CONFIRMED Ryan Leonard

[Boxer Blade]

Disagree with that if you give one player a higher way than the others it disrupts that stability and togetherness of the squad.

Know what you are saying but surely you cannot always run a club on that basis, if we had a chance of a player with a good attitude and fits right into wilders ideas, coming down from the premier league on a free transfer but his wages are 15k a week would we not want him because some of our players are spitting there dummy out? In all walks of life some people earn more, sometimes a lot more than somebody else, Liverpool players seem very together under Klopp, bet they aren't all on the same

 

[Grizzly blade]

Fleck was an absolute gift. He'd been their stand out player every time I saw Coventry. Unbelievably skilful, maybe temperamental, but just needed the right manager to take a chance on him. Luckily for us, it was our manager. Could play in the premier league at a breeze.

All day long....hands down the best midfield player at the club in my time.

Seriously, I wouldn't sell him for a penny under £10m now....and after the coming season I suspect that figure may well be going much higher than that. Has the lot.

 

[JJBlade]

Players earn different amounts at all clubs
Its only when you have players like Forestfairy that it becomes a problem

 

[Th!stledo]

Disagree with that if you give one player a higher way than the others it disrupts that stability and togetherness of the squad.

I would think that the current squad is on varying wages, depending what role they are playing in the team. But they are all fishing in the same pond. Giving silly money to the odd one or two would be the recipe for friction and conflict.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I would think that the current squad is on varying wages, depending what role they are playing in the team. But they are all fishing in the same pond. Giving silly money to the odd one or two would be the recipe for friction and conflict.

Of course this begs the question of how long can this perceived parity of wage be maintained?

If we really do have the ambition to become and remain a Premiership club there's no way we'll be able to avoid paying wages that, for some players, represent a windfall, whilst for others it means they'll receive decent but hardly spectacular money. A case in point is Crystal Palace. Apparently they're on the verge of paying their player, Zaha, a contract that pays him £100,000 per week. Both he and Benteke will, I imagine, become Palace's highest earners with Cabaye not far behind. And in a nutshell therein lies the issue that all clubs are forced to confront.

The Blades will be no different, and if you look at the interview with Wilder he's said exactly this. Of course his reference to parity refers to the moment, but as we progress, and seek to pay fees that at the moment seem incomprehensible for the club, this topic of wage parity will be long forgotten.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Disagree with that if you give one player a higher way than the others it disrupts that stability and togetherness of the squad.

That sounds like a Communist party speech!

I know where you're coming from but it's inevitable some will be on more than others - that's life! As long as you can explain it in terms of performance it's not a problem.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Of course this begs the question of how long can this perceived parity of wage be maintained?

If we really do have the ambition to become and remain a Premiership club there's no way we'll be able to avoid paying wages that, for some players, represent a windfall, whilst for others it means they'll receive decent but hardly spectacular money. A case in point is Crystal Palace. Apparently they're on the verge of paying their player, Zaha, a contract that pays him £100,000 per week. Both he and Benteke will, I imagine, become Palace's highest earners with Cabaye not far behind. And in a nutshell therein lies the issue that all clubs are forced to confront.

The Blades will be no different, and if you look at the interview with Wilder he's said exactly this. Of course his reference to parity refers to the moment, but as we progress, and seek to pay fees that at the moment seem incomprehensible for the club, this topic of wage parity will be long forgotten.

There isn't wage parity now. And it works fine. It's when you start paying £10m for strikers who darent take a penalty that it becomes a problem!

 

[itsinyerblood]

There isn't wage parity now. And it works fine. It's when you start paying £10m for strikers who darent take a penalty that it becomes a problem!

Point taken, and I think that Wilder's point was for how long can our current wage structure, where there isn't huge disparity where wages are concerned can be maintained. As Wilder's said, he'll do his best to ensure that the current team ethos is maintained, and within that how much player's are paid is a central question. Things will change, and when they do we'll have a squad far stronger than the one we currently have.

 

[mancunianblade]

Watched the Biggs interview, found it odd, Wilder was very forthright when it came to Leonard and Holmes, Which is one thing he never does, he always says he doesnt want to talk about players until they have the shirt in their hand and a signature on the contract. sounded very confident.

 

[Weasel]

I took it simply as CW putting it out there to the local press after the bids had already been leaked by the potential selling clubs to their local press.

