Mike, Bates has done as good as anybody. He should get credit for managing to hang on to one of our best players and about the only player capable of scoring a goal in our team. I am sure Bates and SG explored all options in January and I am afraid that the reason we did not sell Beckford was that we were not able to get anyone in to replace him. Selling JB and replacing him with 2 Bechios would not have been the answer.
Sadly our results and our performance has been below par the last 2 months, but there is absolutely nothing that suggests that we would have done any better by getting rid of Beckford. When I view the match-stats this season, it seems that our results began to get worse as we startet to have more than 50% posession. Some say we rode our luck in the beginning of the season, but I think that at the time we simply played to our strengths. Our opposition usually had more posession that gave us the oppertunity to attack fast and get balls through/behind the defence for JB to chase. The last months we have almost without exception had more possession, but not been able to score. Possession is great for Barcelona who have players that can thread a ball through a needlehole, or for teams that have big and strong strikers that can win headers and lay up for strong shooters, but for Leeds - nope, we should surrender position, keep tight at the back and break. So for me - the blame lies with Grayson - but the credit for still having us in the 2nd. place in the league far outweighs the blame. Getting promoted from this division is a credit for anyone who manages it. We have no right to go up, and for us to make it we need to have the strongest squad, the best manager and the best fans. Anything less and we wont make it. Other teams are raising their game against us, so we really need quality above anyone else. I am not sure we have that right now, but if we go up - it will be an amazing achievement. Einar. >> >> >> Best look what went wrong: >>> >>> 1. The whole Leeds ethos had become Beckford. We believed it & so did the >>> opposition. As a result we kept him , they stopped him & we lost out on >>> 1.8 >>> million & possibly promotion. >>> 2. KB allowed a neophyte manager make that decision which was the wrong >>> one. >>> Fergie or Wenger would have sold because no man is their team. We bottled >>> it >>> At Xmas we should have sold & got two strikers in. >>> 3. Buying Gradel was also a bad decision. We play best as a diamond >>> without >>> wingers. But by getting him in & McSheffrrey we suddenly wanted it >>> different. Both failed. >>> 4. Kisinboro was a great buy. But he 'breaks easily. Naylor is past it and >>> cannot be with a neophyte CH it unsettles the defence. We should have had >>> another CH with Naylor being the 3rd choice or first replacement >>> 5. The right back position was never sorted. >>> >>> The business with Beckford cost us dearly. It probably cost him too. I >>> don't >>> think that it is his fault. >>> >>> I never suggested any of this at the time so you can ask who am I to talk? >>> >>> Like most I am under the 'Damned United' myth & screaming blue murder. >>> [Like >>> yesterday] >>> The difference between us all & Bates us that he should have seen & known. >>> He takes responsibility not just the money. >>> The major decision about Beckford demanded maturity, experience & wisdom. >>> He >>> passed the buck & Grayson did the easy & understandable thing. >>> >>> The big question is what do we learn? One thing is that would we have >>> 'allowed him to flog of Beckford'? I think that the answer is yes if we >>> saw >>> replacements. >>> >>> The bottom line is this: Absolute crap management not by Grayson. He is a >>> neophyte and that decision was never his to make. He should have been part >>> of the decision process. Bates completely fucked this one up. >>> >>> Last word: Nothing in life is a fairy tale or drama. Nor is this. I >>> believe >>> that Grayson is a good coach. He has learned the very hardest of ways. If >>> we >>> go to the play offs I still think that he can do it. But now we have to >>> rally around & show our true colours as supporters, After all we are the >>> 12th man on the pitch. >>> >>> Michael >>> >>> Dr Michael Benjamin, >>> Community Psychiatrist >>> ------------------------------- >>> myRay: On-line Self-Help CBT >>> http://www.myRay.com >>> ------------------------------ >>> Mental Health: >>> http//www.MyDoctorExplains.com >>> -------------------------------- >>> Auditing || Quality Control >>> http://www.MyDoctorExplains.com/alamo/ >>> -------------------------------- >>> Blog: >>> http://www.DrMichaelBenjamin.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist and the hardest time in a sailor's day is to watch the sun as it sails away
