lifeissoccer

This is ace!

Lionel Morgan is quality, I'm in season 04/05 with Leeds and in my most recent game he scored from 65 (yes 65!) yards in the UEFA Cup V FC Haka! Young Lennon is also pretty good.

retired_jkat116

Cheers guys, great to hear your encouragement.
ibroxclubworshipper - True, Morgan is the only one for me of late putting in a performance regularly! Hope you enjoy the rest of it

Saturday 13th March
Premier League Game 29
Leeds United vs. Birmingham
Starting XI: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, de la Cuesta, Radebe (c), Milner (Barmby 83’), Batty, Johnson (Bakke 74’), Morgan, Smith, Bridges

The last few days since the Spurs game had been spent chatting with Kev and trying to come up with something fresh, and new. Our play had become stale, and we had to get back to winning before finding ourselves sliding down the table. David Batty came back into the starting XI for our home clash with the Midlands side, as I urged the lads to play more down the flanks to enhance our attacking capabilities.

And with only fifteen minutes gone, this planned looked to be working. Seth turned sharply on the ball in midfield, before drilling a fantastic ball out for Lionel, who cut inside, looked up, and bent a ball into no-mans land between keeper and defender, for Michael Bridges to slide in and convert from 7 yards.

Seth’s impact on the game became far more obvious on the stroke of half time. James Milner’s cut back after being set through by Gary Kelly found Johnson, and from twelve yards out he lashed home on the half volley, to send us in with our heads held high.

After the break however, we suffered a minor setback. David Dunn’s corner caused confusion in the penalty area, and after a scramble between 6 or 7 men, the ball was poked home, by guess who, Darren Carter, who had come close to signing for us earlier on in the season. But this did not hinder our progress it seemed, as with twenty-three minutes remaining, Milner was brought down by a lazy Cunningham leg, which resulted in Morgan slamming home the penalty. Game, set and match.

So we thought. But, with six minutes to go, we were given a nervy ending, as David Dunn headed home from Carter’s right hand side cross, to peg us back and make the score 3-2. They began to throw everything at us.

The fourth official held up his board, showing 2 additional minutes. As this happened, Kenny Cunningham lofted a ball from the half way line, into our box. Jose headed into the back of David Dunn, and after several ricochets, the ball found its way into the path of Jamie Clapham, who lifted the ball deftly over the sliding Robbo. Lucas’ fall to the floor, hands covering his face, epitomised how we were all feeling at Elland Road.

Leeds United 3 – Bridges 15’, S. Johnson 45’ Morgan 67
Birmingham City 3 - Carter 57’, Dunn 84’, Clapham 90’
Attendance: 38,751
MoM: David Dunn (9)

retired_vbrazon

Some really good writing in this story, hope you can pick up the team again.

retired_jkat116

Thanks fergusdacat7, glad to have you reading the story

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Monday 15th March

Sky Sports News

Presenter 1…and we’ll have more news on that later on.

Presenter 2: Don’t forget, you can have your say on today’s hot topic just by getting in touch with Sky Sports News, lines have now closed, and the results are as follows:

Presenter 1: We asked you, can Leeds United sustain their bid for a European place, and qualify for the Champions League?

Presenter 2: Well, an astonishing 78 percent of you believe that Leeds have merely been a twenty-nine game flash in the pan, with only twenty two percent of our viewers thinking they still have what it takes to reach the achievement to mix it with Europe’s best next season.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

We were all desperate to show our doubters wrong. As far as I was concerned, it may not get any better than this in the foreseeable future for this club, so we had to finish as high as possible. A Champions League spot would do wonders, not only for the fans and the players, but also for the money side of the club. Watching this added fuel to the fire raging inside me to show all these sceptics that Leeds United were not done yet.

retired_jkat116

Sunday 21st March

“We do this lot today boys,” I growled, fifteen minutes to go before kick-off. “Be brave, be strong, first to every tackle, NO backing out. We’ve gotta fight for this today boys.”

As was obvious, I had adopted a ‘grind-em-down,’ attitude. They had young Scotty Parker in midfield, and Curbishley had built a good side capable of beating anyone on their day.

“This is our chance, we beat these, we can do Europe. Not long left now, but the work starts here. Forget what’s gone on before, the real season starts now.”


Premier League Game 30
Leeds United vs. Charlton
Starting XI: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, de la Cuesta, Radebe (c), Milner (Barmby 75’), Batty, Johnson, Morgan (Bakke 75’), Smith, Bridges

It had been a long week, a long, anxious week. In the dressing room, I could tell by the lads’ faces. They were up for this. Unfortunately for me, it had been a long time since I laced up my boots. I could do no more once I sent them onto the pitch.

I felt slightly more assured once I saw the first tackle go in, Seth wrapping himself around Parker at the first opportunity.

