But, being a ‘live and let live’ kind of guy, I decided it best not to urinate on too many bonfires and keep my proverbial mouth shut.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t resist the temptation any longer…

At this stage of the close season, our support is split between the ‘been there, done it, t-shirt already paid for’ variety whose perfectly honed defence mechanisms refuse to allow for optimism (that Ken Bates can later shatter) and their polar opposites – the perpetual optimists who will insist that “this time, it’s different…” (“..like last time?” The rest of us respond in unison…)

True, Neil Warnock made a strong start by snapping up Jason Pearce from doomed Portsmouth and if the rumour mill is to be believed, Joel Ward will follow suit. Both positive signings that should improve the squad.

Despite this, the alarm bells are already deafeningly loud. When Ken Bates isn’t telling us about every football agent in the entire world all going on holiday together at the same time, he’s explaining to us that we could have signed Jermaine Beckford but that would be a step-backwards – by which I can only assume he means, to a moderately successful team with a 30 goal per season hitman. Better make sure that Max Gradel doesn’t get any ideas about doing a u-turn as well then! Didn’t you just hate it when we knew how to win?

Every interview is littered with the same excuses we heard last season, so much so, that I was almost tempted to check back through The Square Ball archive to make sure Ken Bates wasn’t recycling his rants. Sure, Bradley Johnson’s name has been edited out and replaced with Adam Clayton and the East Stand project has become the West Stand project, but the rest is standard “lower your expectations” Bates.

There is some truth amongst the excuse-heavy rants, but it’s nothing to inspire the majority. For one thing, football players’ contracts always expire on June the 30th meaning the abundance of free agents Leeds United will be waiting to snap up are unlikely to arrive until early July.

Maybe the perpetually optimistic are right? I desperately hope they are, and it’s not totally unthinkable, is it? As the old saying goes, ‘even a broken clock is right twice a day’.

If only there was a sure-fire way to make us all believe that this time, it really is different. What if Leeds United managed to convince our key players that things are different this time? What if the likes of Robert Snodgrass signed a new contract that signalled his newly-discovered confidence in the clubs ambition? Preferably one without a get-out clause for when we fail (again).

It’s unlikely I know. After all, there’s the inevitable bid from Norwich City that our chairman will be unable to refuse, especially when Robert Snodgrass signals that he has no intentions of signing a new contract that is “the best the club can possibly offer”.

It could be the post-season depression sinking it, but it feels a lot more like deja vu. Club find it impossible to negotiate a new contract with a highly-rated midfielder – check. Excuse-ridden radio interviews with Mr. Chairman – check. Manager singing from same hymn sheet – check. More talk of building work than transfer targets – check. Club captain leaves after questioning the ambition of the club – halfway there… 

Chin up though, I’m sure Euro 2012 will give us something to cheer about…

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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.

Q: You’re almost there, one game to go.

I’m relieved if I’m honest. I don’t think it could have been much better so it’s time to move on. We’ve been planning now for a number of weeks. Although I’ve had a few letters I must admit, about my comments about ‘the end of the season can’t come quick enough’ and ‘roll on next season’, asking for their money back for this year. One guy wanting £50 back because he lost his bet with a mate at Burnley and it’s my fault we didn’t finish above them!

But I’m afraid I’ve got to stand for that. Long term we’ve got to plan for next season. It’s my one opportunity and I want to put a team out that the new generation of Leeds United fans can enjoy watching. We’re on the anniversery of them winning the old First Division and quite honestly the youngsters of today haven’t seen a lot of that so that’s my intention to try to build a side that the young generation can be proud of. Because we all know the history of the club and the ex players around the club are there all the time to remind you of that tradition.

So that’s the challenge in the summer: to build a club with the right kind of signing that kids can come to the ground excited to see next year, and we can give them a good run for their money.

Q: Do you think in a way this was an opportunity missed?

