Yorkshire Post
Leeds look to future despite vision of past
Ian Appleyard
Elland Road welcomes back Spanish champions Valencia as United gear up for new season
THE LAW according to Kevin Blackwell is designed to give Leeds United a better future.
It is based on over a decade of study in the classroom of Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock and is currently being unveiled at Elland Road.
Blackwell, who acknowledges Warnock's contribution to his education but appears keen to keep it at distance, took his players go-karting and ten pin bowling last week.
If that is not borrowing a leaf from Warnock's book on management then neither is his use of witty one-liners at every possible junction in the sermon.
Blackwell is a chirpy chap with a ruthless streak and, just like his mentor, can often finish soft words with the sharpest of tongues.
Addressing the media ahead of his first match in charge at Elland Road, tomorrow's friendly against Spanish champions Valencia, Blackwell was burying the past and spelling out his vision for the future.
"I have been preparing for this job for a long, long time," he said. "But my role is no different to what I have been doing at other clubs for the last three or four years – it is just my name that is above the door now."
As introductions go, Blackwell has endured a baptism of fire in his first pre-season as a manager. With 21 players going out of the door and only ten new arrivals (including a club cat), it has been a summer of transition at Elland Road.
"Trying to find a whole new team is a very rare occurrence at any place," he said. "My challenge has been to find 15 or 16 players of the right calibre, attitude, and desire to play for Leeds United.
"With every one, the question I had to ask was 'could they handle playing for a high-profile club', could they handle playing at Elland Road in front of 35,000 expectant fans, the press and media, and maintain their discipline?
"Apart from Gary Kelly and Michael Duberry, everyone including the substitutes are new players from the team that finished last season. Morale is brilliant and we have had to build a new team spirit. Even the club cat is new and he has been shown where the milk tray is."
The irony of Leeds playing Valencia tomorrow is not lost on Blackwell. Just three years ago, the two clubs were locking horns in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
"People who look at the situation won't believe what has happened to Leeds but it is not the first time a major club has hit hard times," he said. "It is no good looking back because we can't play the team we had three years ago."
Blackwell is not a manager afraid to voice an opinion on matters controversial.
Reflecting on Leeds' decline over the last three years, he said: "Maybe the club had got a little bit fat. Money seemed to be the answer everywhere.
"Whenever there was a crack they just stuffed it full of money – but, when the money ran out, the cracks were still there.
"Whether people like it or not, we are in this situation because of what happened in the previous years before the current regime.
"They left us in a perilous state and the new owners have picked up the pieces. But they have still picked up the flak from fans who feel they should be spending money left, right, and centre.
"We are trying to learn from mistakes of the past," he added. "This is the set-up of a top European club but we have had the running of a non-league club
"The new board picked up a horrendous situation and they have had to meat out the medicine. I don't know anyone who likes taking medicine to get well but we are taking it. Although we were supposed to be 'living the dream' (the rhetoric of former chairman Peter Ridsdale), the nightmare lasts much longer."
Blackwell insists Leeds can avoid the same fate as Yorkshire rivals Bradford City, Barnsley, and Sheffield Wednesday who all suffered a second relegation soon after falling from the top-flight.
"Many people feel success this season will be to stay in the First Division, especially when you take into account big clubs that have come from the Premier League, heavily burdened with debt," he said. "That's why we are under no illusions that this is a tough job. They have shown how they have dealt with the financial ramifications of dropping out of the Premier League.
"Some of the clubs that went down with heavy debts maybe made the mistake of trying to fill the club with players of a calibre they did not deserve. Sub-standard players bringing sub-standard football.
"We will avoid that by trying to sign the right type of players; Michael Ricketts, Paul Butler, Jermaine Wright, Danny Pugh, Julian Joachim – these lads are quality players.
"I have got some other very good youngsters in Scott Carson, Aaron Lennon, Frazer Richardson, and Matthew Kilgallon. I think we have got the basis of a decent squad.
"Every team sets off with the hope and the aim of getting promotion. I am no different and if we can bed the new players in, there is no reason why it won't be a solid season. If we play to our potential we can win the league."
Tomorrow's game with Valencia will give fans a first opportunity to assess Blackwell's rebuilding efforts while also watch some of the best players in Europe.
Sadly, nearly all of those will be playing for Valencia.
