Yorkshire Evening Post 19/12/09
Grayson's year in the hot seat – Hay
Phil Hay
On the afternoon when Simon Grayson left Blackpool to become Leeds United's manager, I made contact with Steve Walsh, his former Leicester City team-mate, for his opinion on the appointment.
Twelve months on, the club's choice can be justified in any number of ways, but at the time of the announcement it was a surprise, made by a club under pressure and who seemed prepared to go out on a limb.
Grayson was a 20-1 shot until word spread amongst the football community and Victor Chandler were then buried under an avalanche of bets.
Something of a risk? Walsh didn't think so. "I saw a lot of names mentioned when the position became available, some bigger names than Simon's with respect to him, but personally I'd go for track record every time," he said. "That's the mark of a good manager."
More intriguing was Walsh's throwaway remark as he rang off. "Remember," he said, "how many cheaper and easier options were out there. Someone's given this a lot of thought."
It was that fact which made Grayson's appointment compelling. The more United's decision was analysed, the more it became apparent that the club's board had identified in him specific qualities that they were intent on finding, regardless of the cost and the complications involved. By no stretch was it a fashionable appointment.
At that point, Gustavo Poyet and Aidy Boothroyd were unemployed and viable candidates, coaches whose employment at Elland Road would have been straightforward to arrange.
Grayson, in contrast, was contracted to Blackpool and unlikely to be freed from that commitment without persistence and a payment of compensation.
In Karl Oyston, Blackpool possessed a chairman as single-minded and combative as Ken Bates and it was soon apparent that the matter of Grayson's departure from Bloomfield Road would result in a Football League tribunal. As Walsh remarked, there were simpler options available, though not too many with a proven ability to win promotion from League One. United have not looked back from their decision to prioritise that credential.
History will judge Grayson's record as a whole, as it does his predecessor Gary McAllister and every other manager of Leeds, but his first year in the job does not divide opinion. These 12 months have restored to Elland Road a sense of purpose and direction that was sorely lacking when United thrust their reins into his hands on December 23.
Grayson saw the vacant position at Leeds as a glaring opportunity – "the next stage of my career," as he put it – but it was not, by any estimation, the ideal job on the day he accepted it.
As easy as it might be to assume that a vast number of pieces were in place and ready for him to work with, in reality, they were not. The club were in worrying shape, brought to their knees by a critical passage of results through December.
It is that starting point, as much as the league position United now hold, which credits Grayson's performance and that of his coaching staff. It was only necessary to look at the expressions and the body language of the players in the hours after their defeat at MK Dons to appreciate their despondency and to understand the crisis of confidence that a new manager would be asked to deal with.
In leaving Blackpool, Grayson relinquished a position of relative comfort to take on a job that seemed precarious. It was, undoubtedly, a risk.
What served him well initially and continues to do so, was his sense of pragmatism – an acceptance of the importance of results and a clear idea of how best to achieve them from a standing start.
Leeds, under Grayson, have not been an unattractive team but he has been consistently clear on the value of substance over style, on the need to restrain his opposition before attempting to decimate them. It was the return to basics and the fundamentals of football that Leeds needed and the bare statistics of his tenure are astounding – 56 games completed, 37 won and only eight lost. Ninety nine goals scored against 38 conceded. Exceptional in every way.
Behind the figures are clear traits of Grayson's management: his consistent selection of players – something that seemed to satisfy a dressing room which lacked assurance when he first arrived – and his use of simple, effective formations. Moreover, he has an eye for the right substitutions, a talent displayed many times this season.
His record in the transfer market is also commendable and he could count on one hand the number of players who have come to Elland Road and disappointed.
Lee Trundle and Liam Dickinson might be the extent of that list, though Trundle could argue that his loan coincided with the most mixed period of Grayson's reign. As for a player like Patrick Kisnorbo, his arrival on a free transfer was nothing short of a coup. League One is no stage for a defender of his calibre.
What strikes you about Grayson is his sense of satisfaction. In 12 months, he has never been heard to complain about his resources or to suggest that the transfer funds available to him are insufficient. An acceptance of his lot appears to be ingrained and a manager of Leeds United needs that mindset.
