Bradford Telegraph and Argus 2/1/11
O'Brien signs laugh-a-minute deal for Leeds United
By John Wray
Leeds United 1, Middlesbrough 1
Former Bantams defender Andy O’Brien agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Leeds United before yesterday's npower Championship game and later revealed his hilarious meeting with chairman Ken Bates.
O’Brien, who has been on loan at Elland Road from Bolton, rejected Cardiff’s offer and represented himself at the contract talks with Bates, who also met the player’s father.
“It was a funny, enjoyable meeting with Mr Bates and one I will remember for the rest of my life,” O’Brien beamed. “My dad is a 20st bloke and the chairman said: ‘I will, sign the fat one instead’.
“Then it went along the lines of my dad saying he had been on a diet and Mr Bates told him ‘well that isn’t working, is it?’. My dad is quick-witted so he replied: ‘I don’t know what your excuse is’ and it went on from there.
“My dad has my best interests at heart, and that has been the case since the first contract I signed with Geoffrey Richmond at Bradford, which was entertaining as well!”
Leeds had to match Cardiff’s offer as well as ditching an option to keep O’Brien on loan until the end of the season. “That would have been too risky because if I had picked up an injury it would have left me with nothing,” O’Brien explained. The Harrogate-born defender, who faces Cardiff City away from home on Tuesday night, played his part in yesterday’s 1-1 draw, in which United extended their unbeaten run to 12 games with Luciano Becchio’s injury-time equaliser A third successive draw had seemed unlikely for Leeds as Boro took a 20th-minute lead from David Wheater’s header and dictated much of the game, but Becchio’s 13th goal of the season proved unlucky for Boro - and Leeds could have stolen a late win as Ross McCormack headed wide with a stooping effort.
Bradley Johnson’s booking in first-half injury time, for clattering into Scott McDonald, was his fifth of the season but the midfielder is available for the trip to Cardiff as the cut-off point for suspensions after five bookings has passed.
However, with Neil Kilkenny joining up with Australia’s squad for this month’s Asian Cup after the Boro game and Robert Snodgrass picking up back and calf injuries, manager Simon Grayson has a selection problem against the Welshmen.
Andrew Hughes came in at left back against Boro, with George McCartney’s loan spell from Sunderland at an end.
United hope to negotiate a further loan with Sunderland so McCartney can rejoin the club until the end of the season but time is running out for an agreement to be concluded before the Cardiff game.
Boro made two changes from the side which won 3-1 at Preston on December 28, McDonald and Nicky Bailey coming in for Gary O’Neil and Mickael Tavares.
After Snodgrass had shot just over Boro’s bar, the visitors took the lead. Boro defender Wheater, who is out of contract in the summer and may be sold during the transfer window, rose with Leeds defender Neill Collins to meet Julio Arca’s corner from the right and Wheater headed into the left corner of the net.
Midfielder Kevin Thomson limped off five minutes later, to be replaced by Barry Robson, Arca moving into central midfield and Robson operating on the left.
Boro continued to be the more potent force and United were fortunate not to be punished when Jonny Howson’s pass was intercepted deep inside his own half and Arca put McDonald’s cross wide of Kasper Schmeichel’s left post.
Grayson made a double substitution in the 56th minute, Kilkenny and Lloyd Sam replacing Andrew Hughes and Max Gradel.
Sam went close to an equaliser, shooting narrowly wide of the near post, but Boro’s Joe Bennett produced a moment of magic by skipping past three Leeds players in little room before lifting his shot too high.
The limping Snodgrass made way for Sanchez Watt to make his first appearance since October 19 and, in an eventful finish, Boro’s Justin Hoyte lost his footing just ten yards out.
When play switched to the other end, Collins headed on to McCormack, whose drive was parried by Jason Steele to Becchio and his first-time shot billowed the net, much to Leeds fans’ delight and relief.
There was still time for McCormack to head wide of an open goal from Kilkenny’s cross but defeat would have been harsh on Boro.
