moyes bring to Elland Road? A reputation untarnished by his time with Man U, for a start – certainly among football people including the more enlightened fans. He’s liable to have benefited from a massive pay-off from his former employers, who have torn up most of a six-year contract before his bewildered eyes. It may well be a more relaxed and a happier Moyes that walks into his next job. And he might possibly prefer, in the immediate aftermath of his Pride of Devon experience, to shun the Premier League limelight. Again, this appears to have been the option favoured by McClaren, another former Man U man and another highly effective operator in more conducive circumstances. Moyes did a solid job over many years with little money at Everton. He was recognised as a highly competent coach before that, at Preston.
The hole that Brian McDermott currently finds himself in, following yet another abject display against Notts Forest, could well be too deep for him successfully to clamber out of. His first year at Elland Road has been one of upheaval; takeovers protracted to a farcical degree, sackings and reinstatements, the whole nine yards. Leeds United have been – along with possibly Blackpool – the Charlie Corrolli of the Championship, the laughing-stock of the league. In these circumstances, it’s difficult for any manager to manage but – again, even acknowledging his undoubted good-guy credentials – the performances have been abject and now the excuses are beginning to have the dull ring of repetitive hopelessness.
This blog has been a supporter of Brian McDermott – but there comes a time when you just have to acknowledge that something isn’t working and that it urgently needs remedial action. If the time is right for a change of management (or coaching) at Elland Road, then it’s also an appropriate time to be looking at who is out there, who might be available. Malky Mackay is a name that many might advance, and with good cause. Billy “Job Done” Davies? No, thanks. David Moyes – hmmm. It’s a fascinating thought, not all that realistic on the face of it – but just imagine. What if Moyes, not short of a quid or two after his Man U contract is settled, were to stroll into Elland Road and re-establish himself as a football man who knows what he’s doing? What if he were to drag our club back up by the bootstraps and get us motoring into the Promised Land? Giles came from Man U as a player and did it for us. Strachan too. Could Moyes be the latest Man U discard to find success in LS11? Could he complete a hat-trick for us to relish?
Stranger things have happened. If you want to identify just one – it’s the fact that, after Forest cruised to victory at Elland Road in second or third gear, Brian McDermott remains Leeds United manager. Surely that is one ongoing miracle whose days are well and truly numbered.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Get Moyes in, let him come to a real club and become a real legend.
McDoughnut OUT
Players and coaching staff OUT
MOT
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Surely our next manager is more likely to be Luigi Dacosta ?
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That would only be inviting humiliation and taunting from Scum fans , along with the fact he is a joke ……. NO WAY !!!!!!!!!!!
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I have a feeling the next manure manager will finish lower in the table, its got the feel of a club on the decline
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Tragic, isn’t it?? 🙂
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Even better rob, its going to unsettle Chelsea like mad all summer, as mourino looks like the ideal manager for them – arrogant git, encourages cheating, moans about the refs.
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Well Rob, you really know how to twist the knife still the appropriate time, lol! There are other managers who are as good as Moyes, although, I think that he has something to prove snd thst he could come back from this and make a big impact somewhere else. I think that Gary Mac would be a decent bet if he had support this time round? Leeds are in a mess and a total rebuild is needed. Bates and GFH GAF have left us in a real mess!
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I have supported Brian McDermott throughout the last few months and feel he has been treated very badly. But really yesterday’s performance was dire. In the first half we played without any organised defence in the second he substituted Hunt (calling him useless is an insult to the word) with Smith confirming that his starting eleven was ineffective. The players even though rubbish that most have them are must have been to “tactics” supposedly put forward by the management team. Why does the key pass (a long ball) forward usually come from Lees? I wonder how much time they spend practising passing the ball to each other from the look of things none! He’s a nice guy but no more excuses lets show him the door and afford him as much dignity as possible after all Leeds United is not a charity! As for David Moyes yes please!
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If wigan don’t go up, get Uwe Rosler
Moyes would have something to prove though and would do a better job than Brian. To be honest any manager is going to struggle at manure because they won’t have old purple noses “special relationship” with the FA and referees. Liverpools 3 pens at the field of shite wouldn’t have happened in past years.
