“Notice how in the count room nobody ever seems to see anything? Somehow, somebody’s always lookin’ the other way. Now, look at these guys. They look busy, right? They’re countin’ money. Who wants to bother them? I mean, God forbid they should make a mistake and forget to steal.” - Ace Rothstein, Casino (1995)

There’s even a casino in Las Vegas called the Monte Carlo, which – like Elland Road – has suffered severe fire damage in it’s recent history.

Of course, there are a couple of notable differences, like the weather and relative success for example. Vegas also knows how to treat it’s customers. The town may bleed you dry, but you’ll love every second of it. Leeds United could probably stand to learn from that.

But if it was at all possible to twin a football club with a city, Dirty Leeds and Sin City sounds like an ideal pairing to me.

It seems only fitting then that Leeds United should get it’s own casino. Details released via the official site outline plans for a two-storey structure bolted onto an extended West Stand. Somewhat reassuringly, the club say they have no intention of operating the casino themselves, but will instead seek out experts to run it for them. Why is that so reassuring? Because if there’s any football club capable of messing up a cash cow like a casino, it’s Leeds United.

Some fans have raised objections to the idea of a casino, mostly on the grounds of further funds being diverted away from the squad to facilitate yet another Ken Bates “vanity project”. Generally speaking, I’d agree. The vast majority of Leeds United’s income still comes from gate receipts despite our loveable chairman’s excessive spending on corporate facilities, bars and restaurants. And it’s a well-trodden path, despite the massive expense of Chelsea Village, the project returned very small sums of money for the club.

In short, such ventures are simply not worth the outlay to a football club. The sums of cash available from hotels and retail pales in comparison to what is available from gate receipts and sponsorship deals which only increase with the success of the team itself. Spend well on the squad and the return will absolutely dwarf any profits a hotel will make – and the income will increase year after year while ever the club can maintain success. A hotel and various retail establishments meanwhile will still be returning comparatively small sums of cash.

However, a casino is a different thing entirely. These things are built on such a vast scale, with an eye-watering potential for profit that anyone opposed to these plans really needs to have a rethink. Out-of-town leisure facilities are big business nowadays, and are generally very successful. Look at the Xscape complex in Castleford for example, everyone said they were mad when the plans for that were unveiled, but almost a decade on they continue to prove the doubters wrong.

The casino also makes the hotel a more interesting proposition. There are plenty of companies – including the one I work for – that would be considering such locations for management conferences. Elland Road already has conferencing facilities, but these events are tediously boring and since they can often stretch over the course of a few days, companies will consider nearby leisure and entertainment facilities a big plus when booking because it keeps their staff happy.

There are other bonuses too. In recent years, football clubs have become playthings for the uber-rich so one with a casino attached to it will sound even more attractive to the bored Arab Sheikhs and Russian gangsters of this world. Furthermore, the building of a casino shouldn’t have any real effect on Leeds United’s ability to build a competitive squad. Unlike corporate hospitality, bars, shops and restaurants, you’ll find no shortage of people happy to invest in a casino – it’s a guaranteed money-spinner.

The only real problem is an over-saturated market. Leeds already has four casinos that I’m aware of (The Grovesner, Napoleon’s, Gala and Alea) but it should be noted that Leeds United’s planning application is for a “super” casino, one which has a license for much bigger jackpots than it’s rivals. This should take care of the competition.

So there you have it. The Scratching Shed is pro-casino, pro-hotel (if the casino is built), and pro-conferencing facilities (if the casino and hotel are built). Pro-Bates? Let’s not get carried away…

“The end result of all the bright lights, and the comp trips, and all the champagne, and free hotel suites, and all the broads and all the booze. It’s all been arranged just for us to get your money” - Ace Rothstein, Casino (1995)  

The Leeds United skipper was offered a new contract three weeks ago and has spoke little about the situation since.

This news could be interpreted as Snodgrass planning a move away from Elland Road. On the face of it, there is little reason to sit down and discuss the situation with his family if nothing is about to change.

It’s also worth taking into consideration Leeds United’s comments that the new contract offer would make Robert Snodgrass “the highest paid player at the club” and that they couldn’t go any higher. The more cynical fans amongst us have suggested this was merely the club pre-empting a backlash by diverting blame onto the player.

