Ok, so wha'ts going on at Leeds? Last year they were 1 game away from being promoted to the Premier League via the playoff, and now they are 23rd of the 24 teams in the League Championship and while I don't expect them to get relegated, they are definitely in danger. Last year it was so much fun to follow the Championship with Leeds, Watford, and Reading all chasing promotion, but this year it's been much less popular and Leeds and Lewis often left off. Anyone know what has happened there? Granted they have a game in hand and I can't imagine they will actually get relegated to League One, but they are really poor this season. For his part - Eddie has 2 goals and 4 assists and is a regular starter, but the team is wallowing. Anyone with more info?
They seem to have enough talent to go up. The players are often bandied about in transfers ... but, as a team, they happen to suck. So they dumped the old coach and got the old Chelsea skipper Dennis Wise but they only have earned 14 points in 15 matches under him. But they do have "Broadway" Danny Rose.
Leeds is probably the most amazing story of the year in soccer. Talk about crashing into the mountain. I feel sorry for Eddie Lewis, especially if Leeds if relegated. He is truly a class player and deserves better.
there've been so few Eddie Lewis postings I thought he was injured and not playing at all. 2 goals and 4 assists? at least its something. no one ever said the Championship was easy, that's for sure....
They're six points out now, and unless they hit some really good form... it's going to be hard to catch Hull, as the Tigers have hit a decent stride... they're not tearing up the table, but they're getting decent results... Hull is 4-1-1 in their last six Coca-Cola Championship games... compare that to Leeds who has only won 1 of their last 9 games... with two draws thrown in. A team they may be more likely to catch is Queens Park Rangers, who are also six points up on them, but have not looked nearly as bright as Hull recently... they're 2-0-8 (0 = draws) in their last 10 league games. On the 30th they travel to Hull City and on the 20th of February they host QPR... games against fellow basement dwellers will be key, and I have a hard time believing they'll avoid the drop unless they pull a minimum of 4 of a possible six points from these games. In other words... I hope Eddie has some contingency plans if Leeds don't make any movement north in the table.
I believe he is only signed through this year anyway. So, he'll probably be looking for a new employer regardless of whatever happens to Leeds.
I hope that new employer is MLS. Although I wouldn't be surprised if there is still some promotion-chaser out there that thinks he can help them make the playoff. If so, I doubt MLS can compete wages-wise with an aggressive Championship side. Maybe MLS can give him longer-term security deal (3 or 4 years), w/bonus for games played, to make it competitive. There was some rumor about his possibly going to Galaxy. Can you imagine Nate Jacqua getting crosses from Beckham and Eddie Lewis all day? That an American-based, big target man's dream!
MLS wouldn't dare put yet another name player on the Galaxy would they? I mean it's not like they'd show favoritism to clubs in big markets that they want to win while pretty much ignoring the less glamourous cities right? Oh wait....
From the semi-finals of the European Cup to the third division in six years would be a hell of a fall.
Remember that, that was funny. The american beckham. I like Eddie Lewis a lot, always thought he was underrated on big soccer prior to his transfer to england. However, don't think MLS should be in the business of signing 33 year old wingers to long term contracts.
It'll be pretty difficult for any player to go from a sucky Leeds side to promotion (and by that, I mean, promotion to the Prem) hopefuls. But Eddie has a family situation which may force him to take a lower paying job in England than a higher/equally paying job in the US. Of course, at some point, his WP will be denied also.
With the length of time Lewis has been in England, he wont need a work permit. He will probably have permanent leave to remain.
The American Beckham with a thru ball to the English Eddie Lewis, he shoots.....goal he lobbed it like Lewis
We can just call Becks the Eel from now on... and no one will understand our awesome, BigSoccer inside joke! Coolness!
With every (new) contract. The last time (from PNE to Leeds) was a gimme. This one? Who knows... If that is true after five years, it's good news for him. The last time, he did need it however. Having been in the country for five years at that point.
Was he the problem when they were in the playoffs last year? Or was he the problem when he lead (yes, lead... he was a vital part of that team) Preston North End to a playoff run the year before as well? I honestly haven't seen Leeds play this year... but I'd be very surprised if Eddie Lewis was the problem.