Dennis Wise is fuming despite a much needed victory over Crystal Palace after it was revealed that a Leeds United player had done the dirty on Den.
Amidst the superb 2-1 win over the Londoners was a situation more associated with the fictitious world of TV football soap Dream Team than Elland Road - then again, Leeds are no strangers to controversy. It has been reported that, prior to kick-off, a United player gave the Palace party details of the Leeds starting line-up and, possibly, the tactics.
The senior player has yet to be named although speculation has already been in hot circulation amongst Leeds fans in a bid to unmask the mystery mole.
Who dunnit?
Currently, the alleged infiltrator is unknown although, through the process of elimination, there are a few stark candidates with their faces still erect on the Cluedo board.
Cue Shaun Derry as the first and most probable candidate. Having been frozen out of the team as of late perhaps Derry had a motive to sabotage Wise. However, that stance is slightly far fetched and a more realistic approach to the matter could be that Derry, formerly of Palace, was just going to say hello to a few familiar faces and something 'slipped'. It would be extremely disappointing to think that Derry would have behaved in this manner. Granted, his form has been poor this season - extraordinarily poor by his standards in fact. Still, Derry has a cult following amongst the Elland Road faithful and it just seems far too uncharacteristic of the seemingly loyal midfielder. However, sadly, the pieces do seem to fit at a second glance of the jigsaw's box.
FM Suspect Rating: 9/10
Just why was Graham Stack left out of the side yesterday? The loanee shot-stopper was apparently all set to return to the team, the squad at the very least, for the Palace game - Wise even hinted at it when quizzed about Stack's involvement after a successful return from injury. Therefore his omission from the squad does have a cloud of suspicious looming. From a detrimental stance, perhaps Stack would be the least missed player from the potential suspects. He's been far from great since arriving and, now that Ankergren is here, he is becoming increasingly peripheral. Although, in all fairness to Stack, there appears to be no motive behind the decision - why would he hinder his position at Leeds considering he was all set to return to the team? Bitter at Ankergren coming in? Maybe...but that's pushing it.
FM Suspect Rating: 7/10
Now, another glove-clad suspect. Neil Sullivan was dropped from the starting line-up after having started against Norwich City a week prior. Leeds did lose that game which goes some way to legitimise his demotion. Although, maybe, Sullivan is bitter towards Wise because of being farmed out on loan as well as the arrivals of Stack and Ankergren. Sully is known for his erratic and eccentric behaviour on the pitch but maybe there is a streak of malice in his professionalism. Having been Player Of The Season in Leeds' first season in the Championship, it would be disheartening to think that Sully would be capable of this. He isn't as crucial to the side as he once was but it would be a sad end to an important Leeds career.
FM Suspect Rating: 6/10
The final of four main suspects in Gary Kelly. The petite Irishman hasn't played for the Whites for a while now because of an injury. But it is an injury? Maybe it's really an 'injury'. It would seem bizarre that a man who has been with the club for so long would even contemplate doing such a devious act. But, after reportedly being told that he won't play again because of a contractual trigger clause, Kelly may just have enough of a motive to bring down Wise. Perhaps Wise is blowing the whole story out of proportion so that Kelly can be sacked for gross misconduct - and thus a hefty subtraction in the weekly wage bill. It's all seems a bit Hardy Boys regarding Kelly and the many conspiracy theories though. He has been a great servant for the club, albeit a one who seems perfectly willing to bleed the club dry of thousands of pounds every week. Still, this season he hasn't been used that often because of Wise's favouritism towards Richardson - hence not such a big loss to the playing staff.
FM Suspect Rating: 7/10
There are a few things that are certain to come to prevalence in the upcoming days. One thing is that the player will be named and shamed. Another is that PFA head-honcho Gordon Taylor will throw another hissy fit. Either way it will certainly be interesting to see how the whole Palace-gate develops. Perhaps the bullish Leeds fan base will see it as just another off-the-field, tribulation-sticky hurdle to jump. Time will tell! |