It is natural when the club's stature, income and attendances are considered to look for money, but United have never sought to buy their way out of this division and were unlikely to do so with Grayson. He has been supported financially, not least in the loan market, but his is still in essence a League One squad. As he discovered at Blackpool, that should not prove an insurmountable obstacle for a capable manager.
Looking back, the 40-year-old will see occasional flaws in his tapestry – a pivotal defeat at Hereford United and the loss to Millwall in last season's play-offs, incurred at the point when Leeds appeared to have peaked perfectly.
It will not be lost on him that United are in the same division as they were when he took charge or that promotion is imperative in May, for the good of the club and the security of his job. But as the league table shows, he is more than halfway to making it happen and you wonder if Grayson might benefit in the long term from a full season in this division.
There is always a risk of tempting fate at Elland Road, of presuming too much of managers and players who have much ground to cover and much left to achieve. Grayson would probably prefer to acknowledge his first anniversary with nothing more than a quiet toast. That, according to former colleagues like Walsh, has always been his style – understated, considered and rational. It is those qualities which suggest that this relationship has some way to run.
Leedsunited.com 18/12/09
IT'S A FULL HOUSE FOR UNITED BOSS
Simon Grayson will again be in a position to select from strength for Saturday's Elland Road clash with Southampton (3pm).
Bradley Johnson and Shane Higgs have continued their recovery from injuries by training with the first team this week, and Grayson is only without central defender Rui Marques, due to international commitments, and long-term injury victim Ben Parker.
"I've got the bonus of having everyone except Ben Parker available for selection," said the Leeds boss.
"Bradley and Shane have both trained and I've been guided the physios with them, but you still have to make decisions.
"We've been fortunate to keep an unbeaten run going with the injuries we've had, but there will be some disappointed players at the wekend who won't be in the 18."
The Leeds boss has called on an improvement from his players after Tuesday's 2-0 win against Accrington Stanley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Grayson's men have picked up back-to-back draws in the league, against Huddersfield and at Brentford, and the manager also voiced his disappointment at the midweek performance against Accrington.
"They're only human beings and circumstances don't always allow you to play well," he said.
"But, football is all about winning matches. That's the main thing.
"On Tuesday, we won the game and kept a clean sheet, and we're through to the next round.
"When you speak about the standards, we can't dominate every game.
"Not all the top teams play as well as they can every week and we're there to be a shot at.
"It's been a hectic schedule, but everyone wants to set themselves up for Christmas and we need to be focused and hope we can send everyone home in good spirits."
Yorkshire Evening Post 18/12/09
Robinson looks set for exit
By Phil Hay
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson has hinted that Andy Robinson will be made available for a move out of Elland Road when the transfer window opens next month.
Robinson has been a peripheral member of Grayson's squad this season, appearing in only a handful of first-team fixtures, and United's boss said he would "look at the situation" regarding all of his fringe players in the coming weeks.
Robinson was a high-profile signing when he joined Leeds on a free transfer from Swansea City in the summer of 2008 but, after a steady first year at Elland Road, he has found appearances difficult to come by this term. The winger has started only one game – a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Darlington – and he has not played any part in Leeds' campaign since November 10, when United played Grimsby Town in the same competition. Robinson was linked with a move to Tranmere Rovers during the Football League's emergency loan window, and Grayson is likely to consider interest in the 30-year-old when FIFA's winter transfer window opens on January 1.
Grayson said: "We'll address that with some of our players once the window opens. Sometimes it's down to the players themselves. If they feel they're not getting enough football then we might let them go out on loan or on a permanent deal.
"We'll have a look at the situation and take stock of what's best for the players and for the club."
Leedsunited.com 16/12/09
BOSS - THERE'S WORK TO DO!
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson watched his side progress to the Area Final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday evening, but immediately declared: "There's plenty to work on."
United beat the League Two side 2-0 at Elland Road, but the visitors were guilty of wasting a number of great chances to get back in the game.
