Sorry Leon but .......

[Houston_Blade]

Perm any one from several dozen.

Depends on your particular poison. Or more succinctly, Wilders !

I like Hogan. Not cheap but would be a quality addition.

I am in a small minority that suggested a deal for Rhodes similar to that which Norwich have made wouldn’t be bad business. I think he could have a field day in our side BUT it’s clear he currently lacks confidence. I’d expect him to have a decent, if unspectacular season at Norwich. A run of games and goals could change this, although I suspect our style would suit him better. I think he would have converted more of the gilt edged chances both Sharp and Clarke missed last season.

No one is suggesting, given player inflation, that we can replace and improve on the cheap. Nor should we.

I have previously stated at £150k, Clarke owes the club and it’s supporters squat. A good buy at THAT price when we were, at the time, an unconvincing Div 3 club.

Times have moved on. Rapidly. We should be, and it would appear are, capable of attracting a better player, at considerable cost. £3m-£6m type range.

UTB

Fair enough, disagree on the Rhodes suggestion, his wages would be crippling and he had no recent form prior to this season to justify maybe £30k a week if the Pigs would have let him come and made a contribution themselves.

My honest view on the other players is that for £5-£8m you don’t get a very good player and we are better sticking with what we have until we identify someone. Waghorn would have been a terrible signing, Gallagher and Hogan slightly better.

I honestly don’t want to see us throw large sums around at average players when we have cheap average players already.

 

[YES Blade]

Billy had a similar spell during last season when he couldn’t find the net but I can’t remember you slating him (not that he deserved it). Not to mention how quick you were to remind us all last week that we must support Ched because he was still a Sheffield United player.
Double standards I’m afraid

The difference is, that when Billy was off form he was quite rightly dropped.

Clarke on the other hand will play every single minute regardless of form.

Billy has scored 3 in 3, but you can guarantee he’ll be back on the bench before Clarke.

Like has been said, Clarke is a useful squad player at this level, but as our main striker we will not progress. I firmly believe we could sneak in the playoffs if we signed a better striker, hopefully the player(s) lined up by Wilder will make the difference.

 

[DronnieBlade]

The difference is, that when Billy was off form he was quite rightly dropped.

Clarke on the other hand will play every single minute regardless of form.

Billy has scored 3 in 3, but you can guarantee he’ll be back on the bench before Clarke.

Like has been said, Clarke is a useful squad player at this level, but as our main striker we will not progress. I firmly believe we could sneak in the playoffs if we signed a better striker, hopefully the player(s) lined up by Wilder will make the difference.

Sadly, my guess, and only that, is that if a “marquee” striker signing is made, it will be to partner Clarke, in the main.

Wilder just does not rate Sharp at this level. IMHO.

Shame.

UTB

 

[spongebobblade]

The difference is, that when Billy was off form he was quite rightly dropped.

Clarke on the other hand will play every single minute regardless of form.

Billy has scored 3 in 3, but you can guarantee he’ll be back on the bench before Clarke.

Like has been said, Clarke is a useful squad player at this level, but as our main striker we will not progress. I firmly believe we could sneak in the playoffs if we signed a better striker, hopefully the player(s) lined up by Wilder will make the difference.

To

The difference is, that when Billy was off form he was quite rightly dropped.

Clarke on the other hand will play every single minute regardless of form.

Billy has scored 3 in 3, but you can guarantee he’ll be back on the bench before Clarke.

Like has been said, Clarke is a useful squad player at this level, but as our main striker we will not progress. I firmly believe we could sneak in the playoffs if we signed a better striker, hopefully the player(s) lined up by Wilder will make the difference.

But we don’t have another striker at present in the Leon mould who can hold the ball up and bring others into play quite like he can. A McGoldrick/Sharp front line would see the ball coming back against us far quicker and more often

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Clarke scored all his goals over just a few games last season, he got a new deal foolishly given and stopped playing like he had. If we have one player that needs benching it's Clarke.

 

[Seth Rollins]

Clarke scored all his goals over just a few games last season, he got a new deal foolishly given and stopped playing like he had. If we have one player that needs benching it's Clarke.

Agreed. I dont know why Clarke gets 90 minutes every game. Sharp has to start every game in front of him. I dont know what Clarke’s doing for Wilder,but it’s certainly not on the pitch!!

 

[Seth Rollins]

Agreed. I dont know why Clarke gets 90 minutes every game. Sharp has to start every game in front of him. I dont know what Clarke’s doing for Wilder,but it’s certainly not on the pitch!!

