CONFIRMED Ryan Leonard

[1danewhitehouse]

The fee Southend are asking is more like double that.

That is the sticking point, a player playing in League One, in the last year of his contract, is not going to fetch that sort of money.

The player wants out, Utd trying to find a way for Southend to accept whats on offer (sell on/appearances etc)

Millwall very much in the race too though.

Don`t think this will drag on much longer.

Harry Maguire fetched significantly more than that whilst in the last year of his contract in League 1 and it still was nowhere near enough. That said, I suspect Leonard hasn’t the same potential or ability as Maguire.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

If that's the case walk away.
This lad isn't worth 700k in his final year. End of. I don't care what Southend want, they won't get that, we can wait until he's in his last 6 months, then go back with an offer of 180k.
We bought OConnell in for less than that, and Moore. They were championship players then.

But they were deemed surplus to requirements by the clubs we bought them from. If you’re taking a team’s best player, they are obviously going to want more for him because he is worth more to them.

 

[sheffielder]

I think we'll pass on Leon, we've had him here before. What striker is it we're now missing?

hasn't Ranger got his porridge bowl out?

 

[Rootshallbloke]

hasn't Ranger got his porridge bowl out?

Ah, now I understand, thanks. Nile is indeed doing 8 months for being a complete slug, but the club have decided to stand by him. He should be out before too much longer and then it's a question of getting him fit again. I reckon he'll be back training before the end of September. Although I have no time for his gangsta antics he has really tried to behave and on the pitch he is a beast of a player that I love watching.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Ah, now I understand, thanks. Nile is indeed doing 8 months for being a complete slug, but the club have decided to stand by him. He should be out before too much longer and then it's a question of getting him fit again. I reckon he'll be back training before the end of September. Although I have no time for his gangsta antics he has really tried to behave and on the pitch he is a beast of a player that I love watching.

We have our own 'silly boy' in Mr Evans, so should anyone get on their high horse fella...

It goes with the territory I fear, especially these days. Young men, very little mentoring or guidance, and in the main they'd probably reject what was offered. Hope your pillock sorts himself out at last, just as I hope our acquisition of Evans gives us a decent approximation of the player he last was with us.

 

[Booker4]

We tend to wait until the first game of the season before we unveil our master stroke newcomers! but you're assessment is probably pretty accurate, but we do continue to piss off other clubs who think we are easy meat. We will be hard to beat next year and with 2/3 quality recruits we will be sniffing the play-offs. Lenny will still come to you providing you meet the price. I really would hate it if he went to that mob south of the river.

I don't want to come across as arrogant mate and to be fair although League One has been frustrating at times, we've also had some really good memories, although many were last season! Clubs like Southend are the life blood of the game (not meaning to be patronising when I say that) and I have so much respect for fans of clubs in League One and Two that I didn't so much before, because we'd not been down here to know, other than when I was a kid.

I think its totally fair, as I've said on here before that Southend get the price for their star asset that they feel represents true value and for what its worth, or he's worth, I think £300,000 sounds too low. I hope, if he doesn't move to us or anywhere, that he does well for Southend. He sounds like a top pro, which is great to hear, because so many throw the toys out of the pram and put in a transfer request and I'm pleased to see he hasn't done that.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

The fact that he`s still at Southend, in spite of other teams besides us wanting him (if indeed that is the case), suggests to me that it is them over-valuing him, rather than us under-valuing him.

 

[spongebobblade]

No. Proper football involves pass and move, not hoof and hope.

Says who? I thought you said proper football was winning football? Wilder plays football that's by far the easiest on the eye but let's not pretend that those who enjoyed the Bassett years (for success and excitement) prefer that style or are in some way thick and don't know they're football. It worked well for us but we've moved on now. Maybe you should?

 

[Rootshallbloke]

The fact that he`s still at Southend, in spite of other teams besides us wanting him (if indeed that is the case), suggests to me that it is them over-valuing him, rather than us under-valuing him.

If/when he joins you we will all know what his value is, to you and to us if the deal is successfully done. It's pretty much nailed on that Millwall are still in the chase and have also bid £300k.

