2015/2016 Mayhem with Leeds

Leeds United started the season with Uwe Rosler as the clubs head coach after controversial owner Massimo Cellino had replaced Neil Redfearn who had managed the club since 1st November 2014 right through to 20th May 2015 after having a previous spell as caretaker head coach.

August 2015
Leeds United started the campaign with a 1-1 draw against Burnley with Mirco Antenucci getting the Whites goal on the opening day of the season (August 8). Just 5 days (August 13) after the opening Championship game Leeds travelled to Yorkshire Rivals Doncaster Rovers for a Capital One Cup tie which ended in a 1-1 draw and a 4-2 penalty defeat for Rosler’s men, Lewis Cook had opened the scoring for Leeds but was sent off shortly after and Williams scored from the spot.

Three days later (August 16) and the Whites travelled to Reading for their 2nd Championship game of the season which ended in a 0-0 draw. After the game at the Madjeski Stadium Leeds travelled to Bristol City for their 3rd Sky Bet Championship game (August 19) which ended in a 2-2 draw, Goals from Mirco Antenucci and Chris Wood had put Rosler’s men 2-0 in front but they couldn’t hold out as late goals from Kieran Agard and Aiden Flint made sure that the game ended in a draw.

Following three draws from the opening three games of the season Leeds heading into the game with Sheffield Wednesday on August 22 looking for their first win of the season. Marco Matias opened the scoring for the Owls with a spectacular goal but Chris Wood converted from close-range as Leeds earned a 1-1 draw, which for me was respectable.

Leeds then travelled to the iPro Stadium on August 29 to face Derby County and they picked up their first win of the season after goals from Tom Adeyemi and Chris Wood either side of a Chris Martin finish gave Leeds a 2-1 win.

September 2015
Leeds started September with a home game against Brentford on 12 September which ended in a 1-1 draw after Mirco Antenucci rescued a 1-1 draw for the Whites after he cancelled out a Marco Djuricin goal which had put Brentford into the lead.

The next game of the season on September 15 saw Ipswich travel to Elland Road and it was also a first league defeat under Rosler after Tommy Smith scored the only goal of the game to give Mick McCarthy’s men the win.

In the next fixture for Rosler’s men saw the Whites travel to Stadium:mk to face MK Dons and first half goals Chris Wood and Charlie Taylor put Leeds into a 2-0 half time lead but a goal from Simon Church gave MK Dons some hope but nothing more than that as Leeds won 2-1.

The next fixture saw Leeds pick up another defeat and a disappointing defeat on September 27 at the Riverside Stadium as Middlesbrough won 3-0 thanks to goals from David Nugent, an own goal from Guiseppe Bellusci and Diego Fabbrini.

October 2015
Leeds started October with another defeat on October 2 as Birmingham City beat the Whites 2-0 at Elland Road thanks to goals from Demarai Gray and Jacques Maghoma.

After an international break Brighton and Hove Albion were the visitors to Elland Road on October 17 and they claimed a win thanks to a late Bobby Zamora goal after Liam Cooper cancelled out Solly March’s opener.

That Result against Brighton cost Uwe Rosler his job as he was sacked on Monday October 19 and was replaced on the same day by Steve Evans who had left Rotherham earlier in the season.

The first game under Evans were on October 21 as the whites travelled to Craven Cottage for a Championship clash with Fulham and Moussa Dembele opened the scoring on 23 minutes before a second half leveller from Chris Wood on 64 minutes from the spot helped the Evans era get of the mark with a point.

The second game under Evans saw the Whites travel to the Macron Stadium to face Bolton Wanderers on October 24 and they went behind on 32 minutes when former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi gave the Trotters the lead but on 71 minutes Mirco Antenucci levelled from the spot to ensure Leeds got a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

In the third game under Evans saw Blackburn Rovers travel to Elland Road on October 29 and take all three points thanks to goals from Craig Conway after 1 minute and Jordan Rhodes on 6 minutes gave the Ewood Park club all three points.

November 2015
Leeds started November with a home game with Cardiff City on November 3 and they won 1-0 thanks to a 63 minute winner from Alex Mowatt which were a great goal from the England midfielder.

The second game of November was a Yorkshire Derby for the Whites as they travelled to the John Smiths Stadium on November 7 thanks to goals from Mirco Antenucci, Chris Wood and Alex Mowatt. Mowatt’s goal was a beautiful finish.

