retired_nicolemdalton

Wednesday 21st September (Elland Road, Leeds United V Huddersfield Town, League Cup 2nd Round)

It's been an amazing week so far and I'm hoping that everyone has recovered nicely from Monday nights celebration. We have a visit from close neighbours Huddersfield today in the noddy, sorry I mean League Cup. I'm not too bothered about trying to win it or get far, there will be teams far better than us in the final and I'd rather not risk any of my squad getting unnecessarily taken out of action. I had a few words about it to the lads on Monday night, we all agreed that although it would be nice to have a cup run, the league has to be the priority.

Starting Line Up:
Bennett, Harding, Kilgallon, Marques, Hooiveld, Lewis, Derry, Lettinga, Berkleef, Healy and Cresswell

Kick Off:

The game starts off at a slow pace, both teams seem unwilling to risk giving away posession needlessly in an attempt to score. New lad Berkleef gets a chance to show us what he's made of but fires his shot miles over the bar. The crowd laugh at his pathetic attempt and clap the lad, I curse his pathetic attempt and sit back down on the bench. At least we're creating scoring chances, but not enough, not enough. Cresswell gets the ball in the area, turns his man and fires the ball into the far corner, the keeper having no chance. Well now I can breathe a little easier, we're looking comfortable and Huddersfield don't look a threat. We don't create and further meaningful chances for the rest of the half, the one chance being ruled offside. We go into the break the happier side.

"Listen up you lot, I want one more goal just to put this tie beyond them. We're looking comfortable but they are capable of coming back. go and finish them off." The lads go out wanting blood and hungry for another goal. We get off to a flyer, we're getting into their area time and again. Just like in the Brighton match though, their keeper is keeping Huddersfield in it. Young Berkleef is looking good and is stringing some good passes together. We get a free kick on the left flank just outside the area, Lettinga fires it in and Cresswell fires it through the keepers legs, I jump up in celebration, the crowd are on their feet but its cleared off the line by Carss, an other near miss. We finally kill the game in the 76th minute, after some good link up play between Derry and Berkleef, the balls chipped forward to Healy who nods it to Rothery who's introduced in exchange for Lewis, who has no hesitation in thundering the ball in the far corner. The lad's got what he deserved, he's worked hard since he came on. The rest of the half ticks down and the game is more or less dead in the water, we're still getting forward but we're not showing any passion for the game. I'm going to have to have words about that when we're done. The final whistle blows and the small crowd of 18067 who decided to show up cheer their appreciation.

Final Score (Leeds United 2-0 Huddersfield Town)

My Man Of The Match: Again we we're fairly average and again I choose Eddie Lewis for my man of the match, he was brilliant for the 63 minutes he was on the pitch. The guy never stops running and 90% of his passes reached their target.

On the drive home I listen to the Radio, see if there's been any major upsets. I'm passing lone cars on the A64 when I'm surprised to hear league one team Bristol City have knocked out Tottenham and erratic Wolves have beaten Man City. Well that's a few big teams out of the way, maybe we will go far in the competition after all.

retired_nicolemdalton

Thursday 22nd September (Home Tie Handed In 3rd Round)

I'm sat in the office reading through the accounts when Rose slaps the News Of The World under my nose. It turns out we've been handed a home tie against league strugglers Millwall and I quite fancy our chances.

Lack of bloody ambition, how can they possibly say that when we're trying to get into the Premiership? Other teams are content just to survive, how can wanting a place in the best league in the world be unambitious? This countries bloody media needs a kick up the backside. With articles like that no wonder they're getting a bad reputation. Maybe they should take the time out to interview me in future, I might actually give them something worth writing about.

retired_oyse2

Nice update mate, good story going on as well as the footy, have started my own story today managing q.p.r I'm not a fan of theirs just picked a random team. Good luck with The Leeds.

retired_nicolemdalton

Saturday 24th September (Elland Road, Leeds United V Sheffield Wednesday, Championship)

The Sky cameras are in tonight and I want to give the viewing public a slice of the exciting things going on at Leeds. We're entertaining relegation candidates Sheffield Wednesday and I have every confidence that the players will produce the goods. I spoke to a few of the lads about the prospect of being on TV for only the 3rd time so far this season, a couple have admitted they feel slightly apprehensive knowing they're on TV but assure me that it won't affect their game. I hope they're right, I have to admit we struggled to beat lowly Brighton and lord knows we need to pick up points against the lower teams. "Are you OK Chris?", Rose is standing in the doorway staring at me, I was miles away. "Yes Rose, quite alright, are the lads ready?", she nods the affirmative and turns and goes to attend to her many duties.

I swing open the dressing room doors and walk in, the lads are in a buoyant mood and seem pretty optimistic about their chances on the pitch tonight. Apparently a few have placed a wager on how many we'll get tonight, I'm not so sure, OK they've lost 7 Championship games this season already but they've also drawn a couple and their season has to turn sometime.

I've replaced Marques with the reliable Kelly, I decide to rest Blake and Lewis and decide to blood Lettinga and Berkleef, Demouge also reclaims his place ahead of David Healy.

