Diary of a Leeds Fan (11/4-17/4/16)

Monday 11/4

Charlton beat Leeds 1-0 in a under 21 game at The Valley.

The commission that metered out the lengthy eight game ban has revealed that Doukara had failed to 'present well as a witness' or offer a 'credible explanation' for Amorebieta’s injuries. They added that; "He gave no credible explanation as to how the injury to Mr Amorebieta had occurred if it had not been from a bite from himself."

Neither United nor Doukara have made any extended comment since his ban was announced by the FA on March 31st. Leeds said they would delay a full response until after they received the commission’s written judgement. When asked for a comment Leeds did not respond, again!


Tuesday 12/4

Lucy Ward gave evidence yesterday at the hearing in Leeds where she claims she was unfairly sexually discriminated and dismissed by Leeds United.

The report of the first day is provided by the independent: see here.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/leeds-united-news-massimo-cellino-lucy-ward-sacked-me-because-manager-and-i-were-a-pair-a6978831.html

Many Thanks to the independent.

Neil Redfearn with Lucy Ward attending court.

At the second day of Lucy Ward's tribunal there was mention of an alleged meeting of Cellino with Gary Cooper and in it he (Cellino) said about women having no place in football and stated; “Why do women want to play football? Football is no place for women. They should be in the bedroom or beauticians.”

It sums up just what a football dinosaur he really is.

Happy Birthday 'Chief'

Birmingham City v Leeds

Match Day:

Steve Evans made one change to the team beaten by Burnley on Saturday. Mirco Antenucci replacing Mustapha Carayol.

Teams

Birmingham City

Legzdins, Caddis, Morrison, Shotton, Grounds, Gleeson, Davis, Donaldson, Lafferty, Cotterill, Kieftenbeld

Subs
Kuszczak, Fabbrini, Vaughan, Solomon-Otabor, Maghoma, Toral, Spector

Leeds United

Silvestri, Berardi, Bamba, Cooper, Taylor, Diagouraga, Murphy, Cook, Dallas, Antenucci, Wood

Subs
Peacock-Farrell, Coyle, Bellusci, Adeyemi, Phillips, Mowatt, Carayol

The Match...

Two goals by Stuart Dallas gave Leeds their first win in five Championship games. Although Birmingham scored soon after Dallas' stunning second, Leeds hung on for the three points.

The defence marshalled by Bamba and Cooper were aided by some quality goalkeeping when needed by Silvestri.

Leeds deserved the victory for dominating the game for fifty plus minutes. Surely now we can start to plan for next season, it can only get better, Can't it?

Only blot on the evening was Mowatt's late sending off, looks like a ban for his touch line tangle with a City player and some fans booing Bellusci when he came on as a late substitute. Just not needed!

Post Match:

Steve Evans:

"It was a big performance. Some of the first half play was outstanding."

Lots of praise for Dallas; "Stuart’s got everything and more in the locker. He needs to have more confidence in his ability."

When asked about the rest of the season he was refused to accept Leeds are safe; "I'm not going to stand like a lemon in 6 weeks time and have people saying "you said we were safe."

Sounded very happy with the win and to be honest we are safe.

Gary Rowett:

Disappointed with Blues first-half, felt poor goal conceded and puzzled by a lack of responsibility taken: 'Didn't do enough'.

After the break Blues much better, played with drive, desire, tried to make things happen. 'Not dominated a half like that for a long time'. He also thought the disallowed Donaldson goal should have stood and Fabbrini's miss was crucial.


Wednesday 13/4

Steve Evans said post game that last night was the best he's seen Leeds play under his tenure and mentioned that, in parts, it was the best he'd ever seen a team play (that he'd coached) in all his time as a manager/Head Coach.

Some statement, but the build up to the first goal was superb as were others in the first half and the start of the second period of the game.

Why couldn't we have seen this earlier in the season, it's clear the players have it in their lockers.

