Peter Ridsdale wanted to “live the dream”, but Leeds are now enduring their worst-ever nightmare. In two years they have slipped from Champions League semi-finalists to a club fighting relegation, stripped of all their best players. It is hard to locate when Leeds actually hit rock bottom. Was it with the appointment of Peter Reid, a man deemed not good enough for Sunderland only last season? Was it the sale of Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, or “the crown jewel” Jonathan Woodgate? On the eve of the new season, the fear is that Leeds haven’t actually reached the bottom yet – and that it could all get a lot worse.
STRENGTHS: Amid all the gloom, Leeds do at least have a set of strikers that could get them into the top six. If – and it is an enormous if (IT WAS,HE’S GONE!) – Harry Kewell, Alan Smith and Mark Viduka (HE MIGHT GO TOO!) all remain, Leeds should score enough goals. They managed 58 last year – six more than Blackburn, who earned a UEFA Cup spot.
WEAKNESSES: Leeds have lost the heart of their team in the last year with the departures of Ferdinand (NOT AGAIN!), Keane, Woodgate, Olivier Dacourt, Lee Bowyer and Robbie Fowler (AND KEWELL OF COURSE, AND TEDDY LUCIC, who said that!!). And the exodus looks far from over with the predicted sales of Kewell (I SAID HE’S GONE!) and Paul Robinson (HE WANTS TO STAY ACTUALLY!), and maybe even Viduka (HE WANTS TO GO ALLEGEDLY) , this summer. All this change has most affected the defence, which let in 57 goals last season, the highest outside the relegation zone (WE’VE STILL GOT DUBES!).
A LESSON FROM LAST SEASON: Too many to list. For a start, don’t mortgage your future. And don’t sack a successful young manager and replace him with a washed-up television pundit (NO,NOT YOU REIDY…VEGETABLES!)
ONE TO WATCH: James Milner succeeded Wayne Rooney last season as the youngest player ever to score in the Premiership. He was only 16 years and 357 days old when he scored against Sunderland on Boxing Day, and two days later trumped that with a wonderful goal against Chelsea. “He is quick, clever and has two good feet”, enthused Claudio Ranieri after that game. (OH NO! WATCH OUT FOR A BID!)
LEAGUE TABLE PREDICTION: 18TH (HEY! THAT MEANS THE DROP?)
‘Thanks’ to FourFourTwo for this….my comments in capitals.
Keep reading in hope.