Leigertwood from now to the end of the season

[glaziers fan]

I really believe this guy has a long-term future at the highest level. Hughes once said he thought he would play for England. While I dont share that optimism I believe he can become a Premiership holding player. He has pace, is the strongest player I have ever seen, can tackle and is surprisingly intelligent football-wise.

His technical game is improving massively. He just needs games to become more experienced and develop positional sense. Come on Dowie, Soares has had 30 games. Give Leggy the same

[David Amsalem]

Leigertwood is a very good player. I definate agree with what you've been saying. I think our best central midfield partnership would be either, Leggy and Watson, Leggy and Aki or Watson and Aki.

Soares and Hughes as back-up.

[GreatGonzo]

Originally posted by David Amsalem
Leigertwood is a very good player. I definate agree with what you've been saying. I think our best central midfield partnership would be either, Leggy and Watson or Watson and Aki.

Bit deleted and i agree with that, we need the destroyer in there, whilst i would prefer the experience of Aki in most games i think Leggy has an important role to play.

[cpfc_spc1982]

a holding player doesnt run all over the pitch. derry was a holding player on saturday. leigertwood will never have the brains to play such a role. the only half decent midfield games hes had this year are when he has forayed forward and hasnt been in a position where his clumbsyness on the ball can really hurt us.

[David Amsalem]

Originally posted by GreatGonzo
Bit deleted and i agree with that, we need the destroyer in there, whilst i would prefer the experience of Aki in most games i think Leggy has an important role to play.

Perhaps yeah. I think though Leggy and Aki would work IF we had two out and out wingers like Wayne Routledge and Julian Gray. When we won promotion we had two "destroyers" playing in the middle and that worked well.

If only Jobi McAnuff and Marco Reich and find some consistent form.

[glaziers fan]

Originally posted by cpfc_spc1982
a holding player doesnt run all over the pitch. derry was a holding player on saturday. leigertwood will never have the brains to play such a role. the only half decent midfield games hes had this year are when he has forayed forward and hasnt been in a position where his clumbsyness on the ball can really hurt us.

You reckon? The fact he is one of only a couple of players who can play a good throughball (Watson being the other) leads me to think otherwise. He is intelligent and by all accounts is keen and willing to learn.

Watson is the creative spark. He must play every game cos Aki and Hughes are a bit slow in thought.

Hughes and Aki on bench to add experience in closing stages. Leggy and Watson to get experience.

[glaziers fan]

Originally posted by David Amsalem
Perhaps yeah. I think though Leggy and Aki would work IF we had two out and out wingers like Wayne Routledge and Julian Gray. When we won promotion we had two "destroyers" playing in the middle and that worked well.

If only Jobi McAnuff and Marco Reich and find some consistent form.

Hughes is not a holding midfielder though, and I believe that Aki and Leggy are. You can't play both of them in same team imho. I have always thought we lacked creativity in the middle. With Watson there we don't any more.

Reich needs a run of games.

McAnuff needs to play on right.

[Martin H]

Originally posted by glaziers fan
You reckon? The fact he is one of only a couple of players who can play a good throughball (Watson being the other) leads me to think otherwise. He is intelligent and by all accounts is keen and willing to learn.

Watson is the creative spark. He must play every game cos Aki and Hughes are a bit slow in thought.

Hughes and Aki on bench to add experience in closing stages. Leggy and Watson to get experience.

I really rate Leggy. He has all the attributes of a class player and I think w ehave to remember that he is learning a new trade as he is being converted from a central defender to a midfield player. He seems to ahve everything he needs. The outstanding question is can he pull these together to become the fineshed article.

I think he has a real chance and he cledarly learns quickly. It is not that long ago that he could not take a ball from his defence and turn around without losing it. He is light years ahead of that now. His ability to play alla cross the back 4 and probably the middle 4 demonstrates the potential. Who knows maybe he is the big striker we are missing - hmmm. No but seriously he is not a certainty but he has a chance of being a class act. So give him a break guys.

