Let me say right from the start – Dominic Matteo is a Leeds United hero. He’s earned that status, as have a select few before and since his time at Elland Road, by virtue of one historic, iconic moment. When Matteo rose at the near post to head home a corner into Milan’s net at the legendary San Siro, he sealed his place in Leeds United folklore – a place cemented by his subsequent performances in the white shirt. Yes, Dom Matteo is a bona fide Leeds hero. But even heroes are not immune from criticism.
Peter Lorimer could doubtless vouch for that, if he was of a mind to. His place in United’s pantheon of greats is a far more elevated and glittering one than even San Siro hero Matteo’s. Lorimer made his debut at the tender age of 15 and went on to forge a fearsome reputation as the rocket-shot weapon in the Leeds locker. Lash, they called him, and legend had it that goalkeepers would dive out of the way of one of his 90 mph strikes, rather than attempt a save and thereby risk injury or worse. Lorimer played a massive part in the golden era of Super Leeds; his “legend” status was surely indisputable.
Except, of course, he’s viewed very differently these days. Peter Lorimer is guilty, in the eyes of many Leeds fans, of selling his soul to the devil, in the not-so-cuddly guise of Wicked Uncle Ken Bates. That such a sparkling reputation as Lorimer’s could be so sullied should be a warning, surely, to lesser lights – that treachery and duplicity will not be tolerated by Leeds fans, no matter what your achievements are. It’s a warning that Dom Matteo, with his peroration in the paper that hates Leeds United more than any other gutter rag you could name, appears to have failed to heed.
In writing for the Mirror – a toilet tissue of a so-called “newspaper” – Matteo risks putting himself outside of the Leeds United family. He risks becoming a pariah – which is how some now see the iconic “Lash” Lorimer. The Mirror is not the only scandal rag currently to have a pop at Leeds – the lamentable Mail, often known as the Daily Heil by those with the inside track on editorial politics, has also had a go. It’s not too surprising; the gin-raddled hacks who staff these chip-wrappers-in-waiting are well aware that bad news about United sells copies among the cluelessly-ignorant, Leeds-hating hoi polloi.
But the Mail are just winging it; the Mirror have managed to lure the presumably unwary Dom Matteo, a contemporary Leeds hero, over to their dark and loathsome operation. It’s not a particularly wise move on the part of Matteo, recently sacked by Leeds – though he would surely claim this has had nothing whatsoever to do with his outburst in the most degraded of all gutter rags, the Sun not excepted. Had wiser counsel prevailed, Dom may well have stuck to disseminating his wisdom through the pages of the Yorkshire Evening Post, which benefits from both a more enlightened editorial stance and a readership to match. At least that way, his glowing reputation among Leeds fans would not stand at risk of becoming tarnished – as it does today.
It’s to be hoped that Matteo was well paid for his intemperate contribution in the slimy pages of the Mirror. Exactly how much it’s been worth to him, we’re likely to be left to guess. Thirty pieces of silver, perhaps? It’s a tad out-dated and probably not all that inflation-proof – but in the circumstances, it does seem appropriate.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Nothing wrong with either Lorimer nor Matteo where a few articles change nothing-unless you’re one of the loons on ‘waccoe’. Doms tweeted that he’s outraged with the headline but he’s entitled to an opinion without the abuse.Its a pity LUST cant champion that virtue given they ‘represent’ 9k Leeds fans, but division and using phrases like ’30 pieces of silver’ seems to sit well with our independent spokesgroups.
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The type who read the Mirror rarely look too far beyond the headline and Matteo should, at least, have been more circumspect in his choice of outlet – the Mirror are famous Leeds-haters and always impart a negative spin. Matteo’s been a bit daft about this and, recently sacked by the club, he’s wide open to accusations of sour grapes.
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Firstly, for all those who can’t forgive the Lash, please forgive my moniker. It difficult to stick with my childhood hero given his more recent disgraces but nostalgia prevails.
More importantly, however bilious it is re all thing Leeds, I have to take issue with categorising The Mirror as worse than The Sun or the Mail. Hillsborough and Mosley Blackshirts.
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I accept that both Sun and Mail have a rap sheet in a broader sense, worse than that of the Mirror. But from a Leeds United point of view – which is the blinkered and one-eyed perspective of this blog – the Mirror are every bit as bad, probably worse.
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Well in non footballing stuff, yeah the mirror Is better. But in terms of Leeds its one of the worst, alongside the Manchester guardian and the daily heil.
Only papers that seem fair on Leeds are the torygraph and the independent.
