Leeds United- Townend's return

Anyone who reads my threads may be wondering why I started a new one. Simple. I got a little behind and my motivation to keep the story uo degraded little by little until there was none left.

Times have changed now. This is my new story and I am 100% confident I'll be able to keep this story up because I'll be making it a bloody good 'un!

Leeds United manager Neil Warnock has tendered his resignation with immediate effect. The announcement comes on the back of a 6-0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest. So far, Leeds have played 10 games and won just one and lost seven. The Yorkshire club now sit at the foot of the table with just 5 points, 4 points adrift of safety.

The fallen giants are once again in desperate need of a saviour. The bookies' favourite is currently Dean Saunders at 3/1 who is also out of a job following a sacking from Doncaster Rovers. Other front runners include Gareth Southgate (6/1), Gordon Strachan (10/1), Neil Redfearn (20/1) and club icon Josh Townend (25/1)

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LEEDS APPOINT TOWNEND AS MANAGER

Ex-captain signs on on an initial one-year deal



Leeds United are proud to announce that ex-captain Josh Townend will be the man to replace Neil Warnock as manager at Elland Road initially until the summer starting with immediate effect.

In a statement from the board, chairman Ken Bates said "it gives us great pleasure to announce Josh Townend as the man to take charge at Elland Road. Some may question his managerial experience, but we believed that his leadership experience as captain of the club for over ten years as well as his captaincy of England was more than sufficient to meet the criteria"

"we are very optimistic about this appointment and hope Josh can be the right man to take this club forward. The initial aim is to get off the bottom of the table and we'll see where we go from there"

With participation in Italia 90, Euro 96, World Cup 98 and Euro 2000 to his name, Townend was the last remaining title winner to depart the club, following his retirement in 2004, having joined the club on schoolboy terms at 16 years of age in 1981. He will take the reins for next Saturdays fixture away at Derby County.

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OCTOBER 2012

Npower Championship Derby County 3-0 Leeds United
Npower Championship Peterborough 3-4 Leeds United
Npower Championship Leeds United 0-2 Blackpool

Overall, it has been a disappointing start for Josh Townend. However, he can take from his side's incredible 4-3 comeback away at Peterborough where they trailed 3-0 at half time before a goal from Paul Green, a brace from Davide Somma and a 93rd minute winner from super sub Becchio sealed the three points. The defending so far has been poor as Leeds have conceded 8 goals in those 3 games. To help with the situation, Leeds have brought in West Brom defensive midfielder Gonzalo Jara and Everton right back Seamus Coleman on initial three-month loans but only time will tell if they have any impact on the club's fortunes.

GOAL SCORERS

Davide Somma (2)
Paul Green (1)
Luciano Becchio (1)

TRANSFERS IN

Gonzalo Jara West Brom 3-month loan
Seamus Coleman Everton 3-month loan

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NOVEMBER 2012

Npower Championship Leeds United 0-2 Huddersfield Town
Npower Championship Hull City 5-1 Leeds United
Npower Championship Leeds United 1-1 Millwall
Npower Championship Barnsley 3-1 Leeds United
Npower Championship Leeds United 1-4 Blackburn Rovers
Npower Championship Crystal Palace 2-2 Leeds United

It's been another disappointing month for Leeds United as the Yorkshire club didn't win a single game. There have been some very worrying results and it is a distressing situation for everybody connected with the club. Leeds signed unattached ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Hilario on emergency transfer deadline day but the difference is yet to be made. It should be a case of hanging in there until January when some personnel changes can hopefully be made (and hopefully not involving new manager Josh Townend). The ex-skipper has his work cut out this year and is really being made to work for his £9k per week salary

GOAL SCORERS

Luciano Becchio (3)
Luke Varney (1)
Rodolph Austin (1)
Davide Somma (1)

TRANSFERS IN

Hilario Unattached

MANAGER'S MEMO

Ken doesn't seem too impressed at the moment. If I can just hang onto my job until January and I'll be able to prove my worth in the transfer window

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LEEDS ANNOUNCE ARSENAL LINK

North London giants agree to become parent club



Leeds United and Arsenal are proud to announce a link between the two clubs which will see Arsenal become the parent club and Leeds become the feeder club

As part of the deal, Arsenal will pay Leeds an annual fee of £115k until Leeds United are promoted to the Premier League or in the unlikely event that Arsenal are relegated to the Championship. Leeds are not obliged to play the player.

Leeds will have first option on loan deals for which Arsenal will pay 100% of the player's wages.

An annual pre-season friendly will be played and Arsenal are not obliged to field a full strength side.

It would be great to see you insert some images to make it better to look at - a lot of text can be over powering. Just advice, you choose to take it on board or not. Good luck with the rest of the season.

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DECEMBER 2012

Npower Championship Leeds United 0-1 Birmingham City
Npower Championship Leicester City 2-3 Leeds United
Npower Championship Leeds United 2-1 Cardiff City
Npower Championship Bristol City 3-3 Leeds United
Npower Championship Ipswich Town 2-3 Leeds United
Npower Championship Leeds United 0-0 Bolton Wanderers
Npower Championship Brighton & HA 0-1 Leeds United

It's been a very Merry Christmas period for the Whites this year as they picked up 4 wins, three of which came away from home all in spectacular fashion. They came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Leicester 3-2 at the King Power Stadium, overturned what looked to be a 2-1 comeback from Ipswich to beat them 3-2 at Portman Road and then they were involved in a smash and grab 1-0 win away at Brighton where Davide Somma scored in the 94th minute. The win against Cardiff City was also special as it was their first win against the Welsh outfit since the 80s.

