"Why we're on top of the league for indiscipline, I don't know. We've had some players rightly sent off, while others have been harshly treated. The same goes for bookings. But we're in no way a dirty side. We're a good aggressive, positive, attacking side which tries to play good football".

You 42-carat plonker!

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Answers

Maybe he was referring to the quality of their laundry work. Last week on the 5 live phone in, they had the laundry woman in to answer remarks during the match commentary that apparently Leeds' shirts looked "off white".

The man is a total idiot. The Fair Play League counts fouls and cards. They've got more than anybody. What other conclusion can be drawn, other than that they ARE a dirty side?

In last week's game I commented to Dougal several times on what a dirty side I thought they were, even during the first half. After one foul in particular I said that I would HATE to see us play that way. The cheating was despicable. In an ideal world they would have points deducted for such an appalling performance. They defiled the beautiful game last week.

O'Dreary is becoming a prize prat in recent weeks.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Item in TeamTwaddle says that O'Dreary was so depressed after losing to us 3-1 last season that he offered to resign.

If only...

He must REALLY love us now :)

The man goes down in my estimation almost every time he opens his mouth. It really does make you appreciate YBR.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Saying Leeds aren't a dirty side is like saying Man Utd will get relegated this season.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

David O'Leary is ready to impose tough justice at Leeds United by sacking any of his stars who step out of line. The Leeds manager says he has been 'deeply upset' after a tirade of criticism over the thuggish behaviour of his Premiership players on and off the pitch. And in a stark warning, he has told his £200 million first- team squad they risk being transfer-listed unless they curb their ways and help to repair the club's battered public image.

Incredibly, O' Dreary is reported as saying this less than 24 hours after saying that Leeds are not a dirty side. He is becoming increasingly ridiculous.

Rest assured that the next Leeds star who "steps out of line" will not be transfer listed but will be defended to the hilt by this blithering idiot.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

I take it you don't like him jonno? It's quite funny that they were a real attacking team with verve and pace, great to watch but in the last season and a half they have turned into lunatics. Having said that I admire the way viduka tried to stay on his feet. O'Dreary may be a bit of a wazzock, but a least he doesn't bring the game into disrepute like Wenger who clearly knows what he's doing which intimidates referees at Highbury.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

I take it you don't like him jonno?

You must be reading between the lines to have spotted that TM. :-) I think the way Leeds played at SJP last week brought the game into disrepute. It was a disgrace. And you'll recall that in the Elland Road match Viduka should have been red carded (possibly twice) for offences against Dabs but he was backed by his manager. So to hear O' Dreary saying they are not a dirty team just took the biscuit.

Yes, O' Dreary and Arsene "It's not my job to control the players" Wenger are in danger of making Taggart look like a thoroughly decent bloke!

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Yes Jonno it's this clairvoyance course I'm on Jonno, improved my reading between the lines no end, however, reading between anothers set of lines Jonno I think you are not the only one who doesn't like O'Dreary....and yes I think the FA should start to ask some questions of managers who say "aaah du nutt controlll ma playyerrs Monsieur"

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Looking at fouls committed, yellow and red cards, the Sunday Times tabulates the dirtiest teams in the PL this season. No prizes for guessing who is in the top two positions - yes, Arsenal and Leeds. Hope all is now much clearer for O'Dreary.

Out of interest, the mackems are in 4th despite not having had anyone sent off, and we are surprisingly high at 9th. Surprisingly, Liverpool are bottom of this particular league

They also look at individual players, and surprise, surprise the dirtiest player currently in the PL is none other than Gavin "breaks yer legs" McCann. Craig Bellamy comes straight into the top 10 at No.8, principally due to his dodgy red card at Highbury.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

Did they count Al's dodgy red at Charlton? Presumably if you take both of those out of the equation we would drop way down. Who else was in the top 10 players? Any surprises?

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

O'Leary is in today's papers talking about how well various teams can expect to do this season. He thinks it will pan out with Arsenal as Champions and any permutation of Leeds, Liverpool and Man Utd following them. On us, he says, there's no reason we shouldn't stay up there as we play good, attacking football, have a bit of pace plus Dyer, a big squad and great support but out pitch may f...k things up for us. Interestingly, he says that Spurs are very good but the squad isn't one for the future and they should be sweating on Les and Sheringham staying fit. BTW, SuperMac thinks we'll get beaten by Spurs..

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

SuperMac is probably right.

Spurs have been struggling recently, and although their midfield is quite weak without Freund, we'll probably play Robert as a wing back again.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

I think managers know there is a fine line between hard aggressive football that wins things and being plain dirty. They want to encourage their players to be hard, aggressive winners, at all times, but see them slipping over occasionally into being too hard.

Man U have always been that, with Keane the main cuplrit, but over the years others in the side have had an edge to them. Wenger seems to have abdicated all responsibility for his players aggressive actions on the field, but seems happy enough to take the plaudits on their behalf if they win.

O'Leary I think is just still on the learning curve of management having been thrust into only a couple of years ago. Just like Roeder seems to open his mouth befor eputting his brain in gear O'Leary does so in trying to defend his players. He has having to learn that what he says in the heat of the moment is remembered. His instinct to protect his players is stronger than his instinct to be worldly and wise.

Bobby Robson just has more experience, and more morals, and has learned to lose as he puts it. He did though defend Dyer for being sent off for abusing a linesman, not a violent act, but definitely ungentlemanly.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

I heard on the radio this morning, that Viduka's elbow on Keown on sunday WILL be looked at by the FA.

What about the one on Robert and Dabs then?

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002