The Leeds United Academy – from ‘a cancer in the club’ to the backbone of our future

Despite former boss Neil Warnock describing it as ‘a cancer in the club’, it is without doubt that the Academy set up at Leeds United is becoming an increasingly important tool in rebuilding the infrastructure of the club. The Academy, fronted by the passionate and likeable Neil Redfearn, is achieving some very pleasing results including first place for the U18s and third for the Development Squad in their respective leagues. With this in mind, we thought that it was worth praising the set up that was so publicly condemned by our former boss, highlighting the success of the Academy coaches as a group as well as illustrating their various successes in developing the individuals who have gone on to perform well under the intense scrutiny of Championship football.

Sam Byram

The surprise package of last season, Sam Byram’s unprecedented success took the Championship by storm. Byram quickly became a prized asset in the first team set up, making 53 appearances in League and Cup, whilst finding the net on 4 occasions. Much like Lees, Byram is incredibly versatile, showing strength going forward as well as adept defensive positioning, and it seems that both the player and the club are unaware of his best position. With the hunt for a wide player still ongoing, it is possible that Byram could be fielded as a winger this season, making the ‘Bale-like’ transition from full back to winger. Byram’s flawless first season in the first team earned him the accolades he deserved, winning the Player of the Year Award, Young Player of the Year Award, Player’s Player of the Year Award and the Supporters Club Player of the Year Award - a staggering feat. His recognition was not limited to internal honours as he also highlighted as one of the Sky Sports Football League Players to Watch, a notable achievement. As perhaps his greatest achievement to date however, Byram was selected in the England U20 World Cup squad, only to be forced to pull out through injury. The aforementioned injury greatly restricted Byram’s pre-season preparation, having only just returned to play 90 minutes at first team level in the spirited 2-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle in the Cup this week. Should he stay fit, Byram is crucial to the promotion hunt, and another massive season is expected by the fans.

Tom Lees

Turning professional in 2009, Lees has proven to be one of the academy’s biggest triumphs in recent seasons. His flexibility makes him a valuable asset to the club, and his ability to play at right back as well as his preferred centre back has attracted attention from the international set-up. The now former England U21 boss Stuart Pearce made no secret of his admiration for Lees, selecting him for the U21 European Championship squad as well as publicly praising his work ethic and professionalism. As for this season, the arrival of Scott Wootton has provided a healthy competitive element at centre back, which will only contribute to his development. Between himself, Wootton and the resurgence in form of Jason Pearce, it is nice to see such strength in depth at centre back. Furthermore, at only 22, Lees can expect another ten years of high level competitions at the top levels of English football. A bright future is in store.

Dominic Poleon

After playing youth football at Chelsea and Southend, Poleon swapped the bright lights of London for Leeds United in 2010. After 2 years developing in the academy alongside our other prospects, Poleon signed his first professional contract in July 2012. An extremely promising pre-season followed and many expected Poleon to burst on the scene at Leeds in his first competitive season. Warnock, however, saw him surplus to requirements after a couple of appearances and sent him out on loan to Bury and Sheffield United. This proved to be highly beneficial, and Poleon was able to raise his game thanks to regular first team football, eventually resulting in being recalled. Scoring in the final game of the season in controversial fashion against Watford to help deny them automatic promotion, Brian McDermott clearly sees something in the Newham-born striker. Poleon adds that much needed element of pace in the forward line, and he is only continuing to get better. With goals seeming to be a rare commodity at Leeds this season, there is a real opportunity for Poleon to make his mark and secure a regular spot in the starting eleven this season.

Alex Mowatt

Following regular scouting excursions to watch him play for his local team Bentley Tigers, Mowatt was recruited into the Leeds academy set up aged 9. Progressing through the ranks with relative ease, Mowatt was given the captain’s armband at U18 level, guiding them to the title in the 2012/13 season. Impressing throughout the campaign, Mowatt signed a professional contract and he has continued to impress in Neil Redfearn’s development squad. This season brought about his debut at first team level, shinning in the Carling Cup victory away at boyhood club Doncaster Rovers. He also continued to show his class and potential in this week’s defeat at St James’ Park, a performance which will do him no harm in helping him to achieve the ultimate aim of breaking into the first team squad on a permanent basis. There is no denying the talents of this young man, and if he continues to develop at this rate, there is no question that he will be a prominent face in the Leeds United starting XI in seasons to come. 