& I think the bench is too good for him at the moment!!

 

[1889]

I don't agree. He doesn't break his neck to get on the end of crosses he knows he can't get to. I think he's a clever player who knows when and when not to do certain things.

Well he’s clearly deciding not to do them at the moment then

 

[blade too long]

And whoever said he and O'Connell
are overweight is definitely correct. Put on a couple of stone since May and he's playing like a cunt.

the first thing our training staff do is closely monitor every players fitness level body mass index and weight
if leon had put on as you say 2 stone he would not get near the team sheet
hed be in on days off to get off 2lb , never mind 2 stone

so Im afraid your spouting absolute bollocks

 

[lepton blade]

.... I know we all like loved it when you scored loads of goals last year but most of them were before Christmas so lots of people don’t think that’s as good as spreading your goals out evenly over the season.
Sorry that you are a centre forward who hasn’t scored in 4 games this season and we’re going to completely ignore the fact that even the very best strikers go through lean patches (I can imagine Spurs fans playing hell with Kane because until yesterday he’d never scored during August)
Sorry Leon for having massively unrealistic expectations this year but we’re not top of the league and I feel it’s only fair we all blame you.


Jeez can you get a bleeding grip.

 

[Demon Blade]

Think that was mcgoldrick

Fake news......Leon!

 

[Demon Blade]

Fake news......Leon!

Ran out of time to edit......er good point Mcgoldrick!

 

[duke]

.....times up i'm afraid. Surprised how uninterested he is looking. Wilder says the goals will come but first you need to put in a performance. Lacklustre is the best i can describe today's "effort".
How many more chances will Wilder give him?.The sooner we get a new guy up front the better we will be. He is missing so many chances it's unreal.

Do you actually know anything about football. Very unfair remarks about one of our own. Go and watch the pork.

 

[@samjohnson77]

Really believe that as soon as Leon get's this elusive goal his mood, drive and willingness to actually run about a football pitch will dramatically increase.
Here's hoping anyways... it will come.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Can anyone suggest why some players drift ineffectively in and out of games, and are described as “drifting in and out”, or as “ineffective”, or as (huge current cliche alert) “disinterested” ... whereas Leon, and others, are simply “lazy”?

I could hazard a guess. But I won’t.

Where’s WWF when you need him ?

 

[Houston_Blade]

Sadly, my guess, and only that, is that if a “marquee” striker signing is made, it will be to partner Clarke, in the main.

Wilder just does not rate Sharp at this level. IMHO.

Shame.

UTB

I think it would depend on the type of striker. Sharp is predominantly there to score goals. I actually think he also does a lot of the donkey work at times, however if he is doing the donkey work he isn't scoring goals and this was his issue for part of last season when things weren't going well for the team he rolls his sleeves up and plays in areas that I don't really want a striker to play in, however it benefits the team. The best example of this was in his first couple of spells with us when he used to do a lot of work out wide and as a result didn't score as prolifically as he did at other clubs who decided to play him down the middle as a proper centre forward, our tactical nous let us down.

Leon does the donkey work and again I don't think you can ask to do this and also be prolific. Your view about his work rate is obviously different to mine but a lot of people agree that a major part of Leon's game is hassling and harrying and generally making a nuisance of himself. Selfless work in my opinion and this is what gets him the criticism for not scoring. I can think of countless games since he joined us where he's made defenders give the ball away by closing down and shutting off the easy pass, creating opportunities for others in the process.

If we sign a Hogan/Gallagher type then to me that is a replacement for Leon and not Billy as they are more the supporting strikers, facilitating others to score and will chip in with 10 goals themselves in the process. The 10 goal striker is probably at the limit of what we can afford (around £5m). That is why I don't see the point in hankering for this type of signing as Leon already does this job well enough.

Next season I think will be a different kettle of fish as he gets older still, however in what I've seen on ifollow this season he is still doing to work to get others into the game. It's not everyone's cup of tea but to say he should be benched because he scores less than Sharp is wrong in my opinion.

If we sign a striker we will need to be spending £10m plus to replace the goals we will lose as Billy and Leon get older, I don't think we will ever do this and therefore will always struggle by and take chances with your Clarke's, Donaldson's and McGoldrick's of the world as well as some loan signings that may be a James Wilson/John Cofie/Dominic Poleon but may also be a Matt Phillips type.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I think it would depend on the type of striker. Sharp is predominantly there to score goals. I actually think he also does a lot of the donkey work at times, however if he is doing the donkey work he isn't scoring goals and this was his issue for part of last season when things weren't going well for the team he rolls his sleeves up and plays in areas that I don't really want a striker to play in, however it benefits the team. The best example of this was in his first couple of spells with us when he used to do a lot of work out wide and as a result didn't score as prolifically as he did at other clubs who decided to play him down the middle as a proper centre forward, our tactical nous let us down.