I would imagine that both Charlton and Southend know that the players in question will probably fancy the chance to play in the championship and substantially increase their existing wages, and knowing this they will be trying to raise further interest in the players in the hope of getting a bidding war going. Utd have counteracted this by telling them that they have a price in mind for each and won't go above it. If other clubs don't come in for either of them shortly, I envisage that the initial resolve of the sellers might start to fade away and a deal might be struck.

Both Charlton and Southend are (quite correctly) trying to get the best deal they can get and CW has already mentioned this in his interview. He also stated that Utd had told them that they will move on if it doesn't happen soon. All a game of bluff and counterbluff at the moment. Personally, I can see both signing for Utd soon.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Watched the Biggs interview, found it odd, Wilder was very forthright when it came to Leonard and Holmes, Which is one thing he never does, he always says he doesnt want to talk about players until they have the shirt in their hand and a signature on the contract. sounded very confident.

I think credit to him. He was put on the spot but had the confidence to tell it as it is. He doesn't know if those deals will come off, but he didn't duck the question. Not many managers have done that.

 

[SteveBlade]

Southend fan on Wilder saying we won't be held to ransom and what not.

'I think Chris Wilder misses a rather crucial point- we don't actually want to sell him so all this "holding to ransom" nonsense is just that. If you want someone who the other club doesn't want to sell you will end up paying more than you want to. In this case RM is involved so if they don't want to meet his valuation then they can quickly move on as rubbing him up the wrong way will hasten not a lot.

Based on the mood music to date if he goes it won't be to Sheffield United.'

 

[finlaytheblade]

Southend fan on Wilder saying we won't be held to ransom and what not.

'I think Chris Wilder misses a rather crucial point- we don't actually want to sell him so all this "holding to ransom" nonsense is just that. If you want someone who the other club doesn't want to sell you will end up paying more than you want to. In this case RM is involved so if they don't want to meet his valuation then they can quickly move on as rubbing him up the wrong way will hasten not a lot.

Based on the mood music to date if he goes it won't be to Sheffield United.'

It's obvious these clubs are looking for the best deal hoping some club will come in and gazump us,if they do wilder won't go into a bidding war he has a valueasion and would walk away.
Both players are in the last year of there contracts and that sets alarm bells ringing.
It's an accepted thing today ,players who turn down a longer contract are sold as they would go on a free next season.There are only a few exceptions to this and teams in Charlton & southend are unlikely to do that and will sell. to a bidder especially if. the player wants to go.Championship football is a big incentive with the bigger. pay packet

 

[Weasel]

Southend fan on Wilder saying we won't be held to ransom and what not.

'I think Chris Wilder misses a rather crucial point- we don't actually want to sell him so all this "holding to ransom" nonsense is just that. If you want someone who the other club doesn't want to sell you will end up paying more than you want to. In this case RM is involved so if they don't want to meet his valuation then they can quickly move on as rubbing him up the wrong way will hasten not a lot.

Based on the mood music to date if he goes it won't be to Sheffield United.'

But the player and his agent might just want the move to United...and that changes the dynamics for a selling club as they don't want to have a unhappy player on their hands for a season. If the player and the agent pushes for the move, I'd be very surprised if it doesn't happen.

The player / agent might also fancy a signing on bonus.

 

[Norderner]

We wouldn't be bidding if Leonard hadn't said he fancied it. Having said that, we don't want another Mcfazdean/MK Dongs saga where we said we wanted him, the player did his bit, but the board fucked him about and he ended up at Burton with negative Nigel.

 

[Treeton Blade]

Will be signing IMO, and Joe Riley will return, all IMO of course

 

[Weasel]

Will be signing IMO, and Joe Riley will return, all IMO of course

If both come off (highly likely imo) then I think both are very smart pieces of business. Both youngish lads with loads of potential. Both decent players and will bring quality to the team and depth to the squad. Also they are both English lads with a potential high resale value. Impressive work by CW (again!) if we get these two.

I also like Ricky Holmes and would like to see Utd get that lad too, but if we had to miss out on one target, I would rather it be him than these two lads.

 

[Teddy]

If both come off (highly likely imo) then I think both are very smart pieces of business. Both youngish lads with loads of potential. Both decent players and will bring quality to the team and depth to the squad. Also they are both English lads with a potential high resale value. Impressive work by CW (again!) if we get these two.

I also like Ricky Holmes and would like to see Utd get that lad too, but if we had to miss out on one target, I would rather it be him than these two lads.

Wouldn't Riley just be on another loan? Highly rated at Man U I seem to recall. Would be happy with that, but we wouldn't get the benefit of any increased value.

