|
|||||||||
|
Season
2006/07 Part 1
|
||||||||
The
stuff of nightmares
|
|||||||||
Part 2 - Into the abyss - Results
and table Despite tumbling to ignominious defeat in the Play-Off
final against Watford in May 2006, Leeds United fully expected the
setback to act as a launching pad for a fresh promotion challenge. Irascible
chairman Ken Bates spoke to the players after the game. 'I thanked them
for all their efforts and I repeated what I said to the Chelsea players
in 1988. I said that tomorrow is the first day of our Championship season.
They have to get over the disappointment of losing, have a good summer
and come back again. I also told them not to be late for the first day
back in training or we would fine them!' Manager Kevin Blackwell's first task of the close season was a spell
of jury service, something that had been delayed by United's involvement
in the Play-Offs. When he returned to the club, he said: 'As far as the
squad is concerned, we're about 75% of the way to having what we want.
I have to generate more cash if I want to spend, but we've also got £9m
to pay in wages to players who aren't here any more. To keep the club
going forward on no money, I have to wheel and deal. 'I'm favourite for the sack, aren't I? But then I don't think people
have ever appreciated the situation at Leeds United. We're in the last
year of paying all our former players and this, plus the loss of our parachute
money, means we're basically £16m worse off. 'I know that this time next year, financially the club will be in good
shape and then we can move forward. It was always our target this season
to give it a real good go, but the year after will be the one when we
can make significant strides.' There were some fairly extensive comings and goings during the summer
months, with the loan spells of Jonathan Douglas and Liam Miller coming
to an end, and Danny Pugh, Michael Ricketts, Jermaine Wright, Ian Bennett,
Joel Griffths and Simon Walton all
moving on. The biggest departure was that of Rob Hulse to promoted Sheffield
United for £2.2m. The striker had been United's most potent force and,
while they still had David Healy, Richard Cresswell and Robbie Blake,
Hulse would be badly missed. Blackwell: 'In an ideal world, you always keep your best players and
then add to them. But it isn't an ideal world. My track record here has
seen people come in for a lot less than what they have left for. We have
doubled our money on Rob Hulse. Matthew Spring and Clarke Carlisle came
in for nothing, as did Danny Cadamarteri. Simon Walton did not cost us
a penny and he brought in around £1m. My responsibility is to look after
the finances of this club and not just the football. When a situation
comes along where I can help the club financially, then I have to do it.' There were several new men, with £700,000 Luton midfielder Kevin Nicholls
the most notable. Speedy French winger Seb Carole was signed on a free
transfer from Brighton and midfielder Ian Westlake came from Ipswich with
Dan Harding used as makeweight. Former West Ham and Portsmouth defender
Hayden Foxe joined on a short term contract and Sheffield United striker
Geoff Horsfield and Fulham keeper Tony Warner arrived on loan. Millwall captain Dave Livermore was bought for £400,000 on 16 July. Two
weeks later he was sold to Hull City for a fee of around £250,000. The
club claimed that the arrivals of Nicholls and Westlake had meant that
'with everyone fit [Livermore] is unlikely to play. He's an honest professional
and when the opportunity came up for him to talk to Hull we gave him that
choice.' With Nicholls badly injuring a knee in his first training session
and sidelined for months, the sale of Livermore was more than a little
surprising. There was further controversy when Chelsea poached two youth players,
Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo. Ken Bates reported his former club to the
FA, demanding that they be docked points. Chelsea reacted bitterly, accusing
Bates of racial discrimination for describing Chelsea directors as 'a
bunch of shysters from Siberia'. Bates was typically dismissive in his
response, claiming, 'I haven't laughed so much since Ma caught her tits
in the mangle.' It was the end of October before the matter was settled, with Leeds dropping
their claim after Chelsea agreed compensation, thought to be almost £5m. Despite positive noises about the forthcoming season, there was anxiety
behind the scenes, as revealed by Stuart James in The Guardian
several months later: 'Two days before the season started Leeds United's
coaching staff told Ken Bates that the club could be facing a relegation
battle. Kevin Blackwell, Dave Hancock, Neil Thompson, Gwyn Williams, David
Geddis, John Carver, Martin Hodge and Dean Riddle were all present when
the chairman invited their thoughts at an Elland Road meeting. When Bates
heard their responses he got up and left. 'The days when the club reached the Champions'
League semi-final and challenged for the Premiership continue to cast
a shadow over Elland Road, with former players still being paid courtesy
of Peter Ridsdale's crass generosity. That financial burden weighed heavily
even before the parachute payments came to an end. Some 13 players departed
in the wake of the Watford defeat, including the club's talisman, Rob
Hulse. It was that exodus, together with the lack of replacements, which
prompted Blackwell's backroom team to express concerns about this season.' United's campaign began with a home game against Norwich and Blackwell
gave first team debuts to Tony Warner and Geoff Horsfield. The manager
started with the back four he had favoured through the spring: Kelly,
Butler, Kilgallon and Crainey. He welcomed veteran Steve Stone back on
the right of midfield in a quartet with Eirik The Canaries made the running in the first half, creating four decent
chances for Welsh international striker Robert Earnshaw. He squandered
them all and, as so often happens, hard pressed opponents broke away to
score. Four minutes before the break, Bakke was brought down in the box
when he was going nowhere, and David Healy scored from the penalty. Norwich continued to press after the interval, but could find no way
through as Tony Warner gave a splendid performance in goal. A relieved Kevin Blackwell said afterwards: 'I've got to say I'm pleased
with the lads because that's the first time that team has played together.