Rodolph Austin: The new skipper moving from strength to strength

Much to the delight of Leeds fans everywhere, the improvements that have occurred during Brian McDermott’s reign at the helm of our club are starting to become apparent. With clear changes to transfer policy and style of play, as well as signs of infrastructural development being implemented, it is without doubt that McDermott is starting to get the best out of the squad as whole, but particularly certain individuals. In the months he’s had as boss at the club, performances and attitudes from players such as Jason Pearce and Ross McCormack have notably improved, but none more so than our new club captain Rodolph Austin.

Seeing a proposed move to Stoke City fall through due to problems with a work permit in 2008, Austin signed for Norwegian outfit SK Brann, making 90 appearances and scoring 15 goals over a number of seasons. Once again, Rudy’s career seemed destined for English football, and he was initially taken on trial at QPR by Neil Warnock. A subsequent bid was made, and rejected, by Brann. However, Warnock got his man the following season, signing him at Leeds in July 2012. The decision to swap the Norwegian league for Leeds was made upon recommendation from midfield colleague and Leeds United legend Eirik Bakke while playing together at SK Brann. It is understood that Bakke was influential in the decision to come to Elland Rd, and interviews suggest that he has never looked back.

Known as ‘The Beast’ by players and fans alike due to his physical intensity on the pitch, Austin has undoubtedly become one of our key players. He has become an ever-present fixture in our midfield, rising to the top of the pecking order in a saturated area of the squad, and McDermott seems to have decided on his first choice midfield: a midfield that is based around the hard-hitting Jamaican. However, this has not always appeared to be the case, with certain criticisms being made during Austin’s first season in English football. Often adopting the role of holding midfielder, Austin’s discipline was called into question by some, with clumsy challenges adding up to costly suspensions, including a red card at home to Brighton last season, resulting in a home defeat. Furthermore, on returning from cracking his ankle bone during the humiliating 6-1 home defeat to an impressiveWatford side, many questioned his overall fitness, appearing a little on the heavy side for both his first touch and his weight. Although this may be down to his reintroduction into a side desperate for form before he was totally match fit, a criticism of the manager not the player, the fact still remained that Rudy did not seem prepared for the intensity of the inevitable crescendo that comes at the end of each Championship season.

Having said this, Austin seems a new player this season. To say that Rudy has countered criticism with his performances is an understatement; his defensive play and work ethic are extremely impressive and a number of top performances have not gone unnoticed, winning Man of the Match in a gritty 0-0 away performance at Leicester. In reference to the harsh criticisms on his overall fitness, Austin now looks in his physical peak, and at 28 his best years are still arguably ahead of him. In addition to this, his skill on the ball has improved remarkably as well. At times during last season, watching Leeds build an attack from the midfield was a painful process, yet Austin has seemed to adapt from Warnock’s ‘hoof ball’ tactics to McDermott’s passing game with ease and grace, as have his midfield colleagues. With this in mind, his on-field performances have impressed the fans and silenced his critics.

It is also pleasing to note that his off field presence has clearly developed, and his appointment as club captain has received total support from the players and fans alike, including former captain Lee Peltier. Although many would struggle to find a criticism of Peltier’s captaincy, it goes without saying that the captain should be the first name on the team sheet, and with the emergence of boy-wonder Sam Byram at right back, Lee was finding himself on the bench all too often to continue to be the captain. With this in mind, a change in leadership was necessary, and Austin has filled the void effortlessly. It is also worth mentioning that he is under no disillusions about how honoured he should be to join the list of legends that have been fortunate enough to captain Leeds United, taking his place alongside revered figures such as Billy Bremner, Gordon Strachan and Lucas Radebe. Speaking after his appointment, he was quick to point out how much pride he felt to be named captain, confirming that it was a role that he would not be taking lightly.

With so much tactical deliberation for Brian McDermott and his staff to mull over, it must be with great relief that, in Austin, we now have both a captain and the focal point of the all-important midfield settled.  Austin is the engine of McDermott’s ever-improving outfit, and although he may not be attracting all the attention through transfer speculation or scoring the goals that we so desperately desire, his consistency and understated performances are just what is required of him. Quietly getting on with his business without so much as a hint of arrogance, Austin will be integral to any success we may have, and it is a delight to see our unsung hero starting to put in the performances to match his desire and will to win. Long may it continue.