Leon does the donkey work and again I don't think you can ask to do this and also be prolific. Your view about his work rate is obviously different to mine but a lot of people agree that a major part of Leon's game is hassling and harrying and generally making a nuisance of himself. Selfless work in my opinion and this is what gets him the criticism for not scoring. I can think of countless games since he joined us where he's made defenders give the ball away by closing down and shutting off the easy pass, creating opportunities for others in the process.

If we sign a Hogan/Gallagher type then to me that is a replacement for Leon and not Billy as they are more the supporting strikers, facilitating others to score and will chip in with 10 goals themselves in the process. The 10 goal striker is probably at the limit of what we can afford (around £5m). That is why I don't see the point in hankering for this type of signing as Leon already does this job well enough.

Next season I think will be a different kettle of fish as he gets older still, however in what I've seen on ifollow this season he is still doing to work to get others into the game. It's not everyone's cup of tea but to say he should be benched because he scores less than Sharp is wrong in my opinion.

If we sign a striker we will need to be spending £10m plus to replace the goals we will lose as Billy and Leon get older, I don't think we will ever do this and therefore will always struggle by and take chances with your Clarke's, Donaldson's and McGoldrick's of the world as well as some loan signings that may be a James Wilson/John Cofie/Dominic Poleon but may also be a Matt Phillips type.

Much to admire in that.

I just believe that it is important to do more on a football pitch than, put in a shift and get a sweat on.

I have never stated that Leon does not do this. Nor that there isn’t a value to place on it.

But having basic footballing teckers is also a pre requisite for me.

The alarming rate at which possession turns over (so critical in any Wilder team) when Leon is directly involved in play is down to one thing. Poor technique.

The alarming rate at which good goal scoring opportunities are squandered is down to one thing. Poor technique.

At his age, this is never going to come.

UTB

 

[blade too long]

The alarming rate at which good goal scoring opportunities are squandered is down to one thing. Poor technique.

At his age, this is never going to come.

UTB

6 different techniques there, seemed to enjoy them at the time all within the last 12 months
so he must have them in his locker

who is the forward you s
peak of who scores with every chance as he sounds perfect

real madrid are still looking for him

 

[DronnieBlade]

6 different techniques there, seemed to enjoy them at the time all within the last 12 months
so he must have them in his locker

who is the forward you s
peak of who scores with every chance as he sounds perfect

real madrid are still looking for him

I won’t dispute these two clips show Leon in a good light.

4 goals in one game = headline grabbing wow factor.

HOWEVER at the time of the Hull game I seem to recall stating his performance in the first 60 minutes of this very game was below the required standard. Which of course will get “lost” when a player scored 4 goals in 30 mins. Probably quite right too !!

The brace at the place. No comments required

UTB

 

[blade too long]

I won’t dispute these two clips show Leon in a good light.

4 goals in one game = headline grabbing wow factor.

HOWEVER at the time of the Hull game I seem to recall stating his performance in the first 60 minutes of this very game was below the required standard. Which of course will get “lost” when a player scored 4 goals in 30 mins. Probably quite right too !!

The brace at the place. No comments required

UTB

the fact he missed 2 maybe 3 more shows his technique for being in the right place is undooubted
and strikers missing chance
ask shearer how many goals hed have scored had he took every single chance he got

clarkes scored 40 goals in his last 3 season s , puts him in the top 20 in all divisions
to say he has no technique is like saying holly willoughby got crap tits

first united player to score 2 at the sty for 25 years,,,, no technique , pah

 

[United Aren't Back.]

the first thing our training staff do is closely monitor every players fitness level body mass index and weight
if leon had put on as you say 2 stone he would not get near the team sheet
hed be in on days off to get off 2lb , never mind 2 stone

so Im afraid your spouting absolute bollocks

I am joining a very esteemed club in that regard.
In one case, the ability to use punctuation has been eroded over time.

 

[DronnieBlade]

the fact he missed 2 maybe 3 more shows his technique for being in the right place is undooubted
and strikers missing chance
ask shearer how many goals hed have scored had he took every single chance he got

clarkes scored 40 goals in his last 3 season s , puts him in the top 20 in all divisions
to say he has no technique is like saying holly willoughby got crap tits

first united player to score 2 at the sty for 25 years,,,, no technique , pah

Righdo.