Hogan Ephraim and Neil Kilkenny had given Leeds a two-goal cushion, but Accrington dominated the second period of the tie.
"It was a frustrating night," said the boss. "We got the early goal in each half which set us up, but Accrington had the better chances.
"We didn't compete well enough, we allowed them too much time and space and on another night we would have been found out.
"We had a big team out there with lots of experience and quality.
"We rode our luck, but we are through. When you're critical of a performance after you've won it's a decent way to go about your job.
"We can't be like that at the weekend against Southampton. With no disrepect to Accrington, who I thought were terrific, better players will punish us and take those opportunities.
"But we're though. We have a two-legged affair with Carlisle and we are two games away from Wembley."We've treated this competition with respect and now we have an opportunity."
Yorkshire Post 16/12/09
Leeds United 2 Accrington Stanley 0 : Leeds set up repeat show with Wembley prize
By Richard Sutcliffe
ON a cold night when the home fans kept themselves warm by running through their full back catalogue of anti-Manchester United songs, Leeds United made light work of a much less familiar foe from the Red Rose county to move a step closer to Wembley.
Goals from Hogan Ephraim and Neil Kilkenny ensured the first ever meeting between the Elland Road club and Accrington Stanley ended in a predictable victory for the Yorkshire club.
United's win, coupled with Carlisle United's three-goal dismissal of Bradford City in last night's other Northern Area semi-final, means the two League One clubs will go head to head early in the New Year for a place in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final on March 28.
The two-legged regional showdown will evoke memories of the dramatic 2008 play-off semi-final that saw Leeds triumph courtesy of a last-minute strike by Jonny Howson at Brunton Park.
There can be little doubt that the meeting with Carlisle will be Leeds' toughest assignment to date in the competition after what can only be described as a kind draw so far this season.
Handed a bye in the first round, Grayson's men were then paired in quick succession with League Two's bottom two clubs, Darlington and Grimsby Town, before being handed another meeting with basement division opposition in the form of Stanley.
Being drawn against the Lancashire minnows afforded United the chance to rest a host of regulars ahead of the busy Christmas and New Year period that will climax with the eagerly-anticipated trip to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round.
Grayson duly took the opportunity to make changes with only Andrew Hughes and Neil Kilkenny from the side that drew 0-0 at Brentford on Saturday being in last night's starting line-up.
Among the plethora of changes was a debut for on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper David Martin and a first Elland Road start for Hogan. And it was the winger signed from QPR just before last month's loan window closed who put Leeds ahead after nine minutes.
A slick passing move between Mike Grella and David Prutton inside the Accrington half initially created the space for the ball to be worked to Ephraim on the left.
The wideman then neatly cut inside before hitting a low shot that took a wicked deflection off the heel of a defender before curling beyond the desperate dive of Dean Bouzanis in the visitors' goal.
Tresor Kandol should have doubled United's advantage on the half hour when played in behind the visitors' defence only to hit his shot straight at Bouzanis, the ball bouncing into the ground before looping agonisingly over the crossbar.
Five minutes after the restart, Kilkenny proved much more clinical in front of goal with a well-placed header beyond Bouzanis after Ephraim had scampered clear on the right and picked out the midfielder with a deep cross.
Substitute Sam Vokes then had a great chance to make it 3-0 with his first touch after springing the offside trap only for the visitors' Sydney-born goalkeeper to race from his line and block the attempted shot.
Stanley did have their chances to get back into the game when just a goal behind with Michael Symes, once of Bradford City, heading tamely at Martin eight minutes before half-time despite being unmarked in the six-yard box.
Luke Joyce also wasted a gilt-edged opportunity after finding space inside the United area, the midfielder blazing wide just before the break to the relief of the home defence.
The two misses meant the game was effectively over once Kilkenny had doubled Leeds' advantage, though there was still time for Stanley to twice hit the post through John Miles and Bobby Grant in the final stages.
It meant the majority of the 12,696 crowd went home happy, so much so that the prospect of a trip to Wembley and not Old Trafford had taken over as the song of choice for the Elland Road faithful by the final whistle.
