Post by QPR Report on Dec 16, 2008 14:17:43 GMT
Oh Happy Times 
BBC - Leeds chief demands end to slump
Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey has challenged the players to reverse their recent run of poor form.
The League One side have lost their last four games and have fallen outside the play-off places.
Harvey told the club website: "When the players go out on to the pitch on a Saturday afternoon, they are the only ones who can influence things.
"We have to get things right and the players have got to start stepping up to the mark."
Three league defeats in a row have seen Leeds slip to eighth in the table, 12 points behind leaders Leicester, and Harvey's comments would seem to lay the blame with the players, rather than manager Gary McAllister.
"Gary is responsible for the players on a day-to-day basis and they work as a unit but even Gary loses control when it turns over to the players on the pitch," he said.
"He is there to guide, encourage and advise but ultimately if the issue is one of errors of an individual nature there is nothing anyone can do about that." We don't want to be accepting a place in the play-offs because they can be a lottery
Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey
McAllister has come in for criticism from a section of fans, with some calling for a change at the top, but Harvey said they players should take most of the responsibility.
"The same players were good enough to get us towards the top of the table at the start of the season, playing football that everyone was excited to see.
"They need to rediscover that, they need to find the belief."
With some supporters questioning whether Leeds can repeat last season's play-off final place, Harvey insisted they still intend to go one better.
"We don't want to be accepting a place in the play-offs because they can be a lottery. We want to be in the top two.
"Our aspirations are that we be up there with Leicester - or even on top of the pile by now - going into a massive game here on Boxing Day."
He also tried to allay fears the club would sell some of their best players in January, with top scorer Jermaine Beckford inevitably attracting attention from other clubs.
"We have said previously that there will always be a time when it is right for a club to sell a player. 606: DEBATE
At the moment, I believe that Mac can guide us to the play offs with additions in January and with FAITH from the Leeds fans!
Delph - the next Bremner
"We don't need to sell but that does not mean we won't. But to put fans at ease, we are looking to add to our better players to get us out of this division.
"The better players and those who have been linked with moves away will only ever be going when we say so."
And he added that the club would be looking to add players to the squad, but only of the right calibre.
"We are playing League One football and getting players from the Premier League or the Championship, who still think they have something to offer at higher level, is difficult.
"If we can find the right players we will add to our squad and we will probably look to move a few players out but they will be players on the fringes."
BBC - No crisis at Leeds - McAllister
Gary McAllister's side have fallen further behind in the promotion race
Leeds United manager Gary McAllister says there is no crisis at the club despite their sudden slump in form.
Leeds are now four points outside the League One play-offs after their fourth straight defeat, Saturday's 2-1 reverse at home to Colchester United.
But McAllister said: "If we're out of position in the league or unable to pass the ball four feet to each other, then it would be a crisis.
"I don't think it's quite at crisis level," the Scot told BBC Leeds.
Leeds are now 10 points off the automatic promotion places, but McAllister insists he will stick to his footballing principles. When you're in these situations as a player or a manager you've just got to grind it out and get to the other end
Gary McAllister
"I'm going to stay strong to my values and how I see the game and how it should be played.
"We need to transform what we do in the week over to Elland Road more often."
Although McAllister has already indicated that he will bring new players into the club in January, he does not think he needs to change the current mentality at the club.
"Not a great deal," he said, "just having the character and the confidence in your own ability.
"Like a golfer going up that final fairway to win a Major - trust in your swing." 606: DEBATE
I may be wrong but give him time. All the great managers have gone through bad patches. We could be on to a gem. Give him five more games, then my views may have changed!
RabbiManns
Last season's beaten play-off finalists now face back-to-back games against promotion contenders MK Dons and Leicester City. And McAllister admitted that the defeat to Colchester left him at the lowest ebb of his managerial career.
"It's not nice and I'm not enjoying it," he added. "We've got a fantastic support here who must be feeling it as well.
"But I'm going to keep going. When you're in these situations as a player or a manager you've just got to grind it out and get to the other end.