The excellent writer Heidi Haigh on her thoughts on last nights win:

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/latest-news

Many Thanks to Heidi for her permission to use it.

Phil Hay Tweeted:
The FA says Leeds director Edoardo Cellino has denied a charge of posting offensive messages on social media. How he can defend his comments we will see, the Cellino's certainly don't like to be told they are in the wrong, do they?

Adam Pope Tweeted:
Judge Stephen Keevash said Ms Ward's case for unfair dismissal & direct sex discrimination was successful, the case for indirect sex discrimination fails.

In his judgement he continued that Ms Ward & Neil Redfearn were credible & truthful witnesses and that former Leeds United executive director Adam Pearson was "evasive" in giving his testimony.

He ended his statement by saying there was a gross breach of the ACAS code of practice of which the club should have been aware of.

Ms Ward was unfairly dismissed.

Remedy hearing to resolve any losses made by Ms Ward will take place on the 10th of June.

Well done Lucy Ward for standing up for herself and women in general in football who are undervalued by their clubs.

Thursday 14/4

Nothing more damming than this!

The front page editorial of Thursday's YEP:

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/yep-says/yep-says-how-much-more-can-leeds-united-fans-take-1-7851648

Well said!

A statement made by the group 'Time to go Massimo' group:

"We are disappointed that because the club failed to follow a correct and fair procedure in dismissing Lucy Ward, a substantial amount of the club’s money will be essentially wasted on paying further legal fees (as well as at least some of Ms Ward’s legal fees) and giving her the compensation she is entitled to.

“We consider Lucy to be ‘one of our own’ and wish to thank her for what we understand to be a wonderful 17 years of service at Leeds United (including her playing career), raising amazing talent like Fabian Delph, James Milner, Sam Byram and Lewis Cook to name but a few.

“We hope she would consider returning to Leeds United at a later date under different ownership and much improved practices.

“Today is yet another in a long line of events that drags the great name of Leeds United through the gutter. We implore Massimo Cellino to end this farce and sell the club to one of the more credible groups interested in purchasing Leeds United, and to sell it to them at market value.”

Strong sensible words.

Steve Evans presser: Bamba and Carayol doubts for Reading, Carayol will play though if he's fit, he will become Cellino's longest serving coach after Reading and said he achieved it because "First and foremost I'm quite good".

Hopes Mowatt's red card appeal is successful, very impressed with last two performances and Leeds are three or four players short "for challenging for the playoffs", expects a fully fit Chris Wood would get twenty goals next season, no comment on Doukara, up to club to comment, he HAS been on a diet and lost over three stones in weight.

A very content Steve Evans.

Alex Mowatt's red card was upheld and now the midfielder is out through suspension, he will miss the games v Reading, Wolves and Hull City. Derbyshire gets off his against Leeds but Mowatt's stands.

One rule for others and different for us.


Friday 15/4
​
Twenty seven years ago today, ninety six Liverpool went to see their football team in an FA Cup Semi Final at Hillsborough in Sheffield. They never returned to their loved ones and their loved ones still wait for JUSTICE!

Preview of Reading game:

After performances that Steve Evans said we got little credit for, because of the results, Leeds beat Birmingham City 2-1 on Tuesday night. Two Stuart Dallas goals, the second a wonderful strike from a Chris Wood knock-on, made sure Leeds will again be in the Championship next season, although the head coach sees it a little differently than most; he still thinks another win guarantees that.

It was a much-needed win, with good performances all over the pitch. Tomorrowbrings Reading to Elland Road with ex-manager Brian McDermott back in charge for the second time. I liked Brian, he had humility when others around him had none.

It’s a shame some of his major buys/loans didn’t work out but his affection for the club has not dwindled since his acrimonious and, some would say, unprofessional way his departure was dealt out to him.
I hope he receives a warm welcome back. I will clap him to the away dugout; he deserves that at least.

On Tuesday Reading were beaten by a injury-time goal at promotion-chasing Middlesbrough.

My predictions of late have not been positive but this Saturday I’m going to go for a Leeds win.

Leeds 2 Reading 1

Brian McDermott: “I’m really looking forward to it, Genuinely." In his time at the club he said “There was a lot going on" and added; “There were difficult circumstances. But you can’t put the results down to difficult circumstances. I’m not into making excuses.”

On Cellino: McDermott said he bore no grudges about that scenario or his departure. “Massimo? No, I’ve got no resentment about anyone at Leeds, honestly none. I look back on my time there with fondness and I think more about the encouraging times than I do about the other things. I think about us being in the play-offs at Christmas. It’s a shame it didn’t go further."

On Lufc fans: "The supporters are tremendous, fantastic people, but there’s no reason for the crowd to give me a good reception. I did my best at that time and I think that’s all you can ask. It wasn’t easy. Things went on there that I’ll probably never experience again."

Advertisement from the YEP:

Call for action?

The choice was yours!

Another departure from Thorpe Arch, goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis will leave at the end of the season, as yet no reason given for his departure. The list leaving the club continues to grow.

Phil Hay of the YEP:
So, no head of recruitment, no academy director, no goalkeeping coach and in a few weeks time, potentially no head coach/first team coaches.

Ready for 2016/17? I think not.


Saturday 16/4

Leeds v Reading

The March...

Over a thousand people took to the city of Leeds to show that a proportion of Lufc fans have had enough of the off field antics of Massimo Cellino and the promises he has not delivered. The fans have spoken, let's see if anybody is listening.

Match Day:

Steve Evans, due to illness made one change, Sol Bamba was ill due to a virus that had a few players feeling unwell. Bellusci came in, Liam Bridcutt was still unavailable due to injury.

The Match...

In one of the most forgettable first half's I can remember, Reading stumbled upon a lead after missing some golden chances earlier in the game. Hector enjoying his celebration a little too much after his shot went past Silvestri following a free kick.

Maybe some harsh words were delivered in the Leeds dressing room because Leeds finally got into the game and were level within minutes of the restart, Diagouraga netting from close range from a wonderful cross from Berardi.

Leeds with Luke Murphy pulling the strings in midfield looked the more likely to get the next goal, substitute Phillips having a man effort on goal blocked before Chris Wood scored the important second goal. Another fine cross this time by Taylor met by Wood's head and despite Al-Habsi efforts the ball crossed the line.

Leeds were on top but the 'Royals' equalised through substitute Rakels, after Cox's effort had hit the bar and the honours looked like being shared but a mistake by Hector let in Wood to fire past Al-Habsi to give Leeds the lead again, although Reading had possession they could not get the equaliser, a thrilling second half.

Wood makes it 2-1

Man of the Match: Luke Murphy

Post Match...

Steve Evans:

Evans said there was a virus in the camp and four or five players other than Bamba and Adeyemi were struggling. Very pleased with the win, thought the first half 'looked like an ill performance'.

The second half was strong enough to deserve three points. Made it clear again that he wants to stay but said he'll get a decision from Cellino 'when he (Cellino) is ready'.

Brian McDermott:

“The Leeds fans are genuine, good people and Leeds United is a fantastic football club." He added; "Apart from the result I enjoyed being back."

“We have a very young team and they will learn from playing in this environment."


Sunday 17/4

Continuing the superb articles from Heidi Haigh. This time it's Reading at Elland Road.

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/reading-16th-april-2016

Many thanks to Heidi Haigh.

Football Italia is reporting this morning that World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro was rumoured to have been seen in Leeds 11 for the Reading game yesterday.

If Steve Evans does move on at the end of the current season, the Italian will become Leeds United's SEVENTH coach since 2014, when that nice man from Miami with his wonderful family bought the club.

An interesting week in Leedsville!

MOT

By Keith Ingham