by NICK WEBSTER, Fox Soccer Channel

Life after George Graham has been pretty sweet for the club from Yorkshire. No longer do the fans have to suffer through boring, stale 1-0 wins and mid-table mediocrity. These days, the Elland Road faithful are treated to swashbuckling displays of panache and skill with a bit of thuggery thrown in for good measure.

If you believe in reincarnation this is it. The Leeds team of the late '60s and early '70s had all of the above qualities, plus the unwanted tag of football's most consistent bridesmaid. In a ten-year period they won the title twice, but finished runners-up five times -- just missing out on the famed Cup and League double three times.

Then came the '80s and United were useless, as financial and ground problems plagued the team along with the ghost of famed manager Don Revie. Ex-players tried to turn the club around, all were unsuccessful and were either fired or resigned.

Then came David O'Leary.

The soft-spoken Irishman studied his trade well as an assistant under George Graham and, of course, as a great center half for Arsenal. Since assuming the helm of the ship he has subtly created a side that has all the attributes of the glory teams as well as some of the unsavory aspects that made Leeds the most hated club in England at that time.

The Australians, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, are world class performers. Rio Ferdinand and Ian Harte are defenders of the highest order. Nigel Martyn has developed into England's number one goal keeper and then there is the 'Clockwork Orange' crew. You can't win trophies without 'hardmen' and Leeds have an abundance of talent in that department as Lee Bowyer, Danny Mills, Alan Smith and David Batty (all made in 'Inger-land') provide the required 'ultra-violence'. This is a team that has arrived.

But then there is that small legal matters with the lads. Will the re-trial for grievous bodily harm and affray involving Lee Bowyer and Jonathon Woodgate pose a major distraction for the team as the campaign really heats up?

Last season, Woodgate (I only had ten pints of Vodka & Red Bull your Honor, and wasn't even drunk) supposedly had a heel injury that kept him out of the team during the trial, but O'Leary later stated that 'Woody' was so stressed (feeling guilty more like) from the trauma of the case that he couldn't concentrate and perform at the highest level.

This season it's the same, as he has been limited to just two substitute appearances in the Prem. Bowyer, on the other hand, appeared to relish the attention (he was named the club's thug ... oops Player of the Year), and had a season that brought him rave notices. In fact, England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has said that Bowyer would be in the England squad, but the FA have stated that neither Woodgate or Bowyer may represent the national team until the trial is over.

Now, I'm no legal expert, but this whole trial business sounds very fishy. Why did the original trial collapse on the eve of deliberations after ten weeks and $15 million down the pipe?

Sure, the tabloid The Sunday Mirror published an article stating that the attack might have been racially motivated and the jury may have been tainted (The Mirror's editor resigned afterwards citing a 'serious judgement in error').

To be brutally honest though, anything in the Mirror is equivalent to a National Enquirer headline reading 'Owen is Fergie's love child'.

I think the fix was in and certain Leeds officials were keen to see the whole thing swept under the carpet. You can imagine their surprise when the judge ordered a retrial. In this case you've got players lying under oath, snitching on best mates, stories that change like a soap opera, blood stains on clothing (heard that one before), bite marks on your victim (seen that one before) and city video footage of Bowyer in the street jumping up and down celebrating while a body lies on the floor. "Honest your Honor, I was only going for the ball" you can imagine him saying.

It all seems to point towards 'boys behaving badly' after a night out on the lash. It's not for me to judge their innocence or guilt, but I think their hands are dirty and until they tell the truth or a jury clears them, there will be serious doubts about their characters and integrity.

Is it really so hard to imagine a lagered up Bowyer chasing someone down the street wanting to kick some heads in? I mean, he does that every Saturday afternoon ... sober!

From a selfish point of view, I do want them to 'get off' though, because then Sven can pick the pair to play for England and allow them to repair their tarnished reputations.

Should they walk or do they deserve to have a little holiday at Her Majesty's pleasure? If so how long would you give them? What's your opinion?

Until then, get the beers in, but make mine a half just in case.

Nick Webster, Fox Sports World's EPL ex-pat, can be reached at nwebster@foxsportsworld.com