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Arsene Wenger certainly seems to have more than his fair share of worries at the moment. Injuries are mounting, Theo Walcott the latest victim with a shoulder injury picked up while training with England, his team have already lost four games this season, lengthening their Premiership odds, and now his captain has launched an astonishing outburst against his own team-mates.
William Gallas has given an interview to the Associated Press in which he appears to be attempting to deflect any blame for the team's woes away from him. Gallas accuses the Arsenal players of not being brave enough, says the youngsters need to toughen up and reveals he is having problems with an individual player he doesn't name (but gives his age as 25).
Gallas also lifts the lid on what happened in the dressing room at half-time during the 4-4 draw with Spurs, saying he told his team they needed to resolve their problems after the game, not during it.
Most of these are good points, but surely what happens in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room. It's one of the few places in football that cameras aren't allowed. How can players be comfortable speaking to their captain if their conversations might be revealed to the media? If a captain can't communicate with his team face-to-face, he shouldn't attempt it through the press.
The revelation of the problem with an individual player while refraining from naming him is also unwise. The press will dig until they find out who it is and this will cause even more damage to team spirit and unrest among the players. All this at a time when Arsenal need to be strong and united if they are to mount any kind of title challenge. Maybe Gallas was intending to sting the team into action but it could all horribly backfire.
Gallas had slowly but surely been rehabilitating himself after his sit-down protest against Birmingham City last season. This latest incident might just prove to be the last straw for Wenger.
William Gallas has given an interview to the Associated Press in which he appears to be attempting to deflect any blame for the team's woes away from him. Gallas accuses the Arsenal players of not being brave enough, says the youngsters need to toughen up and reveals he is having problems with an individual player he doesn't name (but gives his age as 25).
Gallas also lifts the lid on what happened in the dressing room at half-time during the 4-4 draw with Spurs, saying he told his team they needed to resolve their problems after the game, not during it.
Most of these are good points, but surely what happens in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room. It's one of the few places in football that cameras aren't allowed. How can players be comfortable speaking to their captain if their conversations might be revealed to the media? If a captain can't communicate with his team face-to-face, he shouldn't attempt it through the press.
The revelation of the problem with an individual player while refraining from naming him is also unwise. The press will dig until they find out who it is and this will cause even more damage to team spirit and unrest among the players. All this at a time when Arsenal need to be strong and united if they are to mount any kind of title challenge. Maybe Gallas was intending to sting the team into action but it could all horribly backfire.
Gallas had slowly but surely been rehabilitating himself after his sit-down protest against Birmingham City last season. This latest incident might just prove to be the last straw for Wenger.
Not many punters at the start of the season would have predicted this weekend's clash between Chelsea and Liverpool would see the clubs separated only by goal difference at the top of the Premiership.
Chelsea, of course, are expected to be in the top two and have looked awesome this season. The demolition of Middlesbrough at the Riverside, effortlessly done while missing Drogba, Carvalho, Ballack, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Deco, was breathtaking. They have looked a class apart from anyone else and Scolari has settled quickly and is already showing his class. It was so refreshing to hear his comments last week when asked about the lengthy injury list at Stamford Bridge. Instead of bemoaning his luck, he replied with a smile that he enjoyed such situations as it gave him a chance to do his job - to coach and motivate players who might otherwise not get a chance. They are deservedly the title favourites.
However, Liverpool have quietly and effectively matched Chelsea point for point. Their only real slip-up was the draw at home against Stoke, and if Gerrard's goal hadn't been ruled out for an imaginary infringement, they'd be two points clear at the top of the table. They've managed to save games through sheer hard work and perseverance, while Chelsea have controlled their games and dispatched most of their opposition with ease. If Liverpool get a result at Stamford Bridge, they may think it's their year at last.
It's a hard one to call and will be won or lost in midfield. The Lampard-Gerrard debate takes on another dimension and it will be a fascinating contest. Chelsea weren't at their best against Roma on Wednesday night but still picked up the three points, while Liverpool will be disappointed to have been pegged back late on by Atletico Madrid. Chelsea should just shade it on Sunday to cement their title bid.