Robert Snodgrass recently admitted disappointment at the sale of Jonathan Howson, and questioned the clubs ambition saying that promises have been broken.

Elsewhere, El Hadji Diouf continues to dominate the headlines, telling the Daily Mail that he’s interested in a move to Elland Road. The former Doncaster Rovers striker thinks he would be the ideal strike partner for Luciano Becchio.

Finally, Leeds United fans are anxiously awaiting word of the clubs first “summer” signing. Neil Warnock previously stated that he hoped to confirm a new arrival during the first week of May. The most likely candidate is Jason Pearce after Portsmouth confirmed a deal was already in place for him leave.

What happened to our fortress? What happened to our pride? We let our guard down and the fort has been breached. Perhaps it happened last summer when our greatest defensive wall, the imposing East stand, was temporarily deconstructed to allow for the installation of executive boxes. Perhaps then was the time that our enemies penetrated our bastion and set up camp within. Whenever they entered, I’m sure they’re appreciating the excellent facilities that the East stand now has on offer…

As gloomy and depressing showers descended upon our once great citadel (forcing the floodlights into a ridiculously early appearance at 2pm in the afternoon), Neil Warnock’s team seemed determined to end the season on an equally gloomy and disheartening note – and they succeeded. Leicester’s teenage debutant Harry Panayiotou touched home an injury-time winner to officially confirm season 2011/2012 as the worst home campaign in Leeds United history.

It must be noted that of the eleven home defeats just five occurred during the first fourteen matches, before the ‘dispensing’ of Simon Grayson. Of those five losses, one was a narrow early-season defeat with 9 men (against Middlesbrough) and one was a single-goal reverse against champions Reading. The embarrassing 5-0 and 4-1 scorelines did, at least, come at the hands of play-off qualifiers Blackpool and Birmingham respectively. The loss to South Yorkshire minnows Barnsley was inexcusable.

Since Bates, Harvey et al declared that a new manager would ‘get the best out of the current squad’, the Elland Road faithful have endured six defeats in nine matches. This included the record breaking match against Nottingham Forest (a night when Leeds shipped seven goals for the first time ever at home) and dismal performances against Brighton, Derby, Watford and Leicester. I am of the opinion, as are many others, that a bottom-half final league position would not have occurred if Grayson was still in charge. Nevertheless, Neil Warnock has the task of rebuilding our fortress and even the ancient Egyptians would agree that he’s probably the best man to take on this particular construction project.

Today’s starting line-up was less experimental than recent weeks and was largely dictated by injuries and suspensions. Paul Robinson missed out due to injury and is unlikely to be seen again with Warnock stating his intention not to sign the Bolton left-back. Danny Pugh filled in for him today, with Zac Thompson earning another start in the centre of midfield alongside Adam Clayton and Michael Brown. The Foxes’ starting line-up was notable for the inclusion of Elland Road hero Jermaine Beckford, who received a warm reception from the Kop and reciprocated by saluting the crowd as chants pertaining to a certain match at Old Trafford rang through the rafters.

The match began in encouraging fashion, with Leeds’ best players (Ross McCormack, Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio) threatening to inspire a rare home victory. Captain Snodgrass had an early chance well saved by the pantomime villain for the day, Kasper Schmeichel. Soon after, Becchio fashioned a chance, only to chip the ball into Schmeichel’s hands. That was about as good as it got, as the match (like the rain) descended into a sloppy, uninspiring affair.

When the manager releases his long-awaited and much-anticipated list of retained squad members on Wednesday it is likely to be heavier in attacking players than defensive ones, and with good reason. Leeds’ season-long defensive frailties reared their head once last time as Danny Pugh pitifully lost the ball to Martyn Waghorn, who cut inside before slotting the ball into the bottom corner to give Leicester a first half lead after thirty-nine minutes.

All the quality of McCormack and Snodgrass on the wings was being equalled by the sheer lack of quality of full-backs Pugh and Connelly. An educated guess would suggest that two new full-backs are top of Warnock’s wish-list.

The second half was largely uninspiring and was not enlivened by the introduction from the bench of Danny Webber and Mikael Forssell, who were both woeful and perhaps are already aware of their absence from the ‘retained list’.

