Look at how together the leeds squad were back then. Played as a team, such incredible talent. Then David O'Leary, took them further, then totally ripped them apart. Never forgiven Risdale and O'Leary for what they did.
I know what you mean but I still think O'Leary shouldn't have written that book, then had it serialised in a tabloid, while the players who he criticised were still in the team. The Bowyer / Woodgate court cases were badly handled and divided the team. I think he could have done more. The slide started with him. It was O'Leary's job to keep that team together, which he didnt, Then we started to not play as well, Risdale throwing money around that wasn't his. I still can't believe how it happened and no one was there to hold them to account. The result is the fans have suffered for 15 years due to them. This is the first season I've felt we've done something we can be proud of, Leeds with dignity, graft and belief.
Simon: It's scandalous that 'O Leary did not win a trophy with that team. A more competent manager would have. 'O Leary was an opportunist. He happened to be in the right place at the right time. He inherited Graham's team, the product of Howard Wilkinson's vision and hard work.
@Mark Sesum : Dear Mark, we're not re-writing history. That can never be done. We are revising our perspective by offering a divergent - fresh - perspective of the three "Cs" (fundamental to historical analysis): cause, course and consequence. History needs to be be constantly re-imagined and re-configurated. A few points to consider. Repeat: A more competent manager than Mr O' Leary - with the blend of such brilliant youngsters and astute bargains at his disposal - ought to have won something, something, at least during his tenure. Even the proverbial "tin-pot" league cup would have been a monumental achievement. Even reaching a cup final would have warmed our yearning hearts. Alas, It never happened. Those were special players who needed the touch of a SPECIAL HAND, not the touch of an aspiring author-celebrity, impatient to exercise his WRITING HAND. The man had too many other irons in the fire at the wrong moment in history. His sudden elevation to the bright-new-thing on the block, within a season or two, among his fellow managers bloated his ego. It distracted him from what ought to have been a single-minded Bielsa'esque project. Alas, it never happened. O'Leary began with promise, to be sure, singing his, "my babies, my babies" anthem in front of the cameras. The initial success got to his head. Poor decisions followed; most notably, the ruthless ousting of Eddie Gray as head coach and the appointment of Brian Kidd from across the Pennines. Unthinkable and scandalous! Eddie Gray was, and remains, one of the most loyal servants in the history of Leeds United Football Club. Mr O'Leary, thereafter, became (or imagined himself to be) something of a celebrity: lapping it up on the after-dinner-speaking circuit, playing golf and absenting himself, frequently, from trainin; leaving Kidd in charge. THEN CAME THAT FUCKING BOOK: "Leeds United On Trial". It was ill-judged, ill-timed and ill-fated. Was all this the work of a truly dedicated, intelligent and prudent manager putting "side before self"? No. I remain steadfast in my belief that a more competent, focused manager would have achieved much more with that brilliant team. Full marks for his signings. Very low marks for doing anything with them that really mattered. Mr O'Leary (and his advocates) can argue his case and defend his record till he's blue in the face. Sorry, his defence just doesn't wash with the vast majority of the Elland Road faithful. This man, together with Peter Ridsdale, must take full responsiblity for precipitating the darkest period in the history of our beloved club.
@Mark Sesum I had the courtesy to use a salutation in my post. I did not give you a "novel"! I do not understand why you use this word as we are not discussing fiction but historical facts. I made reference to these facts, not because I doubted your acquaintance with them; only because I am accustomed to backing up and elaborating any argument by illustrating it with reference to evidence. It's the way I roll, averse to making vague statements without substantiation. I don't think you and I will ever see eye-to-eye on this issue (not because one of us is taller or shorter than the other!). It's just the way perception and diversity works. Let it be: I remain convinced in my belief, you in yours.
Came here too, after Phil Hay’s podcast. Happy days!
That pass from Stephen McPhail - always sticks in my mind.
Was there...went into cannock on way home...unforgettable night..!!!
😍 What a pass Steven mcphail
Look at how together the leeds squad were back then. Played as a team, such incredible talent. Then David O'Leary, took them further, then totally ripped them apart. Never forgiven Risdale and O'Leary for what they did.
