Mighty Leeds Weblog

Blackwell chooses the real world over dream works Leeds'new-found modesty can't mask a club high on hope, says Paul Wilson For a club who have spent the past three years as a byword for mismanagement and financial devastation, Leeds United glimpsed from the training ground look surprisingly healthy and well-nourished. A shiny new academy and training centre boast facilities only the very top Premiership sides can match and which several others - Portsmouth and Everton spring to mind - can only dream about. The fact that Leeds no longer technically own the Thorp Arch complex does not seem to matter much: a 25-year leaseback suits everyone and the pitches, gymnasium and swimming pool are still for the exclusive use of the players. Upstairs Kevin Blackwell is dealing with the parents of a potential trainee in an interview suite specially designated for the purpose. Downstairs, anyone waiting to see the Leeds manager can study mounted photographs of youth-team products such as Ala

LeedsUnited.com Celtic 0 Leeds United 0 There were no goals but plenty of spirit was on display from Leeds as they ground out a 0-0 draw with Celtic in Glasgow. Kevin Blackwell used his entire squad of 20 players, bar Seth Johnson, in the game and only Shaun Derry got a full 90 minutes in but most of the rest are only a few minutes short of completing their first full game of pre-season. Chances for Leeds were limited but Blackwell will have been heartened by how hard his side worked in the game and how well Dan Harding and Eddie Lewis fitted in. The thousand or so travelling United fans were able to treat a somewhat quiet Celtic support to the full repertoire of Leeds songs at the start of this game. The first 15 minutes or so belonged to the home side as they exerted some early pressure on the Whites. When Paul Butler fouled Shaun Maloney five yards out from the penalty area it gave Celtic a chance to test out Ian Bennett, but it was Sean Gregan who took the full force of the free-ki

A Season to Remember - new pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk I've just uploaded my review of the 1964-65 season. You can find it at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/196465part1.htm Leeds United emerge from the Second Division to shake up the First Division and enjoy a remarkable season with a Wembley debut, but end up with nothing

Marques ... will he be another Roque Juior or a second Radebe? 

Leeds United Football Club - Marques Set To Be No.7 United are closing in on their seventh signing of the summer after agreeing personal terms with Portuguese defender Rui Marques. The former Stuttgart man is set to undergo a medical and will become a United player upon successful completion. He had initially arrived at Thorp Arch on trial a few weeks ago and has been on a short trial with Ipswich, but has made his mind up to join the Whites. An Angolan international, Marques, 27, began his career with Benfica, then had spells in Germany with Hertha Berlin and Stuttgart, before returning to the Portuguese SuperLiga with Maritimo last season. Marques is keen to complete the deal and get his United career off the ground. He said: "Leeds is a big club, it's really a Premier League club and I beleive that Leeds will be in the Premiership again. "I had some difficult times after Germany, but I think England will be a new start for me. I think it wi

Carver ... new coach 

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Carver set for Elland Road role Leeds United are set to appoint John Carver as the club's new head coach after the departure of Steve Agnew to League One side Hartlepool. Carver has spent much of his career at Newcastle United where he was assistant to Sir Bobby Robson. "I'm looking forward to the challenge," Carver told BBC Radio Leeds. "The first person I spoke to was my brother-in-law, Peter Haddock who was in the Championship winning side and he said if you get a choice go to Leeds." "Newcastle is a great club with passionate supporters but Leeds United is on the same level.

Blake ... deal done 

Leeds United Football Club - Debut Winner For Blake: Darlington 0 United 1 Debut Winner For Blake: Darlington 0 United 1 Darlington 0 Leeds 1 (Blake 5) There was a lively start to the match with a goal and plenty of chances in the opening ten minutes, not to mention the sight of a giant inflatable football that mingled with the action on the pitch. It was the home side who threatened first. Former United pair of Simon Johnson and Clyde Wijnhard combines and Wijnhard got a foot on the cross, forcing Ian Bennett to tip the ball behind from under his own crossbar. Leeds then had a chance at the other end from a corner delivered into the box by Seth Johnson which Paul Butler met awkwardly but still managed to direct it towards goal where it hit the post and came back out. Within five minutes though United were celebrating as Robbie Blake scored the first goal of his Leeds career. The new signing, who feared he might not be fit enough to start the game, met a D

Leeds United Football Club - Blake Deal Done Leeds United have finalised the signing of Robbie Blake after the striker completed a medical on Monday afternoon. Blake had already agreed terms on a three year contract at Elland Road last week, and just required the final results of his medical for him to officially become manager Kevin Blackwell's sixth summer signing. Robbie joins up with his new team-mates for the first time on Tuesday morning. "I'm really looking forward to being a Leeds player," he said. "I'm going to a fantastic club. I might be dropping out of the Premiership but hopefully I can get back there with Leeds. "I'm really happy to have made the move here and you only have to look around at the facilities to realise how big the club is and the stature it has in the game." Blackwell was delighted to be able to welcome his latest acquisition. "Robbie has a fantastic goal-scoring record at t

First trip to Wembley ... a dour affair 

Leeds fail at the last hurdle - new pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk I've just uploaded my review of the 1965 FA Cup final. You can find it at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19650501.htm Leeds United make their debut at Wembley Stadium in one of the most sterile of all Cup finals, with Gary Sprake keeping them in the game with one of his greatest ever performances

Bakke to stay? 

