Leeds United “Fans” Must Take Blame for Paddy’s QPR Penalty Miss – by Rob Atkinson


Bamford

Bamford – a victim of the boo boys

Some so-called Leeds United “fans” – mainly the type who spend most of their existences refreshing Twitter, rather than getting off their backsides to go along and support the team – have a distinctly warped idea of the meaning of the word “support”. It’s a word that should be close to the heart of any real football fan, but some of these tragic individuals appear to be utterly unfamiliar with the whole concept of getting behind a team, encouraging them, displaying some partisan fanaticism and alway, ALWAYS keeping the faith.

The Leeds United support base, for me, is divided between the match-goers – still the best bunch in the game – and the non-attendees, whose number includes a significant minority of people who attach themselves to United with the apparent purpose of delighting in any setback and doing their level best to demoralise and dishearten the players the rest of us support through thick and thin. Some of these will clearly be bogus online presences, but that doesn’t explain the sheer volume and levels of negativity out there. It’s not something I’ve heard anyone explain away, but it’s as irritating and damaging as it is inexplicable. And the damage I’m referring to is being sustained directly by the team and its prospects of success.

Football teams thrive on support – how often have you heard the saying “our crowd is worth a goal start”? In the days before social media, you didn’t need to know any more than that – it was your incentive to get along to the game, sing your heart out and support the lads. Those dear, simple days are far behind us now and while, as I stated earlier, the Leeds matchday support is second to none at home and away, the story on Twitter, Facebook etcetera, is markedly different. The LUFC hashtag on Twitter is best avoided for any supporter with a history of high blood pressure, which is bad enough – but the actual players should certainly be banned from ever even looking at such platforms. Any sports psychologist would surely agree with this position, as much of the output is as negative as it is clueless. The point is that the insidious effect of this drip, drip, drip type criticism is well known and widely acknowledged. So the concerted effect on Patrick Bamford of what he will doubtless have read on Twitter, will inevitably be less than positive.

Strikers, more than most footballers, thrive on confidence. Knock a lad’s confidence and, eventually, you will see a deterioration in performance and output. It’s not rocket science, it’s simply common sense. It may well be that some of these moaning Minnies on Twitter are too profoundly stupid to appreciate the damage they’re doing, but that won’t apply to all of them. Some of that dismal number will know exactly what they’re doing, and will enjoy the idea that they can have such an effect, something they surely can’t often experience in other areas of their lives. To them, I say – please go away, be a man united fan or whatever, just don’t darken our Twittersphere again. And I also say “j’accuse“. It’s your fault we lost at QPR today, just as surely as blame attaches to the appalling referee, so it also attaches to you. In a very real sense, you missed that penalty. Anyone who saw Bamford step up to take it would have been fearing he’d miss. The body language was not typical of confidence and self-belief, and it’s those qualities that have been drained away by these non-fans on social media.

Rant over. It’ll have no effect, of course. I’ll get the usual abusive responses, thin-skinned plonkers telling me that they have a perfect right to say what they like, to whom they like. And, sadly, it’s true. Just don’t think you can say these things in the name of Leeds United “support” – not without being picked up on it and challenged over your supposed attachment to a club that would be better off without you. But that’s not enough to deter people who seem to revel in United’s misfortunes, and who remain silent when things are going well.

If there’s one thing more than any other that can make me wish for the good old days pre-social media, it’s this. In many ways, things were better back then, although the likes of Terry Yorath and George McCluskey among others, who suffered greatly from some minority terrace barracking, might possibly beg to differ. But all that notwithstanding, there was an honesty about support in those days that is absent from large areas of the online LUFC presence. And what worries me is that this great club, which has always relied on the fanatical fervour of its support, may well pay a heavy price for the abominable attitude of some of its so-called fans.

If only we could all go back to “Marching On Together” – but seemingly, that’s just too much to ask.

69 responses to “Leeds United “Fans” Must Take Blame for Paddy’s QPR Penalty Miss – by Rob Atkinson

  1. Gerald Hobbs

    You could see the fear in BAMFORD’s face as he walked up for that – he needs help up front with him say 4 1 3 2 – Che would work

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    • I suppose there’s a case for saying he should have let someone else take it, but he’d have been slagged by the slags for that, too.