Chelsea, of course, are expected to be in the top two and have looked awesome this season. The demolition of Middlesbrough at the Riverside, effortlessly done while missing Drogba, Carvalho, Ballack, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Deco, was breathtaking. They have looked a class apart from anyone else and Scolari has settled quickly and is already showing his class. It was so refreshing to hear his comments last week when asked about the lengthy injury list at Stamford Bridge. Instead of bemoaning his luck, he replied with a smile that he enjoyed such situations as it gave him a chance to do his job - to coach and motivate players who might otherwise not get a chance. They are deservedly the title favourites.
However, Liverpool have quietly and effectively matched Chelsea point for point. Their only real slip-up was the draw at home against Stoke, and if Gerrard's goal hadn't been ruled out for an imaginary infringement, they'd be two points clear at the top of the table. They've managed to save games through sheer hard work and perseverance, while Chelsea have controlled their games and dispatched most of their opposition with ease. If Liverpool get a result at Stamford Bridge, they may think it's their year at last.
It's a hard one to call and will be won or lost in midfield. The Lampard-Gerrard debate takes on another dimension and it will be a fascinating contest. Chelsea weren't at their best against Roma on Wednesday night but still picked up the three points, while Liverpool will be disappointed to have been pegged back late on by Atletico Madrid. Chelsea should just shade it on Sunday to cement their title bid.
Many things have changed for the better around Elland Road since this time last year, and one of them is the start made by our strikers. Two games into last season our two goals were scored by Frazer Richardson and Danny Pugh, while at the same stage this year David Healy had already knocked in two and Robbie Blake had opened his account against Cardiff. Blake's still not happy though - and not just about the result in South Wales - though we'll come to that later.
"I'm not playing as well as I know I can," he says. "I didn't play well against Millwall and I don't think I did against Cardiff. I lost a couple of weeks of pre-season so I'm still finding my touch."
But you did score in Cardiff, only your second game...
"It was only a tap-in though! I'll get better."
Things are definitely looking up...
"I'm not playing as well as I know I can," he says. "I didn't play well against Millwall and I don't think I did against Cardiff. I lost a couple of weeks of pre-season so I'm still finding my touch."
But you did score in Cardiff, only your second game...
"It was only a tap-in though! I'll get better."
Things are definitely looking up...
Continue reading Blake Interview, 2005.
In these days of squad rotation and players and managers complaining about playing too many matches and needing a rest - even this early in the season - it's refreshing to meet a player as enthusiastic as Seb Carole. He may look like a perfectly groomed, laid back R&B star - wearing what look suspiciously like Gucci earrings - but this softly spoken Frenchman is as excited about playing for Leeds at the moment as any of our new homegrown stars.
It helps of course that at the time of meeting Leeds have made it six wins out of six, with the only 100 per cent record in the football league. Can he put his finger on what has changed from last season?
"I can't say really," he says in his heavy accent, shrugging his shoulders in a very Gallic way. "I think it's football you know - when things are going well you don't really see mistakes and you don't mind if somebody does something wrong.
"Compared to last season when we were fighting and trying to not go down, it was a difficult situation so everybody was shouting at everybody, maybe that's why - everything is new this season, we've got new players and new things and mentally we prepared well during the pre-season for what we've got to do now."
And the new players have fitted in remarkably well.
"Yes, the new players who have come in have great experience and they are all very funny which is good, it's a good atmosphere in the dressing room - it's a pleasure to come in every day and train with the lads."
He adds: "I look forward to coming to work - every night when I go home I am just looking forward to the next day training, so, it's a pleasure to come in."
And the biggest characters in the dressing room might just be a little surprising...
"Ah - Hughesy - Andy Hughesy - he shouts about everything and it's good, he makes some jokes and he has a big voice, you can hear him from miles and miles away ( he extends his arms to get the point across) and it's funny because when he's doing his warm-up - wow! He's busy, but that's funny, it's good spirits, it's good," he laughs.
"The biggest joker would be the young lad Bocker (Robert Bayly) - definitely, he always has a joke ready for everybody, if you do something wrong he's always there watching and says something funny."
