Your reading a pre 2010-11 archived article
In this weeks column Graeme Garvey looks to calm some jitters.
So our long winless sequence at Brentford goes on! Six games since our last away victory over them and that was back in 1950. Mind you, we haven’t played there at all since 1953 but if we can’t beat a poor side like them, we might also find it a bit of a task with what’s-their-name in the F.A. Cup. What a nerve the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot at Newton Heath has to charge us £41 – £51 per person for tickets to bring our 8,500 supporters. However, we like to help struggling clubs ‘who are under pressure to service their mounting debts’ to quote from yesterday’s News of the World. A handy tip to our fans, though – sneak in your own grub, unless you are partial to prawn sandwiches.
All leading teams have a bit of a slump at some stage in the season. Two draws in a row: this could be our ‘slump’. If that turns out to be the case, I can put up with a two-game slump, no worries. It will be the least slump-like slump on record and we certainly have an easy enough programme (on paper) to quickly get back to winning ways. Strangely, our draw at Brentford still saw us gain a point on Norwich, a good side who could end up pushing us harder than Charlton.
Although a loss of form can account for a few ordinary results, a little more is happening right now with our team and that might explain why we haven’t finished off our last two opponents. Grayson has been experimenting with different players, rotating the squad, and we are not quite settled. For instance, shouldn’t Grella be given a more extended run in the team? His was only a cameo appearance against Kettering but the two goals oozed class. Then, he doesn’t even get on against Brentford. Perhaps Grayson promised him he would definitely get a game the next time we play them away, which, by my reckoning should be some time after 2064.
One of the (few) criticisms of Don Revie was that his loyalty to his great players did not prepare for the future when those players were no longer in the team. Players like Jimmy Greenhoff, Terry Yorath and Terry Hibbert had to go elsewhere to find their true form and considering our greatness then, we soon fell away, whereas Liverpool built a dynasty by shrewd replacement. Rotating the squad was never an option in those days and was a major reason why we came second so often. Just pure fatigue.
I don’t care who we’re talking about, every club always has its best team, the one who, with a full squad to choose from, are the manager’s final pick. With Leeds United at the moment, I get the feeling we are still a couple of players light, with no actual first choice for one or two positions. It is worth noting that the manager is eyeing the January window for yet more players. Meanwhile, it is the perfect opportunity for those involved to put in some outstanding performances and make a position their own. Which positions? Well, full back springs to mind but there are not that many players who are automatic choices, anywhere.
Reviewing the league table, we really are in a strong position, though, and will be able to cash in when other teams with weaker squads start to get the inevitable injuries or the dip in form that is bound to happen. It could be March before we really get into our stride. Then watch us go!
