Leonard

[Esablade]

He’s got to get up to speed and make better decisions...you can see his game but it’s a bit below where he’s playing at the minute...and he’s struggling to adapt.

 

[Deadbat]

Really giving him a chance aren't you.

I think the reality is that i expect him to do the basics in terms of controlling the ball or passing it 5 yards. He gave it away umpteen times tonight (as did others) but not really seen what he offers yet.

I have been surprised how poor he has been. I expected much better. That is an opinion. Sadly it is a results game and we are the cut and thrust of the top end of the Championship. We cannot give players 10-15 games like him or Lundstram till they are up to the pace of it. This is not their fault but this is where we suffer really. Other teams towards the top spend a bit more and sign proven Champ players. We sign players that 'could' go on and do well but often have to adapt to this higher level. Some may do that, some may not.

I hope Leonard does well but he is been poor in the games that I have seen. It's nothing to do with giving him a chance; its an opinion on a forum. I hope he turns it round but to earn that chance he has to play much better than he has so far. I think even he will know that as he has been in and out of the team due to his indifferent start.

 

[Deadbat]

He's been garbage so far and it will be a big end to the season for him. You could quite easily see him being moved on in the Summer. I'm certainly not writing him off as it's ridiculously early but he's literally shown nothing so far. At least when Coutts first came you could tell he was technically very good even though it looked like his legs had gone.

That is the thing that has shocked me. Technically he has been woeful. His control, passing and shooting has been eye poppingly bad. He cannot tackle and is very slow. He may turn it around but not sure what are his qualities he an hang his hat on. He scored a few decent goals for Southend so maybe he has just not got his eye in!

 

[Roygbiv]

It is obviously ridiculous to write him off but I don't think people are being harsh by saying he's been really poor so far. That's just the reality.

 

[Deadbat]

It is obviously ridiculous to write him off but I don't think people are being harsh by saying he's been really poor so far. That's just the reality.

Totally agree. When you state a less than positive opinion about a player you are seen as scapegoating or picking on him or not giving him a chance. Sometimes, is it just an opinion that someone has not played well. Not sure anyone can say Leonard has played well. Not sure why it turns into this witchhunt against a player. It is not. If he plays well next week I will be first to say and hope it is start of his career at SUFC. Wilder pursused him long enough so hope he does come good.

 

[andy m]

That is the thing that has shocked me. Technically he has been woeful. His control, passing and shooting has been eye poppingly bad. He cannot tackle and is very slow. He may turn it around but not sure what are his qualities he an hang his hat on. He scored a few decent goals for Southend so maybe he has just not got his eye in!

He is not slow actually pretty quick but he does not anticipate anything at the moment. Looks like a rabbit in the headlights.

 

[Roygbiv]

Totally agree. When you state a less than positive opinion about a player you are seen as scapegoating or picking on him or not giving him a chance. Sometimes, is it just an opinion that someone has not played well. Not sure anyone can say Leonard has played well. Not sure why it turns into this witchhunt against a player. It is not. If he plays well next week I will be first to say and hope it is start of his career at SUFC. Wilder pursused him long enough so hope he does come good.

There are only a minority of fans who scapegoat anyone. There are those who still wouldn't have a good word said about Coutts last season. That's scapegoating. Pointing out a player isn't playing very well when he clearly isn't is just being honest.

 

[Stretch]

The whole team looked off tonight. He was one of the worse but let's not write the lad off just yet eh.

 

[Iceybabey]

He's struggling no doubt but like I said about Stearman early on I've seen enough in him to become a top player for us.

 

[LJBlade]

Very unimpressed so far, but as LM said it is early days.

I am not sure why we signed Leonard (and Holmes) UNLESS we get rid of Lunny (and Carruthers) in summer.

You generally need at least two players for each position. Duffy and Holmes compete for the attack mid role while Fleck, Evans, Lundstram and Leonard compete for the two centre mid roles. This has been explained so often that it’s getting boring.

 

[Southend fan 1]

It’s disappointing for me to see that he’s not started off well at The Blades - I think 99% of Southend fans want him to do well.

The position he excelled at at Southend was defence midfield in a 2 (he probably played there for last 3/4 years with Southend), nothing got past him. Maybe he’s getting used to a new system? I’d calm down a bit and give him more time.

