Yorkshire Evening Post 1/1/08
Wise's silence speaks volumes
Leeds United 1 Oldham Athletic 3
In an uncharacteristic moment of silence yesterday, Dennis Wise gave the most telling verdict on the torturous manner of Leeds United's arrival at the gates of 2008.
Wise sent his assistant, Dave Bassett, to dissect United's first league defeat of the season at Elland Road, too livid to address the media himself. Managers can reveal a great deal through silence, and if saying nothing was Wise's way of expressing his anger, it had the desired effect.
United's boss may feel that comments made behind closed doors are better left in private, but it was not difficult to gauge the mood of his dressing room after the club's torrid loss to Oldham Athletic.
An irate Wise sent his players out for the second half five minutes early, trailing as they were by three goals, and the verbal battering they received at the interval is said to have been repeated at full-time. Wise may have felt he had said enough for one day, and Bassett to his credit put forward an assessment of United's recent performances which was as accurate as it was honest.
esterday's result was brought about as much by United's ineptitude as it was by Oldham's quality, but to view the loss in isolation would be folly. Leeds have gathered deserved acclaim this season, and their defeat to Oldham should not be allowed to question unfairly their ability to escape League One, but it was, as Bassett admitted, indicative of a five-match period in which Wise's side have been deeply unconvincing.
Since routing Huddersfield Town on December 8, United's confidence has faded. They are no longer the invincible side who crashed through the first half of the term with devastating effect, a fact which is now apparent to both Wise's players and their opponents.
Their 1-1 draw at Walsall was fashioned through a deflection in the final minute, and an own goal was required to account for a Bristol Rovers team who should not have run Leeds close. Since then, an act of salvage at Hartlepool United has been followed by a narrow loss to a talented Swansea City side, and a thorough defeat to a more ordinary Oldham team. Five points from as many games is not the definition of a good Christmas.
Leeds were outclassed in Wales on Saturday but at least reached the final whistle knowing they had made a contest of their meeting the League One's leaders. Yesterday, there was no such consolation.
Their defeat was in order before half-time, and with it came the end of an unbeaten league record at Elland Road which had run not only through this season, but as far back as March 3. Ten months of resilience came apart inside the 12 first-half minutes when Oldham took a turgid game and shook it violently with three rapid goals.
United's display, and the atmosphere of a crowd of 25,906, was eerily reminiscent of last season when Wise became accustomed to the sight of his plans going awry. Over the last five months, though plain hard work and a hugely ambitious attitude, United's manager and his players have regained the faith of their supporters, and it is unreasonable to think that one desperate defeat will hinder that relationship.
But with the transfer window open and a month to improve and rally his squad, Wise will concur with the onlookers yesterday who witnessed a team in need of refreshment.
His midfield appeared jaded and fractured once more, clearly missing the robust presence of Jonathan Douglas, and continuity in that area alone would restore United's resilience. Injuries have caused untold problems, and it seems inconceivable that Shaun Derry will make another appearance for what is, for now, his parent club. On loan with Crystal Palace and improving by the game, Derry would have been welcomed home with open arms yesterday. United's failure to draw him back to Yorkshire is likely to facilitate a permanent transfer out of Elland Road this month.Oldham's victory was the result of ruthless opportunism and, as Swansea had three days earlier, John Sheridan's players took advantage of every error made by Leeds.
Their win, as deserved as it was, had been difficult to predict during the mundane spell of 27 minutes which preceded their first goal, but Oldham acknowledged the pressure that Reuben Hazell's strike placed on Leeds and quickly harnessed the fractious atmosphere. Sheridan knew Leeds would eventually mount a response; to his delight, his team were out of sight by the time it came.
Hazell's strike was a delightful finish, a searing volley from the edge of the box, yet United's concession lay in their lack of defensive conviction. Matt Heath's weak header from inside his own penalty area dropped awkwardly to Hazell, who controlled the ball with his chest and was given enough time to lash a dipping shot beyond Casper Ankergren before the goalkeeper could move.
Sensing the initiative and a potential feather in their cap, Oldham lunged purposefully for the jugular.
A superb save from Ankergren dug Frazer Richardson out of trouble after the full-back's mis-placed pass in the 36th minute left Craig Davies free 10 yards from goal, but Oldham increased their lead from the resulting corner.
Neil Kilkenny's delivery dropped lazily into the box where Neil Trotman rose unmarked to nod a free header into the net. It was a soft goal, though not as charitable as the attack four minutes later which left United three goals adrift.
Davies whipped a low delivery across goal from the left wing, and when Oldham striker Lee Hughes missed his connection, his namesake Andrew could not avoid adding the deflection which carried the ball beyond Ankergren at his far post. Elland Road groaned and, after dragging his players from the field at half-time, the walls of Wise's dressing room shook.
Tore Andre Flo and Leon Constantine were introduced as substitutes at the start of the second half, a deliberate demonstration of Wise's dissatisfaction. He did not have to speak publicly to concur with the frustration of the home crowd, and the sight of United's players on the pitch fully five minutes before the restart spoke volumes. It could not be argued that Wise accepted yesterday's defeat with good grace.
Within a minute of the kick-off, his substitutions brought a reward as Tresor Kandol's knock-down was headed into an empty net by Constantine, and Wise was almost tempted to raise a smile in the 66th minute when Kandol leapt onto David Prutton's deflected shot and hammered the ball past Mark Crossley.
An offside flag rained on Kandol's celebrations, however, and thereafter United rarely threatened to find the second goal they needed to test Oldham's nerve.
If anything, the visitors were as likely to extend their lead, even though Leeds were operating with four strikers; the Alamo it was not. A fascinating year lies ahead.
