Leeds United under Simon Grayson rose from a League One side to a promotion contender into the hallowed Premier League. Grayson took over and steadied a rocking ship and has to be given credit for this.

Despite starting strongly in Grayson’s first full season in charge, Leeds stumbled near the finishing line but still managed to clinch promotion back to the Championship. Therefore when Grayson guided the team to 7th place the following term in the Championship it was a massive achievement. This was clearly an over achievement and may have spelled the beginning of his downfall as he could not realistically hope to equal or better this placing without money available for reinforcements, without once again performing minor miracles. This season they are once again knocking on the door of the play-offs in spite of a run of dreadful December results.

The attacking prowess of the Leeds front line has papered over the fissure that is the defence. They have conceded 42 goals already this season which is vastly greater than the teams in and around the play-offs. The reasons for this goals conceded tally could be numerable. On a tactics front Grayson may have been a little naïve in thinking that he can play the same attacking football in the Championship as he could in League One. Others would say that he has been unlucky in that basic errors from his playing staff have cost him dearly. Any one reason would in truth be far too simplistic.

The fact of the matter is that Bates has seen fit to terminate Grayson’s contract. He is however in no rush to bring in a new face to the helm. Neil Redfearn has taken over as caretaker and eased the pressure on bates with a comprehensive victory over Bristol City. Bates has publically given Redfearn time to impress, and whilst he goes about doing that the applications will be clogging up the mail room, and there will be no shortage of competent candidates for what is still a very big club.

Bates needs a manager that he can trust to bring more out of the current players than Grayson did, to weld together the defensive frailties whilst retaining the attacking flair which has made Leeds a joy to watch. The transfer window has already slammed shut and I was surprised to see Sven Goran Eriksson apply for a role which would not see a huge transfer kitty which he so likes the work with such as he had at Leicester. The Leeds faithful should be happy to see that Bates is not drawn blindly to a big name. This is definitely not saying that a big name would not fit the bill, but it has to be the right one – for example Neil Warnock. It has taken a while to mention him in this article but I find that I cannot fail to.

The Championship Houdini would bring confidence to fans and players alike at Elland Road simply because of his track record. The timing of the sacking of Grayson just after Warnock has become available is dubious and suggests something behind the scenes from Bates, although I would have expected movement earlier if that was the case, but it would most certainly be a coup for Leeds if they manage to convince him to return to Yorkshire. The Leeds fans would have to change their song list slightly but football is a fickle world and such folly would soon be forgotten – a lot worse has been brushed under the footballing carpet.

The lack of confidence shown by Tony Fernandes must have been a real kick in the teeth for Warnock. As it stands I think that Warnock has gone back to the country and is sitting on his tractor an unhappy man, cursing his luck. I am not so sure that he would be willing to take a pay cut so soon to do, once again, what everyone knows and expects him to do in the Championship.

If the money given to Hughes fell into Warnock’s hands then I am sure that QPR would be safe this season, and he would be on his way to bigger and better things – either at QPR or elsewhere. As it stands I am doubtful for the safety of QPR, despite at the start of the season being confident that all three promoted sides would stay up. I stuck my neck out there and I am tempted to do so once again and say that Warnock will wait for another Premier League job to prove he can do it.

There have been some odd decisions lately at Elland Road, one of the most recent being the sale of Jonny Howson for the paltry sum of £2m. Leeds still has to be very careful with their finances but the sale of the club captain without a replacement is very worrying. This highlights the constraints in which a new manager would have to work under and not many would be prepared to face the expectations – which are clearly above mid-table otherwise Grayson would not have been sacked – unless they could see something in the Leeds squad that others have missed. Grayson made some great signings such as the now Ivory Coast International Max Gradel and you would think that the new man would have to be equally astute, especially if Leeds fail to go up this season. This is something that Eriksson for one is not especially known for.

