Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leedsunited.com 3/1/10 LOAN MEN RETURN Loan men Sam Vokes and Hogan Ephraim have returned to their parent clubs after loan spells with Leeds United. Wolves striker Vokes, who scored one goal during his stay at Elland Road, has now returned to Molineux to resume his career with the Premier League club. And Ephraim, who also netted once during his stay at Leeds, has re-joined Queens Park Rangers. United manager Simon Grayson thanked both players for their efforts during their short-term stay with the club. Fellow loan men Max Gradel and David Martin are staying on though. Gradel's loan from Leicester has been extended to January 17 while Martin will remain at Elland Road until the end of January. Cardiff City defender Tony Capaldi's loan spell is due to come to an end on Monday January 4. Times 1/1/10 Leeds hoping for blast from the past against Manchester United at Old Trafford Rick Broadbent Gary Edwards is a decorator who refuses to use red paint. His business card offers a d...

New pages uploaded at mightyleeds.co.uk Albert Johanneson - The Black Flash There are countless examples of gifted young players who failed to build on the potential of their early days, hapless victims of their own, innate Achilles' heel. Fame is a spiteful suitor for those without the good sense to look beyond its surface sheen. Few stories, however, can quite match the tragic undertones of that of Albert Johanneson, whose spectacular skills lit up the British game with Leeds United, the Great Unloved. He sank without trace just as the star of Don Revie's Whites soared ever higher in football's firmament. Read the full story at http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/players/johanneson.htm

Telegraph 1/1/10 Newcastle confident of signing Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford in January Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has expressed confidence that his club will secure the services of Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford during the January transfer window. By Rob Stewart The Championship leaders have had a £1.25 million bid for Beckford rejected but Telegraph Sport has learnt that he will be allowed to leave Elland Road in a £2 million deal but only once Leeds manager Simon Grayson has signed a replacement. “I'm pretty confident that by the end of this window we'll have added to the quality of player we have here,” Hughton said. “Jermaine Beckford is one of several players that we certainly would have an interest in. “We are certainly looking to bring in the two or three faces that we feel we will need to go through the rest of the season and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.” Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has promised to back Hughton's efforts to res...

Sky Sports 30/12/09 Whites extend Gradel loan Leicester and Leeds agree to maximum extension Leeds United have extended the loan stay of Leicester winger Max Gradel until 17th January. The 22-year-old initially moved to Elland Road for one month in October, but after a number of eye-catching performances the Whites agreed a deal to keep him until 2nd January. This latest extension takes Gradel's contract up to the maximum 93-day continuous period under the terms of a normal loan agreement, meaning he can play in the league games against Wycombe and Exeter. The Ivorian youngster has made 14 appearances for Leeds so far this season, netting three goals, and speculation has mounted that his move could be made permanent. Leeds are currently eight points clear at the top of League One with a game in hand and take on arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday. However, Leicester have refused to give permission for Gradel to take part in the game at Old Trafford. Bradford Tel...

Leedsunited.com 28/12/09 UNITED SEE OFF STOCKPORT STOCKPORT 2 (Baker 12, Mullins 62), LEEDS UNITED 4 (Snodgrass 2, Beckford 67, Bromby 88, Beckford 90+3) Stockport: Fon Williams, Mullins, Turnbull, Raynes, Vincent, Thompson (Johnson 76), Baker, Griffin, Poole, Ribeiro, McNeill. Subs: Tansey, Gerrard, Pilkington, Halls, Barnes, Rowe. United: Ankergren, Bromby, Naylor, Kisnorbo, Hughes, Snodgrass (Gradel 65), Doyle (Howson 65), Kilkenny, Johnson, Becchio (Kandol 76), Beckford. Subs: D Martin, Crowe, Grella, Michalik. Referee: K Friend Att: 7768 (3077 Leeds) Booked: Thompson (Stockport), Snodgrass, Becchio, Bromby, Kisnorbo (Leeds) An early morning pitch inspection ensured the festive fixture at Edgeley Park would go ahead and United were greeted by a wet playing surface, heavily sanded in certain areas. United manager Simon Grayson made one change to his starting line-up, following the Boxing Day win against Hartlepool, Bradley Johnson returning in place of Jonny Howson . Last season, ...

Leedsunited.com 26/12/09 GRAYSON PRAISES HIS WINNING CHARACTERS Leeds United manager Simon Grayson praised his side's character after the Boxing Day success against Hartlepool United at Elland Road. Grayson's men fell behind in a league game for only the third time this season - but a crowd of over 30,000 watched his players come from 1-0 down to win the contest 3-1. Jermaine Beckford scored twice and a deflected header from Luciano Becchio proved the difference between the two sides as United came back to win the contest comfortably. "I was delighted with the result and the performance," said the manager. "Maybe we were quite fortunate for a couple of the goals, but you take what comes and we'll take the breaks. "I tell the players that you have to shoot or take your chances because these things can sometimes happen. "This club hasn't had a lot of luck over the past few years so when something goes for you, you accept it and move on." U...

Yorkshire Evening Post 24/12/09 Grayson asks fans to lay off Becks Simon Grayson has urged Leeds United's fans to throw their support behind Jermaine Beckford when the striker attempts to redeem himself on Boxing Day. Beckford is set to retain his place in Leeds' starting line-up when Hartlepool United come to Elland Road in 48 hours' time, and Grayson has attempted to erase any lingering anger over the forward's reaction to being substituted last weekend. Beckford was booed from the field at Elland Road after reacting to his early exit after 75 minutes of Leeds' clash with Southampton by pushing away Grayson's attempt at a handshake and walking down the tunnel. The dispute was promptly resolved, however, when Beckford apologised to his manager during a meeting at the club's Thorp Arch training complex on Monday morning, and Grayson hopes the 26-year-old's remorseful attitude will appease the fans who berated him last Saturday. Asked whether his 15-goal ...