Is he surprised by just how well the season has started?
"Yes and no," he shrugs, "because I know the quality of the group so I knew we would do well but then six wins in a row, that's the best start since I don't know when so in that way it is a bit surprising"
And now the 15 point deduction has been wiped out, how different is the motivation going into each game?
"Not different, not at all," he says earnestly. "When we had the 15 points deducted that was one more motivation to get them back but now we are looking forward to getting in the top six now so we have to win every game
"But we take it game after game, not think about what will happen in five games if we win. No - we have a game on Saturday - win that one and then think about the other one - game after game - just do something good."
He smiles: "We are so excited, on Monday we can't wait for the game on Saturday because we are all so excited to wait and see if we can win again. There is so much confidence now in this group, we are so strong in our heads so we just prepare for every game to win and fight for everything."
One of the most positive things about the new season has been the size of the crowds at Elland Road, which have outstripped many Premiership attendances (and even Champions League fixtures - oh dear, Chelsea...). This must be a huge boost for the team.
Seb nods: "Crowds in general help a lot but our crowd I think is the best ever, because we went down last season, we are in League One, and there is still 27, 000, 28,000 people coming, so that has helped us a lot and it's a 12th man on the pitch.
"Even when we are away, there are still three or five thousand people there, who scream even louder than when we are at home, so it is all good! I hope they keep coming every week and we will do the work for them."
And this season the bigger crowds have seen the introduction of the now customary group hug at the end of each game - whose idea was this?
"Well, I think the gaffer - he came up and said 'Well done boys' and there was a big shout and everyone jumped on top of everybody else! I think we're going to do this after every game because it makes you feel better at the end and just to stick together."
And will it continue if - dare we say it - if we lose a game?
"That's a bit scary, we don't think about losing!" he laughs.
Seb hasn't played at this level before, along with most of the squad, his previous experience coming in Le Championnat for Monaco, then spending time on loan at Chateauroux and West Ham before signing for Brighton where he caught the eye of a number of clubs. As one of our more creative players, how is he finding it this year in League One?
"Compared to the Championship, you've got less time to do things and it's a bit more intensive," he says. "Also I think League One is technically a bit less than the Championship so every team tries to work together and fight for every ball, everything on the pitch, and that's a bit different because in the Premiership and the Championship I think you have more time to do things properly so that's a bit easier.
"I like to be creative and I like big spaces and you haven't got big spaces in League One, also because of the six wins every team is now waiting for us and maybe they're scared a bit of us so they're all defending together so it's hard to create something but we try to do our best to do that."
Seb left Brighton for Leeds when the Withdean club were relegated in 2006 due to having an escape clause in his contract. Did it cross his mind to leave Leeds following our own relegation in the summer?
He shakes his head: "No, I just forgot about football (in the summer) and went on my holidays, I wanted to see what was happening when I got back in pre-season. When I got back I told my wife, 'I don't want to leave, we're going to stay'. We're happy in Leeds, my family feels happy, so why move when you're happy somewhere?
"Even though we went down I know it is a difficult situation but I want to take this challenge and get the club back to the Championship and even to the Premiership if we can, that is the level Leeds has to play."
Having a settled family helps - the eldest of his two children is starting nursery this year ("He's so happy to be learning English!") but so do his friendships within the club. Who is he closest to in the squad?
"TK (Tresor Kandol) and Jermaine (Beckford)" he says. "Jermaine because he was here when I signed and we still kept in touch when he went on loan and TK because he can speak French so it makes things a bit more easy for me - we talk in English together and when I don't know a word he helps me."
Last time LLL was at Thorp Arch we spoke to Tresor for a little longer than planned and unfortunately kept Seb, his designated driver, waiting...
"Yes, I remember, I was waiting for half an hour!" he laughs. "But that was okay - no problem. He gets a taxi every day now, I keep telling him to buy a car but he's so lazy he gets taxis everywhere!"
Tresor may be lazy off the pitch, but Seb is full of praise for the strike partners on the field.
