Check out the money coming in from ex players - wonder which wine shop
that'll get spent in?
Spurs a bigger scalp than Red Devils – Grayson
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Spurs-a-bigger-scalp-than.6008054.jp
Published Date:
22 January 2010
By Richard Sutcliffe
SIMON GRAYSON insists Leeds United knocking Tottenham Hotspur out of the
FA Cup today would represent a bigger scalp than Manchester United.
The Elland Road club caused the shock of the third round by beating the
Premier League champions at Old Trafford earlier this month to set up
today's trip to White Hart Lane.
Fourth-placed Spurs trail Sir Alex Ferguson's men by nine points in the
top flight but Grayson is adamant the north London club are a more
dangerous prospect for the League One leaders.
The Leeds manager, whose target Max Gradel was last night believed to
have handed in a transfer request at Leicester City, said: "It is a
tougher tie because Tottenham see this as a major opportunity to win a
trophy.
"I don't think they will win the Premier League this year but they can
get in the Champions League and win a Cup. That is why I feel Tottenham
will play their strongest team, even though they played last Wednesday
(against Liverpool) and are in action again on Tuesday night.
"I doubt Spurs, who have probably their strongest side in some time,
will make the changes that Manchester United did in the last round.
"The expectancy level for us is slightly higher as well because we beat
Manchester United, so there is a possibility of us being the victims of
our own success.
"I think we have earned respect this season – not just by winning at Old
Trafford when Manchester United put out a team they thought could beat
us, but by how we have done in the league.
"We went to watch Tottenham (in Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool) and
felt there was a few things we could work on.
"All I ask is we come off the pitch with no regrets. We are going in as
underdogs again but that means we can relax."
The trip to White Hart Lane is a reminder of more successful times for
Leeds with the tie being not only a return to a Premier League venue but
also a potential reunion with a quartet of former United players.
Robbie Keane, Jonathan Woodgate, Aaron Lennon and Danny Rose all had to
be sold amid the financial collapse at Elland Road, albeit Woodgate's
arrival in the capital came via spells at Newcastle United and Real Madrid.
Only Rose and Keane are likely to face Leeds due to the other two having
being injured but there will still be an unmistakeable sense of 'what
might have been' among the 4,200 travelling fans as they imagine how
different the last few years could have been had the club been able to
hold on to the quartet.
Lennon, who was relegated with Leeds in 2004 and played for them in the
Championship, was desperate to face his old club but his groin injury
has not healed in time. The 22-year-old was sold as Leeds plummeted down
to League One, along with others like James Milner and Paul Robinson.
Rose, 19, has been loaned out to Watford and Peterborough since arriving
at Spurs in 2007, and after two appearances for the first team this
season he is poised for another chance.
"Danny has worked hard, trained well and shown a great attitude," said
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp. "He'll get a chance and I'm looking
forward to seeing him play.
"He'll be looking forward to playing his old club."
Grayson, though, believes the time for looking backwards is over.
He said: "There is a good Leeds connection at Spurs but that shouldn't
make any difference.
"All four are fantastic players who I would love to have in my team but
that is football and you have to move on.
"We can't change what has happened. There is a sadness because five or
six years ago this club was at the top end and competing in Europe.
"But there is no point dwelling on it.
"All we can do is learn from the experience and try to get the club back
to the next level.
"Hopefully, there are players coming through now who can take Leeds
United forward and get us back among the big boys," he added.
Meanwhile, United are looking forward to a double cash windfall
following Matthew Kilgallon's £2m transfer to Sunderland and Aston Villa
reaching the Carling Cup final.
Leeds will receive £50,000 from Sheffield United for Kilgallon under a
clause inserted in the deal that took the defender to Bramall Lane,
whereby the Elland Road outfit were due to receive 20 per cent of any
fee above £1.75m.
They are also due a bonus as part of the transfer that took Fabian Delph
to Villa Park in August for £6m. Leeds could eventually receive an
additional £1.75m and further payments will come their way if Villa win
the final or qualify for Europe this season.
A percentage of these sums will, however, have to be paid to Delph's
first club, Bradford City.
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