Under the radar: the unsung heroes of Leeds United

In a week which saw Billy Bremner voted best Football League captain of all time, the love and adoration that Leeds fans have for players that give everything for the badge has never been clearer. Hugely passionate but also highly respectful of the club’s traditions, old and young Leeds fans alike admire the club’s greats and a player’s status as a Leeds United legend, once earned, is something that lives on long after your playing days are over. Bremner and his coach Revie may be the most venerated Leeds men of all time, but other names such as Lucas Radebe, Peter Lorimer and John Charles stoke nostalgia, rose-tinted stories and recollections of better days amongst even the most battle-hardened supporters. The continued admiration that we as a fanbase have for these elite few got us thinking however – who is the most underrated player ever to pull on the famous white shirt? Who is the true unsung hero of Leeds United? We asked a few of our twitter friends and here is an evaluation of some of the names that were put forward...

Undoubtedly the greatest spell of success that has ever been seen at Elland Road was during the Don Revie era. This team was full of superstars; the 1970s precursor to the crazy gang of Bremner, Charlton, Lorimer, Giles and Clark et al combined robust and often brutal defence with attacking flair and unbreakable team spirit. One name however, suggested by @ChicagoWhite, is mentioned with far less frequency than others – Paul Madeley. Madeley, who sits fifth on the all-time list of domestic appearances with 536, was Leeds born and bred and played with such flexibility that it earned him an England call up to play centre back alongside the great Bobby Moore. His love for the club was unquestionable, once signing a blank contract and leaving then manager Jimmy Armfield to decide his wage saying: “I’ll leave it to you. I just want to play for Leeds”. His dedication to the cause was unbeatable, playing in every position besides goalkeeper during his Leeds career, and it evident that his name, while respected, should be elevated to a status similar to that of Bremner.

Following Revie, Clough’s well-documented nightmare at Leeds and Armfield’s period of mid-table obscurity, Leeds plunged into footballing darkness.  In October 1988, with the team 21^st in the Second Division, Howard Wilkinson was the man given the challenge of dragging the Whites back into England’s football elite. His success at the helm is undeniable; promotion in 1990 and title winners in 1992. However after a period of inconsistency, Wilkinson was fired and George Graham and David O’Leary were left to reap the reward of Wilkinson’s graft behind the scenes. The significance of Wilkinson’s work at Leeds should not be underestimated and, without his development of an effective youth infrastructure in the form of the academy, Leeds would not have the worldwide reputation for developing players that it has now. Indeed, the core of O’Leary’s side including Kewell, Woodgate and Smith were developed under Wilkinson’s tenure. Ultimately, Leeds fans should be eternally grateful for one of his decisions in particular: the signing of Lucas Radebe for just £250,000.

O’Leary’s success and subsequent destruction of Leeds United left the club in an extremely precarious situation. With no money and no players of note, Leeds fans were left clinging onto distant memories of glory as they travelled to League One matches at footballing Meccas such as Stockport County and Wycombe Wanderers. As @LeedsAllOver and @chris_newsom point out, however, one player has subsequently proved his qualities greatly exceeded those of the Leeds team he found himself in. Bradley Johnson played for 3 seasons at Elland Road and was played out of position by McAllister, criticised by fans regularly and even let out on loan by Grayson. It is no wonder then that, upon returning from isolation on the south coast, he requested a transfer. Norwich City was the team who picked him up and his move has since proved the catalyst for yearly raids for our best players by the East Anglia outfit. Since his switch, Johnson has established himself as a Premier League regular and a fan favourite at Carrow Road. He has played with an enthusiasm and aggression that he never showed at Leeds and perhaps Grayson and the fans (myself included) will look back at Johnson as the one that got away.

The players mentioned are just some of the names that were suggested for this article, and you will find a list of the others below. The level of respect among the fans for players that leave everything on the pitch is staggering, and it is a key factor in instilling the Leeds United values in the next generation of fans. No matter who your favourite player is (or who you feel deserves more from the fans), Leeds United supporters are always searching for their next legend.

