Good grief! I assume it is the similarly named Barcelona wonderkid, signed for 100m on 250,000 per week, or a few on here are going to be a tad perplexed?
I hope this is true but doubt that it is. At his best he is more than good enough at this level. He is another one that we used to get linked with towards the end of the Curbishley era.
I suspect Ledley needs a club desperately and we need cover on the bench for an intensive December fixture list. I would rather have him on the bench than the likes of Vennings. As Pratley has demonstrated we need experience to supplement our youngsters.
We could then review the arrangement in January, so it could like a trial but with the difference that he would feature.
The answers to two simple questions for any players we sign this week would suffice:
(1) Do we need him in the short/medium term? (2) Do LB and SG want him?
If the answer is "yes" to both then we have to believe he will be a useful addition.
What then happens in January will determine where we are going this season and signings post May will give us an indication of the longer term aspirations of the new owners
What the likes of kayal have proven is, although a good player, without much recent first team football or a decent preseason, these guys can't come in and pick up the pace. They breakdown, get injured, lucky to get a few games out of them. We have been lucky with matthews, but hes a few years younger.
What the likes of kayal have proven is, although a good player, without much recent first team football or a decent preseason, these guys can't come in and pick up the pace. They breakdown, get injured, lucky to get a few games out of them. We have been lucky with matthews, but hes a few years younger.
I agree, it's a huge risk. On paper we might need another body but if that body isn't fit enough for 6+ weeks it's pointless.
I wouldn't say we have been lucky with Matthews, he's barely played.
What the likes of kayal have proven is, although a good player, without much recent first team football or a decent preseason, these guys can't come in and pick up the pace. They breakdown, get injured, lucky to get a few games out of them. We have been lucky with matthews, but hes a few years younger.
I agree, it's a huge risk. On paper we might need another body but if that body isn't fit enough for 6+ weeks it's pointless.
I wouldn't say we have been lucky with Matthews, he's barely played.
Matthews has played the full 90 in 3 out of the last 4 matches now, so does seem to be up to a reasonable level of fitness.
What the likes of kayal have proven is, although a good player, without much recent first team football or a decent preseason, these guys can't come in and pick up the pace. They breakdown, get injured, lucky to get a few games out of them. We have been lucky with matthews, but hes a few years younger.
I agree, it's a huge risk. On paper we might need another body but if that body isn't fit enough for 6+ weeks it's pointless.
I wouldn't say we have been lucky with Matthews, he's barely played.
Matthews has played the full 90 in 3 out of the last 4 matches now, so does seem to be up to a reasonable level of fitness.
Yes now he is but he has been here 3 months. The point being that we signed a player who didn't have a preseason and it has taken him 10 weeks before he could play more than one game in a row. If we signed someone like Ledley now, yes it's another body for December but in reality how much is he going to play?
At the age of 31, Ledley had his contract terminated by mutual consent last January.
Why was that? Normally it's because a player isn't playing regularly, therefore releasing him to sign immediately for a new club. But in this case, Ledley didn't sign for anyone.
Was he no longer in the manager's plans, had fallen out with him or persistent injury issues?
And what has he done with himself since last January? Has he played non-League to keep himself fit, has he been dealing with a medical matter or has the time just slipped through his fingers?
If he hasnt been playing for almost a year then it's a big fat NO from me. Even players who had a partial pre-season such as Reeves were never fully fit. I can't see Ledley being at least half up to speed.
If he hasnt been playing for almost a year then it's a big fat NO from me. Even players who had a partial pre-season such as Reeves were never fully fit. I can't see Ledley being at least half up to speed.
I'd rather play a youngster.
Who though? We already are playing the youngsters!
Bit of a fall from grace really. He was a starter for the Wales side that made the Euro 2016 semi finals. Then within 3 years he can't even get a club?
Albie Morgan over Ledley all day long. Without stating the obvious, Albie is a serious talent. You don’t find many players with the technique that kid has.
Would rather him not be loaned out for the sake of Ledley. For example, look at Karel it was just a waste.
He was training with Cardiff recently to help keep himself fit.
Right now Cardiff will see for themselves how good he still is - if they don't want him, why do we?
Because we only have two fit midfielders.
I'd offer him a contract to the middle of January. We get an extra body for the Christmas period - a half fit Ledley is probably still a better option than a someone like Vennings who is no where near first team ready - he gets some fitness and in the shop window. If he does well we can extend to the end of the season or he can get a better deal elsewhere. If he won't take such a short term deal I guess we look elsewhere, but I think an arrangement like that is a low risk gamble on both sides and both parties stand to gain from it if it goes well.