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      • Gerald Hobbs

        He is in a no win situation every match whilst there’s no alternative – great article as always

        Like

  2. You are right, I read their shite all the time. Get behind the lads

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  3. Absolutely agree, I detest with a passion the online abuse, oh and Noel Whelan on radio Leeds

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  4. Rob, fair enough: your point is well made and understood, but at least some of your ire should be directed at the Club’s management. Even before January it was obvious that the team needed strengthening and, because it hasn’t been, we are about to repeat the same heart sink emotions we experienced last season.

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    • I can multitask, ire-wise. Keeping my powder dry for now. Provoked today by the evident glee with which some “fans” pile in when the going gets tough.

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  5. An excellent and oh so true post.
    Unfortunately it happens at most clubs. Its certainly happening at West Brom. Top of the league and you just can’t believe what the moaning minnies are saying. I try to ignore them now. I use to respond but there’s no point I was only giving the morons what they wanted. They have to be ignored.

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  6. Having watched the boys since Eddie Gray was a boy, fans love a winning team, and when they struggle fans get frustrated.
    Don’s team, Howard’s team and David O’Leary.s team, were strong squads of good/great players.
    They played the way our team tries to play now.
    High press and strong defence.
    The difference was that they had quality strikers, midfield players and defenders.
    In our division it is hard to take, losing to ‘lesser’ teams, on a regular basis, with Sky TV looking forward to another collapse.
    Our shooting is shocking since Roofey was sold, along with our best defender Pontus.
    Marcelo has worked wonders with our flimsy and average squad.
    We have over performed, giving fans hope that we are going up.
    Things look very worrying just now, but every game is a new opportunity.
    We have many battle scars over the last 15/20 years, and
    have been let down continually by various unscrupulous owners.
    WE deserve better than this, and the team should earn support by their performances.
    Leeds fans love their team more than most, and try to lift the team as much as they can.
    The fans are the hero’s, who have been humiliated every season, .
    Recent performances are really hard to take, from our highly paid professional players.

    MOT!!

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  7. We can only hope that we are in a blip.
    Thankfully it’s not at the end of the season and fingers crossed we’ll get on another run of wins.

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  8. Life is LUFC

    Look even some of the best strikers have missed penalties just lately in all leagues. The goalie went the right way and got his finger tips to it, short of picking up the ball and walking into the net with it how else can you guarantee a 100% score. It’s 50-50 like it or not.
    At present Bamford is alone in terms of a striker for Leeds. SUPPORT THE LAD ALL OF US and stop hiding behind the key board dishing out your own prowess on the ball.
    In fact get behind all the team, you want to be supporting a premier team well do your bit every week at least 110% and support them properly for the whole season and stay away from bloody social media because it’s the most unsociable,cruel, abusive blight that was ever given space to exist.

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  9. First you have to get a ticket sunshine -gold member only offered 1 ticket all the time.
    Also think of people who cannot afford the high prices even if you can get a season ticket etc -see above.
    Might support the dogs instead- cheaper.
    Maybe not supported Leeds since 1967 not changing now

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  10. Joe Namath

    Clear foul in the area on Costa, early doors, not seen by Referee or Linesman despite being yards away. Wells handles with both hands seperately, somehow nothing seen by either Official. Is it bad luck? Or is there more to it? With the hideous Referee at Millwall in mind, and the mystery penalty at Fulham, how many games/points can we realistically have snatched from us before we start to use the word ‘Conspiracy’?
    In the 70s the London teams (Good old Stan Bowles, Terry Venables, Charlie George, Chopper Harris and anyone who even thought about wearing a West Ham shirt), were the ‘IN’ crowd with the media and the footballing authorities. They were like a gang of untouchables, because they were the Good Lads, and Leeds were dirty Northern Scum, who the FA/League would try to handicap wherever possible. Every time we’ve played Brentford in recent years I have felt robbed by the Officials, apart from this season’s home game which we won comfortably.
    Forty odd years on, is it fair to start using the word ‘Conspiracy’ again?