Wise's silence speaks volumes
Leeds United 1 Oldham Athletic 3
In an uncharacteristic moment of silence yesterday, Dennis Wise gave the most telling verdict on the torturous manner of Leeds United's arrival at the gates of 2008.
Wise sent his assistant, Dave Bassett, to dissect United's first league defeat of the season at Elland Road, too livid to address the media himself. Managers can reveal a great deal through silence, and if saying nothing was Wise's way of expressing his anger, it had the desired effect.
United's boss may feel that comments made behind closed doors are better left in private, but it was not difficult to gauge the mood of his dressing room after the club's torrid loss to Oldham Athletic.
An irate Wise sent his players out for the second half five minutes early, trailing as they were by three goals, and the verbal battering they received at the interval is said to have been repeated at full-time. Wise may have felt he had said enough for one day, and Bassett to his credit put forward an assessment of United's recent performances which was as accurate as it was honest.
esterday's result was brought about as much by United's ineptitude as it was by Oldham's quality, but to view the loss in isolation would be folly. Leeds have gathered deserved acclaim this season, and their defeat to Oldham should not be allowed to question unfairly their ability to escape League One, but it was, as Bassett admitted, indicative of a five-match period in which Wise's side have been deeply unconvincing.
Since routing Huddersfield Town on December 8, United's confidence has faded. They are no longer the invincible side who crashed through the first half of the term with devastating effect, a fact which is now apparent to both Wise's players and their opponents.
Their 1-1 draw at Walsall was fashioned through a deflection in the final minute, and an own goal was required to account for a Bristol Rovers team who should not have run Leeds close. Since then, an act of salvage at Hartlepool United has been followed by a narrow loss to a talented Swansea City side, and a thorough defeat to a more ordinary Oldham team. Five points from as many games is not the definition of a good Christmas.
Leeds were outclassed in Wales on Saturday but at least reached the final whistle knowing they had made a contest of their meeting the League One's leaders. Yesterday, there was no such consolation.
Their defeat was in order before half-time, and with it came the end of an unbeaten league record at Elland Road which had run not only through this season, but as far back as March 3. Ten months of resilience came apart inside the 12 first-half minutes when Oldham took a turgid game and shook it violently with three rapid goals.
United's display, and the atmosphere of a crowd of 25,906, was eerily reminiscent of last season when Wise became accustomed to the sight of his plans going awry. Over the last five months, though plain hard work and a hugely ambitious attitude, United's manager and his players have regained the faith of their supporters, and it is unreasonable to think that one desperate defeat will hinder that relationship.
But with the transfer window open and a month to improve and rally his squad, Wise will concur with the onlookers yesterday who witnessed a team in need of refreshment.
His midfield appeared jaded and fractured once more, clearly missing the robust presence of Jonathan Douglas, and continuity in that area alone would restore United's resilience. Injuries have caused untold problems, and it seems inconceivable that Shaun Derry will make another appearance for what is, for now, his parent club. On loan with Crystal Palace and improving by the game, Derry would have been welcomed home with open arms yesterday. United's failure to draw him back to Yorkshire is likely to facilitate a permanent transfer out of Elland Road this month.Oldham's victory was the result of ruthless opportunism and, as Swansea had three days earlier, John Sheridan's players took advantage of every error made by Leeds.
Their win, as deserved as it was, had been difficult to predict during the mundane spell of 27 minutes which preceded their first goal, but Oldham acknowledged the pressure that Reuben Hazell's strike placed on Leeds and quickly harnessed the fractious atmosphere. Sheridan knew Leeds would eventually mount a response; to his delight, his team were out of sight by the time it came.
Hazell's strike was a delightful finish, a searing volley from the edge of the box, yet United's concession lay in their lack of defensive conviction. Matt Heath's weak header from inside his own penalty area dropped awkwardly to Hazell, who controlled the ball with his chest and was given enough time to lash a dipping shot beyond Casper Ankergren before the goalkeeper could move.
Sensing the initiative and a potential feather in their cap, Oldham lunged purposefully for the jugular.
A superb save from Ankergren dug Frazer Richardson out of trouble after the full-back's mis-placed pass in the 36th minute left Craig Davies free 10 yards from goal, but Oldham increased their lead from the resulting corner.
Neil Kilkenny's delivery dropped lazily into the box where Neil Trotman rose unmarked to nod a free header into the net. It was a soft goal, though not as charitable as the attack four minutes later which left United three goals adrift.
Davies whipped a low delivery across goal from the left wing, and when Oldham striker Lee Hughes missed his connection, his namesake Andrew could not avoid adding the deflection which carried the ball beyond Ankergren at his far post. Elland Road groaned and, after dragging his players from the field at half-time, the walls of Wise's dressing room shook.
Tore Andre Flo and Leon Constantine were introduced as substitutes at the start of the second half, a deliberate demonstration of Wise's dissatisfaction. He did not have to speak publicly to concur with the frustration of the home crowd, and the sight of United's players on the pitch fully five minutes before the restart spoke volumes. It could not be argued that Wise accepted yesterday's defeat with good grace.
Within a minute of the kick-off, his substitutions brought a reward as Tresor Kandol's knock-down was headed into an empty net by Constantine, and Wise was almost tempted to raise a smile in the 66th minute when Kandol leapt onto David Prutton's deflected shot and hammered the ball past Mark Crossley.
An offside flag rained on Kandol's celebrations, however, and thereafter United rarely threatened to find the second goal they needed to test Oldham's nerve.
If anything, the visitors were as likely to extend their lead, even though Leeds were operating with four strikers; the Alamo it was not. A fascinating year lies ahead.