"They've done very well," he says. "Five goals each, I bet they score 15 goals each at least this season, they have so many qualities. We can do s**t passes (maybe Tresor taught him this word?) and they look good when they get the ball. If you find one of them, you know they can do something good with it, that's good to know that we have quality strikers who can finish because you need to score goals to win games and that's their job and they've done so well."
And there is an element of friendly competition between the two: "In football there is always competition. Even if you're friends, you want to do better than your friend and that will make us score a lot of goals because if TK scores, next week Jermaine wants to score. That's why maybe they have five goals each now and if they carry on they will get at least 15 goals each."
As for his ambitions for the rest of the season, Seb isn't scared of aiming high.
"I don't want to be arrogant but I want to get promoted this season," he says, his eyes lighting up. "I want to see the club finish in the top two - it is possible - hard but possible - so I hope we do that this season.
"Even if it's the play-off final at Wembley, a new stadium, it would be so nice, but if we can finish in the top two it would be better for us!"
(First published in 'Leeds, Leeds, Leeds', September 2007)
It helps of course that at the time of meeting Leeds have made it six wins out of six, with the only 100 per cent record in the football league. Can he put his finger on what has changed from last season?
"I can't say really," he says in his heavy accent, shrugging his shoulders in a very Gallic way. "I think it's football you know - when things are going well you don't really see mistakes and you don't mind if somebody does something wrong.
"Compared to last season when we were fighting and trying to not go down, it was a difficult situation so everybody was shouting at everybody, maybe that's why - everything is new this season, we've got new players and new things and mentally we prepared well during the pre-season for what we've got to do now."
And the new players have fitted in remarkably well.
"Yes, the new players who have come in have great experience and they are all very funny which is good, it's a good atmosphere in the dressing room - it's a pleasure to come in every day and train with the lads."
He adds: "I look forward to coming to work - every night when I go home I am just looking forward to the next day training, so, it's a pleasure to come in."
And the biggest characters in the dressing room might just be a little surprising...
"Ah - Hughesy - Andy Hughesy - he shouts about everything and it's good, he makes some jokes and he has a big voice, you can hear him from miles and miles away ( he extends his arms to get the point across) and it's funny because when he's doing his warm-up - wow! He's busy, but that's funny, it's good spirits, it's good," he laughs.
"The biggest joker would be the young lad Bocker (Robert Bayly) - definitely, he always has a joke ready for everybody, if you do something wrong he's always there watching and says something funny."
Is he surprised by just how well the season has started?
"Yes and no," he shrugs, "because I know the quality of the group so I knew we would do well but then six wins in a row, that's the best start since I don't know when so in that way it is a bit surprising"
And now the 15 point deduction has been wiped out, how different is the motivation going into each game?
"Not different, not at all," he says earnestly. "When we had the 15 points deducted that was one more motivation to get them back but now we are looking forward to getting in the top six now so we have to win every game
"But we take it game after game, not think about what will happen in five games if we win. No - we have a game on Saturday - win that one and then think about the other one - game after game - just do something good."
He smiles: "We are so excited, on Monday we can't wait for the game on Saturday because we are all so excited to wait and see if we can win again. There is so much confidence now in this group, we are so strong in our heads so we just prepare for every game to win and fight for everything."
One of the most positive things about the new season has been the size of the crowds at Elland Road, which have outstripped many Premiership attendances (and even Champions League fixtures - oh dear, Chelsea...). This must be a huge boost for the team.
Seb nods: "Crowds in general help a lot but our crowd I think is the best ever, because we went down last season, we are in League One, and there is still 27, 000, 28,000 people coming, so that has helped us a lot and it's a 12th man on the pitch.
"Even when we are away, there are still three or five thousand people there, who scream even louder than when we are at home, so it is all good! I hope they keep coming every week and we will do the work for them."
And this season the bigger crowds have seen the introduction of the now customary group hug at the end of each game - whose idea was this?
"Well, I think the gaffer - he came up and said 'Well done boys' and there was a big shout and everyone jumped on top of everybody else! I think we're going to do this after every game because it makes you feel better at the end and just to stick together."
And will it continue if - dare we say it - if we lose a game?