[cpfc_spc1982]

Originally posted by glaziers fan
You reckon? The fact he is one of only a couple of players who can play a good throughball (Watson being the other) leads me to think otherwise. He is intelligent and by all accounts is keen and willing to learn.

well hes done it a couple of times against a poor side. im not saying he cant have a role somewhere, but as an actual HOLDING player, like derry was, he doesnt have the positional discipline, and him recieving the ball in front of the back 4 would be calamatous too often, teams would easily target him.

[smileysmith]

Though I agree with what is being said, I think it interesting that a young, developing player that doesn't get as much game time as others gets less criticism and more notice of his potential.

I suspect this is due to the player having less time to show inconsistency. Dowie should take note.

[limited_edition]

Originally posted by GreatGonzo
whilst i would prefer the experience of Aki in most games i think Leggy has an important role to play.

Leggy is needed in the more problematic position of left back. Until Granville gets back of course. Aki can fit in alongside Hughes for the destroyer's role depending on fitness and the oppo we are playing.

[Jordan's Jacket]

Aki is far superior to Leggy. Play Aki and Watson in the middle.

[Melfort Eagle]

With hughes on a slight dip, esp. against Leeds, I think that leggy and watson should will be a good midfield. Or perhaps, start with Aki, and have leggy as a sub? But i think for sure, Watson is a midfield basic since he is so creative. The rest of the midfield is lacking consistency/form/fitness.

[kolinkins]

Originally posted by limited_edition
Leggy is needed in the more problematic position of left back. Until Granville gets back of course. Aki can fit in alongside Hughes for the destroyer's role depending on fitness and the oppo we are playing.

Funny you should say that after spending many posts point scoring attempting to mock my suggestion previously that he can play left back.

[Sir.S.C Remembered]

I definately agree. I thought he was very shaky, low on technique and generally bad when he first joined but he has come on leaps and bounds and we must give him a new contract.

His has played well more than once at left and right back and is also a good player in central midfield or central defence if needed, and even did well on the right wing on the weekend plus when switched to left of centre back he pushed forward and crossed well with his left foot. Even I was surprised at some of these more footballing developments to his game. If we lose Aki (would be a shame) and especially we do not get promoted then I think this guy will save us needing to replace him.

Even if his technical game relapses to what it was before, he is still a very hard working player who is solid and if we had more such players then we would have beaten Leeds on the weekend so it is very vital in certain games.

[Santos-er]

no, no, no, no, no

[Santos-er]

Actually - I think Leggy would be better used as a holding midfielder, but only when we're away and we need that type of system. At home i'd go with Aki (when fit) and Watson or Hughes and Watson, depending on the opposition and how they play.

[macstar]

seems to be better as a sub though,?

[Santos-er]

I've never been able to figure the guy out - when he starts he seems abysmal for the first 45 minutes, and comes into the game the longer it goes on. He offers little as a sub - he's certainly not an "impact" player, but could be useful if we need to protect a lead, except he makes a howler at least once a game that invariably leads to a chance for the opposition.

[Falco]

Originally posted by Santos-er
Actually - I think Leggy would be better used as a holding midfielder, but only when we're away and we need that type of system. At home i'd go with Aki (when fit) and Watson or Hughes and Watson, depending on the opposition and how they play.

I think we potentially have a fantastic player on our hands in Leigerwood, the difficulty is knowing what to do with him. Logically, given his attributes, his best position should be as a holding midfielder: as some have said though, the question is whether he has the defensive discipline to do this. i still think this is how we should try to develop him. The irritating thing, of course, is he is as likely to be diabolical in his next game as he was good in the last. In many ways, he reminds me of Gareth Southgate when he was at Palace and playing in midfield: it should have been a position which really suited him, but he ended up trying to do do much and lacking discipline: he actually looked better when we played him on the right of midfield!