One thing is for sure, Bates is evaluating all options available to him. His backing of Redfearn has told the fans that that they must wait another two games at least for more news which is good for all parties. His dismissal of Eriksson shows that he will not make a rash decision.

Leeds United have long enjoyed the support of boisterous fans with Elland Road considered as one of the most intimidating and hostile environments for visiting teams. Despite the financial crisis which resulted in the fall of Leeds into the third tier of English football for the first time, the Whites were able to earn promotion to the Championship last season. Leeds came close to fighting for a return to the EPL but barely missed on the play-offs after finishing in 7th place.

Various figures provided by Hitwise show Leeds United’s website as the 6th most visited football website for weeks in the last few years. The same source, Hitwise, showed the Whites having a very popular website in the UK with a ranking as high as 5th overall. A few years ago, and despite Leeds languishing in the lowly third tier of English football known as League One, the club not only broke all attendance records for that division but was also considered as the most popular and best supported club outside the EPL and the Scottish Premiership (according to http://www.roymorgan.com/news/press-releases/2006/490/ in a report published by Roy Morgan Research).

Leeds ranked as the 9th most popular club in the UK. The Whites are clearly not lacking in terms of fans, many of whom are renowned for their loyalty and boisterous support. Based on popular support alone, Leeds deserve to be in the EPL despite the fact the club is also considered as one of the least liked outside Leeds and it vicinity. None other than Sir Alex Ferguson has singled out Elland Road as one of the most intimidating places to visit in Europe.

The challenge mounted by Leeds last season was effectively undone by the team’s weak defensive line which conceded a disastrous total of 70 goals in 46 matches. Once again it appears the club’s weak defensive unit will serve as a major hindrance in the face of achieving promotion back to the promised land. The Whites have already conceded 26 goals this season with the Championship’s worst defensive team leaking 30 goals, a clear sign of how poor the Leeds back-line has been.

To blame the defenders alone would be unfair since football is a team sport. The successive managers of Leeds during the last decade have failed to replace one of the club’s most dedicated players in former midfield anchorman David Batty. Since Batty’s retirement, Leeds have not had a reliable and omnipresent holding midfielder who can help shield the back four. There are a number of reasons behind the staggering tally of goals conceded by Leeds during the last couple of seasons; below is a list of some of the important ones:

1) The Failure to replace Batty as mentioned above has become a massive disadvantage and has left the club’s back-line exposed. It must be noted that none of the midfielders and wingers present on the current Leeds squad are intimidating and aggressive enough to strike fear into the hearts of opposing players.

2) The lack of consistency in goal has had a negative influence on the club’s fortunes as well. In the 2010-11 season, Leeds conceded 70 goals and at the end of the campaign Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was allowed to leave despite some solid performances in a number of matches. Prior to the financial collapse of the club, Leeds used to boast some of the better goalkeepers in England such as Nigel Martyn. The Whites have yet to find a goalkeeper who can provide both the consistency and confidence in protecting the net.

3) The injury to Patrick “Paddy” Kisnorbo deprived Leeds of their best defender for an extended period of time and despite his return this season, Paddy has yet to return to his best. The lack of quality defenders on the squad means Kisnorbo’s return is a welcome relief but the Australian defender still needs time to improve his sharpness and to return to his best.

4) The club’s defenders tend to lack certain characteristics with the likes of Aiden White relying on pace yet lacking consistency and experience. However, many of the club’s defenders are either slow or prone to making the occasional yet costly mistake. Red cards, own goals and various errors have epitomized the Leeds defensive line in recent years.

5) The club’s ownership has not pumped enough money into the club’s coffers and having a limited spending policy has cost Leeds in terms of the ability to sign quality defenders who can help shore up the porous defensive line. In the last couple of years, Leeds have often relied on loan signings, older players in the twilight of their career and in some cases veterans who are way past their best. These recruits are often temporary and at best they are below the needed standards at a club of the stature of Leeds.

