Best team line up with Leonard in midfield

[LoughboroBlade]

One option, a bit more solid:

Moore
Basham Stearman O'Connell
Baldock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Stevens
Lundstram
Leonard - - - - - - - Fleck
- - - Duffy
Clarke​

That’s essentially the formation we played at Wednesday when it was a three of Basham, Fleck and Coutts, with Brooks off Clarke. Think you might well be bang-on with this as a possibility – particularly away from home.

 

[McGrath]

Play him alongside Dean Hammond so he can learn the hidden side of the game

 

[blademark]

I realise that Lundstram has improved enormously, and he may yet turn out to be a superb player, but I can't ignore the one win in nine since Coutts was injured. If Leonard turns out to be the catalyst for climbing back up the table, sentiment has to go out the window. I think he may well start the game against the Owls, as Wilder has been courting him for a long time.
We shall see soon enough , but it' always a good problem to have.

 

[LJBlade]

I realise that Lundstram has improved enormously, and he may yet turn out to be a superb player, but I can't ignore the one win in nine since Coutts was injured. If Leonard turns out to be the catalyst for climbing back up the table, sentiment has to go out the window. I think he may well start the game against the Owls, as Wilder has been courting him for a long time.
We shall see soon enough , but it' always a good problem to have.

Was Lundstram the only one playing during those 9 games?

 

[Ricky]

Fleck's position isn't under threat at all, we still have no proper replacement for him. If he was unavailable or his form dips significantly, we'd go with Lenny and Lunny and change the dynamic a bit. Unless we did the unthinkable and gave Carruthers a chance there.

Duffy behind one striker isn't a good idea. We'd be lacking at the top of the pitch. He's not one to really get beyond the striker and be a goalscoring threat. It would make us very dependent on the wing backs getting forward well.

 

[Harrisblade]

I'd play him as an attacking goalkeeper cum defensive forward.

Not seen a 'rush' goalie since playing in park aged 12

 

[8lade]

I'd definitely expect him to play a fair bit though to justify paying such a fee when he only had 6 months left on his deal.

As they'd say on Dragon's Den, you're valuing your business at £3 million?
(£500k with 6 months left of a 3 year deal).

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Yeah I haven't seen much of Lenny but from what I've heard it seems he can play both the deeper role and the driving forward role so both positions are under threat. It should keep both Fleck and Lundy on their toes.
Looks like he can shoot too. If Whiteman impresses we've suddenly got a lot of potential goals from midfield, something I think we've lacked a bit previously.

Alright Jose, calm down.

 

[snootyfenooty]

I realise that Lundstram has improved enormously, and he may yet turn out to be a superb player, but I can't ignore the one win in nine since Coutts was injured. If Leonard turns out to be the catalyst for climbing back up the table, sentiment has to go out the window. I think he may well start the game against the Owls, as Wilder has been courting him for a long time.
We shall see soon enough , but it' always a good problem to have.

Thank fuck for a common sense post. Two points to consider here:

1. Does anyone seriously think that Leonard will be happy to come here just to warm the bench.
2. United's policy is to sign players who are better than we have already got. It's called improving the team. He will start ahead of Lundstram.

 

[LJBlade]

Thank fuck for a common sense post. Two points to consider here:

1. Does anyone seriously think that Leonard will be happy to come here just to warm the bench.
2. United's policy is to sign players who are better than we have already got. It's called improving the team. He will start ahead of Lundstram.

We signed Lundstram after Coutts, would he have been expecting to start ahead of him?

 

[Roygbiv]

I thought he was the alternative to Duffy ?

Leonard is a defensive midfielder. We really could do with a player to challenge Duffy for me though

 

[snootyfenooty]

We signed Lundstram after Coutts, would he have been expecting to start ahead of him?

No. I think Duffy's place was up for grabs at the start of the season but he's made sure this isn't going to happen anytime soon.

 

[cahill]

That my son, is exactly where Lundstram should be playing IMHO. However with that formation you lose the two strikers and the unpredictability of the floating Duffy. I would rather see Leonard Fleck and Duffy in midfield with Clarke and Donaldson up front. However, in certain circumstances that is a side which would work as long as there is flexibility between the Lundstram and Duffy positions.

Looks good to me. Have to keep Donaldo and Leon although the former seems injury prone, importantly although Wilder seems to have the Midas touch we haven’t seen Leonard yet ( well I haven’t yet ) so can’t salivate too much.

 

[cahill]

No. I think Duffy's place was up for grabs at the start of the season but he's made sure this isn't going to happen anytime soon.

Just better and better

 

[Rufus Smalls]

Not seen a 'rush' goalie since playing in park aged 12

Goalie wag !!

 

[blademark]

We signed Lundstram after Coutts, would he have been expecting to start ahead of him?

No, Coutts was part of a very successful and winning team. At that time, nothing needed fixing, and Lundstram came as a squad player.

 

[derfblade.3]

Our girt thinks he's lovely!

