Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leedsunited.com 30/1/10 UNITED ARE BECK TO WINNING WAYS! Professional display sees off Colchester... UNITED 2 (Beckford 38 pen, 55), COLCHESTER 0 Manager Simon Grayson welcomed two new signings into his starting line-up, Gary McSheffrey and Shane Lowry both making their debuts as United looked to end a run of three league games without a win. Lowry came in at left-back in place of an ill Andrew Hughes while McSheffrey started on the left in place of Bradley Johnson , who dropped to the bench. Grayson was also without injured duo Paddy Kisnorbo and Neil Kilkenny . Having suffered a 3-0 defeat at Swindon in midweek, United were looking to get back on track and in a tentative opening period Jermaine Beckford almost found an opening towards goal. Colchester also started with plenty of confidence and the visitors were shouting for a penalty when Philip Ifil took a tumble under pressure from Lubo Michalik after a Marc Tierney cross. On 21 minutes, McSheffrey had a hand in the first real o...

Leedsunited.com 25/1/10 MAX IS MAD FOR A FUTURE AT LEEDS New signing Max Gradel says his permanent switch to Leeds is a dream come to true. The former Leicester City winger signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Leeds on Monday and will go straight into the squad for Tuesday's trip to Swindon Town. Max had already made 16 appearances as a loan man, but was delighted to secure a full-time switch to the club. "It's a dream come to true," said Max. "I''m really excited to join a big club like this. I really can't believe I'm a Leeds player now. "I just want to pull on the shirt again and help Leeds get where the club should be. "It's a very big club with the fans and I just wanted be here and be one of the manager's players so I am very happy. "I'm thankful to the club and the manager for believing in me and for wanting me to come. The manager has done everything he can to get me here. "The fans have been brilliant...

Sunday Times 24/1/10 Tottenham pay the penalty against Leeds Tottenham 2 Leeds 2 David Walsh MUCH about this cup tie evoked the game of our childhoods, the tumultuous atmosphere, fiercely competitive tackling, the sense that only the cup can produce the ultimate one-off match. The football, too, was terrific and the suspense sustained to the death when Leeds’ outstanding player, Jermaine Beckford, won a penalty, picked himself off the ground and swept the kick high into the Spurs net. It was Beckford’s second goal of the match and after his winner against Manchester United three weeks ago, his third against Premier League opposition in two games. There are Premier League strikers who take half a season to do that but Beckford is ready to play at a higher level. He will stay at Leeds until the summer and then the question is whether he plays in the Championship with them or accepts an offer to play in the Premier League. What is certain is that Leeds are too good a side for League One. ...

Telegraph 23/1/10 Tottenham Hotspur 2 Leeds United 2: match report By Duncan White at White Hart Lane Leeds United obviously learnt something when they won up at Old Trafford. When the board was held up with five minutes of stoppage time on it the away fans began chanting ‘Fergie time’. It was more in hope than expectation but, to cries of Yorkshire delight, in the final minutes of those five, referee Alan Wiley awarded a penalty for Michael Dawson’s sliding tackle on Jermain Beckford which Leeds United ’s lethal striker converted with conviction. Dawson had timed a tackle on Beckford in the box perfectly moments before but this time he seemed to clip the striker first before getting the ball. It was a big call and one met with disbelief by Dawson. Beckford held his nerve to force the replay. Tottenham Hotspur were the better side for much of this game, missed a host of chances, including a Jermain Defoe penalty, and, thanks to substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko, seemed to have the winner....

New pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk 2008/09 Season – End of the honeymoon/Bouncing back with Grayson Time runs out for Gary McAllister when a poor run of form in November and December leads to the dreaded vote of confidence from Ken Bates. A former Elland Road player is appointed manager and revives a flagging season. Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/200809part1.htm http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/200809part2.htm http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/pdf/season200809part3.pdf

Leedsunited.com 17/1/10 BECKFORD TO REMAIN AT ELLAND ROAD Leeds United are pleased to confirm that striker Jermaine Beckford will be staying on at Elland Road for the remaining duration of his contract. Conversations have been ongoing with the player and his representative since a transfer request was handed in on December 30. The subsequent public knowledge of his transfer request has not been helpful in terms of stability, but having spoken with Jermaine all parties have decided it is in everyone's best interests that he stays until the end of the season and continues to help the club's bid for promotion. This is despite several financial offers that have been made to the club. Leeds United manager Simon Grayson said: "What we have achieved over the past 12 months has been a team effort by everyone and I'm delighted we have resolved this situation to assist us achieve what we are aiming to achieve. "The whole squad has done terrifically over the season so far ...