"That's a bit scary, we don't think about losing!" he laughs.
Seb hasn't played at this level before, along with most of the squad, his previous experience coming in Le Championnat for Monaco, then spending time on loan at Chateauroux and West Ham before signing for Brighton where he caught the eye of a number of clubs. As one of our more creative players, how is he finding it this year in League One?
"Compared to the Championship, you've got less time to do things and it's a bit more intensive," he says. "Also I think League One is technically a bit less than the Championship so every team tries to work together and fight for every ball, everything on the pitch, and that's a bit different because in the Premiership and the Championship I think you have more time to do things properly so that's a bit easier.
"I like to be creative and I like big spaces and you haven't got big spaces in League One, also because of the six wins every team is now waiting for us and maybe they're scared a bit of us so they're all defending together so it's hard to create something but we try to do our best to do that."
Seb left Brighton for Leeds when the Withdean club were relegated in 2006 due to having an escape clause in his contract. Did it cross his mind to leave Leeds following our own relegation in the summer?
He shakes his head: "No, I just forgot about football (in the summer) and went on my holidays, I wanted to see what was happening when I got back in pre-season. When I got back I told my wife, 'I don't want to leave, we're going to stay'. We're happy in Leeds, my family feels happy, so why move when you're happy somewhere?
"Even though we went down I know it is a difficult situation but I want to take this challenge and get the club back to the Championship and even to the Premiership if we can, that is the level Leeds has to play."
Having a settled family helps - the eldest of his two children is starting nursery this year ("He's so happy to be learning English!") but so do his friendships within the club. Who is he closest to in the squad?
"TK (Tresor Kandol) and Jermaine (Beckford)" he says. "Jermaine because he was here when I signed and we still kept in touch when he went on loan and TK because he can speak French so it makes things a bit more easy for me - we talk in English together and when I don't know a word he helps me."
Last time LLL was at Thorp Arch we spoke to Tresor for a little longer than planned and unfortunately kept Seb, his designated driver, waiting...
"Yes, I remember, I was waiting for half an hour!" he laughs. "But that was okay - no problem. He gets a taxi every day now, I keep telling him to buy a car but he's so lazy he gets taxis everywhere!"
Tresor may be lazy off the pitch, but Seb is full of praise for the strike partners on the field.
"They've done very well," he says. "Five goals each, I bet they score 15 goals each at least this season, they have so many qualities. We can do s**t passes (maybe Tresor taught him this word?) and they look good when they get the ball. If you find one of them, you know they can do something good with it, that's good to know that we have quality strikers who can finish because you need to score goals to win games and that's their job and they've done so well."
And there is an element of friendly competition between the two: "In football there is always competition. Even if you're friends, you want to do better than your friend and that will make us score a lot of goals because if TK scores, next week Jermaine wants to score. That's why maybe they have five goals each now and if they carry on they will get at least 15 goals each."
As for his ambitions for the rest of the season, Seb isn't scared of aiming high.
"I don't want to be arrogant but I want to get promoted this season," he says, his eyes lighting up. "I want to see the club finish in the top two - it is possible - hard but possible - so I hope we do that this season.
"Even if it's the play-off final at Wembley, a new stadium, it would be so nice, but if we can finish in the top two it would be better for us!"
(First published in 'Leeds, Leeds, Leeds', September 2007)
It's the day of the first team squad's traditional photo call and the boys are resplendent in their brand new, extremely creased (just come out of the packets) strips. The usual banter is flying about, with Lurpakman, an unfortunate soul in a padded white suit complete with trumpet on the only sunny day Leeds has seen so far in August, the victim of some below the belt punches from Alan Smith and Robbie Fowler and a painful ear tweaking from David Batty.
One player who is taking the day seriously is newly appointed captain Dominic Matteo, who LLL manages to collar in between his many photo requests and receiving some treatment for a groin injury picked up in the pre-season draw with Rangers. He's in demand but manages to spare a few minutes to give us his thoughts on an eventful close season and his hopes for the new campaign.
