> Blackwell position became untenable because he >> couldn't handle the Leeds >> bully boys. Once he'd lost the crowd, and let's >> recall for a moment the >> disgraceful booing of our own players at matches, >> Bates had two choices - to >> stick with what an increasingly vociferous element >> had identified as a >> hapless clown or to sack him and let Carver pick up >> the pieces. > > Chris, that's not correct. Blackwell's position became > untenable because we haven't picked up many point this > year (that's year not season by the way !). He put > faith in an ageing captain and played jokers such as > Crainey. He had to go. Nowt to do with the crowd / > 'bully boys'.
Blackwell's position with Bates only became untenable after the crowd turned - as you have pointed out, the results were dreadful for the whole year - Bates didn't act until the crowd turned, though it was obvious Blackwell was crumbling under the pressure. > >> >> The irony in all of this is that Blackwell's major >> crime was held to be that >> he had the best squad in the championship but played >> them out of position in >> an inflexible and defensive formation. With >> hindsight that appears to be >> utter gibberish - what I'd give now for an >> inflexible and defensive >> formation! > > So you saying it isn't true ? Ask Healy what he thinks > of Blackwell. Ask Marlon King ? Ask Killa why he > couldn't get in the team for a fat b'stard for half a > season ? Ask Blake if he's a winger or ask Hulse if he > likes playing on his own up front ? I could go on. > It's not gibberish. Blackie's formation and team > tactics were crap and once the luck ran out we saw the > results his tactics deserved. I'm saying that he didn't have the best team in the championship and that he did achieve better than expected results with them, I don't recall him ever suffering the abject humiliation that Carver has inflicted on us. > > >> >> I believe, and the results over two seasons suggest >> I am right, that >> Blackwell was doing a good job with sub standard >> players > > Can you explain the results THIS YEAR CHRIS ??? What > happened to the 'good job' with sub standard players ? > I don't see it ? errrr - Play off final?, Crystal Palace, PNE, Southampton? > > - if good >> management is defined as working with the team you >> have then Blackwell did >> an excellent job and we are seeing the proof of that >> now. Not one of the >> anti Blackwell brigade has ever offered a viable >> alternative strategy to the >> one espoused by Blackwell - "build a platform then >> make it better". > > Bollocks Chris. How can you judge what is going on now > with anything ? It's Blackie's team that have imploded > and if you want to argue stupid points then Carver got > our best result of the season against Brum or have you > conveniently forgotten that. No - and I doubt I'll forget 4-0, 4-1, 5-1 in a hurry either - come on Rich admit it - unlikely as it may have seemed, things have got worse by any measurement. You were in fact wrong ;-) > >> >> I suspect that until the Leeds crowd accept that we >> are not a 'big club' any >> longer then the decline will continue. > > We are a big club Chris and we will be back. > I admire your unquenchable optimism....seriously. > Only a couple >> of weeks ago somebody >> on this list advanced the theory that Gordon >> Strachan would jump at the >> chance of coming to Leeds > > Who said that ? Come on Chris who said it ? err - let's think - actually Rich it was you! > > - yesterday on WACCOE it >> was reported that Dennis >> Wise had turned us down. That is the gap between >> reality and fantasy and >> until it is bridged and we support the players on >> the pitch, the manager in >> the dugout and the chairman at the controls, we will >> not see major >> improvement. > > Don't listen to rumours Chris or else you'll end up > looking stupid. I take your point - since Wise has now accepted the job - but do I look as stupid as the person who said 'Anything will be better than Blackwell'? Actually I'm in favour of Wise - he should be able to sort out the internal problems and I always enjoyed watching him in his declining years - the sneaky fouls, the jokes with the ref - excellent stuff - let's just hope the crowd back him eh? Because if they don't, and hound both Bates and Wise out of the club, we can expect Division 2 football next year...assuming we still exist Chris _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist oh alright then :-)