I think it shows you the level of the Championship this year really. I think if we had anything about ourselves we could’ve got in the playoffs but I think we would’ve been smudging the picture and I don’t think we were anywhere near good enough to be in the playoffs, and I suppose I’ll get caned for saying that as well.

Q: But it’s the reality isn’t it?

Yeah, I wouldn’t be here really if there wasn’t something that needed doing and I think it’ll be as tough as I’ve ever had because I feel we need an influx of players to give us the base for success. We’re playing Leicester tomorrow and they’ve thrown £17m at it I think and they’re not even in the playoffs. So the expectations of both clubs are big. It’s slight different because we have such a big fanbase we expect more, but when you spend that sort of money I think the expectation is far greater because you’ve got to come up with the answers when you’ve spent so much. I think it shows with Sven. As much as he’s tried, I think the Championship’s a unique league and I’m sure Nigel next year will have his own squad and will be a lot more prudent than Sven and I think they’ll be a more difficult side to play against next season.

Q: There’s a record to avoid for Saturday which is home defeats for the season. Is that something you’re aware of?

Yeah I’ve been told that. Quite honestly there’s nothing I can do about it. If I get beaten and have got that record I’ll have to start fishing in Cornwall and remember all these periods won’t I! But I don’t think about that – I’m only thinking about building a team. Yes, you don’t want records but at the end of the season you finish where you deserve to be and that’s how I see football. You can have bad luck here or there, but usually you finish where you should be and we haven’t been good enough in that respect. You don’t want negative records, but it’s the manner of some of the defeats that have upset me. But also some of them have been very good like the Southampton match.

It’s onwards now. We’ve got to look forward. We are working behind the scenes and I would like to bring players in sooner rather than later, rather than leave everything until the summer, because of the changes I want. We’ll probably make the retain list next week, Wednesday, and then the fans will have more of an idea what my thoughts are. And then recruitment will be important – with the Bosmans we might not be able to announce them until July, but we might be able to.

I’d like to keep the fans informed as much as I can about the summer activities but we’re going to get speculation throughout the summer and probably the best thing to do for me is to keep my own counsel on speculation. It’s difficult for journalists with the summer because some mornings you wake up with nothing to write and you have to make something up and your sources always come up with the trumps!

Q: I’ll put one to you. In talks with El Hadji Diouf can you confirm or deny?

No I can’t do either, no. And I won’t be doing either. I’ve read I’ve already signed 3 players from QPR, and El Hadji Diouf, and two others yesterday as well. So I think what I’m going to do is just bite my tongue and at the appropriate time when we do sign somebody the fans and yourselves will be the first to know. I think I’ve got to do that because I am going to be linked and while there are good journalists there are some journalists who don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Q: You said you’ve got one lined up for after the season have you other targets lined up?

Yes, I’ve made quite a lot of enquiries this week. It’s been a busy week, talking to agents unfortunately – not my happiest time of the season! But you’ve got to do that.

I know the type of player I’m looking for, I know the opportunities I’m going to get and I know other clubs who are chasing similar types of players so I’m hoping we can get as many of our targets as we can really and get a certain type of player into the club. I think with Leeds and it’s supporters you have to have that type of player. It’s alright trying to bring the odd one in, that’s quite straight forward, but I do think we need quite an influx of new players so as I said when I came I think it’s as difficult as I envisaged, in fact probably more difficult than I envisaged when I actually agreed to come.

But the shining light has been the fans. We get beat and they chant my name, now there can’t be better support than that and that goes a long way with me with the way that I want to tackle the job and the enthusiasm that you’ve got to have to change things. I think the average supporter knows we do need change and I think that’s why they’ve given me their support.