Aside from all the upheaval at Leeds it was a busy summer for Matteo, who went out to Japan to see both England and Ireland play in the World Cup before returning to Leeds and then flying out to the Far East again on the club's pre-season tour.
"Yes, there's been a bit of traveling but I've enjoyed it," he says. "The tour went well for me personally and for the team. We worked on a few things and there was a lot of traveling but I think we coped pretty well with it."
The tour, which took in Hong Kong, Melbourne and Bangkok, meant the team were out of the full British media spotlight just after the David O'Leary sacking and Rio Ferdinand's departure, but they were obviously still aware of the furore the departures had created at home.
"We're all professionals though and we just got on with it," says Dominic. "For me, Rio was a mate as well as a fellow player so I was disappointed (when he left), but life goes on. We had some good times together and we had a good partnership but there's a lot of other quality players here and hopefully we can pull together."
And when you've got players like Jonathan Woodgate and Lucas Radebe back on top form, Rio's defection can almost be forgotten, if not forgiven. But as well as losing their captain, the squad have had to get used to a change of manager over the close season - which, it seems, none of them expected.
"It was a shock when David O'Leary went, I didn't see it coming but I don't think anyone did really," he admits. "Obviously he bought me and when a manager buys you and then he leaves sometimes it's difficult. I got on very well with David and I was sad when he left, but what can you do?"
Indeed. And far from rejecting one of the best signings O'Leary made in his four years in charge, new boss Terry Venables, recognizing the Scot's leadership qualities and international class ability, appointed him captain.
"Yes, it's a great honour to be captain," says Dominic. "It's something you dream of as a boy, to be captain of a big club. The manager asked me to be captain of Leeds United and I'm very happy to do that and hopefully I will be successful."
So is the aim now to captain Scotland?
"I don't know about that! It's just an honour to be captain of my club at the moment and hopefully we'll have a good season, I just want to play more international games really."
It is difficult to say whether there is more or less pressure on the team for the forthcoming campaign than in previous years, with no-one tipping Leeds for the title and only a few predicting United will make a top three finish and qualify for the Champions League. The fans are craving success though and Rio's request to move to a certain "bigger and better" club has increased that hunger - and the players are well aware of the supporters' expectations. The court case has been over for months and can no longer be used as an excuse, and the squad has not been broken up as was widely predicted over the summer. It is time to concentrate on football and stars such as Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Olivier Dacourt and Lee Bowyer will be expected to perform. After a summer of uncertainty, Dacourt and Bowyer now seem set to stay for the 2002/03 season at least, bringing Leeds some much-needed stability, and fans are desperate for the club to finally fulfill its potential.
"Obviously we will try to win something this year," says Matteo. "To reach the Champions League is always a target, but we need to win something because I think we're due something. We say it every year, as does every other club, but it's time to do our talking out on the field, and with the quality we've got we should be producing."
Leeds came through the pre-season schedule unbeaten, with good solid performances in the Far East and Australia, and Rangers providing a tough test. The games enabled Terry Venables to try out new formations and line-ups, but David Batty, Seth Johnson, Nigel Martyn and Gary Kelly were unable to travel while Robbie Fowler picked up an injury, so the new boss was unable to fully assess his squad before the season opener against Manchester City. The new season will provide some interesting combinations as Venables decides on his preferred line-up, but how do the squad feel on the eve of the 2002/03 season?
"We're quite confident," says Matteo. "We had some good games over the pre-season period and did pretty well in them. There's still a lot of work to be done, we're not the finished article, but we'll get there."
At the time of the interview there had been two departures from the squad and two additions, with Nick Barmby joining for £2.75million from Liverpool and Paul Okon, the former Middlesbrough and Fiorentina player, coming in on a free transfer. Both have played under Venables at international level, Barmby for England and Okon for Australia, and their versatility could prove invaluable to Leeds in the season ahead.
"I've known Nick for quite a number of years so I know what he's got," says Matteo. "I've just met Paul in the last couple of days. I've only seen him play a couple of times for Middlesbrough but I'm sure Terry knows what he's doing and he looks in training to be a quality player."
