Yorkshire Evening Post 22/1/11 Grayson content to just tinker with his squad Simon Grayson has backed the core of his existing squad to see Leeds United through the remainder of the Championship season after insisting it was never his intention to make "wholesale" changes in the January transfer window. Grayson has taken a conservative approach to the market this month, making only two significant signings in the first three weeks of the winter window, and he admitted he was wary of unsettling a group of players who reached the turn of the year with a tight hold on a play-off position. United exceeded expectation during the first half of the season, climbing to second place in the Championship before Christmas Day, and Grayson intended to use January as an opportunity to carefully improve a reliable squad. A deal to recruit Andy O'Brien on a permanent basis from Bolton Wanderers was agreed on December 31 and concluded the following week, and Grayson made another important...
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BBC 22/1/11 Portsmouth 2 - 2 Leeds Substitute Davide Somma scored with his first touch to earn Leeds a point at Portsmouth in a match twice halted for floodlight failure. Joe Ward fired Pompey ahead from Liam Lawrence's cutback, before Luciano Becchio levelled from close range. John Utaka's angled drive restored Pompey's lead but Leeds levelled for a second time when Somma lashed home a minute after coming on. The game was then interrupted twice late on when the floodlights went off. Leeds were first to threaten when Max Gradel forced Portsmouth goalkeeper Richard Ashdown to punch away his thumping 25-yard drive in the second minute. Portsmouth responded and almost took the lead two minutes later when Ibrahima Sonko met Lawrence's corner with a firm header, only for the ball to rebound off the crossbar. Greg Halford twice went close with headers from two more Lawrence corners and both David Nugent and Utaka fired off target as the home side took control. Portsmouth dese...
Daily Mail 19/1/11 Leeds 1 Arsenal 3: Classy Samir Nasri is just knockout in lead role By Matt Lawton Captain for this cracker of a Cup replay and the classiest player on the pitch, Samir Nasri even attracted praise from Arsenal's opponents last night. As well as the applause he received from Leeds fans as he left the field, he was the subject of a message from Manchester United's most prolific tweeter. Rio Ferdinand declared him his 'player of the season so far' and quite right too given how consistently impressive the young Frenchman has been. There had been flashes of brilliance in the past, not least in the form of some truly spectacular goals. But Nasri is fast maturing into the complete package: an industrious, inventive attacking midfielder very much realising the potential identified by Arsene Wenger. Last night he scored his 14th goal of the season, a fine return for a midfielder in May, never mind January. But Nasri is about so much more than that. It is the p...
BBC 19/1/11 Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal By Jonathan Stevenson Arsenal produced a clinical performance at Championship side Leeds to book their place in the FA Cup fourth round. The Gunners were impressive throughout and took an early lead when Samir Nasri slotted in from Andrey Arshavin's pass. Kasper Schmeichel brilliantly denied Marouane Chamakh before Bacary Sagna thumped home a second, though Bradley Johnson's screamer halved the deficit. Davide Somma's effort flew wide before Robin van Persie headed in a superb Nicklas Bendtner cross to settle it. Arsenal, who are still in the hunt for four trophies this season, will now entertain League One side Huddersfield Town next. The Gunners have never gone out of the FA Cup in the third round nor lost to a lower division side in the competition under Arsene Wenger, two impressive runs they kept going at Elland Road on an evening that was fraught with potential dangers. Arsenal must have been pleased that Leeds' leading scorer Lucia...
New pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk 2009/10 - The most exciting season for years
Part 1 – Our time at last? Surely, surely, this would be the year that United took the first steps back up the football ladder Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/200910part1.htm Part 2 – Off field set backs Besides playing success, for Leeds United the 2009/10 season will be remembered for a number of behind the scenes controversies Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/200910part2.htm For a copy of the full judgement in the Levi v Bates court case http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/pdf/Judgement%20Levi%20v%20Bates%202%20July%202009.pdf Part 3 – Cup highs and League lows A famous victory at Old Trafford and two sterling performances against Spurs almost derailed United's promotion chances Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/200910part3.htm Part 4 – Results, table and transfers All the results, scorers and attendances and final table from the 2009/10 season Read the full story at http://www.mig...
leedsunited.com 15/1/11 IRON FLATTENED AT ELLAND ROAD UNITED 4 (Watt 16, Gradel 20, Johnson 29, Somma 89), SCUNTHORPE 0 United manager Simon Grayson made one change from the side which drew with Arsenal last weekend - George McCartney returning in place of Ben Parker - while Scunthorpe boss Ian Baraclough made wholesale changes from his Iron side which lost to Everton in the FA Cup third round. Scunthorpe's away record, in terms of victories, is one of the best in the division, but it was visiting keeper Joe Murphy who had to make the first save when a Robert Snodgrass shot took a deflection. It was a low key opening to the game, but Leeds were in front inside 16 minutes. Sanchez Watt shrugged off a Scunthorpe defender on the edge of the box before delivering a strike too powerful for Murphy to keep out to fire Leeds ahead. And it was 2-0 within four minutes. Watt won the ball in midfield, Snodgrass picked out Max Gradel, and Gradel showed great footwork in rounding the goalkeeper...
leedsunited.com 14/1/11 MACCA IS BACK TO SEE SEASON OUT Defender George McCartney has returned to Leeds United on loan until the end of the season. The Sunderland left-back returned to the north east after his most recent loan spell came to an end following our 3-3 draw with Portsmouth on December 28. The Northern Ireland international made 17 appearances on loan at the end of last year in the left-back role, and played a major part in United's unbeaten run. McCartney is likely to be named in the squad for Saturday's clash with Scunthorpe, but won't be available for the FA Cup third round replay with Arsenal on Wednesday. United manager Simon Grayson said: "I'm delighted we've been able to bring George back until the end of the season. He did well over the course of his last loan spell and I know what he can bring to the table." United chairman Ken Bates added: "The additional revenue earned from the Arsenal game has helped make this loan possible as ...