By Rab Laverty
So here we are again waiting expectantly at the start of another footy season, but waiting for what exactly I ask myself. A few short weeks ago I found myself getting excited for the new season when just after old Captain birds eye departed from our club we splashed a cool million on Luke Murphy from Crewe. Not much for some other clubs but the fact that we had actually spent cash on a player made plenty of us sit up and take notice and maybe GFH were going to start to come up trumps financially. However this bubble was significantly burst when our illustrious manager announced over the weekend that we couldn’t afford to buy anyone else unless we ship players out in the opposite direction.
Now I have a few candidates that I would like to see go through the exit door, however to be told after we had spent a mere million, that we are back to being poor Leeds again is, I feel more than a lot of Leeds United fans can stomach. Surely after the penny pinching ways of Bates we deserve more, as loyal fans, than to be treated to another dose of miserly ownership. Every other club gets in new owners and get a bit of money to spend while this is what we are treated to by our glamorous Dubai Banking Owners. If as a banking organisation they are skint then what in the name of Friar Tuck were they doing buying us over in the first place. If they are broke then they must be a very poor organisation to begin with because I have yet to meet a poor banker so they must be very bad at what they do or else they just don’t have any interest in investing in our club. On a personal level I feel that the latter applies here and I also feel that GFH are here only to make a quick killing. Let’s look at a couple of statements from GFH and their representatives, David Haigh says that he wants the Leeds fans to fill the ground every week as Elland Road can be such an intimidating venue when its full. Absolutely correct there, David, however how do you expect 40,000 of us to fill the ground every week when we are watching sub standard football due to lack of investment in our team sorry, but the fans, apart from the die hards, are not going to shell out for season tickets and over priced match tickets to watch mid table championship football and that is if we are lucky enough to stay mid table. Next we have David telling us that we are a huge club with a remarkable fan base and we should be in the premier league. Firstly we WERE a huge club however from about 10 years ago we have had successive years of financial mismanagement and we have degenerated into a mid table championship club lurching seemingly from crisis to crisis and last year we nearly became a league one team again under Warnock. David, the message is clear, we have all the potential to be a huge club once again however the fans aren’t fools and we simply require you to make the effort and invest and we will back you. Everyone can see how fiercely loyal our fans are, but we have shown also that we won’t be treated like fools by the clubs ownership so please get the cheque book open and give us a team to support and earn our loyalty. Today (Wednesday) we have David again telling us in the press that we have a wonderful manager and we can be back in the premier league in 2 years. Now I agree that we seem to have a very good manager who has quickly got to grips with the situation at Elland Road especially compared to Warnock but when you don’t give the money for transfers then unless we make Harry Potter our next signing I can’t see us in the Premier League anytime soon. Brian McDermott has stated he only really requires one more signing probably Matt Mills but the board haven’t got the resources to back him. So just after 8 months into their tenure at Elland Road we once again don’t even have a pot to piss in, yet David is able to state today that he has moved into Ken Bates office and bought himself a new plasma tv as he didn’t like old Kens previous décor. I feel it is starting to be a bit like Peter Ridsdale's goldfish here. Now only time will tell whether or not GFH will come good with our beloved Leeds United but one thing I can assure David of is that if they don’t get their finger out and make proper investment in our team then they are in for a rough ride in Yorkshire, we can only live in hope and I would love to be proved wrong, however gut feeling tells me that GFH are only here for a short while and there will be no marked difference in our fortunes under their leadership. No one more than me wants to see my beloved team back competing with the big boys where we used to belong however I won’t be holding my breath waiting on it. So on now to the start of a new season and let the rollercoaster ride begin once again. Keep the faith, MOT
60 Comments
frizbo
23/7/2013 08:30:28 pm
I dont think its that we cant afford to sign anyone but more that GFH dont want us going out and signing 2/3/4 more starting quality players for decent fees and wages while we have such a large squad with so many average at best players on big wages. Apparently the likes of Brown, Pugh and Norris etc are on over 10k a week if we can shift these players we will have the money and space to invest in 2/3 real quality signings to make a big difference. The problem is that we cant shift them because no one wants them and especially not on the wages they are on here, so money will keep being spent on vastly overpaid players until their contracts run down.
macky
23/7/2013 08:31:19 pm
opinions are like arseholes, everyones got one.yours seems to be both impatient, overly critical and far too negative.we will 'compete' this season and play half decent football on the deck, this will mean we have made progress, if thats not good enough for you then go support manure.
idiot responder
23/7/2013 09:14:57 pm
What a silly thing to say mucky macky. Its the weak willed cretinous arse lickers like you who keep the club down. Perhaps BM should support manu too as he aint happy either.
