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KEZ_7
Shedender
It has been a mixed start to the clubs return to League 1 as I expected it to be but what I didn't expect was the club shipping goals like crazy as we've already conceded over twenty and that's alarming, but we're currently scoring goals for fun.
October began with a home game against managerless Peterborough who we beat three two as once again we failed to keep a clean sheet - Mesca, Josimar Quintero and Ben Mee all scored, Mee's goal on forty nine minutes turned out to be the winner.
The side then advanced to the next round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after beating Rotherham on penalties, Josimar Quintero and Tom Rosenthal were our scorers on the road.
We then faced the 'scum' in the form of Bradford City and a hat trick from left winger Mesca helped us to a 5-1 victory at Valley Parade while young striker Kyle Brookes and Breel Embolo also scored.
It was then three consecutive league wins this month as Mansfield Town were beat 6-2 at Elland Road, Josimar Quintero scoring twice. Kyle Brookes continued his fine start to his Leeds career with another goal, Mesca scored twice while Breel Embolo also found the net.
A trip to St. Andrews was next as Birmingham won four two, Josimar Quintero and Kyle Brookes are scorers.
Breel Embolo netted a treble as we beat Walsall three one at home, the attacking midfielder had scored after five, twenty three and fifty four minutes but yet again a clean sheet didn't happen.
The month came to an end with a six goal thriller at Barnsley as the points were shared, Dean Grbac scored twice, including a spot kick with six minutes remaining while Joe Rodon also scored at Oakwell.
A much better month has seen us climb the table and now into fourth place as we only suffered setback's twice this month (loss at Birmingham, draw at Barnsley) but that's fine as we are still scoring goals for fun but conceding them and that's not fun.
I'm almost there, after completing my Continental B Licence just months ago, I have once again asked Mr. Cellino about the possibility of me taking my latest batch of coaching badges and that'll see me, if completed, seal my Continental A Licence, one more and I'll be completed in badges and it hasn't taken as long as I'd thought it would but suppose I've managed the right clubs.
Leeds will be covering the fee which is three grand and will take approx. one year to complete.
SBR
Dan
Shedender
You expect more from me? No pressure then Dan.
The start to the season hasn't been bad as we're currently equalling the media's expectation as the side are sitting in fourth place but I feel we're better than that and could really push on over the next few months if the side can find consistency, the penultimate month of the calendar year will see us play five games over three competitions.
November began with a first round FA Cup tie at home to Whitehawk as we eased to the second round with a four one victory as Josimar Quintero, Joe Rondon, Tom Rosenthal and Dean Grbac all scored.
Three days later and Barnsley headed to Elland Road for the next round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy as the side eased to the next round, winning 3-0 as Mesca had broke the deadlock on twenty four minutes before Joe Rodon and Josimar Quintero added further goals in the second half.
We then returned to league action with our first League 1 game this month as we beat Bury 6-3 at home as Mesca bagged a treble, Josimar Quintero struck twice while young Kyle Brookes was also on target in the nine goal thriller.
Our penultimate league game of the month saw us travel to the Memorial Ground to face Bristol Rovers who we beat four goals to two as we had scored three goals in the first half - Dean Grbac, Breel Embolo and Mesca the scorers while Josimar Quintero added a fourth late on.
The final game of the month saw us draw two all away to Stevenage as we squandered a two nil lead that was given to us by left winger Mesca who scored twice.
We're up one position following a good month as now we are only behind the leaders Swindon Town by six points and they're catchable if we remain in good form which is what I expect. In our opening nineteen league games we have scored a mental sixty six goals, we could easily break the one hundred goal total.
SBR
Jamie3
Dan
Johno
DP91
Shedender
And then pigs might fly Jamie3, ha. I'm hoping the side can keep some more clean sheets, would prefer in the league.
Harsh man, if you expect more than the pressure is on me then Dan.
I'm surprised Swindon's top as well but they've been solid this season but I'm hoping I can knock them off their 'perch' before the season ends.
To be fair DP91, I don't think there's much difference between League 2 and League 1 on Football Manager or in real life so it's not surprising that the form has carried over. The league has always been tight and I don't like it.
Despite shipping goals at an alarming rate it has still been a solid opening few months to the League 1 season as I look for expected back-to-back promotions and you can blame the media for their 'unrealistic' expectation for that. We're banging the goals in at the other end and the final month of the calendar year saw us play six games over three competitions.
A trip to Doncaster started the final month of twenty twenty one as we won 5-1 and advanced to the third round of the FA Cup as Dean Grbac bagged a treble against one of our Yorkshire rivals, Josimar Quintero also scored twice in the thumping win.
Just three days later and the side advanced in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, beating Bury four one at Elland Road. For the second game running, Dean Grbac scored a hat trick and Josimar Quintero was also on the score sheet.
