Murphy Impressed at Hockaday

Whites midfielder Luke Murphy says that the first impressions made by new Leeds United head coach Dave Hockaday have been favourable ones.

Hockaday got to work with his United charges at Thorp Arch on Thursday morning, although some players, including Murphy, had popped in the previous day for a light session to prepare themselves for the beginning of pre-season in earnest.

When pre-season training began, the real stuff was undeniably tough, according to Murphy, but he expected Hockaday coming across well with the vibes boding well for the future.

Murphy openly admitted he did not know much about the 56-year old former Forest Green Rovers manager when he was handed the head coaching position, he insists he has no preconceptions, with it all being about impressing the new ‘gaffer’ and not about his name.

Murphy was brought in by former Whites boss Brian McDermott for a shock £1million fee, having previously served at Crewe Alexandra as club captain. He said this about Hockaday: "I came in on Wednesday and met him and he seemed a really nice bloke and carried that onto the field in training.

“What he was saying football-wise and manager-wise was really positive.

“I was really impressed with the things that he was saying and things he is looking to do in the future, it sounds bright."

Murphy, 24, who became the expensive signing for almost eight years at United when he joined last summer, added: “Last season was about getting to grips with the Championship and the pace of the game and this season, I have one under my belt here and am used to a few more things.

“This season, I am looking to push on and have a bit more of an impact in the games and score a few more goals."

August Update

In our first month we managed to get ourselves into the top half of the table which is always a good way to start a month. We played two Yorkshire Derbies against Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town, both in the league. The Derbies are always a tight affair as one always wants bragging rights on the opposition. We got ourselves a healthy goal difference of +2 going into our second competitive month which is great.

Leeds United 1 - 2 Nottingham Forest

Sky Bet Championship
Elland Road
Attendance: 20,017


Simon Cox (21, 68)
Scott Wootton (88)

Bury 1 - 4 Leeds United

Capital One Cup 1st Round
Gigg Lane
Attendance: 2,198


Ryan Lowe (12)
Nile Ranger (19, 23, 74)
Chris Eagles (88)

Reading 0 - 3 Leeds United

Sky Bet Championship
The Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 16,076


Tom Lees (42)
Matt Smith (69)
Dominic Poleon (88)

Leeds United 0 - 2 Huddersfield Town

Sky Bet Championship
Elland Road
Attendance: 22,481


Nakhi Wells (21)
Martin Paterson (51)

Leeds United 2 - 0 Rotherham United

Sky Bet Championship
Elland Road
Attendance: 18,087


Ross McCormack (37)
Matt Smith (79)

Leeds United 1 - 0 Leyton Orient

Capital One Cup 2nd Round
Elland Road
Attendance: 8,122


Matt Smith (24)

Wigan Athletic 2 - 2 Leeds United

Sky Bet Championship
DW Stadium
Attendance: 13,625


Chris McCann (4)
Chris Eagles (10)
Nile Ranger (34)
Roger Espinoza (80)

The Month Ahead

The obvious stand-out fixture in September is the Manchester City Capital One Cup 3rd Round game being staged here, at Elland Road. But to be honest, I'm more bothered about the league and F.A. Cup. We have yet another Yorkshire Derby where we head down to Hillsborough to play our South Yorkshire friends, Sheffield Wednesday. The Watford and Bolton games will be the toughest but it won't be our biggest obstacle this season, hopefully.

Player of the Month

Nile Ranger



Although hated by many due to his off-field antics, Ranger has been a class-act for us this month and during pre-season. He was mainly a rotation option for Matt Smith but Ranger is starting to prove why his place in the starting eleven should belong totally to him. Ranger scored four goals in 4 games in August.

September Update

What a month. Unbeaten in the league and a very good attempt against champions of England Manchester City. September was just what we needed, gaining 3 wins and a draw in the league, along with a dignified exit from the League Cup. A brilliant month, capped off brilliantly with a 5-1 win over Charlton Athletic!

Sheffield Wednesday 0 - 4 Leeds United

Sky Bet Championship
Hillsborough
Attendance: 36,632


Matt Smith (22)
Vicente (pen 30)
Nile Ranger (54, 90+1)

Leeds United 2 - 1 Watford

Sky Bet Championship
Elland Road
Attendance: 16,070


Ross McCormack (7)
Marco Cassetti (41)
Matt Smith (88)

Bolton Wanderers 0 - 0 Leeds United

Sky Bet Championship
Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 16,500

Leeds United 2 - 3 Manchester City

Capital One Cup 3rd Round
Elland Road
Attendance: 32,455


Matt Smith (34)
Chris Eagles (43)
Sergio Aguero (45)
Fernandinho (47, 63)

Leeds United 5 - 1 Charlton Athletic

Sky Bet Championship
Elland Road
Attendance: 18,920


Lawrie Wilson (21)
Curtis Good (own goal 37)
Matt Smith (54, 62, 78)
Ross McCormack (pen 89)

The Month Ahead

A much easier month than last as we face nobody too threatening bar Cardiff City. We only have four games in October which helps the fitness of our players endlessly.

