Review of 2009/10 – Part 1 – Our Time at Last?
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Review of 2009/10 – Part 1 – Our time at last? Simon Grayson‟s impact as Leeds United manager in the five months since his appointment in December 2008 had led to great expectations as the club prepared for its third season in League One. Everyone acknowledged that Leeds was a club playing beneath its „true level‟, with a massive following and stabilised finances at last; the outfits relegated from the Championship, Norwich, Charlton and Southampton, were big names with recent Premiership experience, but surely, surely, this would be the year that United took the first Fabian Delph after his big money move to Villa Park steps back up the football ladder. For the long-suffering and passionate supporters of the club, promotion was the minimum requirement: it was a case of now or never. In that respect, the situation was uncannily similar to 1989, indeed almost a carbon copy, with everyone then expecting Howard Wilkinson to lead the Whites out of the Second Division wilderness and back into Division One. On the eve of the new season, Simon Grayson manager spoke of his promotion hopes: “We don‟t want another season in League One and I‟m well aware of that. I don‟t need to tell the players either... They don‟t want to play in this division for much longer. “My mind has to be focused, as it has been since I came in. I followed the club through thick and thin for years, but I‟m here now to be a successful manager – one who can take them back into the Championship. That has to be the target. It‟s the level of expectancy we put on ourselves... The bottom line is that we have to get promoted, finishing in the top two or going up as champions if we can. If we have to go through the Play Offs, then so be it.” The summer‟s transfer speculation chiefly related to who would be departing Elland Road. The overtures for gifted midfielder Fabian Delph eventually proved irresistible; after months of speculation, United accepted a bid from Aston Villa, an initial fee of £6m, potentially rising to www.mightyleeds.co.uk - Review of 2009/10 Part 1 – Our time at last? 1 £7.5m. Delph was off for pastures new. But, crucially, Jermaine Beckford was not. The striker was in the final year of a contract signed in 2007 and jealously coveted by a number of clubs. In May, Beckford rejected the offer of a new three-year deal and was transfer listed. Chief Executive Shaun Harvey: “As a policy we will always look to retain our most effective players, however we will only do so within the financial parameters that we believe are appropriate. The offer we have made to Jermaine is what we believe to be a very good offer, but he has exercised his right to turn it down. On the basis that he has 12 months remaining on his current contract and could leave on a free transfer next summer, we feel we must consider any offers that are forthcoming for him.” Middlesbrough, Coventry, Sheffield United, Newcastle United and Barnsley were said to be interested, but no one matched the rumoured asking price of £2.5m; on 20 July, Ken Bates announced that Beckford would be staying at Elland Road. “I‟ve discussed the situation with Simon and we‟ve taken Jermaine off the transfer list. We‟re quite happy to keep him, he‟s under contract until the end of the season, and we‟re looking forward to him playing his part in getting us promoted this season. Hopefully he will score another 34 goals this season!” The contracts of Jonathan Douglas, David Lucas and long-serving Frazer Richardson were not renewed and they were allowed to move on, the first two joining Swindon and the latter Charlton; Peter Sweeney‟s contract was cancelled by mutual consent and he signed for Grimsby. Promising young defender Luke Garbutt was poached by Everton, with the Professional Football Negotiating and Former captain Frazer Richardson left for Charlton after almost a decade at the club Consultative Committee fixing the fee at an initial £600,000, with add ons taking the package up to a possible £1.5m. Grayson signed a number of reinforcements: Northampton right-back Jason Crowe and 32-year-old Cheltenham keeper Shane Higgs took the place of Richardson and Lucas, while Coventry‟s Irish midfielder Michael Doyle arrived on a season-long loan. Possibly the biggest new name was Leicester centre-back Patrick Kisnorbo, an Australian international. He opted to join Leeds despite competing offers from several Championship clubs. www.mightyleeds.co.uk - Review of 2009/10 Part 1 – Our time at last? 2 Grayson: “Patrick is an experienced defender who has played regular football in the Championship. He is strong, aggressive, and has leadership qualities. Having spoken to him, his desire and hunger is clear and he is just the type of character I want at the club. It‟s a big coup for us… It says a lot about the player and a lot about this club.” United had a straightforward opening, at home to newly promoted Exeter City on 8 August. Higgs, Crowe and Kisnorbo debuted, with Rui Marques and Ben Parker completing a new look rearguard. Doyle joined Robert Snodgrass, Jonny Howson and Bradley Johnson in midfield, while Beckford and Luciano Becchio continued their partnership up front. Leeds enjoyed a host of early chances, and Beckford might have had a hat trick. They took the lead after 13 minutes, Beckford coolly slotting home a cross by Parker, made after an excellent attacking burst. The striker was denied by the crossbar 12 minutes later and even when Parker limped off after 28 minutes with a hamstring strain, there was no hint that victory would be anything other than a formality. Exeter threatened a revival at the start of the second half, but the dismissal of striker Barry Corr just before the hour promised to derail them. Leeds had eased up, however, and Alex Russell silenced a 27,000 Elland Road crowd when he curled home a free kick after 73 minutes. The visitors grew in confidence and were heading for a shock draw until two minutes from the end when Beckford rose high to nod home a cross from Crowe to secure all three points. Grayson‟s preferred 4-4-2 formation made the most of United‟s assets: Becchio‟s strength and ability to shield the ball, coupled with Beckford‟s lightning pace offered a constant threat. Snodgrass was given freedom to press forward on the right and Johnson‟s power on the left made him a danger. Doyle‟s defensive qualities provided new substance in front of the back four, while Higgs, Crowe and Kisnorbo looked to be excellent signings. United followed up by beating Darlington 1-0 in the Carling Cup. The goal came courtesy of an opportunist 54th minute flick from Enoch Showunmi, who had made his comeback as a late sub against Exeter. The towering striker had been out for months following the Enoch Showunmi athletically reaches for the ball at Darlington before flicking home the only goal discovery of a life- with the very tip of his boot. It was a welcome return for the giant striker after his career was called into question by the discovery of a blood clot near his lung threatening blood clot near his lung. www.mightyleeds.co.uk - Review of 2009/10 Part 1 – Our time at last? 3 On 15 August Leeds faced a second promoted side, Wycombe Wanderers, and secured another win via Becchio‟s long range strike after 61 minutes. Andy Hughes continued at left-back in place of Ben Parker, a role he was to fill for most of the season. Three days later, Leeds started well against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium and an upright was all that stood between Beckford and an opening goal in the first half. But it looked like their 100% start was over when Sam Parkin calmly slotted home an 80th-minute penalty after Rui Marques had brought down Steve Jones. But Grayson‟s Whites were nothing if not resilient and three minutes later Bradley Johnson headed the equaliser following a corner from substitute Andy Robinson. Leeds were not yet done: in the 87th minute Beckford got to Marques‟ long ball and lashed it home for a victory. It was well merited with Leeds having 62% of the possession and Walsall never threatening a goal in open play. Simon Grayson: “They have a belief in this team that even when they go behind they can get something… We can go to the bigger stages and perform, but promotions can be won and lost at places like Wycombe and Walsall. We lost here last season, but we showed the right attitude and desire on Tuesday to make sure that didn't happen this time.” United continued their strong start four days later by hammering Tranmere Rovers 3-0 at Elland Road with goals from Johnson, Beckford and Becchio. All three men also hit the woodwork, in Beckford‟s case on three occasions. It was a 13th successive victory at home, equalling a sequence achieved by Don Revie‟s side in 1969. Grayson: “It‟s not something you can say often as a manager, but I really enjoyed watching that. I felt like a fan again watching some of the football we played and it was really entertaining and enjoyable... On another day it could have been a lot more..