CONFIRMED Ryan Leonard

[Booker4]

It's all getting a bit silly now, taking the piss out of someone for their wig or hairstyle come on blades I thought we were better than that.
After all he's just trying to do the best for his club.

Just a thought maybe that's why McCabe accepts the 1st offer on our players because he's afraid of being ridiculed on forums by other fans.

Anyway I'm of now for my daily dose of Syrup of Figs.

I agree despite my previous post. It's just banter though to be fair, I'm sure he can take it, he is the chairman of a football club and I have also said that I respect him for trying to do what is best for his club. Fair play there and I'm sure in the end Leonard will move on for a fee that suits both parties and their Chairman can then say they did their best to keep him, which in fairness is true.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Meanwhile, in other rug news:

You know that moment when you're competing in the long lump, land in the sand and then your hairpiece falls out...
No? Well Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor does. All seemed perfectly normal as the Olympic silver medalist from Beijing 2008 was making her way down the runway for her first effort of the Oslo Diamond League on Thursday evening.
She made sure she was behind the board, landed nicely and then... her wig fell off. Not one to show what must have been considerable embarrassment at the unfortunate incident, the Nigerian simply waited for her mark to be measured (6.21m) before picking up the hairpiece and proceeding to slip it back into place. (Telegraph, 16/6)

Is it really too much to ask sporting celebrities and impresarios to take a bit more care with their rugs ?

Heartily offended of Sheffield S8.

 

[Pinchy]

I agree despite my previous post. It's just banter though to be fair, I'm sure he can take it, he is the chairman of a football club and I have also said that I respect him for trying to do what is best for his club. Fair play there and I'm sure in the end Leonard will move on for a fee that suits both parties and their Chairman can then say they did their best to keep him, which in fairness is true.

The Southend fan came on eulogising RugRon as some sort of internationally renowned hard-nosed negotiator who doesn't give an inch and with whom you don't mess.

I'm pointing out, in that context, that his appearance, with that ludicrous wig conspicuously fighting a winning battle with his scalp, would more likely produce raucous laughter than fear and trembling in those who face him across the bargaining table.

 

[I should coco]

He is, however, bald as a fucking coot and no amount of wishing will change that.

The guy's bald. It's a rug. An embarrassing rug. Sorry if that spoils his Herculean image, but rug it is.

I'm not quite sure what you are saying here and do you think he may have hair loss issues? Could you just make the point a bit clearer.

I carry this forum sometimes, but do I get any credit?...

What an ungrateful bunch of cap doffing hoofers we are. It must be so hard for you to move amongst us.

Only in S2 eh?

 

[Rootshallbloke]

The Southend fan came on eulogising RugRon as some sort of internationally renowned hard-nosed negotiator who doesn't give an inch and with whom you don't mess.

I'm pointing out, in that context, that his appearance, with that ludicrous wig conspicuously fighting a winning battle with his scalp, would more likely produce raucous laughter than fear and trembling in those who face him across the bargaining table.

And still you haven't signed Lenny yet, and the longer it goes on the less chance there is of it happening soon. Yeah, I know, I must stop eulogising (good word by the way). I reckon he's off to Norwich when they realise they want him. They are more empathic to Chairmen of other football clubs regardless of their disabilities.

 

[BushBlade]

And still you haven't signed Lenny yet, and the longer it goes on the less chance there is of it happening soon. Yeah, I know, I must stop eulogising (good word by the way). I reckon he's off to Norwich when they realise they want him. They are more empathic to Chairmen of other football clubs regardless of their disabilities.

I can get a blue badge coz I'm bald?

 

[Rootshallbloke]

I can get a blue badge coz I'm bald?

Depends how you lost it I suppose. maybe if you have been exposed to nuclear fall-out recently that might do it.

 

[Esablade]

So.....have we had the rug pulled from under us on this one?

 

[Th!stledo]

I can get a blue badge coz I'm bald?

Wouldn't you prefer a nice woolly hat for the winter?

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Right.

Wilder has set his price. That's it.
If Southend, or anybody else thinks that's derisory, then fine. Find another club who will pay more. But what I will also say is, the fact this is dragging on somewhat suggests....
1. that there doesn't appear to be anybody else prepared to pay what they want
OR
2. The player has been up here, and decided he wants to come here. Whether that's in August, January or next season he doesn't care.

So Southend are in a difficult place either way. They either begrudgingly take the money now or risk getting nothing on the hope they could go up and perhaps compete with us.
Their chairman needs to sit down and settle the matter once and for all. Going to the press, and coming over all stubborn and determined may win over a few fans of his club, but ultimately might harm his team. He needs to start some friendly negotiations with us and look at seeing what else could be on offer.

Do we have a youth player that's good enough to fill a squad place?
A promotion clause fee?
Sell on percentage that is higher than usual? There are loads of options, but it needs to be proper negotiations. Not going to the press to stir things up.


