[SHEP_HTAFC]

DIRTY LEEDS UNITED v HUDDERSFIELD TOWN......SAT 10th SEPT.....K.O 15:00

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Big Yellow Skip _________________________________________________Elland Road

GAME DETAILS / CURRENT FORM

Town come into this game top of the league...our highest league position since December 1999 when we beat QPR 1-0 to go top.
Of the 5 league games we have played, we have won 4. Our only blip came with an away draw at Villa.
At the start of the season, many "informed" and "expert" pundits such as Ian Holloway ("I haven't seen much progression from the club during the back end of last season. David Wagner is pretty inexperienced and if results turn, then they may struggle to turn things around.") and Chris Iwelumo ("I predict Huddersfield will finish bottom") had us as no hopers.
What a start we have had though !!!
A feature of our games have been the late goals we have scored. This will be a big danger to other teams as they tire after we dominate possession in most games.
Another feature is our managers substitutes. They are remarkable impact subs...as this shows:-

GAME....................................SUB (TIME)......................GOAL SCORED
BRENTFORD(H)....................KASEY PALMER (78)..............79
NEWCASTLE(A)....................JACK PAYNE (81)...................82
ASTON VILLA(A)..................MICHAEL HEFELE (86)............86
BARNSLEY(H)......................JONATHAN HOGG (56)...........90(+1)


Dirty Leeds come into this game after a woeful start to the season leaving them 4th bottom of the league. Humped by Forest and QPR away, they have only drawn at home to Fulham but did beat the Wendies at Hillsborough. Their manager Gary Monk will be under real pressure, and a loss in this game could see him sacked by that mad Italian owner. Even if he isn't sacked, it is still 9 different managers in less than 5 years at the club.
This is Dirty Leeds' cup final. They like to think it is our cup final. Indeed it is for a lot of our supporters...however there are a growing number of their fans who believe this is the must win game.
They will play no one this season that they want to beat more....with the exception of relegation rivals later in the season.
I've no idea which team or formation they will play, and most of all I don't really care. We have enough to beat them.

The distance in miles from Huddersfield to Leeds is 14. If we win on Saturday then we will be 12 points in front of them.
We are getting close to saying they are closer in miles than points to us  

OUR OPPONENTS

Dirty Leeds were formed in 1919....and first elected into the Football League in 1920.
This should always be remembered by fans of both Town and Dirty Leeds:-
"In Leeds' first fifteen years, the club kit was modelled on Huddersfield Town's blue and white striped shirts, white shorts and dark blue socks."
They only went to their "famous" all white kit in 1961 under Don Revie, as he wanted to copy Real Madrid.
Domestically, Dirty Leeds have only won one more trophy than Town. We both have won 3 league titles, and an F.A Cup. They have also won the League cup.
In Europe however, things are very different. Dirty Leeds were crowned unofficial European Cup champions despite losing to Bayern Munich in 1975. They have also won the Fairs Cup twice, although UEFA does not recognise this trophy as a major honour.  


In recent years, the club has been in turmoil. It all started in 2001 when chairman Peter Ridsdale (I'd like to buy him a pint) borrowed heavily from banks to fund new players, with the absolute certainty that they were guaranteed Champions League football for many years to come.
However, after 2 consecutive seasons with no qualification, they had to start selling their best players. Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate, Mark Viduka etc all had to leave. They were relegated in 2004 to the Championship, and 3 seasons later were relegated to League 1, the first time in their history they had to play in Level 3 of the football league.
Oh happy days.

FAMILIAR NAMES

Lots and lots of players and managers have represented both clubs......here are just a few:-

Trevor Cherry

Terry Yorath
Joe Jordan

Frank Worthington


Jermaine Beckford
Andy Ritchie
Simon Grayson
Colin Wanker
Alex Bruce

TOWN TEAM

Herr Wagner seems to know his first 11 now, barring a couple of rotational changes. I predict it'll be this if all players are available:-

WARD

SMITH  SCHINDLER  HUDSON  LOWE

LOLLEY  HOGG  MOOY  VLP  

KACHUNGA

WELLS