Anway, good luck for the rest of the season.

 

[LJBlade]

Fixed that for you.

Not like you to be so positive

 

[sitwell]

I think the reality is that i expect him to do the basics in terms of controlling the ball or passing it 5 yards. He gave it away umpteen times tonight (as did others) but not really seen what he offers yet.

I have been surprised how poor he has been. I expected much better. That is an opinion. Sadly it is a results game and we are the cut and thrust of the top end of the Championship. We cannot give players 10-15 games like him or Lundstram till they are up to the pace of it. This is not their fault but this is where we suffer really. Other teams towards the top spend a bit more and sign proven Champ players. We sign players that 'could' go on and do well but often have to adapt to this higher level. Some may do that, some may not.

I hope Leonard does well but he is been poor in the games that I have seen. It's nothing to do with giving him a chance; its an opinion on a forum. I hope he turns it round but to earn that chance he has to play much better than he has so far. I think even he will know that as he has been in and out of the team due to his indifferent start.

A by your way of running a team ,we would have cast out Coutts ,Clarke ,Stearman etc etc before they had ever had chance to show whet they can do. What is it with this 'must have it now' mentality these days ?

 

[LJBlade]

That is the thing that has shocked me. Technically he has been woeful. His control, passing and shooting has been eye poppingly bad. He cannot tackle and is very slow. He may turn it around but not sure what are his qualities he an hang his hat on. He scored a few decent goals for Southend so maybe he has just not got his eye in!

‘Cannot tackle and is very slow’

Now that is one thing I’ve really got to disagree with. He actually put in some very good tackles tonight and has done in other games he’s played. He also looks quite quick and athletic

 

[zablade]

Not like you to be so positive

Leonard has been awful since he got here., completely out of his depth.

Neil Warnock would have Geoff Horsfielded him already.

 

[LJBlade]

Leonard has been awful since he got here., completely out of his depth.

Neil Warnock would have Geoff Horsfielded him already.

He hasn’t. You’re jumping on the bandwagon. Don’t worry though, it’s not unexpected.

Incidentally can you remember how bad Coutts was when he first played for us? Do you understand the concept of players needing time to ‘bed in’?

 

[zablade]

He hasn’t. You’re jumping on the bandwagon. Don’t worry though, it’s not unexpected.

Incidentally can you remember how bad Coutts was when he first played for us? Do you understand the concept of players needing time to ‘bed in’?

Coutts had played extremely well for Derby at a high Championship level before an horrific injury. The only doubt over Coutts was if that injury had finished him physically and Mentally, there was always a terrific player in there.

Leonard... no indication he is anything other than a League one trier, would have been a good signing in January 2017 on a four month contract along with Hansen.

 

[Bartleby]

I think I'd be inclined to trust Wilder's judgement. It was hardly a panic signing, given how long he tracked him for.

Exactly - given Wilder's been after him for ages, to slag him off so quickly after coming in is to slag off Wilder IMHO.

 

[JOEYDEE]

Don't think we've seen enough of the four jan signings to really make any judgement.
No wonder two of them were shite tonight,when the rest of the team developed amnesia of how to play football tonight.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

You generally need at least two players for each position. Duffy and Holmes compete for the attack mid role while Fleck, Evans, Lundstram and Leonard compete for the two centre mid roles. This has been explained so often that it’s getting boring.

You do know Coutts will come back don't you?

Also your argument for 2 each position strengthens my criticism of the Holmes signing...because you also conveniently forgot about Brooks.

 

[JayGreen17]

He has just stepped up from League 1, might need a little bit of time to adapt to be fair.

Exactly why he shouldn't be starting, and should be brought on and eased into the team.

If he was brought here to make an impact and improve the squad then I'm failing to see where.

 

[Keen Blade]

Exactly, wasn't hard either. Worried about him, makes Basham look like Platini on that showing.

Steady on mate.
Chris "football brain" Basham ?
The player who , every time he finds himself in the opposition half , makes the wrong decision with the ball or just can't make a decision and so gives it back them ?

 

[LJBlade]

You do know Coutts will come back don't you?

Also your argument for 2 each position strengthens my criticism of the Holmes signing...because you also conveniently forgot about Brooks.

Brooks has been playing as a striker for us.

Will Coutts come back? When is that going to be? Will he be the same player he was before his injury?

