THE LUFC DIARIES: JIMMY'S GOT CANTONA-ISMS

After losing his place in the Leeds United team to the youngster Harry Kewell, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had a point to prove to his manager George Graham.  Leeds were 0:3 down to Derby County at Elland Road and the dutchman was sent onto the pitch to rescue the game & he did.  His super-sub performance not only changed the game for the mighty whites but it became a massive turning point in his Leeds United career. Graham never dropped Hasselbaink again & he became a Premership superstar.  We spoke to Jimmy after the game & listened to his football philosophy.

THE LUFC DIARIES: Tomas Brolin Released By Leeds

Tomas Brolin's nightmare spell at Leeds United ended in 1997 when the club finally released him from his contract.  Only two years before, he had signed for the club in a record £4.5 million deal but his time at Elland Road was a massive failure.  Howard Wilkinson signed the Swedish superstar after failing to land Brolin's Parma team-mate Faustino Asprilla.  At the time it seemed the transfer was a panic buy and it proved to be.   George Graham wouldn't entertain Howard Wilkinson's flop & his departure at Leeds was just a matter of time.

THE LUFC DIARIES: David Elleray Loves Leeds?

David Elleray was probably the most famous referee in the Premiership in the 90's & he shocked the football world when he outed himself as a Leeds fan during a game at Elland Road against Newcastle United.  This started a craze when other ref's jumped on the bandwagon, yes I'm talking about you Graham Poll.  I suspected that Dermot Gallagher was also a closet Leeds fan too but he wouldn't comment on it when I asked him.

THE LUFC DIARIES: Leeds Fans Refuse To Watch Defeats

Leeds fans are always creative & when the team went on a losing run they decided the best way to deal with it was to pretend it wasn't actually happening.  Instead of watching the game, the fans would lie back on their seats & think of Alan Titchmarsh.

THE LUFC DIARIES: Graham Dreaming Of Spurs Job

In the 1996/97 season Gerry Francis of Tottenham Hotspur signed every player that was linked with Leeds, ie, John Scales, Ramon Vega & Stefan Iversen.  Can you imagine how George Graham must have felt being beaten by the post on every transfer by Spurs.  But as the saying goes, a week is a long time in football and Francis reign at Tottenham Hotspur was now in jeopardy.  The one name who kept being linked with the Spurs job was George Graham.  It was unthinkable that the old Arsenal boss would take the job but everybody in the game knew Graham wanted a quick return to the capital.

THE LUFC DIARIES: David Hopkin Signs For Leeds

George Graham finally gets his man.  David Hopkin was linked with Leeds United throughout the summer of 1997 but the mighty whites had to battle with Sheffield Wednesday to get his signature. Hopkin surprised the media at the press conference by wearing flip-flops, not a good PR move when people are comparing you to the next Billy Bremner.  The midfield general had hoped his move to Leeds would help him get into Scotland's World Cup squad at the end of the season.  Time will tell.

THE LUFC DIARIES: Hasselbaink Signs For Leeds

The mystery european striker Leeds United were chasing was finally revealed at Elland Road when the club signed Boavista's hitman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.  George Graham hopes Jimmy takes over Tony Yeboah's role in the team & becomes a fan's favourite.  We spoke to Jimmy after the media press conference to hear why he decided to join Leeds.