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Di Matteo for me. But I do agree that a manager who sees his side 2-0 down at half time and not have one shot on target and then sends out the same 11 is surely leaving himself open to dismissal.
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100% agree! Dimatteo for me or possibly Poyet if seagulls don’t get to the promised land. Bmac has always had my support and I think he has run out of ideas. I would however, like to see who he would show the door and who he would bring in, as he has done the job In this div before. I started losing faith in him when his players he brought in were failing miserably
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Poyet is at Sunderland not Brighton but would love Poyet or Zola as next boss.
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Yeah, get Poyet in! He’s been really great for Scumderland!
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di Matteo in the unlikely event he’s willing and if Cellino’s prepared to pay what would no doubt be pretty big money for him
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I personally think it would be a decent appointment given what he did with his two previous clubs. Initially we may be ridiculed, but how sweet would it be if he delivered promotion & re-established us as a premiership force, whilst they continue to get through managers in the post Ferguson era just like they did after the Busby era. For Wilf McGuinness read David Moyes, lets hope its another 26 years before they win a title!
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The best man for the job is surely POYET,
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” a twitching and Gollum-esque husk of a man, bug-eyed and hunted” – Just brilliant Rob,cant stop laughing, what a wordsmith!
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You’re most kind 🙂
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Afternoon Rob
No we dont want Moyes thanks, Preston is his level. When BMCD goes(only a matter of time) Malky would be a perfect replacement.
Ive given BMCD the benefit of the doubt all season, and have told fellow Leeds fans on here to do the same, after watching that woeful hoof ball performance yesterday, I can no longer back him Only Ross and Murphy played well. Our defenders look scared when the ball is passed to them, and If Jack Butland is a future England No1 then god help us.. Bring in the new, and plenty of new signings, a new coach, and we can plan for next season. Get rid of Wooton as said before because he is just as bad as Zaliukas
Sorry to sound down, but the season cannot end quickly enough for me, and thats a first
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You just know Rob when Strach and Giles finally hang up their boots the obituaries will read ‘Former Man Utd and Aberdeen midfielder’ and ‘Former Man Utd midfielder and respected TV pundit’ respectively.
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Sadly that’s probably true
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Hmmm… here in Ireland, we [well, me especially!] know Johnny Giles as an ex-Leeds great – he’s the reason I began this weird journey as a Leeds supporter in’71.
Btw, yes he is a bloody fabulous TV pundit [but then I’m ridiculously biased ;-)]
Btw#2 – great blog Rob – always worth a look!
Btw#3 – I lean very slightly towards Poyet – but we just know MC’ll do it his way – and after the YEARS of um… shite we’ve gone thru, who’s to argue with that approach?
😉 GH
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Was waiting for someone to do an article of this nature but that was fast! I have been thinking about it long before he got sacked, knowing his days were numbered. The timing is perfect, as Brian has to go, but would More want to take on a huge job straight after the time at Man U? I for one would welcome him. He did well at Everton and built the club up. He has lots of Premier League experience and would keep us in the league whilst we rebuild. As far as I’m concerned he is already a Leeds legend for the work he did at Man U!
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If we did get him, I’d be happy to give him a round of applause for what he’s done at Scum this year, been one of the highlights of the season!
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Unfortunately, I think Moyes will end up at Newcastle when they inevitably sack Pardew at the end of the season.
Gus Poyet for me or (left field I know) Gareth Southgate, if he can be tempted from his plum job with the FA
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Stranger things have happened (MUCH stranger things) than Moyes turning up at Leeds but given the option, Di Matteo please – although my guess is that the first post-mac ‘coach’ will be an Italian unknown to us but probably serially sacked and re-employed by mad Massimo. Forza Leeds.
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I have been a Leeds fan since the days of Major Buckley and have seen plenty of ‘ups and downs’ since then.