Dominic made his debut for Leeds in the memorable 1-0 win over AC Milan in the Champions League, immediately making a favourable impression on the fans, and scored his first goal in the 6-0 thrashing of Besiktas a week later. Since those days however Leeds have failed to qualify for the Champions League while Matteo's old club Liverpool have gone from strength to strength, winning five trophies and qualifying for Europe's premier club competition two years in succession. So does the success his former employers have enjoyed spur Matteo on?
"No, no-one was more delighted than me to see Liverpool win things," he insists. "I had great times there and since I've come to Leeds I believe I've become a better player so both situations are good, I'm pleased for myself and I'm pleased for them."
Now that the pre-season is over, a summer when Leeds have again seen more than their fair share of back page headlines, what are the new skipper's hopes for the new campaign?
"It would be nice to win something with the club and play a lot more games for Scotland this year," he says. "Hopefully Scotland will get some good results as we haven't been getting them lately! Basically I just want to be successful here and for my country."
And how fitting it would be to see the quietly ambitious Matteo lifting some long-awaited silverware next May, while our former captain watches empty-handed from over the Pennines. Well, we can but dream... watch this space.
(First published in 'Leeds, Leeds, Leeds', August 2002)
One player who is taking the day seriously is newly appointed captain Dominic Matteo, who LLL manages to collar in between his many photo requests and receiving some treatment for a groin injury picked up in the pre-season draw with Rangers. He's in demand but manages to spare a few minutes to give us his thoughts on an eventful close season and his hopes for the new campaign.
Aside from all the upheaval at Leeds it was a busy summer for Matteo, who went out to Japan to see both England and Ireland play in the World Cup before returning to Leeds and then flying out to the Far East again on the club's pre-season tour.
"Yes, there's been a bit of traveling but I've enjoyed it," he says. "The tour went well for me personally and for the team. We worked on a few things and there was a lot of traveling but I think we coped pretty well with it."
The tour, which took in Hong Kong, Melbourne and Bangkok, meant the team were out of the full British media spotlight just after the David O'Leary sacking and Rio Ferdinand's departure, but they were obviously still aware of the furore the departures had created at home.
"We're all professionals though and we just got on with it," says Dominic. "For me, Rio was a mate as well as a fellow player so I was disappointed (when he left), but life goes on. We had some good times together and we had a good partnership but there's a lot of other quality players here and hopefully we can pull together."
And when you've got players like Jonathan Woodgate and Lucas Radebe back on top form, Rio's defection can almost be forgotten, if not forgiven. But as well as losing their captain, the squad have had to get used to a change of manager over the close season - which, it seems, none of them expected.
"It was a shock when David O'Leary went, I didn't see it coming but I don't think anyone did really," he admits. "Obviously he bought me and when a manager buys you and then he leaves sometimes it's difficult. I got on very well with David and I was sad when he left, but what can you do?"
Indeed. And far from rejecting one of the best signings O'Leary made in his four years in charge, new boss Terry Venables, recognizing the Scot's leadership qualities and international class ability, appointed him captain.
"Yes, it's a great honour to be captain," says Dominic. "It's something you dream of as a boy, to be captain of a big club. The manager asked me to be captain of Leeds United and I'm very happy to do that and hopefully I will be successful."
So is the aim now to captain Scotland?
"I don't know about that! It's just an honour to be captain of my club at the moment and hopefully we'll have a good season, I just want to play more international games really."
It is difficult to say whether there is more or less pressure on the team for the forthcoming campaign than in previous years, with no-one tipping Leeds for the title and only a few predicting United will make a top three finish and qualify for the Champions League. The fans are craving success though and Rio's request to move to a certain "bigger and better" club has increased that hunger - and the players are well aware of the supporters' expectations. The court case has been over for months and can no longer be used as an excuse, and the squad has not been broken up as was widely predicted over the summer. It is time to concentrate on football and stars such as Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Olivier Dacourt and Lee Bowyer will be expected to perform. After a summer of uncertainty, Dacourt and Bowyer now seem set to stay for the 2002/03 season at least, bringing Leeds some much-needed stability, and fans are desperate for the club to finally fulfill its potential.