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Come onon, FFS - We shouldn't even be feeling the need to write "let's not write him off just yet".

 

[Rootshallbloke]

I was starting to feel optimistic for Lenny's future when I read this: https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/welcome-ryan-leonard.62465/page-2#post-1619610.

Now I've read this thread and I'm lost all reason to live, how could it all go so wrong in the space of two threads? Wilder out and Lenny sent back to Southend in disgrace I say. (no money back unfortunately).

Alternatively, Len is just going to have to press on and play through his current form. I'm not sure what position Wilder was looking for him to fit into, but I don't think he's found it yet. I know he's only an ex third division player but so were you chaps last season so give him time, he will come good.

 

[Rodley]

He hasn’t. You’re jumping on the bandwagon. Don’t worry though, it’s not unexpected.

Incidentally can you remember how bad Coutts was when he first played for us? Do you understand the concept of players needing time to ‘bed in’?

Agreed. He just needs to improve his passing. His work rate and athleticism is there.

 

[sitwell]

Its a fucking disgrace the way some fans have gone off about the new players ,especially some who are respected and should know better. Leonard has had 2 starts ,Evans a couple more ,yet its their fault ,as it was Wilsons previously ,not the 9 experienced team mates ,not the defenders who keep whacking it over their heads ,not the wing backs who kept losing the ball ,not the forwards who did fuck all ,not the main midfielder who had a mare ,no its the 2 new guys ,why would anyone want to come here with some fans like ours. Get a fucking grip.

 

[Kempy]

Interesting you say there is clear evidence? Where? He has been very poor so far. What he did at Southend does not matter now. He is playing a league higher and other than one tackle and run where he had a shot deflected over he has looked badly out of his depth in 4 or 5 games I have seen. That is not scapegoating; just honest assessment of what I have
Hopefully with a proper pre season and time to adjust he can still make an impact but looks what he was...a player playing for a lower League One side.

As with others though every faith Wilder can get best out of him.

Cant disagree that he’s been poor so far but i don’t think we can make an opinion based on the time he’s had on the pitch so far. It’s hardly as if he’s played 4-5 full games from the start and even if he had, I’d still say it’s too early.

Discounting what he did at Southend is a bit ridiculous. If you’re going to take that basis and judge a player after 4-5 half appearances then pretty much every one of wilder’s signings would be judged ‘out of his depth’. It would also mean we discount any players potential based on previous performances.. how would anyone have a clue who to sign if that was the case?

Can’t defend what he’s done on the pitch as of yet because it’s not enough for him to warrant a starting place (I think Wilder made the wrong call starting him yesterday). However, I never expect a player from lower leagues to walk straight into the team, the exception to that being Lee Evans who I think has been excellent in making such a quick step up. Now, if we were signing proven championship players or prem players then I would expect them to already be there and ready to go. However, we’re not in that situation financially and have to take what we can get.

I do however see glimpses of player who wants to go forward and likes a shot. He’s powerful, likes a tackle and I don’t think he lacks pace either, although, his lack of fitness doesn’t help show this (by fitness I mean the fitness standards our lads have to meet for our set up and formation to work).

There’s potential there otherwise wilder wouldn’t have chased him for the best part of a year and I think what we are seeing at the moment is a player who is yet to get up to speed with fitness and potentially being played out of position? I believed he’d come in to push fleck not to sit in the duffy/Holmes creative role away from home.

I feel you hit the nail on the head in the second part of your reply. Let’s give him a pre-season and chance to get interrgrated before we fob him off too early. 4-5 half appearances is far too early.

 

[GrayBlade]

I think we’re being a bit hard on the lad.

It’s got to be hard to adjust to the quality in the Championship mid-season playing in front of big crowds when you’ve spent the last half decade playing in front of 2 or 3 thousand in league one on the south coast especially mid-season. It could easily have been a different story if he’d signed in the summer and had a full preseason with us but either way, he wasn’t on his own last night in playing poor and let’s not forget the other players we’ve written off that came good having been given far more game time then the handful of hours he’s had.

We should cut him some slack, confidence is key.

 

[Squire72]

Definitely, should have played Baldock in twice first half

Are you sure Baldock got forward first half because the expert commentator Mr Lee 5 year contract Hendrie said when he got forward in the second half that was the first time