If there's any truth in Ledley or similar, if they're good enough for Bowyer, they're good enough for me. We're possibly talking about a bench filler (we can't fill the bench) and if they are good enough for 10 mins for 6 games, that may be better than the alternative, which is no one.
i suppose it could be a pay as you play deal. Then it would be a no brainer if he is available now. Mind you I doubt it as we haven't heard from other sources! Or are we waiting for takeover to be approved? I don't know
He was training with Cardiff recently to help keep himself fit.
Right now Cardiff will see for themselves how good he still is - if they don't want him, why do we?
Because we only have two fit midfielders.
I'd offer him a contract to the middle of January. We get an extra body for the Christmas period - a half fit Ledley is probably still a better option than a someone like Vennings who is no where near first team ready - he gets some fitness and in the shop window. If he does well we can extend to the end of the season or he can get a better deal elsewhere. If he won't take such a short term deal I guess we look elsewhere, but I think an arrangement like that is a low risk gamble on both sides and both parties stand to gain from it if it goes well.
Although Ledley, who apparently hasn't played a League match since August 2018, is hardly likely to hit the ground running. How long would we have to wait before he's up to speed? He's 32 already - how long before he'd succomb to a random injury because his body wouldn't initially cope with the intensity of Bowyer's gameplan? In any case, if he were to be signed, it seems like for a while we'd still have only 2 fit midfielders.
Maybe Ledley was on the radar before Bowyer and Gallen knew the takeover was going to happen? Perhaps now they are looking at different options?
He was training with Cardiff recently to help keep himself fit.
Right now Cardiff will see for themselves how good he still is - if they don't want him, why do we?
Because we only have two fit midfielders.
I'd offer him a contract to the middle of January. We get an extra body for the Christmas period - a half fit Ledley is probably still a better option than a someone like Vennings who is no where near first team ready - he gets some fitness and in the shop window. If he does well we can extend to the end of the season or he can get a better deal elsewhere. If he won't take such a short term deal I guess we look elsewhere, but I think an arrangement like that is a low risk gamble on both sides and both parties stand to gain from it if it goes well.
Although Ledley, who apparently hasn't played a League match since August 2018, is hardly likely to hit the ground running. How long would we have to wait before he's up to speed? He's 32 already - how long before he'd succomb to a random injury because his body wouldn't initially cope with the intensity of Bowyer's gameplan? In any case, if he were to be signed, it seems like for a while we'd still have only 2 fit midfielders.
Maybe Ledley was on the radar before Bowyer and Gallen knew the takeover was going to happen? Perhaps now they are looking at different options?
He still could be a short term solution. Bowyer might have £200m to sign Pogba and Modric, but that wouldn't be of any use until the window opens!
Comments
I suspect Ledley needs a club desperately and we need cover on the bench for an intensive December fixture list. I would rather have him on the bench than the likes of Vennings. As Pratley has demonstrated we need experience to supplement our youngsters.
We could then review the arrangement in January, so it could like a trial but with the difference that he would feature.
(1) Do we need him in the short/medium term?
(2) Do LB and SG want him?
If the answer is "yes" to both then we have to believe he will be a useful addition.
What then happens in January will determine where we are going this season and signings post May will give us an indication of the longer term aspirations of the new owners
I wouldn't say we have been lucky with Matthews, he's barely played.
Why was that? Normally it's because a player isn't playing regularly, therefore releasing him to sign immediately for a new club. But in this case, Ledley didn't sign for anyone.
Was he no longer in the manager's plans, had fallen out with him or persistent injury issues?
And what has he done with himself since last January?
Has he played non-League to keep himself fit, has he been dealing with a medical matter or has the time just slipped through his fingers?
Something doesn't add up.
I'd rather play a youngster.
He was a starter for the Wales side that made the Euro 2016 semi finals. Then within 3 years he can't even get a club?
Without stating the obvious, Albie is a serious talent. You don’t find many players with the technique that kid has.
Would rather him not be loaned out for the sake of Ledley. For example, look at Karel it was just a waste.
That's the end of my Joe Ledley knowledge.
We're possibly talking about a bench filler (we can't fill the bench) and if they are good enough for 10 mins for 6 games, that may be better than the alternative, which is no one.
The third coming maybe?
Maybe Ledley was on the radar before Bowyer and Gallen knew the takeover was going to happen?
Perhaps now they are looking at different options?