It may look petty, but this online antagonism shows that many football clubs have become relatively savvy online operators after their faltering first steps a decade agoIf you, like many people right now, are yearning for common courtesy, a sense of civility in these stricken times, a balm that might heal the nation’s wounds, then a word to the wise: don’t start with the official Leeds United Twitter account.Leeds were knocked out of the Championship play-offs by Derby County a fortnight ago. Turned over 4-2 in their own backyard no less. You might have thought a period of humility and introspection would follow. Not so. Whoever runs the Leeds account has instead seen fit to use the time to cultivate...
Suspension of disbelief will be necessary as fans of Norwich, Sheffield United and either Aston Villa or Derby contemplate Premier League life. Luckily football supporters are good at thatIt was a privilege to be at Elland Road for the play-off second leg between Leeds and Derby, not only because it was one of the most grippingly exciting Championship games of the season but because it was a throwback to a rawness and immediacy that is gradually disappearing from football at the top level.Walking in to the ground late along with hundreds of others affected by an M62 closure in late afternoon, it was impossible not to be struck by the raucousness and sheer volume that could be created by 36,000...
With gameplans on show in matches and training grounds often visible from outside, is hiding in a hedge really that bad?One hopes Marcelo Bielsa does not get punished too severely after admitting that he spies on everyone. The Leeds United manager confessed immediately when caught blatantly watching Derby County training sessions, contacting Frank Lampard and taking responsibility for the stunt, and was reminded by his own club of Leeds’s “integrity and honesty”. That alone should have been enough to conclude this entertaining episode with the wry smile it deserved, although Bielsa gave it fresh impetus with his honesty offensive. Related: Marcelo Bielsa admits Leeds have spied on every opponent this season Related: David Squires on … football spying and Neil...
From Leeds United’s Jack Clarke to Middlesbrough’s Marcus Tavernier, these 10 talented teenagers are quickly becoming fixtures in the future of footballAfter several game-changing cameos off the bench, the York-born forward was finally handed his full debut by Marcelo Bielsa last Sunday. Raw and direct, Clarke has the ability to grab games by the scruff of the neck; he kickstarted an extraordinary comeback victory at Villa Park last month and made a similar dent against Nottingham Forest and, before that, Sheffield United. Clarke has pleasantly surprised Bielsa, becoming the Argentinian’s go-to man, asked to spark Leeds into life at half-time on no fewer than six occasions since November. “When I started to look at his skills I didn’t imagine that...
Big-spending Nottingham Forest will hope they can do a Wolves but the English second tier remains unpredictable Related: League One 2018-19 preview| Ben Fisher Related: League Two 2018-19 season preview | Ben Fisher Related: Number of clubs sponsored by betting firms is ‘disturbing’, say campaigners Related: Football League 2018-19: 20 things to watch out for this season | Jacob Steinberg Continue reading...