 

[The Crab]

The fact that he`s still at Southend, in spite of other teams besides us wanting him (if indeed that is the case), suggests to me that it is them over-valuing him, rather than us under-valuing him.

I think it's a little from Column A and a little from Column B. Southend want the best price for him, as is their right. I think they know nobody will go that far, just a question of us finding a figure that makes them think it's a good deal. I just hope we aren't wasting too much time and have other options.

 

[sheffielder]

Says who? I thought you said proper football was winning football? Wilder plays football that's by far the easiest on the eye but let's not pretend that those who enjoyed the Bassett years (for success and excitement) prefer that style or are in some way thick and don't know they're football. It worked well for us but we've moved on now. Maybe you should?

It's strange isn't it. Wilder used to lump EEL up top to try and get late goals and get the ball in the box. In January he bought Hanson so he could indeed be more effective in winning the aerial battle up top. Call me a football love if you like, but you don't see Barcelona doing stuff like that. tsk! But this is coming from Pinchy who wondered why Wilder would be interested in someone like Fleck, who he didn't rate at all.

 

[Teddy]

It's strange isn't it. Wilder used to lump EEL up top to try and get late goals and get the ball in the box. In January he bought Hanson so he could indeed be more effective in winning the aerial battle up top. Call me a football love if you like, but you don't see Barcelona doing stuff like that. tsk! But this is coming from Pinchy who wondered why Wilder would be interested in someone like Fleck, who he didn't rate at all.

You're a football love!

 

[BushBlade]

It's strange isn't it. Wilder used to lump EEL up top to try and get late goals and get the ball in the box. In January he bought Hanson so he could indeed be more effective in winning the aerial battle up top. Call me a football love if you like, but you don't see Barcelona doing stuff like that. tsk! But this is coming from Pinchy who wondered why Wilder would be interested in someone like Fleck, who he didn't rate at all.

The PL was won the season before last by a team that wasn't able to score a goal by playing it out from the back. They were barely able to even create an opportunity by passing the ball from the defence through midfield or retain the ball for more than a few passes. Just saying.

 

[sheffielder]

The PL was won the season before last by a team that wasn't able to score a goal by playing it out from the back. They were barely able to even create an opportunity by passing the ball from the defence through midfield or retain the ball for more than a few passes. Just saying.

Thanks for cementing the point

 

[Blade58]

Could it be that because Ben Whiteman has been allowed to sign on loan for Donny today, that we have another midfielder in the bag?

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Could it be that because Ben Whiteman has been allowed to sign on loan for Donny today, that we have another midfielder in the bag?

No. But yes. I mean, it could be, but isn't. And the reason why it isn't is because Whiteman isn't a first team player. So there's no hole in the first team by him going out on loan. It was always intended for him to go out on loan, same with Brooks. Neither of their departures signal that we have another midfielder in the bag.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Unless I've misjudged a lot of people and they're all highly experienced football administrators with knowledge of negotiating transfers and contracts, how about just letting the club get on with it?

Words we might only have spoken, in much of the last ten years, with a heavy dose of irony or while hiding behind the settee covering our eyes.

The world may be going to shit, but thank goodness for changing, progressive times at Sheffield United.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I don't want to come across as arrogant mate and to be fair although League One has been frustrating at times, we've also had some really good memories, although many were last season! Clubs like Southend are the life blood of the game (not meaning to be patronising when I say that) and I have so much respect for fans of clubs in League One and Two that I didn't so much before, because we'd not been down here to know, other than when I was a kid.

I think its totally fair, as I've said on here before that Southend get the price for their star asset that they feel represents true value and for what its worth, or he's worth, I think £300,000 sounds too low. I hope, if he doesn't move to us or anywhere, that he does well for Southend. He sounds like a top pro, which is great to hear, because so many throw the toys out of the pram and put in a transfer request and I'm pleased to see he hasn't done that.