Spirits were raised amongst the twenty-five thousand crowd with eight minutes remaining as a good move resulted in Snodgrass flicking the ball past Schmeichel, with Webber tapping into an empty net from inside the six-yard box (his first, and most likely his last, goal for Leeds United).

With the prospect of a late victory to finish the season and new found optimism of avoiding the unwanted record defeat, the home crowd roared on the players to push for a second goal. Adam Clayton worked his way round the Leicester defence, but his cut-back was intercepted. Another late attack ended as Forssell overran the ball.

As the season entered injury-time for the final occasion, a 1-1 draw was on the cards – a result that would have fairly reflected a hard-fought, low-quality dead rubber. However, as if to hammer a final nail into the coffin of a season to forget, the Foxes produced a late winner as Panayiotou (seemingly offside) deflected the ball beyond Andy Lonergan.

At the final whistle, the fans flooded for the exits. There was no traditional end-of-season pitch invasion, nor did that many people remain for the customary lap of honour. The season was finally, finally over and the masses craved the opium of saying goodbye to the fallen fortress as soon as humanly possible.

They came. They saw. They conquered. And, as is now predictable for a Leeds home display, not much of a battle was fought.

There was only pride to play for today. And we lost.

However, before you start a frantic search for your camera and autograph book, allow me to explain…

The long suffering, faithful supporters who have (against all their better judgement) ventured to every Leeds United home match this season will soon be put out of their misery as the end of the season approaches. Just two more agonising afternoons of Elland Road football remain, with the visit of Peterborough (conveniently nicknamed ‘Posh’) and the end of season party when we entertain Leicester City (and our former legend Jermaine ‘Becks’ Beckford).

So, what are the home faithful to expect from these two encounters?

Peterborough currently sit 17th in the division, and (much like Leeds) have very little to play for except pride this season. Having entered The Championship in a blaze of glory following victory in the 2011 League 1 play-off final, Darren Ferguson’s men will surely be satisfied to have consolidated their place in the division.

When the two teams met at London Road earlier in the season, a 95th minute winner secured a 3-2 victory and a 7th consecutive unbeaten league match for Simon Grayson’s men.

Neil Warnock has strongly indicated that this match will see starting roles for fringe players, with speculation pointing towards the likes of Billy Paynter, Mikael Forssell and Ramon Nunez. If these individuals truly are ‘playing for their futures’ then we may see some very spirited performances, but passion and drive has all too often manifested itself in pointless red cards over recent weeks. With a group of players taking to the field under a weight of pressure to ‘prove themselves’, don’t be surprised if tomorrow sees a fourth consecutive match in which a Leeds player is heading for an early bath.

If I were to make a prediction, I think the Peterborough match will be a hotly-contested battle, lacking in skilful artistry. A goalless draw, with at least one sending off.

The final match of the season will again be a completely meaningless occasion for Leeds, when the only target may be a top half finish (though I fear even that may be out of reach). On the other hand, Leicester may be fighting for a play-off spot, especially if they take maximum points from their winnable matches against Millwall and Burnley.

The Foxes seem to have been in mid-table for the entirety of the season, but are quickly emerging as dark horses for 6th position. Following the early-season sacking of Sven Goran Eriksson (who would subsequently put in an application for the Elland Road hotseat), Nigel Pearson has slowly turned them into a team on the up. With a strike force of one-time-England player David Nugent and Leeds legend Jermaine Beckford, Leicester carry a very strong goal threat and (most worryingly for Lees and O’Dea) a lot of pace.

The encounter back in November saw Leeds beat then-managerless Leicester 1-0 on their own patch, with Adam Clayton placing a long range finish beyond another old-boy, Kasper Schmeichel.

The match will, of course, mark the first return to Elland Road of Luciano Becchio’s former partner in crime. Beckford will always have a place in hearts of Leeds United fans after scoring the two most important goals of the last decade against Bristol Rovers and Manchester United. It is destiny that he will bag a brace on April 28th.

If Leicester are still in the hunt for 6th place, I predict a comfortable 3-1 victory for them.

Having beaten both Posh and Becks in the corresponding away matches, it is yet another indication of how far we have fallen that we are likely to take very little from the home encounters. It pains me to envisage that Leeds will only take 1 point from the two remaining home matches, but I am a realist.

