Leon

[blade53]

Leon has always been the type of player throughout his career that has long periods without scoring, but then goes on a run of hot form where he scores for fun. I don't agree with the idea that he is lazy, or disinterested, his natural demenor sometimes gives that impression but I think that he always works very hard for the team, and has been more commited to the Blades than any other club he has been at. He deserves a bit of patience for what he's given to us for the past couple of years, and he WILL get goals again.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Leon has always been the type of player throughout his career that has long periods without scoring, but then goes on a run of hot form where he scores for fun. I don't agree with the idea that he is lazy, or disinterested, his natural demenor sometimes gives that impression but I think that he always works very hard for the team, and has been more commited to the Blades than any other club he has been at. He deserves a bit of patience for what he's given to us for the past couple of years, and he WILL get goals again.

Admirable stuff.

How long should we wait for performance levels to improve ?

How long would you give it ?

How long will Wilder give it ?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I am not aware of interest in Clarke from other clubs. Of course I’m not privy to such stuff if there is. However, Wilder has been pretty good at divulging when offers come in for players.

JOC
Bill.

So I ask myself, why aren’t other clubs climbing over themselves for one of the Championships most prolific strikers ?

If, as was widely reported at the time, the interest from Villa in January was real, the player and the club have, categorically, missed a trick here.

A club like ours must look to always get players out at the most opportune time. To extract maximum benefit. Before the decline starts. Think Liverpool with Torres. Leicester with Hammond

Sadly, in a team filled with technically proficient players, set up and sent out to play possession based, highly technical football, certain players stand out like a sore thumb, and for all the wrong reasons !!

UTB

PS. Whatever views you might have of our ex striker who does a bit of Radio work, who scored for fun back in the day, and is, beyond a shadow of doubt, much better qualified to give opinion on this subject than ANYONE on here, he does not rate Clarke. At all. FACT

 

[I should coco]

How long would you give it ?

Another 6 games at least

How long will Wilder give it ?

More than me. 10 games?

So I ask myself, why aren’t other clubs climbing over themselves for one of the Championships most prolific strikers ?

Because he's well over 30, has had too many clubs and has a reputation for being a 'bit difficult'.

Whatever views you might have of our ex striker who does a bit of Radio work, who scored for fun back in the day, and is, beyond a shadow of doubt, much better qualified to give opinion on this subject than ANYONE on here, he does not rate Clarke. At all. FACT

King Edwards is funny and I enjoy his refreshing criticism when it is required. He can be a right old moaner though going on about 'chalk on you boots' and 'never a booking in my day'. He never made it in the game as a coach or manager. You might ask yourself why that might be?

 

[LSF]

Admirable stuff.

How long should we wait for performance levels to improve ?

How long would you give it ?

How long will Wilder give it ?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I am not aware of interest in Clarke from other clubs. Of course I’m not privy to such stuff if there is. However, Wilder has been pretty good at divulging when offers come in for players.

JOC
Bill.

So I ask myself, why aren’t other clubs climbing over themselves for one of the Championships most prolific strikers ?

If, as was widely reported at the time, the interest from Villa in January was real, the player and the club have, categorically, missed a trick here.

A club like ours must look to always get players out at the most opportune time. To extract maximum benefit. Before the decline starts. Think Liverpool with Torres. Leicester with Hammond

Sadly, in a team filled with technically proficient players, set up and sent out to play possession based, highly technical football, certain players stand out like a sore thumb, and for all the wrong reasons !!

UTB

PS. Whatever views you might have of our ex striker who does a bit of Radio work, who scored for fun back in the day, and is, beyond a shadow of doubt, much better qualified to give opinion on this subject than ANYONE on here, he does not rate Clarke. At all. FACT

That's one of the longest jokes I've read, but the last word punchline made it worth it!

 

[Northyorksblade]

This is the downside of big attendances & the big gobs who never see any live games....they just parrot folk like Keith Edwards who was never the most hard working player. Just 2 % of our average attendance means 500 gobby twats spouting crap on message boards & Facebook. Focus on the 98% normal fans everyone....especialky Leon cos we normal fans love you to death. You are our Chief / Wayne Allison player ....we loved the Chief & the same 98% love you. All clubs have the same 2% dickheads ....so please ignore our numpties Leon. You are a Blade through & through now.

Have a double like

 

[DronnieBlade]

Another 6 games at least



More than me. 10 games?



Because he's well over 30, has had too many clubs and has a reputation for being a 'bit difficult'.



King Edwards is funny and I enjoy his refreshing criticism when it is required. He can be a right old moaner though going on about 'chalk on you boots' and 'never a booking in my day'. He never made it in the game as a coach or manager. You might ask yourself why that might be?

