For Leeds United fans, it's been a rollercoaster start to the Massimo Cellino era. Joe Baker reflects on a chaotic opening two months of the new season at Elland Road.
So far, it has become a season of bewilderment, turmoil and a strange sense of togetherness for the Whites faithful.
Down at Elland Road fans have continued to flock in their droves, despite off-the-field problems still dominating the headlines. Nobody knows what is happening behind-closed doors, and that is especially true of us the fans, who receive news about their club only through their TV's and their Laptops at home. It is the media and local newspapers such as the Yorkshire Evening Post, who have close sources at hand, but then only they can give snippets.
The single person who dictates the run of the football club is Massimo Cellino. He is a frank person, but speaking on LUTV I get a feeling that he is saying what the fans want to hear: "we want to get to the Premier League" and "I want the club heading in the right direction". Only he knows what plans he has for the establishment - We will find out in the future whether his plans actually come into force.
Onto a hat-trick of managers: one who has been sacked, another who managed temporarily, and a third which was brought in permanently.
David Hockaday was appointed with raised eyebrows, and there were certainly some of us who doubted his credentials. What I think sums up the feeling overall of Leeds United supporters following his arrival is a quote from the Daily Mail: "Confused, and not a little angry, Leeds supporters can be forgiven for never having heard Hockaday's name before".
The name was not synonymous with previous managers of Simon Grayson, Brian McDermott and Neil Warnock, of who all three had been in charge of teams in the Championship before they were appointed at Elland Road. He was an unknown character and unlikely to get our hopes up.
This was ever the more so after the opening game where an influx Italian players struggled to cope with the atmosphere at the Den away to Millwall. It seemed as though many were being prepared for another long, hard and disappointing season ahead. The next league game was at home to Middlesbrough. Those of us who were not able to make it to Elland Road, had the chance to watch the match on our television sets. What the Whites fans saw was a spirited, hard fought win, along with a slice of luck. When Billy Sharp scored his first goal, a dream debut, I was not the only one who bounced off their seat with joy and excitement - old memories were rekindled again.
The victory changed my view, only slightly, that perhaps we were wrong to write off Hockaday so early after all. I was quickly crashing back to Earth however with a 2-0 home defeat to Brighton, followed by a humiliating loss against long standing rivals Bradford City, and a crushing 4-1 result to Watford. By then, the owner had decided that enough was enough, and sacked him after just six games.
A fan I asked said he was disappointed with the lack of support the 55-year-old was given, which is a valid point that many Leeds supporters will empathise with. What does trouble me is that Hockaday has been seen as somewhat of a scapegoat. The extravagant Cellino appointed him knowing that he had no previous managerial experience, and it seems as though the Italian almost expected Hockaday to fail, but gave him the chance to prove the owner wrong. Looking at the situation long-term, I don't think the majority of Leeds fans would have foreseen the former Forest Green Rovers manager being given the opportunity to become successful. Given Cellino's managerial history it was inevitable that he was going to sack Hockaday sooner rather than later.
A popular figure amongst Leeds United followers, Neil Redfearn was handed the reign by Cellino as caretaker, and he steadied the ship, guiding the team to a run of four unbeaten games, winning three of those including a 3-1 away triumph over Bournemouth.
Upon the appointment of Darko Milanic, I was disappointed that the owner did not give the job to Redfearn full-time. After all, he has been a long time servant and has nurtured youngsters Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt, both of whom featured prominently in his time in charge. If the owner had decided to bring in a 'head coach' earlier, who knows where we might lie now?
Three weeks and two matches later, Cellino made his second managerial appointment, and the season was not even a quarter way through!
Darko Milanic was the name. A person who won previous titles at Maribor - nine in total, spending five years there before moving to Sk Sturm Graz in 2013. Another rabbit pulled out of the hat, a magic trick which did not receive a round of applause.
A defeat in his first game did not bode well, losing 2-0 to Brentford away, and he has since pleaded with us to 'give him time', something that Hockaday was not given by Cellino. What is positive is that the new players from abroad are slowly bedding in and adapting to the Championship.
Mirco Antenucci, I believe can continue his good form and has the potential to hit double figures along with Billy Sharp, who is guaranteed to get goals in a league he knows like the back of his hand. Marco Silvestri looks calm and composed in goal, and has settled in well. Meanwhile, a new signing who looks to be a prospect for the future is Adryan. A poll conducted on Twitter said that the majority of Leeds fans want Milanic to start him. I agree with this, and as a player that is rated so highly by various respected coaches across South America; he needs to be playing. However, I suspect that the head coach will not want rush him given the pace and physicality of the English game.
I am very skeptical about the future of Leeds United, and it has been hard to accept for Leeds fans the lack of investment in the squad particularly under GFH and the notorious Ken Bates in the last few years. Now we have an owner who has put the club in a debt-free position and of whom has the willingness to spend money on transfers. The main problem that has become of the Whites in recent years is stability.
Now we have it on the financial front, the former Cagliari owner needs to give Milanic time, something which won't come naturally to Mr Cellino.