[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Dave In Footie Heaven, on 07 September 2011 - 04:23 PM, said:

Your not allowed to post 'funnies' Chris, if that was one.

Well Dave, i guess the silly red number is from someone who needs smiley icon thingies to recognise an attempt at humour, or a coward with a personal agenda (the post directly beneath it is in a similar vein yet not apparently touched).

Either way it says far more about them than my post.

By the way, my thoughts on Clarke are pretty straightforward: we'll have a look, if he makes an impact great, but if he doesn't he goes back. No lose scenario, really.

This post has been edited by MDCCCLXVI: 07 September 2011 - 05:13 PM

[Spireite-Karl]

MDCCCLXVI, on 07 September 2011 - 05:11 PM, said:

Well Dave, i guess the silly red number is from someone who needs smiley icon thingies to recognise an attempt at humour, or a coward with a personal agenda (the post directly beneath it is in a similar vein yet not apparently touched).

Either way it says far more about them than my post.

By the way, my thoughts on Clarke are pretty straightforward: we'll have a look, if he makes an impact great, but if he doesn't he goes back. No lose scenario, really.

Just depends Chris, do we want any more disruptive influences as Sheridan can't handle the one he's got!

[moondog]

Salty_Blues, on 07 September 2011 - 03:48 PM, said:

Dean Morgans facebook:

"Chillin with leon Clarke"......

Pi*s take or real?!

they were former team mates at Southend in 2007

As well as knowing all the management team Leon is likely to have played with some of our Ex Oldham players (can't be bothered to look who) which will help him settle

[DIFH]

MDCCCLXVI, on 07 September 2011 - 05:11 PM, said:

Well Dave, i guess the silly red number is from someone who needs smiley icon thingies to recognise an attempt at humour, or a coward with a personal agenda (the post directly beneath it is in a similar vein yet not apparently touched).

Either way it says far more about them than my post.

By the way, my thoughts on Clarke are pretty straightforward: we'll have a look, if he makes an impact great, but if he doesn't he goes back. No lose scenario, really.

I don't go along with the 'last chance saloon' thing posted, Leon is a complicated guy who to me doesn't look to worry what others think about him,I just hope he plays well for us.

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Though i'm relaxed about all this - as i said it's pretty much a no lose scenario for us - there's something that no one's focussed on yet: if Clarke hadn't had the altercation with DiCanio and was therefore unavailable, would we be signing anyone else? Did/does Sheridan have another front man lined up?

Or would we have been going into Saturday's game, perhaps even next week's games, with what we've got?

[Paul Fisher]

moondog, on 07 September 2011 - 05:32 PM, said:

they were former team mates at Southend in 2007

As well as knowing all the management team Leon is likely to have played with some of our Ex Oldham players (can't be bothered to look who) which will help him settle

From what I can read, he only played with Dean Smalley and Kelvin Lomax whilst at Oldham. However I can't see if players who now play for us, were injured at the time. However he played with Craig Davies and Rohan Ricketts at Wolves.

[Town_Fan]

I notice that Clarke was unhappy before the altercation with PDC, I wonder if he regretted not signing for us first time around.

[Westbars Spireite]

MDCCCLXVI, on 07 September 2011 - 05:43 PM, said:

Though i'm relaxed about all this - as i said it's pretty much a no lose scenario for us - there's something that no one's focussed on yet: if Clarke hadn't had the altercation with DiCanio and was therefore unavailable, would we be signing anyone else? Did/does Sheridan have another front man lined up?

Or would we have been going into Saturday's game, perhaps even next week's games, with what we've got?

I've described the move as low risk on TFF but it seems others disagree.

moondog, on 07 September 2011 - 05:32 PM, said:

they were former team mates at Southend in 2007

As well as knowing all the management team Leon is likely to have played with some of our Ex Oldham players (can't be bothered to look who) which will help him settle

Whitaker & Holden.

[bullyboy]

Whoever we get as soon as he puts the blue shirt on I'll support him, but dint Leon break a toe once celebrating scoring a goal by kicking the advertising boards? Lol

[Webster]

Salty_Blues, on 07 September 2011 - 03:48 PM, said:

Dean Morgans facebook:

"Chillin with leon Clarke"......

Pi*s take or real?!

Both at Southend together and big mates apparently

[DRL]

Stuart Basson, on 07 September 2011 - 02:43 PM, said:

Quite right. When Shane Nicholson first joined us, he was football's answer to Pete Doherty. As long as a player confronts the idea that he's running out of last chances and knuckles down, he should start with a clean slate.