Q: Contracts, Aidy White and Robert Snodgrass in particular…

Yeah there’s three or four lads… I’ll be doing the retain list Wednesday. It’ll probably be the following week when I get back to contracts – I’ve really had too much on with recruitment this week. I’ve put my priorities forward there. The lads know the offers that they’ve got. I’ve got to speak to Ross’ people – I’ve not been able to formalise an offer to Ross but that will be coming this week, and the other lads have had theirs, so I’ll be talking to them. Realistically we want to offer the players decent contracts and if I believe they are and they turn them down then we’ll have to look at it a different way. But at the moment I’m optimistic. But you know… football never fails to surprise me!

Q: Have you decided what to do about Paul Robinson?

I’ll talk to Paul at the end of the season. I’ll probably have a Thursday press conference and you’ll know more about everything then.

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.

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

We start with injury news.

“Aidy White will probably train a little bit today and might be involved tomorrow, but nobody else will come in to the reckoning.

“We were hoping to get a game for Andy O’Brien this week, but that didn’t materialise – the physios don’t think he’s ready just yet. [Leigh] Bromby’s not ready yet and [Alex] Bruce is not ready yet”

Is it just a case of match fitness with O’Brien?

“Yeah, he’s had a couple of months without [playing] and the physio thinks it’s too early, so we’ll just have to go by his opinion”

Happy with Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw away to Hull?

“Yeah. The only disappointment for me was that we had so many opportunities, to make better opportunities in the last third. […] We got the ball in wonderful areas and never made the goalkeeper work. That’s the only disappointment for me.

“Unlike the other two games where I thought we made good chances (against Southampton and Portsmouth). But you have to give Hull credit for that [...] they’re a defensively solid unit that don’t give much away and you can see they’ve played together for a while.”

Do you think the team is close to what you’re looking for?

“The lads are giving me everything, 100%, I can’t ask any more than that.

“When I came I said ‘look, between now and the end of the season, as long as you give me everything and you come off the pitch knowing you’ve given me everything, you won’t hear me criticise you’, at the moment, [they are doing and] I can’t ask any more than that

“I think we do need a little bit of quality in certain areas, rather than quantity, you know, I think the squad has got the numbers. But I think there’s a little bit of quality missing in certain areas, and it’s up to us to try and bring that into the club”

Are you at the early stage of planning for next season already?

“Not really no, I think we’ve got to [stick with what we've got for now]. After the Doncaster game, if you’d told me we’d go to Portsmouth and Hull and not concede a goal, and the disappointment of Southampton, that we should have won that… If we can get a point away from home and win all our home games, then we’ll be very close and that’s how I’ve set my stall out, but we do have to win away and it’d be nice to start at Middlesbrough.”

You did say on Tuesday this was a must-win?

“I’m not sure it’s a ‘must win’ but it’s one we’d like to win. I think we have to win one of the five away games coming up and it’s an opportunity to put that to bed early doors if we can.”

How much do you know about Middlesbrough? They’ve had a good season by the looks of things?

“Yeah, I think they’ve calmed down haven’t they? Tony [Mowbray] is a steady manager and they’ve brought good signings in, steadied the ship and I think they’re looking like they’ll not be far away.

“I think consistency – listening to Tony’s comments – is probably missing here and there, but if that’s missing, they’re not doing bad really are they? If they do get consistent last couple of games, they’ve got hell of a chance”

They’re another play-off contender you’ve got to take points off?

“Yeah, we thought that at Hull, and Middlesbrough – with their current league position – will be expecting to beat us.

“But, it’s a derby and I’m sure we’ll be taking our full quota of supporters who’ll make themselves heard, so, it’d be nice for me to give them a little bit more to shout about going forward.

“We’ve sorted one or two problems at the back, and I don’t think that’s stopped us creating, I just think we made bad decisions in the Hull game, and that we were OK against Portsmouth and Southampton (going forward).”

You said after Tuesday you weren’t sure whether you’d be looking for a centre back, have certain players surprised you?

 “I’m not in a rush at the back now, I think they’ve listened and come on board with what we wanted and apart from the goal against Southampton, I don’t think they’ve really put a foot wrong in the three games.

“And even when they have done, Lonergan’s pulled a good save off so, that’s a good recipe for a back five really.

