Leeds United Players: 2003-04 Relegation Season
The Barclaycard Premiership
Midfielders

Bakke The Gormless Eirik Bakke Midfielder Squad Number: 19 International: Norway full & U-21 Brought to the club for £1 million as one for the future, Bakke quickly established himself in the team. Unfortunately his performances since O'Leary left have not been of the previous standard. More recently he has alienated fans and club with his behaviour. He was convicted of drunk driving and made a palaver out of the court case instead of just pleading guilty. After being banned he was caught driving in Norway. He explained a local policeman had said the ban didn't apply to Norway. Wrong!!! Given the club's recent bad publicity with certain Newcastle United players, and the driving ban, you'd have thought Bakke would have kept his head down and tried to appease his employers? Wrong!!! After being diagnosed with a knee injury late in the 2003-03 season, Leeds medical staff told him to rest it over the summer break. What did he do? Played three times for Norway! Result? Ten minutes on the pitch at York in a pre-season friendly, during which he scored. After the game we don't see him again pre-season because the Leeds staff diagnose he is suffering from patella tendonitous. Prognosis - out for 6 months! Irate Leeds Directors threaten to sue the Norwegian F.A. for a million pounds. As usual we hear no more and Leeds United are a player down for half a season due to FIFA's ridiculous games of power politics and a spoilt player who should try and remember who pays his wages. Peter Reid has shown with players like Mills that he'll brook no idiots at Leeds and Bakke could find himself on a long loan-out once he is recovered from his self-inflicted injury. www.leedsutd365.co.uk rating: Gormless 3rd Sept, 2003

Nick Barmby Nick Barmby Position: On the bench! Squad Number: 12 International: England full Signed by Terry Venables in the summer of 2002 Nick had a dream debut scoring the first goal, an excellent volley, in a 3-0 hammering of Man City at elland Road. After that it was downhill for Venables and Barmby. He became part of the Leeds United injury hoodoo before Xmas 2002 which limited his effectiveness. By the time he came back Ridsdale had sold half his team mate in a desperate attempt to stop the ship sinking. Barmby has never hit the form that made him popular at Spurs, Everton and Liverpool. Plus he is somehat tarnished with being labelled a "Venables' man". Nicky was suprisingly dropped, alongside Danny Mills, for the first game of the 2003-04 season against Newcastle because Peter Reid had a problem with performances on the pitch and in training. Unlike Mills, who attacked the manager on his personal website, Barmby said he'd been through it before and would get his head down and play in the Reserves. 10 out of 10 for attitude. Barmby hasn't suddenly become a bad player overnight and can still offer Leeds something, he just needs to put the Venables period behind him and bide his time. Eddie Gray didn't fancy him and Barmby played no real part in our relegation season. It has since come to light that he is on £30,000 a week so it's no wonder he is in no hurry to go anywhere else! Another leaving present from the serial incompetent Peter Ridsdale and former manager Terry Venables. 13th May, 2004

