Tag Archives: leeds

Articles, Leeds United

Leeds United: I miss Luciano Becchio

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Remember how glorious it was? The way he’d bring the ball down and scuttle slowly towards our own goal, protecting it with his stocky frame. Sometimes he’d fall down and we’d laugh, or cry, or howl, because we knew him so well and we knew that was what he did. Then he’d go up the other end of the pitch after someone had done something for him and the ball would be in the net. That would be enough. He’d come over to us and spend a good minute celebrating. He’d do various arm movements, he’d slide, and towards the end, he’d kiss the badge. I don’t begrudge him it.

You know who I’m talking about, right? He’s joined Twitter this week, or more accurately, he joined up on the 25th of January. His first tweet (and only prior to this week)? “I love Leeds united!!!!”. I don’t think he was lying.

The problem I have these days, now that he’s gone, is there’s no one to love. His problems only highlighted his incredible ability in front of goal. He was the perfect striker for a Leeds fan. He wasn’t of my era, but the best comparison I can make to the Argentine is Chapman. He was built to run and put an effort in and that he did, as much as people would call him lazy. The ball would end up in the net, somehow, someway, no matter which extremity was used, and in combination with which body shape. He could make falling over look gracious, as long as the ball moved forward and the net ruffled.

Over the last few weeks we’ve put in ‘better’ performances, and created more opportunities for the replacement to put away, but he hasn’t. The question then arises, why? Why didn’t we play like this when he was here? He was never a detriment before, to the Gradels, the Howsons and the Snodgrasses, all of whom did the work behind him. We used to play brilliantly with him in the team. A ruiner of performances he was not.

Imagine where we’d be if he was playing now, converting the chances we can now actually create. Any Leeds fan who sits there and repeats the mantra that could often be found on the forums and Twitter that he wasn’t good enough needs to reassess. We had a goalscorer, we had a hero, you don’t find them easily. We don’t have him anymore.

I miss Luciano Becchio.

Follow Amitai Winehouse on Twitter (@awinehouse1).

Articles, Leeds United

Leeds United: Why the Under-18s gave me hope for the future

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After watching tonight’s youth cup tie against Liverpool, I thought that it was a travesty we hadn’t won. That’s the extent to which this generation of youngsters inspires hope.

Last nights display was impressive for a number of reasons, some of which I will endeavour to list below:

A) They’re being taught correctly – The tactics were ideal and ludicrously modern in comparison to the style the first team plays, playing a progressive possession based 4-3-3 system. There was nothing more symbolic of this than the usage of split centre backs when distributing the ball out from the goalkeeper, the sort of advanced, attacking play that the likes of Bielsa and Barça have extolled in recent years. It is excellent that these ideas are being coached into our youngsters.

B) Chris Dawson looks like he’s going to be a hell of a player – The Welsh Under-21 player reminded me (obviously to a lesser extent, but at an impressive skill level nonetheless) of a tiny Rooney, coming deep and picking the ball up but remaining a huge threat in the attacking third. Dawson was all over the pitch and controlled everything. I am very very excited to see him as a part of Leeds’s future.

C) It wasn’t just Dawson – Alex Mowatt, the captain, looked excellent in the centre of the park, the sort of solid midfielder Leeds have often cried out for in recent years. Alongside his solidity came passing ability however, and he also looks like he could be a real gem of a player. Others impressed, even Lewis Walters, who despite only playing for under half an hour (having to leave thanks to injury after a nasty tackle) looked a good modern centre forward. Lewis Cook also took his goal excellently. It was very clear why this team had previously gone 12 undefeated in all competitions.

D) They deserved to win against Liverpool’s cherry-picked continental youngsters – The difference could be seen in Liverpool’s use of a swede as a second half substitute. Leeds were far and away the better team on the night, valuing the Lobanovskyian collective whilst allowing individuals to shine. It was ultimately just two moments of individual running that put Liverpool ahead, and their third was very clearly offside, so isn’t worth talking about.

All in all, a display that should whet the whistle of any Leeds fan looking to the future.

Follow Amitai Winehouse on Twitter (@awinehouse1).

Articles, Leeds United

Leeds United: Players Leeds should loan (that we never will) #1

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Omar Abdulrahman of Al-Ain.

A tricky little player, Omar Abdulrahman first came to my notice during the Summer Olympics, when he was far and away the best player on a pitch also featuring Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Gaston Ramirez. Playing for the UAE Under 23 side, Abdulrahman operated on the right, cutting inside and crafting all of the play going forward. Both Micah Richards and Ryan Giggs were impressed with his play, having faced him in Great Britain’s match. Amoory, as he is commonly known, played a glorious pass that set up the UAE’s goal, which is part of the ‘touches’ package shown below (yes, I am loath to judge people based on highlights packages, you end up with the Da Costas of this world, but I saw him live and remember thinking how good he was):

Okay, maybe loaning him immediately is a step-too-far, but he’s clearly hoping to expose himself on an English stage, having had a trial with Manchester City over the summer. It would not be ridiculous to suggest he’d be open to a similar arrangement to Habib Habibou, where a trial led to a loan deal until the end of the season. Tell his agent it is an opportunity for him to impress and possibly, in the long-run, earn a permanent move here. For us, we’d get the short-term benefit of having him play.

Plus he’s already had the honour of wearing the glorious Macron white (not for Leeds, admittedly):

Follow Amitai Winehouse on Twitter (@awinehouse1).