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  11. IAIN ALCORN

    I could not agree more. I am sick to death of so called fans spouting vitriol aimed at players who have given their all, as they all invariably do, since playing under our current manager. Even when things were going well, there were always idiots having a go at certain players. Looking at News Now Leeds United, there are alway articles “some Leeds fans” having a go. Over the past few years, “some Leeds fans” regularly had a go at Phillips, Cooper, Klitch, Ayling, Dallas, Alioski, Berardi, Cassila, Harrison, Costa, Bamford, even Hernandes got some stick at times, If the club listened and took notice of such garbage and got rid of these “awful players”, we would be left with only Ben White. Players are not machines and sometimes they are out of form having a go at them does nothing to help them recover it.
    That said, for 2 seasons now we create many more chances than any other team, yet score fewer goals than most, We have been crying out for a natural goAl scorer. For all Bamford leads the line well, he is not a natural, and needs someone along side who can pick up the pieces. Lets hope someone arrives

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  12. I agree with the points you make regarding how fickle our fans are at times.

    However, I feel the Bamford debate is much more than the player himself. Orta / Radz haven’t provided any signs of signing a realistic target, leaving only Patrick. Which hand in hand means Bamford not only becomes a burden on the pitch but off it too.

    The fundamental issue is, that he hasn’t got the finishing ability to be our prime outlet of goals. He played second fiddle to Roofe last year, which wasn’t enough then. So a whole season with Bamford up front will prove to be the same.

    I don’t blame Bamford solely and feel more resentment to the lack of movement from our board.

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  13. Joe Namath

    Anyone think it’s odd not to have Edmondson on the bench?
    Even if it’s just while Roberts is injured?

    Like

    • With Edmondson, the manager feels at 18 years old, he is not ready for such a demanding position.
      He watches every minute (his words) of every player in all our teams.
      We know he does!!!

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      • Joe Namath

        But with 15 mins to go, throw on a young, keen teenager with an eye for goal? Could be an inspired impact sub to replace a tired, low in confidence player who has run himself ragged again. Or go traditional 4-4-2 toward the end of the game, thus giving Bamford a much needed striking partner up front in games like today’s when we are behind. I’m not saying he should start, just be there if needed.

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      • I’m naive and innocent enough to believe Bielsa has enough football savvy to get by without the input of the essentially clueless

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  14. Gary haywood

    Hi good read but let’s start with your bit about those who go and do not, I’m a member who finds it harder and harder to get tickets and I take offence to you thinking that people who don’t or can’t attend are not fans, also the Sh.t that gets given to the boys by fans at games is sometimes not good at all so remember to give a balanced view next time I take my son who can’t understand the stuff people say about the team.

    Your point about others making him miss is also a bit strange as he chose to take it so I believe he must have felt confident to do so and if he didn’t he should be able to say no and let a team mate take it, any fan good or bad should not be blamed for that he’s a professional footballer who is payed by the club and which is payed for by fans who without them supporting the club not only by going to games but in many other ways there would not be a LUFC

    I totally agree we all need to support the team but I missed today’s match and when I heard the score and we had missed a penalty and had a player sent off and missed chance after chance (sounds familiar) I knew which players were responsible, we need a player who will put the ball into the net more often and that will give the team and fans more confidence and we c need it now, everyone wondering why this is happening, really my grandma can see it so why can the manager and the chairman see it to???

    MOT

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  15. If you look at the players who have suffered at the fingers of the “twatterati” its most interesting. Phillips was getting dogs abuse for his first two seasons as was Harrison and now Ayling is getting it once again as is Alioski. I would wager a lot of this abuse comes from either local rivals or from over the Pennines. Person ally I believe anyone should be able to speak out and debate the rights and wrongs of players inclusions and performances because if they don’t nothing changes. As for Bamford his name gets chanted regularly during games and he’s been given the benefit of the doubt on numerous occasions. So he shouldn’t be suffering from a lack of confidence but he shouldn’t have been given that penalty to take because it was clear it wasn’t going in. I blame Bielsa and Orta for this because we shouldn’t be going into games with only one recognised striker and a striker who needs a dozen chances to score one goal. He’s making me miss Michael Ricketts now actually and for gods sake how many more chances is cooper going to get? I’m not jumping on any bandwagons here as I’ve posted comments regarding Bamford,Cooper and Berardi earlier in the season and last season come to think of it. This isn’t Bamfords level and if Bielsa and Orta can’t see that then theres something sadly wrong. I didn’t go to the game today,does my opinion still count?

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  16. Richard Underhill

    Mind you don’t get splinters sitting on that fence, no one made him miss the Penalty?