Lets face it, there will NEVER be another Leeds like the one we enjoyed under ‘The Don’. Too much money in the game now, silly money, players on long contracts with ridiculous pay packets, transfer fees absolutely through the roof, creaming agents, no loyalty to the club or fans who pay their wages. There is no successful future for LUFC, maybe promotion into the premiership but still a bottom half club.
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Hi, rob, McDermott came-to leeds with something to prove and he’s done it. He’s proved that he’s clueless, as for moyes it’s not a bad idea, but I can’t see that happening, McDermott as got to go ASAP ..
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I wouldn’t mind David Moyes,I don’t have this hate of Man.u.the problem was Fergie and the influence he had on officials.Di Matteo would be good. I have always been a fan of Gary McAllister he likes to play the ball on the ground. Anyone has to be better than Brian. Even give Nigel Gibbs a go until the end of the season.
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As soon as it was announced that moyes had been sacked the same question came to mind rob ,, would he be in the frame for the next Leeds manager and would Leeds fans accept him ,, I think given his record at everton he will bounce back somewhere, I just can’t see him at Leeds , all those years being a PL manager I don’t think he’d be willing to drop down to the championship and even if he was willing I just can’t see the Er faithfull accepting a failed scum manager ,, so its a thumbs down from me rob ,.. Were starting a revolution at Leeds not opening a last chance saloon
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No the football he plays is no better than McDermott or Warnock.
Irrelevant question for now though until Massimo gets the axe out which surely he must.
The saddest thing about yesterday was the utter predictability not just of the defeat but the nature and even the source of the goals conceded. How many goals have Lees and Wooton been directly responsible for
We lack everything a good team has, we have no positive characteristics. Frankly we are league 2 side with a good striker no more than that
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MD just doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who drives a Ferrari unless in the midst of a mid-life (season) crisis and that’s almost over now.
So he might well be climbing into his Fiat 500.
As for the next manager – In Cellino we trust!
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Personally, I would welcome him with open arms. We have been crying out for a defensively minded task master for years. Build from the back with a commanding centre back as captain would be my blue print going forward. David Moyes would be an instant hero having reduced the scum to winning nothing and no longer being in the Champions League. He has stuffed the scum and given them the biggest hiding and humiliation he had always dreamt of, FROM WITHIN!! Just as Bates fulfilled his dream and decimated our great club FROM WITHIN. Brian has lost all credibility and been humiliated by his own pals Hunt and Kebe. Hunt’s goal drought makes the Sahara desert appear soggy by comparison and makes Barn door Billy look a prime candidate for Leeds United’s all time golden boot award. MOT with Cellino driving the bus.
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great read rob,i cant see moyes coming to LEEDS i think he will wait for another so called big club to come along managers are the same as footballers they are greedy so i dont think it would be in our budget but he would be good for us.You have to think that massimo would go italian and i know zolas agent has said outright no but i think he would fit the bill perfect, there is so much speculation about at the min,the only thing that should happen is mcd should go im the same as you i would have stood right beside him through this and next season but how can you get away with that load of shit yesterday i nearly went home when the teams came out for the second half with no change but i am a mighty LEEDS supporter and wont do that like they do at other clubs [wont mention any of them not worth it] it is time for big changes and that started at the top with owner now it has to be the managers turn sorry nice man mcd time to go …….MOT
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Rob – whilst there have been a number of us on this blog supporting Brian over the last three or four torturous months, it is now time to say good luck and farewell and put him and us out of our respective miseries! As for Moyes, an interesting thought certainly, but my concern going forward is that with our present tattered reputation, who in their right mind will want to come either as a manager or indeed a player?
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Martinez has clearly illuminated the failings of Moyes as a tactician and a motivator. No thanks. We need a coach who will bring that same sense of belief, and who knows how to instill it. McDermott has lost the fans, and the players. Massimo knows this but is letting McD play out a season which condemns him by its own ineptitude. Put simply, McD has my respect for his commitment to Leeds, but does not inspire any confidence that he is the man to improve the team. I would no longer trust him to bring in the players or tactics for us to succeed.
