If he plays here for a decade with the same passion he did this season and leads us to success, he'll qualify as a legend in my eyes. He's by far my favourite player at the moment. Realistically, he'll probably see out his contract and leave for the Premiership after we get knocked out of the playoffs next May.
It was merely speculation based on his start with the club. If he keeps going at the rate he's going (provided we keep him and get promoted) then perhaps I won't be far off the mark. The kid has a LOT of potential, any player that can run rings around Arsenal's defense for 90 minutes has to have something there. It wasn't a matter of me declaring he is already a legend. He has a long, long way to go. But the situations are more similar than you think. He has a very inspiring story (he plays to feed his parentless siblings), he puts in 110% every game, he's young, hungry and prepared to learn from his mistakes, and on top of that he's one of our star players. By no means am I COMPARING him to Radebe, I am simply speculating that he has the POTENTIAL to stand shoulder to shoulder with him in the hall of Leeds United greats one day. Perhaps not shoulder to shoulder, he's a good 5 inches shorter than Radebe.
I wasn't calling him the chief tho was I, I was simply stating he could eventually end up amongst the greats and his story puts him in a similar category. Just you watch, if we keep him he'll keep on growing and eventually be a shining star for Leeds United. I see him as potentially playing in the Champion's League, whether it's with us or someone else.
Morning Gents...with all this talk of the cheif thought some of you might be intrested with this..???.. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Make-Lucas-Radebe-A-Freeman-Of-Leeds/151315611598464?sk=wall.
No, of course Gradel isn't in the same class as Radaebe, but give him a chance. It's silly to compare them anyway, they are completely different types of players. Let's not forget Leicester had Gradel and couldn't get him to play consistently. When we had him in league 1 he was amazing initially, then dropped off performance-wise because he did the same thing every time and defences started to read him easily. Now, at some point during the off-season and during the championship season he's actually learnt to improve his game and he has developed significantly. Remember Ronaldo at Man U? First season, all tricks, no end product? Second season, he started to find the net. Third season he won the league on his own. Never mind that he was a grade A tosser, it showed how he improved. Gradel is on a similar arc, if he continues to improve he will be a legend in a couple of years. But it does take time to build up that reputation. And aside from that Radaebe was just a class act from start to finish.
Well forgive me for my glass-is-half-full mentality but I'd be more than happy to see Gradel achieve greatness on a par with the Chief. A lot of people in this thread seem insulted at the mere suggestion it may be possible if he continues to develop at the rate he currently is and if he stays with us for another 8-10 years. It was merely a bit of speculation and a bit of fun, and I personally want to see another period of success where we have players that can be remembered as true greats.
