CONFIRMED Ryan Leonard

[Pinchy]

But they're not our colours Pinchy. I doubt Ron would be seen dead in anything light blue so you've obviously picked the wrong cartoon. Never mind.

Ah, I was thinking that RugRon might refer to his younger players as RugRats. It would fit quite neatly, in stark contrast to his syrup.

 

[Pinchy]

Sometimes I come on this Forum to see if anything is likely to happen transfer-wise, on other occasions I come on hoping to join in broader discussions. This thread is doin' mi ead in, because it is, shall we say, a little disjointed. Pinchy, may I make a serious request - please start a thread on your footballing philosophy in the right section, so that there can be a proper debate, without transfer rumours occasionally intruding. I respect your love of proper football, though I disagree with some of what you say, and I would like to see you start, with a clean slate, a discussion on your footballing philosophy. I, for one, would promise to read what you say and respond to it, and I would encourage you to do the same. You do, in my view, tend to respond to what you imagine people have said rather than what they really say. You are not alone in this, as it is part and parcel of the digital world, but it does not help create a debate where we learn from each other.
I grew up watching United under John Harris, and was proud of us being a footballing team. However, and this is not a criticism of John Harris, we won very little in that era, and there were times such as after the 6th round cup defeat by S6, when we played the nice football and Wednesday played ugly, that I went to school on a Monday morning wishing United were more physical in their approach. But I retained my pride in the football we played, and then of course TC and Woody came along. I took equal pleasure in the Basset era - I always like a good underdog, and we should take pride in what he achieved, and not forget that the likes of Hodges, Deane, Agana, etc. were decent footballers.
I respect 'proper football', but I also want United to win. If those things go together, great, but if we have to try something different, fine. We played 'proper football' under Weir, but that was the worst I have ever seen United play. Passing it around the back 4 when they had not got the ability to play it and other teams were swarming all over them knowing that there was no plan B was an embarrassment. I wanted Collins and McEverly to hoof it, because we knew what would happen if they didn't. In short, good managers and players adapt to circumstances. Think Revie - he invented the deep-lying centre-forward (good thinking), and put Jackie Charlton on the near post for their corners because of his height and strength - hoofball, and very successful. Two very different approaches, both effective.
Anyway, apologies to those who came on here to see whether Leonard has signed. Pinchy, please start a thread where these things can be talked about at length.

I have explained proper football until I'm blue in the face, Hodgy. The hoofers are in denial and most of the others simply don't understand.

My footballing philosophy is exactly the same as that of every manager and player who speaks of the "right way" or "proper football" as the vast majority, including Tufty do. We all know that means and it's absolutely nothing to do with anything Bassett or Warnock ever produced. Significantly neither used the phrases because people would have laughed at them.

One more time. Proper football is winning football. They are one and the same; two sides of the same coin. If aimless hoof were the way to play, the best teams in the world would hoof it. They don't. Because it's utter shite, doesn't work and was consigned to history's dustbin.

None of this would be remotely contentious except in S2, Land of the Dinosaurs.

 

[Top Cat]

Still getting the voices in your head SEENITALLANDDUNITALL? ARETHEYALLAROUNDEVERYWHERE

You never did begin to explain what you have SEENANDDUN

I take it your rather sad posturing is a metaphor for BEENWATCHINGT'BLADESFORAFEWSEASONS

 

[SteveBlade]

Let's be r8.

Every style of football can be exciting when it's played with quality.

The direct style is only 'prehistoric' when it doesn't work. If we had a big fuckoff striker who could flick it straight to Billy 90% of the time we'd do well playing to that strength.

Some teams try and play it out from the back and have quality build up play but they struggle to score. That's not exciting.

We've just hit fire, long may it continue.

 

[Davalon]

Let's be r8.

Every style of football can be exciting when it's played with quality.

The direct style is only 'prehistoric' when it doesn't work. If we had a big fuckoff striker who could flick it straight to Billy 90% of the time we'd do well playing to that strength.

Some teams try and play it out from the back and have quality build up play but they struggle to score. That's not exciting.

We've just hit fire, long may it continue.

Exactly. Watch a few youth and Academy games across the country. All taught to pass the ball on the floor. Too many games barely leave the middle third and bore me to tears.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Not particularly. Not that I give the matter much thought. I greatly admire Arsene Wenger if that helps?

Likewise, although I think Wenger should have retired a couple of years ago.

 

[Pinchy]

The Hoofers are out in force, as I knew they would be.

None of your fancy stuff here. This is S2. We Hoof. It's crude; it's ugly; it's redundant, but it's ours.

Kick it Long; Kick it Hard;,Kick it High.