 

[Stretch]

Will be signing IMO, and Joe Riley will return, all IMO of course

You normally call things right where transfers are involved. So it's all good as far as I am concerned.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Will be signing IMO, and Joe Riley will return, all IMO of course

You do seem to know your stuff.
Your not Clayx from Bladesmad are you ? he seemed to know his stuff.
Have you moved house.

 

[Ricky]

Will be signing IMO, and Joe Riley will return, all IMO of course

Do you think Maddison or Mendez-Laing are possible/likely?

 

[EddieColquhoun]

You do seem to know your stuff.
Your not Clayx from Bladesmad are you ? he seemed to know his stuff.
Have you moved house.

That's an insult to Treeton.

Clayx constantly claimed we were signing Chessie players, such as Tommy Lee, Jimmy Ryan in a Higdon swap deal, Sammy Morsey etc.

 

[SteveBlade]

What was the person called on BladesMad who got transfers 100% right a few days before they were announced?

I feel like his name was pool or snooker related, or maybe that's completely off.

 

[metty]

You're thinking of Willy Pottheredandscrewback

 

[Weasel]

Wouldn't Riley just be on another loan? Highly rated at Man U I seem to recall. Would be happy with that, but we wouldn't get the benefit of any increased value.

Good point re Riley. Yes I would imagine it will be a season long loan if it happens.

That said, I also believe that if he proves to be a good player tgen there is every likelihood that he will become available to us as the vast majority of Man Utd youngsters do get sold on as they aren't quite deemed good enough to play for Man Utds first team. If we have had him before this happens, have made a good impression on each other, and are still in the championship (at least) then we might be able to profit and pick up a really good talent for a decent fee. Let's be right Man Utd have countless youngsters who come through but don't get a chance there. Got to fancy our chances of getting the lad eventually on a permanent if he proves himself.

 

[Jonboy60]

Nah, she's an Essex girl mate, not too keen to rock climb in stilettos .

I live on Canvey, she can travel up with me every home game to save her petrol money.

 

[Gin&Juice]

Good point re Riley. Yes I would imagine it will be a season long loan if it happens.

That said, I also believe that if he proves to be a good player tgen there is every likelihood that he will become available to us as the vast majority of Man Utd youngsters do get sold on as they aren't quite deemed good enough to play for Man Utds first team. If we have had him before this happens, have made a good impression on each other, and are still in the championship (at least) then we might be able to profit and pick up a really good talent for a decent fee. Let's be right Man Utd have countless youngsters who come through but don't get a chance there. Got to fancy our chances of getting the lad eventually on a permanent if he proves himself.

A lot of the big clubs sell off their youth players who they feel probably aren't ready as of yet, but they have high % sell on clauses attached, or they are allowed to have first dibs if the player is a success. It happened with Ravel Morrison when he went to West Ham. So I wouldn't be surprised to see that be the case, but I think a loan is more realistic.

 

[Jonboy60]

Know what you are saying but surely you cannot always run a club on that basis, if we had a chance of a player with a good attitude and fits right into wilders ideas, coming down from the premier league on a free transfer but his wages are 15k a week would we not want him because some of our players are spitting there dummy out? In all walks of life some people earn more, sometimes a lot more than somebody else, Liverpool players seem very together under Klopp, bet they aren't all on the same

They should all receive the same basic, but at the end of the season bonuses paid, based on appearances assists, goals etc. That way the better players get there rewards, and is an incentive for the rest of them to perform.

 

[mancunianblade]

I think credit to him. He was put on the spot but had the confidence to tell it as it is. He doesn't know if those deals will come off, but he didn't duck the question. Not many managers have done that.

I think he must be pretty confident of getting them over the line to say it. Firstly its embarrassing if we then miss out and secondly I've listened to probably all of the Radio Sheffield Interviews conducted with Wilder within the transfer windows since he took over and every single one they put him on the spot and throw names at him and he always laughs it off and says he won't comment on others teams players. Unless the camera being on him changes his reaction. not knocking it mind, was good to see the "we are Sheffield United we want these lads and we want them on our terms" mentality in action

 

[Dnblade]

I think Leonard would be a good signing from what little I've seen ..a box to box goalscoring midfielder,and strikes me as being very similar to our own Ben Whiteman,but 4 years older and slightly more experienced...Maybe we could send BW the other way to Southend on a season long loan...I say loan as I'd like to hang on to the lad.