Leeds United Chat • Re: Marcelo Bielsa
I'm always amazed at how little credit Wilko gets from Leeds fans, and in fact it's one of the reasons why I tend to not be too gushing about Marcelo Bielsa. I just smile now when I hear people saying that Bielsa is running Wilko close as the 2nd greatest ever Leeds manager. Maybe it's because he was born in Sheffield and managed Wednesday that he is held in so little regard ? Or maybe because the recruitment after winning the title didn't quite match the same standard prior to winning it. Prior to winning the 1st division he never put a foot wrong with his recruitment, so he created sky high expectations after just 3.5 seasons at the club.I think that's a bit harsh on Wilko as Wilko didn't want to sell these and with the money he wa given he was limited to being able to buy journeymen that would do a job and keep us in the division til is ten year plan came to fruition. Yes sometimes when he was given decent money he got it wrong with some of the signings you mentioned. Batty sold by the board to pay for the East Stand, Speed wanted to leave to go to his boyhood team, Everton and I still remember McAllister deserting us when club captain to go to Coventry under Strachan, I bet Wilko felt really betrayed by that. Lukcily it meant that he then had the money to sign Nigel Martyn who was a cracking keeper for us.
When Wilko took over in October the club was 23rd in the second division, and ahead only on goal difference from a relegation place. He had no summer to impose his methods on the side or to bring new players in. Bielsa took over in the summer with the club having finished 19 points above relegation.
I've just looked at the players in the 1st team when Wilko took over, and it included John Stiles, David Rennie, Micky Adams, Vince Hilaire, Noel Blake and Bobby Davison. Only David Batty from the 1st team in October 1988 was part of the team that won the title in 92/3. That title winning side had Batty and Speed from the academy and all the rest were bought by Wilko over 2.5 seasons.
Wilko didn't have a DOF back then, so he chose the transfer targets. So to win the 1st division title he brought in Strachan, McAllister, Chapman, Wallace, Dorigo, Fairclough, Lukic, Hodge and Cantona. So unlike today's recruitment, it was hit, hit and hit rather than hit and miss.
To go from 23rd in the second tier to winning it the next season, to then after 9 years away from the top tier come 4th in the first season back, and then to go on an win the top tier the year after I think is still one of the most amazing feats in the club's history. It was two titles in three years - so 2nd division champions, 4th in the first division, 1st division champions, 17th in the 1st division, 5th in the first division and 5th in the first division. Next season he was sacked in Sept.
I think his problem was that he achieved too much too quickly which created unrealistic expectations among the fanbase. I don't know exactly what went on with the Cantona saga - however I remember reading in a newspaper report at the time after Cantona made his first appearance for us as a sub him being criticised for being slow and sluggish. So Wilko deserves great credit for having the vision to bring him to the club in the first place.
And then there were some memorable European performances - especially the wins against Stuttgart and Monaco. Plus one League Cup semi and one League Cup final appearance.
And be bought Yeboah - who is now regarded as a club legend with the most spectacular goals ever scored by a Leeds player other than Peter Lorimer. People tend to forget too that he brought in Bowyer, Martyn and Radebe, so together with the academy players he virtually created the team for O'Leary to flourish with in the next golden era from 1998 to 2002.
And of course Wilko set up the academy which both O'Leary and Bielsa have benefited from during their tenures.
So Marcelo Bielsa and Wliko neck and neck in terms of being the second greatest ever Leeds manager ? No way !