In conclusion, Leeds can not only challenge for promotion but also win the division if the proper funding is made available to fix some persistent problems in recent years which are related to the defensive options available at the club. At least two quality centre-backs must be signed while a full-back is also needed. Adding those three defenders alone will not completely solve the problems because there is a need for a capable holding midfielder who can provide cover for the defenders.

If Leeds do not address these issues, then the club will likely be headed to the playoffs at the end of the season provided the attacking options continue to compensate for the defensive weaknesses.

Things could have been so different for Sheffield Wednesday. The Yorkshire club, currently in League One, were the first English club to give a trial to French legend Eric Cantona in 1992. As you’ll see from the video accompanying this article, Cantona even played one game for Wednesday, albeit an indoor game, but still, it’s quite an interesting chapter in the history of the temperamental Frenchman nicknamed King Eric.

After playing in the indoor game, Sheffield Wednesday manager Trevor Francis insisted that Cantona extend his trial by one week so he could see how Cantona played on grass. In hindsight, it was a ridiculous request by Francis when you consider that Cantona had already played almost 200 league games in France by that point. So, not surprisingly, Cantona refused to extend his trial and joined Yorkshire neighbors Leeds United instead.

The rest, as they say, is history. Under Cantona, Leeds United went on to win the league title and Charity Shield in 1992. Cantona was then sold later that year to Manchester United for £1.2 million. At Manchester United, Cantona won the player of the year award, four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and three Charity Shields.

Was this a massive mistake by Trevor Francis? Watch the video and you decide!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMcAtWOqnRY

Manchester United legend Nobby Stiles was, for at least one day, a Leeds United supporter. If you don’t believe me, watch the video below to see a clip of Stiles being interviewed during half-time of the Leeds United against Coventry City match from 1987.

The match, which was played at Hillsborough, featured a certain John Stiles, son of Nobby. John played for Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers. And now, according to Wikipedia, he’s a comedian.

Match commentary is by Martin Tyler. Half-time analysis featured Ian St. John and David Pleat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXPQs0rBnFU

This week’s stand out result for entertainment value in the Championship this weekend has to be the game between Burnley and Leeds at Turfmoor.

Leeds entered the game in the play off places whilst Burnley were sitting  in the top half of the table within striking distance of the play off mix.

Leeds started the game the brighter but it was Burnley who took the lead just within the half hour mark, as Brian Easton converted an Andre Bikeycorner.

The home side then extended this lead on thirty seventh minutes as Alex Bruce failed to deal with a punt forward by Clarke Carlisle forward ball allowing Jay Rodriguez to react fastest and put Burnley firmly in the driving seat.

The score line stayed the same until half time meaning that for the second week in succession ChampionshipTalk’s game of the week had the home side holding one of the most dangerous leads in football.

Leeds did not deserve to be two nil down at half time, as they had their fair share of the game and it took only seven minutes for Max Gradel to smartly finish from Luciano Becchio’s header and put Leeds back in the game.

Leeds now pushed for an equaliser and in form Luciano Becchio drew the visitors level with a close range finish from a Paul Connolly cross on sixty six minutes.

With a remarkable comeback in the bag it was Leeds who believed that the game was there for the taking with Burnley shell shocked, Robert Snodgrass almost gave the away side the lead as he hit the cross bar and it seemed that it was only a matter of time before Leeds completed a memorable come from behind victory.

Indeed there was to be no repeat of last week’s ChampionshipTalk game of the week, where Danny Graham scored to make Leicester’s two goal comeback a fruitless endeavour.

This time the shoe was on the other foot as Leeds took the lead in the 85^th minute it was Jonny Howson who scored to complete a remarkable victory for Leeds that puts them fourth in the table.

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Due to the weather it was a much reduced Championship fixture list with Doncaster, Hull, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth all unable to host a match due to pitch and safety concerns.

This did not stop this weekend being action packed with each fixture averaging three goals per game.

