View From the Opposition – Leeds 26th December 2008
Name: Phil Mason
Current Home Town: I live near Derby Birthplace: Nottingham
(Is there anything worse for you than a Leeds fan from Nottingham who lives in Derby !?!)
How long supported: I have supported Leeds since 1970 from the age of 5. Even though I grew up in Nottingham there were lots of Leeds fans around, however in the late seventies as Leeds success started to dwindle most of them were all too quick to change their allegiances to the more successful Brian Clough Forest team.
Favourite thing about ground: Although Elland Road looks old and tired when compared with all the new modern stadiums, I still love the fact that me and my two lads can still sit in the same seats that I first sat in as a kid when my Dad started taking to me Leeds in the seventies…..
Favourite match: Two stick out for me.
A Premiership game about ten years ago when we were losing 3-0 at home to Derby after 30 minutes. We came back to win 4-3 with a last minute goal from Lee Bowyer. Living in Derby this was fantastic!.
Also, and mainly for the incredible atmosphere inside Elland Road that night, a Champions League game against the mighty Barcelona. Because of injury and suspensions virtually a second string Leeds side led for most of the game only for Rivaldo to score an equalizer in the last minute.
Favourite Player: As a kid it was Peter Lorimer. Long before the days of replica kits and club shops I even managed to get hold of a pair of the sock tags made famous by the Revie team with his number 7 on.
More recently it has to be David Batty. A better player than most people gave him credit for.
Current Player: Despite the fact he has still only played a handful of games it just has to be Fabian Delph. He is such a talent. It will be a miracle if we can keep hold of him. In the long run I don’t think even an offer £10m would be good business as he is that good.
Player to Fear (Leeds): Obviously Delph. We do have a core of players, like Beckford, Bechio and Robinson who on their day look like world beaters playing in a league way below their ability. Trouble is that on a bad day would more at home in the Midland Regional Alliance!
Player to Fear (Leics): I have not seen a lot Leicester this year, but working in Leicester I get plenty of updates on how you are doing. I am worried because everyone I speak to says you are not playing well but you are (at the time of writing) still top!
I saw a lot of Stevie Howard when he played for Derby and he is just the sort of player that will cause the Leeds defence problems.
Prospect: Delph again, but not sure if he fits into the prospect category as everyone is already talking about him. We do have a 17 year old left back called Aiden White who looks to have the ability to play at the very top level.
Where Do You Think You Will Finish: We just have to finish in the top 2, but will only do this if we sort out our away form and start winning games that we have dominated.
We will definitely get a play-off spot, however being Leeds we will just bottle it as that’s what we do. I have not done the stats but we probably have the worst record in history for blowing finals and big games
How will we do? I am never confident when we play Leicester and have always regarded you as a bogey team. We do not draw games as Gary Mac (editor note, article written prior to his departure) always goes for the win by playing 5 up front if its 1-1 with 20 minutes to go and more often than not we get caught on the break and lose. In saying that I fancy both our games against you to end in draw!
Foxes Trust & particularly Matt Davis wish to thank Phil for this insight from the opposition.