Grayson's year in the hot seat – Hay
Phil Hay
On the afternoon when Simon Grayson left Blackpool to become Leeds United's manager, I made contact with Steve Walsh, his former Leicester City team-mate, for his opinion on the appointment.
Twelve months on, the club's choice can be justified in any number of ways, but at the time of the announcement it was a surprise, made by a club under pressure and who seemed prepared to go out on a limb.
Grayson was a 20-1 shot until word spread amongst the football community and Victor Chandler were then buried under an avalanche of bets.
Something of a risk? Walsh didn't think so. "I saw a lot of names mentioned when the position became available, some bigger names than Simon's with respect to him, but personally I'd go for track record every time," he said. "That's the mark of a good manager."
More intriguing was Walsh's throwaway remark as he rang off. "Remember," he said, "how many cheaper and easier options were out there. Someone's given this a lot of thought."
It was that fact which made Grayson's appointment compelling. The more United's decision was analysed, the more it became apparent that the club's board had identified in him specific qualities that they were intent on finding, regardless of the cost and the complications involved. By no stretch was it a fashionable appointment.
At that point, Gustavo Poyet and Aidy Boothroyd were unemployed and viable candidates, coaches whose employment at Elland Road would have been straightforward to arrange.
Grayson, in contrast, was contracted to Blackpool and unlikely to be freed from that commitment without persistence and a payment of compensation.
In Karl Oyston, Blackpool possessed a chairman as single-minded and combative as Ken Bates and it was soon apparent that the matter of Grayson's departure from Bloomfield Road would result in a Football League tribunal. As Walsh remarked, there were simpler options available, though not too many with a proven ability to win promotion from League One. United have not looked back from their decision to prioritise that credential.
History will judge Grayson's record as a whole, as it does his predecessor Gary McAllister and every other manager of Leeds, but his first year in the job does not divide opinion. These 12 months have restored to Elland Road a sense of purpose and direction that was sorely lacking when United thrust their reins into his hands on December 23.
Grayson saw the vacant position at Leeds as a glaring opportunity – "the next stage of my career," as he put it – but it was not, by any estimation, the ideal job on the day he accepted it.
As easy as it might be to assume that a vast number of pieces were in place and ready for him to work with, in reality, they were not. The club were in worrying shape, brought to their knees by a critical passage of results through December.
It is that starting point, as much as the league position United now hold, which credits Grayson's performance and that of his coaching staff. It was only necessary to look at the expressions and the body language of the players in the hours after their defeat at MK Dons to appreciate their despondency and to understand the crisis of confidence that a new manager would be asked to deal with.
In leaving Blackpool, Grayson relinquished a position of relative comfort to take on a job that seemed precarious. It was, undoubtedly, a risk.
What served him well initially and continues to do so, was his sense of pragmatism – an acceptance of the importance of results and a clear idea of how best to achieve them from a standing start.
Leeds, under Grayson, have not been an unattractive team but he has been consistently clear on the value of substance over style, on the need to restrain his opposition before attempting to decimate them. It was the return to basics and the fundamentals of football that Leeds needed and the bare statistics of his tenure are astounding – 56 games completed, 37 won and only eight lost. Ninety nine goals scored against 38 conceded. Exceptional in every way.
Behind the figures are clear traits of Grayson's management: his consistent selection of players – something that seemed to satisfy a dressing room which lacked assurance when he first arrived – and his use of simple, effective formations. Moreover, he has an eye for the right substitutions, a talent displayed many times this season.
His record in the transfer market is also commendable and he could count on one hand the number of players who have come to Elland Road and disappointed.
Lee Trundle and Liam Dickinson might be the extent of that list, though Trundle could argue that his loan coincided with the most mixed period of Grayson's reign. As for a player like Patrick Kisnorbo, his arrival on a free transfer was nothing short of a coup. League One is no stage for a defender of his calibre.
What strikes you about Grayson is his sense of satisfaction. In 12 months, he has never been heard to complain about his resources or to suggest that the transfer funds available to him are insufficient. An acceptance of his lot appears to be ingrained and a manager of Leeds United needs that mindset.
