Leeds United – Marching Again
Love them or loathe them, Leeds United are on their way back. In Simon Grayson they have the right man at the helm, in Jermaine Beckford they have the country’s most prolific striker and in Elland Road they have 20,000 plus loyal supporters. The halcyon days of Champions League semi-finals are a distant memory and the club is rebuilding from the depths of League One. False dawns have occurred since relegation from the Premiership but there is a solid look and feel about the team this term.
The play-offs have been unkind to Leeds in recent seasons. Watford thrashed them 3-0 in Cardiff in the 2005/2006 Championship final, Doncaster took the spoils at Wembley two years later in the League One edition and Milwall won through the semi-final last season. 2008/2009 was perhaps the bitterest disappointment since Grayson had come in and undone much of the poor work done by former midfield maestro Gary McAllister, overseeing an overhaul in the team’s performance following his controversial switch from Blackpool. Dennis Wise put together a strong outfit following relegation from the Championship but his promotion attempts were thwarted by a 15 point deduction and Doncaster Rovers.
In Grayson, however, they have a local lad turned pro who has a proven record following his successes with Blackpool. He has tempered Beckford, the prolific striker who also posses a penchant for the mindless and added Luchiano Becchio as the target man alongside him. Welsh international Sam Vokes is there at the moment too, on loan from Wolves. It is certainly the attacking strength that is driving Leeds forward.
With a seven point lead at the top of the table, the best goal difference in the country and the meanest defence in the league, surely Leeds can progress to better things in 2010. Once the pride of Yorkshire they are rebuilding slowly but surely. The foundations have been laid by chairman Ken Bates and the finances are in order. The crippling debt left by Peter Ridsdale has largely gone and the club can now look forward, not back. No longer will Leeds have to lose such key figures as Beckford to the transfer window.
A change of attitude has had an impact on where the side is going. Testament to this approach is the side’s performance against Liverpool in the League Cup second round. Rather than being frightened by their superior opposition Leeds attacked, having a goal wrongly disallowed and creating a host of opportunities. It took a decent strike from David Ngog to settle matters for Liverpool. No damage done, Leeds have continued to dominate League One. The club is finally realising its potential.
Bigger things are surely waiting for Leeds United.
Miles Reucroft
