Leedsunited.com 31/1/12 ANDY O'BRIEN - A CLUB STATEMENT Andy O'Brien will resume training this week with Leeds United and will be available for selection. The club brought disciplinary action against the player following his refusal to play against Burnley on the 19th November 2011. It was announced at that time that the player's future would be determined after a full investigation. The investigation has led to a fuller understanding of the issues that the player has faced since the start of the season, which has seen him seek specialist medical treatment at the Sporting Chance Clinic for depression. It is felt he is now ready to recommence training and the club will facilitate any further teatment that is required. The club said: "We were exceptionally disappointed when Andy refused to play before the Burnley game and felt let down. It is now apparent that there were a number of issues that he was dealing with at that time which affected him in a way we could not ima...
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Sky 31/1/12 Grayson delight at Smith deal Leeds bring in Spurs youngster until the summer Simon Grayson has expressed his delight that Leeds United have secured the services of Adam Smith on loan for the rest of the season. The Whites bolstered their backline on transfer deadline day with a right-back who had been helping MK Dons challenge for promotion. Spurs recalled the 20-year-old from his loan with the League One side on Monday in order to facilitate his switch to Leeds until the summer. Grayson has admitted tracking the England Under 21 international for some time and feels the youngster has a 'bright' future. Leeds have already raided White Hart Lane for Andros Townsend this month while Grayson brought in Jake Livermore on loan last season. Delight "Adam is a player we've been monitoring for a few months now at MK Dons. He has done very, very well and we're delighted we could get his services," he told the club's official website. "We know h...
Yorkshire Evening Post 30/1/12 Death of Leeds United legend Gary Speed may have been accident By Paul Robinson Leeds United legend Gary Speed may have killed himself accidentally, a coroner ruled today. In a narrative verdict, Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg gave the cause of death as hanging but said “the evidence does not sufficiently determine whether this was intentional or accidental”. The inquest at Warrington Coroner’s Court heard that Speed texted his wife days before his death and “talked in terms of taking his life”. The couple also “had words” on the night before he was found dead after they had been to a dinner party at a friend’s house. Speed, who played for Sheffield United, Everton, Newcastle, Leeds and Bolton, was found hanged at his Cheshire home on November 27 last year by his wife Louise. But Mr Rheinberg said today, in a narrative verdict, that the football manager may have “nodded off” while sitting with a rope around his neck on the stairs in his garage. Mrs S...
Yorkshire Evening Post 22/1/12 Whites handed points on a plate By Phil Hay This manic defeat of Ipswich Town finished with a promise from Simon Grayson not to “paper over the cracks”, which was just as well for him and his club. At the end of a week when mutiny hung in the air around Elland Road, a moment of honest humility was the least expected of him. Grayso n would have been alone in thinking that 20 minutes of comedy football mitigated all that had gone before. Saturday’s game was bordering on farce, decided by laughable errors from three different goalkeepers and another from a defender whose lunacy exceeded everyone else’s. By full-time, Leeds were banking a 3-1 win and Paul Jewell, the Ipswich manager, looked like a man whose house had been burgled twice in one afternoon. “We all make mistakes,” Jewell said, “but these mistakes were glaring.” And so they were, on both sides of the fence. United’s victory came in spite of Andy Lonergan shipping a tame shot from Andy Drury and gi...
Yorkshire Evening Post 21/1/12 Sending off changed the game - Grayson Manager Simon Grayson admitted the sending off of Ipswich Town goalkeeper Alex McCarthy on his return to Elland Road changed the game as Leeds United came from a goal behind to win 3-1. The Tractor Boys led through Andy Drury’s soft 34th-minute goal but McCarthy, who played six games on loan for the Whitesfrom Reading earlier in the season, was shown the red card in the 71st minute when he raced outside his area and handled Ibrahima Sonko’s headed back-pass. Arran Lee-Barrett took over in goal, and three minutes after leaving the bench he was beaten by Robert Snodgrass after Ross McCormack’s shot was played into the Scot’s path by Sonko. McCormack then took advantage when Lee-Barrett was slow to come for Adam Clayton’s through-ball, rounding the substitute keeper and walking the ball into the net, with substitute Luciano Becchio adding Leeds’ third in stoppage time when he slotted home from a narrow angle after latch...
New pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk Matches 16 May 1973 – Leeds United 0 AC Milan 1 "It was wholly, indisputably and wretchedly bent..." Leeds United suffer the torment of being denied another trophy after the sort of dubious refereeing decisions they would never forget Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19730516.htm 9 May 1973 – Leeds United 6 Arsenal 1 After a disappointing League campaign where they had never fully convinced anyone of their title credentials and a debacle against Sunderland at Wembley, United come good in a breathtaking finish to their League campaign Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19730509.htm 7 May 1973 – Leeds United 3 Celtic 4 A big night for a big man! Jack Charlton says farewell to his playing careers and a twenty year-plus association with Elland Road with a star studded celebration against Celtic Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19730507.htm 5 May 1973 – Leeds Unit...
Yorkshire Post 21/1/12 Leeds exit door will close after Howson - Bates faces critics EMBATTLED Leeds United manager Simon Grayson last night moved to assure fans that no other key players will be following captain Jonny Howson out of Elland Road during the transfer window. The Championship club have had a difficult week with the £2m sale of the Leeds-born midfielder to Norwich City having left supporters furious and accusing the board of lacking ambition. An impromptu protest was held by around 150 disgruntled fans on Thursday night at the Billy Bremner statue and it is expected that chairman Ken Bates will come in for further criticism today when Ipswich Town visit West Yorkshire. Grayson, however, insists Howson’s departure, which was last night edging closer as the England Under-21 international underwent a medical at Carrow Road, was in the club’s best interests due to the midfielder being able to leave on a free transfer in the summer when his contract runs out. The Leeds manager ...
Yorkshire Evening Post 19/1/12 Local lad Howson was always destined for top Andy Ritchie, the ex-Leeds United academy manager, remembers Jonathan Howson as a player ahead of his time and ahead of his age group. By the time he turned 14, Howson was already a member of United’s Under-16 squad and he signed his first professional contract as a 17-year-old. It set the tone for his entire career with Leeds – the squad’s leading appearance maker at 22 and club captain at 23. “Watch this lad,” Richard Naylor once said. “The sky’s the limit for him.” That limit will be reached with Norwich City or wherever Howson finally peaks; somewhere other than Elland Road. In keeping with the midfielder’s development at Leeds, he is moving on with unforeseen haste, eager to continue climbing the ladder as he has for several years. His senior debut came in 2006, somewhat lost in the aftermath of a Carling Cup tie against Barnet. Howson played for 14 minutes as a substitute but Kevin Blackwell, then United’...
Yorkshire Evening Post 16/1/12 Snodin’s joy with Snodgrass Glynn Snodin expressed relief at Robert Snodgrass’ quick recovery from emergency surgery after the winger’s ninth goal of the season earned Leeds United a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. Snodgrass returned to United’s squad just 16 days after undergoing an operation to remove his appendix, and he rescued a point at Selhurst Park with a 64th-minute strike. Manager Simon Grayson named the Scotland international as a substitute on Saturday but turned to him early in the second half as Leeds fought to overturn a 1-0 deficit against a team reduced to 10 players. Snodgrass struck eight minutes later, arriving unmarked to slide a shot past Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni, and first-team coach Snodin admitted that the 24-year-old’s talent had been missed by Leeds during his three-game absence. Snodin said: “He was playing well before he had his appendix out and he’s scored some stunning goals for us. He was at his peak and to be honest ...
Mail 14/1/12 Crystal Palace 1 Leeds 1: Snodgrass snatches point for United Robert Snodgrass stepped off the bench to rescue a point for Leeds against 10-man Crystal Palace just over two weeks after undergoing surgery on his appendix. The Scotland international, a surprise inclusion in the Leeds squad, struck from close range in the 63rd minute to cancel out Chris Martin's early opener for Palace. The hosts played the second period with 10 men after striker Sean Scannell had been sent off on the stroke of half-time for a second yellow card. It was the second game running Leeds had come from behind against 10 men after Ross McCormack's stoppage-time winner against Burnley in their last league outing, but the point did little for either side's npower Championship play-off aspirations. Palace, with one eye on Wembley in the Carling Cup, have won just three of their last their last eight league games and have dropped to 13th place, while Leeds slipped to 11th, albeit just one po...