Player of the Month

Matt Smith



A superb month for the big six foot six man. He linked up perfectly well whoever was his partner and bagged six goals just this month including a hat-trick against Charlton Athletic!

Top-Half Finish Will Do - Hockaday

Leeds United manager David Hockaday has stated that this season will be a transition period for the club and said to fans that they shouldn't expect promotion this season but the next.

Following Massimo Cellino's purchase of the West Yorkshire side back in April, he insisted that Leeds fans could expect promotion by 2016 and if not, they could call him a failure. Cellino has seemed to put the pressure onto Hockaday to deliver after a great start to the season for the Whites.

This statement has certainly been backed up by the amount of players coming through and out of the Elland Road door, with nine players joining the Whites and six leaving on permanent deals so far.

Following Hockaday's recent success at Elland Road, his old boss at Forest Green Rovers, Dale Vince has been one of his many new plaudits for the Durham-born man. Vince said this about Hockaday: ""I'm really pleased for David actually, I'm chuffed for him

"He's a great bloke. He's a very hard-working, loyal and honest man with an unbelievable depth of footballing knowledge", he continued.

"Massimo Cellino is a lot better qualified than me to make a judgement on Dave, and I'm sure he's fulfilling and exceeding his expectations up north."

Hockaday finds his Leeds team in seventh place after twelve games in the Championship.

October Update

Despite the 2-0 loss to Cardiff City another solid month for us here. We had the front two firing in goals everywhere even with our two main wingers, Chris Eagles and Vicente out with injury for most of the month which meant Matthew Etherington and youngster Dominic Poleon had to step in, and they did. Brilliantly in fact, Poleon even got himself a goal against Bournemouth.

Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Leeds United

Sky Bet Championship
Portman Road
Attendance: 14,696


Chris Eagles (23)
Daryl Murphy (53)

Leeds United 3 - 0 AFC Bournemouth

Sky Bet Championship
Elland Road
Attendance: 19,147


Ross McCormack (45+1, 55)
Dominic Poleon (61)

Leeds United 0 - 2 Cardiff City

Sky Bet Championship
Elland Road
Attendance: 24,945


Kenneth Omeruo (19)
Craig Noone (53)

Birmingham City 0 - 1 Leeds United

Sky Bet Championship
St. Andrews
Attendance: 11,266

Nile Ranger (54)

The Month Ahead

Besides second placed Wolves, November seems reasonably easy as we play Blackpool (16th), Wolves (2nd), Brentford (20th) and Brighton (18th) so all apart from Wolves are in the bottom half of the table and some near the actual bottom which benefits us coming off the back of a successful month whilst our opponents are low on morale at this moment in time.

Player of the Month

Mark Schwarzer



Although our strikers have been firing away all season, scoring 41 goals in just 1847 minutes, our defence have been an absolute credit to our season so far, only 25 goals going past us in the same amount of minutes and one of the main players behind that stat is our keeper, Schwarzer who, at 41 years of age has the agility of a youngster.

Stanbrook to Join Hockaday

David Hockaday has surprised the Leeds United fan base today by confirming the signing of AFC Hornchurch center-back captain Michael Stanbrook.

Hockaday today announced the signing of the center-back to Leeds fans, although Stanbrook will join in January when the transfer window. Leeds fans are currently bewildered by the logic of bringing in a 32-year-old non-league center-back in the Championship.

People think Hockaday has seen something in Stanbrook whilst spectating an AFC Hornchurch match but surely he cannot be good enough for the Championship level at the ripe old age of 32? Stanbrook only just signed for Hornchurch this season after a five year absence, last playing for Bishop's Stortford in the Skrill South, or Blue Square South as it was known back in the 2007-08 season where he made 27 appearances and scored just two goals.

AFC Hornchurch fan David Smith was curious as to what Hockaday has seen in Stanbrook. He said to a reporter: "Stanbrook has been shit this season for us and he doesn't deserve the title of captain here, to say he's making a move from the seventh level of football to the second tier in the Championship and he's playing this shit he must have paid Hockaday to sign him!

"I wish him the best of luck, he'll definitely need it"

Maybe Hockaday won't use Stanbrook as a player but as coaching staff of some level. He signed the contract as a full-time player but he may be used as a coach, it certainly is an interesting move.