“I think Michael Brown’s playing his part, he’s probably been the unsung hero for me, since I’ve come to the club. I think he’s been instrumental both in the defensive and attacking side, he’s showed a cool head out there”

It’s interesting because he wasn’t really involved before you arrived?

 “I know, and yet if he got injured at the moment I think we’d struggle to replace him with the squad we have”

How do you think his game has changed since he played for you nine years ago?

“Back then, I just gave him the freedom to go forward. If I did that now, he wouldn’t get back [laughs]

“But he’s still got a lot to offer I think, his contribution since I’ve been here has been fantastic and I think he’s brought the best out of Adam [Clayton], although I think that was probably Adam’s poorest game against Hull, and he’ll be disappointed with his performance.

“That little bit of creativity he normally gives us wasn’t there and that might have been because he put so much into the Southampton game that he was maybe a little tired, so I’m hoping the extra day will see Adam back to normal for Sunday.”

Was Adam disappointed? Because when he plays with his head up, he’s some player, isn’t he?

“Yeah, he is and he’s got so much more to learn. He does need help at times, he tries things in the wrong areas but he’s a young lad and you’ve got to learn by your mistakes. Hopefully that doesn’t cost us.

“You look at what he’s good at, and not what he’s not good at. We’re trying to put elements in his game for discipline, and at the same time, not take away the creativity that he gives us. He’s got a lot to work on there.”

Is there a points tally you think we’ll need for play-offs? Last year it was 75…

“It’ll not be far away from that…”

Which is a big challenge?

“Yeah, we have to win every home game and get a point away from home but it won’t work like that, I do think we’ll have to win away from home to get anywhere near that sort of tally.”

If Leeds can’t make it, what’s the challenge for the players?

“I think you have to ask that when we can’t get there. First of all, we’ve got to try and step up to the challenge. We’ve got to do a little bit more positive decision making to create and score goals, whilst at the same time still keep concentration at the back.

“It would be nice, between now and the end of the season, to give the fans something to shout about. I think they see where we’re going, but we probably want to get there yesterday, not tomorrow. It’s frustrating at the minute.”

Bringing Paul Robinson in – is he one of these ‘leaders’ that you mentioned?

“Yeah. I look at the type of player I think we need and he fits that bill. There’s not many at this time of year that you can bring in so to get one like Paul was a plus for me.

“I will be using him shortly, he’s here for a number of games and we’ll play that by ear.”

“I think senior pros are important in certain areas, but it’s not just that, it’s being a leader and the attitude he’s got is what I want from my players – that little bit more than what’s necessary”

Have the team been a little more vocal?

“They seem to be talking well during the game. I thought we started the game against Hull very well, the first twenty minutes, there was only that period up to half time and late on they had a flurry.

“It’s so close the Championship, between success and failure, and you’ve only got to look at the top now – they’re all trying to help us get in the play-offs and we haven’t been able to take advantage of that, but it’s not been for a lack of trying.”

There are teams with games in hand on you?

“It’s not going to be down to other teams, it’s ourselves that decide whether we get in the play-offs, or anywhere near the play-offs. And that will be decided in the next 3-4 games I think. You don’t get much tougher than Middlesbrough away, West Ham at home.

So it’s still possible?

“I don’t think anyone is running away with sixth position, everyone is leaving up in the air. That’s why it’s disappointing not to have got more points when you look at the run of [previous] fixtures, even before I came, there’s 2-3 fixtures there where we’ve probably missed out on points, so it’s frustrating more than anything.

“Whether we’re good enough at the moment is another thing, you don’t let opportunities go if you can help it.”

All this bodes well for next season either way?

“The time I’m having now with the players, I can’t tell you how important it is to look at everyone at the club and see where we need to be.

“I can’t remember exactly how many, but I brought somewhere in the region of seven players in at QPR that summer, and I’d had two months to look at what we’d got. And I do feel we’re probably in that sort of mould.”