    He’s had plenty of support along the way, and he’s treated no different from any miss firing striker from any team? He has to man up and do the job

    I think it’s time to give the young Edmondson? And time to bring in some new blood

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  17. Ilkleywhite

    Agree Rob when we win there silent, when we loose they gleefully come out and give their one sided rotten opinions, adding as much vitriol as they can, social media gives moaners the power to get to people, whether it’s celebrities, or footballers they think it’s their right to slag off ‘because they can’ examples recently of celebrities been targeted and hit with the most vile statements beyond personal and quite sickening, and your right about moaners in previous years and forgot poor ‘Kevin hird’ who was a half decent footballer, but subject to some dogs abuse, but, and it’s a big but, it was from our own fans and certainly not personal like today’s trolls, from other clubs, Leeds is Leeds the REAL fans support their team through thick and thin MOT ALAW

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  18. Joe Namath

    Kevin Hird used to get the abuse at Elland Road when I was young.
    Sometimes you’d see the game again on Football Special the next day.
    Many times you’d realise that he had actually played well on second viewing and he wasn’t the real problem. Unfair, pointless and ignorant abuse.
    I’ve yet to hear Bamford get abuse of any note in the ground, but the on line stuff is ridiculous, probably by children and adults who behave like children.

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  19. Another top lesson in common sense and fairness Rob. This is the only site I pay much attention to. Not all comments are to my liking but the vast majority come across as level headed knowledgeable fans. These players don’t kick the door down demanding a job and lording their brilliance as footballers. They are grateful for being given the chance to do what they live for and being rewarded handsomely. The vast majority wear the shirt with pride and give their all. I often wonder if these twatteratis would stand on the touchline and slag off some eight year olds on a Sunday morning or perhaps allow some other parent to berate their own child. Tell somebody they are useless enough and they will believe it.
    My gripe is with the board. I don’t know how to run a football club but I do know when the obvious is staring me in the face. If you score more goals than the opposition you win, it’s as simple as that. We need a real proven striker and it won’t come cheap. If we spend the money and it fails at least we tried, if we don’t and we fail there will be a lot of deeply felt anger and hurt. Much of this will be totally misdirected. Anyway, it’s not over by a long shot and these guys on that pitch will give their all I’m sure of that.MOT till the end.

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    • I was provoked to write the piece by the undisguised glee with which some alleged “fans” greeted the defeat, as they have other defeats or setbacks. It baffles and enrages me.

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      • These bloggers are looking for hits with headlines like:-
        “Leeds Fans slam player”.
        “get this player out of our club”
        “Fans rip into disgraceful performance”
        etc.
        A few fans criticise a player or players.
        Often a knee-jerk after a game.
        “Leeds move for this player”
        “Leeds lose out on this player”.
        “Leeds lose out to rival”.
        These headlines stoke disappointment, as most of the players in question are not even targets.
        It drives you mad!!
        And SKY!!
        Looking for another collapse.
        They have said very little about the crooks at Derby, but we got spy gate for weeks and months!!

        The owner let us, and the team down last January, and cost us promotion, as we ran out of players.
        Will they do the same this January??
        I fear we will lose Marcelo, and be back to square one.

        MOT!

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  20. Mike Durham

    I think maybe it’s time we realised that we’re just not good enough to overcome the 30-point deduction that has apparently been levied upon us this season.
    I am beyond despair at the blatant cheating being metered out by yet more incompetent/biased/corrupt officials who insist on rendering our efforts on the field increasingly futile.we cannot play against 14 every time we step out on the pitch.
    At least when they deducted us 15 points they had the decency ( my arse! )
    to let us know about it.

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    • Joe Namath

      Well said. I agree. My comment further up the page confirms my opinion.
      If we had VAR we would be 10 points clear.

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      • I’ve said it on many occasions, VAR for Leeds United ASAP – it’s time to sort out these corrupt officials, once & for all

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      • The more I see of VAR, the less impressed I get. It’s a non-starter without consistent application, and that’s simply not happening. Check out Man City’s saved penalty at Sheff Utd last night – clear encroachment, AND the keeper was a yard off his line. On other occasions, VAR has ordered a retake, but not this time. It’s a mess.

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      • The referee took up a bad position, but the lineman had a clear view!!

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  21. Wise old Owl

    It is a good article and I too have noticed Bamfords lack of confidence in recent games but what is also worrying is that he now appears to be completely knackered. Which raises the question is the team now overtrained and is this the reason for our slump. Hopefully today’s performance will inject a sense of urgency into our January recruitment drive.