In reality, this season ended a long time ago.

It’s an untrodden path for Leeds United players – Ben Parker aside – for them to speak so truthfully about their feelings towards the goings on at Elland Road. If it wasn’t for the continuing discontent amongst fans, the outside world may well be oblivious to the problems at Leeds United Football Club as they’re constantly bombarded with statements about how fine and dandy everything is.

Everyone involved with the club, from the chairman Ken Bates, his various mouthpieces such as Ben Fry and Peter Lorimer, and even the players who were once expected to put the fans above all else appear to be reading from the exact same script. I doubt even the minimum wage employees at the club superstore would dare speak ill of his holiness.

The Leeds United fans meanwhile started to question their own sanity – are we the only people that can see how under-invested in this club is? Are we alone in thinking promotion was always impossible following the sale of key players like Howson, Gradel and Johnson? It’s almost as if we’ve been living some kind of Truman Show existence, wherein everyone knows about this epically proportioned con we’re all living except us. We have our suspicions of course, but the more we’re told how nonsensical they are, the more we start to doubt our own sanity.

It’s psychological warfare on a level Adolf Hitler would have cringed at.

Fortunately, Robert Snodgrass has decided that as Leeds United captain, he’ll carry out his obligations in the traditional sense. He’ll be straight-talking and answer the fans questions without a pre-approved script, speaking honestly about the true state of club affairs and not allow himself to be another scapegoat of this disastrous dictatorship-like regime.

The biggest concern of fans is another mass exodus of players, so it was no surprise to hear Snodgrass asked whether he’d be staying at Elland Road. He was firmly non-committal in his response saying that he couldn’t guarantee he’d be at Leeds United in five years time, explaining that “they (the club) have to show me some ambition”.

“Last season I had offers of Premiership football, the manager told me stuff, but I didn’t see much of it – whether that was him or the chairman.

“As a footballer everything here is first class, I love where I live, the only thing missing is the Premier League”.

Snodgrass went on to add that any decision he did make would have to be made with his family in mind.

Jonny Howson was another issue raised by fans in attendance. Robert Snodgrass again responded candidly;

“We’re missing Howson. Weird that we never replaced him. How can you say you’re aiming for promotion and then sell your captain?”

It seems the Leeds United captain shares the same view as most fans. Clearly unhappy at how this season has unfolded, it’s going to take a big show of ambition if we’re to retain him for the 2012-13 campaign. Amidst all the secrecy and scripted comments from everyone at Elland Road, it’s easy to forget that the players are dealing with the same lies, broken promises and frustrations that we are. No one signs for Leeds United expecting anything less than promotion, and key players don’t hang around when promises are continually broken. I think that’s worth keeping in mind for when Robert Snodgrass decides enough is enough and parts ways with a club he clearly loves representing.

A minority of fans damn Andy Lonergan, but we should remember how important he was to a team seated in the playoffs before his injury. Leeds’ home hoodoo can be traced to his injury against Doncaster in November.

Without him, Leeds’ goalkeeping mistakes cost 2 points deep in injury time to Coventry, and almost cost 2 more to Peterborough. The 0-5 rout against Blackpool in November was only our second home defeat of the season, and came as a bridge too far for a backup keeper in Paul Rachubka who had shown bravery to overcome the early uncertainties and recover some form with good performances against Cardiff and Birmingham City.

Eventually, Leeds’ loss to Reading in a December that yielded only 4 points, would double our home loss tally to 4 home defeats in 11 games despite the loan of impressive Royals keeper Alex McCarthy. Leeds picked up incredibly lucky victories over Burnley and Ipswich with the old gaffer’s head on a block in January, before playing like an auto-promotion team for 60 minutes against Birmingham, but being routed by 3 goals in 7 minutes. Leeds lost to Brighton during our search for a new manager, and had to show real guts to keep fighting and defeat Doncaster under the twin leadership of Redfearn and Warnock.

Before Warnock took over at Leeds, we had a home hoodoo – losing more than 1 in 3 at home, and (with Burnley and Ipswich) deserving to lose 1 in 2.

