I notice that Scotland and Edwards didn't throw their dummies out but just knuckled down and as a result improved their performances! If I was Leadboots I would be too ashamed to turn down any contract offer!
I agrre, i absolutely detested Scotland last season, Overweight, slow, poor in front of goal, little composure and I basically couldnt see why we signed him. This season he looks quicker, fitter, has scored some beauties and his all round play has been very impressive. He has proved me wrong and I have no complaints in admitting this. He looks a very good player at the moment. If you want proof of a player who has turned his career round then its Scotland that should be getting the praise not Grant for 3 or 4 games of not being woeful.
I was not on the other 606 site so i don't know but was Leadbitter slated constantly then or is this slagging off a new thing???
Up until the past year, I think he was seen as Keanes best signing and when he first came to the club was quality. He was supposidly the next matt Holland. IMO I don't think he's a bad player in fact I'd say he's one of the better midfielders in this division, however it used to be his consistency which made him a decent player, unfortunately he hasn't had this recently, although I don't really think anyone in our team has. I don't think the situation at the club has helped him in the past year, what with playing with Norris in CM, whoever had to play with him had to do double the work because of his poor positioning, much like playing with Delaney a CB!! He has been played in the defensive midfield role, to allow Norris a bit more freedom, when he is clearly better a little further up the pitch. I don't think he, like many others have had the chance to really play themselves into form although admittedely he has played most games. I don't think making him captain has helped either because he's not really captain material and I think this puts the spotlight more on him and causes supporters to be critical of him more than they normally would, IMO though I don't think Jewell had much choice but to appoint him because I don't think you could straight off put a new player as a captain and the only players who have played and were likely to be the only one's in the 1st team this year are Edwards and Leadbitter. He did have some absolute shockers at the start of this season but I don't think he's a bad player and he does have age on his side unlike many of our other midfielders, I would however say that we should not pay over the odds to keep him.
I think Chuck got most of the flak on the old 606. For me Leadbitter was class when he first signed but lost his way under RK and is now starting to look better. At least we're sorting out contracts early.... WCP you should be a moderator... The first Gay mod ... Fear The Gay Beard ...
No, Our squad during the BBC 606 era had so many flaws in it that Leadbitters 'crab' inpersonations weren't anywhere near as frustrating as Keane being a total fool, Norris being energetic but nothing else, Delaney being about as much use as a condom in a nunnery (my personal subject of detest!) or our inability to defend, attack, entertain, get through a match without doing anything stupid or anything else we had to put up with back then
I have to agree really, I've always said he's a far better player than Norris and Chuck was a hinderence to him. He's never set the world alight that I will agree but When he came here people were harping on abnout how good he was, then he dipped and last season was a bit of a non starter but atleast he looked decent most of it, so this 5 decent games is pretty nonsensical as he's been decent if not great most of his time here. Maybe thats not enough? I'd personally like to keep him, at 25 he's certainly not the finished article and honestly with Bullard and Bowyer about I fancy we'll need someone a bit younger as well as numbers to cover the midfield
Bloody hell he's at best average. He's not a good player. On a good day he can spray the ball about but more often than not he has had a bad day, given the ball away often in dangerous areas. His set pieces are absolutely woeful, which tells us he doesnt work hard enough at them on the training pitch. With the quality of the others around him no doubt his confidence will have improved and he'll play better, he is capable of some good stuff. But really no-one will lose any sleep if he packs his bags.
I think alot of his perceived problems come from his past. If you sign a premier league player (not a reserve) for a couple of million quid you expect a lot more than if you sign a league 2 player for 50k. Not the players fault at all but whenever I see him I just feel 'how the hell did you make all those premier league appearances' I agree with lancs though that is deadball pieces are beyond poor. We may as well not of won any corners over the last few seasons because they all ended up wasted by him
The problem i see with Leadbitter, is that he is mediocre at best and we should be looking at better, not rewarding it! His set pieces, like Hampy said are woeful, you can't blame that on Norris! We should always look to improve, not get tied down with mediocre players on big wages and long contracts.
" Bloody hell he's at best average. He's not a good player. On a good day he can spray the ball about but more often than not he has had a bad day, given the ball away often in dangerous areas. " Completely agree. For £2.5 million we've been completely had, plus wages etc Leadbitter will have cost us approximately £5.5 million. For that sort of money, we get a midfielder who passes the ball sideways and backwards, isn't great in the air, very very little technical ability, shoots from all angles despite not being able to shoot, can't deliver a set piece and is often 10 yards of place in midfield. He certainly has very very little to offer from the defensive perspective ( check out Peterborough even before Martin's redcard ). I'd be very up for selling him in January regardless of how we're doing, and sign either Karl Henry from Millwall ( their in a mess and his value will be repidly diminishing ) or Tomkins from Peterborough. Leadbitter's performances have improved of late, theres no disputing this however unless they stay at this level AND he adds more to his game then its absolutely a no brainer to me. Sell in January.
I'm flattered but i'm afraid that its not really one of the things i need to do before i die... May i suggest if its someone with a little facial finery your after then JWM holds the answer but if its the pink point of view you need look no further than the HANGING HOG and from what i've heard he'd love to TAKE IT UP......