Other suggestions:

Neil Kilkenny, @curran_steve

Dennis Irwin, @waynesnodin

Peter Haddock, @waynesnodin

Eirik Bakke, @jakerleedsblog

Mick Bates, @LeedsintheBlood

Luciano Becchio, @Jordan_Armo

Carl Shutt, @dodgylufc

Gary Kelly, @lufcstats

Andrew Hughes, @LeedsEditor

Rod Wallace, @LeedsEditor

Robert Snodgrass, @BakkeTheNet

Robert Molenaar, @TSSLUFC

Danny Mills, @craigpLufc

Raiding the bargain bin: loan deals that could change our season

As another frenzied transfer deadline day passed without news from Thorp Arch, Leeds fans can reflect on the window with more optimism than in previous years. Under Neil Warnock, the farcical strategy of signing up free agents in the twilight of their careers to long contracts took us nearer to relegation than promotion. It is these errors in judgement that have restricted Brian McDermott’s ability to put his own finishing touches on a squad that has shown some early season promise. Indeed, the wages of those such as David Norris and Danny Pugh remain on our books and money for players is tight. However, with £630 million spent on new players in the Premier League this year and the emergency loan market opening, our attention turns to the unfortunate stars of top tier teams who are unlikely to feature regularly at the Premier League level. Their loss could undoubtedly be our gain, and we look at who McDermott could bring in from the cold to spark life into our promotion push.

Ricardo Vaz Te

Why is he available? Frozen out by Allardyce, the striker went public with his desire to leave this window only to see a move to Norwich fall through.

Why do we want him? The Portuguese striker has a staggering scoring pedigree at Championship level, having bagged 10 in 22 appearances for an underwhelming Barnsley side before netting the vital goals that secured bounce-back promotion for the Hammers (including a late winner in the play-off final). Crucially, Vaz Te would provide some much needed pace in the Leeds forward line and, despite having a tendency to become a passenger when isolated up front, would be a perfect partner to Ross McCormack - standing at 6 ft 2, his height and pace could prove extremely destructive in tandem with our Scottish marksman.

Could we get him? With his services already considered by West Ham’s Premier League rivals, there is no doubt he will get to choose from a wide selection of suitors. Forest, Reading and Leicester are also reportedly interested and ultimately their superior financial strength could be a deal breaker.

Stephen Dobbie

Why is he available? Curiously left out of the 25 at Crystal Palace despite only signing permanently this summer.

Why do we want him? The lack of width in the current Leeds United team is no secret, and Brian McDermott’s attempts to bring in Chris Burke on deadline day indicate that this is an area he will undoubtedly try to strengthen. Dobbie is a Championship stalwart with a proven track record for promotion having won consecutive play-off finals with Blackpool and Swansea and, as well as his ability to cross the ball in from wide areas, his knack for stealing goals from midfield could prove very useful given that only four teams have scored fewer goals in the Championship so far this season.

Could we get him? He will undoubtedly look for a move elsewhere and could be a realistic target. However, his affinity for Blackpool coupled with their rise to the top of the table could see him return to the Seasiders on loan for a third time.

Adam Morgan

Why is he available? Not ready for 1^st XI action at Liverpool, Morgan is clearly part of Rodger’s plans for the future having played in European games last season and so may look to secure him regular first team action elsewhere.

Why do we want him? Can play as a striker or as a left winger, Morgan is rising through the ranks at Liverpool and needs regular games to continue his progression. Highly rated by those with connections to Liverpool (Robbie Fowler describing him as ‘one of the best finishers I’ve seen for a long, long time’), he would provide another option up-front and, if Hunt continues to struggle for goals, could be the poacher-style striker we need to turn goalless draws into scrappy 1-0s.

Could we get him? Had a short loan spell at Rotherham last season, Rodgers is clearly willing to let him learn the ropes away from Anfield and he may not attract as much competition as some of the more experienced Premier League names.

Marc Albrighton

Why is he available? Seemingly out of favour with Paul Lambert, Albrighton has spent far too much time on the bench for such a young talent - it seems Lambert’s philosophy of youth over experience does not include him.

Why do we want him? An out and out winger, Albrighton brings the pace and flair that we clearly lack. At only 23, his best years are still ahead of him, and he is an exciting player that may just benefit in the long term from a new team when you look at the vast influx of new players at Aston Villa in recent seasons. Scoring the 20,000^th goal of the Premier League in the 2011/12 season, he clearly knows how to find the net, a quality that is of high importance in a new recruit to take the pressure off Ross McCormack.

