Can Warnock work his promotion magic with Leeds?

By Laurie Fitzgerald

Neil Warnock takes charge of Leeds United for the first tomorrow when they travel to Fratton Park to face crisis club Portsmouth.

While much of the focus will be on the reaction of the Pompey supporters in their first home game since the club went back into administration, for the away fans all eyes will be on their new boss.

Warnock has agreed an 18-month deal with the Yorkshire outfit just six weeks after he was sacked by Queens Park Rangers despite guiding them to the Premier League.

Many felt that the 63 year-old was unfairly treated when QPR owner Tony Fernandes relieved him of his duties, and he has made it clear that he feels he has unfinished business in football management.

“I feel I have one big challenge left in me and believe Leeds is a club that should be in the Premier League,” said Warnock following his appointment last Saturday.  

Should the FA get tougher over sick chants?

By Laurie Fitzgerald

This week’s entertaining Carling Cup action was marred by controversy during Manchester United’s win over Leeds United at Elland Road.

Sections of the away support were heard through the course of the match to be making offensive chants about the two Leeds supporters stabbed to death before a UEFA Cup match in Turkey back in 2000.

There has also been criticism that some Leeds supporters made chants about the 1958 Munich air disaster that cost the lives of 23 people, including eight Manchester United players.

We can all agree that there is absolutely no place for this kind of abuse within the game; there’s no doubting that rivalries will have varying levels of animosity, and these two sets of fans have developed a strong rivalry over the years.

What was seen on Tuesday night though was the lowest of the low, and those that enter this type of chanting need to be held accountable.

Not only do they stain the good names of two of the biggest clubs in the country, but they also threaten to ruin the reputation of some of the most passionate supporters you are likely to find.

However, the question is how do we go about finding the right sort of punishment to fit the crime for these so-called football fans that stoop to such a level?

Both Leeds and Man Utd are set to investigate evidence of those involved and are sure to take further action against anyone found guilty.

But the most severe penalty that the clubs themselves can hand out are giving them lifetime bans from their own grounds, stopping them from supporting their team on a regular basis.

Despite this, it won’t stop those punished from going to support their teams at other stadiums and giving them the platform to launch similar levels of vitriol at other fans.

Therefore, with growing calls for more action to be taken, the Football Association needs to look further into seeing what they can do to aid the clubs dealing with the troublemakers.

It is unfair to punish clubs as a whole from racial or abusive chants, such as point deductions and playing behind closed doors as seen in other countries.

Why should everyone be put in the same bracket as those that take part in this unacceptable behaviour? Especially as clubs do all they can to single out those involved.

As the country’s football governing body, the FA can rid out the scum from ALL football arenas across the land and slowly drain out the kind of rivalry that crosses the line of decency.

That way, while there will always be the odd idiot or two that pop up, the majority will know that the consequences of their actions will hit them hard because the powers-that-be are making a real stand against it.

Some people may think that over-reacting to situations like this is unecessary as it is an idiotic minority of supporters.

But with more impressionable young children going to football matches, we need to be aware of the danger that they could grow up with the mentality that this sort of chanting is acceptable and nothing more than ’banter.’

The whole point of going to football games is to go there and enjoy supporting your team; not to be subjected to the mocking of unspeakable human tragedy linked to your club.

Now it’s up to the FA to make sure they do all they can to provide the kind of matchday atmosphere for future generations to grow up and enjoy – and leave the idiots as far away from football grounds as possible.

So what do you think? Should the FA do more to help football clubs in dealing with those involved in racial or abusive chanting? Or is everything possible being done to deal with this issue? Leave a comment and let us know your views.

Can Michael Owen work his way into England contention?

By Tony Alvarez

Michael Owen grabbed himself a brace in his first appearance of the season in the league Cup against Leeds on Tuesday night in his sides 3-0 victory at Elland Road.

For many fans and pundits Owen showed exactly why he should be in the plans of England manager Fabio Capello as he displayed his predatory instincts and his calm nature in front of goal with two fine finishes.

People of the opinion that Owen is no longer good enough to be considered for international selection will be quick to point out that it
was only Leeds, who with no disrespect to them are a Championship side and on present form are not a very good Championship side.

In my opinion Owen does not offer much to general play wheter he is playing against Barcelona or Bradford however if the ball falls
to him in around the box he is a natural predator and I would argue England’s most clinical finisher.

I should point out that I am by no means Owens biggest fan, in fact I don’t like players who offer very little to all round play but come
alive in the box, for that reason I was never that big a fan of Eduardo when he was at Arsenal, however I think Owen when fit should be included in the England squad I am not suggesting he should start because he quite clearly is not good enough, but if England needed a goal in the last 10 minutes of a game id rather the ball fall to Owen in the area than any other English striker.

On present form I may exclude Rooney from that but Rooney tends to not be in the dangerous goal scoring positions that Owen seems to find
so well.

Many people will state that if he’s not in Manchester United’s first team plans how can he be in England’s, I think people must realise United
have better players than England and in Javier Hernandez they have a player in a similar mould to Owen but with more pace similar to a young Michael Owen the whole country loved so dearly in 1998.

Say what you will about Owen’s lack of games but he still has more experience than many current members of the England
squad and England still don’t have a player in his mould.

Any journalist that’s ever been present when Fabio Capello has been questioned about the possibility of Michael Owen being included in one
of his England squads will know that the Italian is completely dismissive of the idea which I think
is a shame.

I think the best players should be included should he be the best player in his role available for selection he should be selected, if
Capello came out and said this I don’t think many people would mind but at the moment he seems so dismissive that it appears to be more of a personal issue than a Footballing one.

What are your thoughts? Does Owen deserve to be in Capello’s plans? Do you still see Owen as England’s most natural predator? Do you think Capello is too stubborn and set in his ways to change things. Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts