Continuity or bust – the Calypso blueprint for success

With three games behind us, Leeds fans have been exposed to the customary extreme highs and lows yet again. Disappointment at The Den followed by jubilation against our Yorkshire rivals on Saturday and an almost embarrassing defeat at the hands of Brighton on Tuesday night perfectly epitomises our inability to gain momentum. Consistently inconsistent once again, the need for some kind of prolonged, predictable form yielding good results and points continues to escape us. We at LUFC Calypso feel that only when we achieve this will a season of success await us, at this level and onwards.

After a quite frankly worrying opening day defeat at the hands of Millwall, fans can hardly be blamed for adopting such a negative outlook. However, 3 good signings and a home win against Middlesboro turned a fan base fearing for the worst to a group of speculative dreamers. This proved to be a minor blip as once again getting turned over at home on a Tuesday night was evidently too much to handle. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to establish that consistent results and acknowledging our strongest starting eleven is crucial in mounting a season that doesn’t end in a relegation battle. Dave ‘The Hock’ Hockaday has frequently mentioned the need for competition for places, and I do agree with this, but making changes for the sake of changes seems pointless. The much criticised midfield cohort needs stripping back, ousting anyone not good enough and developing those that are. The likes of Dawson, Mowatt and Cook either need the chance to establish themselves or told that this season has come a year too soon for them. Personally, the form of Murphy and Austin in particular is crying out for their replacement, giving them the reality check they need whilst also giving our young, homegrown talent the chance to prosper. Whether The Hock has the tactical nous, the bottle or the authority to go for such a strategy remains unclear, and I do appreciate that managing Leeds United from my sofa seems a lot simpler that it will be in reality. Even so, it’s time for Hockaday to stamp his authority on this squad whilst he still can.

Consistency off the field seems to be on the horizon, but you can’t help that feel that there might be more than meets the eye. Cellino is a complete enigma, impossible to predict or rely upon, but faith in his regime will remain until the wheels start to come off from our end. Financial stability and an endurable atmosphere must be created, and from the outside we as fans have no idea on either spectrum. High profile bust ups and fall outs have got to be a thing of the past, but I fear that Cellino’s confrontational nature will make that almost impossible. Managers with greater pedigree and respect in the game have come and gone in recent years, seeing their respective owners causing more drama than an evening down Walford high street. Ultimately this has proven too much for managers considered being up to the challenge, and although currently The Hock seems relaxed and unflustered, the cracks may begin to emerge. If this is the case, and the home dugout is graced by 2 or 3 managers every season, Cellino may well be navigating us towards self-destruction.

Our message for Cellino is simple – work out a formula to achieve success and see it through. Change it up too much and we’re asking for trouble. Tinkering and ensuring tactics do not become stale is absolutely necessary, but above all playing our strongest XI and giving a coach you trust time to stamp his authority is paramount. Oh, and no black current squash, purple or the number 17, but that’s a given.

A Calypso Season Preview

It’s that time again. With the national team filling our hearts with the barrage of depression and fury, it’s time to turn our attention back to Leeds United. The summer break has seen the wholesale changes that many fans had called for, with the squad, manager and everything in between seeming to have been completely revamped. As our perennial charge for promotion, or rather the inevitable attempt to avoid relegation, starts once again tomorrow lunchtime, we at @LUFC_Calypso took some time to access the changes at Elland Rd, casting our verdict on the season ahead.

The Manager:

Dubbed as the next Jose Mourinho by absolutely nobody in footballing history, Dave Hockaday’s appointment hardly made the United faithful jump out of their skin with excitement. Allegedly on roughly 10% of Brian McDermott’s 750k salary, it is clear to see strategy that the club president has taken. Thus, when it comes to making some kind of profound statement about the enigma that is ‘The Hock’, it proves to be very difficult indeed. At the end of the day, Hockaday is a man who knows a bit about football, so that helps. He’s not fancy, doesn’t interview particularly well, and has about as much charisma as Phil Neville in co-commentary, but he might just fit the bill for the direction we seem to be heading in. Who knows what direction that might be, but for now, our best bet is to sit tight and see how he fairs. If he fails in our first 5-10 games, I fear he’ll be handed his P45 in what will feel like a blink of an eye. That’s Cellino; that’s football.

The President:

Massimo Cellino has already left an indelible mark on our illustrious club. Rumours of banning black current cordial, the colour purple and the number 17 epitomise the barmy, seemingly uncalculated strategy that the Italian possesses. Although Cellino does seem to be issuing false promises from time to time, I do feel that his intentions are ultimately good. He’s going to make a lot of mistakes, undoubtedly, but he might just make the occasional masterstroke. Financial stability and a ruthless streak are two commodities that haven’t been seen round our parts for an awfully long time, so to see these return to the fore is surely a good sign. Just how crazy the man is remains to be seen, but much like Hockaday’s situation, we can only buckle up and prepare for the bumpy ride. Regardless of the outcomes, there’s no doubt in my mind that this season will be an exciting one, and there’s something to be said for that.

The Squad:

First things first, the removal of the periphery, or ‘deadwood’, players is a hugely encouraging sign. The likes of Peltier, Pugh, Lees, Brown, Drury etc. have all been sent packing, and for the most part I feel this is a positive step. Clearing out the emotionally scarred and habitual underachievers was integral in forming a squad capable of, one day, fighting for promotion, and barring the odd individual we have done that. Ross McCormack was always going to leave, and Cellino has made an absolute masterstroke in pushing for possibly 5x the value GFH would have sold him for, making his decision to sell more than justified.

In terms of incomings, this has been mostly positive. Silvestri looks a very decent keeper, and Stuart Taylor looks like a capable understudy in the absence of Jamie Ashdown. Berardi will be great competition for Byram, and may allow him to make the move to midfield that many of us have expected. Bianchi has shown some promise in the middle of the park, and may add the tempo and class that has been lacking a bit recently. Benedicic comes with the reputation of being a hot prospect for the future, and if he proves to be a goalscoring midfielder he’ll win over the Leeds faithful in no time. Doukara and Ajose have some work to do to overturn preconceptions, but I feel neither are ‘poor signings’. If, and I seriously mean if, we sign Sorensen, I’ll feel a whole lot better about our squad, but we desperately need a striker capable of 15-20 goals at this level and beyond. Who knows what will happen in the market from now, but the current crop of newbies seem more than capable.

The general tone is that we have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen. Nobody does. But I’m not THAT worried about going down, and I’m not hugely optimistic about our promotion chances (if we have any), but the black clouds of the GFH reign of stupidity seem a fair distance away at the moment. Good luck everyone, it’s going to be a mad one. 

A Calypso Season Review

For many Leeds fans, including us, the creeping ever closer of the summer that promises so much provides a sense of childish giddiness.  The expected flurry of exports added to the mystery surrounding the inevitable Cellino ‘stamp’ on the current squad makes for excellent viewing and potentially a slightly improved chance of troubling the top of the table come May. Having said this, with the 2014/15 season put well and truly to bed, we at @LUFC_Calypso felt it best to first look back at our top 5 moments of an otherwise depressing season dominated by off-the-field sagas and unfathomably disappointing form on the pitch. Amongst the drivel that the United faithful endured for large parts of the season, it appears that there were 5 fairly positive things that occurred between August and May. Who knew?

1)  Ross McCormack

Unsurprisingly, this was the first thing that came to mind. Ross McCormack’s talismanic performances on the field combined with the emergence of leadership qualities that has allowed him to blossom in his increased role of authority has, all said and done, contributed to McCormack’s fantastic season. Certainly his best in a white shirt, McCormack’s rise to form has not gone unnoticed, unsurprisingly claiming all the awards available at the club, whilst also finding himself shortlisted for Championship Player of the Season and included in the Team of the Year. Whether he’ll be turning up for pre-season bright eyed and bushy tailed at Thorp Arch (when it’s re-opened) remains unclear, but we’re quietly confident that when he says he wishes to stay, he means it. Either way, a great season individually should be richly rewarded in some capacity, and for those groaning that he is simply a money grabbing footballer like many others, please don’t. Give him whatever money he wants and build a team around him. Simple.

2)      Leeds United 4 – 0 Birmingham City

Although it may appear petty to dedicated one our highlights of the season on a victory against a team who left it to the final minute of injury time to avoid relegation, we feel it was simply nice to watch our beloved team finally turn up for a televised football match. With Birmingham offering little more than 11 shadows to pass the ball around (or through) for 90 minutes, we showed the supremacy that we once used to inflict on significantly bigger fish in a significantly bigger pond. All the same, it made for one hell of an afternoon. This was made all the sweeter by completing the double over the very same lacklustre outfit towards the end of the season, one of two teams of which we were able to inflict such misery upon. Depressingly, it was just as entertaining watching the misery of others as it would be to see our own outfit performing to the best of our ability. Nevertheless, an undeniable highlight.

3)      Matt Smith

As alluded to in a previous article, Matt Smith has proven to be a shrewd signing and worthy of the affection the majority of Leeds fans have given him towards the back end of the season. Stepping up when many, including us, belittled his ability before a ball was kicked, Smith’s  goal scoring efforts in a turbulent season highlighted that his future may well be bright. Whether he has the ability to lead the line for a promotion winning side is still cast into considerable doubt, but he has been a silver lining to an otherwise darker than dark cloud. One of the few who always gave it all whenever called upon, he’s been fantastic and well worth a new deal.

4)      Farewell, David!

Initially seeming like our knight in shining armour, David Haigh soon became the pantomime villain that everyone loves to hate. Seeing his departure from the club along with the rest of his cronies left a faint smile on the faces of all fans, and GFH’s reign of terror could not have come to an end any sooner. Whether in time, his position as the scapegoat will be either glorified or proven wrong is anyone’s guess, yet his smarmy persona was never going to be a good fit in the long term, and we won’t lose any sleep fretting over his absence in footballing or financial matters at our club. Under Cellino, the club can at least hope for an improvement on the traumatic reign of his predecessors. One thing is for sure, we’re all in for an exciting, but let’s hope it ends in a plethora of  wasted champagne and the rightful earning of our return to the Match of the Day billing.

5)      Its over!

Sadly, the end of the season itself may well be the resounding highlight. Going against the otherwise positive attitude emitted in the rest of this article, perhaps it is best, given the procession of horrifying form and frequent saga exposure, to write this season off as transitory and see where we are come August.  Putting the weekly agony endured to one side for 90 odd days will surely prove the necessary remedy to mount the promotion push that we all hope for. Having said that, it’s World Cup year, so in the meantime buckle up and wait for penalties!

Put up or shut up - Cellino's strategy must start now

As another season of mediocrity comes to a close, Leeds fans cannot be blamed for looking forward to the summer that should hopefully see wholesale changed to the club from top to bottom.  With Cellino promising great things and a return to the standard of football we have come to hope for rather than expect, it cannot be disputed that these hugely important changes are needed with a degree of haste. With this in mind, we at @LUFC_Calypso feel that it is time for Cellino to nail his colours to the mast, making the changes that we need whilst maintaining complete transparency, the major criticism levelled at GFH Capital throughout their turbulent tenure at the top of the LUFC hierarchy.

First and foremost, the long term future of the manager must be sorted. Offering subtle hints with minimal stature in support of McDermott offers anything but transparency, and these cryptic clues hardly assure the fans that Cellino has a coherent strategy in place ready to implement immediately. With fans still seemingly divided on McDermott, one thing that all fans will agree on is that Cellino must either back him or sack him. McDermott must either be given the level of finance to fund moves for players of a similar ilk those joining in January (ie Jack Butland and Connor Wickham), or this privilege must be given to the man considered the long term leader of our promotion push. Whether Cellino feels McDermott has got what it takes to bring this club back to the big time remains to be seen, but the on-field strategy must be based around a stable managerial selection.

Next, Cellino’s lofty ambitions to buy back the stadium. Cellino has got his work cut out to sort the financial turmoil that the club has been plunged into by David Haigh and his cronies, and buying back the stadium may be one way to do so. Loan payments are sending our finances into a spiral of financial disorder, and it goes without saying that this must be sorted as quickly as possible. In terms of future strategy, we cannot continue to be dragged through the mud and barely making ends meet. Our wage will this season is the 4^th largest in the division, and the largest of those not receiving parachute payments of some kind, and for a club sitting in 16^th this is absolute madness. Supposed reports of Noel Hunt’s £25k a week salary outed this season really highlight the strategy that Cellino’s United should avoid at all costs. True or otherwise, I’m sure that he will.

Finally, the current crop of underachievers needs tearing limb from limb. Despite improved form in recent weeks, this pleasant surprise doesn’t even remotely make up for months of poor performances and results alike. With a whole host of players out of contract in the next 12 months, United fans en masse are hoping that Cellino’s intentions to dismantle this group beyond recognition is put into practice. On this subject, it goes without saying that the major success story of this frustrating campaign has been our talisman Ross McCormack, and with fresh interest in our star striker almost inevitable over the summer it is time for Cellino to show his real intentions. Sell our best player this summer and there is nothing to base our promotion aspiring squad around. The situation is crystal clear to me, but I’m less convinced it will be to Massimo Cellino.

For Cellino, it is time to ‘put your money where your mouth is’ and start acting on the methodical strategy that our club so desperately craves. For now, it’s time to sit back and wait for the magic to happen. 

The calm before the storm: Cellino’s United

Despite notching up another defeat at the weekend to extend our horrific run of form, the Leeds faithful have finally been rewarded with some promising news. Bar dotting the Is and crossing the Ts, Massimo Cellino has seemingly overcome the firm hand of the Football League, at least for now, and Brian McDermott and his squad can finally focus on playing football for a change. Whether you’re a fan of Cellino’s or not, it is undeniable that this was the best possible outcome from an uncertain situation, and with administration kept at bay, this turn of events will almost bring with it some financial benefits. However, we at @LUFC_Calypso feel that the changes will be more noticeable in other areas, and Cellino’s successful acquisition will allow the Italian to make his mark in more ways than one.

McDermott: The hugely disappointing form displayed from a team lacking confidence, desire and skill to name a few attributes may well cost McDermott his job. Floundering in the bottom half, and looking over our shoulders rather than up the table yet again, a large proportion of Leeds fans have seen enough. Continuing with baffling tactical displays, it appears that no amount of chopping and changing can improve the fortunes of his lacklustre squad, and it remains to be seen whether Cellino’s patience will run out. Speaking on Sky Sports earlier, he insisted that Brian will be given the chance to make amends, but one thing is for sure; if Cellino feels a change is necessary, he will not hesitate (just ask departing Cagliari boss Diego Lopez). For us, it’s a question of when and not if. However, despite continued speculation about McDermott’s future and his eagerness to sack him before even taking ownership on that fateful night in January, the two seem to have built up some kind of rapport. In terms of a potential replacement, many suspect that Gianfranco Zola may be being lined up as a replacement, with the two Italians working together at Cagliari in previous years. However, @LeedsUnitedIta has highlighted their inability to see eye-to-eye (Cellino refused to offer Zola an extension to his contract while playing at Cagliari), and this may not be the match made in heaven we all thought it might be. Watch this space.

The Squad: It is with no amount of hesitancy whatsoever that Cellino will tear this gutless squad limb from limb come the summer. Drunken rants down the phone to White Leeds Radio last month proved that Cellino is well aware of a fact that Leeds fans have known for months – our squad simply does not cut it at this level. McDermott or otherwise, we fully expect plenty of incomings and even more outgoings this summer, and you can’t help but feel that the squad of 2014/15 will have a much greater European feel to it. Despite his continental persuasion, the highly entertaining yet controversial “interview” with WLR seemed to suggest that Cellino was looking for young, English internationals, yet whether that will be possible is another story. Either way, we fully expect to see the deadwood, underachievers of our squad shipped on quickly and unceremoniously. In other words, don’t expect a Michael Brown testimonial.

David Haigh: Already the subject of intense speculation, we cannot see the Cellino-Haigh relationship standing the test of time whatsoever. Again, through the phone call with White Leeds Radio, Cellino made his feelings perfectly clear, describing him as the devil amongst other things. With Haigh now becoming the Chief Executive until the end of the season at the least, it would come as no surprise to see Haigh instantly removed and crawling back to the teat of GFH Capital with his tail between his legs. This would only increase Cellino’s approval rating as GFH continue to be eaten alive by the United fans on social media.

It doesn’t take a genius to uncover the general trend of Cellino’s predicted actions. Mr Cellino’s cutthroat stance towards all aspects of a football club may well precede him, yet it appears that to all intents and purposes, Cellino will instigate wholesale changes to the club, changes that will be viewed by the majority as absolutely necessary. The shambles that GFH have created off the field is in desperate need of alteration, and Cellino is certainly the man for the job. In terms of the on-field disappointment, the role of Brian McDermott still seems to split opinion. Only time will tell on that front.

Before we let ourselves dream of landmark signings and half-time calzones, let’s see if we can try and win a football match first.

As always, we would love to hear your feedback and opinions on our article – follow and tweet us at @LUFC_Calypso to join the debate!

Judgement Day - reflections on a turbulent day at Leeds United

As the Leeds fans en masse waited with bated breath, the news that we had all expected was confirmed, seemingly putting an end to Mr Cellino’s agonisingly slow and dubious takeover. With fans taking to Twitter to bemoan a lack of transparency from the club and urgency from the Football League, the clouds are seemingly rolling in to spell more times of despair ahead for the club we all love so dearly. To add to the ludicrous state of affairs , the departure of hot prospect Connor Wickham combined with the Neil Warnock ‘hokey cokey’  that saw him imminently placed to take charge at Forest, only for a breakdown in negotiations. We at @LUFC_Calypso reflect on another up-and-down day in our never-ending pursuit of some kind of normality.

The inevitable rejection of Massimo Cellino’s takeover that was confirmed this morning can be looked at it two ways. On the one hand, the impending doom that may well catch up with us sooner rather than later has left a sizeable chunk of United fans anxious to say the least, and with murmurs of administration and another tedious season in League One starting to be at least a possibility, who could blame them. However, it has to be said that despite Cellino seeming to be the lesser of two evils, his dirtied hands approach is certainly something that, in an ideal scenario, would be avoided at all costs. I am the first to admit that these circumstances are far from ideal, but hope springs eternal with the farfetched idea of an honest and wealthy financial backer making him or herself known, so perhaps it is best to consider this a near miss rather than a disastrous disappointment. Provided ‘Beeston Dave’ Haigh has stuck to his word, the financial security of the club is not in immediate jeopardy, so who knows what will come of our club once we are finally rid of the GFH Capital shackles that have left us fans in a state of semi-permanent rage.

Moving on from the Cellino debacle, it is a great shame to see Connor Wickham recalled to parent club Sunderland. Despite the more pessimistic amongst us, it does appear that former United comrade and now Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has recalled him for footballing reasons, and not through request by us due to financial impoverishment. Although he failed to replicate the scoring form he showed at rival club Sheffield Wednesday, it is hard to criticise him given the form of this team-mates and the few performances he made, never mind his ousting to the wing for his final few appearances. Ever the optimists, fellow forward Matt Smith seems to have re-kindled his form, and perhaps he can really stamp his authority on the starting XI and turn a good first season into an excellent one. This current squad is crying out for someone to take it by the scruff of the neck and be the catalyst for an upturn in form, and I feel that he could be the man to galvanize a timid and tiring squad.

