Everyone enjoyed putting the boot in when Leeds United were down and out, but against all the odds Dennis Wise’s outfit have made a storming start to their bid to return to happier days.
Relegated to the third division for the first time in their history the debt-ridden club were also slapped with a 15-point deduction by the Football League for failing to comply with the league’s insolvency policy.
In response, they have equalled Don Revie’s 1973 club record start to a season of seven wins from seven, including the match against Nottingham Forest we wrote about here. A crowd of over 29,000 watched them beat Swansea 2-0 last time out.
They have quickly pulled themselves off the foot of the table and now lie 18th with six points. Without the punishment they would lead the standings by five.
If they go on to win promotion it will be a startling achievement after six miserable years and might win them some positive headlines for a change.
It will be unthinkable for some, but could they become a cuddly, loveable or even admired team? Or is there no escaping the bad old reputation of the Revie years.
Mark Elkington
Trackback
5 comments so far
I have been a supporter for 37 years.
Heavens forbid that we become cuddly and loveable like you suggested might happen.
Leeds stands for No Nonsense football a la Jackie Charlton et al not like his brother Bobby and his prawn sandwich brigade.
Of course we want to play attractive football like Arsene’s team but we must maintain the steel of the Revie era.
My only complaint about Leeds is the Board (not necessarily the present one) which has often been myopic and insular - cursed by the Headingly mentality.
In this age of globalisation I hope those Yorkshiremen will open their eyes and their brains and let some fresh ideas blow in.
Up the Whites!!
- Posted by YinThe answer to your question is, I suspect : “There no escaping the bad old reputation of the Revie years.”
It was noticable how little sympathy there has been for Leeds in the past couple of years. On the Burnley fans message board they are referred to constantly as LOL!
(League One Leeds!)
- Posted by SimonI am a Forest fan and I for one have no sympathy whatsoever for Leeds. They are a horrible little club and deserve all they get. Leicester cheated their way out of financial trouble a few years ago while Forest had to sell all their best players to stay afloat. Leeds kept paying outlandish wages long after it was obvious they were going to end up in this mess. Good on the FA and FL for having the balls to stand up to Bates and Co.
- Posted by Gearoid LynchReply to Gearoid Lynch ;small club ?Bates and Wise have taken abuse from a whole range of people but have stuck by leeds “united”because to achieve anything you have to be “united”yes he is a money man but he has halled us back from the brink and when we are back in the prem and you are still in league one because like you your club is small minded
- Posted by j.douglassWe all love leeds! We all love Leeds! We all love leeds and we all love Leeds! 15 Points who gives a f**k were super leeds an were goin up! Maaaaaarchin on together Were gonna see you win ta na na na na. =P watched leeds beat crewe on telly.
Dave, leeds 4 lyfe, not like forest, hoping for teh good old day, old fogie mo fos lol.
- Posted by Dave