Leonard's gone

[AndyT]

Now, I've had a think about your comment there 'Manor'. The one that says it's "a team full of over the hill veterans" and I immediately got my team of researchers on the case.

Let's have a closer look at the evidence they uncovered, shall we?

Turner and Fortune are 34 or over, but the rest from Saturday, bar one, are 30 and under (Six are 28 and under), plus youngsters like Dru, Kyps, Elvis and the like are coming through.

Nile is only 26.

So, about three or four I make that, in total. So, let's say, being generous, around a third at best. Which is distinctly less than full, by around 60-65%. In fact, I'd say closer to empty. Not full at all.

In fact, if it was a pint, I'd be on my way to the bar for a top-up. Yep, I'm there now, just waiting to be served.

Edit : I would have got you one, but you already had a full pint! :winking:

 

[Jay_SUFC]

Pains me to say it, but I think it might be right to let him go and recoup a bit of money in January. Let Wright and Woody have a go in the middle and see how that combination works and whether it's worth offering Woody a better contract off the back of it. We've still got Tims and Yearwood to cover too.

I was ok with your post until you mentioned Tims!!!

 

[Pubey]

genuinely can't believe people want Lenny to leave.

 

[AndyT]

In fairness 'pubey'. I don't think anyone wants him to leave.

It's Lenny himself who wants to leave and so, most people have accepted this and it's just a case of when is the right time to let him go and 'cash out', so to speak.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Top tip; assume Ryan's going, also start searching for a quality replacement ....now :omg:

 

[Danshrimper]

genuinely can't believe people want Lenny to leave.

Nobody wants him to leave but we don't have a lot of choice do we. It's either take the money now or let him go for free in the summer for the sake of finishing 9th instead of 14th.

 

[OldBlueLady]

genuinely can't believe people want Lenny to leave.

Can't believe anyone actually wants him to leave but I think we're realistic enough to recognise that he's going to.

 

[IloveShrimp]

A Bird in hand is better than two in the bush!

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

I'd love him to stay but he's going in this window or the next one. Any ideas who we could get in or use as a replacement?
I wouldn't be against having Wright in the middle with Yearwood playing narrow on the right

 

[Mick]

Certainly Lenny deserves a crack at the big time just like Chrissie Powell was given after two hundred plus games with us.

Two terrific servants.

Good luck Lenny.

On the day Chris Powell made his (goalscoring) debut for Derby, they were just three places above us (and we had a game in hand on the team just above us in third place !). Cashing in rather than a reward.

We only won three more games and dropped 10 places in 3 months.

 

[buffalowolf]

I also believe Lenny will go in January,like others not that we want him too ,but the fact is he deserves the opportunity ,he has been and still is a true pro fessional and has given great service to this club,RM and PB should now equally do the right thing by Lenny and allow him to try himself in a higher league,so they should cash in whilst they can .In saying this i dont think we can get promoted this season even with still half a season or more remaining.

 

[mfurok]

On the day Chris Powell made his (goalscoring) debut for Derby, they were just three places above us (and we had a game in hand on the team just above us in third place !). Cashing in rather than a reward.

We only won three more games and dropped 10 places in 3 months.

Wouldn't disagree with cashing in but it was certainly a reward for Chrissie.

He would have earned far, far less if he had stayed with us and certainly would never have had a sniff at an England cap with us.

The statistics show that we never recovered from his sale and, along with the sale of Ricky Otto to Brum, eventually did for our second division (you know what I mean) status...............along with the drinking antics of Ronnie W and his pals of course.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Like it or not, we (along with probably 88/92 clubs), are feeder clubs, and the law of the jungle applies....bigger money, opportunity to better oneself etc, etc.....we just have to nuture, cash in and move on

 

[Fitz]

Lenny gets in my all time side of the last 30 years. A true professional the likes only come along to Southend once every few years. I don't want him to go but I am realistic and would love to see him playing in the Prem in a few years time and who knows even pulling on an England shirt, is he as good as a Eric Dier at Spurs, in a much better team than ours would be very interesting.

Football is all about lucky breaks and opportunities. Francis is captain of an established Prem team, who would have thought that a few years ago

As much as if pains me to say, and with it goes any hope of the play offs, cash in for the benefit of both Lenny and the club.

 

[WESTY_SUFC]

Don't worry people. Ron is calling all the players in before Christmas to show them the new stadium plans. They will all be fighting to sign any contract including Lenny and highly motivated to win promotion. I wonder how our season went the last time he did that.

 

[Barry.C]

If we had a decent fee for Lenny , we might want to shell out just a portion of it and remember where Luggy got Ryan from. It also took him a little while to develop into the superb player and professional he is. Dare I hope our scouting system has an eye or contacts with someone of a similar age and skill level to Lenny from the league below from whence we signed him, or dare I mention the National League without inducing mouth foaming from some on here. I appreciate we also have some really good youngsters coming through, but another decent one added, already showing a bit of experience and strong potential from say league 2 for example would be a good addition. Please not another elderly ex Prem or Championship player, future build planning is the key.

 

[rigsby]

Don't worry people. Ron is calling all the players in before Christmas to show them the new stadium plans. They will all be fighting to sign any contract including Lenny and highly motivated to win promotion. I wonder how our season went the last time he did that.

It didn't work the first time we tried it......Around 1984 I believe.

 

[rigsby]

If we had a decent fee for Lenny , we might want to shell out just a portion of it and remember where Luggy got Ryan from. It also took him a little while to develop into the superb player and professional he is. Dare I hope our scouting system has an eye or contacts with someone of a similar age and skill level to Lenny from the league below from whence we signed him, or dare I mention the National League without inducing mouth foaming from some on here. I appreciate we also have some really good youngsters coming through, but another decent one added, already showing a bit of experience and strong potential from say league 2 for example would be a good addition. Please not another elderly ex Prem or Championship player, future build planning is the key.

We didn't sign him from anyone, he had been released by Plymouth. He came for a trial pre-season, just the same as Harry Kyp. Both players are now doing well playing in different positions from their academy days. Plenty of those stories in football

Binnon- Williams had the potential to convert from LB to a better CB. He didn't want to, so we never signed him. If I remember right he is struggling to get into Chesterfields team at the mo.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

I would expect their bid to be larger.

Since the end of August four significant things have happened:

1. Lenny has continued to play exceptionally well but has also proved his superb character by not sulking thus making himself more valuable.
2. Sheffield United have given themselves a shout for the riches of the Premier and are more likely to speculate to accumulate.
3. Coutts, who is excellent, is out for the season and they have probably wised up to the fact that Lundstram is nothing like a decent replacement but Lenny most certainly is.
4. Our cakewalk to the Championship hasn't started and here is chance to recoup some of the cash that has been splashed.

For all of these reasons we should be able to drive a hard bargain.

Should we?

Sadly we probably should.

Certainly Lenny deserves a crack at the big time just like Chrissie Powell was given after two hundred plus games with us.

Two terrific servants.

Good luck Lenny.

But Sheff Utd lost 4-5 at home to Fulham recently in what was a wonderful match.One of our "old boys", Leon Clarke scored a hatrick and still lost.:winking:

 

[londonblue]

Plus, if a club isn't paying a fee for a player they tend to end up paying a far more significant signing-on fee (again, to ensure they get him over rival bidders). Sheffield United probably wouldn't up paying that much more net by landing him this January.

Whether or not we entertain bids for Leonard this January hinges entirely on what kind of position we find ourselves in by then. If we have a difficult December and our play-off tilt is on the rocks then it may be best for us to cash in and identify a potential replacement now rather than in the summer.

Not necessarily. It also depends on the amount and who we can get in as a replacement.