Leon Best

[tetsujin1979]

picked up a bad knee injury at the weekend and gone for a scan today: http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2864661,00.html
unconfirmed rumours that it's a cruciate ligament injury, which would put him out for the season

[Carrigaline]

Looks like he has done his ACL alright - http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/9845473.Blackburn_Rovers_striker_Best_out_for_six_ months/

Out for 6 months, although that could be optimistic. Really feel for the poor bugger.

[Colbert Report]

I feel bad for Blackburn! Finally they start spending a bit of money and this happens. Hopefully they had insurance on his contract, he was on massive money for the Championship and they paid a pretty penny to get him too. Simon Cox on his way there today apparently.

[Murfinator]

Could be the end of him in an Irish context unfortunately.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think he's really been in with a shout since Walters arrived anyway. Barring injuries to two of Doyle, Long and Walters, he'd rarely get a look-in anyway. Noel Hunt would be more likely to make any squad now that he's in the Premier League and doesn't have the same perceived attitude problem.

[tetsujin1979]

expecting to return in February: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20725988

[TrapAPony]

He has returned to action on Monday after nearly seven months out with a cruciate ligament injury.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/19/article-0-17AA6149000005DC-508_468x331.jpg


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2281357/Leon-Best-returns-Blackburn-reserves-seven-month-absence.html

[SkStu]

Great news! Always good to see one of our own come back from a nasty injury. Hope he makes a full recovery and return to form...

[tetsujin1979]

Blackburn have gone through two managers in the time he's been out injured!

[CraftyToePoke]

Blackburn have gone through two managers in the time he's been out injured!

It was a daft transfer from Best's career perspective I thought, he has fought his way back once already from having to drop down the levels, he did enough to suggest a top flight future, international involvement beckons, and immediately joins a relegated club, and one in meltdown at that. Crazy.

[tetsujin1979]

back on the bench tonight against Bolton

[tricky_colour]

got a late equaliser for blackburn looked a cracker first time i was it

[Charlie Darwin]

It was a lovely finish, came into the box with pace and he just guided it into the corner.

[tricky_colour]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhVyNQLUrgM

looks different from different angles but about 0.51 looks best, more of a flying volley which is as I first saw, other angles
may not look so impressive but it was a quality finish, not easy to put away from that angle.

[Grafter]

Think we should Curb our Enthusiasm in terms of Best and Ireland....

If memory serves right, didn't he dirty his bib in Trap's eyes a few years back....
Combination of dodgy pullouts from squads and then one occasion we he turned up it was suggested in papers that he wasn't "at it" in training....

Like Stokes, Gibson, Doyle etc...think it'll be post Trap before Best is called up again (if ever)

[Crosby87]

Do you really think he is good enough for Int'l football?

[Grafter]

Do you really think he is good enough for Int'l football?

Has had a wretched 18 months with injuries.... he went through a stage at Newcastle where he was playing with some pomp and scoring regularly in EPL..... he's an option.... in terms of finishing he certainly isn't far behind Long who isn't a natural finisher that's for sure....

[tricky_colour]

At his Best he is one of our Best. ;)

If he keeps scoring he is one to consider I guess. Key word is if.

[Grafter]

......and that should just about do it Leon, nice knowing ya!:rolleyes:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/best-slams-pathetic-trap-after-star-turn-for-blackburn-29472602.html

[Serb]

I get that he's frustrated, but why do players effectively kill of their international career in the short term at least by spouting stuff like that? No manager likes to be publicly blasted by a player, so it could even possibly count against him when other managers are taking a look. Scout report would read something like, "Looks a decent player, but will go to the press when things aren't going his way".

[Charlie Darwin]

Because they're morons.

[CraftyToePoke]

I get that he's frustrated, but why do players effectively kill of their international career in the short term at least by spouting stuff like that? No manager likes to be publicly blasted by a player, so it could even possibly count against him when other managers are taking a look. Scout report would read something like, "Looks a decent player, but will go to the press when things aren't going his way".

Yeah but this is a guy who, after working his way back up from Coventry to Newcastle via QPR / Wednesday / Bournemouth & Yeovil, just as he was proving he could score goals up top and make people sit up, decided to join the publicly imploding Blackburn Rovers and drop a level again. Baffling.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think he was basically told he wouldn't be playing at Newcastle last season.

[tricky_colour]

Because they're morons.

Or because they do not want to be called up.

[Serb]

Or because they do not want to be called up.

Yeah, that's obviously the case with some players. There are so many potential reasons though. It could be a maturity thing in that rather than just call Trap and say, "I'm no longer available for international selection", he engineers a disagreement with the coach and rules himself out of selection. That approach sits easier with fans of club and country in that we can fool ourselves into thinking that he's not being called up for now because Trap doesn't like him and the player can then go back and play for his country if things aren't working out at club level and he needs to put himself in the shop window.

I think this whole idea of playing for your country being the greatest honour possible and, "I'd give my left arm to pull on the green just that one time", is all complete bull**** when it comes to actually being good enough to be called up for your country. My belief is that the majority of players don't like to miss the tournaments because that's when people are watching. When it comes to the month to month slog, for most players it's OK. A select few are super passionate about playing for their country and a select few hate every minute of it.

I think the number one factor that devalues the experience is the amount of travelling that's required to participate. I have seen it in my own job where, on paper, it sounds great getting to spend 6 weeks in San Francisco, but the reality is it's a pain in the dick having to work in a city where you barely know anyone, live out of a hotel room, hang around with the same bunch of lads who you're not mates with, but you can't ignore either because you have to collaborate on a long term basis. It's probably worse still for footballers as they can't go out and are most likely on extremely strict diets (apart from Andy Reid and Richard Dunne who just eat what they want).