Starting Line Up:
Bennett, Harding, Kilgallon, Kelly, Hooiveld, Einarsson, Derry, Lettinga, Berkleef, Demouge and Cresswell

Kick Off:

It's as I predicted, Sheffield are another 11 men behind the ball team and every time we go forward there's no space and the Wednesday half is swamped. We manage a couple of shots but all are widely off target, Sheffield are trying to limit us to long shots and they're sticking to their game plan. We hit the half hour mark and so far our defenders have made two or three serious mistakes that they've either managed to rectify or Bennetts saved them. Sheffield are looking the best team going forward, especially as most of our midfield gets bypassed when they move the ball forward. The crowd bless em are singing their hearts out in an attempt to spur the lads into some kind of action, but it's all in vain. Both teams go in at half time on equal footing, but I know who'll be the happier side. Paul Sturrock will be telling them they can go out and win it in the second half and from what I've seen of this bloody half he's right to be positive.

"What the hell's going on out there lads, we look second best and that might be good enough for you but it certainly isn't for me or the fans. Alright they may have 11 behind the ball but for gods sake, you have enough talent to break them down, go out there and bloody annihilate them."

We do look slightly better but it doesn't detract from the tedium of watching Wednesday play 11 men behind the ball. We do manage to break through them a few times but it all comes to nothing, the strikers just aren't performing today. Wednesday are equally dire up front, they get a few rare breaks forward but their strikers fire straight at the keeper, lucky really because if this was anyone else we'd be about 3 down by now. I decide enough's enough and bring on Blake and Lewis, the crowd let out a huge roar when they hear the players names mentioned. I hope they're the catalyst for a Leeds goal, we need a win to extend our grip at the top. I'm to be dissapointed in the 67th minute when Einarsson rises above everyone and thunders a header at the top corner, there's silence, the keeper seemingly floats through the air in slow motion, his finger tips are enough to push the ball over the bar. The crowds reaction is brilliant, they burst out into song with renewed vigour, they reckon we can win, I'm starting to believe we can win too. "Get into em lads, make the tackles." I scream at them from the touchline, they need all the encouragment they can get. However its all to no avail, the score ends a very dissapointing 0-0 and I am extremely angry at the side for dropping points and that we didn't shine in front of the cameras.

Paul Sturrock comes and shakes my hand."Good game mate, thought you was gonna get it at the end there". I nod my head in acknowledgment and smile before walking off down the tunnel to give the lads a rollocking.

Final Score: (Leeds United 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday)

My Man Of The Match: You're having a laugh, I was the man of the match for not punching the players lights out. It really comes to something when not one of your players plays well.

"For f***s sake lads, what did I tell you, I told you we HAVE to pick up points against teams like these. I have to say another performance that dire and I'll be making massive changes, you here me? I will NOT put up with displays like that, you lads who put the wager on should bloody give that money to the fans, they were the ones who were bloody cheated today. You let me down, you let the fans down and worst of all you let yourselves down. I'm drawing a line under this, this was a blip, if it EVER happens again I wont be as forgiving."

I storm off out of the dressing room white with rage, I get outside and I manage to sign a few autographs without snapping the pens. I thank the fans for their support tonight and promise them it will be better next time, the fans just say they're glad we drew as last season we were likely to lose these sorts of games. Well thats something I suppose. I open the car door and slump into the old banger, I feel about 50 tonight, I got way too stressed. "At least you never let me down." I say to the car, I turn the key and the engine coughs and splutters and then nothing.

Brilliant!

retired_cjr113

fantastic story its made me start up a game with Leedsa. Keep it going. Look forward to readin on

retired_oyse2

I need you to update the story real soon, I swear I'm getting cold turkey. lol. KUTGW. Loving your work, but it makes me more depressed about mine.

retired_nicolemdalton

Sunday 24th September (It's only an article)

By the time I get to mid afternoon I'm well and truly exasperated. I've been reading through the tabloids and I can't believe the crap they're writing about us. It seems they are quick to jump on any mistake or apparent blip in an attempt to make a good story, I could write or call their bosses and complain but I'm sure they'd love to write a lovely little article about the outraged Leeds boss who screamed obsceneties down the phone. Hmm, I'll keep my cool and I'll get my own back on my own terms.

I agree with the point that we're playing a lot of games, but I do not agree that we were lazy, we fought for the ball again and again, we lacked creativity and finishing, but we weren't bloody lazy. I hope the press turn up to the next match because I'm going to give them something positive to write about, I'm not having my team slated in the media for drawing in a football match, if we do something worthy of attention then I want it to be a positive.

I look forward to proving the media wrong. I hope to have an interview very soon, I want to have my say.

retired_nicolemdalton

Dear avid readers, just a brief update, sorry I've not updated the story in so long, been really busy but hope to get loads done soonish , please bear with me

retired_oyse2

No worries Leeds2022...I no what it's like, takes me ages doing updates going through my notes and other stuff. Really enjoying your story and starting to get feed back on mine aswell.

retired_aurie

No worries Leeds2022. As long as updates pop in occasionally, we'll be happy enough