You make a good point about Coach / Manager.

My guess (and only that) is that he himself would know he can be a bit, prickly, and that this would probably not translate well in the world of sport man Management !!

But his credentials as an ex Striker, prolific striker in a Blades shirt, who still goes to all the games, home and away, to pass comment / opinion on the current crop of strikers, are unrivalled. IMHO.

UTB

 

[sheffielder]

Leon may work hard, but it's still an after thought. He sometimes can take a couple of seconds to click and admittedly he chases hard, but the idea is to close down and get the ball back in 3 seconds for high pressing to work. Just my imo in any case. I will now put my tin hat on

 

[I should coco]

My guess (and only that) is that he himself would know he can be a bit, prickly, and that this would probably not translate well in the world of sport man Management !!

Not a bad guess but mine would be more along the lines of 'as a goal greedy strike who stood on the shit line with his hands on his hips imploring his teamates to pass to him, he didn't have that great an appreciation for the game'.

What you can't fault however is his instinctive knowledge of where the goal was. Lineker, Shearer, Bobby Charlton, Greavsie were similar and they all weren't very good managers either.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Not a bad guess but mine would be more along the lines of 'as a goal greedy strike who stood on the shit line with his hands on his hips imploring his teamates to pass to him, he didn't have that great an appreciation for the game'.

What you can't fault however is his instinctive knowledge of where the goal was. Lineker, Shearer, Bobby Charlton, Greavsie were similar and they all weren't very good managers either.

A greater appreciation than you ??

Than me ?

Than anyone else you could care to name that contributes to this forum ?

I suspect, in all probability, the shit liner has forgotten more about this subject than any of us will ever know !

UTB

 

[I should coco]

A greater appreciation than you ??

Than me ?

Than anyone else you could care to name that contributes to this forum ?

I suspect, in all probability, the shit liner has forgotten more about this subject than any of us will ever know !

Fair enough, but Edwards contribution was 'limited' to scoring bag loads of goals. He is a legend in my mind for that of course, but I seem to recall the rest of his game was almost non existent. Defending at corners, or tracking an opponent back? Not Keith's 'job'.

Leon has faults and is far from the best striker in the division but he adds much more to the team. I realise I am opening myself up to Adkins-Hammondesque ridicule, but his unseen stuff helps make us what we are. Fortunately has abilities to defend corners can be seen and he's pretty good at this too.

I can accept you and others don't see Clarke as the answer, but my proof for this 'fact' wouldn't be Keith Edwards' opinion.

 

[LSF]

A greater appreciation than you ??

Than me ?

Than anyone else you could care to name that contributes to this forum ?

I suspect, in all probability, the shit liner has forgotten more about this subject than any of us will ever know !

UTB

I'll just chuck this in...
A lot of top clubs don't use ex pros as scouts/game analysts these days, as their ability to see, disseminate, analyse and communicate what they see was woefully inadequate.
Plus a lot of them (not all) are as thick as shit.

 

[Eric Cartman]

After reading all that I just have 1 question... did Laney Blade have a breakdown at the end of page 2 and start of page 3?

 

[DronnieBlade]

Fair enough, but Edwards contribution was 'limited' to scoring bag loads of goals. He is a legend in my mind for that of course, but I seem to recall the rest of his game was almost non existent. Defending at corners, or tracking an opponent back? Not Keith's 'job'.

Leon has faults and is far from the best striker in the division but he adds much more to the team. I realise I am opening myself up to Adkins-Hammondesque ridicule, but his unseen stuff helps make us what we are. Fortunately has abilities to defend corners can be seen and he's pretty good at this too.

I can accept you and others don't see Clarke as the answer, but my proof for this 'fact' wouldn't be Keith Edwards' opinion.

You are right.

It was an era of a bygone time. Strikers were not, by in large, expected to do a deal of defensive work.

I can acknowledge and accept that “modern” strikers are tasked with such duties. Strikers with aerial ability to do set pieces. It’s different. I get that.

While appreciating some of the stuff you say about Clarke in that he undoubtedly contributes in this way, he is presently, consistently, failing in achieving his key targets as a Central striker. Not all of which are scoring goals, albeit this is of course the main one !

UTB

 

[Eric Cartman]

I was Leon's biggest fan and had many a ding dong with DronnieBlade under my old guise on here... but I was struggling to defend Leon to be honest. That was until Norwich.