Gluegun
23/7/2013 09:39:15 pm
Get a grip man, Macky is being sensible - people like you quickly drag down any positivity around the club and would only be happy if we were spending money we don't have - some people have very short memories I know that negative comments pull the club down but how many broken promises, how many false starts, how much disappointment can we take? I suppose that we will have to be patient, but I wish that David Haigh could get some serious sponsorship on board so that we could invest in a few more decent players Can you tell me why people who have negative feelings about the on-going situation at Leeds United are not entitled to bemoan their poor fortune. God, what a drop! It has been a long way down and we can't get back. Is that negative, am I not entitled to say how I feel?
Gazza
24/7/2013 12:33:15 am
I agree with you mate, it is frustrating the lack of activity, expecially after the buzz after the Murphy signing. This is no reason to demand GFH out, what a ridiculous article headline. This season there is far too much deadwood weighing the club down. I expect rather than spend large sums on big signings and strain the clubs finances risking future seasons, they will get rid of all the crap signed in the last few years either by cheap transfer or contract expiration. There is also no point signing more Brown/ Norris style journeymen. As the wage bage is cleaned up the quality signings will follow. Whilst this is happening it gives plenty of time for the acedemy products to gain first team experience. Little bit of realism and patience would do some of you habitual moaners a world of good.
Inter Women
24/7/2013 09:29:51 am
My thoughts exactly!
akezMOT
23/7/2013 08:37:25 pm
Have some god damn faith and get behind your team, gfh haven't even had one season in charge you fickle man! SUPPORT is a pretty key part of of being a SUPPORTer! Pack out the ground, make er a fortress and do what you can foe the team, being a cynical twat will do nothing but harm.
Counte of Monte Fisto
23/7/2013 08:51:45 pm
You have a point to a point. I have renewed as I always will but even loyalists with more money than sense need something to feed their optimism. I don't want mega bucks to be spent but admit it, its not looking much better on the squad front than it was under the hated Bates regime. Yes GFH have done some great things but eventually its what happens on the pitch they will be judged by & that area needs major improvement.
yorxman
23/7/2013 11:18:45 pm
'Pack out the ground', maybe we would if prices were kept stable. I've paid £30 for my son & me to watch the Brighton game but it would cost me that just to get myself into the Sheff Wed match 2 weeks later which kicks off at 1215 & is live on TV. I'll be in the pub thanks
Brian T
23/7/2013 08:40:28 pm
We released a number of players at the end of last season...was it 8...and we have only brought in 3. Now we are expected to wait on more being sold before others are purchased. Brian and the fans deserve better. We want a team to challenge this year!!
Counte Of Monte Fisto
23/7/2013 08:48:03 pm
This whole episode is strange, I can't think of another example of new owners buying a club then investing nothing. Some owners take on huge debt which eventually cripples a club, some spend their own money, some bring in other investors, some float on the exchange. But to come in and spend nothing that must be unique. So simple question WHY?
bryan
23/7/2013 08:50:28 pm
yes i totally agree with your statement about investment in the playing staff ,and from the managers point he seems to be the man for the job on is past record , but do you honestly believe that GFH and David Haigh read any off this that is wrote on this site Bull Shite they will do what ever they want to do with my club we are just the minors ,so give up moaning about it and just keep watching the White army and hope one day in the not to distance future that somebody will invest a bit of cash to buy some better players to get us out of this league
paul abbott
23/7/2013 08:50:29 pm
all GFH have to do is show some proper commitment to the club and the fans will do the rest as allways
scott A
23/7/2013 08:59:53 pm
stop running before we can walk, read his statement, within 2 years. this is a goal an ambition. so on the basement of this statement it shows some intent. yes we cant afford MCD wish list at the moment, why buy/loan as Warnock and Grayson did. yes we have some dead wood to release that takes time in football. we are not big players, we have had cash crisis for years.... slow investment is the way forward, unless a cash rich buyer comes in get real. I see no Negative in Davids statement only positives. we have had a few blips with friendlies and its doom and gloom yet again, I have said this before we do not have a divine right to be in the premiership, this is earned. hopefully in the new window Brian will get some backing, support the club, get through the turnstiles finance the club you/we love..... our Money will hopefully be put to good use, and not pocketed as when under Birdseye.MOT WE ARE LEEDS 23/7/2013 09:00:58 pm
If we want a sustainably club we need to develop players rather than buying them in. This is slow growth, but better that than the disaster finances of recent times. We should judge the owners on whether we are forced to sell players and, if players force sales, whether BM is allowed to reinvest the revenues.
