Leeds' squad last season, Billy
On paper, it was a top half squad - so surely it was Wise and Blackwell's fault that they went down, wasn't it? No. It was the result of years of staggering off-field mismanagement, plus an absurdly lengthy delay (much, much longer than ours this season) in replacing Blackwell.
Marshall and Lappin seemed to fit in ok last season: and after that hairy period just after the New Year, things seemed to be coming together quite promisingly. I'm not arguing Grant is a good manager: I'm not even suggesting he should've been appointed in the first place. But the rot's been going on at this club for years: team spirit went to pot during the Prem season, we stopped bringing through any decent young players except Martin, the board sanctioned bizarre player releases such as Mackay and Crow, and left Worthington in way beyond the point we could turn it around during the period in which we were still receiving parachute payments.
Was it Grant's fault that Earnshaw and Etuhu departed abruptly, and for much less than they were worth? No. Was it his fault that the board has speculated so much on land that vast amounts of each season's turnover goes towards paying off a debt of almost £20m? No. Look at the profits we've continually made on player sales - yet has this been put back into the team? No: hence our continued decline, and mounting fury of players like Huckerby. In my opinion, we're still trapped into thinking that because we haven't "done a Leeds" off the field, the board have somehow been competent in their leadership of the club - but they haven't: not a bit of it.
Instead, the CEO displays his naivete time and again when it comes to transfers, agents plainly tell their players to avoid the club, and we end up bringing in loan signings with no real motivation to succeed for us. Grant made tons of mistakes, not least his stupid public criticism of players - but many, many factors behind where we are now were totally beyond his control, and I'm sceptical even a truly accomplished manager could've coped in such circumstances.
Posted By: thebigfeller on November 16th 2007 at 10:33:27
Message Thread
- Sorry Bigfeller (NCFC) - BillySteele, Nov 16, 10:00:08
- fuck socks, i think that's the first time i've ever agreed with you! (n/m) (NCFC) - blindasabat, Nov 16, 11:56:22
- Leeds' squad last season, Billy (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Nov 16, 10:33:27
- and what about Grant (NCFC) - phrankin, Nov 16, 10:38:02
- Many mistakes, I agree (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Nov 16, 10:48:10
- and what about Grant (NCFC) - phrankin, Nov 16, 10:38:02
- I just hope there's continuity here soon, not going through 6 personnel every 2 years (n/m) (NCFC) - pants, Nov 16, 10:30:25
- Grant was a worse manager than Hamilton (NCFC) - phrankin, Nov 16, 10:02:45
- Don't agree (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Nov 16, 10:42:01
- Perhaps it sfairer to say they were on a par (NCFC) - phrankin, Nov 16, 10:47:45
- That is true. The Hamilton era was utter garbage - but we are worse now. (n/m) (NCFC) - Snakey, Nov 16, 10:30:29
- Well I blame Worthington for that more than Grant. Release clauses in 2 players (NCFC) - pants, Nov 16, 10:37:32
- And the REAL fuck up was the total break up of our prem team on relegation (NCFC) - Old Git, Nov 16, 10:40:14
- ditching Malks and Iwan was the biggest travesty of the Worthless area. (n/m) (NCFC) - Snakey, Nov 16, 10:46:31
- Edworthy.... A massive blow (NCFC) - phrankin, Nov 16, 10:41:11
- Well at least we're starting to discuss the real issue (NCFC) - pants, Nov 16, 10:42:04
- So am I. Doesn't ring true to me at all (n/m) (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Nov 16, 10:45:17
- It wasn't just him by any stretch (NCFC) - phrankin, Nov 16, 10:43:46
- Well at least we're starting to discuss the real issue (NCFC) - pants, Nov 16, 10:42:04
- What about Safri - He couldnt stanmd Grant (NCFC) - phrankin, Nov 16, 10:39:18
- i think we will see more from Brells soon. He is better than we have seen. (n/m) (NCFC) - Snakey, Nov 16, 10:47:02
- And the REAL fuck up was the total break up of our prem team on relegation (NCFC) - Old Git, Nov 16, 10:40:14
- Well I blame Worthington for that more than Grant. Release clauses in 2 players (NCFC) - pants, Nov 16, 10:37:32
- you forgot to mention (NCFC) - lurd, Nov 16, 10:15:27
- He certainly did - and almost racked up a fourth, albeit as an assistant. (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Nov 16, 10:17:21
- Don't agree (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Nov 16, 10:42:01
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