Crucial Christmas for Leeds

Tuesday, 20/12/2011

by Tom Mordey, Shoot's Leeds United blogger

What is it about Leeds United? Year-in, year-out, the ability to grind out results on a regular basis seems to elude them.

The unpredictable nature of being a Leeds fan is something one grows used to, but in recent seasons the team have taken it to new levels.

Even the successful promotion campaign from League One featured a dodgy patch in the New Year that ensured a nail biting finish, only culminating on the final day.

Last season was no different, a brilliant run before Christmas before a string of poor results saw the side pegged back and ultimately miss out on the play-offs.

This year has been even more bizarre. Saturday’s abject 1-0 defeat to Reading showed the hallmarks of a side fighting relegation, not one still sitting sixth in the table.

There was no urgency, no passion and no quality on show, a display that angered the public who shell out good money to go to Elland Road.

Yet this was the same side that merely three weeks ago smashed Nottingham Forest 4-0 away from home.

Fans have seen the team play superbly, especially in beating Leicester away and drawing with West Ham, yet they’ve also witnessed defeats to Barnsley and Ipswich, not to mention a 5-0 humiliation at the hands of Blackpool.

This lottery of results has no pattern to it. Leeds have beaten big teams, lost to them, thumped the smaller teams in the division and thrown away points against them as well.

Everyone recognises the unpredictability of the Championship, but the Whites are defining its very nature.

Either way, it’s something Simon Grayson needs to sort out and fast. The supporters, the players, the manager and even Ken Bates himself expect a minimum of a play-off finish this season, something that will be unachievable if the side continue to drop points left, right and centre.

The Christmas period is always a tough ask on players, but with winnable fixtures coming up against Derby, Barnsley and Burnley, Leeds will be anticipating at least seven points from these games.

To secure promotion from this division, no-one can afford to drop points against the so-called lower teams, especially given the quality of the sides competing at the top.

So let’s hope for some festive good luck that could bring Leeds the consistency they so desperately need and see the Whites secure a very Merry Christmas. 

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