Leeds United Playing Squad for the Championship 2004-05 Season
Nick Barmby
Nick Barmby Position: Midfield
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.
Update: Eddie Gray didn't fancy him either 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
Leeds have parted company with Barmby after agreeing to pay up around half his contract, which has two years to run.
"He will get a lot of money and we will save a lot of money. We just have to accept that," said Leeds Director Peter Lorimer.
"We inherited some ludicrous contracts and we are hoping Mark Viduka, Danny Mills, Michael Duberry and Dominic Matteo will all get fixed up with other clubs in the near future." he said in a sideswipe at the despicable Peter Ridsdale, Alan Leighton and other former Board members