Leedsunited.com 14/1/10 GRAYSON WEIGHS UP GRADEL SITUATION Leeds United manager Simon Grayson is weighing up his options regarding the future of loan man Max Gradel. The Leicester City winger joined United on loan in October, but the maximum 93-day continuous period expires after the weekend game against Exeter City is up. The player is due to return to the Coca-Cola Championship club on Sunday, but the Leeds boss is keen to extend his stay at Elland Road. "Wer'e talking to Leicester," confirmed the manager. "The weekend is his last game because he has spent the maximum time here. "Anything after would have to be either a loan until the end of the season or Max joining on a permanent basis. "As it stands, we're looking at things and weighing things up." Leedsunited.com 14/1/10 BOSS ON BECKFORD LATEST Leeds United manager Simon Grayson is more than happy to have the final say on the future of Jermaine Beckford - but he insists nothing has moved o...

Leedsunited.com 7/1/10 BOSS - I EXPECT THE BEST FROM BECKS United manager Simon Grayson says he expects Jermaine Beckford to continue perform at the highest level in a Leeds United shirt, despite the revelation that he has handed in a transfer request. The striker handed in a transfer request on December 30 and after scoring the winner at Manchester United last weekend, Grayson is expecting his leading scorer to continue to demonstrate his ability until his future is known. "There's too many scenarios that could happen, but while he is here, he is a Leeds United player and he will be considered for selection," said Grayson. "If he plays on Saturday I expect him to do that and continue what he's been doing. "You have to give him credit because there's been a lot of speculation since last summer. He was on the transfer list then he was off it, but he has got his head down and scored 20 goals already this season. We'll see his destiny. "On Sunday...

BBC 6/1/10 Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford puts in transfer request Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford has handed in a transfer request, his agent has told BBC Radio 5 live. Beckford, 26, scored his 20th goal of the seaspm as they clinched a shock 1-0 win at Manchester United in round three of the FA Cup on Sunday. He has been linked with a move away from the League One leaders to Championships side Newcastle. Beckford, who joined the Elland Road outfit from non-League Wealdstone in 2006, is out of contract in the summer. Leeds manager Simon Grayson said after the FA Cup win at Old Trafford that they were not looking to sell Beckford, but that "money talks". And he added that if they did let him go, he would not go cheaply. Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has already spoken of his desire to take Beckford to Tyneside but says he will be patient in his pursuit of the striker. Times 5/1/10 The curse finally lifts for Leeds United Rick Broadbent It may affront more reasoned s...

Yorkshire Post 4/1/10 Grayson is eager to keep hold of Cup hero Beckford By Richard Sutcliffe at Old Trafford SIMON GRAYSON has reiterated Leeds United's desire to hold on to FA Cup hero Jermaine Beckford. The 26-year-old netted the only goal of an often fiery Roses contest at Old Trafford to help the League One club dump Manchester United out of the Cup in one of the biggest upsets in recent years. Priced by one bookmaker at 12-1 to triumph at the home of their bitter rivals, Leeds made light of their third-tier status to stun the Premier League champions and Beckford's 19th-minute strike seems certain to increase the interest in a player whose contract runs out in the summer. Leeds have, according to sources in the North East, already turned down a £1.25m bid from Newcastle United but the Championship leaders are expected to return with an increased offer in the coming days.Grayson, for his part, is determined to hold on to his star striker though he admits other factors coul...

Yorkshire Post 3/1/10 A long time coming - Leeds captain Naylor LEEDS captain Richard Naylor hailed his side's heroic FA Cup third round win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, and the lifelong fan admitted: "It was a long time coming." Jermaine Beckford's first-half strike gave Leeds a lead they defended throughout, sparking jubilant scenes among the massed ranks of visiting fans after five nervous injury-time minutes. Naylor said: "We've had to wait a long time since we last won here and I'm really proud of the lads and the supporters. "I thought we had a few chances to make it two late on. They're always going to get chances at Old Trafford, you wouldn't expect anything else but we dug in when we had to."Leeds boss Simon Grayson paid tribute to Beckford for his nerveless strike. He said: "It was good ball from Jonathan Howson and Jermaine got in there and nine times out of 10 he finishes them off and that's what he did. ...