Those that battled the sub zero temperatures included Swansea who made the trip to East Anglia and were able to beat Ipswich courtesy of a Craig Beattie brace that will heap more pressure on Roy Keane as the Tractor Boys extended their losing streak to five games.

Second placed Cardiff scored late to deny Preston a shock victory; however the draw will be seen as an opportunity lost to close the gap on leaders QPR who were not in action.

Around the play off places Coventry and Leeds took advantage of half the league not playing by putting points on the board with Leeds creeping into the play off places after looking to be heading for defeat before a late double from Luciano Bechhio cancelled out Neil Danns opener.

Whilst in the midlands Derby were shocked as Norwich made a blistering start to go two goals up after just fifteen minutes and the Rams were only able to get one goal back meaning they dropped out of play off places as Norwich surged to fourth.

The takeover talk at Watford seemed to buoy confidence as the Hornets took advantage of the condensed Championship table with a late winner in an action packed 3-2 victory that moved the club five places to tenth.

Finally in the late kick off Steve Morison scored twice to help Millwall thump Scunthorpe by three goals to nil.

One of the most exciting days in the football calendar, the FA Cup 3rd Round draw took place yesterday. Throwing up its usual unpredictable mix of fixtures but failing to deliver a Premier League fairytale story for a non-league club.

We can already guarantee that there will be two sides from England’s second tier in the fourth round draw as Coventry v Crystal Palace and Preston v Nottingham Forest constitute the only all Championship 3rd round ties.

Overall the draw is a tough one for the Championship with more than 10 sides facing Premiership opposition, whilst increasing the chances of a relative upset it also means that a strong Championship presence in the fourth round and beyond is limited.

What do you think your teams chances of progression are in the FA Cup this season?

Despite this pessimism here is my selectino of the most interesting ties in the third round for the Championship:

Arsenal v Leeds

Until recent times a battle of two powerhouses of the modern game, the decline of the Yorkshire club will do little to diminish what will be seen as one of the ties of the round.

Last season Manchester United were knocked out of the competition by Leeds and with Arsene Wenger unlikely to name his strongest side this could be another opportunity for a famous ‘cupset’.

Leicester City v Manchester City

This is a game between two clubs with rich foreign investors, albeit on a different scale.

The cup has a habit of bringing together former players and managers and I am sure that Sven Goran Errikson will be desperate to overcome his former employers. With a home tie the chances of an upset are increased however the depth of the Manchester City squad; even a weakened side is likely to be considered strong favourites.

Reading v West Bromwich Albion

The game for me that is most likely to produce a ‘cupset’ despite mediocre league form, a home tie against Premiership opposition will present a big opportunity to put in a performance and victory that will raise morale and placate the fans.

West Bromwich Albion have started the season well but form is rarely a factor in the FA Cup and this represents an intriguing third round tie.

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Can Simon Grayson Bring Consistency and Promotion to Elland Road

Tomorrow night two of the promoted sides from League One Millwall and Norwich, face each other in a division where making the step up from the division below, does not automatically limit the ambitions of that club to securing safety.

This season two previously established Premier League sides and a London team at peace with it’s less than wholesome image, have set out to prove that in the Championship you are only as good as your last performance and that promotion can be more than a pipe dream in their first season back in the Championship.

So with a third of the season already under their belts how have the three promoted teams fared so far?

Norwich

Current position – 7^th

League Record  - Won 7, Drawn 3, Lost 5

Despite limited funds the club have put together a competitive squad that slowly edged itself towards the top of League One and the title.

Boasting a relatively young squad, comprised like much of the division with a blend of youth players, loanees and talented journeyman. Notable players include striker Grant Holt and the talented Irish playmaker Wes Hoolahan.

Despite lying 7^th in the table the team’s recent form has not been superlative, having won just one of the last five games causing a slump from an early season high of third in the table.

Long Term Prospects

Unlikely to take the division by storm, however under the guidance with Paul Lambert at the helm it is possible that a good run could put the club safely within the playoffs, if not the automatic promotion spots.