Ramzywhites
23/7/2013 09:03:43 pm
I dont agree with this post. I believe that GFH do have the funds to buy players, its our wage biill thats the problem. GFH simply dont the club to be losing money over the new year, i certainly dont want that either. What big mac means by selling players to bring some in is just getting them off the wage bill to bring somebody else in on the wage bill. David saying we could be back in the prem within 2 years, sounds like hes suggesting that nobody wants Warnocks deadwood, a good few of their contracts expire next summer, so possibley stay in the championship for another year then next near there will be alot of wages available for big mac to bring in his players and GFH to invest. GFH are doing a great job right now, you have to notice that they are trying to get rid of all the damage that bates done off the pitch. They have already got us back into BBC Leeds, a sponsorship with mega bucks Sky bet, demoted Shaun Harvey and are close to getting a SPONSERSHIP and i highligh sponsership .. With Red Bull. They dont have any rights to the ground, or anything to do with our club, apart from a logo in the middle of our shirts. M.O.T with big mac and GFH.
Caseyrybac
23/7/2013 09:04:15 pm
Very very harsh, look at the mess we were in when gfh took over, the books are a mess, and that is not down to them, gfh are moving us in the right direction, give them a chance and get behind the team instead of putting them down all the time, ROME WASNT BUILT IN A DAY, comon ppl, we are leeds, M.O.T.
JDC
23/7/2013 09:04:52 pm
What an absolute load of drivel ... we all want investment and a clear out of Warnock's junk but not at any price.
60yearssupporting
23/7/2013 09:19:57 pm
An Irish billionaire investing in Doncaster Rovers? How did we end up with GFH Capial. My opinion this was Ken Bates thank you for the abuse he and his wife took during his ownership of the club. Despite what Bates said I believe that LU has much more to offer than most clubs who have recently been backed by wealthy individuals. In fiture I would be more careful in venting feelingsin an abusive manner. Inflaming unrest against GFH will not help the cause, lets get behind the owners in a positive manner.
wetherby white
23/7/2013 09:27:27 pm
Good article. We are all painfully aware Mr Haigh that Leeds are the biggest club in the championship with easily the largest fanbase. What has been demonstrated over the last five years is that at least half of them will not pay out top price for average/poor football.
San Jose White
23/7/2013 11:33:40 pm
agree 100%
woodhouse white
23/7/2013 09:30:28 pm
Thankfully the vociferous minority are unable to shake the predominantly positive attitude of most Leeds fans, who can obviously see that, although GFH aren't the Sheikh Mansour we all dreamed of, they're still a LOT better than B***s. Leeds are a club in transition, chill out, enjoy the journey! We'll be up there again before too long.
Proud White
23/7/2013 09:31:31 pm
This article reminds me of what Batty once said regarding the fickleness of supporters. A pragmatic view to the reality that on occasion (the royal) we can be a bunch of tw*ts sometimes. GFH have been clear from the outset that there was not a bottomless depth to the finances and that there would need to be consideration given to developing the club. Whether or not they have reneged on promises to McD on finances I can't say but we are where we are, suck it up cupcake and lets get behind the manager. Indeed clamouring for investment to the board may hasten the departure of Byram, McCormack as without departures where will the investment come from? At Stevenage last night I witnessed an abject first half performance from poor squad members (the usual suspects) who need to be shown the door, no blame for McD here as it is impossible to polish the number of turds left behind by Colin which can't be flushed away (can you see what I did there?) There is potential to free up finances, but stark reality again dictates that few will consider taking a hit on wages to move on. Would you? So as a bank GFH will look at the risk as we are now being run as a business. Do banks take punts? Not normally and although you may bemoan this I would take GFH before Uncle Ken any day...small steps. Again there needs to be a reality check of where we are as a football club. Notwithstanding the first half, the introduction of Austin in the second signified a clear positive for the season ahead he looked fresh and was the catalyst behind all that was good in the last 30 mins. Varney's radar appears to have had a refit and is now operating in concert with his boots and White may yet fulfill his potential. But please, lets be positive, not fickle, how does the saying go.......MOT!!!!!!!!!
Jason
23/7/2013 09:34:06 pm
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realise that we have too many players, especially midfielders who are earning that much money that we cant move them on, that's not GFH's fault or the current managers, keep the faith and lets see where we end up, the reality is the wage bill is currently too high, Norris, White, and Tongue, and Pugh earn over 50k per week between them, and all need to go.
craig
23/7/2013 09:47:21 pm
Lot of negative comments and to be fair we have waited along time for the good times to return.