With that in mind, contract talks are still on hold until the summer?

“Well, we haven’t got enough time, but I’ve already spoken to 2-3 players and I will speak to their agents in the next few days, next week. You’ve got to look ahead to that. But at this moment in time, there’s not enough hours in the day.”

Tom Lees, has he pleased you so far?

“He has, he’s done really well Tom. He’s come out of his shell a little bit and his personality is coming through a lot more. He doesn’t talk a lot, but his desire and will to do what I want him to do has been very, very good. I’m very pleased with him.”

When you first came, did you feel he needed some protection?

“Well, I just thought he was a good player but that we needed leaders in those areas. That’s why we went after one or two players, but at the moment if he continues to play like that I don’t think I could bring anyone in to play better.

“I don’t see the point of bringing someone in if Tom can sustain the consistency that he’s shown me.”

Back to Robert Snodgrass, have you had any reaction from Scotland regarding his 4am arrival back in the UK?

“No, I’ve not had time. It’s all water under the bridge and we’ll move on quickly, but I will speak to Craig”

He didn’t look like he was suffering from exhaustion?

“No, he did well, didn’t he? I’ve no complaints really.”

Two weeks left in the loan market, will you be bringing any more in?

“If I can, I’d like to bring one or two more in with a view to looking towards next season. It would be great to bring in a couple and see if they’re what I’m looking for.”

Is Snodgrass’ contract one of those you’ve looked at?

“All the players that have a year or less I’ll be talking to, Robert is no different.”

The Leeds United keeper admitted that he shouldn’t feel “relieved” to have been released from the burden, but that he wasn’t disappointed when Neil Warnock replaced him with Robert Snodgrass as Leeds United captain.

Speaking of the 0-0 draw with Hull City, Lonergan said that he felt a point away from home was always “a point gained” rather than two points lost. He added that the condition of the pitch at The KC Stadium (which also hosts rugby games) wasn’t ideal.

Lonergan also spoke of the improved defensive performances over the last three games, explaining that the biggest difference was Leeds were now defending “as a team” and not taking too many risky chances. The Whites goalkeeper felt Leeds had previously gifted chances to the opposition by not taking easy opportunity to clear their lines.

Leeds United have a proud history of Scottish captains. In the 93 years since the club was founded, The Whites have played in 15 major finals and won 3 league titles, all of which came with a Scotsman leading the charge.

Most successful of all was of course Billy Bremner. The fiery Scotsman led Leeds United to two league championships and twelve major finals, including the 1975 European Cup final, two UEFA Cups and Leeds United’s first and only FA Cup final success in 1972.

However, the reign of dominance Leeds United enjoyed under Don Revie actually started with Bremner’s predecessor, Bobby Collins. Also Scottish, Collins was awarded the captain’s armband in 1962 and repaid him with promotion to the first division in 1964 and Leeds United’s first ever major final appearance in 1965 – an FA Cup encounter with Liverpool that The Whites would go on to lose. Nevertheless, Bobby Collins was named Footballer Of The Year 1965 and with that first sniff of success he’d provided, set Leeds on course for an era of unparalleled success.

It all came to an abrupt halt however when Billy Bremner left Elland Road in 1976, a decade after picking up the captains armband. Relegated in 1982, it wasn’t until another diminutive, red-headed Scotsman was awarded the captain’s armband in 1989 that Leeds United would see a return to glory.

Ending Leeds United’s eight year lull in the Second Division was impressive enough, but when Gordon Strachan followed up with the First Division title only two years later (1992), the parallels with Billy Bremner were impossible to ignore. The second era of dominance so desperately craved in West Yorkshire never did follow, but in bringing Leeds United their third league title, Gordon Strachan forever consigned his name to the history books as the second greatest captain in the club’s history – not a bad position to be in,.when the only man in front of you has a statue outside the ground.

