Yorkshire Evening Post 22/7/10
Keep the faith - Grayson
Simon Grayson today insisted he had not lost faith in the ability of his players to compete in the Championship, despite admitting to "serious faults" in Leeds United's 4-0 friendly defeat at Bury.
United's manager said his harsh criticism of Leeds after Tuesday night's debacle at Gigg Lane should not be seen as a crisis of confidence in a squad who will reach the start of the new season on August 7.
Grayson was understandably alarmed to see Leeds beaten badly by a young Bury team which featured a handful of trialists, and he said that the performance of his players had reiterated the amount of work facing him before Derby County come to Elland Road on the first day of the Championship term.
Leeds have retained the majority of the squad who won promotion from League One in May, and six signings during the summer months seemed to have given Grayson the necessary basis for a competitive side next term.
Grayson will demand a display of more commitment at Hartlepool United this weekend but said: "This doesn't affect my confidence in the players at all.
"I still think they're good enough to perform in the Championship and there's no feeling of panic.
"We just need to accept that a lot of work still needs to be done before we start the season, both in terms of personnel and the work we're doing on the training pitch. Based on what we did last season I've no doubt that we've got a talented bunch here. That hasn't changed. We've had a bad night by anyone's standards and the lads in the dressing room know that they're capable of much, much better.
"But it has highlighted a few serious faults that need addressing and I can't hide from them.
"It's probably better that we all see that now, rather than realising it three weeks down the line.
"We had a couple of major let-downs last season and every time I asked the players to learn from them and react to them.
"They've never failed to do that and I expect them to do the same at Hartlepool. We don't want to be embarrassing ourselves like that again."
Grayson cut a satisfied figure at the end of Leeds' pre-season tour of Slovakia last week, calling it the "perfect start" to the club's summer, but he was mystified by a display at Bury which allowed Alan Knill's side to run riot in the second half.
Saturday's game at Hartlepool is the first of three remaining friendlies, followed by a meeting with Norwegian club SK Brann and a home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Grayson feels he has sufficient time to resolve the problems witnessed at Gigg Lane.
"We already knew that there were things we needed to do," he said. "This has highlighted them a little bit more than we thought.
"But that could be a good thing. If you sail through pre-season, sometimes you don't see the problems or the things that are wrong. This has exposed a few major faults and nobody can ignore them.
"The crucial thing is that everything is ironed out in time for the Derby game. I'm not going to excuse the result at Bury but we're fortunate that it doesn't count for anything.
"It really should serve as a reminder to the players that I'll pick my team on what happens in pre-season, and not many of those who played at Bury can feel certain about their places."
A Leeds United XI will turn out in a pre-season friendly at non-league Gainsborough Trinity tonight (ko 7.45pm).
United's line-up is expected to feature a large number of young players as the club begin building up to the start of the reserve-team season.
The club's second string have had another fixture added to their schedule, away to Bradford Park Avenue on Wednesday, August 11.
Yorkshire Evening Post 21/7/10
Grayson lashes dreadful Whites
A furious Simon Grayson tore into Leeds United's players after 4-0 rout at the hands of Bury left him lamenting a "body blow" to his preparations for the Championship.
Grayson attacked the attitude of his squad in the wake of a humiliating loss against the Shakers which posed pressing questions about the club's ability to positively compete in England's second tier.
A frail defence was ruthlessly exposed by a League Two squad at Gigg Lane which included no fewer than five trialists, and Leeds were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Cameron Belford despite creating numerous chances.
Grayson subjected his players to a scathing assessment of their collective performance in the dressing room afterwards, and he looked visibly angry as he emerged from the tunnel to reflect on United's third pre-season friendly and a second defeat.
United are less than 20 days away from their first Championship fixture at home to Derby County on August 7, and Grayson said: "You could say it's only a pre-season game but it isn't. It's preparation for the start of the season and this is bit of a body blow for us.
"Of course it hurts and it should hurt everyone, mainly the players. A lot of things went wrong and they need to be put right before the season starts.
"This is a wake-up call for one or two players, a major kick-up the backside and a reminder that they are still competing for jerseys. We'll take the disappointment on the chin but I don't think anyone comes out this with much credit."
More than 1,700 Leeds supporters helped to make up a crowd of 2,769 at Gigg Lane, but United's defeat appeared to be inevitable once Bury established a 2-0 lead with an hour gone.
Grayson said: "The fans expect a lot more and, standing here as their manager, I expect a lot more from them.
"If we replicate that performance and attitude at the beginning of the season then no disrespect to Bury but we'll get done in the Championship by seven or eight. We're going to have to learn quickly."
