March 97

31st March

Bastia blitz
George Graham is ready to pay £2million for Bastia's Yugoslav striker Anton Drobnjak.
Pierre Laurent
Some pics of our new boy putting the ball away.

27th March

En-ger-Land
Lee Bowyer has been called up, into the full England squad for the friendly International against Mexico on Saturday.
Another signing!
Leeds have beaten the transfer deadline to sign striker Derek Lilley from Morton for a fee of 500,000 pounds. He was top scorer in Scottish Division two last year, and has scored 23 goals so far this season.
(Two players in the England squad, two hungry strikers signed, this is more like it lads and lasses.)

26th March

French striker signs!

Leeds have signed 24 year old French striker Pierre Laurent from Bastia. The fee is 250,000 pounds. (More info when available)

25th March

Scotland
An undisclosed offer has been received by Morton from Leeds united for their striker, Derek Lilley.

23rd March

Another transfer link
Birmingham striker Paul Devlin for around £750,000.
Result
Sheffield Wednesday 2 Leeds 2
Quotes
Graham said "That's probably the best we've played since I arrived here. It was lovely to see a bit of individual quality stuff from people like Lee Sharpe. But I'm a bit disappointed, I think in the first half we should have been three or four goals up. I thought we dominated, played really well, and some of our passing was excellent. In the second half they came forward more but it was a good performance; I'm really pleased."
Yeboah injured, shock!
Yeboah withdrew from the squad for this weekend's game with a self diagnosed hamstring strain. Unusually neither of the club's two physios have any knowledge of such an injury.
Signings?
Graham has recently said: "There could be imminent signings. A lot of work has been done behind the scenes, we haven't just sat back. I've done a lot of travelling both here and abroad and hopefully we'll have a signing or two next week."
Anfield
Leeds assistant boss David O'Leary was at Anfield on Thursday night to watch Liverpool beat Brann 3-0.
Saturday's Sun
Leeds are keen to sign Crystal Palace midfielder David Hopkin, giving Palace Beeney, plus cash. Hopkin is rated at around 3million.

20th March

England's No.1
Nigel Martyn has been called up to the England squad for the friendly against Mexico at Wembley on March 29th
Today's transfer tosh
Apparently, Sunderland and Derby County are showing an interest in transfer listed Carlton Palmer. Peter Reid has also been linked with a possible move for Ian Rush.

18th March

Palmer hands in transfer request
Graham said: "Carlton was upset he wasn't in the team and asked for a transfer. I told him to put it in writing and I will put it before the board of directors with my recommendation. I am not surprised by his request. Some people who are out of the team will try to fight their way back in and others will ask for a transfer" Palmer's departure could mark the beginning of a major Elland Road clear-out at Leeds. Graham warned: "I can assure you that there will be quite a change-around of players this summer. By the start of next season we will hopefully have players who want to play for Leeds and who will commit themselves to the club."
Sky SportsCentre
Tonight reported a possible swap deal being lined up involving Yeboah + Cash for Villa's unhappy midfield talent Sasa Curcic.
Yeboah
Tony Yeboah's agent has released the following statement after his shirt throwing on Saturday: "Tony is very upset at the reaction from Leeds supporters who have taken his actions at Tottenham the wrong way. I have spoken to him at great length and he wants to make it quite clear that his gesture was not aimed at the fans or the club. He cares genuinely about the supporters and values the backing he's had from them in the past. His action resulted from sheer frustration. He felt he was playing quite well and had a good chance of scoring an equaliser only to be substituted."

15th March

Quotes
Graham has promised to discipline Tony Yeboah, after he tore his shirt off and then hurled it in Graham's direction when he was substituted at White Hart Lane this afternoon. Graham said: "It was a display of petulance, and he will be fined that's all I am prepared to say on the matter." Graham said of the game: "I thought Spurs totally dominated the first half, and we were lucky not to be at least two goals behind, but we looked more comfortable after changing to a 4-4-2 formation, and I was quite pleased with our second-half performance, especially as Lee Sharpe and Gunnar Halle were carrying injuries. Overall, this game has proved to me that our squad is lacking strength in depth. I had to name three young midfield players on the bench, and that is not an ideal situation. I am looking to bring new faces in, but they must be players for the long term and not just short-term signings."

Result
Spurs 1 Leeds 0

The Daily Express

GRAHAM LINING UP £6m SINCLAIR DEAL

Leeds are planning a £6 million swoop for QPR pair Daniele Dichio and Trevor Sinclair.

13th March

Today's Daily Mirror
Deane may take advantage of the Bosman ruling and move to the continent on a free transfer. Apparently, Marseille, Le Harve and Caen are all interested.

12th March

Result
Leeds 0 Southampton 0
Today's Daily Mail
George Graham has set his sights on buying five new players as he prepares for the next stage of his Leeds revival. Victory against Southampton at Elland road tonight will put them on 42 points, the target their manager believes will be enough to ensure they stay in the Premiership this season - but Graham is already mapping out his long-term plans. The 15 million pound transfer fund set up when the Caspian Group took control of Leeds last year will be called on as Graham aims to add a more fluent, creative edge to the functional team he has developed. He said: "We're developing into a solid unit but I needs five new players in the long term. I know we need creative talent but where is it? The shortage is not just in English football, it's world-wide. I don't kid myself, however, that signing a sweet passer is the solution itself. Just look at the top midfield men in Europe at present - players like Manchester United's Roy Keane, Marcel Desailly (AC Milan) and Didier Deschamps (Juventus). They're great players but they're all-round talents too."
McCarthy
Another possible Leeds target, Port Vale's Northern Ireland international winger, Jon McCarthy, could be available at £2M.

