The 04/05 season is coming to a thrilling conclusion, and with my Leeds side still in the hunt on 3 fronts, let’s see how it unravelled. And let me tell you, it really did unravel.
League Cup
It took 120 minutes, but eventually…
Bakayoko wins it at the death and the pointless trophy is mine. Things are getting tricky though, Beckham has picked up a long term injury and we’re struggling massively without him, chances seem to be at a premium. Keane is still very inconsistent and Bakayoko has had a few injuries.
Champions League
You’d think we’d be on a high after the cup final win, but instead we play atrociously and Colin Todd’s team take full advantage
Shameful. Todd’s side were unrelenting but we were awful. That’s all over then, the second leg is a procession for both teams
Few will have predicted the Bolton vs PSG final but it’s a cracker
Poor Bolton – a valiant effort. I wonder if they will ever get another crack at the big time?
Premier League
This season has another classic finale. Let me guide you through it
So with 2 games to go, it’s a great time to be me. My game in hand is at Old Trafford though, so that’s tricky. The goal differences are so close so if I can avoid defeat at Old Trafford, they are out of it and it’s between Chelsea and us. Unfortunately, Robbie Fowler (just back from his leg break) scores in a 1-0 win and makes it all very tight
Chelsea host Newcastle whilst I go to Coventry. If we both lose, Man Utd would steal it with a win against Leicester. To make matters even more exciting, look at the bottom of the table:
Liverpool play at Hull in the odd situation where they are on the verge of relegation.
We have another bad day and lose 3-1 at Coventry. Man Utd ease past Leicester, so it’s all down to Chelsea vs Newcastle
Tony Adams has done it! A late goal sends Stamford Bridge tepid and Chelsea have their first title. Because of the results, I’m 3rd which means no Champions League. Furious.
Liverpool’s failure to win at Hull means they are relegated. Unthinkable.
Wow. Let’s see if the FA Cup was any more sensible
FA Cup
Not really! The form book is turned upside down and it’s a Blackburn vs Leicester final. Keegan gets his hands on the trophy
Very comfortable in the end. It’s a season of disappointment for Newcastle though as they are beaten in the UEFA Cup final too
So all that’s left is the awards ceremony. I’ve got a face like a slapped arse after how that has all transpired and I think this award is purely ironic
Jerks. He’s the rest of the awards
Roy Evans resigns out of shame, and I’m presented with an opportunity. Do I want to re-build one of England’s most successful clubs?
We’re well into the 2004/05 season now and Leeds are holding it together whilst the rest of the football world is falling apart around us. Why you ask? Let’s find out.
After running the gauntlet of Real Madrid, PSG & Celtic for a Champions League group, and remaining unbeaten throughout, I was surely deserving of a decent Quarter Final draw. Wrong.
Interesting to see that Bolton have joined us in the last 8, what a treat. They’ve got a much better draw again, too. Whatever. It goes from bad to worse for Real Madrid as Ronaldo is crocked
Competing in the league & Champions League means I have no real need to be in the league cup and have been actively trying to get knocked out by playing my reserves. However, it seems to be harder than it looks
I thought I was sure to lose at Villa with Erik Nevland up front, but he scored in a 2-0 win. It’s Hull in the semis too, so we’re actually off to Wembley again
It wouldn’t be an update without a move between Barcelona and Real Madrid
Great, can’t wait to have to play against him as well. Meanwhile I take the chance to snap up an old favourite of mine
£400k is a steal, well sort of. I’m happy anyway. Joe Kinnear knows how to drive a bargain
I politely decline and Heskey ends up at Man City, much further down the table. No doubt a relegation beckons.
Enough of that though, it’s Champions league time. Decent enough 1st leg result, but going to be tough at the Nou Camp.
But not as good as the 2nd leg!
Away goals! Bakayoko bags it and away we go. However it’s all gone mental on the continent
Standard stun Juve in extra time and Bolton win in the Velodrome. Good grief.
For goodness sake.
One cup I’m not involved in is the FA Cup after a very early exit. Here are the semi finals
Marashliev no doubt ready to cause massive issues for Man Utd. Here’s the Premier League tables
Tony Adams’ Chelsea are the leaders as they continue the recovery they started last season. Arsenal are still in there and Forest are not far behind them, though they have Guardiola in centre midfield which is ridiculous. Also, Stuart Pearce is their manager. Villa have fallen way off the pace, but Brian Little does what he wants.
It’s a very tight table with, with 6 points separating 11th down to 18th. The bottom 2 are already slightly adrift and incredibly Liverpool are also down there. It’s going to be a real dogfight to the end of the season.
To finish on a different note, Riccy Scimeca had a 2 week jaw injury. It’s escalating and he’s now at 2 months out. I’m worried he’s had what Ken Griffey Jr drank in the Simpsons and he might never recover…
Join us next time to see if I can retain the Premier League and if Scimeca can chew again
Welcome to the 2004/05 season, if you haven’t been with us from the start hopefully you have read the summary article which will get you up to speed.
As champions, I’m loathe to hack the squad to bits, afterall I pretty much wrote off a season building it before surprisingly taking the title on the last day. I do want some old guile though, and you don’t get much older or guily-er than this man
Don’t tell him but this was my first choice, only he turned me down
Anyway, it wouldn’t be a summer without a former Real Madrid star moving to Barcelona
At least he had the nerve to turn Real Madrid down. Great times. As champions, I get to play in the Charity Shield against the mighty Bolton, and it’s a good start for us
Robbie Keane is ready for my first team now, he’s had 100 loan moves (many whilst I was over in France admittedly) but I’ve decided this is his year
We’ll see. I get a horror of a Champions Leaue draw
Whilst Bolton, who had to come through qualifying, get this, which looks a bit easier
Still though, rather be in it than not. My league form is ok but I couldn’t have predicted this
He’s arrived! Absolute scenes in my front room when the winner went in. But the World is talking about another striker…
It doesn’t look much to begn with but then you notice in his one international game, he scored and set up the other 3 in a 4-0 win. He followed that up with a goal and an assist against the USA. Kevin Gallen, England hero. Unfortunately, you have to remember England will host World Cup 06 and thus are playing meaningless friendlies right now, but maybe this is where Glenn Hoddle’s masterplan comes together.
Back at Leeds, we follow up the astonishing win over Real Madrid with a win in Celtic and a routine home win over my old enemies PSG. That one’s for Auxerre! But then it’s off to the Bernabeu
Not a problem. What have I created here!?
With 2 games to go, the group looks very healthy
Back on the domestic front, the league table looks ok at this early stage, but some important months to come
Nobody is wielding the axe yet but I’m amazed to see Arsenal are top, I beat them 3-0 at Elland Road with minimal fuss. Meanwhile, look at Liverpool!
Has Roy Evans’ great run finally come to an end? After his early success, Liverpool are definitely on the wane.
Join us next time where I’ll hopefully seal my place in the last 8 of the Champions League and continue to hang in the Premier League title race.