Could we get him? There is no reason why not. Although Marc is of Premier League quality, the chances of a top flight team looking at incoming loans at this stage of the season is becoming more and more unlikely. With no already rumoured clubs interested, his acquisition seems ‘fair game’

We all wait with excitement to see if anyone is brought in on loan in the next few weeks. Regardless of who we bring in, it is paramount that current squad members continue to challenge each other for places in the first XI. One thing is for sure, if you can hit the ground running and contribute to earning points, there are few better places in the Championship to play your football than Elland Road.

Ross McCormack – the most important ‘signing’ of the transfer window

With the transfer window drawing to a close, unfortunately for Leeds United ensuring players do not leave has started to eclipse the excitement generated by the arrival of potential new recruits. In the case of this season, although new signings Matt Smith, Noel Hunt, Luke Murphy and Scott Wootton have generally been well received, maintaining the services of Ross McCormack was an absolute requirement if the team is to give itself a chance at promotion.

The news that Leeds fans had been waiting for finally came on Friday with the in-form striker signing a new four year contract, a deal greeted with a unanimous sense of relief. The current campaign has thus far generated an optimistic and unified spirit amongst the fans, with the team yielding 8 points from their first 5 matches, only losing for the first time this season to promotion tipped QPR yesterday lunch time. This start has been welcomed with open arms, and it is undeniable that this is largely down to the form of the diminutive Scot. With 4 goals so far this season, his marksmanship has proven vital in turning decent performances into quantifiable success - but it is more than just scoring goals that makes McCormack so vital to Leeds United. One of our more skilful players, he is the source of inspiration in times of need, and losing him would most likely have expelled a promising looking squad to another spluttering season of mid-table insignificance. However, it is the off-the-pitch impact of his potential sale that makes Ross’ status as a Leeds United player so vital.

 Although his ability makes Ross a key asset to the club, it is the precedent that has been set by retaining his services for another four years that will have the greater effect on the team and the fans alike. Transfer activity in seasons gone by has been bleak for Leeds United, and all too often our star players have been sold to rival clubs for bargain prices. Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio among others all sold without reinvestment, and a former footballing powerhouse gained the unwanted reputation of a ‘selling club’. However, since the departure of Ken Bates, the Leeds fans are finally in good spirits; home games are packed out (including 33,000+ on the opening day vs. Brighton) and financial support, however miniscule in comparison to other big spending rivals, is finally being placed into the hands of a much-loved and well trusted manager. Having said this, all the good work of the new owners would have unravelled should Ross have been sold; happiness would have soon turn to anger and despair, crowd numbers would have dwindled and the whirlwind of negativity would have gained pace yet again.

With financial fair play regulations and the acquisition of a much needed winger to consider, it is naïve to suggest that the club would have not at least momentarily considered cashing in on one of their most sellable assets. It is common knowledge that ‘deadwood’ players such as David Norris and Danny Pugh (amongst others) must be moved on for others to be brought in, yet this is proving to be difficult. Nonetheless, selling Ross was simply not an option if the ambitious push for top flight football is to be realised. Though one cannot condone Boro’s attempts to sign one of the Championship’s major talents, the money that was reportedly put forward is considerably far off a realistic valuation, negating any credible argument that selling would have been a viable option. Thankfully for both Leeds fans and players, the board are well aware of the importance placed in the hands of our number forty-four, with Managing Director David Haigh taking to Twitter saying “The fans have been chanting ‘Ross McCormack is not for sale’, and how could we ignore that?”. A refreshing change in stance towards the selling of our players, undoubtedly.

The way that the Ross McCormack ‘transfer saga’ has been dealt with clearly shows how the installation of new owners and an ambitious manager can totally change the way a football club is run, and this can only prove to be a positive change. For the first time in years, there is a positive attitude at Elland Road, something that would have been unthought-of towards the end of Ken Bates’ frugal and demoralising reign at the helm of the football club. In addition to this, it is the momentum achieved both on and off the pitch that can be taken to achieve our goals of promotion – a goal that is no longer a distant dream, but a realistic target.