After an international break Leeds hosted Rotherham United on November 21 in another Yorkshire Derby but it was Evans’ former club who got a won 1-0 thanks to Joe Newell’s second half goal.

The final game of November saw Leeds travel to London to face Queens Park Rangers on November 28 and it was QPR that got the three points as Charlie Austin scored a second half winner.

December 2015
Leeds United’s first game in December saw East Yorkshire travel to West Yorkshire as Hull City were the visitors to Elland Road on December 5 and Leeds won 2-1 thanks to goals from Chris Wood and Tom Adeyemi put Leeds 2-0 up but a second half goal from Ahmed Elmohamady gave it a nervous second half as Elmoamady’s goal came on 51 minutes.

The second game in December came on December 12 in London at the Valley as Charlton Athletic held Leeds United to a goalless draw.

The third game in December came in the Midlands as Leeds travelled to Molinuex as Leeds beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2, Benik Afobe opened the scoring for Wolves on 10 minutes but a Sam Byram brace and Stuart Dallas put Leeds into a 3-1 lead but a goal from Nathan Byrne 9 minutes from time but it was too late for Wolves to get anything from the game.

A fourth game in December saw Leeds host former manager Simon Grayson as he brought his club Preston North End to Elland Road on December 20 and an own goal from Alan Browne gave Leeds all 3 points after Jordan Pickford saw red for an elbow.

A fifth game in December saw Leeds travel to Nottingham and the City Ground on December 27 to face Nottingham Forest and a goal from Nelson Oliveira on 17 minutes gave Nottingham Forest the lead but Sam Byram’s goal 10 minutes from time earned a 1-1 draw.

A sixth and final game in December saw Derby the visitors to Elland Road on December 29 and the game ended in a 2-2 draw as Jeff Hendrick 13 minutes and Sol Bamba on 42 minutes equalised for Leeds before Chris Wood put Leeds in the lead on 71 minutes but 7 minutes later Tom Ince equalised for the Rams.

Championship previews

Blackburn v Leeds 12.30

I think Leeds could get a win here in this one, the clubs having a tough patch but I think Leeds will get the win. 0-2

Bolton v Preston 15.00

Good news on the takeover being completed for Bolton and I think this could push the club on and get the three points with a 2-1 win over Simon Grayson's Preston.

Cardiff v Ipswich 15.00

Battle of two play-off chasing teams at the Cardiff City stadium. I think Cardiff will just lose this one in a narrow defeat. 1-2

Fulham v Bristol City 15.00

Both teams near bottom of the table and changed managers this term so I can't see them being separated 1-1.

Huddersfield v Burnley 15.00

Burnley playing some good football this season and that's why they are up at the top end of the table, Huddersfield changed manager this term and I think Burnley will be too strong 0-3.

Hull v MK Dons 15.00

Hull just knocked out of the FA Cup in midweek against Arsenal, MK Dons fighting for their lives. Hull to edge it 1-0

Nottm Forest v Sheffield Wednesday 15.00

Sheffield Wednesday lost last week and drew in midweek whilst Forest lost at the weekend and won in midweek, tight game. 2-2

QPR v Brentford 15.00

The bees in some good form as are QPR the odd goal will separate the teams I'll go for Brentford to win it. 1-2

Rotherham v Derby 15.00

A game I'll be at Warnock has transformed Rotherham and inspired them into 3 back-to-back wins including beati Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough. 2-0 home win

Charlton v Middlesbrough (SUN, 15.30)

Middlesbrough to bounce back and take all three points against struggling Charlton . 3-0 Boro

Wolves v Birmingham (SUN, 13.15)

Form goes out of the window in Derby games and I think the Blues will get the win. 0-3

Mr Russ Vernon

England 2-0 Estonia: The Vernon Adventure

On Friday 9th October 2015, I set off from my house in Rotherham at 10.00am for a train at Rotherham at 10.37am to Doncaster to catch our connection train at Doncaster to London King's Cross at 11.17am.

We arrived at London King's Cross train station at 1pm and we then made our way to the underground tube station and purchased our tickets and then got a tube to Upton Park Tube Station to take a look at West Ham United's Upton Park stadium before the Hammers moved to the Olympic Stadium.

We then left Upton Park and walked to Millers View Pub in East Ham and had some food before we went on another tube straight to Wembley Stadium. We arrived at Wembley Stadium at 5.25pm and walked towards JJ Moons Pub for some pre-match drinks.

