July 1, 2005.
Leeds City, Elland Road Stadium, media interview room.
Several of Leeds United's new signings this year show off their jerseys. Standing in the middle is Edwin van der Sar, the goalkeeper whom Leeds United spent 2 million pounds to introduce from Fulham. This 35-year-old veteran will wear the No. 1 jersey of Leeds United in the new season. It is obvious that he will He is Leeds United's starting goalkeeper this season. After Paul Robinson moved to Manchester United, the Dutch veteran will guard Leeds United's last line of defense this season.
Standing on the left of Van der Sar is Scott Parker. He is holding the Leeds United No. 5 jersey. This jersey was worn by Dominic Mateo last season. This season Mateo is free to move. He went to Blackburn Rovers, so the owner of the No. 5 jersey became Parker, and eventually Leeds United purchased him from Chelsea for 6.5 million.
On the right of Van der Sar is forward Kevin Davis, who previously played for Bolton. This season he will continue to wear the same No. 14 jersey as at Bolton. The price of 3 million pounds is just right for the 28-year-old. For a forward of 2019, he is absolutely worth the money. This season he will compete with Robin van Persie for the main forward position at Leeds United. Of course, due to the needs of the style of play, the two may also start together, and Van Persie may appear in the team's starting lineup. Right.
The person standing next to Davis, holding the No. 21 jersey, is Lee George, or to be precise, the Sheffield United striker introduced by Eddie Gray, Andy Gray. Although he was not the protagonist of this new aid conference, the forward who once left Leeds United returned to the Young Guards again, which also attracted widespread media attention. Although he is the team's third striker, the surname "Gray" is enough for Leeds United fans to welcome him.
The last player is Anton Ferdinand. This English player who can play as a central defender or a right back may not be too familiar to Leeds United fans.
But his brother is Rio Ferdinand, who is well-known to everyone and is the record holder for English defenders. In November 2000, Rio Ferdinand was transferred from West Ham United to Leeds United during the winter transfer window for a record breaking English transfer fee of 18 million pounds. This fee made Rio Ferdinand the most valuable player in world football at the time. defender. However, on July 22, 2002, Rio Ferdinand once again broke the England transfer fee record in the summer transfer window. He transferred from Leeds United to Manchester United for 30 million pounds. The two parties signed a five-year contract. This fee made Rio Ferdinand ·Ferdinand once again became the most expensive defender in world football at the time.
The price of 3.5 million may seem too low compared to his brother, but George Lee is very optimistic about this 20-year-old forward who also came from West Ham United's youth training. George Lee likes this kind of versatile player. Danny Mills in the team, who can also play center back and right back, and Wes Brown, whom George Lee has always wanted to get, are such players. Such players can have more choices when letting George Lee play as a three-back or four-back.
Although not many media came, reporters were quite enthusiastic in asking questions.
George Lee, who also attended the new signing press conference, also told the media that Leeds United’s signings are not over. The team is still chasing some capable players to strengthen the lineup. After the media raised Kuyt’s name, These operations are enabled by default.
But in actuality, Li George has informed the transfer department that Leeds United's recruitment work this summer has ended.
George Lee will replenish his lineup again, and at the same time, he will also appropriately slim down the lineup.
Mateo went to Blackburn on a free transfer.
Eric Buck went to Aston Villa at a very low price. For this midfielder who helped Leeds United go all the way, he did not ask for a high transfer fee when he proposed to leave. It is to use a low transfer offer to help players win higher salaries in the new team.
There is also Ori Oscarsson. This Icelandic striker with distinctive characteristics was bought by West Ham United. 1.5 million pounds may not be a big deal to the Premier League team, but as the "Hammer Gang" who failed to be promoted to the Premier League last season It can be said that a lot of money has been spent.
Also leaving are Aaron Lennon and Matthew Kilgallen, two young players who had little chance to play last season. Lee George has informed them that they will be loaned out for training. Two young players Also agreed. In the final stage of last season, Kilgallon was okay and won some playing opportunities when the main players were injured, but Lennon had almost no playing time.
In Li George's communication with these two young players, it can be clearly seen that the two people have different views on loan. Kilgallon was obviously a little absent-minded when communicating with George Lee, while Lennon was listening carefully to George Lee's experience and training requirements during the loan period. Therefore, after the loan period ends, Lennon will most likely return to the team, while Kilgallen will choose to leave.
^^^
July 13, 2005.
Leeds City East, Thorpe Arch Training Ground.
Smith and Van Persie were running laps in the warm-up, chatting while running.
"If I had known that the training camp was going to Amsterdam, I wouldn't have gone with you to the Netherlands for vacation." Smith obviously now knew that he was being tricked by the coach. He knew that he was going to the Netherlands for vacation during the offseason, but he did not inform them of the location of the new season training camp. It’s also the Netherlands, very bad.
"It won't matter if I go again. I'll be familiar with you this time."
Seeing that the two people were chatting so enthusiastically, and could vaguely hear Amsterdam and so on, Grenchar chased after them and joined their chat.