11th March

Fever Pitch
I have been asked to plug a film: "Fever Pitch, the film which celebrates being a football fan, is soon to be released at the cinema. To help support the film we have created a complimentary Web site. We are hoping that you will be kind enough to show this some support by simply paying it a quick visit and maybe telling your own users about it." http://www.channel4.com/feverpitch/
Durie
Sources from Scotland are claiming that Leeds will make a £1M bid for Glasgow Rangers' striker, Gordon Durie. The reaction from Elland Road was totally non-committal.

9th March

A French foray?
The latest name to be linked with Leeds is the Metz midfielder, Antoine Blanchard, who is valued at about £3M. Another French player, Claude Makelele, also valued at £3M by his club, Nantes is also being watched.
Quotes
England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence was at Elland road yesterday. Graham said of Martyn: "He has been brilliant all season and if he doesn't get a good report from Ray after this performance then I won't believe it. I expect goalkeepers to produce good reflex saves, but the way he commands his box puts him up there with the top few. After working with David Seaman at Arsenal for six years I feel I am in a good position to judge. Nigel's not as good as David, but he should be in the England squad." Speaking of the match Graham admitted: "Everton really pounded us in the second half and showed they are a good side with good players who should not be as far down the league as they are. But we wouldn't lie down and that's what pleased me. I like seeing my sides show their character."
Kostis
George Graham looks ready to make a bid for AEK Athens' winger Hristos Kostis. Graham has eyed the Greek on a number of occasions, in particular the match between AEK and Paris St Germain in the Cup Winners' Cup quarter final. The fee is said to be in the £2m region.

8th March

Result
Leeds 1 Everton 0
Don't forget RealAudio match commentary
The official Leeds United site will be conducting a trial of RealAudio commentary today, the 8th March, along with the rest of the home games until the end of the season. You can download the RealAudio plug-in from http://www.real.com/
(Thank you Planet)


7th March

Sinclair available?
Trevor Sinclair is again pondering his future, he said "If we don't go up, I will discuss with the board where I stand. "Obviously I've got to look at my career, I want to be playing at the highest possible level. Right now I've got no plans to go but it is very frustrating."
Thorne
Swindon's Peter Thorne is still being linked with a move to Leeds. Thorne has so far not put pen to paper on a new deal at Swindon and could well be leaving in the summer.
Nimni
Leeds are said to be in a three way fight with Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday for the signature of Israeli skipper Avi Nimni. Nimni at 26 is rated in the £1 million bracket and had an impressive trial at Hillsborough before Christmas.
Hopkin
Crystal Palace chairman Ron Noades has apparently confirmed that Leeds United have made an enquiry about midfielder David Hopkin. Graham watched Hopkin again on Tuesday night and is thought to be keen on buying him, but while Palace are in with a chance of promotion they won't be selling.
Kevin Kilbane
Preston North End have turned down a bid approaching £1 million for Irish international Kevin Kilbane from West Brom. The 20 year-old left winger is a target for a whole host of clubs and Leeds are thought to be one of them.

6th March

Today's Daily Star
Yeboah is quoted as saying: "Graham only allows me to play because it is what the fans want. It is not because it is what he wants to do. I would love to play in the Bundesliga again, and maybe it could yet happen this season. I don't have any problems with the Leeds' fans, the chairman or the club officials who all like me. But I am very unhappy. I just want to play football and give pleasure to the fans." Graham said: "That is news to me. I know nothing about this and I don't know where these stories come from. I have had no problems with Tony since he got back into the team."

5th March

Deane
George Graham is reported to have rejected Bassett's £2.5million bid for 29-year-old striker, Brian Deane.
Injury list
Bowyer and Dorigo are responding well to treatment and could be available for Saturdays match against Everton.

4th March

Six players out for Saturday?
Molenaar had to skip training yesterday with a blistered foot, Brian Deane also has a foot injury. Wallace and Dorigo, who missed the game against West Ham with hamstring strains, are racing the clock to be fit to face Everton. Gary Kelly completes a two-match ban and Lucas Radebe starts a two-match suspension.

2nd March

Quotes
Graham said: "Somebody behind me leant over and said that there was a lot of rubbish on the pitch. I thought he was talking about the players! The pitch was bad and the wind was swirling, it wasn't conducive to good football and it didn't get much. I saw West Ham at Sheffield Wednesday, that was a very dour game. I expected the same again and I wasn't disappointed." The game saw Tony Yeboah make his first home Premiership start in 364 days, but Graham suggested there was plenty of room for improvement. "Tony did OK but he still needs a lot more games. He might of scored in the second half and I thought Lee might have had another as well. I think it was one of those games where the points are more important than the performance."

1st March

Result
Leeds 1 West Ham 0






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