Prediction – 8^th -10^th

Leeds

Current position – 8^th

League Record  - Won 7, Drawn 2, Lost 6

After three years in the League One wilderness following a painful period of decline fuelled by financial mismanagement, the West Yorkshire club has finally climbed one of two rungs required to get the club back to where the fans will feel it belongs.

Managed by Simon Grayson the club may have lost their star striker in Jermaine Beckford over the summer, but Davide Somma and Luciano Becchio have each maintained a goal every two games ratio to the pain of his loss.

In defence Alex Bruce and Richard Naylor provide experience and stability with the young but much travelled but talented Kasper Schmeichel holding the gloves.

Lying 8^th in the table Leeds are on the edge of the playoff places but currently lack the consistency that is endemic throughout the division.

Long Term Prospects

With a strong squad Leeds have the ability to do more than hold their own in the division, with a little consistency they will do damage, expect a move between now and Christmas.

End of Season Prediction – Playoffs    

Millwall

Current position – 16^th

League Record  - Won 5, Drawn 4, Lost 6

The weakest of the sides promoted this season, Millwall are a team that have bounced between the League One and the Championship in recent years.

With an experienced squad including players with David Schofield, Neil Harris, Kevin Lisbie and Darren Ward it is a squad likely to survive but not set the division alight as their current position suggests.

I do not think that Millwall fans should be alarmed by their current position in the table, the experience they possess will be key in the latter stages of the season should they hit a tight spot.

Long Term Prospects

Unlikely to threaten the upper echelons of the league, however stranger things have happened, mid table security is the most likely outcome for the Lions.

Prediction – Mid table safety

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We have just passed the quarter mark on the season and it’s time to take a look at how the clubs are faring.  This is the first of three installments covering each of the 24 clubs in the nPower Championship.  I hope you will feel free to add your comments to each club.

First up?  Queens Park Rangers.  Neil Warnock has led QPR to the top of the table with 29 points and a goal difference of 21.  Last weekend’s come-from-behind draw at Bristol City showed great spirit and the club has to be considered a favorite for promotion.

Even with QPR on points but behind in goal difference is Cardiff City.  The high flying Welsh team is looking to roar into the Premier League next season led by recent loan signee and hometown product Craig Bellamy.  Manager Dave Jones has his team looking strong after an impressive 4-0 win away to Leeds United.

Sitting third in the table is the other Welsh side playing in the league, Swansea City.  With 23 points, but only a +5 goal difference, Swansea City has been inconsistent so far.  They have put consecutive league wins together only once this season.

Also sitting in the playoff position at fourth is last year’s League One Champions Norwich City.  Having spent only one year outside of the top two flights of English football in the last 50 years, Norwich City made wholesale changes to club management which saw them bounce right back and have them right in the mix for promotion to the Premier League.  They are even with Swansea City on points with 23 and only one behind in goal difference.

At fifth is Watford on 21 points and +7 goal difference.  A club with pedigree going back almost 130 years, and even playing in the UEFA Cup in 1983, Watford has struggled to stay at the highest level, having been promoted to the Premier League and bounced right back the following season twice in the last ten years. Watford’s fine run of form came to an end at home in a 2-0 loss to Scunthorpe United.  Watford will look to get back on track away to Derby County this weekend.

Coventry City is currently holding the final promotion playoff spot even with Watford on points but with only a  +4 goal difference.   A 3-0 defeat of visitors Barnsley this past Saturday saw Coventry City climb into the sixth spot, although it took the entire 90 minutes to put away a struggling Barnsley side.

Burnley is just one point off of a playoff spot, relinquishing that spot due to a 4-0 defeat at home to Reading.  With a trip this weekend to top of the table QPR, Burnley must be looking for at least a point, as there are several teams right behind them in the table.