Billy Paynter, Lloyd Sam, Jason Crowe and Richard Naylor all missed last night's game through injury, leaving Grayson with a squad of only 17 players to work with at Gigg Lane.
Leedsunited.com
UNITED GO DOWN AT BURY
BURY 4 (Lowe 36, Bishop 65, Carlton 85, Bishop 89 pen), LEEDS UNITED 0
Bury: Belford, Picken, Skarz, Futcher, Sweeney, Worrall, Schumacher, Haworth, Jones, Lowe, Sodje. Subs: Bennett, Carlton, Bishop, Samuels, Harrop, Hudson, Mozika, Branagan, Jones, Nolan.
United: Schmeichel, Hughes (Connolly 59), Bromby (Lees 67), Collins, Bessone (White 67), Snodgrass, Kilkenny, Howson, Johnson, Becchio (Gradel 59), Grella (Somma 68). Subs: Higgs.
Referee: A Penn
Att: 2769 (1739 Leeds)
United's first UK friendly was greeted by anything other than summery weather with a torrential rain having fallen most of the day at Bury.
Simon Grayson was without Billy Paynter, Richard Naylor, Jason Crowe, Lloyd Sam, and Alan Martin, but the absences, mainly through precaution, allowed him to give more players added game time.
United were also greeted by a terrific away following, and Kasper Schmeichel was the first of the new signings to receive a warm welcome with the Leeds fans shouting his name.
But it was his opposite number, Cameron Belford, who had to be on his toes inside the first couple of minutes when Jonny Howson had a shot from distance after good work by Mike Grella.
Grella also had the ball in the net on nine minutes, but play was called back for an infringment. And, moments later, Belford grabbed a powerful Bradley Johnson effort at the second attempt.
The opening 15 minutes or so were quite entertaining with both sides looking to pass and move quickly. Bury's David Worrall had a shot saved by Schmeichel and another home attack was thwarted by good defending.
But the woodwork came to the home side's rescue on the quarter-hour when a Johnson header rattled the bar after a Rob Snodgrass corner.
Johnson was also denied by some good defending by Phil Picken, and from the resultant corner Neill Collins headed over the top.
Leeds were piling on the pressure and after a couple of crosses were blocked, the persistent Fede Bessone put in another good delivery which only just eluded Luciano Becchio.
It was Bury, though, who should have done better on 35 minutes when Steven Schumacher instigated a quick break and Ryan Lowe fired wide from a Worrall cross.
Moments later, Lowe made no mistake after a cross from the right found him in space and he planted the ball firmly into the top corner to give Bury the lead.
It was almost 2-0 moments later when Andy Haworth beat the offside trap down the right, but Schumacher couldn't apply the finishing touch with the goal at his mercy.
United picked up the pace again and, on 41 minutes, Howson sent a shot over the bar.
Grayson made no changes at the break and the second half kicked off in the heaviest rain shower yet. It also started with another Bury attack and Haworth should have done better when he got on the end of a good cross from the right.
Bury goalkeeper Belford was also called into action to punch clear a free-kick. Snodgrass, who had been impressive in the first half, also went close on 53 minutes when he sent a shot fizzing just over the top.
There was a moment of concern shortly after when Snodgrass was the victim of a lunging challenge from behind that provoked an angry reaction from the Leeds players.
But the home side continued to look lively and moments after making one decent save, Schmeichel was called upon to beat away a Lowe effort.
As the game headed towards the hour, Grayson made his first changes, introducing Paul Connolly and Max Gradel to proceedings in place of Andrew Hughes and Luciano Becchio.
However, it was a Bury substitute who made an impact quickly, Andy Bishop latching on to a deflected ball through the middle to make it 2-0.
Snodgrass was next to try his luck for Leeds with a curling free-kick which Belford could only palm away, but Leeds had to thank an offside flag on 68 minutes after Worrall curled the ball beyond Schmeichel.
The newly-introduced Dave Somma looked to make an impact and Belford made a terrific save to deny the Leeds substitute.
Fellow sub Tom Lees also came close to pulling a goal back on 79 minutes when he got up well at corner, but his header was pushed away to safety by Belford.
The Bury goalkeeper had no chance moments later when Johnson tried his luck, but the ball came back off the upright to deny United a goal.
And there was still time for the home side to add a third goal when Danny Carlton found the space to sweep home a right wing cross five minutes from the whistle.
In the final moments, Gradel looked to add some trickery and that almost paid off in the shape of a consolation, but Somma couldn't direct his header on target after a cross from the wide man.As the ball came straight back up the other end, Paul Connolly was adjudged to have committed a foul and Bishop stepped up to smash home a penalty to make it 4-0 to the home side with his second goal of the night.
