The Scratching Shed

The Ku Klux Klan, Leeds

KKK at Brighton. From MOT at Travels of a Leeds fan.

Anyone that attended yesterdays stroll in the park win against Brighton may have taken a little offence to the makeshift rain poncho things provided by Brighton.

With blustery, wet and cold conditions at the seaside, Brighton’s ramshackle stadium, which most Conference teams would deem inadequate provided no cover whatsoever for the crowd. Brighton’s answer to their sub-standard accomadation was to provide the fans with White rain protectors, that made the Leeds fans look like a travelling branch of the Ku Klux Klan.

I guess that’s what happens when you fail to listen to your Mother’s advice and go prepared for all eventualities. I think Brighton may need to re-address the policy though, as the picture I’ve “borrowed” from MOT at Travels Of A Leeds Fan shows, it was an obvious resemblance to the racist idiots.

100 and counting for Becks

Jermaine Beckford celebrated his 100th appearence for Leeds United yesterday with another goal, taking his seasons tally to 12. Well on track to match last years impressive tally, assuming he’s still wearing a Leeds shirt at the end of January that is.

Kilkenny vs Howson

Noticed a poll on a Leeds United forum I’m a regular on asking whether Howson should be dropped in place of Neil Kilkenny.

Killa played brilliantly yesterday and I don’t want to take anything away from his performance. He’s continually impressed lately and is getting more time in the first team as a result. However, Jonny has hardly put a foot wrong all season so why on earth is he the one who should be dropped?

My overall feelings on this issue is that the midfield works. Killa is snapping at the other players heels and thats a good thing. He’s making them fight for their place and keeping them on their toes, but one excellent game doesn’t mean he should replace a consistently good player.

Much like the defence, with Rui, Michalik, Naylor and Kisnorbo all performing well this season, the midfield also has options and that’s what makes a great team with enough depth to challenge for the title. Killa got a game yesterday as Johnson seems to have picked up an injury. Naylor was also missing and Michalik was in as a replacement. Despite having a few first-team regulars missing, we cruised to victory.

It’s a great feeling knowing the squad has so much depth and can beat teams when we pick up injuries. The first team however doesn’t really need changing. Everyone deserves their place and until someones performances drop, you can’t change that. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

Edit: You know what, stuff it. This isn’t the EU. Democracy is king at TSS, let’s have a poll.

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Struggling League Two side Grimsby Town are our visitors tonight for the area quarter-finals of the Football League Trophy. Leeds are unsuprisingly favourites for the tie after our dominant start to the season and Simon Grayson has admitted the lure of playing at Wembley means the players shouldn’t need much motivation for this clash.

The distance between these two teams and the contrasting fortunes so far this season has left us 2/9 favourites for the tie, whilst Grimsby aren’t given much of a chance at 11/1.

Aside from a 2-0 win to Leeds in the 1998 FA Cup, the last time Leeds and Grimsby competed against each other was in the 1980′s in the Old Division Two. Throughout the 80′s Leeds and Grimsby met ten times, with Leeds winning four, Grimsby winning two and the rest ending in draws.

So far in this seasons Football League Trophy, Leeds have played just once beating Darlington 2-1. The game saw Simon Grayson make several changes to his usual line-up handing starts to Lubomir Michalik, Aidy White, David Prutton, Andy Robinson, Neil Kilkenny, Tresor Kandol and Mike Grella. There are rules in place to ensure teams play some of their usual line-up, but I’d expect a similar amount of changes tonight.

Although Leeds won their first FLT game of the season 2-1 against Darlington, Simon Grayson was publically critical of his sides display. Leeds started brightly enough and were 2-0 up before the half hour mark, but the foot came off the gas thereafter allowing Darlington to get back into the game. Simon told his fringe players that they should be making the best of these opportunities to impress and that failure to do so will see them given less chances.

Grimsby Town’s first game of this seasons Football League Trophy saw them beat our fellow League One rivals, Hartlepool 2-0. However, they’ve also lost 4-0 to Tranmere Rovers in the League Cup so I wouldn’t read too much into that.

It gets worse for Grimsby too. They haven’t won in their last five games and currently find themselves one place off the bottom of League Two. The only team with a worse record is the one we met in the last round of this competition, Darlington, who have managed just five points from fifteen games.