The team immediately behind them in the table, and our final club for this first article is Reading.  They are the first of four clubs with 19 points and lead that pack due to their +7 goal difference.  The aforementioned 4-0 win on the road at Burnley propelled them to shouting distance of a playoff spot.  Hosting Doncaster this weekend, another of the clubs on 19 points, could help clear up the logjam a little.

Your comments are welcome and encouraged.  I read about these clubs, watch highlights when I can, and occasionally get to see the actual matches, but your opinions count at least as much as mine.  What do you think about these eight clubs?

St Mary's Stadium will host League One football next season

Sheffield Wednesday, QPR, Manchester City, Wimbledon (aka MK Dons), Leeds, Oldham, Nottingham Forest, Swindon, Leicester, Barnsley, Bradford. Soon to be joined by another two and probably three in Charlton, Southampton and Norwich. All these clubs have tasted the sweet nectar of life in the Premier League only to later sup at the workaday bitterness of League One. In Bradford’s case, even League Two.

If Norwich go down, as seems likely, that’s 14 teams who have played against the best and slipped to the third tier of English football in the last 17 years. In a game full of startling statistics, that seems pretty mind-boggling. It might hearten fans of Saints and Addicks that a decent portion of those teams have at least made it back to the Championship. Indeed, this time last year Leicester were belly-up and now they are like a horny young salmon, leaping back upstream to play with the bigger boys and girls once more.

In a sense, this shows the outstanding strength in depth of the English leagues. Unlikely teams including Bradford, Swindon, Hull, Stoke, Wigan and Reading all made huge strides in the last decade and a half to reach the top of the mountain. Yet it does not take much to find yourself back at base camp in double-quick time.

It can be put down to poor money management. It can be blamed on carelessness and poor decision-making. But the shocking thing this year is that two clubs who have often been held up as excellent examples of how a medium-sized club should be managed are either already down or simply waiting for the trap door to open.

When Sheffield Wednesday, Man City, QPR, Leicester and Leeds fell into League One, the structure at the clubs was poor and all of them had dealt inadequately with the money the EPL gave them. But Charlton and Norwich do not seem to fall into this category. Charlton have cleverly developed a fanbase from all over Kent and steadily improved a stadium that was derelict 20 years ago. Norwich had more than their fair share of problems in the boardroom in the 90s, but they have a city dedicated to the team, a real sense of community and Delia Smith providing heart and soul as well.

For those two clubs, the short term might be unpalatable, but the feeling is that the long term might be rosy. They are sensible clubs. If they cut costs, appoint the right managers and keep expectations sensible, they could return a stronger unit, like Leicester appear to be doing.

Southampton, though, could be a different story. Not so long ago they had a new stadium, Gordon Strachan had taken them to the Cup Final and they were the latest in a long line of clubs hoping to break into the top six of the EPL. Now the money is gone. The stadium is not being filled. The stars of their youth system have almost all been sold in an effort to balance the books. Rumours of a takeover notwithstanding, it seems likely that Andrew Surman and Adam Lallana will now have to be sold as well.

Around this time of year a lot of pundits make long faces and say it’s a shame for this team or that team to go down. They are saying it about Newcastle now, but is it a shame when clubs the size of Southampton are relegated to League One? Would we prefer to see the smaller clubs, like Doncaster or Blackpool, get relegated, to keep the status quo?

I don’t think so. I think it’s a healthy situation that big clubs occasionally taste life in the bottom half of the Football League. It’s good for football that so-called small teams like Peterborough can play at Championship level.

With dreams of winning the Premier League unrealistic for fans of all clubs except perhaps five – six at a push – the dream has perhaps been downshifted to glory in the Championship and a chance to merely get in the ring with the big boys.

The difference this season compared to others is that three clubs who have all played at the top level within the last four years are (probably) heading down. Not only should that be a lesson to clubs currently happy in the Premier League, it should be a warning. There are at least half-a-dozen Premier League clubs who could be facing the same crisis as Southampton in three or four years time.