BerwynBlazers
04 Nov 2002, 12:55 AM
another aussie and good bye batty?
from gamebookers.com
Brett Emerton
LEEDS, England (AFP) - Leeds United's deepening problems could hasten the arrival of a third Australian at the club.
Embattled boss Terry Venables is reported to have had contact with the agent of Feyenoord midfielder Brett Emerton with a view to bringing him to England when the transfer window reopens in January.
Leeds, who already have Socceroos Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka in their squad, are badly in need of reinforcements after an alarming slide down the table.
But former England and Australia boss Venables knows he must sell players before he brings any new blood in.
French midfielder Olivier Dacourt has been linked with Roma and could make way to allow the Emerton deal to go ahead.
A 1-0 defeat by Everton on Sunday means they have now taken just two points from their last six league games and they are languishing in 13th place in the Premiership, just four points above the relegation zone.
It is hardly the kind of form Leeds fans expected when Venables took over in the summer, but he insists he is not yet "looking over his shoulder", although he admitted his position could soon come under threat unless things turn up.
"Things are not running for us. People will look at the facts and our position in the league which is not good.
"I have been pleased with the players in recent games, it's just that we are not quite getting the results. We had a good one in midweek, but not today."
Venables now has to raise morale, starting with Wednesday's tricky League Cup tie at Sheffield United, for he stated: "The players are low.
"It's the first time I have seen them so bad, but I would expect that. That's how I want it to be because they know results should be better.
"To lift them, that's my job at the moment. That's the job for all of us.
"Everyone is down, but we know in the next 24 to 48 hours we've got to be on it again going into the next game."
As well as being keen to offload Dacourt, Venables appears to have no place in his plans for former England midfielder David Batty, a Yorkshireman who is idolised by the Leeds fans.
Batty has not got near the first team under Venables and has revealed that he was told bluntly that he was not wanted.
"Almost as soon as the gaffer got here he pulled me in and told me I could leave. People don't know that," Batty told the Sunday Mirror.
"He wanted me to go out on loan or leave but I've got another 18 months left on my contract and I have every intention of staying and seeing it out.
"When he first came he even asked if I was interested in the coaching side. But I've never had an interest in that.
"I love playing at Elland Road in front of our fans. I don't want to go to another club."
from gamebookers.com
Brett Emerton
LEEDS, England (AFP) - Leeds United's deepening problems could hasten the arrival of a third Australian at the club.
Embattled boss Terry Venables is reported to have had contact with the agent of Feyenoord midfielder Brett Emerton with a view to bringing him to England when the transfer window reopens in January.
Leeds, who already have Socceroos Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka in their squad, are badly in need of reinforcements after an alarming slide down the table.
But former England and Australia boss Venables knows he must sell players before he brings any new blood in.
French midfielder Olivier Dacourt has been linked with Roma and could make way to allow the Emerton deal to go ahead.
A 1-0 defeat by Everton on Sunday means they have now taken just two points from their last six league games and they are languishing in 13th place in the Premiership, just four points above the relegation zone.
It is hardly the kind of form Leeds fans expected when Venables took over in the summer, but he insists he is not yet "looking over his shoulder", although he admitted his position could soon come under threat unless things turn up.
"Things are not running for us. People will look at the facts and our position in the league which is not good.
"I have been pleased with the players in recent games, it's just that we are not quite getting the results. We had a good one in midweek, but not today."
Venables now has to raise morale, starting with Wednesday's tricky League Cup tie at Sheffield United, for he stated: "The players are low.
"It's the first time I have seen them so bad, but I would expect that. That's how I want it to be because they know results should be better.
"To lift them, that's my job at the moment. That's the job for all of us.
"Everyone is down, but we know in the next 24 to 48 hours we've got to be on it again going into the next game."
As well as being keen to offload Dacourt, Venables appears to have no place in his plans for former England midfielder David Batty, a Yorkshireman who is idolised by the Leeds fans.
Batty has not got near the first team under Venables and has revealed that he was told bluntly that he was not wanted.
"Almost as soon as the gaffer got here he pulled me in and told me I could leave. People don't know that," Batty told the Sunday Mirror.
"He wanted me to go out on loan or leave but I've got another 18 months left on my contract and I have every intention of staying and seeing it out.
"When he first came he even asked if I was interested in the coaching side. But I've never had an interest in that.
"I love playing at Elland Road in front of our fans. I don't want to go to another club."