Leeds United in 2013: the triumphs and the tragedies

It has been an enthralling 12 months for British football, with fans across the country mesmerised by the emerging talents of Bale, Barkley and Townsend, captivated by off-field implosions at Cardiff City and stunned by the dramatic end to Fergie time. With the calendar year coming to a close, Leeds players have kicked their last ball for 2013. As a result, this week at @LUFC_Calypso we reminisce about the past year at Elland Road and take stock of our own miracles and miseries; we’ve compiled a list of our best and worst moments in the last year and take a look at what lies in store for LUFC in 2014.

The highs

#BATESOUT

In the summer of 2013, Leeds fans were treated to a headline they had been dreaming about for months: Ken Bates was gone and he was never coming back. The bitter taste left by Bates’ inclusion as Club President after GFH Capital’s takeover was washed away by his unceremonious sacking in July; chants, banners and hashtags were finally vindicated and a new sense of optimism spread throughout the club. Clever initiatives were implemented by GFH to restore a community feel and raise attendances and, with the 7 figure signing of Luke Murphy, it seems the ambitions of the ownership finally mirror those of the fans.

FA and Capital One Cup excitement

League form was patchy and morale was low, but stunning performances in the domestic Cups conjured nostalgic memories of what it was like to compete with the best. Epic victories against Premier League opposition returned Leeds United to the back pages and, just for a moment, we were all able to forget reality and imagine our heroic return to the summit of English football.

Youthful exuberance

2013 saw a long-overdue return to the Academy as we start our attempts to phase out the has-beens and hatchet-men. Sam Byram was the star of the show in the 2012-2013, collecting the Player of the Year award and attracting the interest of Premier League clubs before injuries have stalled his progress this term. Alex Mowatt has also broken though and has all the skills to dominate the LUFC midfield for years to come.

The lows

Stagnation under Warnock

Neil Warnock’s reputation for promotion was dented by his time at Leeds and fans grew tired of his outdated methods, short-sighted signings and reluctance to buy into the ethos of the club. The team played ugly football without the caveat of winning, stuttering to a 13^th place finish. Crucially, Warnock’s players and tactics have installed an unwanted blueprint on the dressing room that is taking time to rewrite.

The deadwood remains

Warnock’s greatest crime in signing a raft of elder statesmen was not just their dwindling talent but the length of time they remain connected to the club. Performances this season have shown that Brown, Norris, Green and others simply cannot perform adequately at this level and until their contracts have run down they tie up wages that could be better spent elsewhere.

Derby day disasters

‘Derby day disasters’ could easily refer to a horrific ongoing run of defeats at the hands of Derby County, but in fact we have been left lamenting our performances against our local rivals. In the 7 derby games since 29/12/12, we have only managed one win (against Sheffield Wednesday) and racked up four losses (including back-to-back defeats against Huddersfield). Yorkshire bragging rights will only become irrelevant if we are able to leave them all behind in the Championship come May 2014.

What was your LUFC highlight of 2013? What would you like to see change in the New Year? As always, we welcome your comments and feedback – let us know your thoughts by tweeting us at @LUFC_Calypso!

The January transfer window: LUFC old boys or fresh blood?

Amidst the endless transfer speculation brought about by impending re-launch of the transfer window, prospective targets are thrown about more often than a Michael Brown two-footed tackle. The transfer merry-go-round that takes place on social media at this time of year generates a  plethora of names, both fresh faces and United alumni alike, leading to every ITK under the sun claiming they can reveal the identity of the next new, or in some cases not so new, face to join our club. With this in mind, we at @LUFC_Calypso have taken it upon ourselves to analyse the values of two ex-players that have been the subject of intense speculation regarding their return to LUFC; Max Gradel and Luciano Becchio. Both have been strongly linked with a return to Elland Rd, yet many feel that their current ability is less than when they first left our promotion chasing squad. We also consider other frequently-linked transfer targets, in particular Nahki Wells and Gary Mackay-Steven. Can our LUFC old boys can fire us to the top, or does the future of the football club lie in a new crop of young and ambitious players? We take a closer look...