On the way to JJ Moons we saw the booth we're talkSPORT were presenting the drive time show from and I saw Ian 'The Moose' Abrahams and Chris 'Kammy' Kamara and got my photo with them. I also was interviewed by The Moose ahead of the game with him asking me for my score prediction, which I said would be England 3-0 Estonia with Harry Kane getting the first goal.

We then left JJ Moons at 7pm and walked back to Wembley Stadium and went into the ground and found our seats and we waited for build-up.

Just before the game got underway Wayne Rooney was presented with a golden boot by Sir Bobby Charlton after the Manchester United man broke the record for the most goals scored by a England International in England's last game. Rooney now has 50 goals for his country.

Onto the game and it looked like it was a training exercise and it took until the final minute of the 1st half for England to open the scoring when Arsenal's Theo Walcott collected a pass from Everton's Ross Barkley and he slotted it past the Estonia goalkeeper on the stroke of half time.

England upped the tempo for me in the second half and deservedly doubled their lead on 85 minutes when Leicester City's Jamie Vardy played the ball across to Manchester City's Raheem Sterling and he doubled the lead from close range.

England made it 9 out of 9 in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign as they beat Estonia 2-0.

After the game we went back on the Tube to Victoria and went to Victoria Coach Station and waited for a Megabus back to Sheffield. The Megabus left London at 1am and we arrived back in Sheffield at 5.15am and got a taxi back to our house in Rotherham, and got home at 5.40am.

I enjoyed my day out but found the game a bit boring.

Is Youth The Way Forward

I have been wondering is youth the way forward for Leeds United if they are to get back to the English Premier League?

I feel if we manage to keep hold of Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor, Kalvin Phillips, Chris Dawson etc then Leeds will have a big chance of getting back to the top flight of English football.

Since Neil Redfearn was appointed as head coach by the Elland Road club players like Mowatt, Taylor, Cook and most recently Phillips have been in and around the first team squad on match days for the clubs Sky Bet Championship fixtures in the past few months/weeks.

Byram, Cook, Mowatt and Taylor have all started virtually every game since the end of the January transfer window and it seems if Leeds United are going to move forward and gain promotion from the Sky Bet Championship we will need to keep all our young players in the squad for next season and add more Championship quality to the squad and help us mount a promotion push.

I asked the question on facebook here is what a few people said:
Andy Brown said: "I believe it is but any successful side needs an experienced back bone too. i-e Keeper, Central defender and cunning Striker up front... Put the youth around that and you should have a good football team...."

Phil Rourke said: "Yeah of course, I've been saying it for years now the only problem is we don't hang on to them."

Liverpool fan Liam Angell said: "Youth is always the way forward, eventually you have to trust the next generation as the youth are the future and Leeds need to build solid foundations rather than waiting for some rich benefactor to come in and save them."

Andrew Clarke said: "Yeah defo, always believed In youth and Lucky we have always had a gud un."

Peter Umpleby said: "I'm glad they have been given a chance this season, mowatt and cook are outstanding so far and taylor is holding his own, i just hope we can keep hold of them in the closed season."

Anne Taylor said: "We have quite a few younger players who have proven to be invaluable in the first team & several more who are on the fringes. We had this in the early 90's & with the right mix of experienced players they went on to help us to win the league & a good few of them went on to have good careers. I think that with the same mix of experience & youth it can be the way forward. Redfern knows these young guns & he will utilise them wisely."

Karl Morgan said: "I think that killock will turn out to be a good player for us, would love to see adryan put some good form in too."

A few thing youth is the way forward but we need too keep hold of the young players such as Byram, Mowatt, Cook, Taylor, Killock, Phillips, Dawson etc.

Madrid win again to stay ahead of the pack.

Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice and Gareth Bale also got on the scoresheet as Real Madrid beat Getafe 3-0 on Sunday morning to stay one point clear of Barcelona in Liga BBVA. The game was decided in the second half of the game after a goalless first half but it was not a case of the match lacking opportunities. 

Team Selection:
Getafe: Codina; Valera, Naldo, Velázquez, Alexis, Lago; Juan Rodríguez, Sammir (Álex Felip 83); Pedro León (Yoda 73), Sarabia (Hinestroza 56) and Álvaro Vázquez. Subs: Jonathan, A.Arroyo, Escudero, Valera.

Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo (Nacho 82), Kroos (Illarramendi 82), James, Isco (Khedira 78), Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo. Subs: Keylor Navas, Chicharito, Jesé, Álvaro Medrán.
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Match overview:

The Whites had various chances to score but failed to due to a shortage of luck and Getafe's tremendous work at the back. The latter happened one minute before the 30' of play. It was good individual play from Karim Benzema, who feinted on the back line, left the defender on the ground and crossed back in. James' free shot from the penalty spot was cleared for a corner by Lago. The last move of the first half was even clearer. Toni Kroos' shot, a free ball hit from the edge of the area with his left foot, hit the bar. The crossbar prevented Madrid from breaking the deadlock at the end of the first half but at the start of the second it was Codina who did well to keep them out the play was brilliant Isco got away from an opponent, he combined with James in the 53rd minute who passed through the defence but Benzema was unable to take advantage in the one-on-one. Four minutes later, the Colombian had the chance, but the home goalkeeper twice stopped his shots from the edge of the area.

The leaders' siege grew more intense as the minutes ticked on and it was only a question of time before the Madrid scored. And that is how it was. The goal was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, but the amazing move was created by Benzema. The French player's move in the 65' was reminiscent of the masterpiece that Butragueño left for posterity against Cádiz. Benzema got the ball as he was leaning over, he pretended to cross to get away from the first opponent, and without losing sight of the fact the Portuguese player was unmarked, he managed to keep control of the ball on the by-line in order to trick the second home defender by stepping on the ball with his right foot before assisting with his left. 1-0 RM.

Madrid had done the most difficult part, but they didn't sit back, and four minutes later they killed off the game as Bale finished off a textbook counter-attacking move following a measured James assist coming from the left wing. 2-0 RM. It wasn't the last goal from Madrid as Cristiano Ronaldo finished off the thrashing in the 79th. Once again, James provided the assist and the Portuguese player headed the ball into the net from the penalty spot. 3-0 RM. Real Madrid, who kept a clean sheet, are top of Liga BBVA with a game in hand.

Next game up for Real Madrid is against Córdoba away on Saturday kick-off 16:00 Local Time (15:00 GMT). Getafe face Celta Vigo at home on Monday kick-off 20:45 Local Time (19:45 GMT).

Russ Vernon on the Road: Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United

On Sunday 4th January 2015 i headed to the Stadium of Light to see Sunderland and Leeds United go head to head in the FA Cup Third Round Clash. We set off from Cross Key's Pub, Wath, Rotherham at 7.15am and arrived at Ralph Fitz Randal, Richmond at about 9am to eat breakfast ahead of the game. We left Richmond shortly after 11am and arrived at the Stadium of Light 12.36am ahead of the 1pm kick-off. Due to 5,000 Leeds fans trying to get into the Stadium i missed the first 10 minutes of the match.

Once inside the stadium and at my seat Sunderland were the looking the more likely to open the scoring and Steven Fletcher wasted a good chance to put them infront when Patrick van Aanholt's left wing cross came in the striker hit over the bar from close range.

Casper Sloth who came back into the side after not playing since November when he came off the bench v Charlton had to block a header from Santiago Vergini’s on the line. Moments after that and it was van Aanholt who opened the scoring after he drilled a ball cross the box into the bottom corner past Marco Silvestri in the United goal to give the EPL side the lead on 33 minutes. SAFC 1-0 United.

After the goal United started to see more of the ball inside the Sunderland half, but Rudy Austin just found his path blocked off inside the area following a brilliant move on the stroke of half-time.

HALF TIME: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.

Into the Second half and United almost got off to the perfect start when on loan Brazilian Adryan, found away past the Sunderland defence and saw his shot saved by the legs of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after being played through by Mirco Antenucci. Brian Montenegro forced another good save from Pantilimon as he looked to score at the near post. United were denied a penalty when Charlie Taylor went down under the challenge of Sebastien Larsson but referee Mike Dean said the challenege was outside the box but replays showed it was inside the area.

United then started to push forward to try and get back into the game and Sunderland thought they had a second goal of the afternoon but it was disallowed for offside after Fletcher was in a offside position but he put the ball into the back of the net. Silvestri then had to make a save from Giaccherini after his low effort and he made a good save on 69 minutes to keep it at 1-0 after he had to dive low to save Fletcher's goalbounded effort with both hands, before saving from Jordi Gomez.

