Protecting LUFC values or get-rich-quick? The Manchester City debate

For as long I can remember, there have been desperate pleas from Leeds fans everywhere aimed at the various owners for more financial backing to push the team towards the achievable goals of that time. Whether a push to maintain our position in European football or to get out of the seemingly bottomless pit that is the Football League, fans everywhere seem to pin all hopes on financial impetus. It is undeniable that the world of football is becoming dominated by the rich, leaving the rest of us behind, wondering why business tycoons are not locked in a bidding war over the rights to Leeds United. As the prospective Cellino takeover spreads into yet another week, we at @LUFC_Calypso ask an important question: would Leeds fans accept a detachment from the history, heritage and values of our club in favour of success through shady financial injections?

Sheikh Mansour and Roman Abramovich of Manchester City and Chelsea respectively are just two examples of unhealthily rich, football-ignorant owners who have taken the helm at two of the world’s biggest and richest clubs. They have brought undeniable success, but it is irrefutable that the images of these two powerhouses of Europe have undertaken wholesale changes, and the clubs we know today are completely distinct from the Chelsea and Manchester City of old. To those not old enough to experience the pre-billionaire Chelsea or Manchester City, I’m sure this is of no huge concern, with the gluttony of the board room resulting in footballing success, yet it is worth considering those who have supported these clubs in previous generations. They have seen seasons come and go and ups and downs pass with ecstasy and despair in equal measure, only for that wealth of heritage to be completely destroyed in favour of a financial overhaul. It seems that the cost of success is not merely limited to money.

Analysis of the Manchester City model and adapting it to Leeds United makes an interesting debate. From Ridsdale to Bates, GFH Capital to Cellino, Leeds fans have experienced their fair share of agony, purely down to the financial meltdowns and frugal ownerships of the past. However, it cannot be forgotten that Leeds United is an English football institution, possessing a reputation that engenders adoration from its fans and respect from its enemies. From the golden years of Revie and Bremner to the modern day bastions of Radebe, Speed and Strachan, Leeds United has an identity that we would not swap for any amount of money. With that in mind, I am less than convinced that the fast approaching ‘Cellino years’ will be anything more than a minor blip in our otherwise illustrious heritage.

Make no mistake; we are keen to see a wealthy owner walk through the doors of Elland Road. We must be careful what we wish for, however, and until a sustainable owner is in charge, this farcical takeover merry-go-round will continue to heap financial peril upon us. The examples set by Bill Kenwright (Everton) and Dave Whelan (Wigan) prove that it is possible for those holding the money to gain the respect of those in the dugout, on the field and in the stands while sticking to a sustainable business model. This is what we need. It is absolutely imperative that the club identity is not sacrificed for financial gain. Before we welcome any-old tyrant into our club, we must consider the consequences it may have on our history. We’re All Leeds Aren’t We.

What is your view on Cellino? Do you think his takeover will damage the Leeds United reputation? As always, we welcome your thoughts – tweet us at @LUFC_Calypso!

5 reasons LUFC should keep Brian McDermott

The soap opera-like drama of the last few weeks has left the majority of Leeds United fans thanking their lucky stars that Brian McDermott remains at the helm of the club, at least for now. Whilst our club has only made further dents into our far from impeccable reputation, McDermott has held himself together quite brilliantly, showing the sporting world the consummate professional that he is. We at @LUFC_Calypso feel that it is vitally important that he remains at the club for the remainder of this season and for the start of the next, and have offered up 5 reasons as to why this is so important for our future.

1)      He loves the club

One of McDermott’s more appealing qualities is his loyalty. With a number of high profile managers in the modern game finding themselves changing clubs like they change their clothes, McDermott has shown through his time at Reading that, if the club is right, he will give his all for the club and their fans. This is no different with us, and his love for the club and more notably the fans is something that we should not turn our backs on. The mutual respect between him and the fans has not always been shared with previous managers, and this should not be taken for granted. The clear emotion he showed in his press conference says it all – he’s Leeds and he knows he is.

2)      His scouting background makes him the perfect man to rebuild our squad

Although many have been quick to criticise McDermott in the two transfer windows for which he’s been in charge, there is no doubt that with our squad needing serious rebuilding, there aren’t many more equipped to undergo such a challenge. With perhaps Noel Hunt being the odd-one-out, McDermott’s permanent signings have been young, prospective talents who will ultimately prove to be good acquisitions and, in stark contrast to Warnock, there can’t be too many complaints. In addition to this, with his hands clearly tied behind his back in January, McDermott has handled it better than many would. McDermott must be given the opportunity to weed out the deadwood players and replace them with more forward thinking players. This is all dependent on the never-ending takeover scandal being resolved, but the least he deserves is a fair crack at a transfer window with some money to spend.

