LEEDS: Last season - 15th
Which ever way you look at it, Leeds United are in a right mess. They have quite simply capitulated in such a short space of time that I find it astounding. Just two years ago, they were taking on the best in Europe, playing some breathtaking football and now they are on the brink of administration with a stream of star players heading for the exit door. The whole thing has been a complete farce and if you'd handed the Leeds script to the producers of Sky One's Dream Team, they'd have thrown in back in your face and told you not to be so ridiculous.
So what now for them? I've got to say, it is impossible to say. Surely, things can't get any worse off the pitch, but I am not sure what Peter Reid can do on it to improve things. Even if he brought Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger in as his assistants, he could not turn that club around. We're talking Queen Mary in a bathtub, I'm afraid! I am a big fan of Peter Reid, but I really can't see Leeds ever getting back to where they were. They even made a complete mess of selling Harry Kewell. Any other club selling a player that had promised to leave on a Bosman would have emerged with some credit, but the way Leeds went about it was pathetic.
They will miss him on the pitch as well and looking through the side, other than Alan Smith and Mark Viduka, you wonder just who is going to provide the spark they so sorely need. It seems to me that there are not even the young players coming through any more, which would always keep the fans happy and help the side along. Reid and Leeds need every single one of their players pulling in the same direction if they are to do anything at all. But even then, I really can't see them getting out of level two and they are way off challenging the big sides like they were such a short time ago.
KEY TO SUCCESS: Mark Viduka. As he goes, so do Leeds. He had a fantastic finish to the season and if Leeds are to do anything this time, he needs to keep that going. He seems to have good relationship with Reid and will be central to their fortunes.
INS: Jody Morris, Zoumana Camara (loan)
FIRST SKY APPEARANCE: Leicester (away) September 15
BETTING ODDS: Champions - 200/1. Relegated - 11/2
Like I said, happy reading from one of the pundits!
(Rodney Marsh was a famous footballer from the 70's for all you young ones.)
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