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  22. It is easy to blame anyone when things don’t go well.
    We have a wide following with many different views , some get tickets, some don’t and some can’t go for different reasons.
    Social media allows anyone to express a view , sensible or not.
    The fans, players and management can chose what to review.
    The fundamentals remain the same. When the owner invests in quality management and players we are successful, if not then we struggle.
    Any fan can see one striker in a squad is unacceptable and no cover in other key positions , CB,LB, CAM.
    Next 2 weeks determine whether the owner is a legend or a failure.

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  23. A few seasons back Chris Wood was hailed in one online post as “the worst striker Leeds have ever had”. I responded and said what I believed which was that he looked like a 20 goal a season striker if only he had a bit more confidence. I took no end of stick and stopped commenting on online posts , interesting that the following season Wood notched more than 20 goals and is still knocking them in now.
    I believe the same applies to Bamford but also think he could do with another striker to share the burden with which is what the club are trying to do in this transfer window.
    This is still a decent team with every chance of being promoted, the fine margins are going against them at present but that will change and they will soon start winning again.
    MOT.

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  24. Had to make a last comment. It’s a worry, it’s a concern and the only ones in the club that can make this situation better is the board. There is more than enough time to put it right. Better hitting a drop in form now than in two months time.
    Also, and this applies to me as well, lay off the media, put it to bed until match day and I reckon your stress levels will drop dramatically

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  25. I fully agree that the team needs the fans support, however, that includes being fair to players who may be more deserving of a starting place than others who are continually not performing. In addition the support of Leeds fans is beyond that received by any other club in the country, and is hard to question..
    In expressing an opinion that “changes” to the team are required, this is never intended as a personal insult to any player, but without fans stating their opinion how can they try influence change, which they are entitled to do.
    The issue with Bamford is not do do with his undoubted work rate, hold up play, or general attitude, …. is simply reflects that despite managing to get into numerous goal scoring positions, he simply is NOT CAPABLE OF FINISHING in front of goal.This is nothing to do with him leading the line alone, as he is getting the chances, it is that he fails to convert the chances into goals.
    My opinion is that with his work rate in winning the ball, often deep in his own half, and his good hold up skills when the ball is played into him, could make him far more effective as a “number 10”, but is NOT a predatory striker in the six yard box. Leeds MUST have a better finisher for this position.
    A further question needs to be asked is why does Bamford have to play in such a deep role to win balls in midfield, when this is the responsibility of others ( ie, the very mediocre Clitch ). Bielsa has to accept some responsibility for this, as he clearly feels this is an expectation of his one and only striker.
    In summary Bamford gives 100% effort, but is NOT a quality poacher who will get 20+ goals a season. …. Its similar to a situation where a center back may have great distribution and ball carrying skills, but simply can not defend.

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    • I’m afraid that to say of Bamford that he cannot finish is factually incorrect and patently bollocks.

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    • Agree 100% JTC, I do like Bamford but he’s not a six yard box striker and the way the team play doesn’t suit his style. He was different at boro but their style of play was different also and if his style suited Leeds he’d be past the 30 mark this season. I still don’t think we’ll go up with Radz owning the club as he wouldn’t be able to sustain premier league football on his own so if no one comes in to buy the club or invest we’ll be given the illusion of a promotion attempt just like last season. Perhaps this is why the situation on the pitch has been allowed to continue.

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  26. Bamford is a confidence player , we’ve all seen them down the years and paddy is definitely in that bracket.. what gets me is that he had worked hard to silence the boo boys and he’d finally got them off his back when he was substituted at 3-0 against Cardiff , he walked off to a standing ovation.. I bet bielsa wishes he had kept him on that game because if he had we would have won and our confidence as a team would have gone further.
    Instead he danced to arsenal’s tune and brought Eddie on and the rest is history.. you could tell by his press conference this week that bielsa was pissed off with arsenal and quite rightly so , but since that day we’ve looked nervous and disjointed and all that is not down to one man , although he is carrying the can

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  27. steve Emsley Western Australia

    Any player that pulls on that LUFC shirt should be fully supported and backed to the hilt. All football players are just like the rest of us they want to do well and thus feel good about their day at the office. Some have more skills and are quicker than others on the pitch just like or work mates have different skills than each of us. I don’t do a lot of the social media and that’s because I agree with only one thing, a certain Mr Fart pants always says too much fake news on them medias.
    keep the faith our luck will change and we will keep MOT