There were five new lads basically. It was Steve Stone's first real game
for Leeds United, Tony Warner's first game, Geoff Horsfield's first game.
Stephen Crainey ruptured his Achilles first day in training and he's only
just played on Saturday and done this week's training. Shaun Derry's missed
the whole of pre-season and he had to play today. 'It's always important to win your first three points. We're all aware
that the team that loses in the Play Off final tends to have a hangover
and we know if we're not careful it could be a tough season, so we want
to start brightly and I thought we did that. What this win does is refocus
the lads on this season. We're up and running now.' Jon Wilson in the Telegraph was more critical: 'Leeds had the
third-best defensive record in the Championship last
season, but were let down by a lack of goals; it is hard to see how
the loss of Rob Hulse will ease that. Geoff Horsfield has been brought
in on loan, but he is hardly a long-term solution. He has always looked
old for his years, but at 32 he seems positively ancient, moving with
all the freedom of the Tin Man's arthritic older brother. The service
to him yesterday was admittedly not ideal; he demonstrated what his game
thrives on to Eddie Lewis just before half-time. Mimicking a ball being
crossed into the box with an arc of his hand, he met the imaginary cross
with a thumping header. The virtual version looked great, but a concrete
equivalent never arrived. Much the same could have been said of Leeds
all afternoon.' Blackwell chose the same eleven for a visit to QPR the following Monday
and they rewarded him with a strong display. Lewis gave United a 64th
minute lead after Healy's header had bounced out off the bar. Leeds bossed
the game after that and seemed to be cruising to a comfortable win until
a crazy final ten minutes. Stephen Crainey committed a clumsy foul in the area during a rare break
by Rangers and Martin Rowlands equalised from the spot. United were ahead
again a minute later when Horsfield capitalised on Stone's through ball
to score. The goal seemed decisive, but in the final seconds substitute Shabazz
Baidoo turned It was hard to take. Kevin Blackwell was furious, saying, 'I've given
the players a tongue-lashing after the game because the performance in
the last few minutes was just unacceptable. A few of them had better buck
their ideas up because they might not be around long enough to find out
what I will do to them. If people make mistakes and they are genuine ones
then fair enough but if it is something I think they can control then
they are in danger of losing their place and if they lose their place
it is going to be difficult to get it back.' United were in London again on Sunday, 13 August, for the live Sky match
at Crystal Palace and Blackwell gave his men another chance, the only
change being Ian Westlake coming in for the injured Bakke. All plans were thrown up in the air when Geoff Horsfield was dismissed
after 14 minutes for an off the ball clash with Palace defender Mark Hudson.
Horsfield lost his cool after the pair had tangled and he lashed out,
leaving referee Rob Styles with little alternative but to dismiss him.
