I'm old enough to remember Billy playing for the reserves when he was seventeen, he was at that time being used as a winger, his control and distribution was exceptional and it was clear this boy was going to be special. When Billy came in to the first team Leeds signed Bobby Collins from Everton and they linked up to become the engine room of Don Reive's first great team, eventually Johnny Giles replaced Bobby and as they say the rest is history. Now I'm not saying this lad is as good as Billy was but they play in a similar style, if we could find a Bobby Collins figure to link up him we might just have the start, all great teams going back as far as you want have had two midfield generals, he needs a possibly older and wiser partner to lean on, at the moment Brown doesn't fit that role, instead he needs someone to help take a share of the workload and give hom more freedom to express his talent. Billy didn't settle in straight away he was youger than Adam and got home sick, at one time I think Don considered selling him to one of the Glasgow teams I don't remember which one, but he found him a home from home type on family in Leeds to look after him, that happened to lots of young players in the "Reive Years". Anyway thanks for reading the thoughts of an "Old Codger" mabe you have other thoughts on young Adam.
I only saw the tail end of billys career.. So tough one to call but I wish I would have seen m in his prime. He reminds me a little of batty... A real snapper but he has a extra edge to his game.. He can attack A bit early for comparisons but I think he has come on allot since I first saw him..... I think he will become a favourite at ER
Only saw Bremner a few times so like Spanish, can't really compare. It is very early days for Clayton, so let's not get carried away. He's ws piss poor when he first came to us and has returned a new player, who has shown the committment, technical ability, desire and leadership on the field, which most of us would never have thought possible early last season. If the las keeps this up, he will be a Leeds United hero and as I have already said in another post, I'd make him club captain (long term).
I too saw lots of Billy in his day unfortunately for me, it was all on match of the day. The idea of travelling from Ireland in those days was beyond the means of most. The crap part of todays football Pepe is if clayton turns out to be half as good, he wont be with us. Footie has changes immeasureably for the worse. If BRemner and Giles had been around now under Bates, theyd be playing for scum or chelsea and we'd have received peanuts for them. I long for the day when sky go broke and the red carpet is pulled from under the premiership. So i suppose my wish would be to see an Adam Clayton, half as good as Billy, still with us in five years
One to think about at the end of the season. But at the moment, his performance so far justifies SG's decision to send him out on loan last season. Long term, he could be one of our best signings for a long time. But time will tell. Would like to see him in a 442 alongside Howson. Could & should be the way ahead
Leeds need to sign Clayton to a five-year deal now if they can...chances are this won't happen though. This kid has bags of ability and will become a Prem player for sure. I really like his attitude so far, gets stuck in and can pass the ball as well, and as has been noted above, knows how to join an attack. I guess it will depend on Grayson and whether the youngster stays in the team or not....that will be the making or breaking of him. Nunez needs a contract extension as well, and must play a lot more...another little diamond. Be good to see Lees and White get extended runs in the First team as well, it will aid their development and they can only improve playing on the big stage.
Lets see if bates is as good a businessman as many of you claim. The younger lads will not demand outlandish wages. Sign them all up for five years on 10k a week. Bates cant lose because none of them cost anything. Lets see how good you are batesy
there is only 1 billy bremner for me i had the privelage of talking to him at home games very oftain he was a great man who had time for supporters
Wish I'd been there to see King Billy. It's true, even if we wanted to tie Clayton down to a long-termer, it would never be accepted by him and his agent unless we were a top Premiership team who looked set to continue at that level for years to come. Such a shame that greed has supplanted loyalty as the main virtue of the modern footballer.
I reckon he'd accept. He's only just broke into the first team at the highest level he's play in. A 2 year extension or something, then he'd be interested. Snodgrass accepted that 4 year contract when we were in League One. The club will never know unless they offer, and chances are, we'd be more likely to tie a player's contract down when he's got 2 years left rather than 6 months like we usually leave it.
Maybe. Clayton's always the first (sometimes only) player to come all the way over to the Kop/away end to applaud the fans and stands there for a good while showing his appreciation for our support. Then again, I also feel that Snodgrass, Kisnorbo, Howson and Becchio feel the same way about us, the fans. Maybe they'd act the way they do even if they were playing for Peterborough. It's a nice way to delude oneself, though, it has to be said... Leeds United: the last bastion of loyalty in the egotistical status quo of modern football. A pleasant thought.
I saw Billy's best days and he was a real terrier in the midfield - incidentally I thought he came into the side when Collins got injured - I'm not old enough to have seen Collins play though. I thought David Batty was the heir apparent to Billy but he never developed anything like Billy's footballing skills. Bremner was a true box-to-box player.
I agree with boggers, should be playing alongside howson in a 442. That would be a very good central midfield, it would sacrifice howson in his best role but he is just as influencial. This would also allow clayton more time to play better as well. I like the way how youngsters are starting to come through at leeds again
i think Clayton has been a revelation this year in the first four games... But early days.. i would like to see him in a 4-4-2 but i think it will be a 4-5-1 today for sure...
Because he wouldnt be played as a defensive midfielder, more a box to box alongside howson and i could see him cement a place in the team better as well
He isn't currently played as a defensive midfielder, nor would be be in a 4-2-3-1. He already plays box-to-box.
He has that knack of making it look like he's in acres of space when in fact he's got three snarling midfielders bearing down on him, then managing to effortlessly produce a pass to a teammate. The mark of a classy player.