 

[snootyfenooty]

The whole point is that Wilder has been chasing this guy for at least the past 8 months and with the limited budget he's got it won't be just to sit on the fucking bench and play for the U23's.

 

[andy m]

Fleck's position isn't under threat at all, we still have no proper replacement for him. If he was unavailable or his form dips significantly, we'd go with Lenny and Lunny and change the dynamic a bit. Unless we did the unthinkable and gave Carruthers a chance there.

Duffy behind one striker isn't a good idea. We'd be lacking at the top of the pitch. He's not one to really get beyond the striker and be a goalscoring threat. It would make us very dependent on the wing backs getting forward well.

Except against the pigs!!!

 

[LJBlade]

No, Coutts was part of a very successful and winning team. At that time, nothing needed fixing, and Lundstram came as a squad player.

But that’s not what was said in the post I replied to.

Do you even know what type of player Leonard is?

 

[LJBlade]

No. I think Duffy's place was up for grabs at the start of the season but he's made sure this isn't going to happen anytime soon.

So what you’re saying is that your logic is wrong?

 

[snootyfenooty]

So what you’re saying is that your logic is wrong?

I said Leonard will play instead of Lundstram. We'll see.

 

[Rob86]

Leonard is a defensive midfielder. We really could do with a player to challenge Duffy for me though

Oh is he, I thought he was an attacking mid ! That's what I know.

An alternative to Duffy is essential IMO. Because if Duffy is having an off day or starts to tire, there is no replacement.

 

[LJBlade]

I said Leonard will play instead of Lundstram. We'll see.

That’s not what I’m disagreeing with, you might well be correct, although Wilders policy seems to be that players need to earn their place in the squad.

What I was questioning was your logic behind why you think Leonard will play instead of Lundstram. You said that United sign players who are better than what we’ve already got so they should play. I asked if this was the case with Lundstram and Coutts. You also said that Leonard wasn’t coming here expecting to be on the bench. Considering he came from pretty much the same situation as Lundstram (i.e. a key player for an average League 1 team) I’d ask why the same isn’t said for Lundstram. Why would one expect to play and not the other?

I think what you’re trying to say is that Lundstram isn’t good enough in your eyes. Is that about right?

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

If it is over the line, well done Wilder and Knill, and well done to the board for backing the manager in his chase of his no.1 target.

 

[blademark]

Oh is he, I thought he was an attacking mid ! That's what I know.

An alternative to Duffy is essential IMO. Because if Duffy is having an off day or starts to tire, there is no replacement.

Brooks when fit ?

 

[dronny_blade]

Can play in either of the 3 midfield spots. Adds competition for places, which is something we lack

This 100%, he’s added something we’ve lacked and that is quality cover. At the moment the midfield 3 name them self..but any injury/suspension/lack of form Leonard will step in and I suspect will not give that up easily...great signing in my opinion

 

[snootyfenooty]

That’s not what I’m disagreeing with, you might well be correct, although Wilders policy seems to be that players need to earn their place in the squad.

What I was questioning was your logic behind why you think Leonard will play instead of Lundstram. You said that United sign players who are better than what we’ve already got so they should play. I asked if this was the case with Lundstram and Coutts. You also said that Leonard wasn’t coming here expecting to be on the bench. Considering he came from pretty much the same situation as Lundstram (i.e. a key player for an average League 1 team) I’d ask why the same isn’t said for Lundstram. Why would one expect to play and not the other?

I think what you’re trying to say is that Lundstram isn’t good enough in your eyes. Is that about right?

I'm saying Leonard is a better proposition than Lundstram. That's why I think he will be playing ahead of him and that's why Wider has signed him. The Coutts/Lundstram analogy is silly, Coutts is/was a far better player and Lundstram was bought in as a squad player as blademark has already explained.

 

[LJBlade]

I'm saying Leonard is a better proposition than Lundstram. That's why I think he will be playing ahead of him and that's why Wider has signed him. The Coutts/Lundstram analogy is silly, Coutts is/was a far better player and Lundstram was bought in as a squad player as blademark has already explained.

Again your logic doesn’t stack up. If we had signed Leonard in the summer, as Wilder wanted, who would he have been replacing? Would it have been Coutts, Fleck or would have also have been signed as a squad player?

The Lundstram/Coutts analogy is silly, I agree but from what I gather it sounds like Lundstram is more similar to Coutts than Leonard is.

Edit: I’ll also add that Coutts might have been better than Lundstram when he got injured but 2 years ago he certainly wasn’t. Lundstram is getting better with every game. Coutts himself showed that sometimes players need a bit of time.

 

[s4-blade]

I'm saying Leonard is a better proposition than Lundstram. That's why I think he will be playing ahead of him and that's why Wider has signed him. The Coutts/Lundstram analogy is silly, Coutts is/was a far better player and Lundstram was bought in as a squad player as blademark has already explained.

How is he a better proposition in any way? If anything Lundstram has the superior pedigree, slightly more experience and has been the best player on the pitch in at least 2 of the last 4 games.