Finally, in a bizzare turn of events, for a brief moment Leeds fans expressed a wry smile at the seemingly imminent appointment of Neil Warnock at Forest. The rumoured appointment was met with sheer joy from the United faithful, and with a potentially tasty return to his old stomping ground next month, the hostility that he would have receive made the prospect all the more enticing. Watching him further capitulate an otherwise promising promotion-pushing squad towards a depressingly dull hoof-ball mentality and mid table mediocrity would have been met with smiles all round. Alas, not to be.

All in all, whether it be good or bad news, today marks a new chapter in the riveting story of how our beloved club continues to flirt with financial turmoil, and although we’re all crying out for some kind of continuity, we are instead forced to accept that there is no easy way for Leeds United, so it’s time to get on board with all the farcical plot twists and cross our fingers that it will all be over soon. Roll on Bournemouth away…

Tweet us your thoughts… @LUFC_Calypso!

Stability or shake-up? The axe looms for McDermott

Despite the majority of Leeds fans being ecstatic at the sight of Brian McDermott arriving for training the Monday following the Deadline Day debacle, it seems his position with both the club and the fans looks in serious jeopardy. Reinvigorated and with a point to prove, McDermott looked a revitalized man, on a mission to restore our club to its position of former glory. However, another annihilation at the hands of relatively weak opposition sees many fans look at McDermott in a whole new light. From zero to hero, from hero to zero, his sacking seems a question of when, rather than if, although the question of ‘who’ sacks him also remains to be seen.

With the embarrassment of Saturday afternoon seeming to be the tip of the iceberg for many impatient fans, McDermott may well have fought his final battle. Showing what many fans have described as ‘tactical ineptitude’ and  a lack of a cut-throat, ruthless streak that all winners seem to have, the man heralded as Leeds United legend six weeks ago now sees himself an outcast with the large majority of the fans on social media. Looking over his shoulder at a second sacking in as many months, the stats are unable to save McDermott’s blushes. Fitting the pattern of sacking our manager when promotion is beyond our reach, Simon Grayson and Neil Warnock may well sympathise. However, looking at the various statistics of the last 3 men not able to take us back to the big time, the results make interesting reading, with all 3 experiencing the same fate for not achieving our ultimate goal at the first attempt.

Whether it is McDermott who deserves to take the brunt of the criticism or the players, it seems more and more likely that Brian will pay the penalty for mid-table stagnation for another successive season. Recent form and the reputation that proceeds Mr Cellino makes it seem likely that yet another change of manager will happen, and not many will or can complain about it in terms of the recent form being shown under his leadership at the moment. What can be considered debatable is whether any manager is going to achieve the success we all crave in less than 2 seasons, and perhaps, much like Nigel Pearson at Leicester, a manager needs to be given a sizeable transfer kitty and 3 or 4 seasons to build a side capable of promotion. Though the McDermott’s fate may hang in the balance, the decision on whether McDermott deserves more time to build is the subject of intense twitter debate. However, it seems that those teams in the mix are either recently relegated from the top flight or have been consistently improving (and investing) for several seasons, often with the same man at the helm despite relative failures along the way. One man who is mooted by many of the fans as the ideal replacement is Malky Mackay, yet even he was granted a 3 year plan and remained in the hot-seat despite play-off heart break.

Amongst the chaos that seems to break out on a weekly basis at Leeds United, we feel that the promotion blue print that many clubs are adopting with their manager is simply not being adopted at Leeds United. Whether Brian is our man is far from clear (and many of you have criticised our attempts to defend him), but stability and continuity often pave the way for future success. If he is sacked, there won’t be many complaints, but his successor must be given more than 12 months and 1 full season to get us promoted.  Rome wasn’t built in a day, and Leeds United certainly won’t be either.

Do you think that Brian McDermott should be sacked? Do you feel that any manager, Brian or otherwise, can achieve success in their first season with Leeds? Tweet us @LUFC_Calypso to let us know your thoughts!

The Loan Ranger - how has McDermott performed in the loan market?

The most recent January transfer window was an extremely frustrating experience for Leeds fans, as rumours circulated that GFH were unable to pay the wages of existing players, let alone new recruits. Since its closure, however, takeover negotiations have seemingly progressed (albeit at an alarmingly slow rate) and it is clear that new money has been pumped into the club to fund loan signings. Whether this new investment is coming from owner-to-be Cellino is yet to be confirmed, but the club has evidently received significant new financial impetus. The arrivals of Butland and Wickham, two young home-grown talents with Premier League credentials and international ambitions, are a refreshing statement of intent from McDermott and whoever is currently bankrolling the club. These moves provide stark contrast to the earlier signings of Kebe and Stewart, however, who are yet to find their feet at Elland Road. This week at @LUFC_Calypso, we take a look at our new loan signings since January and analyse the benefits they could bring to the dressing room.

Jack Butland is unquestionably a very exciting talent with a bright future ahead of him, and LUFC’s ability to capture his signature certainly raises eyebrows over who is funding his Premier League wages. Butland has already put in credible performances at Middlesbrough and QPR, and he will undoubtedly be a positive defensive influence as we reach the business end of the season. Our defence is notoriously leaky, so his command of the box and organisation should tighten us up at the back. Butland’s arrival is especially impressive considering the raft of promotion chasers that would have wanted him, and credit must be given to McDermott for persuading him to join up with us.

