The Time Is Now
Leeds United v Carlisle United
Elland Road, Leeds
Monday 12th May 2008
With just under 24 hours until the first leg of the play-off semi-final I'm not sure I can recall the last time I felt this nervous. Even though the Preston semi in 2006 was obviously vital at the time, I have a different feeling this time around.
When we reached the play-offs in 2006 we were in the middle of a poor run of form that would take us through to February 2007, anyone willing to be honest would agree that with a couple of notable exceptions we did not play well for most of that season, the biggest downturn in results happening as soon as Bates handed out a new three-year deal to Blackwell.
This time, however, things are different. Instead of a squad full of overrated (Healy), borrowed (Miller), disinterested (Blake), crap (Butler) journeymen, we have a talented management team overseeing a - relatively speaking of course - decent squad of players, ambitious and passionate and seemingly stripped of all the unsightly elements of the game that have hung over us like a black cloud for so long. More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that Leeds are a form side in League One with six wins in seven, real momentum approaching tomorrow night's game and a genuinely exciting opportunity to push on to Wembley.
Our opponents must not be underestimated in any way. Carlisle have been the third best team in the division for most of the season. They were the first team to beat us this season and ran us very close at Elland Road. Their recent form has not been good however but, though we were true to form at the Millennium Stadium, remember that poor form was enough to carry us through the semi-final. We are probably better than Carlisle in overall terms at the moment. We achieved more victories and points during the season, have a slightly better squad and if the second half of the game at Elland Road is anything to go by, we have greater attacking guile and pace.
The mind games have begun, such as they are at this level. The Carlisle captain has come out and said it is disrespectful that we were happier to have drawn them rather than Doncaster or Southend. There is of course a sound logic to that view so I'm not sure how that can be disrespectful; nevertheless that is the mentality Carlisle take into the semi-final and we should be wary - in the grand scheme of things this opportunity has a much greater significance to us than Carlisle and we end up at opposite ends of the scale; Leeds under enormous pressure and Carlisle with the underdog, "nothing to lose" mentality.
This could and should be the start of our revival as a major force in English football; a club based on ambition, determination, unity, realism and most of all stability. Focussed minds, skill, passing, movement from the first whistle at Elland Road until the final whistle at Wembley.
The time is now. Our time is now.
Marching on together.
Elland Road, Leeds
Monday 12th May 2008
With just under 24 hours until the first leg of the play-off semi-final I'm not sure I can recall the last time I felt this nervous. Even though the Preston semi in 2006 was obviously vital at the time, I have a different feeling this time around.
When we reached the play-offs in 2006 we were in the middle of a poor run of form that would take us through to February 2007, anyone willing to be honest would agree that with a couple of notable exceptions we did not play well for most of that season, the biggest downturn in results happening as soon as Bates handed out a new three-year deal to Blackwell.
This time, however, things are different. Instead of a squad full of overrated (Healy), borrowed (Miller), disinterested (Blake), crap (Butler) journeymen, we have a talented management team overseeing a - relatively speaking of course - decent squad of players, ambitious and passionate and seemingly stripped of all the unsightly elements of the game that have hung over us like a black cloud for so long. More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that Leeds are a form side in League One with six wins in seven, real momentum approaching tomorrow night's game and a genuinely exciting opportunity to push on to Wembley.
Our opponents must not be underestimated in any way. Carlisle have been the third best team in the division for most of the season. They were the first team to beat us this season and ran us very close at Elland Road. Their recent form has not been good however but, though we were true to form at the Millennium Stadium, remember that poor form was enough to carry us through the semi-final. We are probably better than Carlisle in overall terms at the moment. We achieved more victories and points during the season, have a slightly better squad and if the second half of the game at Elland Road is anything to go by, we have greater attacking guile and pace.
The mind games have begun, such as they are at this level. The Carlisle captain has come out and said it is disrespectful that we were happier to have drawn them rather than Doncaster or Southend. There is of course a sound logic to that view so I'm not sure how that can be disrespectful; nevertheless that is the mentality Carlisle take into the semi-final and we should be wary - in the grand scheme of things this opportunity has a much greater significance to us than Carlisle and we end up at opposite ends of the scale; Leeds under enormous pressure and Carlisle with the underdog, "nothing to lose" mentality.
This could and should be the start of our revival as a major force in English football; a club based on ambition, determination, unity, realism and most of all stability. Focussed minds, skill, passing, movement from the first whistle at Elland Road until the final whistle at Wembley.
The time is now. Our time is now.
Marching on together.
Comments
This time around, it is abundantly clear that we are good enough - Carlisle are just scrambling around for an edge they need to overcome us.
Marching on together!