We will do things my way - McDermott
YEP 26/4/13
By Phil Hay
Brian McDermott has dismissed suggestions that Leeds United should model their future strategy on the success of tomorrow’s opponents Brighton, saying: “We won’t aspire to be anyone else.”
McDermott spoke highly of Albion and their manager Gus Poyet, describing the former Leeds assistant as a “good guy”, but he played down the claim that Brighton’s blueprint might offer an example to his own club.
Poyet’s squad are on the verge of qualifying for the Championship play-offs this season, two years after winning promotion from League One.
In the interim, Brighton have moved out of their old Withdean home and into the custom-built Amex Stadium. Their average home attendance is currently the highest in the Championship.
The Sussex side also have plans for a £23million training ground – plans which are likely to gather pace if the club reach the Premier League for the first time – and Poyet’s success on the south coast made him a leading contender for the job of Leeds manager after Neil Warnock’s sacking on April 1. United chose to appoint McDermott instead.
The two coaches will face off at Elland Road tomorrow on a day when Brighton can secure a top-six finish. Leeds, in 13th, are already confirmed as a Championship club for next season.
McDermott said: “You’re talking about Leeds United here. Leeds United don’t have to aspire to be anybody. We’re not looking to aspire to be anyone else because we don’t need to. Our history suggests that we don’t need to.
“We just need to do what we need to do. And what we have to do is play a great brand of football, the sort of football our supporters want to see. We need to get our supporters back through the turnstiles and get the ground packed.
“At the moment I want us to finish the season on a high, play some good football, get the right results and then move on.
“Having said that, there was a job to do when I came – a very specific job – and that job’s been done.
“Brighton are trying to cement their place in the play-offs but we want the right result tomorrow. It’s very simple.”
Poyet left his pre-match media duties to Brighton first-team coach Charlie Oatway yesterday but he spoke earlier in the week about his interest in managing Leeds, a recurring theme since he left his post as assistant boss at Elland Road to join the coaching staff at Tottenham in 2007.
Poyet said: “(Leeds) is a great place. I love that place and I’ll probably go back one day because I enjoyed my time there so much.”
Poyet’s deal at Brighton includes a £2.5million release clause, a drawback which was always likely to rule him out of the running to replace Warnock, but Leeds insisted on the day of McDermott’s appointment that they had made no offers to any other coach. McDermott said: “I know Gus very well and I’m looking forward to seeing him. He’s a good guy.
“I know he’ll be popular with the Leeds fans because he was assistant under Dennis Wise here. I’m sure he’ll get a great reception.
“We (Reading) played Brighton a couple of times last year. We beat them at the Madejski and then at Brighton very late in the season. That was a very big game for us.
“I remember it clearly because we had a lot of injuries and a lot of players playing out of position. We managed to win and it was a terrific performance.”
Leeds have minor doubts over Rodolph Austin and Adam Drury due to knee and back problems respectively but both players are likely to be fit.
United have nothing left to compete for but McDermott said: “The players shouldn’t need motivated to go and play at Elland Road. I certainly wouldn’t.”
By Phil Hay
Brian McDermott has dismissed suggestions that Leeds United should model their future strategy on the success of tomorrow’s opponents Brighton, saying: “We won’t aspire to be anyone else.”
McDermott spoke highly of Albion and their manager Gus Poyet, describing the former Leeds assistant as a “good guy”, but he played down the claim that Brighton’s blueprint might offer an example to his own club.
Poyet’s squad are on the verge of qualifying for the Championship play-offs this season, two years after winning promotion from League One.
In the interim, Brighton have moved out of their old Withdean home and into the custom-built Amex Stadium. Their average home attendance is currently the highest in the Championship.
The Sussex side also have plans for a £23million training ground – plans which are likely to gather pace if the club reach the Premier League for the first time – and Poyet’s success on the south coast made him a leading contender for the job of Leeds manager after Neil Warnock’s sacking on April 1. United chose to appoint McDermott instead.
The two coaches will face off at Elland Road tomorrow on a day when Brighton can secure a top-six finish. Leeds, in 13th, are already confirmed as a Championship club for next season.
McDermott said: “You’re talking about Leeds United here. Leeds United don’t have to aspire to be anybody. We’re not looking to aspire to be anyone else because we don’t need to. Our history suggests that we don’t need to.
“We just need to do what we need to do. And what we have to do is play a great brand of football, the sort of football our supporters want to see. We need to get our supporters back through the turnstiles and get the ground packed.
“At the moment I want us to finish the season on a high, play some good football, get the right results and then move on.
“Having said that, there was a job to do when I came – a very specific job – and that job’s been done.
“Brighton are trying to cement their place in the play-offs but we want the right result tomorrow. It’s very simple.”
Poyet left his pre-match media duties to Brighton first-team coach Charlie Oatway yesterday but he spoke earlier in the week about his interest in managing Leeds, a recurring theme since he left his post as assistant boss at Elland Road to join the coaching staff at Tottenham in 2007.
Poyet said: “(Leeds) is a great place. I love that place and I’ll probably go back one day because I enjoyed my time there so much.”
Poyet’s deal at Brighton includes a £2.5million release clause, a drawback which was always likely to rule him out of the running to replace Warnock, but Leeds insisted on the day of McDermott’s appointment that they had made no offers to any other coach. McDermott said: “I know Gus very well and I’m looking forward to seeing him. He’s a good guy.
“I know he’ll be popular with the Leeds fans because he was assistant under Dennis Wise here. I’m sure he’ll get a great reception.
“We (Reading) played Brighton a couple of times last year. We beat them at the Madejski and then at Brighton very late in the season. That was a very big game for us.
“I remember it clearly because we had a lot of injuries and a lot of players playing out of position. We managed to win and it was a terrific performance.”
Leeds have minor doubts over Rodolph Austin and Adam Drury due to knee and back problems respectively but both players are likely to be fit.
United have nothing left to compete for but McDermott said: “The players shouldn’t need motivated to go and play at Elland Road. I certainly wouldn’t.”