David Batty David Batty Midfield Squad Number: 23 International: England full & U-21 David Batty, a Leeds lad, debuted at 18 in the old second division. In 250 appearances under Howard Wikinson he lifted the Second Division title and then the last ever First Division Championship in 1991-92. By then an England regular, Leeds fans were gutted when he was sold, basically to fund he new East stand; in the same way, that the brilliant John Charles was sold to Juventus in the 50s to pay for the rebuilding of the fire-damaged West Stand, criminally uninsured by incompetent Leeds Directors. (Have Leeds United ever had Directors that were actually competent to do the damn job?). After Blackburn Rovers he joined Newcastle United, who seem to have developed a penchant over the last ten years for signing Leeds Utd cast-offs (Speed, Bowyer, Woodgate etc.). Whilst a Newcatle Utd. player Batty missed his penalty in the shoot-out vs Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. Afterwards it became clear he'd never taken a penalty before, but he stepped forward when others shrank back, typical Batty. David Batty became David O'Leary's first signing in December 1998, when the prodigal son returned to Elland Road from Newcastle in a deal worth £4.4million. David Batty was playing the best football of his career when he sustained a calf injury against Bradford City, an injury that was to rule him out for the rest of the season. But his presence in the midfield alongside the youth of Bowyer, Bakke, McPhail and Kewell helped Leeds to the top of the Premiership and through the in the early rounds of the UEFA Cup. The injury wouldn't clear up, and it was only later that it was diagnosed that the medication he was using (to counter a heart problem that arose from his rib injury picked up in his first game back as a Leeds player), was preventing his recovery. After making his comeback as a substitute against Sunderland in December 2000, Batts went on to form a devastating partnership with Olivier Dacourt in the heart of the Leeds midfield and was outstanding in the Champions League and United's second half surge up the Premiership. However, after the departure of O'Leary, with whom he fell out, Batty found himself out of favour with new boss Terry Venables and dopey erstwhile Chairman, Peter Ridsdale. He didn't play a game in the 2002-03 season despite a fans' campaign to bring him back. A bout of tendonitis saved Venables from having to make a decision. When Reid was the temporary manager he said Batty could play if fit enough but he didn't make an appearance. After the signing of Morris, Olembe and Sahko and with a fit-again Johnson it remains to be seen how many times Batty turns out in his final season with Leeds, but be sure when he runs out on the pitch he'll get a great reception.4th Sept, 2003 UPDATE 22nd February: Batty faced the wrath of Leeds fans for the first time when as PFA rep he was seen as a ring-leader when the highly paid Leeds squad dragged their feet in agreeing to a 25% wage deferral in Jan 2004. The deferral was needed to help Leeds raise £5m to avoid administraion. This site particularly scathing of the first-team squad. Though the squad later agreed and Batty issued a denial of being a ring-leader unfortunately his image has been permanently damaged in the eyes of many fans. In Feb 2004, caretaker manager Eddie Gray told David Batty he would not play again for Leeds this season. As his contract expires in the summer it is now clear that he has played his last game for Leeds United. It is a shame it ended on such a sour note.

Seth Johnson Seth Johnson Midfielder Squad Number: 20 International: England full & U-21 Johnson is a £7 million David O'Leary signing. Luckily for Leeds United, although the transfer figure could rise to £9 million, that depends on appearances! Now the left-footed, Brummie-born, midfielder was seen as full of promise when at Derby County but full of medication once he came to Leeds. He's spent nearly all the time on the treatment table rather than the pitch. Even at the start of the 2003 season he admitted his knee is sore after each game; but full-marks, he was willing to suffer because the team was short-handed due to idiots like Bakke with self-inflicted injuries. Like Bakke, this "wild child" has just been convicted of drunk driving and doing 135 mph whilst under the influence! He's just received a two-year ban (August 2003) and a 100 hours community service. Leeds fans have seen glimpses of what is possible but infuriatingly every time johnosn has shown a touch of form he been injured. Maybe this season it will trun around for him and the club. Peter Reid plans to use Johnson with Morris as tough-tackling, midfield playmakers - Bremner and Giles anyone? 4th Sept, 2003 In the final run-in to relegation Seth's injury proness rears it's ugly head with a cruciate injury. He can't play and we cannot afford the £37,000 a week wages in the First Division. His wages will always be the high watermark of Peter Ridsdale's incompetence as a Director of a football club.

Paul Keegan Paul Keegan Midfielderr Squad Number: 37 International: Republic of Ireland U-20 Dubliner, Paul Keegan, is a midfielder who has attracted admirers with his passing game, able to split open the defence for the forwards and also play a holding role when it is needed. Has yet to make his competitive first team debut. 4th Sept, 2003

Aaron Lennon Aaron Lennon Striker Squad Number: 25 International: England U-17 At 5' 5" Aaron has some growing to do, but at 16 he has years left to do it! Aaron became the youngest Premiership player ever after coming off the bench for Leeds United against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in August 2003 for his senior debut; aged 16 years and 129 days Though his achievement failed to hit the headlines, it would have done had his scampering run at goal ended with him hitting the back of the net to also become the youngest ever Premiership goalscorer - taking the record from Elland Road team-mate James Milner. From Chapeltown in Leeds, Aaron shot to prominence in the 2002/03 season when his exploits for the juniors started to get him noticed, which included a hat-trick in the FA Youth Cup. Able to operate as a winger or a striker, the slightly built Aaron makes up for what he loses in stature with skill. Aaron Lennon only signed his first Academy contract at Elland Road over the summer of 2003, having been on schoolboy terms before.