UTB

 

[derfblade.3]

Do you actually know anything about football. Very unfair remarks about one of our own. Go and watch the pork.

Unfair to have an opinion? It's not like i have called the fella a "shitcunt" as is now the norm for a few on here. Forums are about discussion and opinion but your type can't handle a decent discussion without the "pig" accusations coming out. Time to grow up mate.

 

[BorbokisKS]

Much to admire in that.

I just believe that it is important to do more on a football pitch than, put in a shift and get a sweat on.

I have never stated that Leon does not do this. Nor that there isn’t a value to place on it.

But having basic footballing teckers is also a pre requisite for me.

The alarming rate at which possession turns over (so critical in any Wilder team) when Leon is directly involved in play is down to one thing. Poor technique.

The alarming rate at which good goal scoring opportunities are squandered is down to one thing. Poor technique.

At his age, this is never going to come.

UTB

Utter bollocks. Sorry. Nobody was talking about Clarke's technique last season when he was scoring, it's his confidence (or lack of) that has resulted in his finishing being slightly off in the past few games. He's still pressing and working hard, his movement off the ball is creating chances too so he doesn't deserve the flack he has been receiving for simply not scoring. Once Clarke gets dropped and feels the pressure from the fans to perform I believe he's finished, he carries too much weight on his shoulders which negatively impacts his performance. Anyone that follows his career will tell you that. Pointless calling him out, Wilder loves him, he's a grafter, may as well get behind him until we improve in this area with new signings.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Utter bollocks. Sorry. Nobody was talking about Clarke's technique last season when he was scoring, it's his confidence (or lack of) that has resulted in his finishing being slightly off in the past few games. He's still pressing and working hard, his movement off the ball is creating chances too so he doesn't deserve the flack he has been receiving for simply not scoring. Once Clarke gets dropped and feels the pressure from the fans to perform I believe he's finished, he carries too much weight on his shoulders which negatively impacts his performance. Anyone that follows his career will tell you that. Pointless calling him out, Wilder loves him, he's a grafter, may as well get behind him until we improve in this area with new signings.

He's over the hill. If we are relying on Leon Clarke this season we won't achieve fuck all.

 

[northsomersetblade]

33 and not getting any younger

 

[derfblade.3]

You’ve started 2 threads in the last half an hour and been totally off boil with both. I’d think about posting in existing threads for a while mate.

Meanwhile, 3 days later my 2 posts are still making discussion on here with many agreeing with them. It's a forum for discussion and opinions as i have stated before.
Try to respect everyone's views pal .

 

[DronnieBlade]

Utter bollocks. Sorry. Nobody was talking about Clarke's technique last season when he was scoring, it's his confidence (or lack of) that has resulted in his finishing being slightly off in the past few games. He's still pressing and working hard, his movement off the ball is creating chances too so he doesn't deserve the flack he has been receiving for simply not scoring. Once Clarke gets dropped and feels the pressure from the fans to perform I believe he's finished, he carries too much weight on his shoulders which negatively impacts his performance. Anyone that follows his career will tell you that. Pointless calling him out, Wilder loves him, he's a grafter, may as well get behind him until we improve in this area with new signings.

If any of what you say is even remotely true, his strength of mind and character must be made of glass. Wilder should NOT be dishing out special treatment on the basis poor old Leon might throw a wobbler.

And I must correct you on last season. I was bringing it up. I’ll admit I was one of very few, but it’s there in black and white if you would care to look !

UTB

 

[Harrisblade]

Worked his b*llocks off today. Did fine. Struggling to think of anything much that was below par today ?

Working your b*llocks off will always be 'unseen' if you don't want to see it in the first place

 

[Lil red rooster]

Utter bollocks. Sorry. Nobody was talking about Clarke's technique last season when he was scoring, it's his confidence (or lack of) that has resulted in his finishing being slightly off in the past few games. He's still pressing and working hard, his movement off the ball is creating chances too so he doesn't deserve the flack he has been receiving for simply not scoring. Once Clarke gets dropped and feels the pressure from the fans to perform I believe he's finished, he carries too much weight on his shoulders which negatively impacts his performance. Anyone that follows his career will tell you that. Pointless calling him out, Wilder loves him, he's a grafter, may as well get behind him until we improve in this area with new signings.

spot on.