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We need another superhero

Another ex excels and has Leeds blogger Dave Guile going all comic-book

Posted: 16th November 2009 09:56

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We need another superhero

Sweeney: once of Leeds, of course

Unfortunately, even SuperSweeney can't save the day for the Mariners, who finish up on the end of a 3-1 defeat. So, it's back to life as plain old Peter Sweeney again, fighting relegation from League Two.

Leeds FanZoner Dave Guile
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By day, mild-mannered Peter Sweeney was your everyday lower-division professional footballer, plying his trade for the local team in the sleepy seaside town of Grimsby.

Some considered him to be of average ability others thought differently but none foresaw the remarkable transformation that took place the moment he stepped onto the Elland Road pitch on Tuesday night.

What's that emerging from the tunnel? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's SuperSweeney! He's left his stripy cape and mask back at the SweeneyCave but it's definitely him. He flies around like a man possessed, pausing only to score a magnificent Yeboah-esque volley which crashes past Casper Ankergren like a speeding bullet.

Unfortunately, even SuperSweeney can't save the day for the Mariners, who finish up on the end of a 3-1 defeat. So, it's back to life as plain old Peter Sweeney again, fighting relegation from League Two.

The sad tale of SuperSweeney is repeated every weekend at various grounds around the country, as players return to their ex-clubs and, for one night only, turn into Pele, Maradona and Gazza all rolled into one.

Hibernation

If Sweeney had scored goals like that on a regular basis when he was still our player he'd still be a vital part of our promotion push, assuming Inter Milan hadn't got their hands on him by now. The Law of the Ex, however, states that SuperSweeney will now go into hibernation until he next encounters a former club. This is common knowledge in footballing circles.

Maybe that's too simple an explanation. Maybe there's just something about Elland Road that makes certain players perform above their level. If you look back on the team who took us on that epic journey to the semi final of the 2001 Champions League it's worth noting how many of them fell from grace after leaving the club. Of course there are exceptions, notably Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane and Olivier Dacourt, but the list of casualties is extensive.

Harry Kewell won the European Cup with Liverpool, but injuries meant that he remained a shadow of the player he once threatened to become. The same goes for Jonathan Woodgate Real Madrid fans still shudder at the mention of his name.

Lee Bowyer made more headlines for battering his own teammates than he did for his football. Alan Smith, much as I admire him for coming back from his leg break, could play until the age of 90 and still not come close to replicating the 50 goals he scored for us. Ian Harte's top-flight career vanished into the blue with the speed of one of his free-kicks. And as for David O'Leary, I notice no-one's talking about him succeeding Fergie at Old Trafford any more.

Greatness

In our state of lower-league exile, we occasionally encounter pieces of floating jetsam from our Champions League exploits. The likes of Harte, Michael Duberry and Stephen McPhail have drifted past, consigned, as we are, to the harsh reality of life outside the Premier League. That team achieved near-greatness, but it was always greater than the sum of its parts.

If, as that team did, or indeed as Peter Sweeney did a matter of days ago, we can harness whatever it is about Elland Road that inspires such heroics, our current crop of promotion chasers will afford their own place in Leeds United's history. Here's hoping that, by May, we'll have 11 new superheroes to salute.

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Comments (2)

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Johnny Arber (Leeds United fan) says...

Enjoyed your views Dave,i think you made some valid points.I think Simon Grayson has the ability to get us back to the premiership within the next couple of seasons.As a Leeds fan living abroad i hope when we do get back to the top flight we have the sense to employ people with the right knowledge and expertise to maximize our global potential,which is on a par with any of the so called big four.Once again enjoyed your piece mot.

Posted 14:34 17th November 2009

Georgina jane Petty (Leeds United fan) says...

We will need to strengthen if we go up though, Newcastle have proven that it's a tough rollercoaster ride and we'll need the characters with the strength of Smudger and the flair of a young Milner to rough it with the bigger fish next season. The trouble is we are a big club by name off the pitch and a good League One side on the pitch. Just a shame Smudger will probably pass us by if Newcastle get back into the Premiership. I'll probably get villified for that comment but whatever(!) I still think we lack a stand out talent/leader, although I like Naylor and Beckford when he's on song, is unstoppable in this league, (Snodgrass has been a good reliable workhorse most of the season so far) I am not blinded by the fantastic recent results and know there's alot of hard work to be done to make us the "finished article" and genuine contenders in the Championship next season, if it finally happens. Just don't blow it and end up in a playoffs - noooo!!!

Posted 19:17 16th November 2009
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