 

[Pinchy]

Still getting the voices in your head SEENITALLANDDUNITALL? ARETHEYALLAROUNDEVERYWHERE

You never did begin to explain what you have SEENANDDUN

I take it your rather sad posturing is a metaphor for BEENWATCHINGT'BLADESFORAFEWSEASONS

I've seen a lot of football and a lot of life. Both are invaluable and have served me well. I know what proper football is and I understand the right way to play the game. So does Tufty. He uses those phrases all the time. The Bassett Apologists (Hoofers all) really wish he wouldn't, so they pretend not to hear, polish their touchstones and pretend that Tuftyball is descended from Dinosaur shit. Risible and manifest nonsense from the most parochial; least sophisticated fans in the land.

Luckily one or two of us won't let them get away with it. Then they get upset and watch their Wimbledon and Cambridge VHS tapes, whilst chanting POMO...POMO...POMO as rhythmically as they can on front of a bust of Jostein Flo.

Proper football is winning football. Tufty knows that. Sorry hoofers, it's the local park for you on the first Sunday in August. Leave the professional stuff to those who know what they are talking about.

Kick it Long; Kick it Hard; Kick it High.

 

[alcoblade]

^^ an army of straw men has just assembled^^

 

[SteveBlade]

The Hoofers are out in force, as I knew they would be.

None of your fancy stuff here. This is S2. We Hoof. It's crude; it's ugly; it's redundant, but it's ours.

Kick it Long; Kick it Hard;,Kick it High.

I've seen a lot of football and a lot of life. Both are invaluable and have served me well. I know what proper football is and I understand the right way to play the game. So does Tufty. He uses those phrases all the time. The Bassett Apologists (Hoofers all) really wish he wouldn't, so they pretend not to hear, polish their touchstones and pretend that Tuftyball is descended from Dinosaur shit. Risible and manifest nonsense from the most parochial; least sophisticated fans in the land.

Luckily one or two of us won't let them get away with it. Then they get upset and watch their Wimbledon and Cambridge VHS tapes, whilst chanting POMO...POMO...POMO as rhythmically as they can on front of a bust of Jostein Flo.

Proper football is winning football. Tufty knows that. Sorry hoofers, it's the local park for you on the first Sunday in August. Leave the professional stuff to those who know what they are talking about.

Kick it Long; Kick it Hard; Kick it High.

 

[Mesut Özil's Lawnmower]

"Kick it Long; Kick it Hard;,Kick it High"

 

[Pinchy]

Hoof loving Bassett/Hughes/Beck apologists.

You don't deserve proper football. Off to the local park with you. That's your level of appreciation and understanding. Enjoy. Be proud.

 

[Weasel]

Hoof loving Bassett/Hughes/Beck apologists.

You don't deserve proper football. Off to the local park with you. That's your level of appreciation and understanding. Enjoy. Be proud.

Your a bit simple aren't you?

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

Oh yeah, I just opened the post to find some more hilarious Pinchy posts.

He's really working hard on trying to get famous on here but unfortunately doesn't quite get under the skin like some of the old legends, just very boring.

 

[Johnstreetstand]

Rinse,repeat. if in doubt keep doing same.
Shit argument , getting very boring. Pinchy is just stating the obvious. Hoof is a short term fix in desperate times. proper football is what everyone loves to see.
Now, what's happening with this Leonard chap. Where will he fit in, if he comes. who will miss out?

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Hoof loving Bassett/Hughes/Beck apologists.

You don't deserve proper football. Off to the local park with you. That's your level of appreciation and understanding. Enjoy. Be proud.

Am I understanding what you say correctly? You think most of your fellow Blades are ignorant, not worthy to watch CW's team, should stop attending matches. And the consequence would be...? Reduced attendances lead to reduced income leads to...? I thought you wanted a debate on proper football, but by your logic there would not be enough income to pay good footballers.

 

[Pinchy]

Am I understanding what you say correctly? You think most of your fellow Blades are ignorant, not worthy to watch CW's team, should stop attending matches. And the consequence would be...? Reduced attendances lead to reduced income leads to...? I thought you wanted a debate on proper football, but by your logic there would not be enough income to pay good footballers.

There isn't a debate to be had on proper football. The issue is redundant except in S2.

 

[Pinchy]

Your a bit simple aren't you?

No. Bassett was.

Kick it Long; Kick it Hard; Kick it High.

Nowt complicated. Nowt Fancy.

 

[Booker4]

No. Bassett was.

Kick it Long; Kick it Hard; Kick it High.

Nowt complicated. Nowt Fancy.

Why not get back to Leonard, Pinchy?, We've all had our say now. on this surely? I respect your views, as a fellow Blade and you've made your point, whether people agree to it or not. I'm guessing you were brought up on the Currie and Woodward era. I was brought up on Harry and for those like me that era it was great to watch, even though it wasn't football as it was in the seventies at the Lane. It's largely had its time now but I think its time to move on from this debate! Don't you?

 

[spongebobblade]

I've seen a lot of football and a lot of life. Both are invaluable and have served me well. I know what proper football is and I understand the right way to play the game.

Proper football is winning football

Without wanting to get into an argument as I'm a huge fan of the way we play under Wilder but.......
Who says what's the right way to play football?
We had huge amounts of success under Bassett in his first 2 full seasons. You must therefore class this as proper football? (Winning football as you say?)
Did you enjoy the success we had in those two seasons?
I much prefer watching us now than in Bassetts day but he brought us excitement and success for a time when none looked on the horizon. Let's give credit where it's due and move on. That was then. Wilders now.
Now this lad Leonard......

 

[Booker4]

Without wanting to get into an argument as I'm a huge fan of the way we play under Wilder but.......
Who says what's the right way to play football?
We had huge amounts of success under Bassett in his first 2 full seasons. You must therefore class this as proper football? (Winning football as you say?)
Did you enjoy the success we had in those two seasons?
I much prefer watching us now than in Bassetts day but he brought us excitement and success for a time when none looked on the horizon. Let's give credit where it's due and move on. That was then. Wilders now.
Now this lad Leonard......

In his first 5 seasons, not 2 mate. It went wrong when the board sold Deane. Right that's the last I'm saying on this!

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

There isn't a debate to be had on proper football. The issue is redundant except in S2.

View attachment 27985

Like every aspect of human behaviour, sport is constantly evolving. Football in 1950 was very different from football today. I surpect the phrase 'proper football' did not even exist in 1950. All coaches adapt to circumstances. Unwillingness to debate suggests a closed mind, a lack of interest, or too many other things to do. If you do not wish to debate, why post on a forum, especially on an unrelated thread? Please take up my invitation to start a new thread, or let it rest if you do not wish to debate.

 

[Pinchy]

It's largely had its time now but I think its time to move on from this debate! Don't you?

It was time to move on twenty years ago. There is no debate. It ended a long time ago. Hughes, Bassett and Beck lost and became unemployable.

Yet every time I refer to proper football and the right way, the Hoofers are out in force, taking offence. This despite the fact that Tufty uses both phrases all the time at which point they obviously put their hands over their ears and hum a tune.

Only in S2...

 

[Pinchy]

Like every aspect of human behaviour, sport is constantly evolving. Football in 1950 was very different from football today. I surpect the phrase 'proper football' did not even exist in 1950. All coaches adapt to circumstances. Unwillingness to debate suggests a closed mind, a lack of interest, or too many other things to do. If you do not wish to debate, why post on a forum, especially on an unrelated thread? Please take up my invitation to start a new thread, or let it rest if you do not wish to debate.

The debate has been won and lost, as I have explained already.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I

No. Bassett was.

Kick it Long; Kick it Hard; Kick it High.

Nowt complicated. Nowt Fancy.

I think there was more too it than Pinchy
We had some good technical players mixed in within the squad.
If it came down to it it was exciting football

 

[Pinchy]

I

We had some good technical players mixed in within the squad.

Why did the keeper launch it 70 yards over their heads? Seems a bit of a waste?...

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

As you mentioned earlier, proper football is winning football.

Two promotions and as high a finish in the countries top division for nigh on 30 years.

Was Bassett's football, proper football back then?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I

I think there was more too it than Pinchy
We had some good technical players mixed in within the squad.
If it came down to it it was exciting football

I think you are right that it was exciting to watch - but the football for me (with Bassett as manager) was purely about channel football.
Hit it into the corners or channels and then get the 2nd ball to the midfield. It worked with the players we had and yes we did have technical players, but it was given to them as a result of it going into the corners. It gave us some good games and some poor ones to be fair.

I know where pinchy comes from a well. I was brought up by watching John Harris type footballers (skilful) from 67 onwards and now see the CW type. which is all about playing with it.

Ultimately I know which I prefer. Bassett would have failed without Deane and Agana who made "his" style work.

UTB

 

[Booker4]

It was time to move on twenty years ago. There is no debate. It ended a long time ago. Hughes, Bassett and Beck lost and became unemployable.

Yet every time I refer to proper football and the right way, the Hoofers are out in force, taking offence. This despite the fact that Tufty uses both phrases all the time at which point they obviously put their hands over their ears and hum a tune.

Only in S2...

I've said what I wanted to say on it Pinchy, I'd only be repeating myself re your last points. Each to his own as they say!

 

[I should coco]

The debate has been won and lost, as I have explained already.

..and not just the once.

On permanent repeat on every thread known to man, just in case someone in the Borneo jungle missed it.