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.