Paul1919
23/7/2013 09:47:45 pm
How different is this from a previous post by K G Bailey? That post made sense, this one is a load of drivel what i would expect on other doom n gloom blogsites. It doesnt take a scientist to work out even if we offered Pugh & brown out for free who would take them? But still, lets add more players to our already big wage bill and send the club in another downward spiral since the last time we had one youve obviously forgotten about. Jesus wept
Adam
23/7/2013 09:55:56 pm
You've put 'Keep the faith' at the bottom there but seem to have no faith in GFH. They took over less than a year ago. You're being very impatient for miracles to occur
Martin 1961
23/7/2013 09:58:28 pm
Everybody just take a few minutes to relax a stay calm.
a real LUFC fan
24/7/2013 08:48:43 am
great post
giz
23/7/2013 10:07:39 pm
all seems a bit wierd to me rekon gfh dont have loads but also have lots goin on behind the scenes we know nothing about . but still as annoying as it is i understand dnt matter what money you have you still have to move shit players on to buy or you will end up with nothing left to buy with. as for not going to elland road thats just stupid how do you expect them to spend money if they dont make any (not rocket science) get behind bmd get behind ghf and most importantly get behind leeds united our team MOT ... come on the mighty leeds
Kevin
23/7/2013 10:12:57 pm
This article is hilarious.
Jonno
23/7/2013 10:42:07 pm
You typed all this crap and then put keep the faith afterwards. Usually a fan of this page with a few of your writers but this post is awful
Kath
23/7/2013 10:49:06 pm
I agree with Paul1919. I thought this site had sensible writers but this post is very childish "give me new signings or ill be in a huff" terrible article.
Stephen Forbes
23/7/2013 10:49:42 pm
As a lifelong Leeds fan, I am constantly amazed by reporting like this, no doubt last year you were reporting GFH would be the saviour. Get a grip, the world of business doesn't work how you dream, unless you are bought by an oil tycoon you don't just magically make millions appear, and nor should you, its pipe dream football. I am sick of the glass is always half full at Leeds, you can't change it, so you might as well stop writing such negativity which makes people think why bother going to matches (you and your whining cronies are massive part of the Leeds problem), get behind the team and stop complaining.
Matt
23/7/2013 11:07:51 pm
Spot on
JDC
24/7/2013 02:01:54 am
Well said Stephen.
Martin 1961
23/7/2013 10:49:57 pm
We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender I thought that GFH were going to invest in the team when they took over. £10 million? Well they have spent the money on clearing the debts that Bates has accumulated and keeping Leeds United afloat. It is a pity that we were not told that there would not be very much money for the playing side of things! We can be patient, but we have been patient for the last 10 years and have been told each year that there would be investment in the side and it hasn't happened. I suppose it could happen next year? Or the year after, or the year after? Don't want to be negative but it is very disappointing when this happens every year. Anyone round here Hate Smurf?
Luke
23/7/2013 10:52:25 pm
KEEP THE FAITH!
Michael
23/7/2013 10:57:09 pm
This is ridiculous, Rome wasn't built in a day!
Dizzywhite
23/7/2013 11:04:00 pm
I am slightly unnerved by some of the comments on here as it appears that people haven't recognised the improvement in the type of football Leeds played towards the back end of last season. BMc has invested some considerable effort in getting players to play the ball on the ground instead of the route one football under Warnock. Now, how do we know whether or squad is good enough or not? Results and performance will dictate. There must be a reason why young Byram and Leeds have decided to stay at ER and it isn't about money! GFH might not have invested significantly during the first part of their reign but like any good investment company, when the time is right money will be released. Luke Murphy is probably the lynchpin to the way Leeds will play in the future. Remember how Gary Mac did the same in the 80s! Let's not be despondent until we see how the season progresses. Remember this is a 2 year plan to the Premier League. 23/7/2013 11:04:24 pm
Some Leeds fans seem to be forgetting that GFH are subsidizing significant losses off the pitch all down to bates idiocy in renovating the ESU he mortgaged ST sales & also took an advance on all our shirt sponsorship money last season this puts LUFC in a hole before a ball is kicked this season of minimally 4.5m. Have LUFC & GFH sold our talent to cover these losses, no they have released unwanted players at the end or near the end of their contracts. I also think they & BMD are playing a shrewd game in not showing their financial hand by pleading a bit of poverty while negotiating in private players coming in and also I suspect a number of players who will be exiting ER before the transfer window close. Those players exiting will most likely go to teams paying lower wages & LUFC are expected to pay of or subsidize those wages as with Morison. Look at LCFC they are offloading unwanted players and have not really acquired any replacements same goes for the smoggies and a number of other championship clubs as FFP strats to kick in, they only clubs doing business & those are still selling also are those with parachute payments.
