By Steve BarrasObviously this is a follow-on to a piece on this site earlier today from another writer, he was venting his opinion on the current situation at Leeds and has been widely criticised for it, now whilst the Winston Churchill comment did make me chuckle I think berating someone for his opinion is wrong, why not write your own opinion down and send it to us, after all this is a site by fans, for the fans.
Everybody has and is entitled to their own opinions, whether it be that Ken Bates was our saviour or he was a stain on our impeccably white shirts. Whether it be that GFH are the Arabic version of the bearded one or that they are doing what they said they were going to do and that is to create a successful but sustainable Leeds United. I believe that GFH are certainly not an Arabian nightmare but are here to do for the city of Leeds what Bates failed to do during his tenure, namely a return to the Premier League. However this is not going to happen overnight, they are not Sheik Mansour or Roman ‘I love Chelsea but have never heard of them before now’ Abramovich, they have not got a bottomless pit from which they can pluck millions upon millions of pounds from, they are a business which does not want to lose money and can you blame them? Just a quick glance at our not so distant past and it becomes clear how far a club can fall with some bad financial management. In such a short space of time, footballing wise, we have gone from elite contenders to big fish in a small pond. We are commonly referred to as THE sleeping giant in English football, something which our new MD uses in his infrequent media appearances, the latest being in The Sun/Son. Why are we in the land of nod? Because of Leeds United’s biggest fan Peter Ridsdale. So I ask again, can you really blame GFH for being careful with their finances? If you do blame them then you have really short memories. To coin a term often used, Rome wasn’t built in a day and returning Leeds to the Premier League is a bigger task than creating one of the world’s greatest cities so I think, and remember this is only my opinion, that we should get off their backs for a bit. They are doing their best in such difficult circumstances. Does anybody think that Master Bates left Elland Road fully functioning? Obviously not, the eight figure sum that was reportedly pumped into the club when GFH took over has been used to repair the broken bones of our club, that is why we have only seen three additions to the squad. “Wait! Only three additions? Oh no we are going to get relegated now!”...... Excuse me? Am I hearing that right? We are going to get relegated because we have made three good additions to a squad that is already a mid-table candidate? Come on, we are looking at a flirtation with the Play-Off’s at the minute, nothing more, nothing less and that is a damn sight better than a Bates-led, Byram-less season that we would have had otherwise. The simple fact of the matter is that we need to offload the players that are eating into our wage budget, the inadequate players such as Michael Brown and Danny Pugh but until we do that I’m afraid the teamsheet on the 3rd August will look similar to the ones against Walsall and Stevenage unless Brian turns to our ‘mediocre’ youth system. The youth internationals could never oust Michael Tonge from his spot on the teamsheet, in case you don’t know we have seven youth players who have represented their countries at youth levels (Chris Dawson, 18 years old, Wales. Eric Grimes, 18 years old, Eire. Charlie Taylor, 19 years old, England. Dan Atkinson, 17 years old, England. Tyler Denton, 17 years old, England. Eoghan Stokes, 17 years old, Eire and Lewis Cook, 16 years old, England.) I am confident that Brian will use a handful of our very own academy products in the first team this year, Dominic Poleon, Chris Dawson, Zac Thompson and Ross Killock are who I think can and will take the step this season. To conclude I would ask you to read the title/headline of this article again. Marching on TOGETHER!
30 Comments
Jack
24/7/2013 05:57:33 am
Well said mate totally agree, give them the two years they outlined and then judge.
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Rob Atkinson
24/7/2013 06:06:37 am
One article says they must go, another says they must stay. There's nowt like reflecting all shades of public opinion!
