Ross McCormack, purveyor of bullshit to the gentry, kisses his last badge but one
We’ve known it often enough at Leeds United – a player signs and, early in his time at Elland Road, there’s the opportunity in an interview to put on the sincere face and say “…there were a few clubs interested in me, but once I heard Leeds United mentioned, that was it – there was nowhere else I was going to go.” We humble fans are left to wonder about the identity of the disappointed clubs – CF Barcelona, perhaps, or Milan, Internazionale or Paris St Germain. Or possibly Doncaster Rovers or Scunthorpe. It’s become part of the transfer scene; it’s expected. Besides, nobody takes it that seriously. It’s all part of the schmoozing that seems to be de rigueur on either side of any transfer involving a club of any history or notoriety these days. You just wish the script might vary occasionally.
The thing is, there is a feeling that – here at Leeds, anyway – there is sometimes a kernel of truth concealed beneath all of the bovine ordure we’ve become used to. Hang on, we think – it’s only right what the guy’s saying. We speculate as to who else might have been in for him, whoever he might be – and the fact is that any player we might currently be making overtures to is highly unlikely to have a higher-profile option elsewhere. For most of our motley crew of incoming transfers over the past decade or so, Leeds United is the biggest club they’ve ever played for, ever will play for. So why would such relatively humble performers look elsewhere when the chance to sign for Leeds crops up? That’s not arrogance, it’s simply the way things are, with the club at its present, humble level of the game. The platitudes may be exactly that – but, used in connection with a move to Leeds, true giants of the sub-Premier League world, they’re at least partly believable. We have the history, the tradition, the stadium, the support, the training ground – well, perhaps strike that last one. But Leeds are a bigger deal than most Championship players could aspire to, and that’s an undeniable fact.
When these quotes arise out of a transfer to Fulham, though, it does become slightly comical. And, guess what, our former captain and genuine one-season wonder Ross McCormack, badge-kisser and Twitter-whinger extraordinaire, has actually been and gone and come out with the usual bull – but this time, it’s in a Fulham context. Try it for size, why don’t you – here’s what Ross said. “There was speculation in regards to other teams, but Fulham was where I wanted to be.” Funny, isn’t it? Go on, see if you can say it without a giggle. Ross must have managed it straight-faced, anyway – or he’d have grievously insulted his new friends and fellow cottagers and that would never do.
Ross might be far too busy adding up all of the different figures in his new contract to have any real appreciation of irony or unintentional humour – and let’s face it, most footballers’ brains aren’t wired that way to start off with – but he must surely be kidding himself if he thinks he’s going to convince even a diehard Fulham fan that he’s there for any other reason but the bottom line on his payslip. Your actual realistic Fulham fan, should such a beast exist, might also refer back to Mr. McCormack’s recent statement that winning promotion at Elland Road would beat playing for just any Premier League – not Championship – club; they might even wonder if, in fact, their new signing speak with forked tongue. Then again, they might equally just swallow all of this crap. They’re a bit simple, you know, some of these London boys.
It’s a snippet that has raised a smile here at Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything, anyway. It’s just so blatant, the way that Mr. McCormack has hardly paused for breath in between trying to convince us that he’d only leave for the top flight, and then attempting to convince the Craven Cottage faithful, all 15,000 of them, that he feels he’s joined West London’s answer to Real Madrid. As players’ wage packets and egos continue to enlarge exponentially, it’s something we’ll become more and more used to. But beneath the essential comedy of it, there’s that hint of disappointment and disillusion too, that these daft lads can honestly expect people to take them seriously when they keep coming out with the same clichés, time and time again.
Mind you, the next time some swarthy Italian B international with an eye for goal and a crafty agent breezes through the door at Elland Road and declares it his ultimate heart’s desire – I’ll probably nod approvingly and believe him implicitly. And why not? We’re Leeds United, after all, and that still makes the vital difference – as Mr. Ross McCormack may yet find out to his cost.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
I always remember seeing Leeds win 5-0 at Fulham in 1968 (Jones 3, Greenhoff 2) and the voice of an exasperated showbiz luvvie in the stands calling out ‘Oh, come on, Fulham’ with the emphasis on the ‘on’. Even now, 46 years on, and after more than a decade on Premier league football, Craven Cottage is a largely passion-free zone, for all its picturesque qualities. I don’t resent Ross McBadgekisser going there – the dosh will have been better than he’s ever earned – but I do wish he’d cut out the gushing ‘I’ve always wanted to pull on the black and white shirt’ guff. .MOT.