I think the bottom line is, if we offered more then we'd probably force their hand. How much more I really don't know. If he's a Championship quality player then £500k wouldn't be unreasonable imo.

Southend will be aware that if they keep him there until next summer, given that he's said he wants to leave, he could walk away for nothing. So they've got to weigh up both those things. The main reason why they should be concerned about keeping him is that he's said he wants to go. If a player feels like that then it's not usually a good idea to stand in their way.

He may not have handed in a transfer request, but I suppose being cynical I don't think that amounts to much. If he did hand in a transfer request he would lose out financially on any deal. So I think he's playing it smart. He's said he wants to leave and maybe he's hoping that Southend will do a deal without him needing to disadvantage himself financially by putting the transfer request in?

 

[Pinchy]

Says who? I thought you said proper football was winning football? Wilder plays football that's by far the easiest on the eye but let's not pretend that those who enjoyed the Bassett years (for success and excitement) prefer that style or are in some way thick and don't know they're football. It worked well for us but we've moved on now. Maybe you should?

You think it might involve hoof and hope? How you doing Morgs?

 

[Pinchy]

Exactly.

Wilder must rate him highly to still be interested, but that only goes so far.
Won`t hand around much after training resumes (Mon)

At around that time "Lenny" will raise the temperature at his end...

 

[Pinchy]

Sorry didn't see your post! I think the big problem is for Southend is that, with all due respect, I don't see you mounting a successful play off big, let alone the top two. With Blackburn, Wigan and Charlton all in the mix as well as Bradford I think Leonard knows that you will be outsiders to go up and he will just be playing out a campaign. That said, we need to match the valuation Southend want if we really want him.

Really? We should pay whatever they want? I think we should pay what Tufty thinks he's worth. Do you really think RugRon won't accept less than what they're presently asking for? Don't be taken in by the Southend fan's bluster. He wears a rug so he ain't no hard-nosed negotiator; more comedy value.

On a more serious note, Lenny has made his position clear - he wants to go. There is only a fag paper between that and a transfer request. Watch this space for Lenny upping the ante and RugRon upping his hairline but lowering his expectations.

Lenny won't be at Southend come August.

 

[wizadry]

But they were deemed surplus to requirements by the clubs we bought them from. If you’re taking a team’s best player, they are obviously going to want more for him because he is worth more to them.

I can't believe I'm the only person upto now to like this.

Some people are in cloud cuckoo land if they think someone's best player in league one is only worth £350k

Even we have always got a lot more than that when selling all our best players over recent years from League one.

We paid £750k for Matty Done from a smaller club than Southend to play in League one and that is roughly the fee I think Southend would want for Leonard especially to be plying his trade at a Championship club. I don't think Wilder will bid that much for him which if so it then begs the question does he see him sufficient enough to play a big role in the Championship? The bid seems to think he will be a bit part player at best so we should move on because we don't need bit part players, we need amother midfield enforcer.

All this is guess work but when you weigh up what some players go for £750k is the least Southend should want.

 

[Pinchy]

Thanks for cementing the point

Except of course that it's nonsense - Mahrez the hoofer, eh?

Leicester weren't Barca but they didn't launch aimless punts; Bassett did. Their keeper did not march to the halfway line and scare low-flying aircraft; Bassett's did.

The only comparison is a disingenuous one proffered by those who seek to turn Bassett's base metal into gold.

If you Hoof, just say so. It's ugly; it's grotesque but it's your absolute prerogative. Be proud of your Hoofy heritage. Out of the closet and down to the park with you...

 

[yorkshirecoast]

It appears that Wilder wants Leonard but our tinpot owners won't pay what he is worth. All this shite about only paying what we think a player is worth is meaningless when our valuations are so low. I wouldn't mind but we are hardly talking big money.

So much for the Board stepping things up once we got to the Championship. We are competing against clubs - many of them smaller than us - who are willing to spend millions yet we balk at a few hundred thousand.

 

[BushBlade]

Except of course that it's nonsense - Mahrez the hoofer, eh?