Wise words Stuart. Every person (barring killers, robbers, vicious criminals and perverts) is capable of making mistakes and deserves a few chances. It would be a cruel world if there were no such things as 'second chances'. I am sure Leon will be smarting from the fact that then entire sporting world has been made aware of his 'hand bags' argument with PDC. Let's hope this is the fuel to fire him to come here and knuckle down. There are a fair few people he'll want to prove wrong

[Scooby Doo]

bonnyman, on 07 September 2011 - 09:31 AM, said:

alledgedly,clarke came back from injury at wednesday and was asked to play in a reserve game or something similar which he took a disslike too as alledgedly his opinion is im leon clarke i dont do reserve games on entering the dressing room the story i have been told is that clarke asked what was hanging on the peg,it was a long sleeved football shirt,clarke evidently kicked off to a member of the wednesday staff before chopping the arms off with a pair of scissors on returning to the club clarke was confronted by laws who asked him to pay for the damaged shirt ,clarke refused and the rest alledgedly is history.I have heard he is lazy arrogant and a complete muppet.I think signing a man of this stock just shows how desperate as a club and how pathetic our pre season preperations have been.His signing will make or completely break our season can we afford to gamble on such players?

Do you beleive everything you hear?

By the way, I have heard Santa's coming early this year!

[Denny]

The whole Di-Canio thing smells of double standards.
While up at the rec with West-Ham, Di-Canio, after 90 minutes of the kop's 'freindly' attention had a fight on the pitch with his own player whilst waiting for extra time to start. The Hammer's manager said it was a good sign and it showed the players cared about winning. Now He's the boss....

Anyway, if the loan move comes off - I hope the clean slate and the chance to prove some people wrong will work out well for everyone.

[warfey is a spireite]

Mark Jones, on 07 September 2011 - 06:49 PM, said:

This is a great opportunity for Clarke to stick it to 'em. He either grabs it with both hands or he doesn't. If he does then we are all winners, if not, he goes back to PDC with his tail between his legs and spends the next 20 months washing kit and cleaning boots.

What gives me confidence is that Sheridan has had him under his wing in a previous life. Our boss must be confident he can manage him or he wouldn't have taken him on.

Time will tell, but I am going to be positive.

and so is warfey

[Spire Power]

Mark Jones, on 07 September 2011 - 06:49 PM, said:

This is a great opportunity for Clarke to stick it to 'em. He either grabs it with both hands or he doesn't. If he does then we are all winners, if not, he goes back to PDC with his tail between his legs and spends the next 20 months washing kit and cleaning boots.

What gives me confidence is that Sheridan has had him under his wing in a previous life. Our boss must be confident he can manage him or he wouldn't have taken him on.

Time will tell, but I am going to be positive.

Me too. My only regret is I can't find a job washing kit and cleaning boots on Clarke's wages.

[Nitrous Oxide]

Do you think he'd appreciate a running club application form.

[h again]

sherbet fountain, on 07 September 2011 - 01:51 PM, said:

Sorry H...

to misquote the one and only Fred Trueman

you tripped up on the sh.. I left behind - see my earlier embarrassment!

No problem. Actually I saw the corrections - I could hardly miss them on the same page - but I thought I'd have a go at winding bonnyman up a bit further to see if he spontaneously combusted. Last time I try a daft trick like that - too many people with not enough to do waiting to jump in.

[Norton Blue]

Webster, on 07 September 2011 - 05:57 PM, said:

Both at Southend together and big mates apparently

Potentially a big positive signing for us, and i'm wondering if Shez is seeing this as more than just a loan signing of a striker....Webster, your e-mail got me wondering..... Let me explain

Shez is putting morgan in his place and demanding more contribution from him, at the same time Morgan is best mates with Clarke who (i'm assuming it will happen) will sign. Clarke also has a similar ego, but they both can't be the best.

By getting Clarke in Shez may just also get the best out of Morgan, which can only be good for us, by putting two mates who would push each other to be the best. When competing against your mate, it suddenly becomes more personal, and that might be the very motivation Morgan needs, and possibly Clarke. Of course it could also all go horribly wrong, but I'll let a non happy clapper write about that! 

[h again]

MDCCCLXVI, on 07 September 2011 - 05:43 PM, said:

Though i'm relaxed about all this - as i said it's pretty much a no lose scenario for us - there's something that no one's focussed on yet: if Clarke hadn't had the altercation with DiCanio and was therefore unavailable, would we be signing anyone else? Did/does Sheridan have another front man lined up?

Or would we have been going into Saturday's game, perhaps even next week's games, with what we've got?

I'd be as relaxed as you if it were just a no-risk situation. The problem is that if Clarke doesn't hit the ground running we're going to keep on losing games, 'cos we're back to no strikers. In those terms it's a high-risk strategy, but I'm grateful to Mr. Di Canio for chucking his dolly out of the pram - something in the contract that enabled them to fine him for not training might have been more sensible than a shouting match.
I'd like to see another striker coming in, if only to create a bit of competition for places, but JS has now got a breathing space - unless Clarke runs amok and burns down Tesco before Saturday - and a decent loan player is much easier to sign than a proven striker at this level.