Our first league game of the month was 'televised' at home to Chesterfield as we could only draw one one, Dean Grbac scoring our goal on twenty nine minutes.
We then travelled to bottom of the table Hartlepool (iirc) and despite bossing the game, the side could only back-to-back one all draw, Dan Cotterill netting our goal six minutes into the second half, was disappointing not to beat them.
Following those two disappointing draws, the side bounced back and recorded a 3-1 win away to Plymouth - Kyle Brookes, Dan Cotterill and Ante Loncar the scorers.
Twenty twenty one concluded with a 4-1 win over Crewe as once again a clean sheet avoided us but Bradley Dack scored twice, including a penalty kick in second half stoppage time while Tom Rosenthal and Kyle Brookes were also on target.
Those two disappointing draws have seen us now slip down a place to fourth in the League 1 standings and now sitting eight points behind leaders Swindon so it's going to be difficult to win the league from here but we'll keep plugging away and hope Swindon/MK Dons and Portsmouth drop points here and there.
***During the last month or two I was offered an interview about the possibility of taking the Fulham job in the Championship, they still had Patrick Roberts but I decided to reject the offer after two delays (yeah, I was also offered the job) as I want to at least see the season out with Leeds as I feel the club can and will be promoted, with luck.****
Shedender
Happy New Year folks, it's twenty twenty two and it hasn't been a bad season to date but it could definitely be much better if the side could stop shipping goals but we enter the new calendar year in fourth place and eight points behind leaders Swindon, could we close the gap down?
The New Year kick started with three consecutive home games in all competitions and the first was against Colchester United who we managed to beat three two - Kyle Brookes, Mesca and Bradley Dack were on target.
Just a couple of days later saw us trounce MK Dons 6-2 as Dean Grbac hit a double late on while Kyle Brookes, Bradley Dack. Joe Rodon and Tom Rosenthal also found the net at Elland Road in the emphatic victory over our play-off 'rivals'.
We then faced Southampton in the third round of the FA Cup and lost two nil.
Three days later a trip to Rochdale was next and edged the contest three two as our three goals came in the first half through Fabian Delph, Dean Grbac and Joe Rodon.
Our next league game at home to Portsmouth and despite an early Tom Rosenthal goal on two minutes, we could only manage a 1-1 draw.
We then faced Huddersfield away from home in a Yorkshire Derby and edged a five goal thriller, 3-2 as our three goals arrived in the opening thirty nine minutes - Mesca, Josimar Quintero and Ante Loncar the goalscorers as the Leeds supporters had 'bragging rights' after doing the league double over Huddersfield.
It would be back-to-back away games as the side headed to Yeovil and had to come from two goals down iirc to secure a three two victory as striker Dean Grbac bagged a treble inside the opening seventeen minutes, we also had a man dismissed before Grbac's dramatic winner.
The opening month of twenty twenty two ended with a 4-1 win at home to Rotherham United as Dean Grbac scored twice inside the opening seventeen minutes, Joe Rodon and Mesca were also on target in the victory.
And now we're beginning the climb the league again as a remarkable month in the league has seen us climb up to second place and now we're just a single point behind leaders Swindon. In our opening twenty nine games, we have scored a remarkable ninety five goals so the century of league goals scored will be broken with ease.
Dan
Shedender
Despite that 2-0 FA Cup third round defeat at home to Southampton, twenty twenty two still began well as we now only sit a single points behind the leaders Swindon Town and we happen to travel to the County Ground for our first league fixture of February so we may end up top, if we win.
But the month began with the Johnstone's Paint Trophy second leg against Rochdale and a single goal from attacking midfielder Breel Embolo on thirty seven minutes ensured we advanced to the final 4-2 on aggregate and we'll face Stevenage in the final sometime in March.
Leeds United then moved to the top of the League 1 table after securing a hard fought 2-1 win away to Swindon as Dean Grbac and Craig Laycock struck, Laycock's goal arriving in the final minute to not only seal the points but also top spot and now I hope we don't lose it.
We were then involved in a nine goal thriller as we beat Wycombe five four at Elland Road - Breel Embolo, Josimar Quintero, Dean Grbac 2 and Dan Cotterill scoring.
Goals from Dean Grbac and an own goal from Paul Curtis saw us seal a two nil win away to Carlisle United.
Our next league game was at home to Rochdale who we managed to defeat 4-1 as a double from Dean Grbac and a Fabian Delph goal saw us find the net three times inside the opening quarter of an hour, Welsh striker Gareth Clinton added our fourth goal on seventy six minutes.
February concluded with a three one win at London Road against Peterborough as Josimar Quintero scored on four minutes to get us off to a flyer, Ryan Shotton then struck on twenty seven minutes before Mesca added our third goal nine minutes into the second half.