"There's no point sitting in the corner and sulking."
BBC - Leeds chief demands end to slump
Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey has challenged the players to reverse their recent run of poor form.
The League One side have lost their last four games and have fallen outside the play-off places.
Harvey told the club website: "When the players go out on to the pitch on a Saturday afternoon, they are the only ones who can influence things.
"We have to get things right and the players have got to start stepping up to the mark."
Three league defeats in a row have seen Leeds slip to eighth in the table, 12 points behind leaders Leicester, and Harvey's comments would seem to lay the blame with the players, rather than manager Gary McAllister.
"Gary is responsible for the players on a day-to-day basis and they work as a unit but even Gary loses control when it turns over to the players on the pitch," he said.
"He is there to guide, encourage and advise but ultimately if the issue is one of errors of an individual nature there is nothing anyone can do about that." We don't want to be accepting a place in the play-offs because they can be a lottery
Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey
McAllister has come in for criticism from a section of fans, with some calling for a change at the top, but Harvey said they players should take most of the responsibility.
"The same players were good enough to get us towards the top of the table at the start of the season, playing football that everyone was excited to see.
"They need to rediscover that, they need to find the belief."
With some supporters questioning whether Leeds can repeat last season's play-off final place, Harvey insisted they still intend to go one better.
"We don't want to be accepting a place in the play-offs because they can be a lottery. We want to be in the top two.
"Our aspirations are that we be up there with Leicester - or even on top of the pile by now - going into a massive game here on Boxing Day."
He also tried to allay fears the club would sell some of their best players in January, with top scorer Jermaine Beckford inevitably attracting attention from other clubs.
"We have said previously that there will always be a time when it is right for a club to sell a player. 606: DEBATE
At the moment, I believe that Mac can guide us to the play offs with additions in January and with FAITH from the Leeds fans!
Delph - the next Bremner
"We don't need to sell but that does not mean we won't. But to put fans at ease, we are looking to add to our better players to get us out of this division.
"The better players and those who have been linked with moves away will only ever be going when we say so."
And he added that the club would be looking to add players to the squad, but only of the right calibre.
"We are playing League One football and getting players from the Premier League or the Championship, who still think they have something to offer at higher level, is difficult.
"If we can find the right players we will add to our squad and we will probably look to move a few players out but they will be players on the fringes."
BBC - No crisis at Leeds - McAllister
Gary McAllister's side have fallen further behind in the promotion race
Leeds United manager Gary McAllister says there is no crisis at the club despite their sudden slump in form.
Leeds are now four points outside the League One play-offs after their fourth straight defeat, Saturday's 2-1 reverse at home to Colchester United.
But McAllister said: "If we're out of position in the league or unable to pass the ball four feet to each other, then it would be a crisis.
"I don't think it's quite at crisis level," the Scot told BBC Leeds.
Leeds are now 10 points off the automatic promotion places, but McAllister insists he will stick to his footballing principles. When you're in these situations as a player or a manager you've just got to grind it out and get to the other end
Gary McAllister
"I'm going to stay strong to my values and how I see the game and how it should be played.
"We need to transform what we do in the week over to Elland Road more often."
Although McAllister has already indicated that he will bring new players into the club in January, he does not think he needs to change the current mentality at the club.
"Not a great deal," he said, "just having the character and the confidence in your own ability.
"Like a golfer going up that final fairway to win a Major - trust in your swing." 606: DEBATE
I may be wrong but give him time. All the great managers have gone through bad patches. We could be on to a gem. Give him five more games, then my views may have changed!
RabbiManns
Last season's beaten play-off finalists now face back-to-back games against promotion contenders MK Dons and Leicester City. And McAllister admitted that the defeat to Colchester left him at the lowest ebb of his managerial career.
"It's not nice and I'm not enjoying it," he added. "We've got a fantastic support here who must be feeling it as well.
"But I'm going to keep going. When you're in these situations as a player or a manager you've just got to grind it out and get to the other end.
"There's no point sitting in the corner and sulking."