The Scratching Shed

It seems Ken Bates and Simon Grayson are wasting no time this year in strengthening the squad for our Championship return. Today, Old Kenneth told fans how a third signing has already been done in principle, but the club are waiting for the players agent to return from Spain before the deal can be finalised;

“A deal has been agreed in principle but we can’t finalise it because the player’s agent is in Spain and you need face-to-face meetings to resolve a player’s signing.”

Historically, the summer transfer market is extremely slow to get moving, but with the signings of Kasper Schmeichel and Billy Paynter already confirmed, the fans have had plenty to get excited about already.

The rumours of who this mysterious third singing will be are already ripe. Billy Sharp continues to be linked as well as Gary Hooper (although the latter would appear to be wishful thinking). The possibility of Swindon youngster, Charlie Austin following Billy Paynter to Leeds has been suggested, as well as Derby’s, Paul Connoly.

The likelihood however, is that none of these suggestions will prove to be true. Simon Grayson has a habit of catching the media off guard with his signings, so predicting what he’ll do next is a bit of a lottery.

The first of many rumours circulating for the last few days has proven to be true after Swindon’s prolific goalscorer, Billy Paynter signed on a three-year deal for Leeds United.

Paynter joins Leeds United at Ken Bates’ favourite price – free. A lot of fans have been sceptical about the amount of free signings we’ve had under Kenneth’s leadership, and perhaps rightly so. Especially when you consider the turnover of the club and the amount of money made from the sale of our youngsters.

That said, Patrick Kisnorbo has proven that free doesn’t always mean second best and Billy Paynter could well follow suit. The 25-year-old bagged four goals against Leeds United last season so our fans are more than aware of his potential.

Billy finished the League One season for Swindon with 29 goals to his name, but despite his best efforts, Swindon fell at the final hurdle and missed promotion after a play-off final defeat to Millwall.

Simon Grayson revealed how happy he was with the signing on Leeds United’s official site;

“He works ever so hard, holds the ball up well and he has proved he knows where the back of the net is.

“When we knew he was available we were desperate to get him. We feel he will be a good acquisition for the club and I am delighted to have got him.”

It’s hard to say whether Billy Paynter will be able to fill the boots of Jermaine Beckford, but he’s certainly capable of goals. Personally, I feel we still have to move for more strength up front as we struggled desperately whenever Becks hit a rough patch last season. The fact of the matter remains that there isn’t enough goals in this team and that’s something Larry has to continue work on if we’re to make a serious promotion push next season.

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The final place in the 2010-11 Championship was confirmed yesterday as Millwall beat Swindon at Wembley to take the 24th spot.

Quite possibly the worst Swindon side I’ve seen this season was, in the end, quite easily cast aside by a nervy Millwall. After all the play-off heart-ache of the last few seasons, the nerves were understandable for Millwall – especially after they came close to pipping us to second place. Their fans must have been expecting the worst.

I’ve made no secrets of my contempt for Millwall and it’s through gritted teeth that I praise them for their endeavour. I’d much prefer the more peaceful Swindon in town next season, but Millwall earned their place and so, the Championship will be marred by yet another set of troublesome fans hell-bent on causing destruction.

Kettle calling pot, perhaps? And I’m sure there’s as many decent, peaceful fans as there are idiots. But Millwall tend to go that one step further than the rest in order to live up to their terrible reputation.

A disappointing day for me personally, but congratulations to Millwall nonetheless. We’ll see you next season.

On a more positive note, the result may well open the door for Swindon’s Billy Paynter to join Leeds United. Maybe Larry can work out some kind of exchange plus cash deal involving Alan Sheehan?

As Blackpool leave Cardiff City behind and head for the Premier League, thoughts turn to the remaining place in the Championship which will be filled by either Millwall or Swindon next weekend. For Leeds United fans around the world, the play-offs hold some sad memories, and it was with that in mind, we started 2009-10 determined to do it the easy way (at least that was the plan anyway!)

Next year however, it’s an entirely different situation. In a league featuring some much larger teams with a lot more financial clout than League One, Leeds are no longer an enormous fish in an ornamental garden pond.

It was with the above in mind I opened a new TSS poll to see what Leeds United fans thought was a realistic target next season. After Leicester’s successful season finishing in the play-off places and despite the parachute payments afforded to those exiting the Premier League, 57% of you thought the top six was a realistic target.

Almost 1700 people voted, and the largest single selection was the dreaded play-offs. Three failed play-off challenges in four years sandwiched between relegation to England’s third tier means most Leeds United fans have anxiety attacks at the thought of another play-off attempt, but be that as it may, the majority of you seem to think it’ll be our fate.