The incident changed the shape of the game, with David Healy left to play
the lone front runner. Strangely, United's new shape proved remarkably effective, with Healy
filling the role to perfection and Stone, Derry and Westlake bringing
much needed shape and composure to midfield. For long periods, Leeds dominated
the game and even threatened to take the lead. Lewis volleyed a cross
against the post, and Healy saw his shot off the rebound blocked by Palace
keeper Kiraly's legs. Dougie Freedman came on for Palace at half time and gave the Leeds defence
some anxious moments, but gradually they regained control and seemed likely
to secure the point their football deserved. After 74 minutes, with United
showing signs of weariness, Blackwell freshened up things by bringing
on Ian Moore and Frazer Richardson for Healy and Lewis. In an attempt to run down the clock, the manager sent Seb Carole on for
Stone in the final minute of injury-time. The former England international
was clearly unhappy about being withdrawn, particularly as United were
defending a free kick. Kennedy's floated ball was nodded into the path
of Morrison by Cort and he turned sharply to deceive Kilgallon before
firing home to win the points. When they faced a strong Cardiff City side at Elland Road a week later,
Leeds struggled to make chances, and looked like they would have to settle
for a goalless draw. Again, a late lapse of concentration ruined the afternoon
when City's Willo Flood grabbed the only goal of the game in the 83rd
minute. A Bakke goal was enough to beat Chester City in the Carling Cup and Healy's
70th minute penalty earned all three Championship points at Sheffield
Wednesday, but there was more disappointment when Jay Bothroyd scored
for Wolves in the final minute at Elland Road to bring another narrow
defeat. United were slipping down the table and, when they entertained
a Sunderland side revived by the appointment of Roy Keane as manager,
their fall from grace was confirmed as the Black Cats won 3-0 at a canter.
Former United midfielder Liam Miller opened the scoring after 28 minutes
and Leeds were three-down by the 48th minute. Bakke left the club before the end of August to join Brann Bergen in
his native Norway. He had been dropped for financial reasons, as explained
in a club statement: 'It is in the club's best interests for Eirik to
move on. He is in the final year of a contract, which in any shape or
form, would not be renewed at the end of the season. While the level of
his salary is in no way his fault, it is preventing the club from moving
forward as quickly as we would like. Apart from Gary 'We have a contract with Eirik which, if he does not find another club,
we will have to honour but there are certain parts of it, in particular
some appearance-related payments which now, effectively, will prohibit
him from playing for us in the long run.' Bakke's replacement was a former loanee, Blackburn's Jonathan Douglas,
who returned to the club on a three-year deal. Another 1-0 defeat, at Coventry on 16 September, left Leeds second bottom.
By now rumours were rife that Kevin Blackwell would be sacked. He got
the dreaded vote of confidence from Ken Bates after a number of 'Time
to go' chants from the Leeds faithful, and seemed a haunted character
as he spoke to the press. 'I am doing the best job I can and it is disappointing when things do
not go my way. I want to win every game, just like the fans do. I cannot
go on and head the ball, can I? I cannot play in midfield and I cannot
play at the back. This isn't about Kevin Blackwell; this is about the
safety of Leeds United Football Club. Every manager is gauged on results,
and right now I have to say that the results haven't been good enough.
I have to accept that.' Two goals from Ian Moore brought a timely 3-1 Carling Cup victory against
Barnet on 19 September, but the next day long expected news came. Ken Bates sacked Blackwell, writing in the match day programme, 'In the
course of a 40-year career in football administration I've had to dispense
with the services of a lot of managers and believe me, it doesn't get
any easier. Kevin is a thoroughly nice guy, but it was time for him to
go. To those fans who said he should have been sacked after Cardiff, I
would say you don't make fundamental decisions after one bad game. Kevin
did as good a job as he could and we should always be grateful for that,
but it is time to move on.' Assistant-manager John Carver was installed as caretaker boss and enjoyed
some early success with a thrilling 3-2 victory against high flying Birmingham
City. United threw off all the cares and woes and played some entertaining
football, although they looked vulnerable at the back. Twice they took the lead with David Healy goals before being pegged back,
and the second equaliser, by Nicklas Bendtner after 74 minutes, seemed
to have ended a brave fight. But Leeds were not finished yet and five
minutes from time they settled matters. A rejuvenated Steve Stone broke
clear down the right and his cross was put into his own net by Olivier
Tebily, under pressure from Ian Moore. It was a breathtaking victory and the fans were chanting John Carver's
name by the end. He was delighted, saying, 'There's some good characters
in the dressing room … I sat down with them and tried to get in their
heads. It wasn't just about football, but everything else. I wanted to
know how they were feeling and I found out a bit about them. We got a
reaction and I was pleased with that, but you have to remember that we
have some good players here. 'I want to apologise to the Leeds fans. They were singing my name and
asking me to wave but I stay focused on the game and that is my style.