The stats seem to have lied since then. A 0-1 loss to league leaders Southampton lacked nothing but 2 Leeds goals, and a 1-1 draw against second placed West Ham almost provided a first home victory for Neil Warnock. The record breaking 3-7 defeat against Forest seems the norm now, but it broke the mould of strong home performances under Warnock. The 0-2 loss to Watford and another 0-2 to Derby betrays for me a team that has either completely lost it mentally or (as Bates suggested) is simply turning up to take its money. Warnock insists the latter is not the case.

In my opinion, the fans can’t be blamed for the current predicament. The “Bates Out” chants are said to put the players off while some fans blame “self-appointed experts” at Elland Road for poor home performances. The irony in such statements aside, perhaps we should look to the drab 0-0 at Hull, the scrappy 0-0 at Portsmouth, the 2-1 loss to then adrift Coventry and the 4-1 rout to Barnsley and admit that even Leeds’ away support (which is second to none in the country and the pride of the club) has failed to galvanize the current squad.

Becchio’s tried to clean up the hoofs that he’s often had no right to get to. As usual, criticism will go on him for not magically extending himself like Inspector Gadget, while youngsters like Aidy White and Tom Lees have been criticised for not playing like 27 year olds. In my opinion, youngsters shouldn’t have so much pressure on them so early in their careers and their performances have been promising.

As a team we’ve been woeful, but we shouldn’t tar everyone with the same brush. Despite a 3-7 rout in which the Leeds goal was all but abandoned, Lonergan has kept a strong head and has picked up some of his pre-injury form recently; Snodgrass’ sitters betray what have been dedicated and intelligent performances; McCormack’s done all he can amidst the desperate hoofball.

In circumstances like these, a good performance is worth double because it shows the mental strength of a player not to give up and let his head drop. With many of our key players running out of contract, Neil Warnock has to convince Ken that sufficient funds won’t be raised by selling (or trying to sell) the dross that keeps failing us. Warnock said he was due to meet Ken Bates and Shaun Harvey on Monday and Tuesday. Just a glance at Leeds’ accounts for last year suggests extra funds will be difficult to find, but they need to be found.

I’m sure if Ken read this he’d wonder how to fit a restaurant and conference centre onto the back of the mystery stadium pictured. But that’s the point, we didn’t need them then and we don’t need them now. Leeds’ home hoodoo is the result of pressures placed on Leeds by Ken’s unrealistic expectations of a squad paid mid-table fees. Pundits were unanimous in saying Grayson overperformed before his sacking, now Neil Warnock says the funding isn’t adequate for promotion.

Talking budgets and offering contracts to Leeds’ stars in this dark period for Leeds, the next couple of weeks will be integral for next season. Here’s hoping for a lucky 2013 for Leeds United!

This incredible epidemic of optimism, so uncharacteristic of Leeds United fans, had certainly lessened since 33,000 turned up to see us play West Ham United, but the majority of those that remained were still clinging on to hope.

Perhaps mercifully, the wake-up call came early. It didn’t take long for everyone inside Elland Road to realise that the players had given up hope and that the 2011/12 season was officially over.

For me, that realisation came the day Simon Grayson was sacked. It’s hard not to be cynical when no investment is forthcoming and your manager is sacked as the January transfer window closes, with no replacement in place despite the proverbial writing being chiselled into the wall weeks previous.

That doesn’t make it any easier to see hope sucked out of your fellow fans however. It’s like watching innocent people being tortured for repeating the same mistakes time and time again, never learning that the rules simply haven’t changed – there’s only one winner in this game.

Who knows, perhaps change will take place this summer? Maybe the thousands upon thousands of fans that are now refusing to play the game – by not turning up to Elland Road – have forced the hand of the controlling powers? Maybe Neil Warnock is a new variable – one that can force  the rule changes we so badly need to see this club successful (ie. investment).

Personally, I’m not convinced. I’ve become far too cynical of Ken Bates and his ulterior motives over his painful 7 year reign that I simply refuse to play again until I’ve seen evidence of change.

I’ve seen an extremely capable League One squad stripped apart and sold to the first bidder, or simply cast aside as their value increases and their wage demands become (allegedly) unaffordable for a club with the fifth highest ticket prices in the country.

I’ve seen different managers all confronted with the same problems, I’ve seen ticket prices rise and a whole host of absolutely pointless building work erected around Elland Road. I’ve heard excuse after excuse after excuse, yet seven years later the reality is, this is the worst Leeds United side I’ve ever seen.