A familiar face returns to Elland Road tonight and is definitely one to watch. Peter Sweeney had little luck at Elland Road but has fit straight into Grimsby’s first team. In the ‘interview with a Grimsby Town fan’ I did, Rob told us how Peter was getting on in Grimsby;

He’s a good player, probably our most skillful player, the biggest problem is his mouth. He gets booked at least every other game for dissent. He’s suspended on Saturday against Bath for 5 bookings, probably all for dissent!

I also asked Rob for a prediction and he said a draw meaning it would go to penalties.

Personally, I’d be disappointed with anything less than a comfortable victory. I’m hoping to see Sam Vokes, Max Gradel and Aidy White given an entire match. As I said earlier, I think there’ll be mass changes to the usual line-up although with this weekends game postponed Simon doesn’t have to worry too much about resting anyone. Either way, (without wanting to sound arrogant) we should be too strong for Grimsby.

TSS welcomes back Gledders (from askgledders.com) for a four-part post in which he offers advice to our less than popular chairman.

Part I – The Chairman needs to know why his ‘customers’ spend money with him.

Leeds United fans are an exceptional bunch of customers. Not difficult to understand at all. Our description could include high expectations, but with a tolerance for masses of disappointment. We have to accept the dictates of the board, but usually respond with a vulgar chant. As payback, football has given the best of us a special kind of paranoia. It’s what happens.

Let’s take a look at the current state of play for our football club. First in our division, seven points clear and I don’t care what anybody says, still able to play some attractive football when given the chance. We have only lost one in fourteen or fifteen and despite some key injuries, we have managed to deliver the goods. At last Leeds has a team again, not a collection of individuals. Good times.

We have some key players with injuries. To me, this is best demonstrated by Becchio’s injury. I think that his assists are part of what have made Beckford such a prolific scorer. I think his sheer hard work occupies defenders well enough to allow Beckford a bit of freedom that he certainly doesn’t earn himself. Perhaps the Oldham game was proof. Yet, I thought the Beckford goals would just stop when Becchio got injured and they didn’t. Millwall was pants, but Bristol Rovers and Yeovil perked me up. It’s this thing about football being a game not a science that keeps my interest I guess.

Our defence has really smartened up its act since Steve Staunton left. Perhaps the hangover has cleared. (Was that really Michalik at centre half against Liverpool?) Even without Delph in midfield, I don’t think we really lack much creativity or pace in those games where the opposition are trying to kick the ball and not just our players. Modesty aside, I think we look pretty good for this league and I’m enjoying watching some pretty tidy football when the opposition is good enough. That’s why I would love a decent FA Cup run; to get that entertainment that only comes when playing better clubs. I want to feel the same way I did when Liverpool were in town. Always room to improve any side but half of our squad are a decent foundation.

The funny thing is though, that despite logic telling me that this is a good patch and taking all the positives above, I’m still expecting it all to go wrong! I can’t help it anymore. It’s the paranoia I mentioned above. But perhaps it’s partly because that just as everything looks right, something comes along to unsettle us? This particular paranoia of mine doesn’t come from the pitch. Despite re-assurances about our ownership, I can just see us getting docked 15 points on the day before we lift the trophy! Perhaps this Chairman should take the view that the Courts are a game and not a science and just stay away from them. Oh and if he does go back, could the real Ken Bates kindly take the stand.

Gledder’s article was really long so as I said at the start, it’ll be published in four parts. I’ve set each part to be published at 5pm all week (Monday-Thursday) so you can see Part !! – The chairman needs to know his history – at 5pm tomorrow.

Tres banned for three matches

Tresor Kandol has been handed a three match ban for the shoving match that followed our 4-0 victory over Yeovil Town last Saturday.

According to Sky Sports, Tres lashed out at Yeovil striker Sam Williams. Tres has accepted the charge of violent conduct and the ban will begin with this weeks FA Cup tie against Oldham Athletic.

Although I was leaving the stadium at the time and couldn’t really make out what was going on, it looked like a petty pushing match more than anything serious. I know Tres has accepted the charge, but I’m suprised it’s actually come to this. Then again, this is Leeds United and the FA do seem to have a soft spot for us.

Swindon Town game postponed

The game against Swindon Town has been postponed due to international call-ups from the Leeds United squad. Rui Marques and Patrick Kisnorbo have been called up by their country, whilst Lubomir Michalik is on standby. Alan Martin will also play a part in the Scotland U21′s match.

George Burley will also announce his squad tomorrow and Robert Snodgrass will be hopeful of another call-up after injury kept him out last time. On-loan Wolves striker, Sam Vokes may also be selected for the Welsh side.