As for the other issue....the old Barnet.
For what it's worth, that's not a rug. He's receded back mid head and grown his hair longer. If it was, why would he only have it covering half his head?
It does need cutting short though, and come to terms with it. It's like my mate who has an island and refuses to shave it off....looks daft but he won't be told.

Got to disagree here I'm afraid.

He's doing exactly what is best for Southend. Either we stump up the cash they want or they keep a valuable asset for another season. They don't have to sell him to us.

They hold out until their asking price has been met - if we are unwilling to pay it they have probably found someone in Norwich who will.

Fair enough he might not be the number one target and wilder might have a set price he won't go over - if so we move on.

However, a derisory offer of say 350k trying to steal a player (which might occasionally work) has probably done nothing more than alert Norwich - who will take him if they fancy. Speculation but for say an extra 2-300k we could probably have had the deal wrapped up already before anyone else got a sniff.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Got to disagree here I'm afraid.

He's doing exactly what is best for Southend. Either we stump up the cash they want or they keep a valuable asset for another season. They don't have to sell him to us.

They hold out until their asking price has been met - if we are unwilling to pay it they have probably found someone in Norwich who will.

Fair enough he might not be the number one target and wilder might have a set price he won't go over - if so we move on.

However, a derisory offer of say 350k trying to steal a player (which might occasionally work) has probably done nothing more than alert Norwich - who will take him if they fancy. Speculation but for say an extra 2-300k we could probably have had the deal wrapped up already before anyone else got a sniff.

Fine with me. I know quite well they don't have to sell, and could keep him for a season Because I said that in my post. But for a club in their position and income I doubt they can afford to throw money away. Which is the risk they take. That's up to their chairman.

Are Norwich prepared to pay considerably more? Are they happy to be a charity and pay more when they don't have to? Were they really only suddenly aware of this player because we bid? Answer to all is NO.
I am not aware of one single club that would pay way over the odds if they don't need to, and we have been victim of this at times....so it's dog eat dog. That business, and that's football.

As for this specific player, what is so good about him that justifies us paying more for him than we did Carruthers? Or O'Connell? Are we really "stealing" a player? Are we bollocks.
Southend clearly value him higher, but as is often said he is only worth what someone will pay. At the moment, I don't believe that any other club has bothered to bid. There's report of interest....but that could be bollocks from Southen, his agent or both in an attempt to push the fee up.
Perhaps those other clubs value him at less and don't want to compete with us!
Perhaps the player has stated he will only go to Sheffield United after hearing of which other clubs might be interested, or has a desire to work for the manager.

I certainly back my manager. He's decided he's worth "x" to our club. He has our clubs interests at heart not Southends. It's this exact sort of panic and sillyness over the last years in the championship and then league one that led to our demise. Caving in to player demands, paying way over the odds for average for a quick fix rather than doing a proper job of researching and knowing your players and their contractual situations.
Simples for me.

 

[sheffielder]

And still you haven't signed Lenny yet, and the longer it goes on the less chance there is of it happening soon. Yeah, I know, I must stop eulogising (good word by the way). I reckon he's off to Norwich when they realise they want him. They are more empathic to Chairmen of other football clubs regardless of their disabilities.

Can I just apologise on the Blades behalf that you have to reply to Pinchy's drivel.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Fine with me. I know quite well they don't have to sell, and could keep him for a season Because I said that in my post. But for a club in their position and income I doubt they can afford to throw money away. Which is the risk they take. That's up to their chairman.

Are Norwich prepared to pay considerably more? Are they happy to be a charity and pay more when they don't have to? Were they really only suddenly aware of this player because we bid? Answer to all is NO.
I am not aware of one single club that would pay way over the odds if they don't need to, and we have been victim of this at times....so it's dog eat dog. That business, and that's football.

As for this specific player, what is so good about him that justifies us paying more for him than we did Carruthers? Or O'Connell? Are we really "stealing" a player? Are we bollocks.
Southend clearly value him higher, but as is often said he is only worth what someone will pay. At the moment, I don't believe that any other club has bothered to bid. There's report of interest....but that could be bollocks from Southen, his agent or both in an attempt to push the fee up.
Perhaps those other clubs value him at less and don't want to compete with us!
Perhaps the player has stated he will only go to Sheffield United after hearing of which other clubs might be interested, or has a desire to work for the manager.

I certainly back my manager. He's decided he's worth "x" to our club. He has our clubs interests at heart not Southends. It's this exact sort of panic and sillyness over the last years in the championship and then league one that led to our demise. Caving in to player demands, paying way over the odds for average for a quick fix rather than doing a proper job of researching and knowing your players and their contractual situations.
Simples for me.

Don't get me wrong I fully back wilder. And suspect he's got a more than adequate replacement in his sights if we don't pull this deal off.

I don't want us to pay over the odd for players and quite rightly we don't want to of we don't have to.

I do think this is a different as it's not an over the hill player on a huge contract - this is a young player with some decent potential we could pick up at the right time.