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The man is a complete money grabbing imbecile
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Why do feel the need to insult the club to which your ex-captain has now gone? London boys a bit simple?….A cheap unnessesary dig. This pathetic article reeks of sour grapes it seems
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…and your petulant response reeks of a soiled nappy, the result of a tantrum. Job done.
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well at least we have 11 big ones stuck in the bank he can say what he wants … i am glad we have the money we will get someone else to kiss the badge i dont even look at the crap on the net about him he has gone not interested in him any more as soon as he runs out for them he will know what a balls up he has made even though he is getting more money he will not feel the passion in the crowd. the away games he will have to get use to looking for the taxi following
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You’ve written this article out of pure anger and disappointment. Fulham may well be one of the richer clubs in the Championship but no relegated club can offer what a Premier League side can. If the “money grabbing” McCormack indeed wanted money he would have settled for a Premier League side, an option which he could have pressed for. Fulham may not boast the history that Leeds United does but Fulham can safely say that it is run with sanity by intelligent people, more than can be said for Leeds United.
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I’ve heard disturbing things about how Magath is viewed – and I’m not convinced of the sanity of any club prepared to pay £11m for McCormack. As for you telling me what my emotions are – I hope your day-job isn’t a counsellor or psychiatrist. I suspect that it’s something less intellectually tasking…
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Sane people in charge?
not so long a go you had a chairman that thought prince Philip was a crack assassin and erected a statue to fulham legend Michael Jackson
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Why would we be angry that you have given our club £11million of the money you got for your failure last year? Thanks very much, very kind of you. Obviously very sane people, you lot, so can we have some more please? Couldn’t interest you in a goalkeeper, could we, Neil Warnock spoke very highly of him….
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Hi rob ,I think your being too kind to McCormack ,one season wonder, more like 3/4 season ,he did tail of a bit,but your correct in saying that when players do sign for leeds,it is most likely the biggest team they will ever sign for, so it’s down hill all the way for Ross ,but good luck to the podgy wee man,,,MOT
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Very sceptical Rob. I’m sure that Ross was a Fulham fan as a boy and as soon as he saw the Michael Jackson statue, Craven Cottage was the only place for him!
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Another factor I’ve overlooked. Damn.
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You can’t blame Ross – all that history Fulham have; European campaigns and trophies, league championship titles, global recognition, passionate support home and away………..
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Bloody hell, I forgot all that….
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You forgot to mention the £60 million or so quid they get for failing to stay in the premiership? Don’t you think that might have been an influence on RMC? Though why anyone gets paid more money than our whole club is worth for being crap and getting relegated is totally beyond me….
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Oh I hope Rossies a badge lover of Fulham, can’t wait to see him gayly smashing in all those super goals all the way to the premiership!!!!
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Hem hem.
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Don”t worry taking into account some of the crap we have signed over the last few years we tend not to believe a word of what any signing says now
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Still keep signing ’em though?
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Good article rob,though the second part of your last sentence should have read”WILL find out to his cost”. Especially when they host us.There will be no need for mr Mk greedy to cup his ears to hear what leeds fans think of his move to such a massive club.
Hope the money we got will be spent wisely.
MOT.
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I loved the “bovine ordure” bit. Sounds just right for these southern laddies. Anyway Ross Macgreedy can always telephone the Naarwich boys who left as to what to do when sitting on the bench. Doubt if he will get many more if any Scottish caps. As always a great article Rob.
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Ross McCormack scored 28 goals and you came 15th… Shows how good you guy are without him. Probably are gonna get relegated next season. Have fun!!!!!
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Remember – pride (or in your case deluded stupidity) goeth before a fall. You may yet “do a Wolves” if Felix Maggot carries on where he left off last season.
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Simple londoner with an opinion like that your name is very apt and if you think he is going to score 28 for you then you really are simple
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just reading this comment 8 months on and I think you have made a bit of a fool of your self.
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If you have to wait 8 months to call a man a fool – you’re a fool.
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a remark he made when commenting on his move to Fulham “IT TOOK LOMGER THAN I ANTICIPATED” so when you were telling all that you wanted to stay at Leeds and be part of the new set up YOU WERE LYING. you went for the money we all know that. you don’t know what loyalty is.I suggest you look it up on Wikipedia. JUDAS
as for brad saying he would have got more money in the premiership sure he would but no one was that stupid to pay 11 mill for him and if they had paid it he would have been saying
FULHAM .WHO THE F+++K IS FULHAM ££££££££££
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What I heard, he was supposed to be going to hull in a cash plus player deal, but that fell through, at that stage cellino rightly didn’t want to keep him so went around bumping up the price.
