retired_destiny1124

Congrats on SoTW- very good story

BarryLFC

omg, just wait till you get the SOTW trophy in the mail, it's a beauty. Just remember to send it back at the end of the week!

retired_jkat116

Thanks a lot guys, I didn't expect to have this many people enjoying the story. Thank you all for your kind words, and thank you PM for making it SoTW. I hope you all continue to read and hopefully enjoy it, more to come soon

retired_jkat116

Saturday 3rd January

Our F.A. Cup tie with Fulham had been a nervous and dull affair, as we were held 1-1, James Milner equalising in the last seconds of the game following an eleventh minute opener from Junichi Inamoto. I attended the draw only three days later, which produced an outcome with which I was reasonably pleased.



Tuesday 6th January

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

It’s now time to go live to the F.A. Headquarters, where the draw for the Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup is about to be made…

DD: Good Afternoon, my name’s David Davies, and welcome to all of you joining us today for the Fourth Round draw of the F.A. Cup. Joining me this afternoon are two popular faces of English football, QPR’s match-winner at Old Trafford in the Third Round Gareth Ainsworth, and Leeds United coach Peter Beardsley. Gareth will today be drawing the home sides, and Peter, the away sides. Here are some numbers you may like to look out for in this draw:

Number 1, are the holders, Arsenal

Number 15, Bobby Robson’s Newcastle

Number 19, the conquerors of Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers


Gentlemen, if you would please like to empty the bags into the containers, as we begin the draw for the Fourth round of the 2004 F.A. Cup. Gareth, would you please draw the first ball.

GA: Number 32

DD: Number 32, that’s Wimbledon

PB: Number 3

DD: Will play number 3, Chelsea.


Ten minutes later...


GA: Number 9

DD: Number 9, Crystal Palace

PB: Number 13 (laughs)

DD: Crystal Palace will play at home to either Fulham or Leeds United


That concludes the draw for the Fourth round of the F.A. Cup, thank you for watching, we leave you with the list of fixtures for the draw, which are scheduled to be played on the weekend of the 24th, and 25th of January. Goodbye for now.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[This message was edited by cantonaisgod on 12 April 2004 at 16:02.]

Bomberman

This is the best story I have read in a long time. KUTGW! :thup:

retired_cathycreamer

THE BEST STORY PUBLISH IT :thup:

retired_jkat116

Wow, thanks guys for your flattering comments, I really appreciate them.

Wednesday 7th January
Premier League Game 20
Aston Villa vs. Leeds United
Starting XI: Robinson, Richardson, Harte, de la Cuesta, Radebe (c), Barmby (Milner 78’), Wilcox, Batty, Johnson, Smith, Bridges

The build up to this game focused mainly on the ‘O’Leary vs. Leeds’ aspect of the encounter, which is why we were hungry for a win at Villa Park, to take the spotlight of one of my predecessors. Lionel Morgan, ruled out of the game against Fulham with a calf strain, returned to give us a much-needed boost.


The three bookings of the match all came in the opening 20 minutes, Matteo, Kelly, and J’Lloyd Samuel all shown yellows for late challenges. After only 26 minutes, our first real chance of the game was taken. Alan Smith rounded Liam Ridgewell on the halfway line, to then run at the Villa defence. Twenty-five yards from goal, he glanced up to slide a through ball to Michael Bridges, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.

But the best move of the first half came right at the end. Darius Vassell’s tendency to drop of Angel paid dividends, as he held off Lucas, before spinning to chip a beautiful ball into the path of his Colombian strike partner, who took the ball round Paul Robinson and tap the bal into an empty net.

The second half began with a moment of inspiration from young German midfielder Thomas Hitzlesperger. His long-range drive from a 25-yard free kick crashed off the underside of the bar, and was booted to safety by Ian Harte.

