What Ken said - det ukentlige 'intervjuet' med Barry Fry, er alltid interessant, i mine øyne anyway. Man får et glimt av Kenneths prioriteringer og tanker, og da er det lettere å orientere seg
Mest interessant, i mine øyne:
* Sønnen til Speed (ikke fotballinteressert) som meldte sin ankomst pr 'brev' (sikkert epost)
* Om 'donasjonen' fra LUSCOS
* ...om å slå Watford (on a good run) borte til helgen:but if we want to win promotion this year we have got to beat them. Simple as that.
What Ken Said – 07.12.11- Xmas Cheers
By Fax Man On December 8, 2011 · Leave a Comment
....
Taken from Yorkshire Radio’s interview with Leeds United owner Ken Bates yesterday…
Ben Fry: We’ll start with Saturday’s game, very emotional for everybody but in the end a very fitting tribute to Gary Speed.
Ken Bates: Yes, I thought it was very emotional but very dignified and of course the tributes around the Billy Bremner statue are just magnificent. I think the most touching thing of the whole day was when yesterday I got a letter from Eddie, the Speeds’ elder son, to say that he wasn’t a follower of football actually but he came to game with his mum and his brother to see the event and the tribute and the game. It was just an overwhelming day and he just wanted to thank everybody at Leeds United for adoring his dad and for showing their adoration and respect in the way they did. I thought that was the most touching event of the whole day.
BF: Obviously once all the tributes were over and it was very emotional with his midfield team-mates back as well, there was a game and the first half seemed to suffer a little bit from the emotion and it was important that Leeds kicked on in the second half.
KB: Yeah, I think, as you say, the occasion did slow things down a bit but in the event, we won against the old enemy. We don’t beat them as often as we should do. It’s another three points, another clean sheet and at this stage it’s probably right to pay tribute to young McCarthy. He has played for us in five games, we’ve won four and lost one. I think three clean sheets. What an impressive young man. I just like to thank him and wish him very well in his career, which I believe will undoubtedly be brilliant.
BF: Robert Snodgrass was the man again. Six goals in six games. Have you ever seen him play better?
KB: No. I don’t think so. He started off a bit slowly at the start of the season but he has got into his rhythm now. It’s great because one or two other players weren’t clicking. He’s playing himself out of position and getting goals. Who cares who gets the goals as long as we get them.
BF: And of course we could sit back, three points in the bag and see what happened in the Championship and for the first time, some surprises at the top.
KB: Yeah, well the fact that West Ham and Southampton both lost and well done to Burnley and Doncaster. Who would have thought I would be cheering on Doncaster? It meant the gap has been closed quite significantly. We’re now six points behind West Ham and eight points behind Southampton. They both have to come to us. We’ve got Cardiff and Middlesbrough to get above first but it’s tightening up, it’s looking good and maybe we’re running into form just at the right time.
BF: It’s an old cliche but Christmas could prove to be very important again.
KB: I don’t know what Susannah bought me yet… Yes, it could be important. It’s always important but put that to one side and any game is important at the moment. We need to go down and beat Watford who are having a little run of their own at the moment and bring three points back again before we play Reading.
BF: Now the Sunday was of course all about the FA Cup when the draw was made. You’d have thought Leeds were due a duffer, as they say, but when it turned out to be Arsenal at the Emirates what was your reaction?
KB: Well I was delighted because… I tell you the advantage… if you think about it we’ve had a remarkable run of luck with Arsenal twice, Liverpool, Manchester United twice, Tottenham… I think it’s important – forget the game, forget the result – it gives us a chance to test our players against the best, that’s the first thing. Second, it gives them an opportunity on what is usually a world stage to demonstrate their individual abilities as well as a team, and it’s good fun for the fans. The only problem is they see what they are missing and they immediately demand to go spend £20million to make sure we’re up there every week. But, seriously, I’m very pleased with it.
BF: And obviously, as well, people talk about it being a distraction, but seen as this seems to be happening every year, the players you’d presume and Simon will just take it their stride.
KB: Well they have done in previous years. If you think about it, they haven’t disgraced themselves. Drew at Spurs, drew at Arsenal, beat Manchester United. We’ve done alright and hopefully it will continue.
BF: Talking of cups, the Under-18s went out of the Youth Cup last night but an important experience and hopefully a learning curve for them.
KB: Yes because Ipswich have a good reputation for producing youth teams and they have done going right back to Bobby Robson. So the fact they went down there and lost won’t do them any harm. As you say, great experience, they’ll come back stronger and better.
BF: Whilst we’re on the cup theme, it was the Members Christmas Party on Saturday night and Leeds Untied Supporters’ Club of Scandinavia made a a fantastic presentation to the club of a replica 1972 FA Cup. It was quite emotional on the night and very special.
KB: Yes it was. I think what was great about it was when Shaun was over there discussing this, that and the other about the Members Club because despite its name, LUSCOS is one of our Member Clubs in the Scandinavia. They decided off their own back that’s what they will do. And of course it will take pride of place in the new museum.
BF: And talking of the museum, is there any update on when that will be open?
KB: Well the whole project is about three or four weeks late due to the weather for example which hasn’t helped us. There’s a bit of a delay on the installation of the lifts. So that will put everything else back but we have Helen Carter has don’t a good job since she has been here. She has worked out the design, she’s worked out the… interviewed designers, looked at the themes and the best way of presenting Leeds United. So we intend to have a meeting next week when we intend to resolve some of these things but we will make a forecast after the meeting but obviously it will be next year.
BF: And the Members Christmas Party another success, but there’s still plenty of Christmas events to come at Elland Road.
KB: Oh yes, we’ve got the carol concert on Monday 19th, which will be the best ever and I think we’re going to have a chat with Deborah who is coordinating that and the parade itself will be fantastic. Everybody should come. It is of course free to members, including the mince pies, sausage rolls and mulled wine. I don’t know how we do it but that will be great. We got the Christmas Day party which again has been a great success in the past. Best food in Leeds, unless you’re staying home and cooking it yourself and then you’ll have to do your washing up but you won’t have to come Elland Road in the Pavilion. Susannah and I will be there. We think the food’s great because of course you could stay at home and cook for two or go out and eat in a restaurant or a hotel. Who wants to eat in a restaurant or a hotel when you can come to Elland Road? So we put our bellies where our mouths are so to speak. Finally, of course we’ve got the New Year’s Eve party which again is a great crowd puller where you can get rid of the old year and see in the new one.
BF: And of course all the details of all the events are on the website leedsunited.com or you can call 08713341919. Quick word on Watford. You touched on them earlier. No easy task because they seem to be picking up some form.
KB: Yeah sure but if we want to win promotion this year we have got to beat them. Simple as that.