The Leon Clarke Situation

[duncan bulgaria]

It looks as though leon clarke has settled weel here and lets hope he signs for us as he has`that little bit of extra class that puts hin into the frame of being a 20 a season goal scorer.

Now at the start of the season many people includeing myself got a little frustrated with Tilly in the fact that it was clear to see 12 months ago that we weren't keeping hold off Freddy and that he really didn't do his homework in getting a decent replacement.

Now lets be honest i reckon LC was Tillys 4th choice to fill Eastwoods boots, behind Mcdonald , o'donavan and Scotland . Now before Tilly bought in Clarke it was clear to see that we wwas lacking a decent front man with a bit about to change games and a match winner . So if 150 k is the correct figure then what a bit of business as many folk on here were arguing that a 20 a season man are like rockin horse **** , but it just goes to show that you pay for what you get in this world and its only a shame that we didn't crack on mid way through last season and take a chance on a player of proven quality to partner Freddy then maybe we would still be plying our trade in the Championship , i still for one feel that We need a decent Forward to partner Clarke and another Centre back cos if we are happy at having Harrold leading our line then our ambition is not were i want it to be .

 

[Maldon Blues]

And who would argue.....even your flag got a mention on BBC Essex commentary on Saturday! :p

Ha ha! I understand this is quite a common occurance! Although I think Chris Phillips may have something to to with it often being mentioned!

The chap who told me about Leon was Gary Lockett, who was sitting in front of me. Gary is quite 'in' with the club I believe.

 

[shrimpled]

Didn't he already get a place down by the seafront? Or is that temporary?

Yes it's temporary, as soon as players arrive here we offer them the chance to stay in a hotel on the seafront if they don't have anywhere else.

In response to duncan bulgaria Clarke was high on Tilly's list, we tried to sign him before anyone else, back in January.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Without wanting to put a dampener on it, I'd be keen to see how Clarke acquits himself when the goals are not flowing as easily. This will tell me what a good signing he would be. That, however obviously depends on the price.

With some lingering doubts over how he copes with dry spells, I would probably say that £500k would incolude about £200k gamble on how his attitude would be. However, for £150k, we've already seen enough of his play to know that he has at least that in talent.

 

[Pubey]

could leon realistically be the player that gets us promotion. from what i've seen yes... and on that account he is a bargain at £150k (although im sure his wages are hefty)

as sufcintheprem says... it will be interesting to see how he copes when the goals aren't flying in, but i think he is the 20goal a season striker we have been crying out for and the final piece in the puzzle

Promotion Class

GK: Collis, Flavs YES
FullBacks: Francis, Hammell, Hunt YES
CBs: Barrett, Clarke, Richards YES
Wingers: Black, Gower, Foran PROBABLY YES
CMs: Maher, McCormack, Bailey YES
Strikers: Clarke, Harrold, MacDonald, Odihembo, Hooper YES

Squad players - Ademeno, Moussa, Wilson, Liptak decent prospects and useful squad player: YES

Looking good!!!!!

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

could leon realistically be the player that gets us promotion. from what i've seen yes... and on that account he is a bargain at £150k (although im sure his wages are hefty)

as sufcintheprem says... it will be interesting to see how he copes when the goals aren't flying in, but i think he is the 20goal a season striker we have been crying out for and the final piece in the puzzle

Promotion Class

GK: Collis, Flavs YES
FullBacks: Francis, Hammell, Hunt YES
CBs: Barrett, Clarke, Richards YES
Wingers: Black, Gower, Foran PROBABLY YES
CMs: Maher, McCormack, Bailey YES
Strikers: Clarke, Harrold, MacDonald, Odihembo, Hooper YES

Squad players - Ademeno, Moussa, Wilson, Liptak decent prospects and useful squad player: YES

Looking good!!!!!

Promotion class yes, but in terms of Championship class if we did get up there again I'd say probably only 4 or 5 are up to it!

 

[leeblue]

as we seen last year the gap between lge 1 and c-ship is substantial

 

[sufcintheprem]

Promotion class yes, but in terms of Championship class if we did get up there again I'd say probably only 4 or 5 are up to it!

To be fair, we have much more goal threat than we ever did last year coming from midfield and that would have made us substantially better. However, I think we tended to be more solid defensively going up last time round and even that set up wasn't good enough to keep us there. In fact, I still have major reservations about how many chances we allow against us at this level but this sort of concern is with one eye on being the best in the league rather than being a solid League One side.