And that’s not really surprising when the entire squad was assembled for peanuts and our wage bill stands at around one third of our turnover – less than any other side in the division.

It’s not that this side is totally devoid of quality, but I strongly suspect that the truly gifted players will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and head elsewhere (probably Norwich). Meanwhile, we’ll be given the same excuses we hear every time – that they want Premier League football and are unwillingly to show patience. And who can blame them? We’re not making any progress, and they don’t believe a team constantly selling key players and replacing with frees will get promoted any more than I do.

We’re stood still and the rules haven’t changed. The players are going through the motions, the fans have now given up hope completely and Neil Warnock is already demanding investment as he starts to come to terms with the grim reality of the situation. Warnock has already set out his stall. Bates will either offer the investment this club has desperately needed for the last seven years, or our new manager will walk. He’s not about to become another excuse for Ken Bates’ failures.

What’s more worrying than Warnock walking away is that Snodgrass, McCormack, Becchio et al and another 4,000 fans – myself included – will follow. No one wants to play this game any more, we want to take part in one that we have a chance of winning.

Until I see evidence that we’re being given a fair shot at success, I doubt I’ll be returning to Elland Road. I didn’t renew for next season for various reasons, but one of the biggest was that I simply don’t enjoy it any more. That’s never been the case before – even when relegated, it was part of the “ups and downs” and the defiant nature of our support spurred me on.

On Saturday, I was at the bar after 30 minutes of the first half and paid very little attention to the second, eventually leaving early because it was absolutely dismal. I was bored to tears. Football is supposed to be entertaining, not a weekly ritual I take part in out of habit.

Ken Bates is right that supporters aren’t investors in Leeds United, we’re customers that pay to be entertained. Soul-destroying hoof-ball is not what I had in mind. I’m not being entertained any more, and I can no longer stare at the pointless vanity projects money is being wasted on whilst the quality of football on display continues to deteriorate. It angers me, and I’m far too young to be wasting my life getting wound up by this nonsense. It’s irrational – I’m paying ridiculous sums of money for something I very rarely get any joy out of these days.

I made the decision in January that it’d be away games only next season, but after completing a round-trip from London to Leeds to witness the woeful display we put on against Watford, I’ve decided to bring that forwards and am seriously reconsidering whether I’ll bother with any games at all next season. For now, instead of wasting my bank holiday weekend at the Majeski and then travelling to Leeds for the Derby match, I’m going to jump on a plane to Italy with my girlfriend and have some fun, whilst also saving myself the pain of watching our massively underfunded team be humiliated.

I just can’t waste any more time, effort and money on a hobby that I no longer enjoy. MOT

As an aside – If any season ticket holder is interested in writing home match reports for The Scratching Shed next season (and the remainder of this one) please email me. 

Having matched and even bettered the first, third, fifth and ninth placed teams in the league under Neil Warnock, Leeds went into Tuesday night’s game in a confident mood. This couldn’t be said for Forest, with one fan predicting:

I can’t see beyond a Leeds win. The manager is a cheating whingebag, the chairman is an obnoxious old man, the supporters are scumbags, and Revie’s teams won all their trophies by cheating. Everything about the club is vile. The forces of evil are too strong.

After Saturday’s 33,000 Leeds lined up in front of significantly less.

Leeds have a record of starting quickly under Neil Warnock, yet it was Forest who took the initiative with a good attack within the first minute. Chants of “Neil Warnock, is a w-****, is a w-****” were taken in the spirit by the gaffer, and as the chants subsided Ross McCormack made a run, drawing a foul off Guedioura. Robert Snodgrass stepped up on six minutes and converted the penalty coolly. 1-0 Leeds. Forest fans’ fears were beginning to look well-founded.

But Leeds were almost immediately pegged back. Guedioura got hold of the ball on a counter almost while Leeds were still celebrating. He shot a stunner from 30 yards out to leave Leeds shell-shocked. 1-1.

After half an hour Leeds had had the majority of possession, yet it was Forest with the chances, while Clayton and Brown struggled to get into the game. Paul Robinson then picked up a yellow – a danger given the pace within the Forest squad.

