What Shirt is Sweeney Wearing? - The Square Ball 23/8/21
ARE YOU BEING SERIOUS? Written by Rob Conlon Praising Dennis Wise’s wit makes me uncomfortable, but I have to applaud his response to Derby’s interest in Jermaine Beckford in January 2008. “If I am being totally honest, why would you go from Leeds to Derby?” he asked. “You wouldn’t. This is a much bigger club than Derby.” Leeds were trying to earn promotion back to the Championship, and were winning more games and scoring more goals than any other side in League One, but their fifteen point deduction was restricting them to play-off places. Derby, meanwhile, were stinking out the Premier League on their way to a record low points total. Billy ‘Job Done’ Davies had been replaced by Paul Jewell, who was caught hook, line and sinker by Wise’s fishing. “I think it’s pretty disrespectful,” Jewell told the BBC. “I’ve got no interest in Jermaine. We’re looking at a better quality player than that.” Which sounded pretty disingenuous when he was turning up at Gresty Road for Leeds’ next...