Leon Clarke Goes Back To The Owls

[Jonny_Stokes]

lol...good Christmas JS? What has happened to Orient of late?! :angel:

No it was crap, but thanks for asking.

Nothing is really 'happening' to Orient - we're just sinking slowly towards this side's natural level, which is about 10th. Doubt there'll be any great investment in the side in the transfer window, so we're bound to end up with a 'season of consolidation'. Which, incidentally, is fine by me.

ps. Wayne Gray is...erm, how should I put it? 'Adequate' is probably the word...Poor Wayne, damned by faint praise...

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Cannot believe the comments about Gray. He scored double figures in 2 consecutive seasons, something that Harrold, Hooper, Foran or Morgan will never ever achieve. Scored some very important goals in League 1, often as a sub, the kind of impact player we have not had since he left. Yes he scored a lot of penalties but so do most strikers. Look at the amount of assists he laid on for Freddy as well, they were a damn good partnership, again something we have not had since he left. Since he has left, he has scored double figures last season and is on course for that again. not bad for a pants player.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

God, i am so doom and gloom but absolutely spot on, most of the time!

I know, I've never known such a bad period in Southend's history: we lost in the LDV final at the Millenium Stadium TWICE, we cocked up automatic promotion from the 4th division, we barely won the title the season after, we got knocked out in the quarter-finals of the league cup, we're only on course for a top half position in the third tier this season (plus FA Cup run).

If it wasn't for your outstanding insight into our problems Wiggy, I'd probably cut my wrists.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Cannot believe the comments about Gray. He scored double figures in 2 consecutive seasons, something that Harrold, Hooper, Foran or Morgan will never ever achieve. Scored some very important goals in League 1, often as a sub, the kind of impact player we have not had since he left. Yes he scored a lot of penalties but so do most strikers. Look at the amount of assists he laid on for Freddy as well, they were a damn good partnership, again something we have not had since he left. Since he has left, he has scored double figures last season and is on course for that again. not bad for a pants player.

Oh for +rep! Absolutely 110% correct.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I don't know where you got that from. I counted 7 in all competitions (no Bradbury or Leon included).

http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2393

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Cannot believe the comments about Gray. He scored double figures in 2 consecutive seasons, something that Harrold, Hooper, Foran or Morgan will never ever achieve. Scored some very important goals in League 1, often as a sub, the kind of impact player we have not had since he left. Yes he scored a lot of penalties but so do most strikers. Look at the amount of assists he laid on for Freddy as well, they were a damn good partnership, again something we have not had since he left. Since he has left, he has scored double figures last season and is on course for that again. not bad for a pants player.

I'm not saying Gray was necessarily a bad player, but he wouldn't make a whole lot of difference to this team.



ps Foran in consecutive seasons
http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=21187&seasonid=137
http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=21187&seasonid=137

 

[MK Shrimper]

http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2393

Excluding Leon, Bradbury & Morgan:

Harrold: 3
Hooper: 1
Charlie Mac: 4
Foran: 1

8 goals. Whooo hoo..

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Excluding Leon, Bradbury & Morgan:

Harrold: 3
Hooper: 1
Charlie Mac: 4
Foran: 1

8 goals. Whooo hoo..

Macdonald has scored 4 in 9 starts, which is reasonable enough. Foran has scored 1 in 1 start. Harrold isn't a goalscorer, Hooper has been a disappointment.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Harrold ISN'T a goal scorer? Excuse me, that's his job isn't it?

You have to face facts, our attack is the worst it's been for years. Without Leon we are royally f**ked.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

"Laws hopes the deal goes through as it should improve his chances of making a signing in the January transfer window."

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Harrold ISN'T a goal scorer? Excuse me, that's his job isn't it?

You have to face facts, our attack is the worst it's been for years. Without Leon we are royally f**ked.

No, his job is to hold the ball up and allow others, such as McCormack, Gower, Bailey and not ot mention Leon Clarke to score.

Our attack is one of the most prolific in the division,our problems are at the back where we can't defend.

 

[Beefy]

Harrold ISN'T a goal scorer? Excuse me, that's his job isn't it?

No. He should have scored more than he has but he's certainly NOT been in the side to score goals.

Look at the amount of assists he laid on for Freddy as well, they were a damn good partnership, again something we have not had since he left. Since he has left, he has scored double figures last season and is on course for that again. not bad for a pants player.

We're going over very old ground here. But for what it's worth I'd strongly contest that Eastwood and Gray had any sort of partnership going, let alone "a damn good" one. With a couple of rare exceptions (ironically one being Freddy's debut) they looked like strangers most of the time they played together.

I don't think that that was actually Gray's fault, although he certainly didn't play to Eastwood's strengths. Freddy looks like a difficult player to play alongside and only Shaun Goater has ever really linked up with him well.

 

[Kenny]

SWFC site confirms that Leon is in the squad for tomorrows match vs Preston.

 

[Streaky]

Back at wednesday....

http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~1203325,00.html

 

[Flinty]

so basically Wednesday are keeping their options open and giving him another chance.....if he does well tomorrow and saturday its the last we will see of him

 

[mattytheshrimper]

not sure what to really think about leon going back.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

so basically Wednesday are keeping their options open and giving him another chance.....if he does well tomorrow and saturday its the last we will see of him

I wonder if his hamstring will be miraculously back to 100%?

 

[Thurrock_Blue]

"there is a doubt that it may not go through"

dunno if its me being Mr Positive but that is saying its 99% sorted and still likely to go through.

 

[Flinty]

"there is a doubt that it may not go through"

dunno if its me being Mr Positive but that is saying its 99% sorted and still likely to go through.

or the reverse

 

[Richard_Cadette]

No. He should have scored more than he has but he's certainly NOT been in the side to score goals.



We're going over very old ground here. But for what it's worth I'd strongly contest that Eastwood and Gray had any sort of partnership going, let alone "a damn good" one. With a couple of rare exceptions (ironically one being Freddy's debut) they looked like strangers most of the time they played together.

I don't think that that was actually Gray's fault, although he certainly didn't play to Eastwood's strengths. Freddy looks like a difficult player to play alongside and only Shaun Goater has ever really linked up with him well.

Can't believe I am allowing myself to even reply to this post, as you pointed out, we are going over old ground here, but I do have to contest both of your responses.

Firstly, whether or not you class Harrold as a Target man, hold up player, or forward, he IS in the team to score goals. Perhaps not as many as an out and out striker playing alongside him, but his primary objective is to find the back of the net. Yes, he may well have to play second fiddle to say a Leon Clarke, but ALL strikers are judged on purely goals alone.

Secondly, I think we have debated this before, but IMO Gray and Eastwood had a very good understanding of each other's games, and IMO had a very useful partnership together. For what it's worth, I thought we looked a more dangerous side when both Gray and Eastwood were playing alongside each other - taking nothing away from Goater I may add.

Would Wayne Gray add much to our current crop of strikers? Probably not as much as if he was still partnering Freddy, but most certainly, he would add something - a quick turn of pace and ability to finish. He didn't use his pace as often as someone blessed with that kind of speed should do, but when he was on it, he was at times unplayable. Not the most cultured of players, but he would almost certainly give our current attacking options a different dimension.