And with a few minutes to go for half time, Andy Lonergan was lucky to get away with spilling the ball from a corner.

Nevertheless, Leeds looked to put the pressure on in injury time, with two good attacks. But it was Moussi and Guedioura who built a counter-attack, resulting in a Moussi goal. 1-2 Forest. Half time.

Sporadic boos greeted the half-time whistle as Leeds had every reason to be disappointed at half time. Danny Webber came on for Aidy White, and the second half begun.

It was a start to forget, as Forest almost immediately bagged a third. Reid produced a long pass, Blackstock connected, and made it 1-3.

Within a couple of minutes Robert Snodgrass found some space, found Becchio via a deflection, and Becchio coolly finished to put Leeds back in with a shout. 2-3 Leeds. Could fans dare to hope?

Almost straight away, Paul Connolly put a pass in, and Michael Brown scored a great goal from the edge of the box to make it an unlikely 3-3. The players had not played well, but had shown good character to get back into it.

And the 3-3 was indeed unlikely. Within a couple of minutes McLeary again scored as Forest found a fourth from nowhere. Leeds simply couldn’t deal with the pace of Forest’s players and the tempo of the game. 3-4.

And it only got worse. Andy Reid managed to dispossess Robert Snodgrass and wasn’t challenged, put in a cross, and found McCleary for his hattrick. That made it 3-5 Forest after an hour.

Leeds got a slight breather, but were reeling. On 66 minutes Danny Pugh came on for the booked Paul Robinson. But it couldn’t stop McCleary from using his pace to grab another. The ball came over the top, McCleary came inside Pugh, and scored another good goal. 3-6 Forest, and Leeds were fighting for some semblance of respect.

Leeds didn’t really get back into it and the game died off. Paynter came on on 80 minutes for Luciano Becchio. It was scripted for Billy to get an unlikely hattrick and bask in the adoration of the fans. But unfortunately Forest hadn’t read the script.

Dexter Blackstock scored. Again. 3-7 Forest. And the referee practised some sadism with four minutes added time. Fortunately Forest were more than happy with seven, and the game ended to a chorus of boos from the Elland Road faithful. In truth, they’d done well to wait until the final whistle.

Speaking after the game, Neil Warnock said:

To be fair, I thought in the first 10-15 minutes one or two of our key players were struggling fitness-wise. I was going to ask Becchs to come off at half time, but I asked him to give us a bit more. But he was running on empty. I think three or four were like that.

Without going into detail I’ve told the players [who made errors], but you’ve got to keep that inside I think. But they were poor goals.

You learn more about your team in defeat.

I thought there were one or two who kept going all night. I thought Snods and Brown were super, Clayts and Becchs were running on empty. I’m disappointed in one or two players.

You also look at what happened tonight in certain areas and you store it. If we’re going to win promotion you can’t mentally go under, and I think one or two players mentally went under.

I think I need to give one or two players with fresh legs opportunities, if I can.

Nevertheless, despite a shocking reverse Leeds are in the same place as they were after the draw at West Ham, with Hull’s 2-0 loss to Southampton and Middlesbrough’s draw with West Ham keeping Leeds within a stone’s throw of the playoffs. It would, however, take a brave man to bet on a playoff-push now. The fans have been left understandably upset with such a poor result, but we should remember that rumours had it the squad’s fitness levels were not what they should be when Warnock took over, while the new Leeds style has been aggressive, tireless and high-tempo. Tired legs was always a danger, and perhaps it is better that Warnock found the lads’ limit today rather than next season?

One positive is that this result will give Neil Warnock the freedom to chop and change without the pressures of a promotion-chase and will give some of his as yet unused players a chance to come on and try to perform without any added pressure.

FT: Leeds United 3 – 7 Nottingham Forest

Of those 19 players, it’s highly likely that many will be released as Neil Warnock attempts to make his own mark on the Leeds United team by bringing in his own players, but of those already at the club who do you think he should keep?

Our first poll is for contracts expiring 2012. You can check multiple answers to select all the players you’d like to see offered a new contract at Elland Road.

Our second poll is for contracts expiring 2013. Again, select all those you’d like to see handed a new Leeds United contract.

You can find a full list of all current Leeds United players and their contract expiry dates here.