One of the most pleasing parts of this season has been that we have done what we have without any contribution from Hammell or Francis and limited contribution from Gower. At the start of the season I thought that Gower and Francis could be pivotal in our performance this season.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

It's good to see us scoring so many goals from the midfield, Macca in particular has stepped up nicely and seems a geniune goal threat this season.
We look to be a very decent side in this league but we'd still need considerable strengthening were we to go up this season.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

we'd still need considerable strengthening were we to go up this season.

Well, hopefully the evidence of T&B now being a bit more savvy in the loans market might see us gain the couple of quality players we were just sadly lacking last season!

 

[Mr. Benedict]

Agreed. I think lessons have been learned from last season and we would stand a better chance of staying up (were we to go up).

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Agreed. I think lessons have been learned from last season and we would stand a better chance of staying up (were we to go up).

Plus, I think clubs like Norwich who are on their last year of parachute payments will really struggle next season if they're still a Championship club. The financial forecasts do not look good and the past couple of games they've looked very shabby (can't see them sacking Peter Grant a year into the job though as they probably can't afford his contract termination fees!)

I'm not saying the Championship would be an easier prospect if we do go up though, for every ex Prem team who've now hit hard times there will be those who've just come down from the PL who are relatively still rolling in it (e.g. if Fulham or Bolton went down you could see them throwing a lot of cash at trying to get back up at the first attempt)!

 

[Mr. Benedict]

I'm not saying the Championship would be an easier prospect if we do go up though, for every ex Prem team who've now hit hard times there will be those who've just come down from the PL who are relatively still rolling in it (e.g. if Fulham or Bolton went down you could see them throwing a lot of cash at trying to get back up at the first attempt)!

This is a big problem with the championship IMO - ok, have parachute payments to cover the increased wages while the relegated clubs to readjust their finances but the amount ex-premiership teams recieve under the new TV deal is ridiculous and makes it even harder for promoted teams to compete than it was - especially the smaller ones like us and Colchester - unless they have a rich backer.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

This is a big problem with the championship IMO - ok, have parachute payments to cover the increased wages while the relegated clubs to readjust their finances but the amount ex-premiership teams recieve under the new TV deal is ridiculous and makes it even harder for promoted teams to compete than it was - especially the smaller ones like us and Colchester - unless they have a rich backer.

The architypical leagues within a league! Although Blackpool, Scunny etc seem to have taken on board where we were lacking!

 

[Mr. Benedict]

The architypical leagues within a league! Although Blackpool, Scunny etc seem to have taken on board where we were lacking!

True. I thought Scunny in particular would struggle as they had lost their talismanic striker (Sharp - in fact they've lost both their main strikers in six months as Keogh went to Wolves in the January window last year) but they seem to have learned from our struggles and are doing well (although it's early days yet).

 

[SARF]

Parachute payments are ludicrous.. you get relegated tough.. cut your cloth.. They are only called for due the the immense greed of the top clubs causing such a huge step up to the Prem. Whilst I cant fault that attitude , I mean why should Arsenal give a toss about League 1.. The F.a should have ensured a fairer divvy up of the football riches

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Parachute payments are ludicrous.. you get relegated tough.. cut your cloth.. They are only called for due the the immense greed of the top clubs causing such a huge step up to the Prem. Whilst I cant fault that attitude , I mean why should Arsenal give a toss about League 1.. The F.a should have ensured a fairer divvy up of the football riches

Yeah, but IMHO they've got at least as big a "fat-cat, line my pockets" attitude than the Premier League clubs. They don't want teams to work their way up the leagues anymore (Reading & Wigan have only managed it due to their benefactors!)

 

[DTS]

Personally as I have said before on this site I am sure the price was agreed the day we took him and all we now need to do is convince Leon his best intersts are served here and not in the northern hole that is Sheffield.

 

[Skyblue]

I believe it's all done and dusted and we're just waiting until January. The fee being £200k.

The contract dictates that Wednesday cannot recall him and Leon has even bought a house in Thorpe Bay so I'm told.

Has he agreed personal terms with us then?, I very much doubt it. what if he decides he could get more at a bigger club come January. I still think there's a lot of millage and twist and turns in this and I'm trying not to get too excited until he has finally signed the contract. Personally I would pay £500,000 bearing in mind what we paid for Paynter and got for Fred. Our change in form since his arrival has been staggering but could easily revert to what it was if we loose him.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Its only gonna get worse, teams coming down from this season on will be getting about £20 mill over 3 seasons (correct if i'm wrong anyone!) added to the £30 mill they get for finishing bottom! The top 7 or 8 of the Championship will become very exclusive soon!