Jamie McMaster Jamie McMaster Midfield Squad Number: 28 International: England U-21 Jamie arrived at Leeds from the NSW Academy, having been born in Sydney. Jamie committed his international future to England. He made four appearances under Venables ,who wasn't afraid to blood youngsters, in the 2002-03 season but has still to fullfil his much vaunted potential. He'll be 21 this year and so must perform or seek a future elsewhere, like several others such as Harpal Singh.

James Milner   James Milner Postion: Midfield Squad Number: 38 International: England U-21 Made his full debut as a substitute at West Ham in November to become the second-youngest ever player to ever play in the Premiership. Milner, at sixteen and 309 days, is the second youngest ever player at Elland Road behind Leeds legend Peter Lorimer, who at the tender age of 15 years, 289 days, made his debut against Southampton in September 1962. The Horsforth teenager impressed for the England U-17 side in the 2002 summer tournament and his performances helped him force his way into senior football at such a young age. He became the youngster ever Premiership scorer during the 2002-03 season, aged 16 and 357 days, when Venables gave James his chance against Chelsea. He took the recently-set record away from Wayne Rooney by just 4 days. After playing over 30 games during the relegation 2003-04 season the teenager was in demand and Spurs made a spectacular offer for him, but teenager James stepped up to fill the shoes of former "Mr Leeds", Alan Smith by saying, "No", and opting to stay with Leeds in the First Division. However, it wasn't long before Robson, aged manager of Newcastle (now known as NewLeeds) United, who seems to have no managerial plan other than "buy Leeds United players", had another attempt at buying the Premiership by making a silly bid in excess of £5 million for the youngster. The spineless Leeds Board wet their collective pants at the size of the fee and immediately put it to the youngster that he could leave, contrary to all the verbal assurances the mendacious gits had given Leeds fans since the Spurs bid. Typical that a Leeds Board once again puts the onus on a Leeds player to leave and try to avoid the inevitable flak. This time Milner turned the tables by forgoing financial benefits to help the club and his agent said, "However, he leaves with a heavy heart and is glad that the money his move has generated will help Leeds in the longer term." Nice kid, and all at leedsutd365.co.uk wish him well in his personal footballing achievements in the future. As for Robson and Newcastle United we wish them relegation nightmares and financial ruin so we can see other clubs pick over their corpse; look at your history "Toon Barmy", you know it's coming once again, the spectre of failure hangs over your club and has for 35 trophy-less years. As for the Leeds Utd Board, they can stop pretending to be Leeds United fans and return to the smoke-filled rooms of financial skull-duggery and let the real fans try and save the club by belief in the youth - oh, bollocks we can't, they've sold 'em all, the fuckers. Update 2nd July 2004 yet another black day in the tarnished history of Leeds United

Jody Morris Jody Morris Midfielder Squad Number: 4 International: England U-17 Jody Morris became Peter Reid's first signing at Elland Road when he joined in mid-July 2003. Released by Chelsea at the end of the 2002-03 season, he was set to join the Scum at Cardiff City until "Cruel" Kewell gave up the sickening pretense that he was going to stay at Leeds and we finally knew where we stood financially and we were able to offer Jody a means of staying in the Premiership. The "feisty" midfielder is only 5' 5", but he's an all-action attacking, tackling playmaker. He also wears the number "4" shirt. does that descritption remind you of anyone? Answers on a postcard to the "Billy Bremner Competition, c/o www.leedsutd365.co.uk". Chelsea were his local club and he made an excellent start with a first team debut just after his 17th birthday and he also captained England Under 17s. His honours include a winners' medal in the 2000 FA Cup and Charity Shield and a runners-up medal in the 1997 Charity Shield. UPDATE: The Yorkshire Evening Post revealed on 8th Oct, 2003 that Jody Morris was arrested on Tuesday 7th Oct, at the Leeds United training ground at Thorpe Arch, for questioning by Police investigating a serious sexual assault on a 20 year-old female in a lay-by on the A58, near Collingham, on Monday night. Charged with rape, the charges against Morris are eventually dropped. Morris later is released by Leeds and moves to Rotherham. 13th May, 2003

