Leeds United
Posted by: Fisbey on 06 February 2004
Here's hoping Villa give them a sound thrashing tomorrow 
Posted on: 11 February 2004 by seagull
My team (Brighton) also have nice blue and white stripy shirts with the appropriate sponsorship from Skint records (Fat boy Slim’s co.). Although the less said about recent away kit the better!
The slow decline back to mediocrity after the heady days of the late 70’s early 80’s nearly saw the death of Brighton. A few short years ago we were only a few minutes from relegation to the Conference (and probable oblivion ) at the end of the last game of the season. We’d clawed back to the dizzy heights of a single season in Division 1, our best player is now helping West Ham go for promotion to the Premiership (1 goal and 1 assist on his debut, probably more than he did in his entire ill-fated stay at Spurs).
Debts are mounting and we are playing in a grotty athletics stadium, the plans for a new ground have received a huge setback with a report which condemns the construction. The area can support a local league team (probably Division 1 would be the best we could realistically aspire to, history says probably Division 2 which is where we are now). I have been in crowds of over 30, 000 at the old Goldstone Ground and would guess that a successful Seagulls team could regularly attract over 20, 000.
I think this is a story that could be repeated for most of the Football League clubs (and others in the Promiership as well). It amazes me how so many clubs have survived for as long as they have. Leeds are just the highest profile one at the moment, where would Chelsea be now if things had been different?. In any other business most football clubs would have gone under by now and I am sure that many are trading illegally; or don’t normal company practices apply to football clubs?
The slow decline back to mediocrity after the heady days of the late 70’s early 80’s nearly saw the death of Brighton. A few short years ago we were only a few minutes from relegation to the Conference (and probable oblivion ) at the end of the last game of the season. We’d clawed back to the dizzy heights of a single season in Division 1, our best player is now helping West Ham go for promotion to the Premiership (1 goal and 1 assist on his debut, probably more than he did in his entire ill-fated stay at Spurs).
Debts are mounting and we are playing in a grotty athletics stadium, the plans for a new ground have received a huge setback with a report which condemns the construction. The area can support a local league team (probably Division 1 would be the best we could realistically aspire to, history says probably Division 2 which is where we are now). I have been in crowds of over 30, 000 at the old Goldstone Ground and would guess that a successful Seagulls team could regularly attract over 20, 000.
I think this is a story that could be repeated for most of the Football League clubs (and others in the Promiership as well). It amazes me how so many clubs have survived for as long as they have. Leeds are just the highest profile one at the moment, where would Chelsea be now if things had been different?. In any other business most football clubs would have gone under by now and I am sure that many are trading illegally; or don’t normal company practices apply to football clubs?
Posted on: 11 February 2004 by Shayman
quote:
I do have a soft spot for Leeds since the glory days of the early 90s when Strachan, Speed and Chapman played for them and they were the most exciting team in the land
Must have blinked
Posted on: 11 February 2004 by Alex S.
I think Leeds will beat Man U 4-0 and stay up. Wolves, Portsmouth and Leicester are a lot worse.
Posted on: 11 February 2004 by NB
Leeds are far too good to go down!
Famous last words eh, more performances like last night with the money worries almost sorted and the only way is up!
Regards
NB
Famous last words eh, more performances like last night with the money worries almost sorted and the only way is up!
Regards
NB
Posted on: 11 February 2004 by Alex S.
'Leeds too good to go down' is risky but 'Leicester, Wolves, Portsmouth too bad to stay up' should help.
Posted on: 11 February 2004 by Steve O
Man U away next for Leeds. Just hope we're not looking at a gap above us again after this one.
If we perform like we did against Wolves last night then we really are too good to go down. Trouble is, I've watched them play far too much shite this season. Last night is the first time they've truly made an effort.
Steve O.
If we perform like we did against Wolves last night then we really are too good to go down. Trouble is, I've watched them play far too much shite this season. Last night is the first time they've truly made an effort.
Steve O.
Posted on: 11 February 2004 by Justin
Is this what we call "soccer"?
On a lighter note:
from the AP:
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — The boos nearly drowned out "The Star-Spangled Banner," and a few dozen fans chanted "Usama! Usama!" as the United States was eliminated by Mexico in Olympic men's soccer qualifying.
A loud anti-American crowd yelled the first name of Usama bin Laden (search), the leader of the Al Qaeda (search) terrorists who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks, as Mexico beat the United States 4-0 Tuesday night in the under-23 tournament, claiming a berth in the Athens Olympics (search).
As U.S. players left the stadium for their bus, several fans -- some clutching beers -- chanted "Usama! Usama!"
Police in riot gear held back the crowd and urged people to calm down.
"I think the fans here in Mexico are terrific; I think their patriotism and support of their team is terrific," U.S. coach Glenn Myernick said. "But unless I missed something, not one of them came down on the field and kicked the ball. We were beaten by a better football team tonight, not by the fans."
For Mexico, the game partly avenged a 2-0 loss to the United States in the second round of the 2002 World Cup, a far more important tournament involving national teams.
The U.S. men will miss the Olympics for the first time since 1980 -- when the entire American delegation boycotted the Moscow Games. Mexico also ended the United States' 19-tournament streak of qualifying for every FIFA men's outdoor event, including the World Cup, the Olympics, the World Youth Championship for players under 20 and the Under-17 World Championship.
While both Mexican national television networks broadcast Tuesday's game live in Mexico, there was no television in the United States, where the game was broadcast on closed circuit to about 190 restaurants.
Judd
On a lighter note:
from the AP:
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — The boos nearly drowned out "The Star-Spangled Banner," and a few dozen fans chanted "Usama! Usama!" as the United States was eliminated by Mexico in Olympic men's soccer qualifying.
A loud anti-American crowd yelled the first name of Usama bin Laden (search), the leader of the Al Qaeda (search) terrorists who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks, as Mexico beat the United States 4-0 Tuesday night in the under-23 tournament, claiming a berth in the Athens Olympics (search).
As U.S. players left the stadium for their bus, several fans -- some clutching beers -- chanted "Usama! Usama!"
Police in riot gear held back the crowd and urged people to calm down.
"I think the fans here in Mexico are terrific; I think their patriotism and support of their team is terrific," U.S. coach Glenn Myernick said. "But unless I missed something, not one of them came down on the field and kicked the ball. We were beaten by a better football team tonight, not by the fans."
For Mexico, the game partly avenged a 2-0 loss to the United States in the second round of the 2002 World Cup, a far more important tournament involving national teams.
The U.S. men will miss the Olympics for the first time since 1980 -- when the entire American delegation boycotted the Moscow Games. Mexico also ended the United States' 19-tournament streak of qualifying for every FIFA men's outdoor event, including the World Cup, the Olympics, the World Youth Championship for players under 20 and the Under-17 World Championship.
While both Mexican national television networks broadcast Tuesday's game live in Mexico, there was no television in the United States, where the game was broadcast on closed circuit to about 190 restaurants.
Judd