Similarly, Poyet announced that Wickham was attracting attention from at least 5 teams, so his decision to pull on the white shirt for the rest of the campaign is very pleasing, all the more so given the adoration he was receiving at Hillsborough. Finding the net 8 times in 11 games, Wickham showed his potential in spades
during his second spell at Wednesday, and his link up play with fan favourite Ross McCormack on his debut at Loftus Rd was one of the more encouraging things to come from the stalemate. Wickham is on a reported £25,000 per week at Sunderland, a wage that trumps any of those currently on the Leeds United books, and so these loan signings, while exciting, have also sparked a serious concern: if Cellino is refused approval by the football league, could we be faced with yet another financial meltdown? A calculated financial risk though it may be, these signings could prove invaluable in our pursuit of the playoffs.

While Butland and Wickham’s debuts have filled Leeds fans with hope and excitement, Kebe’s continued selection after his loan move in January is causing consternation among the Leeds twitter family. Under McDermott at Reading, Kebe’s blistering pace and pinpoint crossing were pivotal in their late surge up the table towards promotion but, since his arrival, he has looked more like a man who can’t remember where he’s parked the car than an incisive, match-winning speedster. He has been indecisive, lacklustre in possession and lazy when tracking back. As fans, we must accept that he needed time to regain match fitness after bench-warming at Palace, but he has had more than enough game time to find his feet. Alarmingly, McDermott’s insistence on selecting him while Poleon and Ariyibi remain untested suggests an unprofessional display of loyalty and, while McDermott brought in the wingers we so desperately needed, he must be blamed for his inability to get them playing how we need them to. Wickham compliments a wing-based style of play perfectly, but Kebe simply is not providing the required level of service.

With talk of another incoming loan, we remain optimistic that we will bring someone in who can generate winning momentum going forward. What do you think of Wickham and Butland? Would you drop Kebe? As always, let us know your thoughts at @LUFC_Calypso!

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.

TOMA: Another season taken over by board room battles

Much to the bemusement and fury of all Leeds United fans, we once again find ourselves embroiled in a tedious navigation through takeover rumours, inevitable set-backs and twitter frenzies. Over the last week, it seems that the only people who are not tweeting frantically about LUFC are those who we need to the most – the board. Leeds fans are fully prepared for the pain and frustration that predictably follows an ‘imminent takeover’ announcement from the club and, as with last season’s takeover turmoil, we all must sift through tiresome tirades of PR rubbish and wishy-washy comments from those involved. However, the abomination that has taken place over the last few weeks has miraculously exceeded the embarrassment and annoyance from GFH’s lengthy takeover, with journalists and gossip columnists rubbing salt into the long-standing wounds of the Leeds United faithful. What’s more, ‘The Ross McCormack transfer saga part 2’ has made the last 7 days incredibly difficult. We at @LUFC_Calypso felt it best to take on the monumental task of trying to unearth the details of this chaotic state of affairs, whilst also looking at the damage it has caused to our club in a number of areas.

The reoccurrence of such a disastrous mess has yet again proven to be costly in terms of the January transfer window. Once more, it seems that early promise will slip away without great success. This assertion may seem harsh given the arrivals of Cameron Stewart and Jimmy Kebe, yet it is becoming more and more apparent that money talks in the modern game. As another window passes without credible investment, we certainly feel that yet more opportunities have been missed and our promotion hopes hang in the balance. McDermott has made it very clear that he likes to get his work in the window done early, indication that we won’t be seeing a Sky Sports reporter stationed outside Elland Rd come Deadline Day. Not only this, but it appears that securing the services of a current player will be the biggest success of the transfer period. Make no mistake; holding on to Ross McCormack would be massively important should we be able to, but instead of making progress, the executive management will celebrate this avoidance of regression as a victory rather than as the minimum requirement that it should be.

The takeover has also proven to be a massive distraction to the current squad. Excluding the improvements we saw in defeat against Premier League-destined Leicester City, the performances and results since the announcement of the proposed takeover have reached an unprecedented low. The players may say that it hasn’t had an impact on their performances, but that is simply not true. McDermott has used every press conference to highlight the importance of sorting out the debacle that is happening off the field, and until it is sorted we do not envisage a return to the promising form that we were in a few weeks back.

Any attempts to decipher the details of this fiasco are near enough impossible as Haigh, Patel and co have performed their negotiations in complete secrecy. Rumours about Sport Capital, Cellino and his cronies are rife, and consequently the short and long term futures of the club, the players and the manager are far from clear. With the story taking significant plot twists on a daily basis, it appears that nobody knows what’s going on, and the impatient (and rightly so) fans continue to demand answers - clarity is all that is required to ease the growing sense of anger among the fans. Such is the variety of the names that have been bounded around (Flowers, Cellino, Virdee, Farnan and more), most fans would settle for any sense of direction at this stage. Having said this, the prospect of Cellino at the helm of our club terrifies us, with reports from Italy mostly highlighting his barbaric approach to running the show from the boardroom.

