The gutter end of the Fourth Estate are after us again
Summertime is always a tense part of the calendar for the long-suffering fans of Leeds United – rivalled only by the January transfer window, as we wait in uncomfortable anticipation for the identity of the next star to be sold for a song. That’s the way it’s been for a good – well, bad – few years now. It remains to be seen whether things will be substantially different under the reign of il Duce Massimo Cellino.
Clearly, this year’s speculation was inevitably going to surround Ross McCormack. Top scorer last time around and always first in line to wear his heart on his sleeve when it came to confirming his love for and commitment to Leeds United, McCormack is the jewel in the crown for club and fans. Such a player is bound to be marked down by the rutting hogs of Fleet Street as the Number One target for their idle speculation, scare stories, made-up rumours and downright lies as they set about their task of appealing to the Leeds-hating majority of their readership. The lower you go into the gutter, the higher the proportion of Leeds-haters there will be among the buyers of whichever toilet roll you’re talking about – and at the very bottom of the sewer, beneath even the excrement and detritus that is the Mirror, the Mail and the Express, there you will find the Sun and the Sport, rotting away in a noisome mulch of their own writing.
So it’s a big relief when one of these illiterate rags comes out with a clearly made-up story. Such a one, you can bet your bottom dollar, is Simon Austin’s pisspoor effort today in the Sun. No sources are quoted – unsurprisingly. The whole thing stinks of a speculative effort which the hack concerned will quietly forget about when it’s proved wrong. Austin is merely doing his masters’ bidding in an effort to thrill the anti-Leeds brigade out there – all in the interests of selling more copies. This commercial prime mover, the need to sell, sell, sell, has always ranked for the Sun and similar toilet papers, far, far above any such considerations as factual reportage and journalistic integrity. The net effect of all this is that anyone who hates Leeds United will get another cheap if temporary thrill – and anybody with the individualism, originality and sheer good taste to love the club will breathe a sigh of satisfaction and murmur to themselves “It’s in the Sun, so it must be bollocks”.
Similarly, today has brought a couple of snide little reports in the Sport and the Mirror – further examples of the very worst of the British press – about the Leeds players bringing packed lunches in to training. Here, it’s the crafty implications of penury that are offensive, not so much any factual inaccuracy. It’s Fleet Street acting as a purveyor of anti-LUFC propaganda that irritates. The thought of booze-sodden hacks having a chortle over this sort of thing is annoying – but again, it’s merely a sign that they’re doing their level best to paint as negative a picture as possible of a club that it’s firmly in their commercial interests to be seen hating. It’s a gutter press thing, a talentless hack thing – it should be regarded as natural in terms of what happens all the time at the very bottom of any cess-pit. The particularly disappointing aspect is that certain internet outlets, who should know better, pick up these myths and recycle them as fact
The moral, of course, is to avoid all of the bog-roll tabloids, or – at the very least – to take their lies merely as confirmation that there’s nothing to worry about as yet. More reliable information is usually available from the better-informed blogs of several clubs, from players’ Twitter feeds, from the so-called “quality” press (some of them) – or even (occasionally) from Leeds United itself. The local press also provides an option that is almost respectable as compared to the mendacious hacks who peddle their lies for the gutter-end of the national press.
For the time being, then, there is no cause for alarm. The Sun says that Ross wants out; so we can be tolerably certain that – at present – he’s looking forward to another season of stand-out performances in the white shirt of Leeds United.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Hi rob, do hope your right,I think we need to build a side around him.any way season ticket bought and raring to go ..MOT
LikeLike
I’m more concerned about your calling Signor Cellino ‘Il Duce’ than I am about The Sun saying RMcC wants out, Rob. It’s a bit of a loaded phrase in Italian culture….
LikeLike
Isn’t Simon Austin the journo who is supposedly pretty tight with Cellino?
Seems strange that someone with a working relationship with El Presidente would jeopardise it by peddling a full page article of antagonistic bull shit but equally strange that he would jeopardise it by publishing something with substance that he possibly discovered in confidence…
It does make you wonder whether this is a club leak to get their side of the story out there first…
LikeLike
Good point and I hope your wrong………… As for McCormack although I agree with Rob about the Sun, some of RMs twitter comments have been a bit rebellious and dare I say it sarcastic so I wouldn’t be surprised if he wants out, especially after all the badge kissing and PR to the fans, its about par for the course
LikeLike
all total crap, along with lads having to take own packed sarnies in and we are cutting back, oh but we are linked to 3 likely Italian signings, as for the current bun not even worth putting on nail in a millwall supporters carsie
LikeLike
Rob, the whole packed lunch thing though sums up Leeds fans at this point.