The lads responded excellently to that wake-up call, Lionel Morgan especially. With 5 minutes of the first half gone, Lionel showed a piece of individual skill that is only rivalled by some of the greats in the game. His darting run from inside his own half, was found by Jose, as Lionel received the ball. He nutmegged one, knocked it round another, and tore towards Olof Mellberg, the last man. A double-‘lollipop’ over the ball saw the Swede left for dead, as Lionel drove the ball through the legs of Sorensen to cap a superb individual goal.

The celebrations of the players underlined their desire to take the three points, however we knew the game was not over. We had to defend our lead well.

And we did just that. Frazer Richardson, playing his third game in succession, was absolutely fantastic; Jose de la Cuesta kept Juan Pablo Angel in his pocket. A goal-line clearance from Frazer ensured we left with all the spoils, in what was a superb team performance.

Aston Villa 1 – Angel 44’
Leeds United 2 – Bridges 26’, Morgan 50’
Attendance: 35,422
MoM: Frazer Richardson (9)

retired_jkat116

Apologies that reports have dried up over the last 2 days, but I’m back and have written more, I was just unable to post

Friday 9th January

‘Come in,’ Prof. McKenzie boomed as I knocked on his door. I entered and sat down at the seat I was ushered to by the Chairman’s darting eyes. Around the table were three other directors, who were all to have their say at this meeting. Its purpose was to assess the club’s performance, both on a footballing basis, and in financial terms. I was confident they wouldn’t have too much to complain about in the areas I was responsible for.

D1: Dan, I’d like to congratulate you on the side’s performance at Villa on Wednesday, I feel it helped to christen the New Year properly.

PJM: I agree, and Mr. Birch’s comments lead us perfectly into our summary of your impact at the club this season. I, for one, am pleased that we decided to take you on board.

ME: Well, thank you, however it’s down to the bunch of lads I’ve inherited that’s taken us this far.

PJM: Well, maybe, but you have certainly contributed towards their achievements so far this season. 4th position is beyond our expectations, and we have you to thank for that.

D3: (After seeing an unavoidable flattered smirk spread across my face)
But your work is by no means done. Unfortunately there is simply nothing as far as funds to give you to strengthen going into the final half. We can make some wages available however if you need to bring in any loan signings, as you are way under the budget.

D2: Indeed, the club’s financial state is quite frankly atrocious. We still have a bit to go before any receivers are called in, but if things don’t change, we could see the current crop leaving for cut down prices to keep our heads above water.

PJM: But that shouldn’t really concern you, Dan, your task is to keep things going. Keep the lads ticking over. Only if things do get worse shall we inform you of any changes. If, and it is only an if, that happens, you will be informed then. All that’s left to say is congratulations on your job so far – keep it up.

I left confident that at least I wouldn’t be sacked at the end of the season. Whether or not I’d still be there, remained to be seen, as, although I had a set of good players, I was unsure as to how far the club could go in the near future with such an appalling bank balance. This Leeds side were a good side, but by no means were they on the same level as the greats of the modern day.

Talking of which, only two days later, our credentials for a good league finish would be tested, we had the small matter of Manchester United to deal with.

retired_jkat116

Sunday 11th January

Sky Sports Super Sunday
15.50pm

Richard Keys is sat in the studio with Gary Pallister and Gordon Strachan. The programme re-commences after a short break.

RK: Welcome back, only ten minutes to go before this crunch game here at Elland Road, as fourth-place-surprisers Leeds take on the Champions, Manchester United. With me here are Gary Pallister and Gordon Strachan, firstly, Gary, with only 2 points and one place separating the two sides, will it be the walkover many would have expected pre-season?

GP: Not at all, Richard. Leeds are going really well at the moment, with many unknowns like Morgan and Richardson showing that a team doesn’t have to be full of superstars to be in the position Leeds are in.

RK: Indeed, and Gordon, not only are points at stake, but there’s such a huge rivalry between the two clubs. If you were O’Brien now, what would you be saying to your players?

GS: Try and win the match.

*Laughs throughout the studio*

GS: No, but seriously, having played for both of these sides in games like this, I know what it feels like. United will be up for this, and Leeds just need to show the commitment and desire to rev this crowd up. A jumping Elland Road can sometimes count for a twelfth man.

