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Saturday 18th October Premier League Game 9
Leeds United vs. Tottenham Starting XI: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, de la Cuesta, Radebe (c), Milner, Morgan (Wilcox ’71), Batty, Johnson, Viduka, Bridges
After poor performances of late, Nicky Barmby had to make way for young James Milner on the right hand side of midfield. We needed to get into the habit of winning, and what better way to start than against an under-achieving Spurs side in the relegation zone.
Jose de la Cuesta’s long-range drive, tipped wide, was the only highlight of the first half an hour, in a game between two sides severely lacking in confidence. The deadlock was broken 3 minutes before the interval when Michael Bridges beat the offside trap, to round Kasey Keller and roll the ball into the empty net. Our lead did not last for long, however, when only 2 minutes later Zamora powered a header past Robinson from a Spurs’ corner.
The players responded well to Zamora’s goal, and we were the better side, having a lot of possession, which paid off after 71 minutes, Mark Viduka bagging for the first time in what seemed like ages. We were comfortable, but as is often the case in football the old boy comes back to spoil the party. Jose’s slip in possession meant that Robbie Keane was through on goal, luring Robbo off his line to then delicately chip him to level the scores at 2-2.
But the lads did not give in, and we were handed a lifeline in the last minute, the big chance falling upon the young shoulders of James Milner, who had time to pick his spot; he didn’t let us down, stroking the ball through the legs of Keller. A thoroughly deserved win, were it not for defensive lapses the score could well have been harsher on Spurs, but as it was, 3-2 showed on the scoreboard at fulltime.
Leeds United 3 - Bridges 42', 71', 90+2' Tottenham Hotspur 2 - Zamora 44', Keane 84' Attendance: 38,190 MoM: Bobby Zamora (9)
Thankfully there were no midweek games, so we could prepare and rest for the next match the following Saturday. At 11.15am on a drizzly morning my Doritos break was interrupted by Dave Hancock, the head physio, who was bringing some bad news.
“We’ve got problems with Lionel and Seth, gaffer,” were Dave’s opening words to me. “Lionel’s strained his knee ligaments, nothing nasty, but the earliest we’re gonna see him back is the Charlton game on the 8th. Same with Seth, he’s pulled his groin muscle, and unless we take it slow, he could be out for well longer than just a couple weeks.”
Although no serious concerns, this was a big blow, as we would need to make full use of are already limited squad size.
October ended with two highly disappointing results, just as I felt we had the morale we needed after the spurs win. On the 25th, a sunny Saturday afternoon, we travelled to St. Andrews, where a Mikael Forssell hat trick sent us home despondent once more. Morgan & Johnson’s deputies, Morris and Wilcox, did little to make the regulars lose any sleep over winning their places back.
This was followed four days later by a Carling Cup exit, a Michael Chopra goal in the 82nd minute for the Toon Army ensured we would not be battling it out in Cardiff come March. Things could have been different however, had James Milner converted our last minute penalty, but it was not to be, as we went crashing out 1-0.
In both these games we did not create, which emphasized to me the importance of having Lionel and Seth in the side. Our normally secure defence had looked leaky, conceding 7 goals in our last 3 games.
Saturday 1st November Premier League Game 11
Leeds United vs. Manchester City Starting XI: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, de la Cuesta, Radebe (c), Milner, Wilcox, Batty, Morris, Viduka, Sakho
Our hectic November schedule began without Michael Bridges, who developed a stomach virus. I decided to bring Lamine in to provide pace and energy, who was the only change from the side that went out of the Cup at St. James’ Park. I am a firm believer in letting the lads make up for their mistakes, and I hoped today they would strengthen this belief.
As ever there were no early goals, however there was bemusement rather than celebration when contender for ‘Freak Goal of the Season,’ occurred after 23 minutes. James Milner struck a beautiful free kick from almost 30 yards out, which crashed off the bar onto the back of Weaver’s head, which crept over the line to leave the City keeper with a lot to make up for after poor reactions.
The goal lifted spirits, and with half time approaching, we were rampant. A Jason Wilcox corner was nodded home at the far post by Viduka, and from the ensuing City kick off, Viduka robbed Claudio Reyna of possession, to round 3 city defenders and lob Nicky Weaver, to score what turned out to be November’s Goal of the Month.
The lads were unlucky not to be 5 or 6 up, however with just over 20 minutes remaining of the match, Jason Wilcox slid in to convert Milner’s cross, to make it 4-0. But it was not to be the perfect score line, as with 79 minutes gone, American Claudio Reyna rifled home from the spot after Lucas had hacked down Fowler inside the box. Although disappointed to have conceded, we could have no more complaints with a handsome 4-1 win, and 5th spot in the league.
