Shame

Spot on Shaun.

Ridsdale was a disaster in the end and shouldn't have ever been let near a football club again. But ill never forget those couple of seasons, and to go away in europe and see Leeds in the Bernabau is something i will probably never see again. Ridsdale meant well, but he got way too over excited in the end and it nearly ruined us.

The problems we face now, and have done for the last 10 years are nothing to do with him. We had a couple of chances to get back in the big time and we blew it. Ill always hate Bates for not spending in January when if we had, we would've gone up, no two ways about it.

Recent problems with GFH and now Cellino just make me think its never going to end. Court case after court case and broken promises. I'm sick to back teeth with it all to the point I don't even look forward to going anymore, its a chore (home games that is).

Ridsdale might have been an idiot and the hate towards him is justified in a way, but it was a good few years while it lasted. And I cant hate the guy for the way he went out of his way out in Istanbul on that night, deserves a lot of respect for that.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9283611.stm

All Bates needed to do was replace Connely and collins. Its so frusting looking at it.

Gelderd ..... I agree with you up to a point. Great times in Europe, great times competing at the top end of the league. Great players (mostly) and a real buzz around the club. All built on a lie though.

I don't hate Ridsdale, like you say he meant well, he just got a bit (understatement) carried away with it all. But he did create the gap in the club, which allowed the vermin in.

I've asked this before to others - on reflection would you have preferred a mid-table stability back then, over the roller coaster we went on, but that led to us crashing so spectacularly?

Hi.. I was at the game on Saturday.

My observation is that your defence is hesitant and they don't have a lot of confidence in your keeper who tend to punch a flap a lot when it seemed easier to catch the ball.

Other than you are a bit like us with no leader on the pitch shouting the instructions out

It's a tricky one is that, if we knew what we know now, and how far we fell, then maybe you wouldve stayed where we were just before we made the step up, in and around the Uefa cup places. What i'd give to just be in the Europa League now, some great trips to be had.

But looking back, those CL nights at ER were unbelievable, the Deportivo game is far and out the best atmopshere i've ever witnessed at home, or anywhere for that matter. We were awesome at times, and we shouldve won things, just so disappointing how it panned out.

Webbo,.I agree with that. When Leeds had good sides,they had a few players that could lead.Both under Don Revie and Howard Wilkinson. When Forest had their heydays under Brian Clough they could rely on one or two people to be able to shout the odds on the pitch and lead....Getting out of this league or doing well at any level,is about having a few players that can lead by example,they don't have to be world beaters either,just good honest players.

" Ill always hate Bates for not spending in January when if we had, we would've gone up, no two ways about it. "

I've never agreed with that, we brought Lichaj and McCartney in for the full back positions, O'Brien came in at CB, plus Bannan and Livermore for added competition in midfield, so I think that was decent activity. What was unforgivable was the summer that followed.

Bannan and Livermore hardly played - weren't good enough!

Gelderd .......... aye those European nights at ER were awesome - but yes I was there for the Deportivo game, which was unbelievable. Also remember the game against Roma (I think it was) when Kewell (apologies for using that name) scored a screamer.

While many of those nights are dulled by alcohol, no doubting how good they were.

We'll have them back again - might take a few years - but we will come back.............