[DannyInvincible]

Richard Dunne has always been bulky, sure, but it's muscular bulk. I've never thought of him as being out of shape in the way Reid has often allowed himself to balloon. Dunne's physique suits his position much better too, whereas I can't really fathom what sort of nutritional head Reid has on him for a midfielder. I have heard Reid has slimmed down again for the start of this season, mind.

[Crosby87]

This is so ridiculous. He had one decent game vs Derby. There will come a time when no one talks about him for months......

[peadar1987]

Richard Dunne is on a strict diet of Russian attackers

[Yard of Pace]

Richard Dunne has always been bulky, sure, but it's muscular bulk. I've never thought of him as being out of shape in the way Reid has often allowed himself to balloon. Dunne's physique suits his position much better too, whereas I can't really fathom what sort of nutritional head Reid has on him for a midfielder. I have heard Reid has slimmed down again for the start of this season, mind.

Reid looks in great shape and his creativity was the difference between Forest securing a win against Huddersfield on the opening day rather than getting a draw.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

2 goals in 5 starts this season, including this cracker against Derby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3ntjtUlg4, but he hasn't played since October http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=38733.

He's struggled with injuries but if he gets a move in this transfer window, he could become a serious option for the EC Qualifiers in 2016. He's arguably a better option than Cox, Walters, Keogh and maybe Doyle and Stokes anyway.

The bust up with the manager at Blackburn and his use of Twitter probably won't do him any favours though.

[tetsujin1979]

2 goals in 5 starts this season, including this cracker against Derby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3ntjtUlg4, but he hasn't played since October http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=38733.

He's struggled with injuries but if he gets a move in this transfer window, he could become a serious option for the EC Qualifiers in 2016. He's arguably a better option than Cox, Walters, Keogh and maybe Doyle and Stokes anyway.

The bust up with the manager at Blackburn and his use of Twitter probably won't do him any favours though.
what did he do on twitter? he hasn't posted anything since March 2013!

[tetsujin1979]

Linked with a move to Crystal Palace as part of the Scott Dann transfer this morning.
If Pulis can get Chamakh scoring, imagine what he can do with Best!

[Stuttgart88]

Oh God, not another false dawn for Best! If Best can play for Palace so can Kevin Doyle.

I fear Im going to go all Worm and David Connolly wrt Doyle!

[Charlie Darwin]

I wouldn't have said they were similar players at all really. Best is a big striker who can bully defenders and score goals off his own bat. Doyle is a nightmare for defenders to play against but he's never offered much of a goal threat in a team that isn't dominant.

[rebelmusic]

The Daily Mail claim Crystal Palace are trying to force through a deal for Leon Best. Blackburn would be happy to see the back of him.
by Football365 2:50 AM

[Crosby87]

Could try to revive career at Charlton:
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/11003919.Blackburn_Rovers_striker_Leon_Best_wanted _by_Charlton/?ref=var_0

[tetsujin1979]

Signed for Sheffield Wednesday on loan: http://www.swfc.co.uk/news/article/sheffield-wednesday-sign-leon-best-1358223.aspx

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Pity that move to Palace fell through on Deadline Day. Decent option is Best, when he is fit and his head is right.

[OwlsFan]

Pity that move to Palace fell through on Deadline Day. Decent option is Best, when he is fit and his head is right.

Head can't be right signing for Wednesday :)

[OwlsFan]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[paul_oshea]

The wife throw you out again Owlsy?

[OwlsFan]

The wife throw you out again Owlsy?

Leon, Leon, Leon, I once had high hopes for you even before you went on loan to Wednesday. Now you miss a penalty and then Owls concede a penalty in the 88th minute. You had pace, good ball control and a physicality about you. Injury I believe robbed you of an internationa career. Still only 27 but is it too late?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www1.skysports.com/transfer/news/11703/9213042/championship-wednesday-extend-loan-deals-for-sam-hutchinson-and-leon-best

Loan extended until end of season.

[SkStu]

Himself and Caolan Lavery have scored in the first half to put Wednesday up 2-0 v Brum.

Goal!
Goal! Sheffield Wednesday 2, Birmingham City 0. Leon Best (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a corner.

Booking
Caolan Lavery (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration. 15:53 Goal scored
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield Wednesday 1, Birmingham City 0. Caolan Lavery (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kieran Lee.

[OwlsFan]

I never doubted you for one minute Leon.

[BonnieShels]

I never doubted you for one minute Leon.

Every so often a post on here breaks me in two. Wonderful.

[SolitudeRed]

Leon, Leon, Leon, I once had high hopes for you even before you went on loan to Wednesday. Now you miss a penalty and then Owls concede a penalty in the 88th minute. You had pace, good ball control and a physicality about you. Injury I believe robbed you of an internationa career. Still only 27 but is it too late?

scored again tonight! you should have voiced doubts about him earlier! :D if he keeps up this goalscoring form and stays injury free (a big if for him if his past is anything to go by tbf) then his international career might not be over just yet. especially if they are looking at players like Murphy and McGoldrick who are playing at a similar level.

[OwlsFan]

Leon, you're the biz ;)

[Charlie Darwin]

Just put 10-man Wednesday 3-2 up to put a serious dent in Bournemouth's play-off chances.

[Charlie Darwin]

Best transfer listed: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9324881/leon-best-dj-campbell-and-dickson-etuhu-on-blackburn-transfer-list