Think it would be a shame if we let a small difference in price cost us one of our prime targets and somone that could become a fixture for a long time in the side - especially with the unexpected bonus of Maguire moving on. We do have to pay the going rate for clubs better players - we would demand the same if someone wanted coutts or freeman in a similar contractual situation

 

[Grizzly blade]

Don't get me wrong I fully back wilder. And suspect he's got a more than adequate replacement in his sights if we don't pull this deal off.

I don't want us to pay over the odd for players and quite rightly we don't want to of we don't have to.

I do think this is a different as it's not an over the hill player on a huge contract - this is a young player with some decent potential we could pick up at the right time.

Think it would be a shame if we let a small difference in price cost us one of our prime targets and somone that could become a fixture for a long time in the side - especially with the unexpected bonus of Maguire moving on. We do have to pay the going rate for clubs better players - we would demand the same if someone wanted coutts or freeman in a similar contractual situation

But we will only lose him if someone else comes in with a bigger bid, and there is no evidence of that at the moment.
If someone does, we can reconsider our bid then. But for now, it seems there is a stand off.
We are the only bidders and have bid what we feel is a fair price. Southend want more. That's fine.
Player has said he wants to leave, thus working in our favour.

If they opt to keep him, then our offer will only go down in the next window. It's all their risk. We might not get him now, but will in the end if he's decided he wants to come to us. We can afford to wait it out as we have plenty of options there.
So he might be a player with potential....but he's no John Fleck, or Paul Coutts.

 

[Rootshallbloke]

Can I just apologise on the Blades behalf that you have to reply to Pinchy's drivel.

Thanks, but there is absolutely no need to apologise. If I go onto another message board I understand that some will give me a bit of a tweak. I was stupid enough to venture on to Millwall's board once.....that was fun.

 

[Kenilworth]

I can get a blue badge coz I'm bald?

Oh, dear.
That shatters all my illusions about the Bush

 

[Darthblade]

Don't get me wrong I fully back wilder. And suspect he's got a more than adequate replacement in his sights if we don't pull this deal off.

I don't want us to pay over the odd for players and quite rightly we don't want to of we don't have to.

I do think this is a different as it's not an over the hill player on a huge contract - this is a young player with some decent potential we could pick up at the right time.

Think it would be a shame if we let a small difference in price cost us one of our prime targets and somone that could become a fixture for a long time in the side - especially with the unexpected bonus of Maguire moving on. We do have to pay the going rate for clubs better players - we would demand the same if someone wanted coutts or freeman in a similar contractual situation

I agree with everything you've said mate .... upto the last bit, where you say "we would demand the same if someone wanted coutts or freeman in a similar contractual situation".

History would suggest otherwise with our Board over the decades ....... we usually bend over and drop our shorts at the first sniff of money

UTB & FTP

 

[finlaytheblade]

I agree with everything you've said mate .... upto the last bit, where you say "we would demand the same if someone wanted coutts or freeman in a similar contractual situation".

History would suggest otherwise with our Board over the decades ....... we usually bend over and drop our shorts at the first sniff of money

UTB & FTP

Since the bosman rules kicked in contracts have become a joke in some respects ( not all they are good for players and clubs up-to 24) .Renaldo has a 5 year contract at Madrid but wants to leave will he get his wish ? Yes if he means. it,

 

[finlaytheblade]

Since the bosman rules kicked in contracts have become a joke in some respects ( not all they are good for players and clubs up-to 24) .Renaldo has a 5 year contract at Madrid but wants to leave will he get his wish ? Yes if he means. it,

We have a policy of letting players go if they are offered a better contract by teams from a higher division ,do we want players who would rather be somewhere else ?
I follow the development teams and am always disappointed when we sell a possible future star player but what can the club do to stop it?. Increase there pay to match what's offered ! not really.to play them in the first team ! Not really ,they usually arnt ready. It's a no win situation.
Oh apart from the fee which is never going to be enough if the player makes the grade.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Any update on their Chairman's syrup ? Anyone ?

 

[Jonboy60]

Any update on their Chairman's syrup ? Anyone ?

Yep, martins on holiday, the wig is negotiating terms with Leonard.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

Yep, martins on holiday, the wig is negotiating terms with Leonard.

Hope it doesn't expect us toupee too much

 

[Boxer Blade]

Think he wants him to go to Wigan

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Yep, martins on holiday, the wig is negotiating terms with Leonard.

This is excellent news. I'm feeling much more confident now. Cheers JB. Lenny in.

 

[SteveBlade]

Hope it doesn't expect us toupee too much

I think he'll expect to recede his full valuation. Hes being quite bald, but he just doesn't want the rug pulling out from underneath him.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

I think he'll expect to recede his full valuation. Hes being quite bald, but he just doesn't want the rug pulling out from underneath him.

You're just merkin about now

 

[flashinblade1889]

Are we going to be bald enough to pull this deal off if not it will be a case of hair today gone tomorrow...........

 

[Dnblade]

Yep, martins on holiday, the wig is negotiating terms with Leonard.

Wig?...you mean the Golden Syrup.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

 

[ThroughThinAndThinner]

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