As well as rallying behind the Leeds United squad as we go into the final couple of games of the 2018/19 Championship’s regular season, plenty of fans are rallying against the more sensational journalism that’s going on in some quarters of the media.
With Leeds ultimately falling short given our automatic promotion hopes, there are still plenty of things to be positive about. Few expected us to be challenging for the title this year and most would’ve simply been happy with improvement under Marcelo Bielsa and proof that the groundwork for success was being put in place. Then there’s the progress of our next generation, both those in the first team and those at Under 23 level given we lifted the Professional Development League title with games to spare.
Whilst the disappointment is understandable given automatic promotion, and maybe the title, was in our hands for such a long period of time, given where we finished in the campaign of 2017/18 and given we didn’t massively spend over the summer, it’s spurious to say the season has been anything other than a success – it could get worse with the Play-Offs, it could get better. Nobody knows.
But if getting to the Play-Offs would’ve been considered a success and progress at the beginning of the year, that hasn’t changed now – irrespective of John Cross’ inane ramblings for the Mirror and he’s undoubtedly not alone.
Marcelo Bielsa gamble leaves Leeds staring at glorious failure once again |@johncrossmirror https://t.co/BADSGnsq9G pic.twitter.com/vWrtJJTgQ8
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) April 25, 2019
Neither am I in my viewpoint. Whatever relative points are made that fans could agree with, they are ruined by the overall angle of the piece with its easy lazy claims. It’s impossible to be ‘burnt out’ yet dominate games in the way we continue to, creating the chances we are and had Cross actually watched us – even only highlights – he’d have known that.
Then factor in the injuries. All I can give him is maybe the sub-editor could’ve titled it more appropriately?
I find the term lazy journalism gets thrown around far too easily, but it's the only phrase that could describe this piece.
— Mike (@yonyteboah) April 25, 2019
The glorious failure isn't a defeat. Taking us from 15 last season to 3rd this is a success story
— Tony P Dickinson (@tonypdickinson) April 25, 2019
not a failure compared to last year and the development of u23s – over achieved …. and the season is far from over
— Dazill (@Desmondo007) April 25, 2019
Lazy John Cross at it again. You’ve no idea of the change at Leeds over the last 8/9 months.
— bruno de vito (@bdv10) April 25, 2019
Pathetic article
— Simon McWilliams (@si_lufc84) April 25, 2019
Shocking journalism
— Graham Marchant (@gmarchy14) April 26, 2019
Erm when was our last glorious failure Mr Lazy Journalism….? This is a team that finished 13th last season and with a crippling injury list and minimal new signings he has clinched playoffs and almost a top two spot.
— Mark Reid (@witneywhite) April 25, 2019
John Cross’ article is a reflection of a poorly informed piece of work with lazy conclusions that gets produced when someone hasn’t bothered to actually watch how Leeds play week in week out. If he had, he would understand what our strengths & weaknesses are. #lufc #MOT
— Marc F ???????? (@billywigwam13) April 26, 2019