Leedsunited.com 5/8/07
TARGET 105!
United boss Dennis Wise has told his players they'll need 105 points if they are to win League One at the first time of asking.
After being asked for his thoughts on the Football League's announcement that the share had been transferred and the club would be deducted 15 points for the new season, Wisey said: "I've told the lads - we'll need 105 points to win the league now."
The boss faced the media for the first time since Friday's announcement after watching his side edged out 2-1 by Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
"We've got to get on with it," said the boss.
"I just said we need 105 points to the win the league and if you perform like that (against Wigan) you have a chance.
"It's something that's been put in front of us and we have to deal with it.
"Hopefully something will change and it won't be 15 points, but minus 15 is minus 15 and it's not a nice situation to be in.
"It's a massive challenge, and there's the fact we couldn't sign anyone and are two months behind everyone else... it's been difficult.
"This is what's been happening. It's a blow, but we'll get on with it.
"Full credit to the players here and the group I've got.
"They've worked for two months, hard graft, with no money, because they want to be here, and want to achieve something here.”
Wisey also said he was encouraged by another good performance from his players, against Premiership opponents.
Jermaine Beckford scored his second goal in two games, and the majority of the 7469 crowd stayed behind to give the team a standing ovation.
"I thought we put up a good fight," said the boss.
"We've done okay performance-wise in pre-season, we're getting together, and I'm pleased with them."
Yorkshire Evening Post 4/8/07
Leeds United are out of luck again
By Phil Hay
Leeds United 1 Wigan 2
RESULTS carry little significance during the experimental weeks of pre-season, but football itself is lucky to get a look-in at Elland Road these days.
Yesterday's friendly against Wigan arrived with another promise of new beginnings, yet ended with the concerns and fears of Leeds United's supporters as deep as they were before the latest development in their club's fight to escape the worst of financial webs.The return of United's share in the Football League on Friday evening brought a virtual end to a gruelling battle which has run from the start to the finish of this year's close season, but it is impossible for the club, or its supporters, to feel a sense of closure.The administrators have gone, and United – in the guise of Leeds United 2007 Ltd – are Football League members once again. But exactly how the ultimate consequences of that process will affect the club's future is almost impossible to say. Yesterday's friendly was never designed to answer that question, despite the impressive performance that Leeds produced.United coped admirably with Wigan, a Premiership club who have invested heavily in players this summer, and deserved more than the narrow defeat inflicted on them by two goals from Jason Koumas. Dennis Wise might view that as a cause for optimism, and Leeds gave the impression of a truly competitive League One side, but United's manager knows had badly next season will be distorted by the 15-point penalty inflicted on the club by the Football League.Leeds will fight the unprecedented deduction – imposed as punishment for United's failure to exit administration via a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) – but are resigned to starting the forthcoming season with a negative points tally. That, first and foremost, will dictate what Wise and his players can achieve next season, and whether further effects of administration are still to come. United are already obvious favourites for a second successive relegation.In the nine months that have passed since his appointment at Elland Road, Wise has become strangely accustomed to the unexpected.His first season was a catalogue of peculiar developments, stretching from the mole in the club's squad to the demotion of a captain who was cherry-picked to lead Wise's revolution. Given that history, it would not have been ambitious of United's manager to hope in May that the worst had passed.Wise never lacks optimism, however, and his comments in yesterday's matchday programme fought against the pessimists with typical confidence. It is an attitude he will be asked to maintain with conviction as he attempts to persuade possible signings to overlook the crippling points deduction and see what Wise hopes will be a bigger and brighter picture at Leeds.
Leedsunited.com 4/8/07
GOOD EFFORT
UNITED 1 (Beckford 54), WIGAN 2 (Koumas 44, 69)
United: Loach, Gardner, Marques, Parker, Lewis, Douglas (Weston 76), Prutton (Bayly 76), Thompson (Howson 76), Westlake (Carole 76), Beckford, Kandol (Elliott 76). Subs: Cortizo (trialist g/k), Delph.
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Kilbane, Brown, Granquist, Bramble, Valenica, Landzaat, Heskey, Koumas, Agahowa. Subs: Scharner, Pollitt, Sibierski, Folan, Cotterill, Cywka, Montrose, Moore.
Att: 7469
Dennis Wise again started with a youthful side for the visit of Premiership Wigan, but it was United who created the first opening when Jermaine Beckford screwed a shot wide after a good ball forward.