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As for league standing, Leeds are now off the foot of the table and sat in 23rd, just 3 points from safety. If you look at the goal difference though, it will take two wins at least to climb out of the drop zone.



Dominic Poleon has quite easily been the best Leeds player this month. The 19-year-old striker has repaid Townend's trust in him to replace Luke Varney up front with 5 goals from 7 starts this month

GOAL SCORERS

Dominic Poleon (5)
Luciano Becchio (3)
Aidy White (2)
El-Hadji Diouf (1)
Davide Somma (1)

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GFH PROVIDE CASH INJECTION

Sky Sports News sources are informed that Dubai-based investment bank GFH Capital have injected funds into Leeds United Football Club. The company led by Cornwall-raised Leeds fan David Haigh has not fully taken over the club, but has made a significant investment, with approximately £22 million for a 40% stake, meaning Ken Bates will continue to control the other 60%. This will come as good news to Leeds manager Josh Townend, who will be needing funds to rebuild his squad and revive the club's season.

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JANUARY 2013

Npower Championship Leeds United 1-1 Charlton Athletic
FA Cup Third Round Leeds United 4-2 Bristol Rovers
Npower Championship Leeds United 0-2 Burnley
Npower Championship Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Leeds United
Npower Championship Middlesbrough 1-2 Leeds United
FA Cup Fourth Round Leeds United 1-2 York City

Normally, there would be a table image here but as I am in May now, I can't post it. If I remember rightly, Leeds were in 23rd, just 2 points adrift of safety

It's been back to disappointment for Townend's Leeds. The wins in December looked to have been a turning point for the whites oly for them to fail to win their frist three league games of 2013 in addition to a 2-1 defeat at home to FA Cup minnows York City. It would appear there is much work to be done from here ahead of February.

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Luciano Becchio has been the best player this month. The Argentine striker has been in scintillating form, netting 3 goals in 6 games in January.

GOAL SCORERS

Luciano Becchio (3)
David Norris (2)
Gonzalo Jara (1)
Aidan White (1)
David Norris (1)
Iago Falque (1)

TRANSFERS IN

Iago Falque Tottenham £5M
Nadjim Abdou Millwall £4.5M
Robert Snodgrass Norwich £2M
Marko Pantelic Olympiakos £8K

TRANSFERS OUT

Alex Cairns Grimsby Season Loan
Monty Gimpel Northampton Season Loan
Gonzalo Jara West Brom End of Loan
Seamus Coleman Everton End of Loan

Good story so far. Keep it up

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FEBRUARY 2013

Npower Championship Leeds United 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Npower Championship Nottingham Forest 1-2 Leeds United
Npower Championship Leeds United 3-2 Watford
Npower Championship Leeds United 0-2 Derby County

By this point we were in 22nd, just 1 point adrift of safety

It's been a month of mixed results for Leeds. They recorded two consecutive wins with new striker Marko Pantelic making a contribution, which incluuded a win against Watford on the manager's birthday on the 19th. Just 1 point adrift of safety, Leeds will feel they are really able to push on from here and avoid the drop.

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Marko Pantelic has been without a doubt, the best Leeds player for February. The new recruit was looking forward to one last chance in the twilight of his career has he made the move to England for just £8000. He's stepped up to the new challenge with 3 goals in 4 appearances and looks like he could be pivotal in Leeds' survival bid.

GOAL SCORERS

Marko Pantelic (3)
Iago Falque (2)

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MARCH 2013

Npower Championship Blackpool 3-0 Leeds United
Npower Championship Huddersfield Town 1-1 Leeds United
Npower Championship Leeds United 1-0 Peterborough United
Npower Championship Leeds United 1-3 Hull City
Npower Championship Millwall 2-3 Leeds United

Leeds by this point were in 21st, 2 points clear of the drop

Despite a month in which Leeds won just 2 out of 5 games, they have finally climbed out of the drop zone at the expense of Peterborough, who they beat 1-0 earlier in the month. April will be the month when Leeds have to put the work in if they are to stay up this year.

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Jason Pearce has been the best Leeds player in March. Although naturally as a centre-back, the ex-Portsmouth man won't be expected to score, he did grab his first goal of the season in the win against Millwall at the end of the month to compliment some other solid defensive displays this month.

GOAL SCORERS

Marko Pantelic (2)
Jason Pearce (1)
Iago Falque (1)
Robert Snodgrass (1)
Luciano Becchio (1)

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APRIL 2013

Npower Championship Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Leeds United
Npower Championship Leeds United 0-1 Barnsley
Npower Championship Leeds United 2-1 Crystal Palace
Npower Championship Birmingham City 1-1 Leeds United
Npower Championship Leeds United 0-0 Leicester City
Npower Championship Leeds United 1-2 Bristol City

With one game left, Leeds were back in the drop zone, in 22nd, level on points with 21st placed Peterborough

After a start that had promised so much with a win away at Blackburn and a comeback against Crystal Palace, Leeds' April has fallen flat on its face towards the end and now Leeds find themselves in deep trouble on the back of three games without a win. With just one game left, Leeds really do have to pull it out of the bag at the end of the year away at Cardiff, and hope that Peterborough slipup at Barnsley.



Tom Lees has been without a shadow of a doubt, the best Leeds player for April. The young defender may not have got his name on the scoresheet, he has out 100% into every performance, playing a pivotal role in the back four and is probably unlucky to be in a team staring relegation in the face.

GOAL SCORERS

David Norris (2)
Ross McCormack (2)
Aidan White (1)
Lee Peltier (1)
Paul Green (1)

Next month, I will also post the result of Peterborough's last game as it will determine whether or not Leeds have a chance of survival