Yorkshire Evening Post 24/12/09
Grayson asks fans to lay off Becks
Simon Grayson has urged Leeds United's fans to throw their support behind Jermaine Beckford when the striker attempts to redeem himself on Boxing Day.
Beckford is set to retain his place in Leeds' starting line-up when Hartlepool United come to Elland Road in 48 hours' time, and Grayson has attempted to erase any lingering anger over the forward's reaction to being substituted last weekend.
Grayson asks fans to lay off Becks
Simon Grayson has urged Leeds United's fans to throw their support behind Jermaine Beckford when the striker attempts to redeem himself on Boxing Day.
Beckford is set to retain his place in Leeds' starting line-up when Hartlepool United come to Elland Road in 48 hours' time, and Grayson has attempted to erase any lingering anger over the forward's reaction to being substituted last weekend.
Beckford was booed from the field at Elland Road after reacting to his early exit after 75 minutes of Leeds' clash with Southampton by pushing away Grayson's attempt at a handshake and walking down the tunnel.
The dispute was promptly resolved, however, when Beckford apologised to his manager during a meeting at the club's Thorp Arch training complex on Monday morning, and Grayson hopes the 26-year-old's remorseful attitude will appease the fans who berated him last Saturday.
Asked whether his 15-goal striker had bridges to build on Boxing Day, Grayson said: "I hope that won't be a problem.
"People have to remember what Jermaine's done for this club in the past two years or so. Clearly he didn't have his best performance on Saturday and it was a difficult day all round for him, but he's scored a lot of goals in a Leeds shirt and he's a player whose won us many games in the past. That shouldn't be forgotten and if Jermaine bangs in a couple of goals on Saturday, which would be just like him, then those who've doubted him will be happy again.
"We've got great supporters here and most of them will probably be hoping that he turns in a good performance against Hartlepool. I've drawn a line under this and hopefully everyone else has too.
"The threat of a serious fall-out between Grayson and Beckford was quickly lifted after Beckford offered his apologies to United's boss before Monday's training session at Thorp Arch.
Grayson said: "He came in first thing on Monday morning, apologised and made sure it was resolved as quickly as possible. That's the end of it.
"Obviously I don't want it to happen again – not just with him but with any of my players. It's a bit disrespectful, not just to me but to the other players who are out on the pitch and the fans as well. But he understands that."
With Beckford likely to be included from the start on Saturday, Grayson could name an unchanged line-up after a deserved and impressive 1-0 victory over Southampton.
But United's manager has been disappointed by news that goalkeeper Shane Higgs is set to continue his spell on the sidelines after suffering another recurrence of his thigh strain.
Higgs appeared to be on the verge of a comeback after almost three months on the sidelines but he has been sent to a specialist in the latest attempt to heal a persistent problem.
Left-back Ben Parker is likely to be the only other Leeds player who is not available for Saturday's match.
Leedsunited.com 24/12/09
SIMON GRAYSON'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
How quickly does a year go? It doesn't seem two minutes ago that I re-joined the club after all those years away as a player and now back as the manager, and it was a great feeling to be here again.
There's been some ups and downs over the past 12 months, but for me, the big thing is that I believe we are progressing closer to where we want to be.
Looking back over the year, on a personal note, my first game against Leicester City last Boxing Day stands out. When I walked down the tunnel that afternoon the hairs on the back of my neck were on end, and it was an afternoon I will never forget.
The atmosphere which is created at Elland Road has got to be one of the best in the country, made even better given the division we are in.
Hereford is another game that stands out, but perhaps not for the right reasons. It was a disappointing night for the club in so many ways, but one that we have moved on from in positive fasion.
We went on a tremendous run after that - I can't praise the players high enough for the way they responded - and had the season gone on a little longer I honestly believe we would have been promoted automatically.
The Millwall semi-final was disappointing in terms of the result, but I couldn't fault what had gone before and sometimes you have to take things on the chin and learn from them.
I felt we could go on and do that and this season so far has been terrific.
We have found a level of consistency and to be sitting here at Christmas with 50 league points and one defeat is terrific - but it will only count for anything if we build on it.