It was a tentative opening from both sides, but Wigan had their first effort on 12 minutes when a Jason Koumas curler came back off the woodwork.
Denny Landzaat also tested United keeper Scott Loach with a shot from the edge of the box.
Wigan had another opportunity when Koumas was given space on the edge of the box, and an Antonio Valencia effort was deflected to safety.
At the other end Dave Prutton and Tresor Kandol combined well to feed Beckford, but the striker was unable to turn and shoot.
Moments later, Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland had to be at full stretch to keep out a Beckford header after good work by Scott Gardner, Prutton, and Eddie Lewis.
United were looking lively and Titus Bramble picked up a yellow card after Kandol threatened to escape down the left.
Kandol and Beckford were again linking up well, and Beckford tested Kirkland again after another flick-on from his strike partner.
But it was the Premiership side who took the lead a minute before half-time. Emile Heskey broke well and Koumas converted with a well-placed shot beyond the grasp of Loach.
Koumas again threatened at the start of the second period, but it was United who came close to equalising just four minutes into the half. Beckford did well to win a corner, and Rui Marques headed an Alan Thompson delivery inches over the top.
The leveller did come on 54 minutes, though, when Beckford finished off some more good build-up play by tucking the ball beyond Kirkland.
Wigan were almost in front again within a minute, but Gardner was on hand to clear off the line.
Both sides continued to attack - Koumas was a threat for Wigan while Beckford and Kandol continued to cause problems at the other end - and it was a lively affair.
United even had claims for a penalty waved away after Kandol took a tumble in the box and, moments later, Kirkland got down well to keep out a low free-kick from Thompson.
A free-kick at the other end proved decisive, though, and Koumas profited when his shot was deflected through the wall to wrong-foot Loach in the United goal.
With 14 minutes remaining Wise made wholesale changes - five subs were introduced - and from the first attack substitute Curtis Weston had a shot blocked and fellow sub Rob Bayly hooked a shot over the top.
Weston was again involved when he delivered a good far post cross, but Seb Carole was crowded out as he looked to win the header.
As the game entered the final minute United won a series of corners, and Bayly came within a whisker of grabbing a second equaliser when he arrived late at the far post.
TARGET 105!
United boss Dennis Wise has told his players they'll need 105 points if they are to win League One at the first time of asking.
After being asked for his thoughts on the Football League's announcement that the share had been transferred and the club would be deducted 15 points for the new season, Wisey said: "I've told the lads - we'll need 105 points to win the league now."
The boss faced the media for the first time since Friday's announcement after watching his side edged out 2-1 by Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
"We've got to get on with it," said the boss.
"I just said we need 105 points to the win the league and if you perform like that (against Wigan) you have a chance.
"It's something that's been put in front of us and we have to deal with it.
"Hopefully something will change and it won't be 15 points, but minus 15 is minus 15 and it's not a nice situation to be in.
"It's a massive challenge, and there's the fact we couldn't sign anyone and are two months behind everyone else... it's been difficult.
"This is what's been happening. It's a blow, but we'll get on with it.
"Full credit to the players here and the group I've got.
"They've worked for two months, hard graft, with no money, because they want to be here, and want to achieve something here.”
Wisey also said he was encouraged by another good performance from his players, against Premiership opponents.
Jermaine Beckford scored his second goal in two games, and the majority of the 7469 crowd stayed behind to give the team a standing ovation.
"I thought we put up a good fight," said the boss.
"We've done okay performance-wise in pre-season, we're getting together, and I'm pleased with them."
Yorkshire Evening Post 4/8/07
Leeds United are out of luck again
By Phil Hay
Leeds United 1 Wigan 2
RESULTS carry little significance during the experimental weeks of pre-season, but football itself is lucky to get a look-in at Elland Road these days.
