Playing All The Way – Leeds United P04: The Final Countdown | @KingOfTheRooks

Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds…in the aftermath of our climb to the top of the table (you can catch up here if you missed it) we’re left facing the fact that it might be temporary with Man Utd’s goal difference. All we can do is try to keep winning.

All’s well that starts well…

We’ve f***** it. After a great start Lukic cannot hold back the pressure and we finally cave to a Sheringham goal.

With the transfer window about to slam shut we receive approaches for Cantona, Wetherall, Whelan and Kelly. Nobody is leaving. Especially not Gordon Strachan. Continuing to prove that you can play walking football of a Premier League standard.

Consistency is key here and, a 1-0 away win against Harry’s Happy Hammers is in fact an excellent result. That said, Harry got sacked months ago so f*** knows who’s running the show, do I care? No.

We’ve had a poor day in front of goal. Lesley was complaining that Lee can’t finish and now it’s gone beyond the bedroom.

He finally puts it to bed in Yorkshire, but is it enough to get us on top?

In short, no.

Rod Wallace is back! We really need a boost as Whelan has gone off the boil a bit.

As I sit there slagging Whelan off, he only goes and scores.

What’s that? Man Utd have lost?

Geeeeet up! Advantage…Leeds!

And by advantage Leeds we mean still Man Utd’s to throw away. We are almost humbled by the same team that beat our rivals, but thanks to a red card and Roy subbing Michael Owen again, we make it out alive with 3-points.

At this stage I should point out a fatal error and come clean. In my research, a number of sites had Sellars down as being part of the squad in 1991/92, but in fact he was a close season signing and therefore played no part in the title winning journey. Please forgive us as he has massively contributed to our performance so far!

We’d love to get Chapman to 20 goals, but its going to be tricky. He’s slowed down more since turning 38. Man Utd beat Southampton so we need to keep pushing on.

I think, without the red, we were at risk of Lukic being overwhelmed again. Thankfully the old men do their bit.

Ball is in our court now. Tremendous news. Boom. I could argue we’d have won here without Sellars.

We head into the final day needing a win. A draw wouldn’t guarantee us anything due to Man Utd managing to concede only 10 goals all season.

Knowing how unreliable Lukic has been at times in big games, and understanding the importance of this one, we go ‘keeperless.

It would feel like cheating if we weren’t trying to overhaul our rivals. So, for that, I’m comfortable with it. Unfortunately, we meet a Shay Given that is having an absolute blinder and a fit again Alan Shearer.

Was it enough?…

No. F****** b*******. Second on goal difference. Unbelievable. That is ridiculous. Our heroes are knackered, dejected. It’s time to retire for most of them. Some have been superb; some have been abysmal.

Forgive Dorigo and Whitlow, they played a few games between them but I also had Hodge, Sellars, McClelland and even Grayson or Kelly at left back so their ratings are an anomaly. The ‘keepers either had nowt to do or were poor when they did, we lived on a knife edge in that respect. When it comes to goals, we were blessed.

One shy of getting Chapman to 20 goals. Whelan with 17 mostly off the bench. 41-years young Strachan with 10 goals. He also pounded the assists too.

So, there we have it. Fine margins, but our lack of solid ‘keeping options is probably the cause of losing that title. I think we did a hell of a job considering the age of some of these players. I hope you’ve enjoyed it. Now to think of who to drag from the past next???


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