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  28. andrew hinks

    after another capital city debacle ( the worst ever?), what has become so obvious to me & has been learned/noted/observed by all opposition coaches in Marcelo’s second season is that the likes of klich, costa ,harrison (last season!) bamford & other under performing players over a few games, they need resting/replacing/rotating to get their hunger/desire back as all that is constantly happening is their is NO competition for places anymore at Leeds under marcelo especially when you get reckless moments like kalvins & 3 game bans /suspensions etc so you get ‘comfy’ players & the injuries which happen @ ALL clubs during a 46 game gruelling championship campaign.

    this applies more so probably in the trudging relentlessness than any other league IMO plus we are so easy to second guess as their is NO PLAN B under marcelo!

    whilst its great when we take the lead, the flip side is once we go behind we’ve had it hence all the defeats being of a similar scoreline & unfold in the most repetitive way plus the squad size/depth is ridiculous just look @ the bench yesterday no Berardi he’s injured now so cooper who has been awful since his return from injury is content his place is safe etc etc plus playing Dallas @ left back is plain silly when you have Alioski fit & available! (weve been here before i recall!)

    im afraid radz’,kinnear & orta have not learned from last season IMO & gambled on the magic of marcelo being enough to get us up on the cheap with a far weaker squad than last IMO?

    sorry if it was a four month season we’d be up but its 9 fervent months of hard football & now we are scurrying around trying to find a striker to compete with paddy up top, its too late (again!) & after the horse has bolted im afraid!!

    i now fully expect the implosion of a tumble down the table & god forbid don’t end up in the play-offs so i welcome 7th spot now & our return to the coveted, comfortable position of 15th which most of these players are only worth in achievement from there abilities!

    thanks marcelo for the two seasons in the sun but i think i really was quite happy & content when we were shite!

    the answer moving forward a combination of marcelo’s football & nigel pearson’s nous now that ould work….wouldnt it ? probably not as… it’s Leeds of course!

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  29. When the season began at Bristol I was pleasantly surprised at how the boys started.
    I was worried that losing Pontus & Roofey, and our disappointing recruiting would cost us dear!
    According to Marcelo, this week, we brought in £30 million pounds, to bring us under the fair play limits.
    We moved out 31 players minus Buoy, who is still resting and looking for a club, and O’Kane who was recovering from a terrible leg break.
    Under Marcelo we play one up front, who has to do battle and hold the ball up, and score when he can!!
    Eddie was never that man.
    He was a last minute (sounds familiar) recruit.Both Roofey & Pat are great at holding the ball, and Roofey is a great finisher with either foot, or head!
    Pat has a left foot and is OK in the air.
    we knew that with our flimsy squad that injuries and suspensions would kill us as the season progressed.
    Where I say ‘we’ I mean the fans.
    The club have learnt nothing from last season, and the squad is even weaker this time around.
    Our bench is composed of 2 or 3 players who Marcelo will never use. except maybe the last few minutes.
    Just now we have one player for each position, and end up with Berardi at centre back and Dallas in midfield!!
    We know that Forshaw may not play much at all, and Tyler in injury prone. ‘We’ know this.
    We ‘know’ Kiko may well miss enough games to lose us promotion, and we only have young and inexperienced lads to replace him.
    Oh I forgot Helda Costa – is he worth the money we would pay?? No.

    MOT!

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  30. LIFE is LUFC

    Reading some of these comments it’s more like being at a bloody wake.
    Come on some of you lift your heads up……you say it often enough to the players.
    This is Leeds United, we all dream of the promised land. But what is this promised land we all dream of. A bloody nightmare if the truth be told but we the fans and them the players want it so we all need to be singing the same song together regardless of the bad days on the pitch. Those that have gone are gone it does no good “if only” this is how it is, this is the real world.
    Smile, sing, wave your scarves no matter where you are, at the match or some other venue, your own lounge, just let those lads know you are with them in mind as well as in sight.
    For goodness sake the world has not come to an end. A real supporter is there through it all…….TOGETHER UNTIL THE WORLD STOPS GOING ROUND. So come on get your heads up.
    Now that is a dressing room mid match kick up the bum. MOT

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  31. Thinlizzywhite

    Sorry Rob, regardless of your argument we need a striker and Bamford is not it. Never was and won’t be. Great, we meet ffp regs. But poor recruitment means we will fail to get automatic promotion again.
    To blame the fans, whether they be at matches or not, on twitter or not (me-not) is a cheap shot.

