THE LUFC DIARIES: George Graham On Gardening

The LUFC Diaries was delighted to catch-up with Leeds United manager George Graham at Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens in Harrogate.  George loves gardening and boy didn't he let us know that. George had the nickname 'Stroller' in his playing career but today he reminded me of a mafia don. John Gotti always dressed well for his many trials but he couldn't escape from looking like a thug, Graham looks like a boss you had to respect.  Having won November's Premier League Manager of the Month award & signing a new improved contract at Elland Road, George Graham was back on top of his game & in demand.  I wanted to know how George Graham was enjoying life back in football management.

'Last year was tough and I know the team bored everyone to tears but we were in a relegation battle and had to stay in the Premier League'.  'When I was a player football used to be an entertainment, now it's a business'. 'I knew the financial situation when I came to Leeds, I knew we couldn't spend the sort of money like Manchester United, Arsenal & Chelsea do'. 'I told the fans that this isn't going to be a quick job, I told them we had to progress gradually and bring in the kids who have love for the club'.  'I want to copy the model of Manchester United where most of the first team came through their youth ranks, they have got it right'.  'I did the same at Arsenal and I had it right for a period of time'.  'We had superstars here last season who were waiting to be pensioned off, I had to change that culture at the club'. 'I've inherited a good youth policy at Leeds, let's stick the kids in'. 'I admire teams that build things for the long term, not for quick short term success. 'I tell all my players the way I work and the way they are gonna have to work for me'. 'I try to let players know what is expected from them, it's as simple as that'.  'I hear all this modern thinking of let players express themselves, I believe in that but not to the detriment of the team'.  'Let the team win first and then they can express themselves'.

Finally, I asked George Graham if he was worried that his hobby for gardening will affect his tough guy reputation?

'Haha, it's just an act...a good act'.

THE LUFC DIARIES: Lucas Radebe On Experiencing Snow

THE LUFC DIARIES had the opportunity to speak with Lucas Radebe ahead of the Yorkshire clash with Barnsley FC.  Lucas was looking forward to the game because he would be facing his old South Africa teammate Eric Tinkler.  Life for Radebe was good after receiving rave reviews for his form under the tutelage of George Graham.  During Howard Wilkinson's reign, Radebe was just a Leeds squad member going nowhere but Graham changed all that and turned him into a world class defender who was wanted by big clubs across Europe.  Lucas revealed to us that his first couple of years at Leeds was tough because he missed his family back home in Sowato and had to deal with spells of being homesick.  A man who took a bullet in his back in Sowato wasn't going to give up on his dream of being a superstar for Leeds in the Premier League and thank god he didn't.

THE LUFC DIARIES: Jimmy's Free-Kick

Wonderful reconstruction of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's stunning free-kick against West Ham United at Elland Road.

THE LUFC DIARIES: How To Distract Alan Smith

December 2nd 2001 was the day when Robbie Fowler made his debut for Leeds United in an away fixture at Fulham.  The match will be remembered for a boring 0-0 draw but the events before the kick-off was extraordinary.  Leeds hot-head striker Alan Smith was in the media spotlight after being sent-off against Aston Villa in the previous week and his week didn't get any better when the club bought the striker Robbie Fowler from Liverpool for £11 million.  Obviously the London club thought Smith would be vulnerable and could be rattled so they tried to push his buttons in the pre-match warm-up.  Smith was sickeningly targeted by a gang of beautiful Fulham FC cheerleaders who never left the poor lad alone.  A source from the Leeds board told me 'How can you expect the player to have his mind on the game when he has women dancing around him like a chorus line, these girls could cause a bloody riot'.

I spoke to a Fulham steward after the game and told him I wasn't impressed with the cheerleader stunt.  He just stared at me and nodded.

THE LUFC DIARIES: David Hockaday Tribute Video

David Hockaday's reign at Elland Road ended after 70 days but who was this man & how did he ever get the chance to manage Leeds United.  When Hockaday was first linked with Leeds I was shocked, not because I didn't think he deserved to be our next 'Head Coach'. No, I was shocked that I've never heard of the guy.
Like most Leeds fans I had to google Wikipedia to do some research on the man who soon became known as the 'Hock'.  Obviously I wasn't blown away with what I read on the 'Hock' but the fans negative reaction to the man made me want to support him.  Neil Warnock & Brian McDermott both had a great CV before taking the Leeds job but they couldn't handle the pressure of the Elland Road hot-seat, so I thought what the hell let's give this guy a go.  I was naive to think people would think like me & back Cellino's judgment. Hockaday was ridiculed from Day 1, everything from his appearance, to his accent & to every word he spoke was subjected to the mob who wanted him sacked.  Sure, these people were quiet when Leeds beat Middlesborough 1:0 at Elland Road but they were only waiting for the next defeat to repeat their hate for the 'Hock'.  Even though Hockaday had the backing from senior players in the Leeds United dressing room his appointment as Head Coach created a black cloud over the club where every defeat turned into 'will he stay or be fired' routine. Cellino had to get rid of this black cloud & Hockaday simply had to go.
Did the 'Hock' get a fair crack at the job? Of course not.
Will Cellino get the next appointment right? That's a good question.

Euro 96: Zidane Live At Leeds

In 1996, football came home.  Well that was the soundbite the English press used for England staging the Euro 96 tournament.  On Saturday 15th of June, France played Spain at Elland Road & the game ended 1:1.  It was the only time Zinedine Zidane would ever play at Elland Road but the untold story of that summer was how close Leeds United were to signing him.  Zidane was playing for Bordeaux at the time but his desire to leave his club was not a secret & teams across europe wanted the highly rated midfielder. Manchester United seemed to be leading the chase for Zidane but Ferguson changed his mind after the success of Beckham, Scholes & Butt in the previous season.  Blackburn Rovers came into the race when they invited Zidane & teammate Christophe Dugarry to their training complex for talks with new manager Ray Harford who decided not to sign them.  This is where Leeds United come in. Howard Wilkinson knew he was going to lose the services of Gary McAllister & Gary Speed who were two important players in his 1991/1992 title winning team .  The pair had made it clear to Wilkinson that it was time to move on & Speed transfer to Everton had been lined-up for months.  Wilkinson's main concern though was how to replace McAllister.  Scouts recommended the names of Robert Prosinecki and Zinedine Zidane.  Bordeaux told Leeds that Zidane was available but they had to beat Juventus to sign him.  That didn't worry the Leeds manager who had snatched Eric Cantona from the hands of Sheffield Wednesday four years earlier.  It was rumoured that Leeds had a meeting with Zidane's agent during Euro 96 where the club heard the news that Zidane prefered the move to Juventus because he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Michel Platini who had been a superstar in Turin.  Juventus paid Bordeaux £3.2 million for Zidane who became a football legend, Leeds paid Manchester United £4.5 million for Lee Sharpe who became Howard Wilkinson's final ever signing at the club.

Below is a highlight video of Zinedine Zidane playing at Elland Road for France against Spain.

THE LUFC DIARIES: JIMMY'S GOT CANTONA-ISMS

After losing his place in the Leeds United team to the youngster Harry Kewell, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had a point to prove to his manager George Graham.  Leeds were 0:3 down to Derby County at Elland Road and the dutchman was sent onto the pitch to rescue the game & he did.  His super-sub performance not only changed the game for the mighty whites but it became a massive turning point in his Leeds United career. Graham never dropped Hasselbaink again & he became a Premership superstar.  We spoke to Jimmy after the game & listened to his football philosophy.