Please try harder
A report in The Independent listed the talented youngsters ready to come through. ‘But’, it concluded, ‘it is financial clout that is likely to determine whether George Graham stays to see them grow.’
By spring 1998, Leeds United had improved beyond recognition from the dour goalless misery George Graham had imposed in his first season, but it was still hard to say what they were, or what they were becoming. FA Cup contenders was one easy answer to shut down chatter, until First Division Wolves and their striker Don Goodman knocked them out in an FA Cup quarter-final at Elland Road. With only the league left, what would Leeds make of the rest of the season, and beyond?
Graham himself seemed unimpressed. His players had underperformed against Wolves and he told them so, individually and collectively, privately and publicly. At half-time against Blackburn, 0-0 in the Wednesday night match that followed, he sounded down to his last idea. “I just said ‘please try harder’,” he said afterwards. “It’s incredible what can happen when you say the magic word, ‘please’.”
What happened was his suspension and injury affected team demolished Blackburn within eight minutes of the break. First Lee Bowyer was played in on the edge of the area by a deft header from David Wetherall, and volleyed past Alan Fettis. Then Jimmy Hasselbaink cut in from the left and smashed the ball into the top corner. Alfie Haaland, of all people, added some dazzle from a corner, teeing the ball up for himself with his back to goal, volleying it on the spin into the top of the net. That, on top of Nigel Martyn’s world class save from Martin Dahlin’s first half header, settled things; Haaland made it 4-0 in the last minute anyway. It was like punishment for Chris Sutton petulantly going in late on player of the match Bowyer; while one Leeds midfielder was down hurt, his teammate was scoring a screamer from 35 yards. Gary Kelly celebrated with both arms in the air, and when he got no response from Haaland, kicked him down the back of the calves to get the hug he wanted.
That things were swinging in United’s favour was confirmed a few days later at Derby. In November Leeds had gone three down to the Rams at Elland Road, storming back to win 4-3. Another five unanswered goals were added at Pride Park as Hasselbaink, playing alone up front, created havoc that let Gunnar Halle, Bowyer and Harry Kewell add to an early Jacob Laursen own goal. Then Jimmy got his reward, teenage substitute Stephen McPhail playing a first-time seventy yard pass forward that Hasselbaink only had to finish. His celebration was about how the kid had made it simple for him. Often a cartwheeling maniac after scoring, Jimmy just looked down the pitch to McPhail, a knowing look on his face. Mate. What a ball.