I received email and text after text saying what a disgrace it was how it would affect the players, cellinos a this and that
Turns out that they decided not to open the canteen for the 2 days the players were in, before jetting off to train in the Italian lakes for 2 weeks
Media create something out of nothing and our fans go into meltdown.
Chillax everyone it’s only lies, let’s wait till the day before we kick off and see where we are. Many people are getting very wound up about nothing.
Believing anything from the written media inc yep / yp is crazy, they ALL hate us and make stuff up on a daily basis.
Chillax
WGUAFC
LikeLike
not sure you’ve got this one right, Rob. There are some massive clubs lining for his signature according to The Sun’s report: Cardiff, Norwich, Fulham and Derby are all vying to seal a deal with Ross. I’m not sure how he’s going to resist the lure of such big names; imagine joining the relegation-fodder that is Norwich. Compare that with a new dawn at Leeds and it’s Carrow Road all the way. The seductive hum of those tractors are already tugging away at his soul. Coupled with the fact that he can join up with some of his old mates there and the deal’s as good as done.
Sorry Rob, sometimes you just have to admit that The Sun is completely right, ha ha.
LikeLike
I think the ONLY time to start worrying about Ross,is when any team above half way in thePrem’s name gets mentioned.Ireally don’t think he will be interested otherwise.I also think he will be curious about the potential quality of all the new recruits, and what they can bring to the table.
LikeLike
Apparently hull have made a cash plus player bid
LikeLike
Surely every footballer’s dream move! 😉
LikeLike
Simon is known to get stories from Cellino himself, I do hope it’s wrong but he is adamant McCormack and his agent went to Cellino and asked for a move.
LikeLike
Fridays used to be my favourite day as a child, I would say well into my early teens, Fridays where special. Fridays where aptly named as our weekly treat was fish and Chips from the mobile chip van that used to arrive, and park by the Green, the whole village loved Fridays, judging by the queue at the van. The one thing I remember the most was the wonderful fresh chips cooked in lard, not Vegetable oil, nor the healthier rapeseed oil, Lard, plain Lard. The fish was Cod, or Haddock, proper Cod not these modern replacements, proper Cod, we always had Cod, not the cheaper, less popular Haddock mind, just Cod. I remember the taste like it was yesterday. The only other thing I remember about the feast was that the wonderful food was wrapped in Newspaper, usually the red tops, Not the Times, Nor the Telegraph, but the red tops, I asked my Dad why they used the newspapers that they did, to keep our chips warm. He replied, well lad, its better to use them like this, as they “dont arf scratch your arse otherwise. Rob, I rest my case.
LikeLike
Surely haddock is the king of fishes. Cod is what them lot down south or on the wrong side of the pennines eat.
LikeLike
Let’s hope that it’s more fart talk from the gutter press, but I really do hope that there isn’t an ounce of truth in what they are saying and McCormack isn’t still sulking about the departure of the useless Brian McDermott.
It would be an easy excuse for McCormack to dessert Leeds for such a childish reason as the McDermott sacking, but McCormack looked pretty miserable in training on Thursday.
All of the Leeds players have to wise up and finally realise the Dave Hockaday has taken Brian McDermotts job, because they all failed to get the right amount of wins last season, to keep McDermott in his job.
LikeLike
Unless of course,the manchester loving sun newspaper is right.all these italian players we have been linked with,at best are league one players,and ross may think,that another stint at the wrong end of the championship is not for me,or he may think,fuck it,i will have to do it all myself again,and score another 3o goals.
LikeLike
Stop the gutter press: Sun reporter Chad Alloadacrap brings you this exclusive “Ross McCormack’s off to any club that has it’s own cook and who’s name incorporates the word ham because he likes sausages and his wife won’t put them in his packed lunch”. Source: the hearsay grapevine
LikeLike
Dead right , Utter dross Rob ! never believe anything thats read in the tabloids all they’re good for is page three. Ooooh Linda Lusardi and as for sam fox what a waste !!! Anyway back in the room ! As for the journalist on good morning itv on this week saying its fair game to hack the phones of everyone including minnie dowler (poor darlin) he wants arresting , putting in jail and the key throwing away. Scum of the earth. Even Phillip Schofield looked like he wanted to punch the muppet. M.O.T
LikeLike
The packed lunch thing is pathetic, do the papers really think highly paid footballers get their mums to pack them some jam butties? More likely the club ordered in some lunch from one of the many high end sandwich shops / caterers in the Leeds area.