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Paul1919
24/7/2013 06:11:47 am
I like this article but you have to understand your writing partner Rob is the type of fan we as general fans are sick of. His article was poor & then had the nerve to put keep the faith at the end. I expected his type of article to be written by that winehouse kid who writes letters to gfh asking for this n that. Your writer has to accept the criticism if he puts up articles like that esp on this site where the writing is generally good bordering on excellent at times
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Luke
24/7/2013 06:12:29 am
Your mate deserved them comments tbf, his article was a farse
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Proud White
24/7/2013 06:29:30 am
I for one was not berating Rab. His article was good insofar that it initiated a debate, and that debate has revealed, that for the majority of the fans who visit this webpage GFH need to be given a chance. Debate is healthy and even though I do not agree with Rab, at least he stuck his head above the parapet.
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JDC
24/7/2013 06:32:53 am
Better Steve ... however, your sidekick / co-writer needs to be kept on a tighter leash or be put out to grass.
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Martin1961
24/7/2013 06:33:09 am
At last a article I can not berate 100% spot on.
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Dan
24/7/2013 06:34:35 am
I understand this is a site by the fans for the fans but the two conflicting articles today have been ridiculous. I agree with this one more cos im patient with ghf but guys. Sack the other guy!
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Helen
24/7/2013 06:35:24 am
You needed this write up after that shambles earlier!
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Ady
24/7/2013 06:38:02 am
This will cheer you up you confused intellectuals ! Goalie kenny left back thompson cb mills cb lees r back warnock central midfield Austin cm murphy wing back free roam offensive pacy position bryam wbfropp white striker varney striker (McCormack, hunt, diouf or smith) whoever you need? Playing progressive passing possession football with 35,000 mad Leeds fans screaming for passion , hope and love won't hurt will it? And BMW ! (Brian McDermott winner) MOT
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24/7/2013 06:45:34 am
There's a lot of sense in this article, and I can go along with the comments about supporting GFH, and the need to stabilise the financial position. BUT.. unless there have been secret talks between David Haigh and BMD about the substantial amounts of money which will be available next year for quality players, then the 2 year target for promotion is unbelievably stupid. It just puts totally unnecessary pressure on a man who has a lot of fan and player support, and is certainly the best manager we have had for a long time.
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jack jenkinson
24/7/2013 07:09:27 am
why cant they just come clean and stop treating us like noel hunts
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Mike N
24/7/2013 07:11:38 am
One other thing to remember is the mortgage over future receipts that was taken out by the previous owner. The club will be a couple of years paying that off. Coupled with the financial fair play regulations and we're stymied for the moment. Only extra income (Red Bull anyone?) can change the situation.
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jimat37
24/7/2013 07:15:44 am
Absolute PR tosh, give a company time because they bought us and have no money, yet at sometime in the future want to walk off with as much loot as they can ? GFH only bought to make money year on year, let Parkin or others be the owner, same no money stance perhaps but less spin and we won't be having as much money sucked from the team if we ever make the prem.
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StevieDee
24/7/2013 07:38:29 am
I'd like to be a billionaire next year. Bold statement that becomes hollow when there is little in terms of plans to support it. GFH wants promotion, they have talked of investment but generally any external investment has simply eroded their own financial liabilities in the club.
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bobdav
24/7/2013 07:38:32 am
2 years me hole. We are mid table at best at the moment. Unless GFH can drastically pull 10 million quid out their arse pocket over the course of the next two transfer windows we are going nowhere. We have been spending about the same as a top half of league 2 team for last 6 maybe 7 seasons. Im afraid that hasnt changed under GFH. Leeds United needs a consortium with serious cash, maybe then we can start talking about prem in 2 years. Sick of listening to shite about sustainable future, a club of our size shouldnt have to be worrying about something like that. Still ill be bitin my nails cheerin the lads on next season as always. MOT
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Stephen Forbes
24/7/2013 07:42:45 am
This article goes someway to appeasing the overwhelming backlash you received today, and I hope this well go some way to producing more optimistic writing such as this piece in the future.