I am delighted with our start, but it is only one game.' Carver was right to be cautious, for United then lost five games on the
bounce. They were a little unlucky in going down 4-2 at West Brom, with
the fourth Baggies goal coming in injury-time. Leeds had clawed back two
goals in the final eight minutes after looking dead and buried when Kevin
Phillips' 79th minute goal made it 3-0. They were chasing an unlikely
equaliser when Albion broke clear to add a fourth in the last minute. But there was no doubt when the Whites crashed 4-0 at home to Stoke and
then Leicester won 2-1 at Elland Road. Worst of all was a humiliating
5-1 hammering at Luton on 21 October. John Carver all but wrote off his
chances of getting the job after the Luton debacle. There was speculation in the press about a whole range of contenders
to replace him, including Glenn Hoddle, Brian Kerr, Alan Curbishley, Gary
McAllister, Graeme Souness, Alan Pardew, Graham Taylor and Claudio Ranieri,
but there was little surprise when Dennis Wise was named as the new man
on 24 October. Ken Bates had worked with Wise before, at Chelsea where the former England
international had been captain, and the chairman was godfather to Wise's
son. United agreed to pay compensation running into six figures to Swindon
Town to secure the services of Wise and his assistant, the Uruguayan Gus
Poyet, another former Chelsea man. There had been rumours ever since Bates took
over that Wise would be installed as manager, but the initial reaction
of the United fans was not positive. They had already been heard chanting,
'You can stick Dennis Wise up your arse,' even before his appointment,
and were clearly apprehensive at the Chelsea connection. Those with Nevertheless, there was some relief that Bates had acted decisively and
the chairman was typically forthright during the inevitable press conference,
saying, 'What Dennis will bring to Leeds United is total honesty, total
authority and total leadership. The players will be in no doubt whatsoever
as to who is the boss. He will not take any crap from anyone. Some of
the established players have had the run of the place. But now, it doesn't
matter who they are because Dennis is not interested in reputations.' Wise was equally forthright: 'I want them to be a bit like the Leeds
of old - horrible, I want a bit of nastiness and togetherness. I have
explained that to them. I said to the players I was bewildered by the
side's position. I'll not be afraid to pull any punches. I need to look
at what I've got … I need to know who wants to stay and who wants to leave.
They know that now I have made a couple of decisions early doors with
regards to the captaincy. It was important for me to make a younger up-and-coming
player the captain. [Nicholls] was captain at Luton and has a bit of bite
about him.' On the day of Wise's appointment, reserve team manager David Geddis was
in charge of the team as they faced Southend United in the Carling Cup.
The 3-1 defeat brought a stark reminder, if any were needed, of the size
of the task facing the incoming boss. Phil Hay in the Yorkshire Evening Post: 'He was subjected to a
performance from United which explained in minute detail why he is here,
and the scale of the challenge he has accepted. Wise may have travelled
to Yorkshire with the belief that news of Leeds' demise has been greatly
exaggerated, but last night's third round defeat will have left him with
no doubts about the severity of the job in hand. The task of reviving
the Elland Road club really is as big as it seems. 'Southend's victory exposed every one of United's deficiencies - inept
passing, suicidal defending and an acute lack of confidence - and Wise
took his place in the manager's seat this morning knowing Leeds require
a substantial overhaul.' Four days later, the two teams met at the same venue with Championship
points at stake, and happily for Leeds, the new manager impact was evident,
as reported by Duncan Castles in the Sunday Times. 'Leeds came into this match in relegation form, having shipped 18 goals
while losing their last five matches. Logically they should have lost
Dennis Wise's first match in charge too. But Wise relishes challenges
and he rose to this one. The win came from late goals in each half, from
Ian Moore and Robbie Blake, But Leeds could not sustain the momentum and a midweek trip to high flying
Preston brought a comprehensive 4-1 defeat. Wise said afterwards: 'There
needs to be a lot more competition. At some stage we may need to bring
fresh faces in. It's not a massive squad, and there are some players who
are always going to play. It seems a little bit stale, and the body language
is not strong. 'Over the three games I've seen it's not enough for me. It really isn't.