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    • Slightly defensive there, are you feeling this might be aimed partly at you? I’m talking about the concerted social media slagging off of a lad who needs his confidence boosting as opposed to destroying. The people who do that then whinge about bad results before renewing their tirade against their chosen whipping boy. It stinks – and it’s certainly not support.

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  32. andrew hinks

    Andy hinks-Kent white since 1969 ceased going after rochdale away in 2014 under the scheister bates & filling his Monaco yacht fund !

    the facts –
    biggest gate/ receipt monies in the division, highest ticket prices, executive boxes filled these last two seasons, sell off saleable players 30 million plus,
    hide behind THE FFP as an excuse (we aint spent no real money peeps work it out over the last 3 years..jeez!!!)
    =
    NO INVESTMENT IN FIRST TEAM SQUAD (ONLY IN MARCELO & HIS STAFFS WAGES -RIGHTLY OF COURSE!)
    LOAN DEALS TO PLUG HOLES-AN OWNERS DELIGHT/DREAM IN HAVING MARCELO ONLY DESIRING A SMALL SQUAD!!

    USE KINNEAR AS THE LATEST SPIN DOCTOR TO FLEECE THE FANS POCKETS WITH FINANCIAL CLAP TRAP/BULLSHIT!

    ive seen the best footie played in the last season & half under marcelo since god knows when BUT the man needs to be given a couple of quality players even if he doesnt ask for them radz/spin/orta…… ITS CALLED AMBITION! when your on top not hope the miracle worker Marcelo can give you the cheapo lift off you desire to the prem -im afraid even he cant turn water into wine ffs!

    its called having a decent squad to compete to get /attain promotion under the best coach we’ve ever had IMO?

    i feel for marcelo as he got shafted by orta over eddie’s recall!

    he should be banging the door down but its not his way of course!

    MOT

    one day maybe?

    Like

    • Sad but true Andy!
      Marcelo has walked out a time or two, but I am sure he will stick it out to the end of the season.
      GFH were fun too!!
      ALL our recent crappy owners left with their pockets full!
      This will be no different!
      We expected 18 senior players in the squad, because that is what you need.
      Instead, with injuries, which every team gets, we fill our bench with Berardi, Alioski, and 3/4 young lads, for experience!!
      We have no options in midfield, or upfront, and no centre back to bring on if required.
      Kalvin is out for 4 games!!
      Will we move one of the ONLY TWO experienced centre backs into midfield,
      and play 5’8″ Berardi at Centre back??
      When Kiko is punished, we don’t have an experienced goalkeeper to fill in for 6 to 8 games!

      MOT!!
      Together???

      Like

  33. andrew hinks

    to all fellow sufferers

    its sickening to watch the debacle unfold all over again i’m afraid, no matter how you dress it up, it all comes down to sensible investment, (none!) proper planning (none especially after last seasons post xmas & near miss!)
    radz-spin- orta rabbits in the headlights again “er whats ian rush doing now victor?…. could we get him in for cover!!!!

    just because radz smiles in the right places & gleams his white teeth at the proper or apt time now & again means nowt!

    just another chairman hoodwinking the faithful behind a wonderful coach thats’ all?

    t’ll soon be time for again for the likes of hockaday et al after he’s banked all your money folks with his smoke & mirrors leadership??!

    if Marcelo wasn’t at the helm here this last season & a half we would have settled again in our regular spot of 13th -15th with these players so let’s not delude ourselves we are in 2nd spot with the weakest,thinnest & fragile squad ever probably to have attained the position in recent years?

    ive said enough just watch the farce (again) unfold to sky’s delight as the fossils who parade as pundits make their banal comments queue up to gloat!!

    thanks Marcelo ill never forget what great football you have brought back to ER!!….if only radz… if only!!

    memories forever of a great football institution being raped once again !

    MOT

    Like

  34. king sniffer

    Agree whole heartedly Rob.

    It has always been a major bone of contention with me, but more so of “fans” who attend matches and boo and criticise from the stands; if it’s going badly, just shut up. Do not make things worse, and actually have a negative impact on the team you “support”.