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Firstly may I say that I am no lover or the tabloids.The Mirror and I have history But,just maybe Dom will give a more balanced view in the Mirror. Just think of it as Dom the trojan horse.rather than the defector.
.
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Check out that headline though. Some Trojan Horse.
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So what did Matteo actually say in the Mirror? What I have read is the article in today’s Mail on Sunday, a blackshirt rag with a history of hatred of Leeds United. It relies heavily on the testimony of one Bill Fotherby, who, if I’m not mistaken, was on the board that invited Ridsdale to join with such catastrophic consequences. The article calls Leeds ‘Britain’s most dysfunctional club’, which will be news to followers of Rangers, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Hearts, Cardiff and other basket-cases. And what about M*n United? They are owned by a family that has no interest in ‘soccer’ whatsoever, and who burdened it with gargantuan debt, as well as allowing the outgoing manager to pick his successor on the basis of Glaswegian sentimentality (with predictable and pleasurable results, but not before he paid Ā£28m for Marouane Fellaini!). Now that’s what I call dysfunctional.
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Coventry and Wimbledon playing in another city over a hundred miles away too.
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It’s a sad reflection on life but sadly the day’s of the likes of loyal one club players like Steven Gerrard MBE have gone and Leeds have had their share of players like him and now in their place we have a bunch of mercenaries who ride into town go through the motions pick up the lucre and drift off to pastures new for another pay-day, it just makes sad but hey ho we live in hope, marching on together with Massimo’s legions.
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Steven Gerrard is a ‘loyal’ one-club player only due to death threats made when he was about to accept the huge wedge offered him by Abramovich.
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I don’t think he paid any attention to the (death) threats as that is part and parcel of any footballers moves, otherwise Rooney & a host of other mercenaries would never have moved.
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Hi Rob having just returned to UK after two weeks break in croatia , I find the same negative press that I left nothing new there then. But the spiel I read this morning via news now from the shudder ….. Well I have said it before it is not fit for the nail in my old nans karsie. We shouldn’t really let it wind us up , but it does. However lets look on the positives other than the little Scottish liar we used to plaud as one of the few, didn’t want to travel to Italy because he was ill , poor excuse and total boo lax, Frickin cry baby. Still I am being negative, but hey new blood in , more on way in, all youth teams positive wins , with two hat tricks, second string seniors winning. ON ON ON so looking forward to new season and let’s hope more ups and downs……. The signing of Bianchi is a taliman for me, my fav brand of push bike is Bianchi this is a good omen ….. Riding on together ha MOT
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Nuts as ever and all the more refreshing for it š Thanks, Sniffers – MOT
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Itssssss johnyyyyyyyyyy I’m back I’m gonna huff I’m gonna puff and I’m gonna blow your house down ….. Feck em all man who are we WE ARE LEEDS and we stick together ….. It’s simple Rob everyone hates us and they are so scared we are back the future is white
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Barkeep? A pint of what Mr Shorts is having, please, and make it snappy. Thank you my good man…
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Wouldn’t even wipe my arse with that paper
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Its not just Dom that’s having a go Rob , what about that other so called Leeds Blog Lee Chapmans Sofa ?? they are just dying for MC to fail , so they can say we told you so . The last Blog from Steve Clarke “say something different ” was the biggest load of rubbish even that site has written . Thank goodness for your Blog Rob , a beacon of reason in the murky world of social media lol MOT
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Thanks mate lol – MOT
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Not true at all. I myself have written recently for LCS and it’s not a case of wanting Cellino to fail at all, it’s about being sceptical of owners promises after a decade of utter bollocks at Elland Road.
Just look how guillible fans got into bed straight away with GFH just because they weren’t Ken Bates. The rest is history as they say, and it seems that Cellino himself is having to pay the fiscal price of GFH borrowing from GFH amongst other dodgy activity.
You might not like what LCS says, it’s about opinion not winning a popularity contest, but at least recognise their right to be sceptical
I would love to be wrong about Cellino, only time will tell, but now I’m a sceptic NOT anti-Cellino
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Suprised you also didnt mention the rank hypocracy in that daily heil online article too rob.
They’ve managed to get fotherby in as a rent a gob talking about mccormack saying “you dont sell your best players”. This being the same fotherby that decided to feather his own nest after we won the title by flogging batty, Wallace & mccallister.
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I didn’t read it mate – I knew what it would be like. Doesn’t surprise me at all. Hypocrisy and bigotry have been the currency of the Heil since Day One.
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Living in Thailand, I can’t read the Daily Heil, as it’s been blocked by the military junta.
I’m certainly fed up with the ‘red tops’ and their constant ‘sniping’ at LUFC and don’t get me started on that little Forest supporting turd at The Grauniad.