The last major final appearance for Leeds United was the 1996 League Cup against Aston Villa. Despite an absolute mauling at the hands of the Brummies, Gary McAllister became the fourth Scotsman to take Leeds United to Wembley.

In awarding Robert Snodgrass captaincy, Neil Warnock has returned to the tried and tested formula for success at Elland Road. Considering Warnock is our most superstitious manager since Don Revie, you have to wander whether the pattern of Scottish captains and Leeds United success was taken into consideration by our new manager?

The shadow of those that went before him will no doubt play on Robert Snodgrass’ mind, but he’s the kind of player that only grows in stature when the pressure is on. A great captain leads not only on the pitch, but carries himself well off of it, interacting with the fans, keeping spirits high and becoming a spokesman-like figure to the press. The fans need a captain they respect and are proud to have representing the club, and in Robert Snodgrass, that’s exactly what they have.

If he can bring one tenth of the success those that went before him have, he’ll never be forgotten in West Yorkshire. Good luck Snoddy!

His early interviews show a man confident in his own abilities, but one who knows how important it is to manage expectations at Elland Road. Warnock was quick to point out the low-confidence levels and refused to build play-off hype by asserting Leeds United would be amongst the challengers, instead offering a rather ambiguous ”never say never” response.

“So (there are) 14 games (to play), everybody’s trying to help everybody else aren’t they, because no-one’s running away with it, so you never say never do you?”

Warnock is seen by many as a manager who can get the best out of the players at his disposal, and he laid the groundwork for that with Luciano Becchio, pointing out that the midfield were playing too deep to offer any assistance to a striker who will win every header now he’s in charge. “Mark my words” he told Eddie Gray confidently.

Robert Snodgrass should also be given a lift under the new gaffer, as it’s clear from early interviews that he is considered to be the key player in this Leeds United side. Already our highest assist maker this season and the club’s second top-goalscorer (behind Ross McCormack), Snodgrass has consistently performed above and beyond most of his team-mates, and the freedom to roam will be a new challenge Robert Snodgrass will relish.

But getting the best out of Becchio and Snodgrass is only the start, Warnock has a lot of work to do if Leeds are to make a push for the play-offs this season. He’s under no illusions however and has already recognised the teams need for strengthening. In an interview today (Sunday 19th), he suggested that he already has someone in mind for his first signing, and that something may be completed before the Whites trip to troubled Portsmouth this weekend;

“We need two or even three players in if we can. Ideally, I’d love to get someone in by the weekend.”

Some fans will question whether he can get any kind of signing in with such financial limitations in place, but Warnock seems confident he can get funds out of Ken Bates, adding that;

“There’ll be times when I’ll have to tell [Ken Bates] what’s right for the club and he’ll have to listen.”

A largely tongue-in-cheek response from Warnock, no doubt, but having two characters with such enormous egos battling for attention under the same roof has led many to conclude that fireworks are inevitable. The Guardian for example described Neil Warnock’s decision to work for Ken Bates as “…a Faustian pact signed in darkest Hades.”

And the pair will be loving every second of it. Portrayed as an evil duo up there alongside the Kray twins, the Bates-Warnock combination could be exactly what Leeds United need to regain their status as the most hated club in English football – and that’s not a bad thing.

Neil Warnock has built a successful career out of creating siege mentalities wherever he goes, and with Leeds United, he has a club more comfortable with this approach than all else. Whilst some fans will take time to warm to the new manager due to his antics in the past, there has never been a club and manager more suited to one another than Leeds United and Neil Warnock.

Dirty Leeds: Now With Added Filth

In an interview for Texaco’s Car-Eoke – where players talk about musical preference and cars – Leeds United’s hugely talented winger listed Michael Buble, The Beach Boys and cocaine-abusing faux rockstars Keane amongst his favourite acts.

Snoddy also revealed his first car was an Hyundai Coupe, something he received understandable stick for from former club prankster David “Jesus” Prutton. Check out the full interview below;