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I don’t think he ever had the players. Remember his first game? Warnockism first half, passing game 2nd? Our monkeys aren’t able to sustain playing a passing game. Brian has had to do things the old way to survive even in this division. We all knew it was going to be this bad at the start of the season, but some of us have forgotten. It will stay this way next year, unless there are several signings and 10 or more exits – and that will mean spending money.
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Would i frig welcome him to Leeds. He did an outstanding job at the scum but Everton were treading water for 11 years with him in charge. Yes i know he didn’t have a lot of money there,but neither has Martinez and look at the difference. Mcdermott out!
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Moyes should never have been sacked, he was heading towards legendary status! Scum bastards
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While I’m happy that Maverick “two fingers to the football league” Massimo is now at the helm and Beeston “nice but dim” Dave has gone, I do worry about the implications on finding a replacement for Brian. Surely, any decent manager wants autonomy over team/squad/player selection – their absolute confidence in their own decisions is what drives their success and the team forwards.
If Massimo is going to pick the team from Miami/Calgiari/Leeds then exactly how decent a manager can we expect to bring in? – surely none with the pedigree of the names mentioned above. I think that’s why any speculation on Brian’s replacement can’t look much further than Gibbs (or Festa).
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Exactly. Our next ‘head coach’ won’t be British.
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I would not call Moyes a high roller..more a steady eddy at Everton.
This club needs someone who can deal with players or in our case footballing idiots, command respect from the off, have a game plan and/or a style of play, have a high enough reputation to get the same respect when dealing with agents, clubs and players when looking at potential recruits or at least have an assistant cabable and trustworthy enough to know what his boss demands. I don’t think we have that in the UK apart from the top 3/4 clubs.
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The problem I see with an Italian coach, is that the typical Italian way of playing, heavily defensive, sitting on a lead, hitting teams on the counter attack – just isn’t very Leeds.. the Leeds way is a strong midfield and bossing the game putting the opposition under constant pressure. I just came see us as fans appreciating the Italian style of play, sure we’ve appreciated defenders in the past who play that way (the chief and Chris faiclough in particular spring to mind), but we like our Leeds team to be high energy, with a combative and pressing midfield
Which Is why I would like a German coach, the (new) German style of play would suit us.
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And when this season (or indeed since Snoddy, Johnny, Max left) have we had ‘a strong midfield’ and bossed any game whilst ‘putting the opposition under constant pressure’?!!
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Oh I agree, its one of the first things that need sorting out, the midfield is the weakest area of the team, defence is poor too, but the midfield is worse.
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I agree. Jurgen Klopp, please. One day!
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You didn’t know Rob?
Agent Moyes was working for us all along!
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I’m innocent in the ways of the world 🙂
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Moyse negative clueless wastes money never won anything weve got an idiot like that all ready ,Mackay another negative approach manager we don’t want to go near that type. We need someone to get a footballing passionate side together to give us some entertainment and excitement.Worried MCD might be given money to waste and mess the start of NEXT season up before he gets sacked ,more Kebe’s, Wooton’sand Hunt’s bring back Grayson or Gary Mac or get Di Mattaioor Rossler
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Admittedly I may be wrong but hasn’t Moyes achieved even less than McDermott? Wow he got the scum job based on the biased recomendation of one person – completely cocked it up though. Had a few top 6 finishes with Everton…Martinez isn’t doing too badly there is he? Not sure I’d want him to be honest but purely for footballing reasons.
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Zola for me , plays great passing game , only problem we need atleast 8 new 1st team players , get rid of atleast 15 dead woods , smaller squad but better to handle , but will Cellino deliver ?
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Well, the next Leeds manager should be me obviously. But, failing that David Moyes could definitely do a job for us. By the way, I love the way you write about scum, Rob. I think I’d describe it as “barely concealed vitriol”. It raised a smile to my grumpy lips anyhow.
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id much rather have his everton replacement..
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I like it Rob, Moyes would be great. We can dare to dream us Leeds fans its time to wake the sleeping gaint. After watching the game I think its time for Brian mac to go…..Elland road should be a fortress not a stroll in 2nd gear for a crap Forest team and to score in the second min unforgivable…..