What has been clarified is that unless this mess is cleaned up by someone, the club will continue to tank on and off the field. Yet again, the red mist is descending and the outlook is bleak to say the least. Where we go from here is still in our own hands, but something needs to happen, and happen now.

What are your opinions on the takeover? Have Haigh and Patel undone all their good work by keeping the fans in the dark at such a crucial time? As always, please let us know your news, views and blues by tweeting us at @LUFC_Calypso!

5 moments that define Leeds United as we know it today

The fans of Leeds United have been subjected to more exhilarating highs and miserable lows than most other clubs in British footballing history. The latest cohort of football fanatics view Leeds United as perennial Championship nearly-men with a vociferous fan base that believe they deserve bigger and better. To many, the view taken by the ‘vile animals’ that Leeds are languishing far below their station is nonsensical; it is 10 years since we have graced the Premier League and, to this youthful generation, forays into Europe and Premier League title bids are myth rather than memory. This got us at @LUFC_Calypso thinking; what are the moments that define our club? What are the key moments in the club’s history that should sculpt all fans’ view of LUFC?

Revie vs Clough

Every Leeds fan knows the glory years of Revie, Bremner and co. Under the management of the Don, Leeds conquered England with 1^st division victories, a famous FA Cup triumph against Arsenal thanks to ‘Sniffer’ Clark’s iconic header, a League Cup and a Fairs Cup. Our reputation as a combative and tough-tackling outfit known for their aggression as much as their flair was born, but crucially the club did not capitalise on their dominance. For all our style, this great Leeds team was in part overshadowed by Brian Clough’s constant attacks (brandishing the Leeds team as ‘cheats’ in August 1973), his great rivalry with Revie and the success of his Forest team in Europe that followed his 44 day tenure at Leeds. Without doubt, this period formed the opinion of Leeds fans that it is us against the world, and from that day fans thrived on the hatred that this team engendered in fans across the UK.

‘We are Champions, Champions of Europe!’

16 May 1973. 28 May 1975. These two dates haunt Leeds fans to this day and are the reason for our favourite half-time chant. Neither Christos Michas, the man responsible for some baffling decisions against Leeds during their Cup Winners’ Cup defeat to Milan, or Michel Kitabdjian, an official so weak that he overturned his decision following player protest from Munich, ever refereed a game again. Ever since, Leeds fans have felt (and rightly so) that some key decisions have gone against us, but anyone that questions our reputation the most passionate fan base need look no further than the rioting that followed the 1975 Final.

Division One Champions

In the season before the birth of the Premier League, greats such as Strachan, Speed and McAllister (and Chris Kamara!) reached the summit of the English football leagues after a pulsating campaign. Success was all the sweeter given the rival teams placed just below us – Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday. To our younger fans, Leeds winning the top league is almost as ridiculous as a top division that includes both Sheffield teams, Oldham and Luton, but the victory under Wilkinson in that season should be cherished by all fans.

‘Doing a Leeds’

In typical Leeds fashion, all highs are tempered with some disastrous lows and, within 6 years of a Champions League semi-final and an incredible array of stars on our books, Leeds entered administration and the third tier of English football for the first time. The crisis, caused by a spending rise of £101 million that was dependent on successive Champions League qualifications, has all but shaped the way the club is run today. For all the frustration sparked by lacking investment by subsequent owners, there is no doubt that the decisions taken by Peter Ridsdale have stunted, and will continue to stunt our progress for many years. Such was the debt accrued by the board, uncontrolled overspending by clubs will forever be known as ‘doing a Leeds’.

8^th May 2010

This date defines the club as we see it today – a Championship side that are punching below their weight. But, crucially, this date should be remembered as the day the club turned a corner, halted the stagnation and made the first of many long steps towards where we all feel we belong. Our time in the Championship has seen flashes of magic eclipsed by off-field reshuffles, ageing changing rooms and ‘hoofball’ tactics, but there is not a Leeds fan out there that misses the League One away days at the likes of Hereford, Gillingham and Wycombe. Promotion from the third tier should have sparked our surge up the leagues and, though our optimism has been stifled by successive disappointments in the UK’s secondary division, we are confident that it is not long before we experience another day like this.

What are your defining LUFC moments? What events have shaped the way that you view our club? As always, tweet us at @LUFC_Calypso and let us know your thoughts, comments and experiences!

Did that really happen? The Sheffield Wednesday Nightmare

I think we speak for Leeds United fans across the globe when we say that the monstrosity of Saturday lunchtime was one of the most embarrassing moments in our history. Losing 6-0 to anybody is embarrassing enough, but a thrashing from a local rival leaves an exceptionally bitter taste in the mouth. The manner of the capitulation, a spineless performance devoid of talent from start to finish, is a serious cause for concern. However painful it may be to do so, we at @LUFC_Calypso try to dissect the weekend’s car-crash performance at Hillsborough, looking at why it was such a horrific display and what can be done to fix it. For those after another one of our optimistic, upbeat articles, it’s time to look away. This could get ugly.