RK: And with United far from their best midweek against Portsmouth, also recently dumped out of the F.A. Cup, surely there couldn’t be a better chance for Leeds to have United here?

GP:I know what you mean, Richard, but there’s never a good time to have United come to play you. It all depends on which Leeds side turn out.

RK: Ok guys, before we go to the pair in the gantry, predictions?

GP: Reds to edge it just 2-1

GS: I can see them turning Leeds over today; I’m going 3-0 to the United from Manchester.

RK: Well we’ve had the view of the old-timers, let’s go live, to Andy Gray, and firstly, Martin Tyler.

MT: Thank you, Richard, as Gary was saying, form is not necessarily a good indicator when it comes to Manchester United, but expect a few fireworks here today, this Leeds side will no doubt be up for it. It's the United's from Leeds and Manchester, locking horns. Join us after the break, when we’ve got all the action.

retired_jkat116

Sunday 11th January
Premier League Game 21
Leeds United vs. Manchester United
Starting XI: Robinson, Richardson, Harte, de la Cuesta, Radebe (c), Barmby, Batty, Johnson, Smith (Milner 88’), Bridges

As the saying goes, never change a winning formula. I had no reason to change. The defence had been outstanding of late, and the blend of experience and youthful tenacity in the middle with Seth and David is exactly what I thought would be needed for today.

No Keane, no Scholes, no Ferdinand. Maybe the boys in the studio were right. It was the best chance we’d have for a long time to get one over on the Champions.

I had told the lads this in the dressing room, but in the first five minutes it seemed to have no effect whatsoever. Ruud van Nistelrooy came so close with three minutes gone, shaving the post with a cross-come-shot. This was followed only a minute later by a curling Cristiano Ronaldo free kick, forcing an astonishing save from Robbo. You’d have thought the lads would have learnt from the first game at Old Trafford.

As the game got going, we settled. We were knocking the ball about, with a confidence similar to that of our opposition on their better days. Seth Johnson and David Batty were starting to get a foothold in midfield, with Kleberson and Djemba-Djemba getting muscled out. It was due to this that we were disappointed when the half-time whistle went, as without creating, we were on top.

Thankfully from our point of view we continued to boss the midfield. Only Gary Neville’s goal line clearance denied us the lead on 52 minutes after Michael Bridges had head goal-wards from a Morgan corner.

Only seven minutes later, Elland Road was indeed ‘jumping.’ Lionel Morgan beat Neville for pace, before reaching the by-line and chipping the ball onto the head of Smithy, whose downward header flew past the hapless Howard.

Thankfully, this United side was not as its best, and I felt slightly more at ease when the cavalry - Fletcher, Hussaine, and Forlan came on, to replace the ineffective Ronaldo, Kleberson, and Solskjær.

It was nearly two with twelve minutes to go, as Lionel almost defied the odds to bend his corner just past the far post. All was looking good.

But with six minutes left, disaster struck. Young Qatari Hussaine beat Ian Harte to get into the box, and in Ian Harte’s desperate attempt to get the ball, he caught the striker; Hussaine didn’t hesitate to throw himself to the ground. Penalty. Let’s go to Sky’s Martin Tyler and Andy Gray, for the tense, ultimately deciding moment

“It’s been 5 in 5 for the Dutchman, all against teams in the top half of the table. The boos echo around Elland Road, as he places the ball on the spot.

Steve Bennett ushers Gary Kelly out of the area.

Here he goes, it’s Ruud van Nistelrooooooyyyy….”

(In the background) “Oh Martin, he’s missed it!”

“Over the bar!!! Ruud van Nistelrooy hangs his head, scenes of jubilation here at Elland Road; van Nistelrooy misses his chance to level things up and to move onto 10 for the season. Astonishing!”

And that was all she wrote.

Leeds United 1 – Smith 59’
Manchester United 0
Attendance: 40,280
MoM: Paul Robinson (9)

[This message was edited by Raptor on 16 April 2004 at 19:40.]