Leeds Utd

[Chaddy the Owl]

Rivalry is what makes football attictive- if there was no atmosphere and banter it would be rubbish and dull. Derby matches are always the best, and the atmosphere is electic.

[Richard Head]

You should see what its like on Angelsey.

The island has Llanfairpg, Glanthreath, Holyhead, Gaerwen, Bodedern, and Llangefni all playing at a similar level level - the cymru alliance, but Llangefni managed to get into the WPL and the amount of glee from the other clubs that they are struggling to survive is sickening.

You'd think they'd think it good for anglesey football to have a team in the to league, but no. Its very much they don't care how good they are as long as they are better than the neighbouring village. They'd rather be the best team on the island in some shitty low league, then second in the WPL to another team from the island.

Its almost always the fans of the lower league teams who hate their rivals from higher leagues. Round here the dwindling band of Lancaster City fans hate Morecambe with a passion and love it when we lose whereas we cant be arsed to look that far down the league pyramid to check on their results.

Leeds are an exception because fans all over the country hate them, but then again there is so much to hate. From Revie's dirty teams of the 70's to last years adminstration dodge, the fact that Ken Bates is chairman, the nobheads who support them, etc

[IanDarkpeak]

Rivalry is what makes football attictive- if there was no atmosphere and banter it would be rubbish and dull. Derby matches are always the best, and the atmosphere is electic.

Rivalry yes, banter yes, hatred no only dick heads are like that and they are not worth bothering about

Leeds are an exception because fans all over the country hate them, but then again there is so much to hate. From Revie's dirty teams of the 70's to last years adminstration dodge, the fact that Ken Bates is chairman, the nobheads who support them, etc

If you can't come up with a constructive argument then please keep quite.
Revie's era, give me break were you even born then....

[Mr1470]

Ian - whilst I agree that Richard Head didn't put his argument too well, the facts are still there for most footie fans to see;

i) No-one can deny that the Revie team introduced a new style of play which would shape the game for many years to come. And that,despite the fact that there were some very gifted players in the team, was all about "win at all costs". I can see why some people would not like Leeds because of that

ii) The administration dodge - well it's undeniable. The club overspent in search of glory and then shafted the creditors good and proper. Having done that, they proceed to spend money left,right and centre on players and wages. Hmmm.....,I'd certainly be bitter if I was a creditor and I'm not too happy as the fan of a club who always lives within its means, even if that sometimes means we miss out on the "glory"

iii) Ken Bates - he passes the "fit and proper person" test?!?!?

iv) The fans - one of only two places I've been where I was told (by the police) upon asking where I could get a pint somewhere near......"nowhere in Leeds sir, if you want to retain your good health". And where there are sellers right outside the stadium (therefore presumably condoned by club and police) selling t-shirts saying "Leeds fans are bad for your health". Hmmmm...

Sorry, generalisations I know, there are some great Leeds fans I'm sure, but it all adds to an overall impression of the club.

[IanDarkpeak]

Ian - whilst I agree that Richard Head didn't put his argument too well, the facts are still there for most footie fans to see;

i) No-one can deny that the Revie team introduced a new style of play which would shape the game for many years to come. And that,despite the fact that there were some very gifted players in the team, was all about "win at all costs". I can see why some people would not like Leeds because of that

ii) The administration dodge - well it's undeniable. The club overspent in search of glory and then shafted the creditors good and proper. Having done that, they proceed to spend money left,right and centre on players and wages. Hmmm.....,I'd certainly be bitter if I was a creditor and I'm not too happy as the fan of a club who always lives within its means, even if that sometimes means we miss out on the "glory"

iii) Ken Bates - he passes the "fit and proper person" test?!?!?

iv) The fans - one of only two places I've been where I was told (by the police) upon asking where I could get a pint somewhere near......"nowhere in Leeds sir, if you want to retain your good health". And where there are sellers right outside the stadium (therefore presumably condoned by club and police) selling t-shirts saying "Leeds fans are bad for your health". Hmmmm...