With 5 minutes gone, the ball was in the back of the net. Claus Jensen weaved in and out of our midfield, to then play through Jonatan Johansson, who poked the ball under Robbo, and over the line. The steady (ish) beat of my heart return as my new best friend, the assistant referee, raised his flag.

With half an hour gone, neither side had threatened, and it reflected the stereotype of a game between a side out of form, and one stuck in mid-table. But just after the thirty-minute mark, Lionel’s free kick across the face of goal, failed to catch anyone on the way through, as it nestled in the far corner of the net. I let out a long gush of air. 1-0.

After Scott Parker had been carried off due to a bookable offence from Seth, we had a hold on the game. Thankfully, the final nail was hammered into the Addicks’ coffin, with only twenty minutes to go. The ever-willing Smith intercepted a loose ball back to the keeper by Herman Hreidarsson, and rounded Kiely to slot home to ensure the three points were ours.

At the final whistle, I tried my utmost to refrain from breaking into a short jig, as I felt we were back on track. Although one game was no certain benchmark to base this on, and we had to back this up in the next game, I felt we had finally turned the corner that led on to a place in the Champions League next season.

But as they say, anything can happen, in that funny game they call football.

Leeds United 2 – Morgan 30’, Smith 71’
Charlton Athletic 0
Attendance: 38,776
MoM: Seth Johnson (9)

Raptor

Don't think I've actually stated my appreciation for this story. It's an enjoyable read, KUTGW :thup:

retired_jkat116

Thanks Raptor, really glad to have you reading, hope you enjoy the rest of it :thup:

Wednesday 24th March

So we travelled to the City of Manchester Stadium, but spirits were still not as high as they had been in the past. It was certainly worrying ahead of what I knew would be a tricky tie.

My team talk was vaguely similar to the previous game, but it had no effect on this tiring bunch of players. On a day where there were far fewer blue seats visible than usual, the City fans got their money’s worth as we were outplayed, as the young, and extremely talented Michael Tonge struck twice to strip us of any positives to take back to Yorkshire.


Friday 26th March

I sat in my office with physio Dave Hancock, and Kev Blackwell. We each sat grim-faced, as we began to discuss the side’s dip in form. I had an inkling that it was due to training getting too much for the lads. Thankfully my two colleagues completely agreed.

“Well Smithy’s gonna miss the Pompey game,” Dave told me. “Calf strain, I wouldn’t risk him Dan, we’ll need him for the rest of the season.”

“This is what I’m saying,” Kev blurted out. “We’re getting too many of these daft injuries, those weary legs are starting to collapse.” I knew he was right.

I had set our training regime at the start of the season, and I like to think it had been successful. But these fellas had been in the bigger leagues far longer than I had, and suggestions of slight tweaks and tinkers to the programme were welcomed with open arms. I set Kev the task of altering areas he felt necessary, to produce optimum performance levels come match day.

It would be a tough task, that would have a big effect.

retired_dolivo

KUTGW mate it's been an excellent read so far.

retired_jkat116

Thanks for your support CasFan; I appreciate your kind words. Sorry that the updating has ceased over the past few weeks, but I’m ready to go again J


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Sunday 26th March

Sky Sports News

Presenter 1: Welcome back to Sky Sports News, our main story this hour…

Presenter 2: Leeds United have agreed a deal in principle, to take Mikael Forssell on loan, when transfer restrictions have been lifted in June. Due to the current transfer window in place Leeds have contacted Chelsea about a season long deal for the 2004/2005 Premiership campaign.

Presenter 1: Forssell spoke to Sky Sports News earlier today, and had this to say:

“Obviously I’m delighted that a club such as Leeds have come forward, and I would be very interested in joining up with them.

I’ve not had the opportunities at Chelsea, and although I have enjoyed my time here with Steve and the lads at Birmingham I feel that a club who are doing as well as Leeds can help me to live my dream of winning things in England, and improve me as a player.

But at the moment, it’s all a question of clubs sorting details out.”


Presenter 2: Well Leeds United Chairman Professor John McKenzie has stated that the club ‘have no reason’ to discuss any possible transfer dealings just yet, adding ‘Leeds will announce any deals once they have been completed.’


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

retired_jkat116

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

Wednesday 31st March

The Daily Mirror


Viduka feels ‘rejected’

Soon-to-be Dortmund striker Mark Viduka has expressed his dismay at being dropped from the Leeds side, since his transfer to the Bundesliga side had become public.

Viduka told his website: “I am extremely disappointed that the manager has decided to abandon me, when we all know I can still do a job for the club. I sense he is being very immature over the whole matter.”

It is ironic that Viduka’s claims come just days before Leeds are set to take on Pompey at Fratton Park, as he is likely to lead the line anyway, due to the injury and suspension of Alan Smith and Nicky Barmby respectively.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>