Looking at the rest of the sides, if The Whites don't finish in the top 6 at
the very least, then it will be another disappointing season.
Take away Wolves, Leicester, Sunderland, West Ham, Sheff Utd, Millwall,
Reading, Ipswich and ourselves and the rest are pretty ordinary.
Talking of which, Kevin Blackwell is probably a very ordinary Leeds manager
compared to his predecesors, and he's made some ordinary signings.
But he's an honest footballing man and he's signed some honest pro's so far,
unlike the mercaneries we got last year under Peter Reid.
Pugh, Carlisle, Spring, Butler, Joachim, Cadamarteri, Ricketts, Deane and
Wright are certainly no Ferdinand, Fowler, Keane & Co., but they look like
they'll do a job in this division. Losing James Milner was a massive blow,
especially when the board said we'd build the team around him. Deja Vu a la
Ridsdale.
If we get off to a sound start against Derby, Gillingham, Wolves and Forest
then it will be very encouraging for the rest of the season. The gates
should remain above 30,000 and the Premiership train will be back on track!
2 Who'll be your stars?
Not many stars left after the boot sale. Matthew Spring shows a lot of
promise, possibly Michael Ricketts if he starts producing the goals, but
watch out for young Simon Walton. Only 16, plays in defence, but made his
senior debut against Valencia in midfield, put himself about as if he was
Norman Hunter, volunteered to take the penalty that put us back into the
game and was then sent off after 2 robust tackles! Immediate cult status
amongst the Leeds faithful and was given a standing ovation when he walked
off the park!
3 Who'll be the boo-boy?
I don't think the Leeds fans would have the cheek to pick on anyone this
campaign after all that has gone on in the past 2 seasons. But if you have
to choose anyone it's got to be Michael Duberry. Dubes couldn't hack it in
the Premiership, so if he does the same in this division, expect the worst
Dubes!
4 Who'll go up/go down?
As I said earlier any 3 from us and Wolves, Leicester, Sunderland, West Ham,
Sheff Utd, Millwall, Reading, Ipswich to go up and any of the rest to go
down.
5 What will you be calling it? 'The Championship'? 'The Coca-Cola Championship'? 'Division One'? 'The Football League Championship?' Something else? Do you care?
I suppose they had to give it a fancy name now that we're a member of it!
Forget the Premiership and Champions League. It's 'The Championship' of
course!