Another one was in the mirror “former brentford and swindon player Chris kamara catches crook” no mention of the highest profile club he played for.
LikeLike
It all rather supports what I’ve been saying, doesn’t it?
LikeLike
Ha think your wrong mate they did take packed lunch kitchens closed at Thorpe arch !
LikeLike
Kitchens were closed yeah. do you really believe they made their own pack ups though? I’m sure there’s plenty of quality caterers and high end butty shops that do deliveries in the wetherby area.
LikeLike
here here , all i can say is waaash your mouth my son, and go get your fathers gun, and shoot the chelsea scum, shoot the chelsea scum, we hate chelsea we hate chelsea we hate chelsea we hate chelsea we hate chelsea.
LikeLike
Wanting Chile to win at the moment. What I do is count the scum or chelski players in each side, then support the one with the least.
LikeLike
As good a system as any – and better than most…
LikeLike
I think if Ross was to leave, it would be more likely he would join up with Snodgrass.
LikeLike
Rob
If he wants out let him go, no one man is greater than the club and if this isn’t true then let him state otherwise.
The integrity of the man is at stake, you don’t commit to a 4 year deal and walk away so the onus is on RM to state otherwise.
LikeLike
It would be a relief if Ross was do deny these claims himself, he said before he wanted to stay at Leeds however was this just him boxing clever to keep in favour with Leeds fans while secretly hoping a club comes in with an offer Leeds couldn’t refuse thereby allowing him to leave with his reputation intact and not be labeled a judas.Just a thought.
Mot
LikeLike
just read the football league world blog stating the south wales evening post that McCormack wants to leave how strange I read the paper every day and I cant find the article .
LikeLike
Bizarre – still waiting for something from the horse’s mouth….
LikeLike
Hi Rob
Do I detect a slight wavering on your stance the report must be bollocks? Ross may well have the attitude why should I respond when I have made my intentions clear with the 4 year deal,but we all know footballers contracts do not mean much however it would be reassuring if he did make a statement to the fans who do not change clubs at drop of hat,and like rob said in the past he has not been slow to have a go at Leeds fans on social media and indeed during games.
Mot
LikeLike
Waver? Moi?? Never!
LikeLike
Still no waver Rob? It’s looking more and more like the sun got it right. By the way I don’t work for the sun and like you think it is gutter press along with the mirror not sure what your gripe is with the mail though,for a real balanced opinion on leeds I find the Times is hard to beat once you get past pages and pages of southern rugby union.
Don’t be too despondent if you have got this one wrong keep up the good work and fingers crossed for a better season ahead
Mot.
LikeLike
Nope not wavering. Even if McCormack goes, I will be of the opinion that the Sun story is a mixture of guesswork and wishful thinking.
As for the other person demanding “OK, what’s your source…” etc – you don’t come on here interrogating me, pal.
LikeLike
Tend to agree – but he does want away, all the same. Things have changed since he said he wanted to stay; things have become clear. Not only did the players already dislike Cellino before he dragged them in from their holidays to kiss the ring, but we’ve got a yes man head coach who wants us to play like a 4th divison team, who is only here to aid and abet the bringing through for sale of young players (read the YEP interview with Carbon Copy), and who thinks thinks the club should be pared down, because everything’s too big. As if we hadn’t been downsized enough already. We have Glyn Williams snooping around (sorry, I meant Carbon Copy) being The President’s “Eyes and ears”, we have players going out left right and centre. Ross wants some ambition to be shown, some investment. The above, plus, cutting the budget even further below our earnings and making a ‘Come and get our best player’ announcement doesn’t do it for him.
I told you he’d stay when everyone said he’d go. Now I tell you he’ll go.
Next out (for a fee): Sam Byram. Which large numbers of us will claim to be good business, say that the players we’ll get in will be better for us (when has this ever been true? Thiey’ll be loanees anyway.)
The corpse of Leeds United isn’t pretty. I despair of my fellow Leeds fans, I really do.
LikeLike
Insightful as ever, John. I did write some time ago that the club had to match McCormack’s ambition; there’s precious little sign of that. It’s too depressing to write straight opinion pieces just now – the only comfort lies in indulging my satirical streak.
LikeLike