Keep the faith - Grayson
Simon Grayson today insisted he had not lost faith in the ability of his players to compete in the Championship, despite admitting to "serious faults" in Leeds United's 4-0 friendly defeat at Bury.
United's manager said his harsh criticism of Leeds after Tuesday night's debacle at Gigg Lane should not be seen as a crisis of confidence in a squad who will reach the start of the new season on August 7.
Grayson was understandably alarmed to see Leeds beaten badly by a young Bury team which featured a handful of trialists, and he said that the performance of his players had reiterated the amount of work facing him before Derby County come to Elland Road on the first day of the Championship term.
Leeds have retained the majority of the squad who won promotion from League One in May, and six signings during the summer months seemed to have given Grayson the necessary basis for a competitive side next term.
Grayson will demand a display of more commitment at Hartlepool United this weekend but said: "This doesn't affect my confidence in the players at all.
"I still think they're good enough to perform in the Championship and there's no feeling of panic.
"We just need to accept that a lot of work still needs to be done before we start the season, both in terms of personnel and the work we're doing on the training pitch. Based on what we did last season I've no doubt that we've got a talented bunch here. That hasn't changed. We've had a bad night by anyone's standards and the lads in the dressing room know that they're capable of much, much better.
"But it has highlighted a few serious faults that need addressing and I can't hide from them.
"It's probably better that we all see that now, rather than realising it three weeks down the line.
"We had a couple of major let-downs last season and every time I asked the players to learn from them and react to them.
"They've never failed to do that and I expect them to do the same at Hartlepool. We don't want to be embarrassing ourselves like that again."
Grayson cut a satisfied figure at the end of Leeds' pre-season tour of Slovakia last week, calling it the "perfect start" to the club's summer, but he was mystified by a display at Bury which allowed Alan Knill's side to run riot in the second half.
Saturday's game at Hartlepool is the first of three remaining friendlies, followed by a meeting with Norwegian club SK Brann and a home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Grayson feels he has sufficient time to resolve the problems witnessed at Gigg Lane.
"We already knew that there were things we needed to do," he said. "This has highlighted them a little bit more than we thought.
"But that could be a good thing. If you sail through pre-season, sometimes you don't see the problems or the things that are wrong. This has exposed a few major faults and nobody can ignore them.
"The crucial thing is that everything is ironed out in time for the Derby game. I'm not going to excuse the result at Bury but we're fortunate that it doesn't count for anything.
"It really should serve as a reminder to the players that I'll pick my team on what happens in pre-season, and not many of those who played at Bury can feel certain about their places."
A Leeds United XI will turn out in a pre-season friendly at non-league Gainsborough Trinity tonight (ko 7.45pm).
United's line-up is expected to feature a large number of young players as the club begin building up to the start of the reserve-team season.
The club's second string have had another fixture added to their schedule, away to Bradford Park Avenue on Wednesday, August 11.
Yorkshire Evening Post 21/7/10
Grayson lashes dreadful Whites
A furious Simon Grayson tore into Leeds United's players after 4-0 rout at the hands of Bury left him lamenting a "body blow" to his preparations for the Championship.
Grayson attacked the attitude of his squad in the wake of a humiliating loss against the Shakers which posed pressing questions about the club's ability to positively compete in England's second tier.
A frail defence was ruthlessly exposed by a League Two squad at Gigg Lane which included no fewer than five trialists, and Leeds were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Cameron Belford despite creating numerous chances.
Grayson subjected his players to a scathing assessment of their collective performance in the dressing room afterwards, and he looked visibly angry as he emerged from the tunnel to reflect on United's third pre-season friendly and a second defeat.
United are less than 20 days away from their first Championship fixture at home to Derby County on August 7, and Grayson said: "You could say it's only a pre-season game but it isn't. It's preparation for the start of the season and this is bit of a body blow for us.
"Of course it hurts and it should hurt everyone, mainly the players. A lot of things went wrong and they need to be put right before the season starts.
"This is a wake-up call for one or two players, a major kick-up the backside and a reminder that they are still competing for jerseys. We'll take the disappointment on the chin but I don't think anyone comes out this with much credit."
More than 1,700 Leeds supporters helped to make up a crowd of 2,769 at Gigg Lane, but United's defeat appeared to be inevitable once Bury established a 2-0 lead with an hour gone.
Grayson said: "The fans expect a lot more and, standing here as their manager, I expect a lot more from them.
"If we replicate that performance and attitude at the beginning of the season then no disrespect to Bury but we'll get done in the Championship by seven or eight. We're going to have to learn quickly."