Max Gradel is the name on many United fans’ lips after reams of gossip column inches suggesting that a reunion is imminent. With McDermott alluding to our apparent interest in the press last week, the relationship

between Gradel and the club is stronger than ever, with both fans and Max making their feelings on a potential return more than clear. Scoring 18 goals in the 2010/11 season, Gradel was a hugely influential player in our failed promotion push. Providing us with some much needed width and pace, Gradel would more than likely be a success should he return. However, with chronic knee injuries since his departure, and a well-documented fiery temperament, many consider him to be a potential liability both physically and mentally. This unpredictability does not seem to be compatible with McDermott’s search for consistency.

Looking further afield, Gary Mackay-Steven is a player at the peak of his ability. At 24, the Dundee United winger is realising his potential further with every game, and with 7 goals this season, Mackay-Steven seems to combine genuine wing play with an eye for goal. Mackay-Steven is certainly a player that we would love to see in white come the closing of the January window, yet his availability remains far from clear. Nevertheless, Mackay Steven looks every inch a Premier League player, and the Dundee flyer’s signature would represent a mouth-watering statement of ambition.

As we mentioned in a previous article, Becchio has the credentials that may prove appealing for Brian

McDermott. A proven record and a clear affinity with the club, many consider it to be a match made in heaven. However, Nakhi Wells offers qualities that are simply not at McDermott’s disposal in the current squad. Scoring 15 goals in 19 appearances so far this season, Wells’ sheer pace only adds impetus to the claim that League One is significantly below his capabilities. With 42 goals in 63 appearances since signing for local rivals Bradford, the Bermudan is rightly considered one of the Football League’s hot properties, and although questions may be asked about whether he is within our price range, he is certainly a talent that should not be overlooked given our need for versatility and pace in equal measure.

Having said this, pigeon-holing Wells as a mere speed merchant is doing him a disservice, and he has consistently shown finishing qualities that will stand up when he is inevitably tested at a higher level. Comparing Wells with former fan favourite Becchio like-for-like is simply not possible, with both players offering directly opposite skill sets. For McDermott, it is a simple case of comparing the value of a proven goal scoring record against an unproven prodigy. Becchio clearly knows how to score at this level, something which cannot be underestimated. However, with Matt Smith offering some similar qualities to Becchio, Wells would be the obvious choice. Whether swooping for the 23 year old is viable, we shall see.

By signing Wells and Mackay Steven as opposed to Gradel and Becchio, McDermott would be setting a precedent of buying players in the prime with the future in mind, a precedent that in our opinion would be welcomed with open arms. As always, we welcome your comments and feedback – let us know your thoughts by tweeting us at @LUFC_Calypso!

Matt Smith: huge improvements from our gentle giant

Before the season started, the majority of Leeds fans were fearful that we simply did not have enough firepower up front to mount a serious challenge for the top 6. Undoubtedly, McCormack’s incredible form following his jittery start has helped to allay these fears and, as well as our star man topping the individual goal scoring table, Leeds sit in joint second for goals scored with 32. A huge amount of credit is due to McCormack and to the team for creating the chances for him, but here at @LUFC_Calypso we feel there is another striker who is quietly improving game by game. There were many, including us, who saw the signing of Matt Smith from Oldham on a free as a ‘Batesian’ attempt to save money but, thanks to his hard work and selfless attitude towards forward play, Matt Smith has developed into a worthy Championship number 9. We take a closer look at the contributing factors to Smith’s progress...

The Player

Matt Smith burst onto the scene last season with eye-catching displays in the FA Cup against Liverpool and Everton. These moments, already part of FA Cup history, gave the football world a glimpse of his talent and potential. However, closer inspection of the man many described as “the new Peter Crouch” showed that this potential remained largely unfulfilled, and Oldham narrowly avoided relegation with Smith scoring just 6 goals in the league all season. Since his move to Leeds, Smith has turned a mental corner and his efforts now go far beyond an attempt to stick his head on the ball at the back post. Smith has become a tenacious and selfless strike companion for McCormack, and while there are still improvements to be made, he has greatly enhanced his ability to hold up the ball and flick it on to midfield runners. Credit must be given to a player that works hard in training and, once given his opportunity in the team, does everything in his power to secure his name on the team sheet more regularly - he has already matched his 6 League One goals last term with 6 in the Championship so far this season.