Leeds look to future despite vision of past
Ian Appleyard
Elland Road welcomes back Spanish champions Valencia as United gear up for new season
THE LAW according to Kevin Blackwell is designed to give Leeds United a better future.
It is based on over a decade of study in the classroom of Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock and is currently being unveiled at Elland Road.
Blackwell, who acknowledges Warnock's contribution to his education but appears keen to keep it at distance, took his players go-karting and ten pin bowling last week.
If that is not borrowing a leaf from Warnock's book on management then neither is his use of witty one-liners at every possible junction in the sermon.
Blackwell is a chirpy chap with a ruthless streak and, just like his mentor, can often finish soft words with the sharpest of tongues.
Addressing the media ahead of his first match in charge at Elland Road, tomorrow's friendly against Spanish champions Valencia, Blackwell was burying the past and spelling out his vision for the future.
"I have been preparing for this job for a long, long time," he said. "But my role is no different to what I have been doing at other clubs for the last three or four years – it is just my name that is above the door now."
As introductions go, Blackwell has endured a baptism of fire in his first pre-season as a manager. With 21 players going out of the door and only ten new arrivals (including a club cat), it has been a summer of transition at Elland Road.
"Trying to find a whole new team is a very rare occurrence at any place," he said. "My challenge has been to find 15 or 16 players of the right calibre, attitude, and desire to play for Leeds United.
"With every one, the question I had to ask was 'could they handle playing for a high-profile club', could they handle playing at Elland Road in front of 35,000 expectant fans, the press and media, and maintain their discipline?
"Apart from Gary Kelly and Michael Duberry, everyone including the substitutes are new players from the team that finished last season. Morale is brilliant and we have had to build a new team spirit. Even the club cat is new and he has been shown where the milk tray is."
The irony of Leeds playing Valencia tomorrow is not lost on Blackwell. Just three years ago, the two clubs were locking horns in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
"People who look at the situation won't believe what has happened to Leeds but it is not the first time a major club has hit hard times," he said. "It is no good looking back because we can't play the team we had three years ago."
Blackwell is not a manager afraid to voice an opinion on matters controversial.
Reflecting on Leeds' decline over the last three years, he said: "Maybe the club had got a little bit fat. Money seemed to be the answer everywhere.
"Whenever there was a crack they just stuffed it full of money – but, when the money ran out, the cracks were still there.
"Whether people like it or not, we are in this situation because of what happened in the previous years before the current regime.
"They left us in a perilous state and the new owners have picked up the pieces. But they have still picked up the flak from fans who feel they should be spending money left, right, and centre.
"We are trying to learn from mistakes of the past," he added. "This is the set-up of a top European club but we have had the running of a non-league club
"The new board picked up a horrendous situation and they have had to meat out the medicine. I don't know anyone who likes taking medicine to get well but we are taking it. Although we were supposed to be 'living the dream' (the rhetoric of former chairman Peter Ridsdale), the nightmare lasts much longer."
Blackwell insists Leeds can avoid the same fate as Yorkshire rivals Bradford City, Barnsley, and Sheffield Wednesday who all suffered a second relegation soon after falling from the top-flight.
"Many people feel success this season will be to stay in the First Division, especially when you take into account big clubs that have come from the Premier League, heavily burdened with debt," he said. "That's why we are under no illusions that this is a tough job. They have shown how they have dealt with the financial ramifications of dropping out of the Premier League.
"Some of the clubs that went down with heavy debts maybe made the mistake of trying to fill the club with players of a calibre they did not deserve. Sub-standard players bringing sub-standard football.
"We will avoid that by trying to sign the right type of players; Michael Ricketts, Paul Butler, Jermaine Wright, Danny Pugh, Julian Joachim – these lads are quality players.
"I have got some other very good youngsters in Scott Carson, Aaron Lennon, Frazer Richardson, and Matthew Kilgallon. I think we have got the basis of a decent squad.
"Every team sets off with the hope and the aim of getting promotion. I am no different and if we can bed the new players in, there is no reason why it won't be a solid season. If we play to our potential we can win the league."
Tomorrow's game with Valencia will give fans a first opportunity to assess Blackwell's rebuilding efforts while also watch some of the best players in Europe.
Sadly, nearly all of those will be playing for Valencia.