Billy Paynter, Lloyd Sam, Jason Crowe and Richard Naylor all missed last night's game through injury, leaving Grayson with a squad of only 17 players to work with at Gigg Lane.
Leedsunited.com
UNITED GO DOWN AT BURY
BURY 4 (Lowe 36, Bishop 65, Carlton 85, Bishop 89 pen), LEEDS UNITED 0
Bury: Belford, Picken, Skarz, Futcher, Sweeney, Worrall, Schumacher, Haworth, Jones, Lowe, Sodje. Subs: Bennett, Carlton, Bishop, Samuels, Harrop, Hudson, Mozika, Branagan, Jones, Nolan.
United: Schmeichel, Hughes (Connolly 59), Bromby (Lees 67), Collins, Bessone (White 67), Snodgrass, Kilkenny, Howson, Johnson, Becchio (Gradel 59), Grella (Somma 68). Subs: Higgs.
Referee: A Penn
Att: 2769 (1739 Leeds)
United's first UK friendly was greeted by anything other than summery weather with a torrential rain having fallen most of the day at Bury.
Simon Grayson was without Billy Paynter, Richard Naylor, Jason Crowe, Lloyd Sam, and Alan Martin, but the absences, mainly through precaution, allowed him to give more players added game time.
United were also greeted by a terrific away following, and Kasper Schmeichel was the first of the new signings to receive a warm welcome with the Leeds fans shouting his name.
But it was his opposite number, Cameron Belford, who had to be on his toes inside the first couple of minutes when Jonny Howson had a shot from distance after good work by Mike Grella.
Grella also had the ball in the net on nine minutes, but play was called back for an infringment. And, moments later, Belford grabbed a powerful Bradley Johnson effort at the second attempt.
The opening 15 minutes or so were quite entertaining with both sides looking to pass and move quickly. Bury's David Worrall had a shot saved by Schmeichel and another home attack was thwarted by good defending.
But the woodwork came to the home side's rescue on the quarter-hour when a Johnson header rattled the bar after a Rob Snodgrass corner.
Johnson was also denied by some good defending by Phil Picken, and from the resultant corner Neill Collins headed over the top.
Leeds were piling on the pressure and after a couple of crosses were blocked, the persistent Fede Bessone put in another good delivery which only just eluded Luciano Becchio.
It was Bury, though, who should have done better on 35 minutes when Steven Schumacher instigated a quick break and Ryan Lowe fired wide from a Worrall cross.
Moments later, Lowe made no mistake after a cross from the right found him in space and he planted the ball firmly into the top corner to give Bury the lead.
It was almost 2-0 moments later when Andy Haworth beat the offside trap down the right, but Schumacher couldn't apply the finishing touch with the goal at his mercy.
United picked up the pace again and, on 41 minutes, Howson sent a shot over the bar.
Grayson made no changes at the break and the second half kicked off in the heaviest rain shower yet. It also started with another Bury attack and Haworth should have done better when he got on the end of a good cross from the right.
Bury goalkeeper Belford was also called into action to punch clear a free-kick. Snodgrass, who had been impressive in the first half, also went close on 53 minutes when he sent a shot fizzing just over the top.
There was a moment of concern shortly after when Snodgrass was the victim of a lunging challenge from behind that provoked an angry reaction from the Leeds players.
But the home side continued to look lively and moments after making one decent save, Schmeichel was called upon to beat away a Lowe effort.
As the game headed towards the hour, Grayson made his first changes, introducing Paul Connolly and Max Gradel to proceedings in place of Andrew Hughes and Luciano Becchio.
However, it was a Bury substitute who made an impact quickly, Andy Bishop latching on to a deflected ball through the middle to make it 2-0.
Snodgrass was next to try his luck for Leeds with a curling free-kick which Belford could only palm away, but Leeds had to thank an offside flag on 68 minutes after Worrall curled the ball beyond Schmeichel.
The newly-introduced Dave Somma looked to make an impact and Belford made a terrific save to deny the Leeds substitute.
Fellow sub Tom Lees also came close to pulling a goal back on 79 minutes when he got up well at corner, but his header was pushed away to safety by Belford.
The Bury goalkeeper had no chance moments later when Johnson tried his luck, but the ball came back off the upright to deny United a goal.
And there was still time for the home side to add a third goal when Danny Carlton found the space to sweep home a right wing cross five minutes from the whistle.
In the final moments, Gradel looked to add some trickery and that almost paid off in the shape of a consolation, but Somma couldn't direct his header on target after a cross from the wide man.As the ball came straight back up the other end, Paul Connolly was adjudged to have committed a foul and Bishop stepped up to smash home a penalty to make it 4-0 to the home side with his second goal of the night.