It is natural when the club's stature, income and attendances are considered to look for money, but United have never sought to buy their way out of this division and were unlikely to do so with Grayson. He has been supported financially, not least in the loan market, but his is still in essence a League One squad. As he discovered at Blackpool, that should not prove an insurmountable obstacle for a capable manager.
Looking back, the 40-year-old will see occasional flaws in his tapestry – a pivotal defeat at Hereford United and the loss to Millwall in last season's play-offs, incurred at the point when Leeds appeared to have peaked perfectly.
It will not be lost on him that United are in the same division as they were when he took charge or that promotion is imperative in May, for the good of the club and the security of his job. But as the league table shows, he is more than halfway to making it happen and you wonder if Grayson might benefit in the long term from a full season in this division.
There is always a risk of tempting fate at Elland Road, of presuming too much of managers and players who have much ground to cover and much left to achieve. Grayson would probably prefer to acknowledge his first anniversary with nothing more than a quiet toast. That, according to former colleagues like Walsh, has always been his style – understated, considered and rational. It is those qualities which suggest that this relationship has some way to run.
Leedsunited.com 18/12/09
IT'S A FULL HOUSE FOR UNITED BOSS
Simon Grayson will again be in a position to select from strength for Saturday's Elland Road clash with Southampton (3pm).
Bradley Johnson and Shane Higgs have continued their recovery from injuries by training with the first team this week, and Grayson is only without central defender Rui Marques, due to international commitments, and long-term injury victim Ben Parker.
"I've got the bonus of having everyone except Ben Parker available for selection," said the Leeds boss.
"Bradley and Shane have both trained and I've been guided the physios with them, but you still have to make decisions.
"We've been fortunate to keep an unbeaten run going with the injuries we've had, but there will be some disappointed players at the wekend who won't be in the 18."
The Leeds boss has called on an improvement from his players after Tuesday's 2-0 win against Accrington Stanley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Grayson's men have picked up back-to-back draws in the league, against Huddersfield and at Brentford, and the manager also voiced his disappointment at the midweek performance against Accrington.
"They're only human beings and circumstances don't always allow you to play well," he said.
"But, football is all about winning matches. That's the main thing.
"On Tuesday, we won the game and kept a clean sheet, and we're through to the next round.
"When you speak about the standards, we can't dominate every game.
"Not all the top teams play as well as they can every week and we're there to be a shot at.
"It's been a hectic schedule, but everyone wants to set themselves up for Christmas and we need to be focused and hope we can send everyone home in good spirits."
Yorkshire Evening Post 18/12/09
Robinson looks set for exit
By Phil Hay
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson has hinted that Andy Robinson will be made available for a move out of Elland Road when the transfer window opens next month.
Robinson has been a peripheral member of Grayson's squad this season, appearing in only a handful of first-team fixtures, and United's boss said he would "look at the situation" regarding all of his fringe players in the coming weeks.
Robinson was a high-profile signing when he joined Leeds on a free transfer from Swansea City in the summer of 2008 but, after a steady first year at Elland Road, he has found appearances difficult to come by this term. The winger has started only one game – a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Darlington – and he has not played any part in Leeds' campaign since November 10, when United played Grimsby Town in the same competition. Robinson was linked with a move to Tranmere Rovers during the Football League's emergency loan window, and Grayson is likely to consider interest in the 30-year-old when FIFA's winter transfer window opens on January 1.
Grayson said: "We'll address that with some of our players once the window opens. Sometimes it's down to the players themselves. If they feel they're not getting enough football then we might let them go out on loan or on a permanent deal.
"We'll have a look at the situation and take stock of what's best for the players and for the club."
Leedsunited.com 16/12/09
BOSS - THERE'S WORK TO DO!
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson watched his side progress to the Area Final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday evening, but immediately declared: "There's plenty to work on."
United beat the League Two side 2-0 at Elland Road, but the visitors were guilty of wasting a number of great chances to get back in the game.
