Our preview for the Leeds game, is covered by a Q&A with Tom Hill a Leeds United fan and writer of Leeds Offside. I have answered questions for him, and they can be found here.
Tom has provided his answers to the questions I set him. Enjoy!
Leeds are one of those sides who have been there, seen it, done it – so it must be very frustrating at the moment. What is the mood of fans?
I’m not going to lie… it’s terrible. I was one who didn’t mind Ken Bates mainly because we’d just been promoted and we were so close to getting promoted last year. We didn’t get promoted because when we needed that little push with some new faces we couldn’t didn’t get them. The start of the season was tough with the protests, then with the tragic death of Gary Speed the club came together as one to celebrate his life. We’ve been poor all season apart from the odd game; we sold Gradel on deadline day and didn’t replace him. Twitter has been a split with those in favour of Bates/Grayson and those that aren’t. But the final hurdle was Howson’s sale last week. We’re pissed off basically, we pay the 5th/6th highest prices in the country for football that isn’t very good. The club sell our best players and don’t replace them, and we don’t own our own stadium or training ground. I could rant all day, but you get the picture.
The season has been a bit stop / start – what are the reasons for that in your opinion?
Well like I mentioned earlier we sold Gradel pretty much on deadline day. The deal was a surprise and we never replaced him. Snodgrass and Becchio were unfit and injured respectively and we had a slow start against Saints and Boro. Then we got a team together and didn’t constantly change it. Doncaster away was a real sigh of relief we battered them and kept a clean sheet, the latter is something we usually see as often as we see the club pay for a player. Being a Leeds fan is unique it’s as simple as that. Sometimes Grayson’s decisions and tactics let us down, sometimes it’s players making errors you don’t see in a 5-a-side game and others well in the hands of the gods. Some of your fans reading will be saying “How can you complain you’re in touching distance of the play-offs!!”
It has been stop/start because we have generally been poor this year, Ipswich last week was one of the worst performances of the year…they collapsed and we won 3-1. It is hard to put my finger on one thing.
Selling your club captain, Jonny Howson, must have been a kick in the teeth. Is this an indication of the club wanting to sell, or a player who wanted to play in the top flight?
Jonny Howson wanted to leave, his interviews have shown that. He wanted Premier League football…our problem was he didn’t think he could achieve that with us. We’re not talking about some lad from Africa, Scotland, Spain, Argentina or wherever that don’t have ties with Leeds. Jonny Howson lived in a house with a view of Elland Road, the club was in his blood. It has shocked us as fans…our captain, longest current serving player and home-grown hero wants to leave. Many saw Howson as the man that stayed for his entire career. If our own captain and home grown lad doesn’t believe we can go up, then how can we? A few rumours suggest the contract was poor, but I don’t think Jonny it was about money. We wish him all the luck, but in fairness the club got a good deal. He’s injured and out of contract and we got two million (apparently).
Do you fear further exits?
I do yes, just not now. If we sell now then Bates might as well say bye to all the fans. We sold Howson same day Bates released renewal forms for season tickets… terrible timing or what!
Snoddy, Clayton and White are the next to go for me. I’m starting to lose faith which is sad as we have come so close and we have huge potential to make it in the Premier League. And before you think about it leave the best players alone!
Do you think that Leeds will be one of the play-off clubs in May?
It’s hard to answer this because we are up there, but have been terrible. Maybe they will rally round and sign a few quality players. Yet it is 24 hours away and we’ve sold our captain and not signed anyone of any real significance. If we go on a run then anything is possible, but like you asked earlier can we stop being stop/start only time will tell.
In regard to Tuesday, who do you think are your danger men?
Snodgrass is a danger to anyone many say he is too slow, but his skill will cause any defence a problem. Ross McCormack can score goals for fun at this level, and he has scored in the past two home games so maybe he could get another. Delph and Clayton in the middle can cause some problems with their passing and disrupting play. Townsend on the left of midfield had a brilliant debut but has gone quiet since, if he plays like he did a month ago then watch out. Aidy White will get forward when he can, but we have a dangerous team when they want to play. The reason I’ve mentioned so many is because usually only one of them plays well…usually Snodgrass.
What do you think your line up will be?
You are very well organised I will give you that so we could go 4-5-1, but we are at home. So probably 4-4-2 as follows:
Lonergan-Thompson-Lees-O’Dea-
What is your take on Blues this season?
I guess on a level from our point of view it would be like an itch when looking at the table. You’re behind on games and have been busy with Europe, but you seem to be always cropping up. I don’t mean itch in a bad way by the way, it shows you have to be contenders, playing twice a week for most weeks and still challenging for the automatic. You have some good players; I mentioned to you in the last interview I was desperate for us to sign Chris Burke. Ridgewell is another who I think would fit nicely into the Leeds line-up.
Which Blues player(s) are you concerned about?
Burke and Redmond, they seem two players who could cause problems with pace and a scoring threat. Marlon King will obviously be a threat as will Rooney and maybe Zigic…I don’t rate him personally but his stature and height will cause anyone a problem.
What do you think the result will be.
Either a draw 1-1 or a 3-1 win to you…as you can tell I’m not in the best of moods with Leeds at the moment!
Zigic forgot he’d scored his first goal, and went hell for leather to make the 3-1 a true prediction in the second half 😉