That 2-1 victory away to Swindon Town could be the 'turning point' as the club have now opened up a seven point gap at the top of the League 1 table and have eased past the one hundred goals, which I'm chuffed with but we've shipped sixty four times so far this season as the defence has remained leaky.
I have decided to put pen to paper as I've signed a new two year contract extension but I'm not sure if I'm going to remain at Leeds come the end of the season or head onto 'pastures new', but I only had four months remaining on my current deal so I decided to sign the new deal but I'll decide my future at the end of the season.
SBR
simoncoyne
Shedender
Cheers simoncoyne, regardless of what happens this season I'm still deciding whether to remain at the club or not.
The penultimate month of the 2021/22 campaign was upon us as my Leeds side looked to secure at least a play-off spot this month before hopefully getting over the finishing line and securing either promotion or the title. Seven games awaited us in March including the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final against Stevenage.
Perhaps I couldn't have asked for a better result to begin March as we destroyed 'bitter' rivals Bradford 6-0 at Elland Road as we led five nil at half time thanks to a Dean Grbac hat trick. Josimar Quintero and Tom Rosenthal. Winger Quintero added a sixth goal with fourteen minutes remaining.
The side then 'stuttered' away to Mansfield four days later, only drawing one one despite Tom Rosenthal scoring after twelve minutes.
Doubles from both Kyle Brookes and Tom Rosenthal ensured we beat Birmingham City 5-2 at Elland Road to secure back-to-back home wins this month, Ryan Shotton scored the other goal on thirty five minutes.
And then the side made the trip to Walsall and slipped to a very disappointing three one defeat, Joe Rodon our scorer.
But then the Johnstone's Paint Trophy was secured following a 3-1 win over Stevenage who iirc had led one nil and also had a man sent off (I could be wrong though) but second half goals from Craig Laycock and a double from Tom Rosenthal ensured trophy number two in England was chalked off.
We then made the trip to Gigg Lane to entertain Bury as we destroyed the nine men 8-0, Dean Grbac scored a remarkable four times including two penalties while Breel Embolo scored twice while Mesca and Tommy Howard also scored in the huge win.
March concluded with a nine goal thriller against Barnsley at Elland Road, winning 6-3 as both Dean Grbac and Joe Rodon scored twice while Mesca and Dan Cotterill also found the net.
An excellent month has seen us secure at least a play-off spot but the side eight points clear with six games to go, I am confident we can secure the league title but it's going to a tight finish. It's hard to believe we have scored a mental ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT goals but haven't secured the title.
But I suppose the concerning bit is the fact we have conceded SEVENTY THREE times, fourteen times more than seventh placed Stevenage.
SBR
Johno
Dan
GMFCRyan
Also, your signature <3
Shedender
Yeah I agree Johno, it's absolutely insane.
Cheers Dan, we've been conceding goals like crazy this season but even though I play 'attacking', we shouldn't be conceding so many goals.
GMFCRyan I can guarantee that I'm going to look at the defence in the summer, don't worry about that but it's not going to be easy.
With a play-off spot already confirmed we entered the final month of the season looking to secure the League 1 title and back-to-back promotions since I took over the club when they were languishing down ninth in League 2. We had six games remaining to possibly secure the title and Championship football next season.
The final month of the twenty twenty one/twenty twenty two season started with a home game against bottom of the table Bristol Rovers who we managed to beat three nil thanks to goals from Dan Cotterill, Mesca and Tommy Howard.
We then travelled to Colchester ten days later and defeated them 5-1 - Kyle Brookes, Fabian Delph. Tom Rosenthal, Ante Loncar and Dan Cotterill were all on target away from home.
Three days later and the side beat Stevenage four two as our four goals came in the second half through Craig Laycock, Dean Grbac, Mesca and Tom Rosenthal.
The side then slipped to a disappointing draw away to Crewe, Joe Rodon scored our goal after fifty two minutes.
Our penultimate game of the season saw Plymouth make the trip to Elland Road and we defeated them 3-1 thanks to goals from Josimar Quintero, an own goal from Mitch Hancox and then Sam Byram added a late third as the league title was secured.
The league season concluded with a hard fought two one victory away to Chesterfield as youngster Kyle Brookes scored on fifteen minutes, Tom Rosenthal's goal on sixty four minutes turned out to be the winner on the road as we finished the campaign with maximum points.
This is conformation that Leeds United have won back-to-back league titles while MK Dons have been promoted as runners-up while Swindon, Portsmouth, Huddersfield and Stevenage will all be in the play-off's. We ended the season scoring a mental ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX GOALS and that's ridiculous.
I'm pleased to announce that I've completed my Continental A Licence and now I'm just one set of coaching badges from completing them.
