From: stuart@vax.oxford.ac.uk
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Re: UEFA DISGRACE: RE: Leeds v Stuttgart
Date: 8 Oct 92 08:55:31 GMT
Organization: Oxford University VAX 6620

RE: Leeds v Stuttgart debate:

> 	As for Vfb Stuttgart doing it deliberately, I don't think so for
>  the following reasons :
>      This is the first year that the number of foreigners is limited to 3.
>  Last year it was OK to have 4, and even now it is OK to have 4 under
>  certain circumstances, e.g. Leeds played with 4 foreigners (legally).

This just doesn't hold up under scrutiny. There are dozens of people associated
with Stuttgart VFB and if the suggestion is that not one of them knew the rule
then this is quite ludicrous. It would be understandable if Stuttgart's excuse
was that they thought one of their players was "assimilated" a la Gary Speed
but they never offered this as a reason for the transgression. It is quite
clear in the cold light of day that someone in the Stuttgart set-up knew what
was going on and kept quiet.

>      They were breaking this rule as soon as they handed in their squad
>  list ... before they even started playing the second leg match. I can't
>  believe they would risk everything just to include some guy in the squad
>  who they only bother to bring on for the last 7 minutes of the game.

You ahve to remember who they brought on and the attitude of Stuttgart to the
tactics they should employ against Leeds. To them the main threat was Lee
Chapman who could beat all their players in the air. This was the clear message
of the papers in Stuttgart prior to the first leg and, when in the second leg,
Leeds were running riot against the Stuttgart defence it was very nice to be
able to bring on a tall, fresh, international (!!) defender to stop Chapman and
cantona getting the flick-ons they were doing throughout the match.

>  Bear in mind also that they were defending an extremely good first leg
>  result, hardly calling for desperate tactics.

Actually I would question this. true they were 3-0 up but anyone who saw the
first leg must remember that Leeds were quite clearly the better side in the
first half, and could nearly have been 2 or 3 up themselves. For some reason
they went to pieces in the second half, but even then were very near to pulling
one back at the end. Stuttgart probably remeber that Leeds beat them at Elland
Road 2-1 in the Maktita tournament. An early goal for Leeds in the second leg,
and they only needed two-more to equal the scores. Not an impossibility as it
turned out. Therefore to say that Stuttgart thought it was just a matter of
turning up to get through is incorrect. 

>      Also, 2 of their foreigners were only substitutes, hardly key players
>  good enough to command a place in the first-choice team.

A key substitution at a vital point in the match can work wonders. You may wish
to start the match with a traditional team but in the last ten/fifteen minutes
pack the defence (or attack) by bringing on an extra key player.

> 
> 	All in all, I think Leeds fans should just be relieved that their
>  team has a second chance to do what they failed to do in the first place
>  .... win the tie against Vfb Stuttgart.

I do agree though. At the end of the Wednesday night classic it was pretty
sickening to see Leeds go out after one of the best performances I can ever
rememeber them putting in. To have been told then that we would get another
chance would have caused a party of gigantic proprtions.

Stuart
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer