I think it was Tom Humphries (journalist: The Irish Times) who initially mused the subject of being a begrudger. Being a Leeds fan, one of his Monday Lockerroom columns was devoted to Manchester United whereby he famously declared that when they had that season in the Second Division in the 1970's he begrudged the fact that they were not in the Third!

I have become a begrudger as far as Jermaine Beckford is concerned. On paper, this is bang out of order. I am taking pleasure in the fact that him and his Everton team are struggling in the Premiership right now and frankly what a horrible response - I wish Everton no ill and Beckford was the man who delivered two of the most important goals in our clubs history in recent times - the Old Trafford FA Cup win and the winner against Bristol Rovers that sealed promotion.

However it warms the cockles of my heart to see him outclassed, humiliated even- I scour the Sunday paper ratings and see he got a 4 or a 5 or was subbed and triumphantly declare "told you so!". He is out of his depth and I reckon he will be on-loan to a Championship club by the New Year (not us though - its defensive players what we need!).

It is nothing personal Jermaine. Hand on heart, do we really wish anyone well when they leave Leeds? Even non-descript players like Enoch Showunmi? When Big Enoch plunders a goal for Tranmere, I am overcome with horror? Did we let him go too soon? In just nine games for Tranmere, he has netted three goals which is one more than he managed for Leeds!

I think during the post-Ridsdale meltdown, we have seen players leave Leeds in abundance, often under a cloud and often for a fraction of the £20-30m bracket they were openly quoted as being worth during our Champions League heroics. That seriously rankles.

Of that O'Leary team, who has really been successful bar Ferdinand? (and even his career has been blighted by injury, missing drugs tests etc). Paul Robinson - now retired from international football and never really going to trouble Joe Hart. Another player who ended up at Spurs in Jonathan Woodgate may never play again. Alan Smith, seriously blotted his copybook by joining you-know-who, suffered serious injury and now toiling in the Newcastle midfield without a goal on Tyneside. Smith's former striking partner Mark Viduka hardly set the North East alight in his spells with Boro and Newcastle. Yes James Milner is the latest bright young thing but outrageously overpriced and unlikely to be investing his obscence weekly wage in silver-polish for the time being.

So maybe there is some very bad karma in leave Leeds and your career will be cursed! Maybe the tides of time have finally reversed that horrible period in the 1980's when the young lads sold by Billy Bremner went on to be household names whilst we languished in the Second Division!

Photo: Action Images

Middlesbrough Polls