Matt
23/7/2013 11:07:08 pm
Personally I welcome cautious investment, you've gotta look at clubs like Ipswich and Leicester who have plowed money in over the past couple of years and look where they are now. I think fans are forgetting that GFH are an investment bank who make their money through strategic investment, they've already forked out nearly 50 mil for the club, plus they put their own money in before they had even bought us. I think the majority of Leeds fans would prefer us to be run by a magician who can give us overnight success but we have to be realistic, Ridsdale spent money we didnt have and look what happened to us. GFH have taken small steps towards rebuilding Leeds United like signing the deal with radio leeds, introducing a young adult ticket price, lowering season ticket prices and setting up an advertising campaign throughout leeds to promote the club and introducing a new 3 tier affordable membership scheme,they're bringing the club back to the people which is something the prospector Kenneth Bates would never have done. David Haigh has come out and said he aims for Leeds to be back in the premier league within two years, and as a life long leeds fan I'd rather my club be in a financially stable position going into the top flight rather than spending shed loads of money for a few average championship players that will make hardly any difference. I agree that we need a few players in to allow us to compete for promotion such as a centre half, a winger and maybe a striker, but until the end of august so we have plenty of time. We need fans to be buying tickets and going to the games and spurring the lads on rather than hiding behind a keyboard moaning all the time because unless you have money in your pocket and knowledge of running a football club, you wouldn't be able to do it better yourself so have some friggin faith for once, GFH haven't even been in charge a year yet, give them a chance for christ's sake
Eddie Stanforth
23/7/2013 11:13:07 pm
Negativity and artictles spouting this crap is Leeds' biggest problem. Best fans in the world? Not where im sittin. Most whiney? Yes we take that title by a mile
STELLA 88
23/7/2013 11:18:04 pm
I've never come across a Leeds fan with so much negativity.
Paul1919
23/7/2013 11:28:32 pm
http://www.weallloveleeds.co.uk/20/post/2013/07/red-bull-to-give-leeds-united-wings.html was a brilliant positive article by one of their writers Bailey. Not saying they all have to agree but that article was well written and balanced, this one my 12 year old could have written cos he didnt get everything he wanted at xmas As a Leeds fan close on 40 years, i'll be travelling from Dublin for our home game against Brighton. That's my faith in GFH because in time, through them, big investment is gonna happen so can all the doubters out there, just get behind the club & stop all this negativity MOT
My God, we have created a publicity coup for GFH, David Haigh, Salem Patel and BM must be pissing themselves laughing. This is really very funny because it shows that nearly all of the die hard fans are with GFH and BM!!! What does this mean? It means that the show goes on and that nearly everyone is behind them. Well if that is the case then I will throw my hat in! Lets get on with it!
JDC
24/7/2013 02:08:12 am
Well done Bluesman ... it didn't hurt too much I hope and it will be worth it in the end.
Lord@Lufc
24/7/2013 02:06:41 am
Don't see what else GFC could do this summer, they have spent a mil first time in EIGHT years! Lowered prices got a cracking manger for a change. Personally think everything looks rosy in the garden.
Martin1961
24/7/2013 03:59:42 am
Lord@Lufc Financial fair play rules !!!!
Lord@Lufc
24/7/2013 05:36:36 am
Alas tis the world we live in though. Money isn't everything look at Leicester. Plus two advantages for us BMc and Yelland Road when it's full, here's hoping it is this season.
leeds oldie
24/7/2013 08:06:35 am
Comments are correct but if leeds suddenly aquired 20 million or even 10 million then lets get real it would all go to pay off.the loan that super business man KB left us with P.L.in 2years unless a LARGE input of money is given to the best manager we have had in years then until that losn is gone and we own our ground and thorpe arch then championship football we have but ive supported them for over 50years and will continue to do so
Nik1001
24/7/2013 08:09:01 am
We are Leeds we will come good should have brought tommy Rowe
leeds oldie
24/7/2013 08:27:23 am
Y not pay up the contracts of the players not needed and build bit by bit for the season after next
a real lufc fan
24/7/2013 08:34:30 am
No ... banks gamble all the time it's called the stock market
LEEBOY
24/7/2013 08:39:07 am
As a Leeds fan for over 40yrs i can understand the frustration of everyone who wants our great club back where they belong, but i honestly believe that Bates is somewhere behind the scene pulling the purse strings of GFH, and as long as this is the case promotion is a pipe dream, and also because of the over the hill,now unsaleable players Warnock was forced to bring in due to lack of funds because of Bates. Leave a Reply. |
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