I'm not too pleased. What was most disappointing was that when the first
goal went in, I thought to myself we don't look like we're going to get
back into this. That worries me.' Four days later, Barnsley beat United 3-2 at Oakwell to overtake them
in the table, coming back from 2-1 down at the interval. Wise was once
more forced to front it out with the press: 'We're trying to make new
signings and that's all we can do. But if we don't, these players have
got to look at themselves. We have to get ourselves together and dig ourselves
out of this hole. We need people with big shoulders who will dig in deep
and give as much as possible.' Wise was prepared to try pretty much anything to arrest United's slide
- in an attempt to negate a poor defensive record (they had conceded 32
goals in 12 games), United had approached the Football League to reduce
the size of the Elland Road playing surface to the minimum allowed in
the rules. The request was turned down on the basis that the size of the
pitch must be registered before the start of each season. Robbie Blake had spoken after the Barnsley defeat of the club's lack
of self confidence and belief. When Dennis Wise arrived at Elland Road,
he had ordered Blake to shed some weight, but the forward was becoming
a key man under the new manager, netting two goals in three games, and
he did even better when United entertained Colchester on 11 November. Blake netted a goal in each half, sandwiching Richard Cresswell's second
of the season, as United pulled off a heart warming 3-0 victory, prompting
Wise to hail him as his 'little gem'. 'He put a good shift in today -
not just things he did with the ball but his general work as well. He
needs confidence and he's been doing great. He finds little places that
other players can't find and he can hurt teams from there.' The win moved United up the table, but they struggled to maintain momentum,
collapsing 3-0 againt Southampton. They won their first away game since
August when Blake and Lewis goals earned victory at Plymouth, but then
slumped to a 2-1 reverse at Burnley with Hayden Foxe sent off. United fell foul of the Football Association for naming six loan players
against the Turf Moor club. League rules stipulate that the maximum number
of loanees in a match day squad is five. United pleaded extenuating circumstances
through a late injury to Matthew Kilgallon. They were fined £2,000, with
half of it suspended. Dennis Wise had been active in the loan market, shipping Paul Butler
and Neil Sullivan out and recruiting Coventry centre-back Matt Heath,
Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu
and Steve Stone's contract was cancelled by mutual consent, with the former
England midfielder accepting the inevitable and retiring. His time at
Elland Road had been ruined by injury and he said, 'I came to Leeds full
of hope that I could be part of another promotion success. But unfortunately,
four or five days into pre-season I suffered the Achilles injury and it
has never really recovered. I got back eventually but knew things weren't
right pretty much straight away. I was getting a pain every time I tried
to sprint, and if you can't do that at the top level then you can't do
your job. I tried to adapt my game but it proved impossible and as someone
who has always given his all, I knew I couldn't go on.' The run in to Christmas brought new gloom, with home points dropped in
draws with relegation rivals Barnsley and Hull, and 1-0 defeats against
Derby and Ipswich, where Kevin Nicholls was sent off for using an elbow
on Danny Haynes. A 2-0 defeat at Sunderland on Boxing Day and a farcical defensive display
at Stoke on 30 December showed exactly how low the club had sunk. They
were second from bottom and five points from safety, with the poorest
defensive record in the division. Dennis Wise stressed that 10 wins from the final 24 games would be enough
to keep United up, but the first four of those games reaped one point
and one goal. The manager remained relentlessly upbeat, but his words
were starting to sound naive: 'There is only one way and that is up. It
is too soon to be talking about anything like that (relegation); there
are 21 games to go. Eight wins and you are out of it, seven wins you could
be out of it. You have got to start worrying when you get to 12 games
to go and you are struggling. At the present moment, January is coming
and we are going to bring in some new faces. That will give it a lift,
it always does. 'It is no good saying "yes, we are this and that." I think
in a positive way and not a negative way. That is the way I am. If you
think in a negative way, you will act in a negative way. 'We seem a little bit worried when going forward about the spaces being
left behind. When we do go and attack, we end up with a problem. We need
to be brave and not worry about making mistakes. We are being too cautious
and we need belief. Be bolder and have a go. It's not a problem if they
make mistakes - that is one thing I do not want them to worry about.' As 2007 dawned, Leeds United seemed to be stumbling blissfully into the
abyss. |