Much like the Bristol game that was postponed, there seems to be a lot of maybes. We aren’t the only team in this division with international players (there’s a lot of U21′s in this league for a start), yet we seem to be the only one that needs to cancel matches, despite the fact we have the biggest squad.

It also doesn’t look like we’ll lose too many first team players – 2-3 at the most. So there’s absolutely no reason why this game shouldn’t go ahead as planned. My major grievance is that I – like many other fans no doubt – had already made arrangements for the Swindon game and this just doesn’t seem like a valid excuse for postponement.

Our next League One game is now Brighton on the 21st of November, which I’m half expecting to be changed as well. Leeds United have a bit of a reputation at the seaside, so there’s always a chance they’ll move it to the Friday night, or an earlier kick-off Saturday. Why even bother releasing a fixture list if it means nothing?

Leeds keen to keep Max

It’s been confirmed that Leeds United have approached Leicester with a view to extending his current loan period. The current agreement keeps him at Elland Road ’til the middle of this month, but Leeds would like to extend the deal until January.

Leeds have also asked Leicester for permission to play Max in the FA Cup tie against Oldham this weekend. No decision has been made by the Foxes as yet, so fingers crossed for both.

Almost a quarter of a way into the 2009-10 League One season, I thought now would be a good time to look back on how we’ve done so far.

Leeds United 2-1 Exeter City
The season started at Elland Road against newly promoted Exeter City. Leeds United and Simon Grayson were looking to put the heartache of another failed attempt at promotion via the play-offs behind them and were focused solely on achieving automatic promotion.

The good news was that Jermaine Beckford was still a Leeds United player and his brace earnt us all three points as we made hard work of the League One newcomers. His 89th minute winner was met with chants of “sign your contract for the lads” from the 27,000 fans inside Elland Road.

Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 Leeds United
The first away game of the season was also our first competitive match against another newly promoted side, Wycombe Wanderers. After a first half dominated by the hosts, Leeds re-grouped and returned a different team. Lucciano Becchio’s 61st minute goal was to be the winning goal as Leeds and Shane Higgs kept their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Walsall 1-2 Leeds United
It was another late show from Leeds United in Walsall as the hosts took the lead late on from the penalty spot. With eleven minutes to go, it looked like Leeds were set to drop their first points of the season but an 83rd minute equaliser from Bradley Johnson setup an Hollywood finish for Jermaine Beckford who secured all three points with a winner four minutes from time.

Leeds United 3-0 Tranmere Rovers
Back to Elland Road for a visit from the Scousers. After scraping victories in the first three games, Leeds will have been happy with a much more comfortable result. First half goals from Bradley Johnson and Jermaine Beckford gave us a two goal cushion at half time before Lucciano Becchio wrapped things up in the second half.

Colchester United 1-2 Leeds United
Spirits amongst Leeds United fans were the highest I’ve seen them in a long time before the Colchester game. The travelling fans were in full voice and more optimistic than ever after the 3-0 demolition of Tranmere.

Bradley Johnson once again fired Leeds United into the lead as his impressive early season form continued. Colchester grabbed an equaliser from the penalty spot, but Jermaine Beckford secured all three points and kept our 100% record intact with a 64th minute winner.

Leeds United 2-0 Stockport County
Simon Grayson’s side broke records against Stockport as the club recorded it’s most successful start to the season and most consecutive league wins. Records that had previously stood since the days of Don Revie.

Jermaine Beckford was out injured so Mike Grella made his first start of the campaign and within 9 minutes he’d opened the scoring and fired Leeds ahead. Lubomir Michalik made it 2-0 before half-time which turned out to be the final score after a goal-less second half.

Southend United 0-0 Leeds United
The away trip to Southend was moved to a Friday night at the request of the local Police, so anything other than a loss would see us go top of the table. Uptil this point both ourselves and Charlton had won every game, but Charlton currently had the superior goal difference.

A scrappy and hard fought battle ended 0-0 as both teams struggled to create good chances. Shane Higgs was called into action as Southend had the best chance of the game when they were awarded a penalty. The spot kick was struck well enough, but Shane Higgs guessed right and earnt Leeds a point.

Leeds United 4-1 Gillingham
After dropping our first points of the season away to Southend, Leeds were looking to get back to winning ways at home to Gillingham. It took less than 15 minutes for Bradley Johnson to fire Leeds ahead and he netted his fifth of the season just before the half hour mark to give us a 2-0 lead at the break.