As much as we’ve supported his appointment and decision making without fail since his appointment, Brian McDermott got this one wrong. The formation chosen simply didn’t make sense never mind suit our fairly inflexible squad. With the arrival of 2 flying wingers, it seems completely illogical to leave our target man in Matt Smith on the bench. Bringing him on at HT (albeit for 47 seconds) is fine but this was a game in which we had a chance to make a statement and banish our away-day demons. Unfortunately, Brian did just the opposite. Furthermore, despite Rodolph Austin role as Leeds United captain this season, it has become blatantly obvious that he’s drained of energy, so playing him for another 90 minutes was clueless. He needs a break to get himself back to his best, and not just physically.

This brings us on to our secondary criticism. The overwhelming sense of pride that should come from pulling on the white, or in this case gold, shirt is simply non-existent within almost all of the players. Only a select few of those picked for big games this season have demonstrated a determination, integrity and passion that are required to grind out difficult results. Twitter apologies appease the less ardent among us, and in a way that is nice to see, but one thing is for sure: those apologies will mean nothing unless notable changes are made on the pitch. Zaliukas was systematically humiliated by the up-and-coming starlets of the division; one struggles to imagine the level of humiliation had a team of more accomplished attacking players been unleashed upon him and some of his flagging colleagues. If Caolan Lavery, a striker with 3 professional goals to his name before this weekend, can embarrass our defence in such a manner, what lays in store for us against opposition with Premier League pedigree in their front line? A change is needed. Fast.

With the exception of Jason Pearce and Ross McCormack, most of the players seem to have lost a sense of perspective. Through the removal of former player and utter buffoon Ryan Hall, McDermott sent the message that if their attitude does not match that of the club, their future will be put in jeopardy. A team meeting was held on Sunday to give the players a sincere and vigorous rebuking (we hope), and we feel that McDermott has gone about this shambolic result in the right way. The Leicester game will be absolutely crucial for him and the players. Although the result is obviously important, I think that the performance is of far greater significance; if a further annihilation takes place at Elland Rd on Saturday, I feel that things will become very dark indeed for Leeds fans.

What are your opinions on the Sheffield game? Do you believe McDermott is to blame? How do you feel we need to change? As always, tweet us at @LUFC_Calypso to let us know your thoughts!

Stopping the rot at LUFC: How can we save our season?

As is customary for Leeds sides of the past, the systematic meltdown this time of year is upon us, made even clearer from our embarrassing defeat at League Two side Rochdale. With this defeat, as well as those to Nottingham Forest and Blackburn, United are showing all the tell-tale signs of petering out into form worthy of a mid-table finish… or worse. Having said this, we at LUFC_Calypso have decided that, after a fairly miserable week, a more positive spin needs to be taken. We decided to look at what has to be done to return to the golden chalice that is the play-off spots rather than watching our season derail yet again.

It is undeniable that work has to be done in the transfer window. McDermott made it crystal clear that he is well aware of the importance of new recruits in the January window and, with funds made available to him, I would be surprised to see this window come and go without significant attempts to bolster the squad. With the signing of Hull City winger Cameron Stewart seeming more and more likely, Brian appears to be taking the first step in utilising the window to consolidate our fairly promising position. A whole host of names are linked with our club once again, and though this phenomenon normally comes to nothing other than frustration and frenzied twitter rants, it is clear that the signing of Stewart would not be the end of McDermott’s shopping spree. The message seems to be clear – watch this space.

Secondly, tactical changes need to be made to the current squad, regardless of signings. Much to the despair of the vast majority of the Leeds faithful, it appears that we have relapsed to Warnock’s hoofball tactics, lumping the ball long to Matt Smith and hoping for the best. Our most favourable run of results came when we were playing our most aesthetically pleasing passing game, and a return to that style is crucial to our success. Also on the subject of tactics, our midfield is bypassed on every outing, even by the under-developed midfield of League Two Rochdale. Austin looks a shadow of his former self, and many are considering Luke Murphy to be falling short of his £1 million price tag. Although currently our alternatives are clearly short of the mark, either the current personnel need to up their game or replacements must be sourced from elsewhere. Regardless of Austin’s fall from grace and the disappointment of Murphy, there is one sentiment that unites all Leeds fans – Michael Brown is NOT the answer.

Finally, although current form does not exactly give the average Leeds fan any cause for celebration, it is absolutely integral to our success for the club that the fans remain totally behind the club from top to bottom. Although at times it is important for fans to show their distaste for results or style of play, getting on their backs in the long term will hardly make things better, particularly at home. Elland Rd was at times akin to the fortress of old this season, and a happy stadium makes all the difference for those battling it out on the field for the badge. With minor tweaking, we’re not a million miles away, and we still sitting a point off the play-offs. At times like these, we hope fans are able to hold onto the mantra that binds us; win or lose, we are marching on together.

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.