Hogan Ephraim and Neil Kilkenny had given Leeds a two-goal cushion, but Accrington dominated the second period of the tie.
"It was a frustrating night," said the boss. "We got the early goal in each half which set us up, but Accrington had the better chances.
"We didn't compete well enough, we allowed them too much time and space and on another night we would have been found out.
"We had a big team out there with lots of experience and quality.
"We rode our luck, but we are through. When you're critical of a performance after you've won it's a decent way to go about your job.
"We can't be like that at the weekend against Southampton. With no disrepect to Accrington, who I thought were terrific, better players will punish us and take those opportunities.
"But we're though. We have a two-legged affair with Carlisle and we are two games away from Wembley."We've treated this competition with respect and now we have an opportunity."
Yorkshire Post 16/12/09
Leeds United 2 Accrington Stanley 0 : Leeds set up repeat show with Wembley prize
By Richard Sutcliffe
ON a cold night when the home fans kept themselves warm by running through their full back catalogue of anti-Manchester United songs, Leeds United made light work of a much less familiar foe from the Red Rose county to move a step closer to Wembley.
Goals from Hogan Ephraim and Neil Kilkenny ensured the first ever meeting between the Elland Road club and Accrington Stanley ended in a predictable victory for the Yorkshire club.
United's win, coupled with Carlisle United's three-goal dismissal of Bradford City in last night's other Northern Area semi-final, means the two League One clubs will go head to head early in the New Year for a place in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final on March 28.
The two-legged regional showdown will evoke memories of the dramatic 2008 play-off semi-final that saw Leeds triumph courtesy of a last-minute strike by Jonny Howson at Brunton Park.
There can be little doubt that the meeting with Carlisle will be Leeds' toughest assignment to date in the competition after what can only be described as a kind draw so far this season.
Handed a bye in the first round, Grayson's men were then paired in quick succession with League Two's bottom two clubs, Darlington and Grimsby Town, before being handed another meeting with basement division opposition in the form of Stanley.
Being drawn against the Lancashire minnows afforded United the chance to rest a host of regulars ahead of the busy Christmas and New Year period that will climax with the eagerly-anticipated trip to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round.
Grayson duly took the opportunity to make changes with only Andrew Hughes and Neil Kilkenny from the side that drew 0-0 at Brentford on Saturday being in last night's starting line-up.
Among the plethora of changes was a debut for on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper David Martin and a first Elland Road start for Hogan. And it was the winger signed from QPR just before last month's loan window closed who put Leeds ahead after nine minutes.
A slick passing move between Mike Grella and David Prutton inside the Accrington half initially created the space for the ball to be worked to Ephraim on the left.
The wideman then neatly cut inside before hitting a low shot that took a wicked deflection off the heel of a defender before curling beyond the desperate dive of Dean Bouzanis in the visitors' goal.
Tresor Kandol should have doubled United's advantage on the half hour when played in behind the visitors' defence only to hit his shot straight at Bouzanis, the ball bouncing into the ground before looping agonisingly over the crossbar.
Five minutes after the restart, Kilkenny proved much more clinical in front of goal with a well-placed header beyond Bouzanis after Ephraim had scampered clear on the right and picked out the midfielder with a deep cross.
Substitute Sam Vokes then had a great chance to make it 3-0 with his first touch after springing the offside trap only for the visitors' Sydney-born goalkeeper to race from his line and block the attempted shot.
Stanley did have their chances to get back into the game when just a goal behind with Michael Symes, once of Bradford City, heading tamely at Martin eight minutes before half-time despite being unmarked in the six-yard box.
Luke Joyce also wasted a gilt-edged opportunity after finding space inside the United area, the midfielder blazing wide just before the break to the relief of the home defence.
The two misses meant the game was effectively over once Kilkenny had doubled Leeds' advantage, though there was still time for Stanley to twice hit the post through John Miles and Bobby Grant in the final stages.
It meant the majority of the 12,696 crowd went home happy, so much so that the prospect of a trip to Wembley and not Old Trafford had taken over as the song of choice for the Elland Road faithful by the final whistle.