3)      He wants to play a style of football that pleases the fans

Despite the occasional incident of referring back to Warnock’s hoof-ball values, it is clear to see that McDermott is trying to play football the way that almost all the fans would like us to be playing. Passing the ball on the floor was unheard of during the Warnock era, yet McDermott is gradually emphasising that we have to play that way to achieve success. Whether the current players have the ability to play that way consistently remains to be seen.  The personnel can be changed, but we need a tactical and technical framework to build upon. Brian offers us that.

4)      He is a consummate professional

Although the touchline antics of the Di Canios of this world are intensely entertaining from the outside, it must be difficult to hold any kind of respect for a manager who seems to have no respect for the game. Again, many criticise McDermott for being ‘too nice’, yet I see no problem with the manager of a football club maintaining a sense of dignity in the face of the press and the footballing world. None of us know what goes on behind closed doors, and the fact that he has the full support of the dressing room means he’s doing something right. Letting your football do the talking, or at least trying, is an enviable quality.

5)      He knows how to get out of this division

McDermott clearly possesses the formula that must be adopted in order to get out of this division, and turning our backs on a man who clearly knows how it’s done would be naïve to say the least. Although placing our faith in promotion specialists hasn’t succeeded in the past, McDermott is still hungry for success, something that cannot be said for Neil Warnock upon appointment at our club. It is undeniable that a change in management does work in certain circumstances, yet it is crucial that Brian is given the opportunity to see his 3-year-plan through.

Whether or not Massimo Cellino, GFH Capital or Together Leeds end up owning our club, the fate of McDermott as a long term manager at the club is far from certain, yet we strongly believe that we have the right man in charge currently, and we must keep it that way. Marching on Together. Do you think McDermott is doing a good job? Do you think he will keep his job until the end of the season? As always, let us know your thoughts by tweeting us at @LUFC_Calypso!

Remaining ‘in the hunt’ for the play-offs: what do we need to do?

The last two weeks of my life as a Leeds United fan have been possibly the most frustrating since our last flirtation with financial turmoil. Credit must go to GFH who have, against the odds, trumped relegations, play-off final defeats and Bates-induced fits of rage to earn their place at the top of a long list of Leeds United low points. There has been frenzied media coverage of the chaos at Elland Road in recent times, and our sincere thanks go to @PhilHayYEP and @APOPEY for their attempts to keep the fans informed. This week at @LUFC_Calypso, we thought we would put the takeover madness to one side and focus on what really matters – the football. Can we still hope to sneak into the play-offs or should we consolidate for next season? Can McDermott rally the troops given the uncertainty surrounding his position? Brian has repeatedly stated that Leeds must be ‘in the hunt’ with 10 games to go, so we take a look at our next 7 games and what needs to be done to ensure this is the case.

The Championship tables for the last six seasons make very interesting viewing. The required points tally for 6^th place is generally getting lower and 68 points, the lowest tally since the Championship’s inception, was enough last year to take Palace into the play-offs. The average for the last six seasons has been 72 points, 30 more than we currently have with 17 games to go, and so the focus must be on securing as much as possible from the next 7 fixtures. The last 10 games are notoriously unreliable; clubs struggling for survival can take points from those further up the division and consequently a run of wins before Easter can push a team from mid-table obscurity to promotion favourites. Now more than ever is the time when momentum, good or bad, can swell to feverish proportions and as fans we must play our part in creating this buzz. McDermott is undoubtedly the perfect man to engender this spirit within our players, shown by Reading’s run of 8 wins to lift them from mid-table to Champions two years ago. There are a plethora of ifs involved in such an ascent but, if Ross keeps scoring, if the takeover is completed and if McDermott can keep his job then positivity may break out and 18-20 points from the last 10 games could become a realistic target.

That leaves the next 7 games. Between now and 22^nd March, we play Brighton (A), Middlesbrough (A), QPR (A), Bolton (H), Reading (H), Burnley (A) and Millwall (H). Crucially, 5 of these 7 games are against top 12 opposition, and any aspirations of a top 6 place rest on our success against those around us. Our away form has been notoriously bad the last 2 seasons (perhaps the players struggle without a throng of Yorkshire noise behind them) and so particular importance rests on the home fixture against Reading, a team that currently rests in the coveted 6^th spot. Victory in this fixture, a point from each of the difficult top 12 clashes and at least one win against Bolton and Millwall is absolutely essential. McDermott knows Reading better than most others, and the mouth salivates at the dream of the ‘Oh Brian McDermott’ chant in full swing as we run riot against the last team to give Brian the boot.

Whatever the outcome of the next 7 games, we need to find a consistency in performance that has been lacking thus far this season. There have been times when our displays have matched those of Leicester, QPR or any other team with genuine promotion hopes, but all too often we have buckled to less formidable opponents. We are confident that consistency in the next 7 games will leave us in a position to challenge and who knows, the run-in could be every bit as nail-biting as the takeover tension we’re consumed with at the moment.

Do you think Leeds United can make the top 6? Which games do you consider the ‘must-wins’ over the next 6 weeks? As always, we love to hear your thoughts and comments – tweet us at @LUFC_Calypso.