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Caseyrybac
24/7/2013 07:50:28 am
As i also said in the last post, rome wasn't built in a day, that's more like it, give them a chance, its the least they deserve after getting that scumbag bates out, no more dome and gloom posts please, at least not before the season starts, we are leeds and we are on our way back, keep the faith. M.O.T.
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TC
24/7/2013 08:31:12 am
That team Ady put up will be bottom by Christmas and the crowds will be 15,000
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John
24/7/2013 08:43:56 am
GFH were invited in by Ken Bates. Why? Because he pulls their strings. He's still there.
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Two more years(sigh)! More jam tomorrow! It's no different to 'Premier League prices for Premier League football'. Are GFHC really going to take so long in acheiving the top division? To be direct, most fans must be sorely p--d off with the paupers and crooks running the club and are desparately in need of success. If BMD doesn't hit the ground running I can see us below 20k at ER in no time at all. Viva Red Bull, or anyone with some serious money!
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Van White
24/7/2013 01:25:08 pm
How opinions differ? Though it does sum up the fan base at the minute. I agree that the signings so far will make us significantly stronger, though I share to a certain extent the worry of GFH's failed promises but more worried about Brian McDermott who could well be an un diagnosed manic depressive. It's clear for all to see that the man would be a liability in a high stakes poker game but it is worrying as the season is yet to start. David Haigh sees Leeds in the PL; how he expects this with the financial restraints placed on the manager i will never know?
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I sat ans read this article and thought to myself at last some common sense. I then read the replies as always and was thinking I agree with everything they are saying.
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jimat37
24/7/2013 06:29:17 pm
Keith
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24/7/2013 04:58:38 pm
Rob's article has actually galvanised support for Leeds United. The fans have shown that they want to create a positively charged atmosphere at ER. The fans are getting behind the board for the first time in eight years. Rob was right to print his views and I have sympathy with them. But too early for even thinking about GFH being out. Like other commenters have said, they have actually done a lot of very good things and they are working on getting rid of the loan/debt. They will need to think about buying back the ground etc. It will all take time. Bates has made a right mess of the situation and to be fair we need their business skills to get it right! It will take time. I think that 2 years to get back to the Premiership is very optimistic! If GFH have sorted us out financially by then it will be work well done! We just will have to be patient.
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Danny
24/7/2013 05:21:55 pm
I agree with these comments, I was never going to judge the new owners until they had a full year in charge, they have a plan and will stick to it, Cardiff City have just reported loses of 84m, the cost to get into the Prem, I dont want that again for Leeds after nearly losing the club i love, if waiting afew more years and doing it right, then i'll take it, i trust the owners and the manager, fans just think because from the Dubia area, pump money stright in, buy every player, a quick fix, doesnt work, many teams in Championship have tried this and we will still be playing them next season, the team, the club are in a much better position then it was with Warnock and Bates, if these fans arent happy with the new owners, just rememeber what Bates and Risdale did for the club, took every penny, showed no passion, Warnock was all about him, the dark cloud over Elland road was suppost to have gone but if the fans contiune to moan and not get behide the team, owners, manager, we are never going to get anywhere, you take the rough with the smooth and we march on together
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Jamz
24/7/2013 09:27:35 pm
Something just doesn't add up in terms of GFH's takeover/ownership of Leeds United. First of all Ken Bates said that he would only sell the club to worthy investors that would take the club forward, and that had the necessary knowledge of running a football club in order to achieve this. So why has Bates sold the club to GFHC who have no idea how to run an English Championship club and to add insult to injury then decide to appoint more board members/CEO's to pretty much run the club on their behalf?
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Counte Of Monte fisto
24/7/2013 10:56:36 pm
As always the truth is somewhere in the middle.
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Peter McGonzie
25/7/2013 05:57:40 am
My heart goes out to Brian McDermott he's fighting tooth and nail to get the players he wants but without success.
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Peter McGonzie
25/7/2013 08:05:50 am
My heart goes out to Brian McDermott he's fighting tooth and nail to get the players he wants but without success.
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