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Good bye to the whinger he had 1 good season if fulham think thats worth 11million then good luck to them because the way fulham played at the back end of last season mcC better get used to playing up front on his own if he gets double figures nxt season ile be astonished but with all that money rolling in kissing the badge they love him …idiots
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Why do leeds fans bang on about our history? All of what we won was back in the 60’s 70’s and 90’s,whats that got to do with ross staying at our club? Hes never won any of them honours with us so why should it affect his feelings towards us?as much as I hate to say it,at this moment in time fulham is a bigger club than leeds,just dropped down to the championship after 10+ years in the prem,better financially and thats the factor,money talks football,not football talks money, football is no longer a sport to most people invloved in the game,its a business and a way of surviving,unlike us fans who stay loyal,they move on to what they think is better,cracking bit of business for a change mind,if bates had been in charge ross would have gone for 1.5 mill hah! Born a white die a white,MOT
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A young person Jordan is, I’d guess, rather bereft of attention too.
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Biggest city in Europe without a top flight team.
Neighbouring city (wakefield) doesn’t even have a proffesional club.
5th in merchandising sales in whole of England. Even though we had that awful 20 regal shirt.
2nd best supported club outside the top flight (after rangers)
A history of truly world class players like bremner, charles, Giles, cooper etc..
Still the 2nd most hated club after the manure despite “not being famous anymore”
Arguably had the greatest team this islands ever seen during the revie era.
Long history of being done over by unscrupulous owners and dodgy twats in the football authorities artificially deflating our success.
Bigges catchment area for youth players in the country.
The potential at Leeds is huge. We are not playing at our natural level by a long stretch.
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An admirable summing-up, nice one. MOT
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An excellent comment, stelufc..don’t ever forget who or what you are, Jordan. If like me you had no choice but to support this club then consider it an honour.
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Get over it Leeds – you are not ‘a massive club’ any more and yet you are still stuck in the past. It is not a given that every player would choose Leeds over all others if offered a contract. Believe it or not, there are other – and dare I say – better sides to play for who show a little more humility and a great deal more creativity.
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Well, you dared say it. I notice you didn’t dare include Fulham in there…
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Actually we ARE still a massive club, you only have to look at our average attendances compared with Fulham’s last year to realise that? Fulham relied on premiership opposition to swell their crowds, we still got more with championship opposition? Says it all really?
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Don’t forget that Fulham are followed by Lilly Allen (was crying on TV during Fulhams last and only European exploit) maybe he wanted to try life in the big city
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Or more likely he fancied dipping into that 60 million plus reward for failure that is the ridiculous premiership tv rights cash.
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McCormack only wanted a team with ambition so moved to Fulham, comedy gold Ross, comedy gold
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This is brilliant – I really don’t blame him for going, after all he’s had one good season and either stood to become a legend at leeds or a one season wonder – take the money and run! Secondly as a Yorkshireman living in London for 6 years, I have to agree with the simple comment… Sorry London but anyone who risks breaking their neck running to catch a tube not understanding that there will be another in 1 minute… well they don’t exactly come across as clever…
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He was my favourite Scot to play for Leeds, Eddie Gray, and Billie Bremner aside, but to go to Fulham, is just the same as when Gary Mac left us to go to play for a club that was going to win trophies ie Coventry, and we all saw how that ended. For us to get 11 million is great business, how refreshing we actually got a decent sum for one of our players. I think Dave should play the young lad McDaid from the start, as I think he could do the same job and more that Ross did. Good luck Ross(Said through gritted teeth), just don’t expect a heroes welcome when you come back to Elland Road
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ross is way down the list of great Scottish players who have played for leeds he is not in the top ten and only just in top 15
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I’d certainly put him quite a way behind the likes of Snoddy, Arthur Graham – maybe even George McCluskey and Derek Parlane 🙂
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I would put him behind Jimmy Dunne and Archie Gibson, if you do not know who they are look them up. Just remembered the great John McCole 85 games 53 goals. McCormack 137 games 53 goals.
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Ross stayed with us through thick n thin and gave his all. He,s just got us out of the financial mire with that hefty price tag too. Good luck to you Ross and only wish you’d gone the other way to The Bhoys in Green and White. Love Leeds, Love Life. . .
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Personally happy with the fee we’ve got. Sorry he left but his choice, hardly a Leeds legend. We all know he was very much a confidence player and tended to scored goals in fits and starts. Did well last season, but the team played (and for 2014 I use that term loosely) to accommodate him. Hadn’t overly impressed in previous seasons, just my opinion.
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Why do these players kiss the badge, it only makes them look like complete idiots when they move on? Same with smith after he left.