Sports Headlines - Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More BAKKE IN THE OLD ROUTINE EXCLUSIVE By PAUL DEWS In NORWAY EIRIK BAKKE returned to his homeland with Leeds United yesterday and vowed to resurrect his Elland Road career. The Norwegian international, who is expected to start his first senior game for 18 months when Leeds take on local side Haugesund tomorrow, has shrugged off speculation about his future and insists he wants to build on his early glory days. Bakke, who is the focus of attention for local football fans here in Stavanger, has been linked with Birmingham City and Aston Villa, but the midfielder says he is firmly focused on the challenge of helping Leeds to a Premiership return. He told the YEP: "There's always going to be speculation, but I'm happy at Leeds and I want to stay at Leeds. "There have been rumours about Birmingham and Villa, but Leeds is a big club and it's more challenging f

Blake ... money to burn for Blackwell? Where will he fit in? 

Sport - Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Blake's pay-off holds up United Leeds agree fee for striker RICHARD SUTCLIFFE ROBBIE BLAKE will today be left behind when his Birmingham City team-mates jet off to Norway for a pre-season training camp after Leeds United agreed a fee with the Blues. After a weekend of negotiations, the two clubs yesterday agreed an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £850,000 for the 29-year-old striker who moved to St Andrews for £1.25m from Burnley in January. Blake has spoken to Kevin Blackwell and told the Leeds manager how keen he is to move to Elland Road. The Yorkshire Post understands, however, that the transfer is subject to a settlement being reached between Birmingham and Blake over the remaining three years of his contract. United are close to agreeing personal terms with Blake, but such is the huge gulf between wages paid in the Premiership and Championship that the strike

So near and yet so far - first episode in a litany of glorious failure 

Leeds fail at the last hurdle - new pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk I've just uploaded my review of the crucial final League game of 1964-65. You can find it at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19650426.htm Leeds battle back from three goals down to snatch a draw in their final League game of the season, but ultimately finish as runners up to Manchester United by virtue of a poorer goal average

End of another unfortunate deal 

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Boston United | Joachim completes Boston switch Boston have signed Leeds United striker Julian Joachim on a two-year deal. The 30-year-old hails from Boston and returns "home" after successful spells in the midlands with Aston Villa, Leicester City and Coventry City. More recently Joachim had a productive loan period at Walsall towards the end of last season, but the clubs could not agree terms on a permanent switch. Leeds insisted they would not offer Joachim a settlement on the remaining year of his contract. "Julian's come home to his home town club where he stood on the terraces and watched the team on many an occasion," Boston boss Steve Evans told BBC Sport. "He trained this morning and looked very bright and to be fair to Kevin Blackwell and Leeds they've been in for a week and Julian's fitness is good, which matches what we've seen in our own players."

Noggin wanted by Brummies 

Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Tug of war for Bakke by paul dews MIDLANDS rivals Birmingham City and Aston Villa are scrapping it out for the signature of Leeds United midfielder Eirik Bakke. The two Premiership clubs have expressed an interest in Bakke and are preparing their respective bids for the player. The 27-year-old has suffered two years of injury torment at Leeds and a return to the Premiership would offer Bakke the chance of a clean break. United boss Kevin Blackwell has strengthened his midfield in Bakke's absence with Sean Gregan, Jermaine Wright and Shaun Derry joining the club to fill that central role. Bakke, one of just three remaining senior players from the David O'Leary era, has not expressed an interest in leaving Elland Road and any deal would have to be right for player and club. Villa boss O'Leary is a long-time admirer of Bakke, while Blues boss Steve Bruce has stepped up his interest. Bruce als

Beating the Scum ... and making it to Wembley ... do things get any better? 

Leeds make it to Wembley for the first time - new pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk I've just uploaded my review of the semi final replay between Leeds and the Scum in the 1965 FA Cup.You can find it at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19650331.htm After the debacle of the first match, the players got back to football for the replay, and Leeds emerged victorious with a wonderful late goal from Blly Bremner to book a place in the final at Wembley

Battle for survival ... Law loses his shirt... 

Grim battle for survival - new pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk I've just uploaded my review of the grim goalless draw between Leeds and the Scum in the 1965 FA Cup smei final at Hillsborough.You can find it at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19650327.htm Two Uniteds take time off from their championship chase to go head to head in a fearsome battle for the Cup on an appalling Hillsborough pitch - Denis Law's shirt ended up in shreds