I know what you mean but I still think O'Leary shouldn't have written that book, then had it serialised in a tabloid, while the players who he criticised were still in the team. The Bowyer / Woodgate court cases were badly handled and divided the team. I think he could have done more. The slide started with him. It was O'Leary's job to keep that team together, which he didnt, Then we started to not play as well, Risdale throwing money around that wasn't his. I still can't believe how it happened and no one was there to hold them to account. The result is the fans have suffered for 15 years due to them. This is the first season I've felt we've done something we can be proud of, Leeds with dignity, graft and belief.
Simon Cunniffe I totally agree but Ridsdale was the main culprit.. had O Leary stayed things may have been a bit different today..
Simon: It's scandalous that 'O Leary did not win a trophy with that team. A more competent manager would have. 'O Leary was an opportunist. He happened to be in the right place at the right time. He inherited Graham's team, the product of Howard Wilkinson's vision and hard work.
@Mark Sesum :
Dear Mark, we're not re-writing history. That can never be done. We are revising our perspective by offering a divergent - fresh - perspective of the three "Cs" (fundamental to historical analysis): cause, course and consequence. History needs to be be constantly re-imagined and re-configurated.
A few points to consider.
Repeat: A more competent manager than Mr O' Leary - with the blend of such brilliant youngsters and astute bargains at his disposal - ought to have won something, something, at least during his tenure. Even the proverbial "tin-pot" league cup would have been a monumental achievement. Even reaching a cup final would have warmed our yearning hearts. Alas, It never happened. Those were special players who needed the touch of a SPECIAL HAND, not the touch of an aspiring author-celebrity, impatient to exercise his WRITING HAND.
The man had too many other irons in the fire at the wrong moment in history. His sudden elevation to the bright-new-thing on the block, within a season or two, among his fellow managers bloated his ego. It distracted him from what ought to have been a single-minded Bielsa'esque project. Alas, it never happened.
O'Leary began with promise, to be sure, singing his, "my babies, my babies" anthem in front of the cameras. The initial success got to his head. Poor decisions followed; most notably, the ruthless ousting of Eddie Gray as head coach and the appointment of Brian Kidd from across the Pennines. Unthinkable and scandalous! Eddie Gray was, and remains, one of the most loyal servants in the history of Leeds United Football Club.
Mr O'Leary, thereafter, became (or imagined himself to be) something of a celebrity: lapping it up on the after-dinner-speaking circuit, playing golf and absenting himself, frequently, from trainin; leaving Kidd in charge. THEN CAME THAT FUCKING BOOK: "Leeds United On Trial". It was ill-judged, ill-timed and ill-fated.
Was all this the work of a truly dedicated, intelligent and prudent manager putting "side before self"? No. I remain steadfast in my belief that a more competent, focused manager would have achieved much more with that brilliant team. Full marks for his signings. Very low marks for doing anything with them that really mattered.
Mr O'Leary (and his advocates) can argue his case and defend his record till he's blue in the face. Sorry, his defence just doesn't wash with the vast majority of the Elland Road faithful. This man, together with Peter Ridsdale, must take full responsiblity for precipitating the darkest period in the history of our beloved club.
@Mark Sesum
I had the courtesy to use a salutation in my post.
I did not give you a "novel"! I do not understand why you use this word as we are not discussing fiction but historical facts.
I made reference to these facts, not because I doubted your acquaintance with them; only because I am accustomed to backing up and elaborating any argument by illustrating it with reference to evidence. It's the way I roll, averse to making vague statements without substantiation.
I don't think you and I will ever see eye-to-eye on this issue (not because one of us is taller or shorter than the other!). It's just the way perception and diversity works.
Let it be: I remain convinced in my belief, you in yours.
Watched in pub with Derby friends with my Leeds top on ...awesome
The Athletic's Greatest Goals sent me here - McPhail's sex pass to Hasselbaink - WOW
Wtf is a " sex pass "?
One of the best passes ever!
One of my favourite Leeds games :)
Mcphail underacheived, eddie gray always said he was the most gifted one out of all that crop, jones, smith, woody robinson etc
Fantastic
Great memory.
That was the best Leeds United jersey EVER
The Fellatio...erm I mean...Phil Hay Show brought me here
Phil Hay show fans, 5:36 is why you are here...