Salomon Olembe Salomon Olembe Midfielder Squad Number: 24 International: Cameroon full The 22-year old is on a season-long loan from Marseille with an option to buy. Leeds beat off competition from Spanish club Espanyol for his signature. Joins fellow francophone loanees Camara, Domi, and Chapuis. Olembe was an international debutant for the Indomitable Lions, at just 16 years of age. Six years later he has played in two World Cups, 56 internationals and scored six goals. He has played all his career in France and like Didier Domi, he has won Le Championnait, this time with Nantes. Last season he was with Olympique Marseille (with Chapuis and Sakho) were he played 28 times, scoring once. His signing was only completed on Monday 1st September, 2003, deadline day! As we write he is on international dury with in the African Nations Cup. However, like all the loan signings of Peter Reid he was dropped by Eddie Gray when he took over. Seen by many as the most successful of the loan signings he is liked by the Leeds fans. He has reportedly turned down a move to Blackburn preferring to stay at Leeds, which given the current situation is a sign of loyalty appreciated by the hard-pressed Leeds fans. He played his last game for Leeds at Chelsea, Sat 15th May, 2004 15th May 2004

Jermaine Pennant Jermaine Pennant Midfielder Squad Number: 11 International: England U-21 The Nottingham-born 20-year-old joined Leeds United on a two month loan period from Arsenal on Wednesday 20th August, having been sent off in the England Under-21's against Croatia the previous night! He is due to return to Highbury on October 19, but cannot play in any Carling Cup games. Jermaine has not made an impact on Arsenal's squad of internaionals since joining the club for £2 million from Notts County, a record fee for a teenager, set by a tribunal much to Arsenal's chagrin, five years ago! Jermaine has only started one Premiership game for the Gunners but he did score a hat-trick against Southampton! For Leeds Utd fans, impressed by the young man's performances so far this season, the good news is that Pennant spent two spells on loan with First Division Watford last season and admitted earlier this year that he might have to consider a permanent move to further his career! But whether Leeds could afford him is another matter, perhaps the most for which we can hope is an extension to the two month loan period. In the meantime, let's enjoy Jermaine's contributions to the cause. UPDATE: The Yorkshire Evening Post revealed on 8th Oct, 2003 that Jody Morris was arrested on Tuesday 7th Oct, at the Leeds United training ground at Thorpe Arch, for questioning by Police investigating a serious sexual assault on a 20 year-old female in a lay-by on the A58, near Collingham, on Monday night. Jermaine Pennant was also questioned by West Yorkshire Police at the ground but he was not arrested. Eventually the charges against Morris were dropped. Update 13th May, 2004: Arsenal allowed Jermaine to play the whole season for Leeds United and he was a constant first team choice under manager Eddie Gray. Jermaine was popular with the Elland Road crowd and many hoped that he could make a permanent move to Leeds. Doubtless it will be a few years before we see the same talent on the Elland Road pitch in a white shirt.

Jason Wilcox Jason Wilcox Midfielder Squad Number: 16 International: England full Jason was signed for £4 million, by David O'Leary from Blackburn Rovers, where he captained the side and won a Premiership winners medal. Filling in for the long-term injured Kewell, Jason was soon capped by Keegan to fill in the problem England left-wing position. However, it was downhill from there. Kewell returned and O'Leary turned his attention elsewhere just as he did with Duberry. Jason played more games in one season under Venables than he had in any season under O'Leary. Jason's play has recently been characterised by some heavy and wild challenges and frequent bookings, the frustration of his own and Leeds' position seems to be coming out in his play. 2003-04, his place is effectively being taken by Lamin Sakho who has been an instant hit, as he was, on the left wing. Now 32 Jason's Leeds career looks to be drawing to a quiet close in the Reserves unless he sorts out his play. 15th May, Jason played his last game for Leeds United at Chelsea on Saturday 15th May, 2004. Jason's contract runs out this summer and will not be renewed. 1st July Update: Jason signs for Championship rivals Leicester on a free transfer. Jason's rugged tackling style will be ideally suited to Championship football

the next "Woody" Martin Woods Midfield Squad Number: 27 Born New Year's Day, 1986 in Bellshill, Scotland (what a celeberation that must have been!), Martin is a midfielder who earned himself a berth on Leeds United's pre-season trip to Dublin after some good displays for the juniors and reserves. An all action type of player, Martin is an exciting prospect for the future. Has yet to make his competitive first team debut. 4th Sept, 2003