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Another crazy day of mixed emotions for Leeds fans after we escaped from defeat at the Valley with automatic promotion still in our own hands. Throughout the game, the travelling Leeds United fans were kept informed of events elsewhere and when Andy Robinson made it 2-0 to Tranmere Rovers, Leeds United were one goal away from their seasons aim of automatic promotion.

This being Leeds however, things were never going to be that easy. The team had looked bright and hungry throughout the first half and although we went into the break at 0-0, there was a lot to be optimistic about. Unfortunately, things didn’t run quite as well in the second half and Charlton started to edge Leeds out.

Still at 0-0 and knowing the results elsewhere were going in our favour, Simon Grayson took a calculated risk to give Leeds United more options upfront. Beckford was the first player on, replacing Robert Snodgrass with Gradel dropping back a little. This was followed by Sanchez Watt replacing Micky Doyle ten minutes later and Mike Grella replacing Andy Hughes with about five minutes remaining.

When you need a goal to secure promotion back to the Championship, it makes sense that you give yourself as many attacking options as possible upfront and Simon Grayson did the right thing. It had been another closely matched game where for large parts, both teams had absorbed any attacking threat from the other, but the changes opened things up noticeably. It worked in Leeds’ favour to some extent, allowing Beckford a good chance, but it also allowed Charlton more space on the attack too and they ultimately punished us for it with three minutes remaining when Akpo Sodje scored via the head of Richard Naylor.

The Leeds fans were silenced. It was a nervous performance from Leeds, and when playing it along the ground in the first half didn’t prove affective, they resorted to the dreaded long-ball and the chances became even fewer and farer between.

It wasn’t the most unexpected of results, or performances. The reverse fixture at Elland Road earlier in the season that ended 0-0 was just as frustrating as this one so it seemed unlikely the goals were going to flow at the Valley. The problem is that both teams play a similar style so neither ends up with much room.

What the result means is that there are now five teams capable of achieving automatic promotion from League One next week. Two of them play at the New Den as Millwall host Swindon. If that game ends in a draw, then both Charlton and Huddersfield could capitalise. Charlton would need a win away to Oldham, whilst Huddersfield would need to do a demolition job at Exeter City, but could mathematically go up by goal-difference.

As it stands, Leeds United lead the way though and that’s all that really matters. A win over a Bristol side who we destroyed 4-0 earlier in the season is all Leeds United need to escape the hell of League One football. In our previous meeting, Bristol had a defence made of play-dough and Leeds United came back in style after our first defeat of the season to Millwall. A similar display next week and it’ll be one hell of a party at the sold-out Elland Road.

With a lot of thanks to Andy Robinson and the usual unpredictability of League One, we head into the final game in a position I think we’d have all accepted at the beginning of the season. 90 minutes of football on Saturday will determine what division Leeds United play in next season and that’s all there really is to it. Our lack of points against the top six this season, the defensive hole Paddy’s injury has left, the lack of goals from midfield and our apparent need to do things the hard way have taken us all on a journey through third division hell that boils down to one game against Bristol. As Winston Churchill once said, ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going…’

It’s a big weekend in League One, not least for Leeds United who head to the Valley to take on our early season rivals Charlton Athletic. Whilst both teams form has taken a hit since the first half of the season, Leeds United are still in the automatic places and could potentially clinch promotion on Saturday.

Charlton meanwhile now occupy one of the four play-off places. After a strong start, they’ve drifted off and now sit fifth in League One with arguably nothing left to play for. Automatic promotion is all but mathematically impossible for the Addicks, but they are guaranteed their place in this years play-offs. Whilst few Charlton fans would want to help Millwall clinch promotion by beating Leeds United this weekend, they’ll also know a higher placed finish is advantageous in the play-off semi-finals so still have something to play for.

Leeds’ biggest threat to promotion is the in-form team of League One, Millwall who have made a late dash up the table and currently sit third, just one point behind the Whites. They also have a tricky encounter away to Tranmere Rovers who are in the thick of a relegation battle and will be desperate for a result. The only other team realistically capable of taking second is Swindon Town who have the easiest fixture of all at home to Brentford. If both Leeds and Millwall failed to win this weekend, then Swindon’s final game would take them to the New Den with everything to play for.