O'Brien signs laugh-a-minute deal for Leeds United
By John Wray
Leeds United 1, Middlesbrough 1
Former Bantams defender Andy O’Brien agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Leeds United before yesterday's npower Championship game and later revealed his hilarious meeting with chairman Ken Bates.
O’Brien, who has been on loan at Elland Road from Bolton, rejected Cardiff’s offer and represented himself at the contract talks with Bates, who also met the player’s father.
“It was a funny, enjoyable meeting with Mr Bates and one I will remember for the rest of my life,” O’Brien beamed. “My dad is a 20st bloke and the chairman said: ‘I will, sign the fat one instead’.
“Then it went along the lines of my dad saying he had been on a diet and Mr Bates told him ‘well that isn’t working, is it?’. My dad is quick-witted so he replied: ‘I don’t know what your excuse is’ and it went on from there.
“My dad has my best interests at heart, and that has been the case since the first contract I signed with Geoffrey Richmond at Bradford, which was entertaining as well!”
Leeds had to match Cardiff’s offer as well as ditching an option to keep O’Brien on loan until the end of the season. “That would have been too risky because if I had picked up an injury it would have left me with nothing,” O’Brien explained. The Harrogate-born defender, who faces Cardiff City away from home on Tuesday night, played his part in yesterday’s 1-1 draw, in which United extended their unbeaten run to 12 games with Luciano Becchio’s injury-time equaliser A third successive draw had seemed unlikely for Leeds as Boro took a 20th-minute lead from David Wheater’s header and dictated much of the game, but Becchio’s 13th goal of the season proved unlucky for Boro - and Leeds could have stolen a late win as Ross McCormack headed wide with a stooping effort.
Bradley Johnson’s booking in first-half injury time, for clattering into Scott McDonald, was his fifth of the season but the midfielder is available for the trip to Cardiff as the cut-off point for suspensions after five bookings has passed.
However, with Neil Kilkenny joining up with Australia’s squad for this month’s Asian Cup after the Boro game and Robert Snodgrass picking up back and calf injuries, manager Simon Grayson has a selection problem against the Welshmen.
Andrew Hughes came in at left back against Boro, with George McCartney’s loan spell from Sunderland at an end.
United hope to negotiate a further loan with Sunderland so McCartney can rejoin the club until the end of the season but time is running out for an agreement to be concluded before the Cardiff game.
Boro made two changes from the side which won 3-1 at Preston on December 28, McDonald and Nicky Bailey coming in for Gary O’Neil and Mickael Tavares.
After Snodgrass had shot just over Boro’s bar, the visitors took the lead. Boro defender Wheater, who is out of contract in the summer and may be sold during the transfer window, rose with Leeds defender Neill Collins to meet Julio Arca’s corner from the right and Wheater headed into the left corner of the net.
Midfielder Kevin Thomson limped off five minutes later, to be replaced by Barry Robson, Arca moving into central midfield and Robson operating on the left.
Boro continued to be the more potent force and United were fortunate not to be punished when Jonny Howson’s pass was intercepted deep inside his own half and Arca put McDonald’s cross wide of Kasper Schmeichel’s left post.
Grayson made a double substitution in the 56th minute, Kilkenny and Lloyd Sam replacing Andrew Hughes and Max Gradel.
Sam went close to an equaliser, shooting narrowly wide of the near post, but Boro’s Joe Bennett produced a moment of magic by skipping past three Leeds players in little room before lifting his shot too high.
The limping Snodgrass made way for Sanchez Watt to make his first appearance since October 19 and, in an eventful finish, Boro’s Justin Hoyte lost his footing just ten yards out.
When play switched to the other end, Collins headed on to McCormack, whose drive was parried by Jason Steele to Becchio and his first-time shot billowed the net, much to Leeds fans’ delight and relief.
There was still time for McCormack to head wide of an open goal from Kilkenny’s cross but defeat would have been harsh on Boro.