Yesterday's friendly against Wigan arrived with another promise of new beginnings, yet ended with the concerns and fears of Leeds United's supporters as deep as they were before the latest development in their club's fight to escape the worst of financial webs.The return of United's share in the Football League on Friday evening brought a virtual end to a gruelling battle which has run from the start to the finish of this year's close season, but it is impossible for the club, or its supporters, to feel a sense of closure.The administrators have gone, and United – in the guise of Leeds United 2007 Ltd – are Football League members once again. But exactly how the ultimate consequences of that process will affect the club's future is almost impossible to say. Yesterday's friendly was never designed to answer that question, despite the impressive performance that Leeds produced.United coped admirably with Wigan, a Premiership club who have invested heavily in players this summer, and deserved more than the narrow defeat inflicted on them by two goals from Jason Koumas. Dennis Wise might view that as a cause for optimism, and Leeds gave the impression of a truly competitive League One side, but United's manager knows had badly next season will be distorted by the 15-point penalty inflicted on the club by the Football League.Leeds will fight the unprecedented deduction – imposed as punishment for United's failure to exit administration via a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) – but are resigned to starting the forthcoming season with a negative points tally. That, first and foremost, will dictate what Wise and his players can achieve next season, and whether further effects of administration are still to come. United are already obvious favourites for a second successive relegation.In the nine months that have passed since his appointment at Elland Road, Wise has become strangely accustomed to the unexpected.His first season was a catalogue of peculiar developments, stretching from the mole in the club's squad to the demotion of a captain who was cherry-picked to lead Wise's revolution. Given that history, it would not have been ambitious of United's manager to hope in May that the worst had passed.Wise never lacks optimism, however, and his comments in yesterday's matchday programme fought against the pessimists with typical confidence. It is an attitude he will be asked to maintain with conviction as he attempts to persuade possible signings to overlook the crippling points deduction and see what Wise hopes will be a bigger and brighter picture at Leeds.
Leedsunited.com 4/8/07
GOOD EFFORT
UNITED 1 (Beckford 54), WIGAN 2 (Koumas 44, 69)
United: Loach, Gardner, Marques, Parker, Lewis, Douglas (Weston 76), Prutton (Bayly 76), Thompson (Howson 76), Westlake (Carole 76), Beckford, Kandol (Elliott 76). Subs: Cortizo (trialist g/k), Delph.
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Kilbane, Brown, Granquist, Bramble, Valenica, Landzaat, Heskey, Koumas, Agahowa. Subs: Scharner, Pollitt, Sibierski, Folan, Cotterill, Cywka, Montrose, Moore.
Att: 7469
Dennis Wise again started with a youthful side for the visit of Premiership Wigan, but it was United who created the first opening when Jermaine Beckford screwed a shot wide after a good ball forward.
It was a tentative opening from both sides, but Wigan had their first effort on 12 minutes when a Jason Koumas curler came back off the woodwork.
Denny Landzaat also tested United keeper Scott Loach with a shot from the edge of the box.
Wigan had another opportunity when Koumas was given space on the edge of the box, and an Antonio Valencia effort was deflected to safety.
At the other end Dave Prutton and Tresor Kandol combined well to feed Beckford, but the striker was unable to turn and shoot.
Moments later, Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland had to be at full stretch to keep out a Beckford header after good work by Scott Gardner, Prutton, and Eddie Lewis.
United were looking lively and Titus Bramble picked up a yellow card after Kandol threatened to escape down the left.
Kandol and Beckford were again linking up well, and Beckford tested Kirkland again after another flick-on from his strike partner.
But it was the Premiership side who took the lead a minute before half-time. Emile Heskey broke well and Koumas converted with a well-placed shot beyond the grasp of Loach.
Koumas again threatened at the start of the second period, but it was United who came close to equalising just four minutes into the half. Beckford did well to win a corner, and Rui Marques headed an Alan Thompson delivery inches over the top.
The leveller did come on 54 minutes, though, when Beckford finished off some more good build-up play by tucking the ball beyond Kirkland.
Wigan were almost in front again within a minute, but Gardner was on hand to clear off the line.
Both sides continued to attack - Koumas was a threat for Wigan while Beckford and Kandol continued to cause problems at the other end - and it was a lively affair.
United even had claims for a penalty waved away after Kandol took a tumble in the box and, moments later, Kirkland got down well to keep out a low free-kick from Thompson.
A free-kick at the other end proved decisive, though, and Koumas profited when his shot was deflected through the wall to wrong-foot Loach in the United goal.
With 14 minutes remaining Wise made wholesale changes - five subs were introduced - and from the first attack substitute Curtis Weston had a shot blocked and fellow sub Rob Bayly hooked a shot over the top.
Weston was again involved when he delivered a good far post cross, but Seb Carole was crowded out as he looked to win the header.
As the game entered the final minute United won a series of corners, and Bayly came within a whisker of grabbing a second equaliser when he arrived late at the far post.