Head-to-head

What makes the Charlton and Leeds clash most interesting is that both teams were early favourites for the League One title, both teams form went astray around the same time and both teams have a poor record against the top six. Both Charlton and Leeds have managed just one win against the rest of the top six. Leeds won at home to Norwich City, whilst Charlton won at home to Huddersfield. From a maximum 27 points so far against the top six, Charlton have managed just 10, whilst Leeds’ record is even worse with a measly total of 6.

Over the years, Leeds United come out on top in the fixture by a sizeable margin in terms of games won (Leeds 24 – Charlton 14). However, a lot of this goes back to a time when both teams were playing in the Premier League. Since both teams have been relegated there’s been just one match between the sides which ended in a frustrating goalless draw at Elland Road earlier this season.

When Saturday comes

There’s a lot of a room for optimism for the Whites. Leeds have the better form of the two sides heading into this clash, and with automatic promotion highly unrealistic for the Addicks, there’s a possibility that their manager could rest some key players ahead of the play-offs.

Leeds still have some gaping defensive holes that need filling, but Sanchez Watt added a lot to our attacking options last week and should start again tomorrow. Jermaine Beckford gave the manager a bit of a selection dilemma when he came on last week and netted two after seeing Gradel and Becchio fail to take their chances. It’s a nice selection dilemma to have up front, but this game will more likely be won and lost at the back. Grayson needs to cut out the sloppy errors that have gifted teams goals lately as Charlton have lost only three times at the Valley this season and only one of those teams managed to score by them twice.

Either way, it’s in our hands…

‘Must win’ is a term overused in football and one that has been thrown about a lot over the past month or so in relation to Leeds United FC. Leeds United seldom take note of these occasions however and have developed a tendency to do things the hard way.

Gillingham away last week was a good example of Leeds United ignoring the ‘must win’ game scenario. A win was the only way to guarantee we’d remain second, and failure to do so would make the home visit of MK Dons and trip to the Valley look a little more complicated than was perhaps necessary.

As it turned out, Leeds United remained second anyway, thanks to the unpredictable nature of League One which left everyone else failing to capitalise on our failings. It really does seem that no matter how hard we try to mess it all up, the other teams are doing that little bit better at it. Not a bad thing, granted, but with another ‘must win’ game at Elland Road tomorrow, Leeds really do need to be at their best.

On paper, you could argue that Leeds United have the toughest fixture of those fighting for automatic promotion when taking relative league positions into account. Take the situational positions into account however, and Leeds probably have the best one – with the possible exception of Millwall who host an almost safe Leyton Orient (I’m also ignoring Huddersfield. Although mathematically possible, it’s highly unlikely).

The other two teams in the hunt, namely Charlton and Swindon both travel away to teams deep in the relegation battle. Swindon travel to Wycombe, who are five points from safety but unlikely to give up until the maths rules consolidation out and Charlton head to Exeter who could just about secure their place in League One with a win. Another weekend of movement at the top seems inevitable.

The game Leeds United fans should really be keeping an eye on this weekend is definitely Charlton. If Leeds lose at Elland Road tomorrow and Charlton win in Exeter, they’ll move level on points with Leeds with everything on the line next weekend. However, if Charlton lose and Leeds United win, that would leave Charlton six points behind Leeds United next weekend with two games left and a vastly inferior goal difference. In other words, Charlton would have very little left to play for and would simply be waiting for the play-offs to get under way.

Leeds fans have a lot to be optimistic about ahead of the game. MK Dons are a team that have never won at Elland Road, and overall, Leeds United have a very good record against them. The Dons have also been struggling for form over the last couple of months and failed to win any of their last eight fixtures. With absolutely nothing left to play for, Milton Keynes seem happy to draw a line under the 2009-10 season and look ahead to next season.

Leeds United take their newly found form to Gillingham tomorrow in what must be considered one of our trickiest remaining fixtures.

Gillingham currently occupy 20th place in League One so have plenty to play for. Their position doesn’t tell the whole story of their 2009-10 campaign however. What may surprise some Leeds United fans is that Gillingham are a force to be reckoned with on home soil, having lost just three of their 21 games there so far this season.

If it wasn’t for Gillingham’s tendency to surprise the big teams on home soil, they’d most certainly be relegated by now. Away from home Gillingham have failed to win a single match this season and rank 24th on the away form table. At home however, none of the top six have beaten the plucky Gillingham outfit. Norwich and Charlton only managed 1-1 draws, whilst Swindon were battered 5-0 and Huddersfield and Millwall lost 2-0.

The only teams Gillingham have lost to on home soil this season didn’t have it easy either. All three of their home defeats have been to narrow 1-0 margins. Hard to believe this is the same Gillingham side that Leeds United thoroughly thrashed 4-1 at Elland Road earlier in the season.