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Great article – totally agree with all that’s said – just wish he’d gone before he signed my lads shirt at kit launch day – if I’d known I’d have walked straight past him –
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Good luck with your future endeavours young Ross with penfold as manager you may need it when Beckford left everyone was who’s gonna score 20 goals a season now step forward becchio then bang down the Norwich food chain he goes that’s it now were stuffed who’s gonna get the goals now McCormack not got in double figures then out of nowhere 28 goals . So no I’m not worried the next one is there waiting to step forward maybe poleon or smith some new signing but he is there so MOT
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Just remember when Russ is under the cosh (I.e Middlesborough and Huddersfield at home ) he usually scores. So it might be best just to ignore him.
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If McCormack had scored only half the goals he got last season we would be looking at another season back in League 1. Be thankful for his goals, £11M in the bank & the fact we are in the Championship still.
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i think ross missed more than he scored if you study the games, he s slightly overweight and not a quick / fast pacy player, i doubt if he d cut it in the prem , he is a poor mans teddy sheringham who made the rest look poor rightly so as half of them are, but take nothing away he did well and did rise when given the captains armband, i doubt that he will ever repeat what he s done this season again plus age isn t on his side, , with prob 6 decent players coming in bonding and team work im hoping leeds can get into the top six, lets hope we can bring in a pacy attacker too and winger, ive faith in cellino he s really trying and i know he will get leeds back in the prem shortly, he s not thick he knows his football 30 years in the game he will be managing the side with the hock give him two years he ll do it he knows the riches available now in the prem- he needs to get the patel shit etc out too , grabbers extroadinaire property dealers only and he knows that, 6 new young hungry players will do me and at least 6 of last years trash out, strenghen more around x mas where needed we ll be up there lads would love to see hogan, troy deeny, and aggard added we d have a good chance of going up then hogan can score plenty from midfield just where we lacked last term and the other two are goal machines with pace, come on ye whhhiiittteeess !!!!
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Especially agard, best player in division 1 last season, pacey winger that can put in a decent cross and scores more goals than most number 9s
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Just for the record: I didn’t say Ross was one of the best Scots to play for us, I said he was one of my favourite Scots
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Haha, how bitter are you lot?!!
Leeds is an extreme example of a badly run club and has been for years.
Fact of the matter is we just bought your best player to help get us out of this league. That shows ambition. What ambition have you shown?
Enjoy playing us twice next year cause that’s all your going to get.
Enjoy fighting Millwall cause that’s about the most exciting thing that happens to you each year.
Keep clinging on to the past as you don’t appear to have any future.
We’ll enjoy living in south west London, buying your best player, thinking nothing of it and being back in the prem next year!
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Not that he’s bovvered. Is he bovvered, does he SOUND bovvered?? 😉
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We are the most exciting game for every club in the championship. everyone gets their highest gate when Leeds come to town.
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Think you’ll get a truer assessment of Ross from the posts on here than anywhere else to be fair. Would say the consensus is it’s good business for Leeds, should he repeat what he’s done in 1 season out of the 4 he was here his goals could be the difference between you getting back up or not. As I stated above he’s a confidence player and if things don’t go well for him would expect a similar return to the previous seasons he was with us which were not that prolific. Regarding your comment of enjoying the twice we play you, for me Wolves (are one example of many) are a much bigger attraction than yourselves. However, despite it being midweek I’m confident we’ll sell out whatever allocation your club feels appropriate for us next March, would seriously doubt you’ll sell out at Leeds. Your other comment regarding Millwall actually say more about you than anything I could possibly come up with.
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Your knowledge of LUFC is beyond compare
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He went for the money..not to enhance his career..that’s why he signed for Fulham
But come on..11 big ones for a player that’s worth 4/5 million tops..Leeds United got the better deal that’s for sure.
Excellent bit of business by Cellino.
MOT
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My theory about the badge kissing McCormack, is that he has thrown his toys out of the pram about the useless Brian McDermott being sacked, just like nearly did on that farcical transfer deadline night, before the Huddersfield home game.
I am very happy with the 11 million for McCormack and it has to be the biggest amount of money recouped for a Leeds player since the sale of Hasselbaink and Ferdinand, but far too much time is being wasted, day-by-day, on speculating just which unknown Italian is or isn’t going to sign for Leeds next.
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“not the club I fell in love with” sirens to suggest that.
I get a feeling that Brian, nice guy that he is, was too nice and let the players get away with too much. E.g. diouf and kenny turning into right porkers. This talk of players not turning up on time for training. Players living miles away in other counties.