Jonny Howson got his first of the season straight from the restart before Barcham pulled one back for Gillingham. It proved to be nothing less than a consolation goal though as Jermaine Beckford rounded things up in the final minute to make it 4-1 to the Whites.

Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Leeds United
MK Don’s were being hyped as our toughest test of the season so far and they didn’t disappoint as Paul Ince’s side battled well with the Whites. The teams cancelled one another out for much of the game and neither side looked like they’d make a breakthrough.

When MK Dons were reduced to ten men though, Leeds had the advantage and for once managed to capitalise on it. It took 45 minutes but Robert Snodgrass’ late goal earnt Leeds an unexpected three points.

Leeds United 1-1 Carlisle United
A tired looking Leeds side lacked the spark they’d had at home so far and struggled to kill Carlisle off after Jermaine Beckford missed a penalty and fired us into the lead from the rebound.

Leeds had won fifteen consecutive games at Elland Road by this point, but the last team to beat us put an end to that record. A freekick was met by Scott Dobie who equalised with fifteen minutes left on the clock. Despite a late flurry from Leeds, they couldn’t find a winner.

Although the Elland Road winning streak is now at an end, Leeds remain the only undefeated side in the country as we head into this weekends top of the table clash against Charlton. Another 36 games like these and come May there’s no doubt we’ll be heading back to the Championship.

The team Simon Grayson has built may have missed out on promotion last term, but their achievements so far have broken records which stood for four decades. The greatest start to a season and the most consecutive league wins were records previously held by the great Don Revie’s team of the late sixties and early 70′s, but records are there to be broken and that’s exactly what Mike Grella and Lubomir Michalik did on Saturday.

Although Simon Grayson’s Leeds United play two divisions below the one Don Revie’s great side did, his achievement shouldn’t be undermined. The turn around at Elland Road is remarkable. The team look confident, comfortable and capable of beating anyone. Even without Jermaine Beckford, Patrick Kisnorbo and Rui Marques, Grayson proved his squad had the depth to get the results. Mike Grella got his first Leeds United goal in his first start and Lubomir Michalik returned to the first team and gave Grayson something to think about.

The buzz around Elland Road remains and is building all the time. The confidence levels of the fans have reached a new high. It’s been a while since we had reason for such optimism and everyone seems to be enjoying it. The pre-match entertainment came courtesy of the other 100% league side, Charlton Athletic, who kicked off before us and won 2-0. Leeds would be looking to match them and remain level on points. I’d decided we could beat Stockport 6-0 and take the top spot, such is my confidence at the minute.

There was some area for concern as the teams warmed up. Jermaine Beckford was missing, the defence was unproven and the referee sent two of our players off last season. Mike Grella started in place of Jermaine Beckford and Tresor Kandol was keeping the bench warm.

It didn’t take long for any doubts to be forgotten though. Within minutes of the kick-off Leeds took the lead courtesy of New York born Grella. A classy finish by the American and Leeds settled in for an easy game. 1-0.

A new stength in the side quickly became evident as Leigh Bromby’s long throw expertees were unveiled. He threw a few into the box which caused Stockport’s defence trouble throughout and gave us an extra attacking option.

The second goal came just before half time when Robert Snodgrass shot from a free-kick. The Stockport keeper made a mess of his save and spilled it to Lubomir Michalik who was more than happy to clean up. 2-0 to Leeds and the game was as good as over. On another day we could have gone to town on Stockport and scored a few more but it was a poor match in all honesty. Robert Snodgrass could have made it three in the second half but his feeble attempt at a penalty kick was saved with ease. Still one problem left to sort out then!

There’s little more to say about the match as it was a pretty dull affair overall. We could have had more but never seemed to put in too much effort. The stand-in defence did well enough but were never really pushed. Stockport are a poor side that will undoubtedly struggle this season. I know we’ve already had this debate but how this was a Cat A is anyones guess? The fact that only 22,000 could be bothered turning up for the fixture says it all. I’m hoping Jermaine Beckford’s injury isn’t too serious as I remain unconvinced by Mike Grella’s finishing ability despite his goal. He’s a good player that works hard for the team, but he doesn’t have the killer instinct yet.

100% record intact, five points clear of third place and looking comfortable. However dull the game was, you can’t complain while winning!

TSS man of the match – Jonny Howson
Jonny’s impressed me all season. He’s stepped up to the next level this season and fights hard for the team. He creates chances, passes well and gets stuck in.