Leeds United may well be visiting Gillingham at the best time however with the team currently suffering a late season defensive crisis. It seems the Gillingham coach may have to turn to his youth team for cover after his regular defenders were both ruled out of this weekends clash.

Speaking to BBC Radio, Gillingham boss Mark Stimson said;

“We are desperate and down to our bare bones but we won`t be sulking over it.”

Leeds meanwhile seem to have overcome the striker problems we’ve suffered in recent weeks with the Gradel-Becchio partnership likely to continue, whilst Jermaine Beckford may have to settle for a place on the bench. If Beckford does start on the bench. don’t be surprised to see a 60th minute substitution when the Gillingham defenders are tiring and Beckford can fully utilise his pace.

Some interesting fixtures this weekend in the top six where the table is likely to turn on it’s head once more. Elsewhere, Huddersfield host Millwall tonight and Charlton take on Norwich at the valley tomorrow. On paper, Swindon have the easiest game at home to Walsall, but after the last seven days, you really can’t rule anything out.

Second place is Leeds’ to lose now. We’ve turned the corner and fought back into a position we shouldn’t have really lost in the first place. All we have to do now is keep winning – how hard can it be?

Leeds United’s fate will be decided in just six games as the 2009-10 League One season that promised so much, stutters to a finish. After leading the League table by a sizable margin, things went totally off the rails for Leeds United after Christmas with a run of eighteen games producing just eigtheen points.

The silver-lining may finally have arrived for the Whites though. Some improvement in play, didn’t bring an improvement in form against Swindon Town and Norwich City, but on Easter Monday things finally started going our way and Leeds earnt a valuable three points courtesy of a Richard Naylor brace at Yeovil Town.

If you thought we had things bad though, spare a moment for this weekends visitors Southend United who are clearly a club in turmoil. Steve Tilson’s side have had a torrid time of it this year and have not managed to pick up a single point on their travels. Both Steve Tilson and captain, Adam Barrett point to the clubs faultering financial situation as the underlying cause of the problems with wages being paid late and the players minds elsewhere.

Adam Barrett told the BBC that;

“I’ve got two kids and a wife, so it’s extremely difficult. I’ve never been in a situation like this. “You can’t solely concentrate on your football because of it. There’re too many off-field things happening.”

A lot has been said about the confidence of Leeds United’s players. Jermaine Beckford undoubtedly needs a goal to reignite his own personal form, whilst the rest of the team need to string a couple of wins together to restore the belief. This weekend should provide an opportunity for both.

Of their eight games away from home in 2010, Southend United have lost them all, conceding 21 goals and managing just 6 in reply. If ever there was a silver-platter moment for a whitewash, this is most certainly it.

With the likely return of Luciano Becchio and a possibility of involvement for Ben Parker – who got a rare goal in the reserves this week – things might just be starting to work out for Leeds United again. The players can be under no illusions that it’s now or never and many of them will know they’re playing for not only their own job, but Simon Grayson’s future too.

It’s going to be a tense few weeks and you can bet your mortgage it’ll go right down to the wire, but things with Leeds United are seldom easy and it shouldn’t really have surprised any of us that we find ourselves in this situation. All we can do is ‘keep fighting!’ On and on…

You kind of have to admire the Football League’s sense of humour. Despite the 3-0 battering at home to Swindon where Richard Naylor was about as affective as a plastic frying pan, he was awarded a place in the official Football League team of the week for the Easter Weekend.

Every week, TSS receives emails from a PR company working on behalf of the Football League. One of the things TSS is sent is the team of the week for the previous weekend which is decided between a panel of “experts” from the Football League. You have to question how much notice they actually take of the games when the email contains the following quote;

This week, the Coca-Cola League 1 Team of the Week features Leeds United’s Richard Naylor. Defender Naylor is included for his performances against Swindon and Yeovil over the Easter weekend.

I do appreciate Naylor’s revival at Yeovil. He was exceptional from set-plays and undeniably won us the game, but does that really excuse the sorry efforts of our entire team against Swindon Town and merit a place in the team of the week which was based jointly on the two games?

I suppose the only one good thing about this award is that it should further add to our slowly returning confidence. Naylor has received a lot of deserved criticism over the past few weeks and the only way he can combat that is by turning in match winning performances like he did against Yeovil. He still had his dodgy moments, but at the front, he led by example. You need your key players to step up at times like this and carry the rest forward.

Fingers crossed that Naylor is up to the job.