At the other end Montenegro was found unmarked at the back post but he blazed over the bar and Austin dragged one wide from distance, while Fletcher drilled well wide of the far post as Sunderland threatened again. Cooper hit over with 10 minutes to go as Leeds remained within a shout of earning a deserved replay. Leeds had to be alert to Sunderland's counter attacks as Cooper slid in to deny Fletcher before ex loanee Connor Wickham saw a header saved by Silvestri. 

With moments remaining Liam Cooper saw a header come back of the post with Pantilimon rooted to the spot after after a brilliant cross from United midfielder Luke Murphy. That proved to be the final action of the game and United bowed out of the FA Cup with a brilliant second half display against the EPL side.

Full Time: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.

Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini, van Aanholt, Coates, O'Shea, Bridcutt, Rodwell (Larsson 37), Gomez, Alvarez (Wickham 46), Giaccherini (Johnson 74), Fletcher. Subs. Stryjek, Buckley, Beadling, Robson.

United: Silvestri, Berardi, Cooper, Del Fabro, C Taylor, Austin, Murphy, Sloth, Adryan (Sharp 62), Montenegro (Doukara 84), Antenucci. Subs. S Taylor, Killock, Thompson, Phillips, Dawson, Doukara.

Welcome to another blog, in this blog i will be reviewing the games from the weekend

Birmingham v Fulham: Birmingham City go into the game against Fulham on the back of a 2-2 draw against Norwich last Saturday while, Fulham are looking for a first win of the Campaign having only got 1 point from the opening 8 games.

Blackburn v Watford: Blackburn go into the game against Watford having beat Fulham 1-0 last time out while, Watford will be looking to claim a 6th win in 9 after a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at Vicarage Road last time out.

Blackpool v Norwich: Blackpool go into the game against Norwich on the back of a 0-0 draw with Brighton last time out, and like Fulham the Tangerines are looking for a first win of the campaign while, Norwich are looking for a 6th win of the campaign.

Bolton v Derby: Bolton go into the game against Derby on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Wolves in the League and after losing 2-1 to Chelsea in the Capital One Cupin midweek while, Derby are looking for their 4th win of the campaign.

Bournemouth v Wigan: Bournemouth go into the game against Wigan looking for a 3rd win of the campaign having drawn 1-1 with Watford in the League and having beat Cardiff 3-0 in the Capital One Cup in midweek while, Wigan go into the game on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich at home in the Monday Night Football.

Brentford v Leeds: Brentford go into the game on the back of a 4-0 defeat to Middlesbrough last time out while, Leeds go into the game on the back of 3 wins out of 4 under Caretaker manager Neil Redfearn and the game will be the first under new manager Darko Milanic.

Cardiff v Sheffield Wednesday: Cardiff go into the game against Sheffield Wednesday on the back of a 2-2 draw with Derby in the league and having lost 3-0 to Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup in midweek while, Sheffield Wednesday go into the game having won 1-0 v Reading last time out in the league and having been dumped out of the Capital One Cup in midweek at Manchester City losing 7-0 despite holding the Premier League side in the first half.

Charlton v Middlesbrough: Charlton go into the game against Middlesbrough having drawn 1-1 at Rotherham in the league while, Boro go into the game having beat Brentford 4-0 in the league and narrowly losing to Liverpool in the Capital One Cup in midweek Aitor Karanka’s men took the Premier League outfit to penalties having drawn 2-2 in 120 minutes Boro eventually lost 14-13 on pens.

Huddersfield v Millwall: Huddersfield go into the game against Millwall on the back of a 5th defeat in 8 league games having lost 3-0 to Leeds last time out while, Millwall go into the game having held league leaders Nottm Forest 0-0 last time out.

Ipswich v Rotherham: Ipswich go into the game against Rotherham on the back of winning three Championship games in a row while, Rotherham go into the game on the back of drawing 1-1 at home to Charlton last time out.

Nottm Forest v Brighton: Nottm Forest go into the game against Brighton on the back of being held 0-0 at the New Den against Millwall while, Brighton go into the game on the back of drawing 0-0 with Blackpool in the league and having beat Burton 3-0 in Capital One Cup in midweek.

Sunday

Reading v Wolves: Reading go into the game against Wolves having lost 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday in the league last time out while, Wolves go into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over Bolton in the league last time out.

Feel free to check out my own personal website: http://footballandothersports.com/

Mr Russ Vernon