OLD reputations die hard and Leeds United are in danger of reviving their status as the pariahs of the English game in tomorrow's League Cup final against Brian Little's widely acclaimed Aston Villa (ITV, Network 2, 5.0). The old, 1970s reputation was rather undeserved, born out of envy of the Revie years, but boredom is the motivation this time.
The catalyst for the new label was the scoreless draw in the FA Cup quarter final with Liverpool last Sunday week, or more pertinently, the tactics employed by Howard Wilkinson. Despite playing at home, Leeds used three centre halves and a man marker to shepherd Steve McManaman. It succeeded, mercilessly.
The performance and tactics used by Leeds that day were totally out of keeping with the otherwise richly entertaining quarter finals. Indeed, Wilkinson's approach of late has been out of sync with a rapidly changing English game, in which the attacking, passing football encouraged by the new breed of young managers - Kevin Keegan at Newcastle, Glenn Hoddle at Chelsea and Brian Little at Aston Villa - is in the ascendant.
It is reminiscent of the last few games of Jack Charlton's Republic of Ireland reign, in which the fear of defeat seemed to supercede all else. What's more, the fear transmits itself to players because of the ultra defensive selections. Charlton admitted that the European and World game had passed his Republic of Ireland by, the final irrefutable proof of which came with the Ajax module, as represented by Holland, at Anfield last December.
Howard's way, of course, did yield Leeds the title in 1992, but the game has moved on since then and Leeds have not moved with it. A flattering, Tony Yeboah inspired surge to UEFA Cup qualification helped to paper over the cracks last season as no doubt victory tomorrow would.
Further arousing journalistic ire in the immediate aftermath of the Elland Road bore with Liverpool, the Leeds manager sarcastically suggested that his team should have "entertained and lost by three goals". Ironically, the perceived threat of McManaman was duly fulfilled in last Wednesday's replay, although Leeds were not noticeably any different in attacking intent.
Yet, though form points strongly to a Villa win, such criteria often counts for little in one off Cup finals. Leeds haven't partaken in a Cup final at Wembley since 1973, while Wilkinson will be experiencing his first Wembley final in 34 years in the game. "It means an awful lot, one hell of a lot. It's a match I want to win," he says.
In Gary McAllister, Leeds have one of the finest midfielders in the country; in Tony Yeboah, they have one of the most explosive forwards. Gary Kelly is a pacey full-back and John Lukic is an experienced, in form goalkeeper.
Villa's 3-1 success over a Manchester United side that went on to win the FA Cup/League double two years ago provides evidence that a one off tactical gambit can overturn the formguide. The chances of a Leeds win and a fitting Wembley final depend greatly on the tactics Wilkinson will employ.
Ominously, word from the Leeds training camp is that Wilkinson might again employ a three man central defensive system. Nigel Worthington is expected to play in place of the injured Tony Dorigo, while Paul Beesley looks like making way for Lucas Radebe, who has been lifted by South Africa's African Nations Cup success. If Mark Ford is also included, as a marker in front of the back five, then it would appear that Leeds will set out to stifle.
Apart from a recent dip in form, largely provoked by a series of injuries, Villa have been consistent consistently good. Unlike Leeds, they concentrate on themselves, not the opposition.
"Only once this season have picked a team with the opposition in mind. That was against Arsenal, in the League at Highbury, and we lost," Brian Little, their manager, says. I won't do that again. We make people aware of the opposition, at set pieces and suchlike, but we go out thinking of the way we play have confidence in the players. They know if they play well they can win.
"Howard thinks very deeply about the opposition and tends to change things - in one game against us big Brian Deane marked Alan Wright. He will be looking at us and thinking: `I will have to do that'. I could not single out anyone in our team and say It depends what he does on the day'. Leeds are slightly different. I think McAllister does make them tick. They have other strengths which might give us problems, like the set pieces, but McAllister and Yeboah are the dangers in open play."
An intriguing aside from an Irish viewpoint will be whether Little opts for either Paul McGrath or Steve Staunton in Villa's three man central defence. Despite a Man of the match performance in the scoreless mid week draw with Middlesbrough, McGrath, sadly, could be the one to miss out. Both may yet be accommodated, with Staunton in midfield if Ian Taylor is passed unfit.
Villa would look to have the more varied attacking talents, and the likeliest, in form match winner in Dwight Yorke - a player fit to grace any Wembley final. Little's FA Cup semi finalists avenged an earlier 2-0 defeat at Elland Road with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Villa Park in the league.
A win in the region of 2-0 or 3-1 would be the most predictable outcome, and, almost certainly the most popular, unless the talents of McAllister and Yeboah are allowed to flourish. Yet the signs are that Villa are getting a mild dose of the yips lately and for no logical reason other than the aforementioned duo's ability to rise to the occasion, allied to the thirst of Wilkinson and his club at this last chance saloon, it could be Leeds United's day.