"You two have spent the summer in the Netherlands. Do you know where there is fun in Amsterdam?"
"Aren't the streets in the Netherlands full of them? Let me tell you..." Smith obviously wanted to tell Grunchard what he saw and heard in the Netherlands this summer, but he saw Grunchard's eyes looking towards him. Look behind you.
Appearing behind a few people are the team's bald duo, Graveson and Mills.
At this time, Smith finally understood that these people's hobbies were different from theirs. They were obviously asking if there were any big casinos in the Netherlands. These people were famous gamblers in Leeds United.
Before, I just thought that Graveson was an old gambler, and then he led Mills into trouble after coming to Leeds United. Later I learned that when Grenjaer was at Chelsea, he often followed his then teammate Hasselbaink to major casinos in London, often spending a lot of money in one night.
Seeing more and more people gathering, the team's physical coach Colin McGee, who was supervising the team's warm-up, couldn't help shouting from the sidelines.
"Don't chat, warm up your body. I will give you a physical test later. If any of you are found to be above the standard, you may not have the energy to appreciate the scenery of Amsterdam when you go to the Netherlands. I will drill you until you hit the pillow." Just fell asleep."
"Oh no~" "Coach McGee, please let us go."
The players gradually dispersed and each ran to warm up.
At this time, other coaches of the team also came to the side of the court, including John Sheridan, who had just joined the first team.
"John, I will leave the basic training of the team to you from now on. I will ask Alf to help with some tactical things."
Haaland took over Cruyff's previous job, so Sheridan, who had just arrived, was responsible for basic training.
"Okay, no problem, I'll take this opportunity to learn more from Alf."
"No, we are all novices and we need to make progress together." Harland was also very humble and took the initiative to shake hands with Sheridan.
Although they often met at meetings last season, the two had little interaction. Now they want to cooperate and work together. A handshake is a good start.
^^^
Not far from the first team training ground, the newly appointed youth training director Frank Gray was convening young players from all echelons to meet.
Standing next to him was coach Stuart Gray, who had also just joined Leeds United's youth training.
"Boys, your former coach Sheridan has gone to the first team, and I will be your new manager from now on."
"I was once a Leeds United academy player just like you, but that was decades ago."
"Do you know who I am?" Frank Gray asked the young players.
Most of the young players already know about the coaching changes, so they can recognize the old man in front of them. Former Leeds United star Frank Gray.
"Mr. Gray." "Frank Gray." "Frank, my father is a fan of yours."
The chattering started below.
Frank did not interrupt them. Seeing these young players, he couldn't help but think of his youth training days at Leeds United.
After a while, the young players finally stopped, and Gray continued to speak.
"The person next to me is my nephew, who was also a player in Leeds United's youth training. His name is Stuart Gray. He will come with me to train with you in the next few days. Now we will let him make the announcement to you. one thing."
Stuart Gray stepped forward, took out a piece of paper, and prepared to read.
"Next, the young man whose name I gave you, we may have to be separated for a while."
The young players below are very nervous. Could it be that this is the first thing the new official wants to do when he takes office and he wants to kick people.
Stewart read out several names.
"Fabian Delph, Danny Rose, Adam Priestley, Charlotte Black..."
The more I thought about it, the weirder it seemed to everyone, because the people who reported their names were all the best players in the youth team. If they also wanted to leave, why would they still play football?
"The players whose names have been reported above, please go home and prepare a little. You will follow the head coach of the first team to participate in the training camp in Amsterdam, Netherlands. For those whose names have been reported, I hope you can cherish this opportunity and learn from the players of the first team. , those whose names have not been registered hope to continue working hard and strive to join them next time.”
"Woohoo~" "NICE!"
All the young players whose names were reported were very excited, except for Charlotte Black, because he had just returned from the Netherlands. He has been to almost all the places where he can play in such a big place.
^^^
Scout meeting room.
The club's technical director Chris Kasper and the new chief scout Stephen Walsh sat at the front, and those below were all Leeds United scouts, because this meeting was more important, and Leeds United had many meetings in other countries. Scouts have returned to China to attend this meeting.
Because the team's head coach has special requirements for the introduction of players, Leeds United's overseas scouts are mainly concentrated in the Netherlands and Northern Europe. Of course, as a tradition, there are also several Leeds United resident scouts in Scotland.
"In the new season, I hope everyone will add something new when observing the players and the team."
"When you give me data, you can put the data into the model I designed and then give me new data."
"It may be a little esoteric, but we can take our time."
Nick Gray, who was sitting below, had a confused look on his face. He had no idea what the technical director was talking about. Isn't being a scout just to discover players and then recommend them to the club? Why does it seem so complicated now?
But he saw a colleague next to him writing furiously, recording everything the technical director said.
"Dude, are you new here too?" Nick Gray asked.
"Yes." The colleague replied, but the pen in his hand did not stop.
"My name is Nick, Nick Gray, what's yours?"
"Harry Madison." Madison capped the pen, and Casper in front finally finished speaking.