"Obviously we will try to win something this year," says Matteo. "To reach the Champions League is always a target, but we need to win something because I think we're due something. We say it every year, as does every other club, but it's time to do our talking out on the field, and with the quality we've got we should be producing."
Leeds came through the pre-season schedule unbeaten, with good solid performances in the Far East and Australia, and Rangers providing a tough test. The games enabled Terry Venables to try out new formations and line-ups, but David Batty, Seth Johnson, Nigel Martyn and Gary Kelly were unable to travel while Robbie Fowler picked up an injury, so the new boss was unable to fully assess his squad before the season opener against Manchester City. The new season will provide some interesting combinations as Venables decides on his preferred line-up, but how do the squad feel on the eve of the 2002/03 season?
"We're quite confident," says Matteo. "We had some good games over the pre-season period and did pretty well in them. There's still a lot of work to be done, we're not the finished article, but we'll get there."
At the time of the interview there had been two departures from the squad and two additions, with Nick Barmby joining for £2.75million from Liverpool and Paul Okon, the former Middlesbrough and Fiorentina player, coming in on a free transfer. Both have played under Venables at international level, Barmby for England and Okon for Australia, and their versatility could prove invaluable to Leeds in the season ahead.
"I've known Nick for quite a number of years so I know what he's got," says Matteo. "I've just met Paul in the last couple of days. I've only seen him play a couple of times for Middlesbrough but I'm sure Terry knows what he's doing and he looks in training to be a quality player."
Dominic made his debut for Leeds in the memorable 1-0 win over AC Milan in the Champions League, immediately making a favourable impression on the fans, and scored his first goal in the 6-0 thrashing of Besiktas a week later. Since those days however Leeds have failed to qualify for the Champions League while Matteo's old club Liverpool have gone from strength to strength, winning five trophies and qualifying for Europe's premier club competition two years in succession. So does the success his former employers have enjoyed spur Matteo on?
"No, no-one was more delighted than me to see Liverpool win things," he insists. "I had great times there and since I've come to Leeds I believe I've become a better player so both situations are good, I'm pleased for myself and I'm pleased for them."
Now that the pre-season is over, a summer when Leeds have again seen more than their fair share of back page headlines, what are the new skipper's hopes for the new campaign?
"It would be nice to win something with the club and play a lot more games for Scotland this year," he says. "Hopefully Scotland will get some good results as we haven't been getting them lately! Basically I just want to be successful here and for my country."
And how fitting it would be to see the quietly ambitious Matteo lifting some long-awaited silverware next May, while our former captain watches empty-handed from over the Pennines. Well, we can but dream... watch this space.
(First published in 'Leeds, Leeds, Leeds', August 2002)
It's becoming something of the norm for Leeds United youngsters to set new Premiership records, and lately they've even taken to
outdoing each other's achievements. It was only this time last year that we
were getting used to having the Premiership's youngest ever player in James
Milner (who hasn't done too badly since), and now another Academy product has
set another even more impressive record.
Aaron Lennon was just 16 years and 129 days old when he came on against Spurs at White Hart Lane in August, beating his room-mate by a whole
180 days. And you wouldn't bet against him taking the crown of the league's
youngest ever scorer from Milner as well...
Continue reading Aaron Lennon interview, December 2003.
Welcome to my new blog!
My name is Louise Moran and I'm new to OMR. I've previously worked for Sports.com, TEAMtalk.com and the Press Association, and regularly have articles published in the Leeds United official magazine, 'Leeds Leeds Leeds'.
I recently became a mother and am busy indoctrinating my 10 month old daughter in the ways of Leeds United - the only way is up...
Articles and examples of my work will follow, and I hope you'll be a regular visitor to my world.
My name is Louise Moran and I'm new to OMR. I've previously worked for Sports.com, TEAMtalk.com and the Press Association, and regularly have articles published in the Leeds United official magazine, 'Leeds Leeds Leeds'.
I recently became a mother and am busy indoctrinating my 10 month old daughter in the ways of Leeds United - the only way is up...
Articles and examples of my work will follow, and I hope you'll be a regular visitor to my world.