Of course I have wasted no time since we're in the summer, soon after completing my Continental A Licence, I 'cheekly' asked Massimo Cellino about sending me on my last coaching course which will see me secure the Continental Pro Licence and he agreed and the club will be covering the six thousand fee and it'll take around one year to complete.
After being allowed to go on my last set of coaching badges, how did I 'reward' the club?
By resigning with immediate effect. I have decided to end my reign at Elland Road despite securing the League 1 trophy as I want to head onto my next chapter in football manager and that'll be outside England, or so I hope as I've loaded several other countries so I'm sure I'll find a job, during my reign at Leeds we won the League 2 title, League 1 title and Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Following my resignation I have turned down interviews at Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock, Aston Villa and Port Vale as I want to leave England for potentially a few seasons before returning.
SBR
Dan
Shedender
When you're on a quest to try and win trophies Dan, you can't really remain loyal to clubs considering I could have easily been sacked if next season had went horribly wrong.
Saturday, 9 July 2022
Following my resignation as Leeds United manager I decided it was time to once again test myself in a different country that I've 'never' managed in before but I had to wait until the 25th July for all the new leagues to load before deciding where I end up, but one job I had my eye on, one job that could perhaps give me trophies.
As soon as I saw the vacancy available at Austria Lustenau, I jumped (not literally) at the opportunity and put my name in the hat and I felt confident I could at least get an interview despite never managing here 'before' as I have experience elsewhere, I have been unemployed for over a month now and that needs to end.
Sportclub Austria Lustenau have offered me an interview in a chance to get my football management career back on track after leaving Leeds, as per usual I'm hoping to wow them so they can offer me a job and I feel I've done just that even though I got that question about 'broken promises' again. I hope I've done enough to impress them or I'll need to continue looking for work.
I'm successful and was the best candidate for the job, or the only one, I don't know nor care. They have offered me a two year contract and that's enough for starters but what I didn't expect was a transfer budget of £1.7m that I'm impressed with but probably won't even need it. They're expectations is a 'respectable league position' but I feel I can go better with the correct signings.
When I arrived at the club, pre season was already completed so I'll post my transfer dealings when I'm posting my opening month and that'll be the end of July as I've 'no time', I start straight away with an Austrian Cup game, talk about no time to get settled, pressure is on from the get go, especially with only one keeper so far and he's injured.
SBR
DP91
Shedender
I'm hoping the keeper issue will just be for the cup game DP91 as I'm in 'talks' with one at the moment, my first priority.
As soon as I had arrived at Austria Lustenau, I had no time to settle as I had to begin my reign in Austria with an Austrian Cup trip on the day of my appointment while I also needed to play four league games and sign some 'quality' players as I felt some of the current squad weren't good enough.
I ended up 'Clyde-ing' the squad as thirteen new players arrived as I only paid cash for two of them. I'm not mention the Drissa Diakite signing as I didn't actually sign him but I did sign shot stopper Aleluis while Kimmo Hovi, Benjamin Rapp, Stefan Nutz, Adnan Ramakic, Lukas Jager, Philipp Wiesinger, Lukas Ladinig, Michael Augustin and Nikola Kasapovic all arrived on free transfers. Both Dusan Simic from Wolfsberger and Christian Leitner from Buchbach cost us cash.
Both Danijel Levacic and Sinan Akdeniz left the club this summer, they were both 'foreign' and would never have played for me.
I started my managerial reign at the club with a trip to non league Team Wiener Linien in the first round of the Austrian FA Cup and without a 'proper' goalkeeper but it didn't matter as we ran out 7-2 winners. Patrick Blume scored a hat trick while Udo Siefkes, Timo Bayer, Reiner Schneider and an own goal from Tobias Schneider sealed the emphatic win.
The league campaign began with a trip to BW Linz who we beat four three as Dusan Simic's two late goals ensured maximum points to start the league season, Patrick Blume and Benjamin Rapp also found the net.
Goals from Benjamin Rapp and a debut goal from centre back Lukas Jager ensured we won two nil against Wels.
We then travelled to Wolfsberger and eased to a 5-0 victory although they did finish the contest with only nine men. It started badly for Wolfsberger as Stefan Pfeifer put through his own net before having a man sent off before Stefan Nutz, Reiner Schneider, Benjamin Rapp and Lukas Jager added further goals.
The opening month was completed with a three one victory over Horn to complete a great opening month - Benjamin Rapp and two goals from Kimmo Hovi ensured maximum points and left us top of the table on perhaps goals scored.
So yeah, as I've previously said, we are top of the table on (perhaps) goals scored but only four league games have been played and their is still a lot, and I mean a lot of football to be played this season. We're predicted to finish sixth iirc but I feel we can at least finish in the top four, that's the minimum expectation for me.
SBR
Dan