Mail 10/1/12 Heads up! Keown gets smacked on the head by wayward ball at Arsenal Thierry Henry may have grabbed the limelight at The Emirates Stadium on Monday night with his winner against Leeds - but another former Arsenal favorite also showed he could still cut it. Sportsmail columnist Martin Keown rolled back the years to produce an impromptu bullet header while working as a pitch side pundit for ESPN. Keown was talking to presenter Rebecca Lowe and fellow pundit Robbie Savage when a wayward ball smacked against the back of his head. But, after years of clearing the lines as part of the Arsenal back four, Keown was able to brush off the accident with a smile and a thumbs up like a true professional. The miss-hit ball was believed to have been hit by a Leeds player while he was warming up before the game. Yorkshire Post 10/1/12 Grayson is left feeling proud of Leeds’s Cup endeavours By Richard Sutcliffe SIMON GRAYSON feels Thierry Henry’s match-winning return to English football was...
Guardian 9/1/12 Arsenal 1 Leeds United 0 Kevin McCarra at the Emirates Stadium The match had impeccable manners. This FA Cup tie did little to distract a crowd from its thoughts of Thierry Henry while he was still on the bench. The long stalemate was just scene-setting. The forward decided this FA Cup tie aft er a five-year absence from Arsenal and sent the side on to a meeting with Aston Villa in the fourth round. It was a goal perfectly reminiscent of his great days with the club. Alex Song slipped the ball through in the 78th minute and Henry, on loan from New York Red Bulls, came in from the left to slant a right-footed shot across the Leeds United goalkeeper, Andy Lonergan. The movement and finish were so typical of the scorer that the episode would have been a cliché had it not felt so exhilarating. There are plenty of cautionary words to be uttered since Leeds are only eighth in the Championship but no one else in Arsenal's ranks had come up with the technique and poise to...
Yorkshire Post 7/1/12 Chairman Bates acts to ease the pressure on Leeds manager Grayson KEN BATES has told Simon Grayson to ignore the pressure and get on with the task of managing Leeds United. The United chief’s future has been a huge subject of debate in recent weeks, most notably after the three-game losing run that preceded Monday’s dramatic win over Burnley. Ross McCormack’s stoppage-time winner was the cue for delirious scenes all around Elland Road with Grayson even setting off on a Jose Mourinho-style charge down the touchline in celebration. Grayson’s emotional response suggested he believed beating the Clarets was important for his future job prospects following the abject manner of United’s performance in losing 4-1 to Barnsley just two days earlier. With that in mind, therefore, it is perhaps an appropriate time for the Yorkshire Post to ask Bates if he still has faith in his manager. “I knew you would bring that up,” replied the Leeds chairman. “He is now probably the lon...
Sabotage Times 3/1/12 Leeds United Half-Term Report: Fear The Return Of Barn Door Billy The sting of three shattering defeats over the festive period was taken away slightly by yesterday's last minute win against Burnley, but things still aren't right... Football is my religion, Elland Road is my Church. A half way summary of Leeds United, football’s real sleeping giant. What’s going right? We have seemed to have lowered the amount of goals conceded per game compared to last season (apart from Barnsley), which is pleasing and also surprising as the Leeds defensive coaches seemed incapable of organising a lash-up in a brewery never mind positioning at corners. What’s gone wrong? Well honestly, quite a lot. After 3 festive ruining defeats against Reading, Derby and ending up on the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat to our Yorkshire rivals Barnsley we find ourselves 11th in the table with the wheels well and truly off our promotion challenge. These results left many Leeds fans were left g...
Yorkshire Evening Post 3/1/12 Leeds United v Burnley: What a relief! - Grayson By Phil Hay Simon Grayson celebrated a “massive result” after Leeds United eased the pressure on him with a sensational victory over Burnley. The United manager punched the air in relief as a winner from Ross McCormack in the fifth minute of injury-time averted a fourth straight defeat. Grayson’s future as manager looked doubtful after Charlie Austin’s 69th-minute strike put 10-man Burnley within reach of three points, but two goals in the dying moments at Elland Road – one an own goal from Brian Easton – salvaged a vital 2-1 win. McCormack’s last-gasp effort sparked dramatic celebrations among United’s players and staff, and Leeds climbed to eighth place in the Championship after their first win since December 3. Grayson, who made five changes to the team routed at Barnsley on Saturday, said: “It shows the relief amongst everyone – the supporters, the players and the staff. I wasn’t going to stand on the to...
Sky 2/1/11 Grayson hails 'massive' win Leeds boss delighted to stop rot after last-gasp win Leeds manager Simon Grayson watched his side end a horror run with a dramatic win over Burnley and declared: "We can achieve anything". Three successive defeats had seen the 42-year-old, who is carrying the burden of chairman Ken Bates' public demand for promotion with him, come under scrutiny. That only looked set to intensify when Charlie Austin put Burnley ahead with 21 minutes left, some 40 minutes after his side had lost Kieran Trippier to a second yellow card. But Leeds were given a leg-up by Brian Easton's 86th-minute own goal and then turned things around in the fifth minute of injury time, when Ross McCormack pounced on goalkeeper Lee Grant's error, sending his manager off on an emotion-charged run down the touchline. "I've had a bad knee and I thought it might go, but it showed the passion and belief of everyone," Grayson said of the late dra...