Sorry, generalisations I know, there are some great Leeds fans I'm sure, but it all adds to an overall impression of the club.

Can't say I agree with all you said but thank you for doing it constructively

i) Thats history and if we keep looking over our shoulder you'll end up tripping up over something ahead There plenty of good players out there and managers that have done similar things.

ii) So why hate a fellow football fan for that, if you dislike a person for what he's or she's done at manament level then I can understand that, Ridsdale messed up big style but can you Blame the Leeds of now for that. Bates see below

iii) yippeee I agree with you but he is only one man. Do you hate all germans because of Hitler? maybe thats a bit excessive but you get my point.

iv) Thats a tricky one, can't say I've an answer for that, but I've been round Bramall Lane and felt very intimidated, there are areas around most grounds where the support for a team is large where you wouldn't want to go. But I would say that is only a minority that cause this and they are not true fans. I've always felt the atmosphere in pubs is better when you play smaller teams as they have die hard true fans that come for football not agro

enough said from me anyway

[Stolly]

Sorry to butt in but football support is absolutely tribal with most everyone hating everyone else; Leeds fans are hated by all the other clubs in Yorkshire but they all hate each other too. Man United vs Leeds was one of those pure hatred games in the same way that Man United vs Liverpool still is and in the way that Doncaster vs Leeds now is

I work in Leeds sat beside a fanatical Bradford City supporter and two desks from a similarly fanatical Leeds supporter; they both hate each other as supporters and dig each other constantly but, scarves off, they get on fine. A Leeds supporter saying that he thinks Manchester United are scum isn't really making an insult at all (in his mind) but is just stating fact

[Mr1470]

And thanks for your constructive argument back Ian

Just to clarify....I don't "hate" fellow football fans at all. It's a game after all. It's a hobby to us. Yes we get passionate about it, but there shouldn't be "hatred". Dislike of a club, yes, but hatred is too strong an emotion.

A couple of comments;

ii) Yep, I sort of blame the Leeds of now for what is happening...but actually I blame the FA more for not taking the proper action

iii) Yes

iv) Quite agree about Brammall Lane actually. Make that 3 places I feel intimidated by! I just get the impression with Leeds that it's a larger minority than most places. I agree about the friendliness at smaller clubs though

[Richard Head]

If you can't come up with a constructive argument then please keep quite.
Revie's era, give me break were you even born then....

Sadly not only was i born then but i was in my late teens and followed Liverpool home and away most weeks. I had many a pleasent trip to Elland Road

Mr1470, on the subject of most intimidating grounds, you should have tried visiting West Ham in the early 70's before the days of segregation and then trying to safely get back to Euston on the tube

[Richard Head]

I've always felt the atmosphere in pubs is better when you play smaller teams as they have die hard true fans that come for football not agro

You are right there Ian. One of the joys of watching Conference football was that you could mix with opposition fans in the pub before and after matches with no hassle. Now we are in the league, we get pubs designated for away fans and police escorts to and from the grounds

[Muddy Retriever]

ii) Yep, I sort of blame the Leeds of now for what is happening...but actually I blame the FA more for not taking the proper action


Mr 1470, I don't understand your logic with this one. Ok Leeds went into administration after years of struggling when they were all but down last season and took the 10 point deduction last season. And which club wouldn't do that in the same position? Boston did. Do you hate them too.

When LUFC tried to get the creditors agreement as required by the Football League, it got the required 75%. It only didn't succeed because the Revenue challenged the decision (subsequently withdrawn). As a result a buy out occurred which actually ended up with the creditors getting more than if the CVA had gone through. Despite this the Football League imposed a 15 point penalty making 25 in total.

How tough did you want them to be? Many clubs in the past like Leicester and Bradford got away with no points penalty at all. Leicester as a result got promoted the following season.

The fact that the decison was ratified by the other Football League clubs who had a vested interest in Leeds having the penalty was totally farcical

The Don Revie thing makes me laugh as well. As if other clubs didn't have dirty players. Ron "chopper" Harris at Chelsea. Tony Smith at Liverpool and what about Greame Souness.