Brian always struck me as the sort of guy that would be best working as an assistant in a bad guy / good guy set up.
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Jb
At least we have a history, more than your club and their paedo statue
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To be honest, I don’t mind fulham. Kinda admire them for living where they do and avoiding the lure of the evil blue empire
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Just so sad, can’t even find a picture of the turncoat in a Fulham shirt, but then their manager did say he wasn’t in shape yet? Maybe we passed off Paddy Kenny to them and they haven’t realised yet?
Rather a coincidence, maybe, that we put 16 goals past a team and McCormack has gone? Okay not valid opposition, but other people are obviously very capable of putting the ball in the net, given the chance, even Hunt…..
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This is me, J Hall, other wise known as Sad Bastard, pretending to be Ross McCormack. Aren’t I clever?? Anyway, here goes…
I wanted to go, they are a better team and have much more ambition. needed to get away from the dreadful fans
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Every bodies hero last season,always got goals when played up front,the (only player we had),we get 11 mill and now he’s the bastard devil ,strange people.We should be grateful he kept a heap of s*** in the division
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An over-reaction I feel. And if you’re prepared to say bastard, why are you too prim to spell out shit?
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I understand your views on irony and lack of loyalty that it shown by today’s crop of footballers, but is there any need to have sly digs at Fulham? Just smacks slightly of annoyance, and if you are so happy at the fee received, surely you would have qualms at the club that has given you a fair price.
Personally I have nothing against Leeds, no reason to, I don’t see why your fans feel differently that is all.
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The main point of the article was to laugh at McCormack for coming out with all the usual bollocks after joining what is a much smaller club. Any perceived digs at Fulham FC, a club not remotely on my radar normally, are incidental to that.
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Rob,don’t know what to make of this one. Read a post by Gary C on your favourite forum a few weeks ago and he said Ross didn’t want to go but Cellino was going to sell him anyway and try and make him look bad. I honestly don’t think Ross would have chosen to go there but may have found a horses head on his LUFC pillowcase. Anyway good luck to him,the wages should sooth the pain and embarrassment of his new club.
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I hope Ross baby is watching the W.C tomorrow after doing extra training to get rid of his gut and see Argentina stuff the Germans.
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I mean no offence to Fulham but if they are the extent of McCormacks ambitions then it’s not up to much is it? Great business for Leeds though.
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Why worry? He’s gone. Good luck and goodbye. 11 big ones too. Just watch him drift offside all the time, kiss the badge and want an improved contract in September.
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There comes a point when we all have to finally admit the obvious fact- In general players no longer care which club they play for but are only concerned with who will pay the biggest wage. They no longer have an emotional connection with the club and as supporters who love our clubs this bitter irony is perhaps the hardest pill to swallow of all. Long gone are the days when size of the club, history, tradtion really matter any more in the eyes of the player. By and large it is this type of club that will be able to generate the capital required to seduce the modern footballer and he can then say he came because of the size of the club etc etc but we all know it’s a blatant lie because this argument falls flat on its face when players like Macormack go to Fulham and Newcastle can’t compete with the likes of Southampton because of players demands on wages. Its time for someone with some balls and more importantly, morals- came out and told us the truth for once- I wont hold me breath!! NUFC
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It seems we share an identically jaundiced view of modern day football, mate.
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I realise i’m preaching to the converted here but the thing is Rob we’re all expected to buy into this hypocricy and to some degree we all do by continuing to pay the ridiculous sums of money to watch our respective teams- it’s this money that keeps the gravy train rolling on. The saying about money being the root of all evil is true in the case of football. The more prize money at stake the more disenfranchised supporters will be from their clubs and there’s no sign of things getting any better, We’ve got Mike Ashley- one of the shrewdest business brains in the country,(also a bastard of the highest order I hasten to add) He knows there’s easy money to be made because of the vast sums being paid for T.V rights and all the sky money. It’s never been easier to exploit fans loyalty than it it today and this in a recession for goodness sake!! whilst there remains a demand for what Sky are serving up the Ross Macormack debacle will happen more and more. I stopped getting mad after Beardsley, waddle and gascoigne all fucked off- the differance was back then they left because of personal ambition and deep down we can all reluctantly accept this (very reluctantly in my case!!)- what us fans will never be able to accept is players are now going from club to club for ONE reason only- Money!! We may not want to accept it but unfortunately we all need to get used to it. Bring back the 80’s- actually maybe not as they were shite ( on the pitch lol) as well!! NUFC
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A great (long!) point, that I can only completely agree with.
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The medium sized club from west London that just happen to be owned by a dodgy Russian billionaire been the ultimate example of that.
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