    If you find yourselves unable to do this, please don a red shirt and cross the Pennines to impart your method of support elsewhere; you are neither needed nor wanted here.

    MOT

    Like

    • Spot on, Sniffer. The people reacting badly to this piece – and predictably, these are mainly vocal Twitterers – are the ones who are guilty of the kind of destructive attacks I’ve seen all too much of on social media. The matchgoing fans, by and large, have been superb. But some of the cyber stuff is an embarrassment to all Leeds fans. I’ve seen Bamford called a “nonce”, for Christ’s sake 😡

      Like

  35. andrew hinks

    its quite simple really dont do social media, i dont never have or will…. hence retaining my brain cells, its as my old rsm (regimental sergeant major!) put it –
    “you can’t educate pork!”
    thats what you get mostly with these snide cosy attacks on players, get behind paddy as he’s all we’ve got up top folks !

    he doesnt mean to miss chances FFS!

    its the fault of radz/spin & orta NOT the players in situ!

    having worked in & around security in high places i can assure you there’s plenty of pork about sadly!

    WBA lost last night so its not just LUFC imploding we are still in there but god knows what paddy must be feeling going into the millwall game?

    get behind him & the lads they are doing their best which there abilities allow thanks to marcelo & his staff!

    the days of hock & co could be back sooner than you think if you don’t?

    we move on radz et al!

    c’mon Leeds! we love you even with the pain ooh the pain !!

    MOT

    Like

  36. Wow Rob, what a response to your post. I agree with your comments. I do believe though the negative comments on social media are mainly from kids who have not been brought up right by parents who have never grown up themselves. Even though I reckon they are a tiny minority I realise the huge impact they have .I wish something could be done to stop newsnow from selecting the crap they write on their pathetic twitter/ facebook accounts and make it look like they speak for the majority.If it’s any consolation newsnow target other clubs as well that are having a blip.
    As for Mr Bamford I wish him nothing but the best for this season and many more to come. The support he gets at the matches is incredible especially this season.
    Maybe with your influence a boycott on newsnow could be started. F…k newsnow f…k newsnow.keep up the great work. Mot.

    Like

    • You cannot boycott the truth.
      We have a wafer thin squad, with no options on the bench to improve things.
      We have one player for each position, and without Kalvin for 3 games, there is no one to replace him!
      Kiko may well be banned soon for 6/8games, and we don’t have an experienced replacement.
      I love Patrick too, but his finishing is terrible most of the time.

      We are behind the team in every game, even though they are
      very poor, at shooting, crossing and playing the ‘killer ball’.
      Don’t confuse this with the rants on the blogs.
      Even with those, the headline is far worse than the fans comments.
      “radio leeds with johnny Buchan, popey and noel about 40 mins before kickoff on Saturday.
      Johnny Buchan then said ‘guys….i’ve been watching the lads doing shooting practice and virtually none have gone in!’
      So all 3 watched and it must have been 6 or 7 shots in from when they all watched before one hit the net?!?
      They say ‘train as you play’ and boy, do we do that!”
      Those were comments from my nephew, who also loves the boys, but cannot lie to himself!
      I have just received a marketing e-mail from LU.
      Urging us to buy a ticket and get behind the boys against Millwall.
      It is all one way traffic, as we are still waiting for them to get their act together!!
      The truth won’t set us free, however.LOL

      Like

      • The article made it very clear that I’m not confusing the matchgoing support (unsurpassed anywhere) with the online rants (laughably yet destructively embarrassing).

        Like

      • Your article was on the money Rob!
        But some fans see the truth as sign of betrayal to the club.
        Indeed, owners in recent times, have exploited the fans love of the club, by putting more onus on the fans to bring success, than the poor squads they assemble.
        The fans and the coaching staff, have given everything, but
        you cannot make average players great.
        You can only improve them.
        Quality players can finish in most situations, particularly if their team creates 15/20 chances each game!
        We dominate games but are woeful in the final third.
        Almost like a Circus act that entertains, but produces no end product.
        We lack both quality and quantity.
        Having seen this all before, we are more hardened to failure, but it still hurts every time.
        Marcelo is our ‘Henry Higgins’ trying to make an average team good.
        Promotion is our only goal Radz – or is it?

        Like

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