In the 135 he's played since then, goal or not, he's been sensational.
Now had McGoldrick's ridiculous effort gone in (what a save by the way) I'd say you're benched Leon - as it is keep him in the team if fit for Villa. If we're winning and he's not scoring so what? We're winning and that's what matters.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I'll just chuck this in...
A lot of top clubs don't use ex pros as scouts/game analysts these days, as their ability to see, disseminate, analyse and communicate what they see was woefully inadequate.
Plus a lot of them (not all) are as thick as shit.

I am sure you are right with this.

And with good reason.

But to balance this, do you believe that clubs employ scouts / analysts that DONT have any sort of background / experience of the game at Pro level ?

Not so cut and dried is it ??

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

I was Leon's biggest fan and had many a ding dong with DronnieBlade under my old guise on here... but I was struggling to defend Leon to be honest. That was until Norwich.

In the 135 he's played since then, goal or not, he's been sensational.
Now had McGoldrick's ridiculous effort gone in (what a save by the way) I'd say you're benched Leon - as it is keep him in the team if fit for Villa. If we're winning and he's not scoring so what? We're winning and that's what matters.

If by sensational you meaning running about a lot, I’m sold !!!

Sensational is, bluntly, ludicrous as an overall description of the last 1.5 games.

The rate at which possession turns over WHENEVER he is involved in a play phase, is, staggering. And not in a good way.

For a team that plays a possession based system, so vital to the overall success or otherwise of the team AS A WHOLE, this is no where near good enough. Or even acceptable.

UTB

 

[Maidenhead]

I don't think Leon is lazy or not good enough etc.. but the start of the season wasn't good enough from him and annoys me how he is unsubable but the last couple of games he has looked a lot better just hope he gets a goal and gets his confidence back. Think Norwood has brought the best out of the team again and a good firing Leon Clarke would be a brilliant addition to the team with the balls Norwood will be putting through. I I have been very critical of Clarke at the start of the season but seems to have found a bit of form again though he was brilliant for most parts of last season, but the way he started the season for me he shouldn't have been near starting or finishing ever match, but now he seems to have turned again so fingers crossed he can keep this form up and start finding the back of the net again.

And he can only get that back by being in the team.

Sometimes you need to look more than half an hour ahead to get the bigger picture.

He did nothing to warrant being dropped and his form was always going to come back at some stage.

All he needs now is goal and he'll be soaring.

 

[Eric Cartman]

If by sensational you meaning running about a lot, I’m sold !!!

Sensational is, bluntly, ludicrous as an overall description of the last 1.5 games.

The rate at which possession turns over WHENEVER he is involved in a play phase, is, staggering. And not in a good way.

For a team that plays a possession based system, so vital to the overall success or otherwise of the team AS A WHOLE, this is no where near good enough. Or even acceptable.

UTB

He's been absolutely fantastic in the last two. That hook off the line at the end of the first half changes the whole complexity of the game. The belief that would've given them could've meant we draw, even lost that game. It was as important as a goal.

 

[Maidenhead]

No he has a lovely wife toddler & a baby. He's a real family man now & Chris & the whole squad love him to death.

Absolutely right.

They're a smashing family

 

[ucandomagic]

Stepover for Freeman goal, clearance off the line. Without Leon’s awareness and ability that game could have been very different, regardless of our midfield class. Combined with his 90 minutes of pressing, I don’t see that anybody can validly question his contribution this week.

 

[DronnieBlade]

He's been absolutely fantastic in the last two. That hook off the line at the end of the first half changes the whole complexity of the game. The belief that would've given them could've meant we draw, even lost that game. It was as important as a goal.

Then all I could possibly add is that your version of what good looks like is rather different to mine.

Shocker

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

Stepover for Freeman goal, clearance off the line. Without Leon’s awareness and ability that game could have been very different, regardless of our midfield class. Combined with his 90 minutes of pressing, I don’t see that anybody can validly question his contribution this week.

You are not alone with this ascertion !!

UTB

 

[LSF]

I am sure you are right with this.

And with good reason.

But to balance this, do you believe that clubs employ scouts / analysts that DONT have any sort of background / experience of the game at Pro level ?

Not so cut and dried is it ??

UTB

I know (for certain) that top clubs do employ people with no experience in the game at any professional level. And in positions of extreme responsibility too.
Of course some clubs employ some (more intelligent and capable) ex pros in certain areas, but more to your point regards Keith Edwards, has he wver been in a position of responsibility at a professional club since his playing days ended?
Maybe?
But i doubt it.

 

[I should coco]

under my old guise on here

What was that?

Were you barred for nocturnal handbags with Tyler?

 

[Eric Cartman]

What was that?

Were you barred for nocturnal handbags with Tyler?

Me and Tyler got on pretty well, don’t know whether that’s a good or bad thing

I got one too many infractions for swearing in a thread title about our performance against Wolves...