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Are you people wanting Moyse the same ones who wanted Warnock and McDermott and thought Austin was good? cor blimey guv.AT least Moyse got his wish of an Everton double over M.U. JUST a pity he’s manager of M.U.for it to happen . MCD just said he wants pacy wingers who can beat people wasn’t that why he got the great Kebe and Stewart don’t let this man have more money to waste
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The thing ive noticed with “our Brian” is that after a drubbing, he never says “I got it all wrong with my selections or tactics” its more likely to hear him say “I have targets and if funds are there? I will bring them in” well to me? that is saying “im not in the wrong, I haven’t got the squad” sorry Brian, we know you inherited most of your team but YOU have added to it and not chosen your squad wisely. Don’t get me wr\ong, he isn’t on his own in his failings? Q.P.R should have walked this league on paper but didn’t. Burnley however? after selling top scoring Mr Austin are up. As much as I think Brian is a “nice guy” and I wish him well, I also think his promotion with Reading might have been a fluke, a one off? I think ( and hope he is released soon to tend his lawn) Sorry Brian, nice guys don’t cut it these days (apart from lawns)
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I don’t think Big Mc can complain this time around when the grim reaper comes calling
We all supported him on the night of the short knives but since then things have gone from the ridiculous to humiliation of the mighty whites.
Cellino was right in his assessment of the team and manager ,both are an embarrassment with the exception of Ross Mc. Sack them all.
We need a coach not a manager to work with Cellino and don’t see Moyes as a coach at all.
My preference would be Martinez.
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Mine too. Fat chance – shame isn’t it? Everton have come out of all of this very nicely…
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Byram and Mowatt are an embarrassment?
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It is indeed the Miracle of Beeston.
And around the ground, if you look closely you can see the statues of Billy and Don shedding a tear for their beloved Club.
Have you phoned the Vatican, Rob?
I can just see the Superstore selling religious relics “genuine bones of Fede Bessone” etc, while a filthy old tramp with bad dentalwork yells out to the pilgrims from a window above Subway, that they’ll all go to Hell…
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Surreal, I love it. You should develop that theme into a fully-fledged blog post – I’m sure there’s an East Stand/Wailing Wall metaphor crying out to be included 🙂
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“The early goals cost us,” McDermott. “The late goals cost us,” McDermott. “The goals around half-time cost us,” McDermott.
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No.
Moyes isn’t – I’m told – actually very good. He did very safe, predictable, unimaginative, basic stuff at Everton. He did it very well but it wasn’t good enough with better, more big-headed, often more cosmopolitan players. Leeds, I predict, won’t buy a single player in the summer (assuming we escape a transfer ban); we’ll get 7 or 8 soggy, shop-soiled Euro-loanees in their early 20s. I don’t think Moyes would be able to cope. He built Everton up by using tried-and-tested players playing in a tried-and-tested way, very carefully, one Lego brick at a time.
I’m not suggesting he’s a bad manager, but I don’t think – shocking as you’ll find this – that he’s any better than the one we have. I also think that Moyes is a manager, and that Cellini will sign a coach, a Feste, a yes man, probably from Europe.
At best, Moyes would be like Wilko. But he wouldn’t get the chance to run and rebuild the club like Wilko did, and even if he did, we wouldn’t be rocketing up to 4th and then 1st place in the first 2 years back. A Wilko today would just get us into the top 10.
And Moyes would cost a lot of money and, as you’ll see, Cellini only spends money on certain things. And those things don’t include the wages of “I’ll do it my way, thanks” men.
So no. Not that I care, when McDermott leaves Leeds I quit. You’ll be laughing the other side of your faces in a few years time when he’s managing a rising Premiership club and we’re bouncing around the lower depths of the Premiership, threatening to implode at any time.
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McD is a nice man, but has no clue about tactics. He might recognise a good player, but where to put him and how to use him, is a different story. Why not Moyes, I am a great admirer of him, and happy that he’s out of that red shithole, as is he probably. We need a new Don, and he could be just that, or maybe a bit short of that, but still, give him the helm and here we go……….
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