Yorkshire Evening Post 2/1/12 Match report: Leeds United v Burnley Ross McCormack struck what could prove to be one of the most vital goals of Simon Grayson’s time in charge of Leeds United five minutes into injury time, as the Whites overturned a one-goal deficit to come from behind and beat 10-man Burnley. Going into the game with a three-game losi ng run behind him and a very public demand of promotion from outspoken owner Ken Bates hanging over his head, some could have been forgiven for writing Grayson’s Elland Road obituary when his men fell behind to Charlie Austin’s 69th-minute opener. But the under-pressure boss was given a leg-up by Brian Easton’s own goal with four minutes left and, when it looked as though he would have to take a draw against 10 men back to his chairman, McCormack pounced on Lee Grant’s fumble of Andros Townsend’s long-range strike to send his manager on an emotional charge of celebration down the touchline. The end result was perhaps harsh on Burnley, who ...
Yorkshire Evening Post 2/1/12 Whites serve up spineless show By Phil Hay Farewell to 2011, a year of promise that Leeds United contrived to waste. Few today could say what 2012 holds, and least of all Simon Grayson. These are dangerous times for United’s manager with the club’s season losing its thread and his squad losing the plot. Fourth in the Championship a month ago, Leeds entered the new year down in 10th after running aground at Barnsley. Grayson’s future was the elephant in the room before Saturday’s derby in South Yorkshire but the fragility of his position became the topic of open discussion after Ricardo Vaz Te and Craig Davies inflicted Leeds’ third straight defeat with four goals between them at Oakwell. United’s confidence in Grayson is a matter for their owner and his board but it is not difficult to imagine pensive faces in the corridors of Elland Road. December will go down as a pitiful month in which Leeds failed to average a point a game, and the comparative inconsis...
leedsunited.com 1/1/12 TOTTENHAM STAR JOINS UNITED Leeds United have signed Tottenham winger Andros Townsend on loan until the end of the season. The youngster, who has had previous loan experience in the Championship with Millwall, Watford and Ipswich Town, recently signed a new contract with Tottenham until 2016 and has scored twice in eight appearances for the London club. United manager Simon Grayson said: "Andros is a quality young player with proven experience at this level and we're delighted to be able to bring him to Leeds." Andros is available for Monday's Elland Road clash with Burnley.
Yorkshire Evening Post 31/12/11 Grayson fumes after ‘embarrassing’ loss Simon Grayson rounded on his Leeds players after they slumped to a third successive defeat at Barnsley, being undone by a Ricardo Vaz Te hat-trick in a 4-1 defeat at Oakwell. Grayson has been placed under some considerable pressure by owner Ken Bates who has demanded promotion to the Premier League this season, but has been unable to deliver results equal to the outspoken veteran’s lofty ambitions. This was Leeds’ fourth game without a win and comfortably the worst performance of that sequence. Luciano Becchio netted a late consolation after Vaz Te and Craig Davies had done the damage for Barnsley. Grayson does still have the backing of the supporters, though, who have opted to direct their anger at Bates for a perceived lack of investment in the team. The former Chelsea chairman’s commitment to spending is set to be tested over the coming days too, with Grayson warning his current crop that today’s performance was...
Guardian 31/12/11 Barnsley thrash Leeds to heap more pressure on manager Simon Grayson Barnsley 4 Leeds United 1 David Hopps at Oakwell Chants of "Bates out" sounded from a sizeable contingent of Leeds United fans as their side stumbled to their most humiliating defeat of the season, but old chairmen do not depart as automatically as an old year. As much as they would like to see the back of Ken Bates, the man who increasingly looks in most danger is Simon Grayson. Disenchanted as they were, Leeds' supporters dredged up a brief show of support for the manager, but after three successive defeats, and now lying 10th, four points adrift of the play-offs, Grayson's reputation has never been lower in his three years in charge. His side is going backwards. Barnsley's Portuguese striker Ricardo Vaz Tê sunk Leeds with a hat-trick after his early appearance from the substitutes' bench to replace the injured captain, Jacob Butterfield, their outstanding player of the se...