Leicester weren't Barca but they didn't launch aimless punts; Bassett did. Their keeper did not march to the halfway line and scare low-flying aircraft; Bassett's did.

The only comparison is a disingenuous one proffered by those who seek to turn Bassett's base metal into gold.

If you Hoof, just say so. It's ugly; it's grotesque but it's your absolute prerogative. Be proud of your Hoofy heritage. Out of the closet and down to the park with you...

You seem to have missed my point. I'm not making any kind of comparison with Bassett's side, I'm simply saying Leicester won the league by playing a very unattractive style of play that isn't, in my opinion, 'proper football'.

And their two central defenders were Morgan and Huth. One with the ball playing skills of his namesake and the other whose name sounds like 'Hoof' and couldn't be more appropriately named.

They weren't good. Effective but it wasn't proper football, even if it was winning football.

 

[Ron_Justice]

It appears that Wilder wants Leonard but our tinpot owners won't pay what he is worth. All this shite about only paying what we think a player is worth is meaningless when our valuations are so low. I wouldn't mind but we are hardly talking big money.

So much for the Board stepping things up once we got to the Championship. We are competing against clubs - many of them smaller than us - who are willing to spend millions yet we balk at a few hundred thousand.

There's nothing to say the club won't splash the cash on the right player though. Just that this time, there's a valuation in mind and that's that.

 

[Pinchy]

You seem to have missed my point. I'm not making any kind of comparison with Bassett's side, I'm simply saying Leicester won the league by playing a very unattractive style of play that isn't, in my opinion, 'proper football'.

And their two central defenders were Morgan and Huth. One with the ball playing skills of his namesake and the other whose name sounds like 'Hoof' and couldn't be more appropriately named.

They weren't good. Effective but it wasn't proper football, even if it was winning football.

Even if that be accepted, it's a grain of sand to the Sahara compared to the number of trophies won by teams who do play proper football. The Leicester argument, which I've heard before of course, doesn't run very far, wouldn't you accept?

 

[Rootshallbloke]

Really? We should pay whatever they want? I think we should pay what Tufty thinks he's worth. Do you really think RugRon won't accept less than what they're presently asking for? Don't be taken in by the Southend fan's bluster. He wears a rug so he ain't no hard-nosed negotiator; more comedy value.

On a more serious note, Lenny has made his position clear - he wants to go. There is only a fag paper between that and a transfer request. Watch this space for Lenny upping the ante and RugRon upping his hairline but lowering his expectations.

Lenny won't be at Southend come August.

I shouldn't, but I can't resist it. What bluster have I offered up on here that makes you feel the need to refer to it in the same breath as you repeating your bluster about Ron Martin? I'll try not to insult your intelligence by offering you up a definition of the word. If you're struggling to find a correct meaning, let me know and I'll post a link.

 

[Booker4]

Really? We should pay whatever they want? I think we should pay what Tufty thinks he's worth. Do you really think RugRon won't accept less than what they're presently asking for? Don't be taken in by the Southend fan's bluster. He wears a rug so he ain't no hard-nosed negotiator; more comedy value.

On a more serious note, Lenny has made his position clear - he wants to go. There is only a fag paper between that and a transfer request. Watch this space for Lenny upping the ante and RugRon upping his hairline but lowering his expectations.

Lenny won't be at Southend come August.

From our point of view, we only want to offer what we think he's worth. I'm just saying that Southend are entitled to want more than what we've offered.

 

[Grizzly blade]

But they were deemed surplus to requirements by the clubs we bought them from. If you’re taking a team’s best player, they are obviously going to want more for him because he is worth more to them.

If o Connell and Moore were at Southend, they would still be the same player with the same ability, and probably their best players too
This is where Wilder has it right. He's looking at their actual value and ability stand alone, We don't care he's important to southend. he has a year left there, hasn't attracted loads of interest elsewhere, and is worth "X" according to our manager.
They can go out and search for a replacement the same way we are. A player they can get for peanuts relative to them from non league or league 2, and hope he's good enough to make the step up. This lad is a gamble to us just the same. We are trusting a mans judgement as much as anything.