Will it all have been worth it?

[Gilly]

If Leeds never get into the top half of the premiership again (something I can't see, but is currently a possibility) will the last 5 years have been worth it?

No silverware to show for it. But so what?

Until realisation on this dawned about 10 minutes ago I was in a state of perpetual anger at the club. From being a young lad and tasting my team's success in the last season of the old 1st division, the only thing my team has done in terms of winning something has been appear in a final at Wembley. One that we lost to Villa. Heartbreaking, but so what? We at least got to the final...

In the last 5 years we'd not been out of the top 6. We'd done well in Europe almost every year. We got to the semi-final of the Champions League at our first attempt which is not only the first time an English club has done it, but the first time it had EVER been done in the history of the competition. Deportivo would have done it that season, but we beat them to take the accolade. Unfortunately we were beaten by a very good Valencia, which still had Mendieta. but I digress...

How many other of the 'also rans' about in the league would take that? Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea spring to mind. Those teams regularly just finishing just outside those top spots. How many of them would take the two consecutive European semi final appearances for their team? Never mind the teams that regularly finish below them, Everton, Spurs, Villa, perpetual under-achievers.

Ridsdale and O'Leary did a very good job in getting our team to the dizzy heights of flirting with cup and league success in every competition.

To deal with what our club is currently having to deal with, and seeing our greatest players sold off to our rivals, is very, very hard for me, and every other Leeds fan. But at least we were considered very serious competition at one time.

Beating AC Milan, beating Lazio, beating Roma, Barcelona scraping a draw at Elland Rd in the 96th minute with a spectacular volley from Rivaldo, Lee Bowyer doing the same thing on a very wet night against AC Milan at Elland Rd... This is the stuff dreams are made of for anyone but the very top teams!

To have lived through a period where your club does that is very special. And no matter what happens now, I have that

I think that's worth it...

 

[Gilly]

Originally posted by Cyrus
eeeem dont mean to interrupt ur hazy trip down memory lane but in liverpools first season in the Cl they got to the qtr finals and were beaten by the eventual finalists

Your point?

Leeds got to the SEMI FINAL. Like I said. Not the quarter final. They were ALSO beaten by the eventual finalists, who in turn were only beaten by a very, very good Real Madrid side.

Quackers, Liverpool were the ones on the borders. It was either put them in the group with Man United and Arsenal. Which quite frankly would be wrong, or it would be put them in with the others. Which I did.

I'd certainly put them above the others in the group I put them in from recent seasons, but they still don't make it in with the top two.

 

[Gilly]

Didn't quite follow your whole post there matey. You said I was giving up then gave me plenty of reasons to give up

I'll still be supporting them the same old way. No two ways about that, I'll still be watching them, paying me monies, slating other teams.

Leeds fans feel powerless after whats been a gutting season throughout, but we don't give up. We;re proud, and we'll be back. Who cares if it takes a long time? It'll happen.

 

[Gilly]

Well you're safe from the thread being dug up, it'll be pruned by then

I do understand what you're saying, but confidence breeds confidence as they say, and we're on zero confidence with a terrible run-in.

Not bothered what Venables says, I can't wait for this season to be over.