The Manager

Most Leeds fans know that prior to his stint as Reading manager, McDermott worked for 9 years as their Chief Scout. This experience helped McDermott to spot the potential worth of Smith to the squad, and his time as an U19s coach has also been invaluable experience for nurturing this young talent and moulding his style of play to best suit our team. McDermott saw the prospective benefits of the giant Smith next to our diminutive Scot, and McDermott’s decision to take a risk on Smith when others wouldn’t has been vindicated by his goals and his link up play with McCormack.

The Fans

As a fan base we have the ability to create club legends as well as pressurise players to the point of total isolation. In recent seasons, our fans have been extremely vociferous against those they feel should not be linked with the club. Many players, and notably Bates and Warnock off the field, have received sustained negative chanting and there was a danger that Smith would receive similar treatment. Unimpressed by his signing, the fans could have used Smith’s signature as a vehicle for voicing their dismay at the lack of investment in the squad. Thankfully, the fans have given Smith the time to work on his game and this patience has allowed him to develop his talent and flourish in front of fans who all want to see him succeed. Smith’s clear love for the club, aided in no small way by the support he gets from fans, will only help him become a more and more destructive force up front for LUFC.

Do you think Smith has what it takes to get us promoted? Do you think there are other strikers out there within our budget that could do a better job? As always, let us know your feedback, thoughts and comments at @LUFC_Calypso!

Will the festive period make or break our promotion push?

After a lacklustre defeat at the hands of Blackburn, an impressive midweek victory against Wigan and an inspiring comeback against Watford on Saturday, the words ‘mixed bag’ spring to mind. Having navigated our way through a week of difficult fixtures with a reasonable return, we at @LUFC_Calypso turn our attentions to the demanding Christmas fixture list that awaits, and how the period that so usually contributes to our downfall could be so important come the end of the season.

Back to back Yorkshire derbies, the first against Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium followed by a home match against Barnsley are games from which an in-form Leeds United must surely be looking to secure maximum points. If our promotion ambitions are to be realised, these are the potential banana skin fixtures that must be negotiated without dropping points. Following this, difficult fixtures against Blackpool and Forest on the 26^th and 29^th of December respectively will provide us with a real test of our progression so far this season, with both teams proving to be promotion rivals. Finally, with the return fixture against Blackburn, a chance to avenge the aforementioned loss, takes place on New Year’s Day and, following that, our busy festive period reverts to a more normal structure. We feel that yielding 10 points from these games would be a reasonable return. As the biggest test on a developing squad, a quick succession of difficult matches will be the ones that will give us a real insight into whether our so-called ‘purple patch’ is exactly that or simply a sign that we’ve turned a corner this season. For the first time in several seasons, many consider us to be genuine promotion contenders, and the hard work of the first 19 games would all be in vein should the heavy workload of the festive period get on top of us. Sitting in 8^th and only 1 point off a promotion spot, we’re in a great position in the prolonged run-up to the business end of the season. With a decent goal difference and good momentum behind us, the importance of the next 10 games cannot be over-emphasized.

Although it is critical that we do not get ahead of ourselves, it is worth noting that several teams around us are just starting to show signs of a dip in form. QPR seem to struggle killing off games with the all-important second goal at times, highlighted by their 0-0 draw at home this weekend. With Burnley winning their first game this weekend since late October, their reign as a seemingly unbeatable force also looks to be coming to an end. Leicester’s back-to-back defeats this week have seem them knocked off top spot, and Derby, Reading and Blackpool have all endured inconsistent seasons at times. This league is crying out for a team to take a hold of it as Cardiff did so effectively for much of their victorious campaign last season, and as it stands, not one team seems to want to take on the mantle as the one to beat. Peaking at just the right time could be the difference between a good season and an unforgettable one. For now, let’s just keep ourselves in the hunt, starting with our Christmas fixture list.

A Gary Speed Tribute – 2 years on

As I’m sure most of you are aware, this week marked the 2 year anniversary of the tragic death of Leeds United legend Gary Speed. With this in mind, we wanted to pay our respects to a true great in the history of our club.

Almost unanimously considered to be one of the most talented players ever to pull on the white shirt, Speedo was influential in the development of our club during his years in Yorkshire. Earning his first senior contract in 1988, he instantly became a fan favourite. Making his first appearance in 1989 vs Oldham at Elland Rd, Speedo quickly became a key cog in the Leeds United engine. Scoring 57 goals in his 312 appearances for the club, he epitomised the term ‘ all-round midfielder’, contributing to his side winning the 1992 Football League First Division title. His efforts did not go unnoticed, and Speed was selected for the PFA Team of the Year for the 1992-93 season, alongside fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs and Premier League legends Alan Shearer and Roy Keane. Not only this, former manager Howard Wilkinson granted him the accolade of Player of the Season in 1992. Gary went on to become a United hero and helped to form one of the best midfield partnerships in the modern era alongside Batty, Strachan and McAllister. This, in part, contributed to his impressive record in his time at United, only losing 46 of the 143 games he played in (34%). Moving on from his tenure in United colours, Speed was the proverbial bridesmaid, reaching 3 major finals without finishing on the winning side on any occasion (1 of which for Leeds, losing to Villa in the 1996 League Cup). This unfortunate record does not detract from his other career achievements;  he was the first player ever to gain 500 premier league appearances.

The high regard in which Speedo is held by Leeds fans has never been more evident than during the poignant remembrance applause that takes place on the 11th minute at games. This is also the case at St James’ Park, and it is no surprise that arguably 2 of the most vociferous and fanatical set of supporters in English football provide such a fitting tribute to a man who left such a mark on fans, ex-players and football enthusiasts alike. Just days after his passing, an inspired United systematically took apart a Nottingham Forest side, proving just how much of an inspiration Gary proved to be even for players who weren’t fortunate enough to play alongside him.  Gone but not forgotten, Speedo will always live on in the memories of any Leeds United fan, and long may that continue.

We have gathered a list below of some of your glowing tributes to the man. Marching on Together.

@lufcstats: The moment Snoddy scored at forest....After 11 minutes of Gary Speed will live with me for ever and a day

@haighdavid: RIP Gary Speed, your legend lives on forever!#speedo #lufc

@Jordan_Armo: Such a waste of talent taken from us way too early #lufc and the rest of the football world still in mourning after this tragic loss he may be gone but his legacy lives on#RIPSPEEDO OH GARY GARY GARY GARY GARYSPEED #MOT

@weareleeds_: As a kid when the training ground used to be on the car park round back of ER, there was a training session on & got invited to do a bit of ball work from the doorman who used to work at ER, I was so nervous & excited, seeing the likes of Speed, McAllister Strachan, it was a dream come true, got pictures with them, they were all very nice. Like Speed, he was a player that every kid wanted to be. I will never forget that day, it was the 1st thing I thought of that tragic morning 2 years ago.

@mattjpsmith: RIP Gary Speed. Legend.

@LeedsUtdPics: I never saw him play for Leeds, but was there when we beat Forest 4-0 with the eleven minutes forGary speed, my favourite moment in football when Snodgrass scored a couple of seconds after we finished the eleven minutes! You couldn't write it, no one could believe it!

@LeedsUnitedLiam: Nottingham Forrest away when we beat them 4-0, unbelievable game, all for Gary Speed!

@waynesnodin: To me personally he was part of a fantastic midfield, Speed, Batty, Strachan & Mcallister. He had everything including looks. One of the best headers of the ball I’ve ever seen. Always remember the commentator v Sheffield Utd when Speed out through by Camara “Go on Gary get one yourself son & he did. LEGEND

@craigstewart79: I met him the once, it was 1990 vs spurs & he'd just signed loads of autographs. He was halfway back down the tunnel & I shouted 'Gary' he came all the way back up & signed my programme. I remember a big smile on his face too. He was my childhood hero & someone who I wanted to be like. I felt like a part of my childhood was taken away 2 years ago RIP

Finally, thanks again to @LUFCDATA for his help with a stats package.