During that time there's been some performances I've been particularly proud of, Bristol Rovers and Brighton away were two, along with our efforts against Liverpool at home.
That night against Liverpool at Elland Road was an indicator of what we all want for this football club, and that's what we are working towards.
Your support that night was amazing, but that's been the case since I joined the club, and I want to take this chance to say thank-you to one and all for your support.
It never ceases to amaze me the numbers in which you turn out - whether it's at Elland Road or at the other end of the country on a Tuesday night, particularly at a time when financial pressures are tough for a lot of people.
Please keep that support because together I hope we can reward you for your efforts.
I hope you all have a good Christmas and a happy New Year.
All the best
Simon
Leedsunited.com 23/12/09
A FESTIVE LOAN ARRANGER?
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson says he is in the process of reviewing the potential futures of his loan players.
Sam Vokes, Max Gradel, Hogan Eprhaim, Tony Capaldi, and Dave Martin are all currently at Elland Road on loan deals, but both Grayson and the players' parent clubs now face decision time.
"We're talking to clubs about the possibility of keeping them or not as they case may be," explained the manager.
"Any decisions we make will be for the football club and for the players, but it's obviously down to the other clubs as well.
"In the case of Hogan for example, QPR have a new manager in Paul Hart and I'm sure he will be looking at the situation and assessing his own squad.
"We are moving forward in terms of the loan players and hopefully things will be resolved in next few days.
"If things don't come up, you still have to be ahead of the game, and we have quite a few things we are looking at."
SIMON GRAYSON'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
How quickly does a year go? It doesn't seem two minutes ago that I re-joined the club after all those years away as a player and now back as the manager, and it was a great feeling to be here again.
There's been some ups and downs over the past 12 months, but for me, the big thing is that I believe we are progressing closer to where we want to be.
Looking back over the year, on a personal note, my first game against Leicester City last Boxing Day stands out. When I walked down the tunnel that afternoon the hairs on the back of my neck were on end, and it was an afternoon I will never forget.
The atmosphere which is created at Elland Road has got to be one of the best in the country, made even better given the division we are in.
Hereford is another game that stands out, but perhaps not for the right reasons. It was a disappointing night for the club in so many ways, but one that we have moved on from in positive fasion.
We went on a tremendous run after that - I can't praise the players high enough for the way they responded - and had the season gone on a little longer I honestly believe we would have been promoted automatically.
The Millwall semi-final was disappointing in terms of the result, but I couldn't fault what had gone before and sometimes you have to take things on the chin and learn from them.
I felt we could go on and do that and this season so far has been terrific.
We have found a level of consistency and to be sitting here at Christmas with 50 league points and one defeat is terrific - but it will only count for anything if we build on it.
During that time there's been some performances I've been particularly proud of, Bristol Rovers and Brighton away were two, along with our efforts against Liverpool at home.
That night against Liverpool at Elland Road was an indicator of what we all want for this football club, and that's what we are working towards.
Your support that night was amazing, but that's been the case since I joined the club, and I want to take this chance to say thank-you to one and all for your support.
It never ceases to amaze me the numbers in which you turn out - whether it's at Elland Road or at the other end of the country on a Tuesday night, particularly at a time when financial pressures are tough for a lot of people.
Please keep that support because together I hope we can reward you for your efforts.
I hope you all have a good Christmas and a happy New Year.
All the best
Simon
Leedsunited.com 23/12/09
A FESTIVE LOAN ARRANGER?
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson says he is in the process of reviewing the potential futures of his loan players.
Sam Vokes, Max Gradel, Hogan Eprhaim, Tony Capaldi, and Dave Martin are all currently at Elland Road on loan deals, but both Grayson and the players' parent clubs now face decision time.
"We're talking to clubs about the possibility of keeping them or not as they case may be," explained the manager.
"Any decisions we make will be for the football club and for the players, but it's obviously down to the other clubs as well.
"In the case of Hogan for example, QPR have a new manager in Paul Hart and I'm sure he will be looking at the situation and assessing his own squad.
"We are moving forward in terms of the loan players and hopefully things will be resolved in next few days.
"If things don't come up, you still have to be ahead of the game, and we have quite a few things we are looking at."