Is it time to bench Leon?

[Bruce Wayne]

I'll be honest, not a massive fan but can appreciate what he's done for us so far. He tailed off last season (as did the team to be fair) but apart from a couple of purple patches last season where he looked unplayable I thought he was rank average. He scored his goals in bunches and at times looked reinvented from his previous stints in the championship but he lacks consistency. He's 34 this season and it worries me he's our main striker, I cannot see him replicating last seasons gold run and I think current state Sharp should get the nod to play with Goldie until we bring in better.

 

[Oldun]

Yep, he should step aside for the young, upcoming striker..... Sharp.

 

[YES Blade]

Bottom line is we are crying out for a new striker who is preferably mid 20s or younger.

I didn’t think Clarke would get 10 goals last season so he has proved me wrong and fair play to him for having a good season.

He generally hasn’t been good enough at Championship level throughout his career so at 33 he is bound to have spells of poor form.

He certainly needs to be dropped if he isn’t performing and I find it baffling that Wilder doesn’t even sub him let alone drop him. He needs to be treated the same as the rest of the strikers because he isn’t performing any better to deserve a higher status within the team.

 

[hazzasufc_]

It was time to bench him in February

 

[Stretch]

Perhaps but I think Wilder likes his work rate and all round game. Of the strikers we have he is the one who can do most things reasonably well. But to be honest Billy is the guy who you want on the end of 'that chance' when it comes. He probably deserves a start, whether alongside Clarke, McGoldrick or Woodburn.

We do need at least one more up there. Chuck a pacey AM in as well please.

 

[Bartleby]

Bottom line is we are crying out for a new striker who is preferably mid 20s or younger.

Exactly. Someone like Ben Woodburn. Wilder out!

 

[Bladesman]

Time for Wilders favourites to be dropped. Stevens and Leon being the first to keep the bench warm.

 

[sitwell]

I'll be honest, not a massive fan but can appreciate what he's done for us so far. He tailed off last season (as did the team to be fair) but apart from a couple of purple patches last season where he looked unplayable I thought he was rank average. He scored his goals in bunches and at times looked reinvented from his previous stints in the championship but he lacks consistency. He's 34 this season and it worries me he's our main striker, I cannot see him replicating last seasons gold run and I think current state Sharp should get the nod to play with Goldie until we bring in better.

Nob post

 

[sheffielder]

He's done nothing in pre-season and I wasn't sure he was even on the pitch yesterday. Yes he might not have got the ball, but although he appears to work hard it's nothing more than a token gesture. Not sure why Wilder gives him so much Kudos, never getting subbed. What's the crack?

 

[WeareBlades]

I like Leon and last season for him was unbelievable but I can't see him producing as many goals as last season. We have just not got much to replace him with atm.

 

[Torrix1889]

Leon Huffs and puffs but I wouldn't single him out.....we are just so slow up top it's untrue.....Swansea had two or three nippy plyers and always had that outball....we didn't, it was the same slow ponderous build up as ever....

 

[blade67]

He's marmite Clarke, isn't he?

I think his 19 goals from last season, plus his work rate, which I'd suggest is something greater than a "token gesture" will mean he keeps the shirt for a while yet.

Despite his age and his record, I'm judging him on what I see, and that is a big, strong, hardworking player with decent pace and a goal every 2 games record last season.

It might all be a flash in the pan, and we certainly need to sign another forward, but my guess is that if we get someone in this week, he'll be playing alongside Clark for now, not in place of him.

 

[WeareBlades]

He's marmite Clarke, isn't he?

I think his 19 goals from last season, plus his work rate, which I'd suggest is something greater than a "token gesture" will mean he keeps the shirt for a while yet.

Despite his age and his record, I'm judging him on what I see, and that is a big, strong, hardworking player with decent pace and a goal every 2 games record last season.

It might all be a flash in the pan, and we certainly need to sign another forward, but my guess is that if we get someone in this week, he'll be playing alongside Clark for now, not in place of him.

Decent pace dem are fighting talk

 

[blade67]

Decent pace dem are fighting talk

Ok I may have stretched a bit far there. Can't really see anyone quicker though from our current options (not really seen Woodburn yet).Hence the need to bring someone in who can run at/away from defenders

 

[WeareBlades]

Ok I may have stretched a bit far there. Can't really see anyone quicker though from our current options (not really seen Woodburn yet).Hence the need to bring someone in who can run at/away from defenders

No I know what you mean mate, I'm sure wilder is trying his hardest but it's tough out there and unfortunately he's not got the resources others have. Biggest mistake yesterday was no CAM but he will see that, maybe Duffy or Woodburn then McGoldrick or Clarke get more chances.

 

[DaleHillBlade]

No, it's not time to bench Leon.

 

[Ben_1982]

The Clarke/McGoldrick partnership is never gonna happen. We kept dropping into midfield . Terrible performance on the whole yesterday

 

[FTPE]

Leon was crap yesterday but not crap enough to single him out.
I think Mcgoldrick will have a better season than him this year.

Look we seem a million miles off but we aren't, Chris picked the wrong midfield, that's it.

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

Leon needs about 10 chances to score one goal at the minute regardless of service to him. Sharp looked much better in the 10 or so minutes he played -
Woodburn knocked a couple of searching balls into the box and a pacy forward would have been on em like a flash.

 

[YES Blade]

Exactly. Someone like Ben Woodburn. Wilder out!

Would you class Woodburn as an out and out striker? I wouldn’t, but we’ll see where he plays.

 

[wizadry]

I’m not sure he needs benching but he certainly needs bringing off when he’s playing shite and can’t be arsed to move, like yesterday.

McGoldrick must have wondered what the crack was when he came off and that lumbersome excuse of a performance stayed on.

 

[SuperDuperBlades]

Leon was crap yesterday but not crap enough to single him out.
I think Mcgoldrick will have a better season than him this year.

Look we seem a million miles off but we aren't, Chris picked the wrong midfield, that's it.

AGAIN.

 

[super_pig]

I'll be honest, not a massive fan but can appreciate what he's done for us so far. He tailed off last season (as did the team to be fair) but apart from a couple of purple patches last season where he looked unplayable I thought he was rank average. He scored his goals in bunches and at times looked reinvented from his previous stints in the championship but he lacks consistency. He's 34 this season and it worries me he's our main striker, I cannot see him replicating last seasons gold run and I think current state Sharp should get the nod to play with Goldie until we bring in better.

just don’t leave him next to the pies.. seriously he looks massive

 

[Sean Thornton]

Ok I may have stretched a bit far there. Can't really see anyone quicker though from our current options (not really seen Woodburn yet).Hence the need to bring someone in who can run at/away from defenders

If we don't create chances decent no matter who plays up top will end up looking poor.

 

[blade67]

No I know what you mean mate, I'm sure wilder is trying his hardest but it's tough out there and unfortunately he's not got the resources others have. Biggest mistake yesterday was no CAM but he will see that, maybe Duffy or Woodburn then McGoldrick or Clarke get more chances.

He does seem to want an alternative to Duffy, even though Duffy keeps proving him wrong. Started last season on the bench behind Carruthers and this year behind Lundstram.

I'm sure Wood burn will get a chance as well. Looking at it from a fans perspective, Duffy gives us a CAM who can keep the ball in tight areas and recycle if needed but also feed the strikers when needed. I suppose the draw back is the lack of goals, other than at Hillsborough where his record is 1 in 1 wearing a blades shirt

 

[blade67]

If we don't create chances decent no matter who plays up top will end up looking poor.

True that very