Leeds United 4 - Milner 23', Viduka 42' 43', Wilcox 68' Manchester City 1 - Reyna (pen) 79' Attendance: 37,455 MoM: Mark Viduka (9)
It was a real shame that the game against Manchester City could not be followed up by a similarly convincing performance. Instead, we seemed lethargic, as Carlton Cole’s 8th minute opener against Charlton was enough to give the Addicks a 1-0 win. To rub salt into our wounds, the three teams below us all won, which meant that we were now down in 8th place.
In an infuriating midweek tie with the Division One Champions, Patrick Berger carved us open midway through the first half, before nut-megging Robbo to put them in the lead. Our inability to break them down meant that we had to throw men forward, however we had to rely on defender Jose de la Cuesta to provide our ‘Get out of Jail Free,’ card, nodding us level after 71 minutes.
1-1 was how it stayed, leaving us with only 1 win from our last 5.
Leeds United have signed former Liverpool and Newcastle legend Peter Beardsley as a coach until the end of the season. Beardsley, 42, claimed he was ‘delighted to get the chance to work at a club like Leeds,’ and will join the Yorkshire outfit next week.
O’Brien, dismayed at his sides’ deteriorating on-pitch performances, brought in Beardsley to ‘add valuable know-how,’ to the club.
‘We’re extremely pleased that Peter has agreed to join us,’ the Leeds boss told reporter Nick Collins. ‘We now have the full setup in place to plough through the season and do as best as we can.’
Meanwhile Leeds will be without Nick Barmby for their trip to Leicester next Saturday, with the midfielder straining his neck in training.
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Sunday 23rd November Premier League Game 14
Leicester City vs. Leeds United Starting XI: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, Radebe, de la Cuesta, Milner, Morgan, Batty, Johnson (Morris ’85), Viduka, Smith (Bridges ’85)
Comments had been made during the week that we had had the best spell of our season, and this Sky Super Sunday game was perfect to prove our doubters wrong.
A goal would have been the only way to cap off this almost perfect first ten minutes of the match; we had hassled and pressed Leicester, forcing them to make mistakes. Things were looking edgy however, when Paul Dickov had the ball in the net after 14 minutes, only for it to be ruled out for an innocuous handball.
The game ‘died’ somewhat after that incident, and it was not until after half time that the game really got going. A late tackle on Lucas by Leicester forward James Scowcroft led to an all out mass brawl. This had disastrous consequences for both side, as Scowcroft was made to walk for his second bookable offence. This however, was overshadowed by the madness of David Batty, who was shown a straight red for landing a left-hook on Leicester ‘hardman’ Lillian Nalis.
If anything this spurred us on, and with the clock reading 65 minutes, young Milner drove a Lionel Morgan corner into the roof of the net, from 12 yards out, to give us the lead.
A moment of genius followed from the youngster, to grab his second of the game. Milner picked up the ball on the half way line, and ran at the Leicester defence. Nobody looked capable of taking the ball off him, as he skipped passed the challenges of Nalis and then Sinclair. A one-two with Viduka saw Milner through on goal, with a feint to the side enabling him to round Walker and put the ball into the unguarded near post.
Leicester City 0 Leeds United 2 – Milner 65’, 79’ Attendance: 32,477 MoM: James Milner (9)
I was delighted with this performance, as we acquitted ourselves pefrectly and played like the home side. I now had to get in touch with a few associates in order to help make this kind of performance a more predictable and assured one.
We have news coming through that Leeds United have reached an agreement for the fee of Birmingham youngster Darren Carter, in a deal set to take place at the end of the season.
The agreed price is rumoured to be in the region of £500,000, with out-of-favour Leeds midfielder Stephen McPhail moving the other way.
Both clubs have refused to comment on any deal at this stage, we’ll bring you more as we get the news.
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The reports leaked to the press were accurate, although the deal had not been agreed; it was what Birmingham had asked for. I rang up Steve to discuss Darren’s availability, and Birmingham got back to us with the demand of half a million plus McPhail.
But when we returned to them with a formal written offer, they decided McPhail plus £2m was more realistic. We were by no means pleased with their change of heart, however our reaction was to be blown all out of proportion in the press only days later.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> The Daily Mirror
Leeds furious over indecision
Darren Carter’s move to Leeds United has collapsed after Birmingham decided to pull the plug on the youngsters switch. The move was set to be completed in the summer, however as it turns out, Darren Carter will surely be staying at St. Andrews.
It is believed that O’Brien is so angry at the whole fiasco that he has vowed never to do business with the midlands club again.
Carter, meanwhile, stated that although he would have loved to complete the move, now that it seems unlikely, he is dedicated to the Birmingham cause. Carter had agreed terms for a £15,000 per week deal, however the clubs could not agree a final fee to push the deal through, with Birmingham representatives reported to have been responsible for the collapse.
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