My Weekly Rant about all things football

By Richard Baggott
August 12 2003

Well for my first rant on this new Website I thought I'd start out by attacking the media for writing Leeds off before the season has even begun.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting a top 5 finish but I wouldn't put us down as relegation fodder either!  Despite all the set backs we've had over the past 18 months, I still think we've got a pretty good team and would still place us in the top half of the table.

Losses

We've lost some big names, but are they really big losses.  Bowyer played out his final six months and half the pace we were used to.  He was a great player throughout our Champions League seasons but we lost his abilities a long time before he was sold!  Woodgate, through injuries and the Court case was more of a fringe player in the end - he's an excellent player but we could never rely on his availability and the team did well without him.  Fowler never got anywhere near his potential and we got into the Champions League before we signed Ferdinand.  Kewell, although showing moments of brilliance has been inconsistent for seven years.  In addition, when we first started to wake others up in the premiership that Leeds were back, Kewell was out with his injury

The two player I do regret losing are Keane and Dacourt.  Keane never got a good run together so he is not a massive loss to our form, but I'd have loved him to have stayed.  Dacourt did have some excellent games in the centre and it's the one position I am happy to agree we are weak.

Team

So who's left - Robbo, Englands No. 1 for the next 15 years, Mills, Duberry, Matteo, Radebe and Harte at the back are not BAD players - They are not the best four defenders in the world but they can all hold their own.  Harte's form came back at the end of last season and admittedley, Mills needs to improve to pre-World Cup form but other than that, plus the new signings and I think we've got a strong defence.

In the centre, if Batts' can give us a good season (and you know he'll be trying his hardest!) along with Kelly, Domi, Mcphail (who I agree should be a first team regular for his creative play) and Milner pushing on the fringe is an okay midfield!

Up front, although light, we have Viduka (if he stays), Smith and a fit Bridges - (In two years, Smith and Bridges could be the England front line!) with a couple of youngster also pushing for a place (Aaron Lennon has had a good pre-season and I expect he'll get a taste of first team action this season)

All in all, it's not the best ever but we do have a squad of GOOD players - they all need to pick their game up from last season but if they do, it could be a good season ahead.

 

 

Email me @ richard.baggott@ntlworld.com