Fans of 25 years standing haven't renewed their season tickets due to this man's vampiric presence at Elland Road.
by Thomas Hill
When the manager and 95% of the fans can’t wait for the end of the season, it pretty much tells you the story of the previous nine months. Nine months of stress, pain, and craving for a few new players. I’m moaning like a pregnant woman…that’s how bad things have got. When we’ve all been saying it since February/March it really does tell you how we’re all feeling. The game against Leicester City really can’t come soon enough.
Looking back the club showed its ambition and set its stall out when we sold Max Gradel on deadline day, giving Simon Grayson no time at all to replace him. Another summer of disappointing signings and lack of money spent was the start of a very disappointing season. Leeds fans have had it rough as most know, but our first season back in the Championship should have been the platform to build on. Average performances got us to the January transfer window where our already drab season got worse. A team who were aiming for the play-offs according to Mr Bates then sold its home-town captain.
We all know what happened next, Grayson departing, and the arrival of Mr Warnock. I never thought I’d see the day that I was happy to see him sitting in the Elland Road dugout. He’s been a revelation off the field; Grayson’s press conferences became a broken record. Warnock says it how it is and is not afraid to tell the truth which is all Leeds United fans want.
The squad isn’t good enough, it needs a fresh lick of paint and some cash spent here and there. For once the best players must stay. The whole season has just been a disaster and for anyone looking from the outside in, might think I’m exaggerating. The crowds have been average, but the atmosphere has been non-existent – something many don’t say about Elland Road. Fans of 25years+ haven’t renewed…in all honesty they won’t come back until Bates has left.
I personally will be there next season but the break will do me good. I love football and I love Leeds United but this year has been testing. To put it in context fans preferred it when we were in League One with minus 15 points.
The fans have travelled in their numbers as always and hopefully next season they’ll have something to cheer about. Now and again we’ve had some good goals to celebrate. There’s a few standing out. For crowd reaction and passion, Adam Clayton away at West Ham and Ross McCormack’s at home against Burnley. Both were 90mins+ and it was an incredible feeling of relief against Burnley as we were going through a bad patch. For skill, McCormack’s overhead kick at Donny has to go down as a real touch of class. Clayton features again against Leicester away; a 30 yard effort was enough to give us all three points. The final goal is Becchio’s against Donny; it was another late goal and a fantastic comeback with Warnock watching in the stands.
I’ve had a good rant and moan but I’m looking forward to the break to recharge the batteries. With Warnock the message is clear, we’re going for promotion and we all need to be singing from the same hymn sheet. We will be back in the big time again and I hope a year from now I’m a lot more cheerful after another long slog in the Championship.
Read more from Thomas in the superb Through It All Together