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Thats suprising as the mail is one of two papers over here that would probably quite like us to be ruled by a military junta
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I would second patayya white in saying it is a breath of fresh air to read your blogs Rob, despite our differing views on Grayson I always find your articles insightful, well reasoned and often hilarious, especially when compared with ones such as the strangely titled Lee Chapman’s Sofa.
I don’t bother reading that any more but then I wouldn’t read any of the papers mentioned above either as I have far too much respect for my eyes.
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I think I’m right in saying that the Sofa allusion dates back to the famous TV interview with McAllister, Batty, Chapman and some French reserve player, on a big, overstuffed sofa chez Leee, just after we’d won the title in ’92. Thanks for the kind words, man – MOT
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Yeah that site is overly negative. But I also find the cellino can do no wrong fanbois on the yep forums annoying too.
Robs blog has the balance right, optimistic about the new regime, because he just can’t possibly be as bad as krasner/bates/gfh. But willing to take him to task when he does stuff really wrong – like ordering mcdermott back from his mothers death bed.
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Thanks for that Ste
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You know, there is an answer to this problem…Don’t read the national papers…Its that simple. We are served locally by The Yorkshire Post and the Yorkshire Evening Post, and online there are a million and one football related sites, so really, who needs the gutter press? Unless of course you are desperate to hear about Katie Price, Peter Andre and The Royal Family?
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Do you know what disappointed me most was the fact that the article was an exclusive by Anthony Clavane. A huge Leeds fan??
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At least he didn’t write the utter turd rag the daily mail shat out about the damned united recently!
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I’ve never bought this Matteo legend business. One f###ing great goal, even if was in the San Siro, doesn’t a legend make IMHO. Peter Lorimer was the best attacking winger / midfielder that the club has ever seen and is ever likely to see – putting in 779 appearances and scoring 255 goals, now THAT is the stuff of Legend. Lorimer – Legend. Forevermore. Amen. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply wrong. MOT
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Personally I never thought of matteo as a leeds legend, therefore I don’t care less what he thinks or says. And being of a certain age know from experience people are either leeds fans or haters. No common ground where leeds are concerned. That’s why I say let him earn his pound of flesh. If people are thick enough to read these papers they are thick enough to believe the shit written in them.
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What does it matter if an ex-player writes for the Mirror?
There’s something wrong with you fella.
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If you need to ask the question, there’s something wrong with you. You don’t, as they say, know yer history.
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Story over nothing and as typical an over reaction by fans!
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The article is about the unwisdom of a Leeds United hero cooperating with such a palpably anti-Leeds rag. If you don’t get that, I’m sorry for you and I can only suggest you stick to blogs of one syllable.
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Leave Dom well alone…he is Leeds, Legend or not he deserves the benefit of the doubt,.I trust him more than the latest installment of owner…
All new Leeds wiped the floor with Guiseley yesterday afternoon.
judge
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Little room for doubt when a “Legend” takes the Mirror’s grubby money.
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Hadn’t even read the article until I read your blog, so I went off & found it. Not really worth the effort. However. as usual, there is humour to be found in everything. The article has Dom saying that Cellino “hasn’t got a good track record with mangers”, so I’m assuming Christmas will be cancelled at LUFC this year.
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I didn’t mind SOME of Dom’s utterings in the YEP, but I was always uneasy about a self-confessed gambling addict’s columns including odds available at an online bookmaker for various matches.
Mercifully in Melbourne we are spared the trashy tits-and-bingo brigade, although Rupert’s right wing offering is only marginally superior.
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Sorry Rob, but while you might represent the outsider’s view of the average Leeds Utd fan (‘all the world’s against us’), I don’t believe that most Leeds fans think every tabloid hack hack has a vendetta against us. Matteo has every right to earn a living. And if by any chance the Mirror is anti-Leeds, it’s going to be less so now, isn’t it.
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Well if a headline like “Leeds Are a Laughing Stock and Will Probably Get Relegated” make you feel the Mirror is warming to us, you clearly have a different perspective to mine!
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Ooh nice blog rob-love your blog rob….Your going to have to change your name to Steve Wright if your not careful. MOT.
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It’s “you’re”….
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well look on the possible bright side Rob, Dom was a good servant to Leeds United and maybe his articles will show a more balanced press for the club, that’s assuming he didnt write the article that you refer to above..did he?
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I don’t think he wrote it, but for me it’s a grave mistake to cooperate with a rag that has such a viciously anti-Leeds agenda – just look at the headline (which I believe has left Dom pissed-off). He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon!
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