Leon Best [Archive] - Page 2

livehead1

31/05/2009, 9:24 PM

...from Thursday's Indo..

Nottingham-born Best lived in Dublin for a period of his youth and, despite representing Ireland at U-17 and U-18 level, there was confusion over his international allegiance in 2005 when England named the front man in an U-20 selection.

Injury prevented him from making a decision -- Ireland had summoned him at the same time -- but he says there was no choice to make anyway.

"Because I didn't go with any of them, somebody in green probably had the wrong impression, but, like I said, when I was young, Ireland always showed me a lot of loyalty and I'll show it back," said Best.

"I went to Cherry Orchard school, I played for Lourdes Celtic and lived in Bluebell. It's a big part of me, most of family are in Ireland and my brother, Stephen, who lives in Bluebell will be coming over for the game."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/hunt-makes-case-for-starting--place-1753135.html

Yep, think it was more 8-10 though, definately not till 12 as I knew him then.

Noelys Guitar

29/09/2009, 9:24 PM

2 more goals for Best tonight. I'm starting to believe this guy is the real deal. I really like the way he is progressing.

richieos

29/09/2009, 11:57 PM

2 more goals for Best tonight. I'm starting to believe this guy is the real deal. I really like the way he is progressing.

Seeing the progress of leon best has really filled me with confidence in terms of traps ability to spot talent in a player.

Lenny82

30/09/2009, 10:20 AM

This fella could be the Kevin Doyle of the Championship this season. I had high hopes of Noel Hunt and Shane Long battling for the Championships Golden Boot but it could be Best and Morrison now. How old is Leon Best? Great to see him score again last night!

DeLorean

30/09/2009, 10:53 AM

How old is Leon Best?

Just turned 23.

Drumcondra 69er

30/09/2009, 11:06 AM

Seems to have come on in leaps and bounds this season, I wonder has the call up given his confidence a boost. Good to see anyway.

Manc Irish Wolf

30/09/2009, 12:04 PM

A lot of mates of mine are Cov fans and reckon that he has been unplayable in a few games this season. Always seemed to have the movement before but was maybe not the finshed article. Appears that he has bulked up a bit this season and his strength is becoming a key factor.

However, Keiran Westwood is rated as high, if not higher - apparently he was meant to be class last night.

Tipp Townie

30/09/2009, 12:41 PM

Have to admit i allowed myself a broad smile when i saw Best's name come up on the Sky Sports news 'ticker' last night. Lets hope he keeps up this form and his progress. To be honest the South Africa game was the first time i'd gotten a decent look at Best and I liked what i saw.

I'm constantly looking out for the Coventry results at the moment, what with Best, Westwood and Clinton in great form. Funny how it goes eh; never thought i'd end up the slightest bit bothered about what Coventry City were up to!

tetsujin1979

30/09/2009, 12:43 PM

However, Keiran Westwood is rated as high, if not higher - apparently he was meant to be class last night.
the text commentary had Westwood as the key player for Coventry alright

youngirish

30/09/2009, 1:23 PM

Stuttgart88

30/09/2009, 2:31 PM

My mate was at Watford v Coventry last night. He said Chris Woods, now Everton goalkeeping coach (?), was taking notes on Westwood throughout the game.

irishfan86

30/09/2009, 3:49 PM

Be great if he could get a move to the Premiership in January and if he could do well there. We could possibly have 4 strikers playing regularly in the Premiership come South Africa if we did manage to qualify.

I've always thought Best was a better player than Folan who's just a big lump to drag on every now and then to throw himself about. He offers little otherwise.

Considering all our promising young strikers a few years ago it's amazing how many fell off the radar.

I still think Folan offers something different in that he's more effective in the air, and better at hold-up play.

There's no question in my mind that Best will score more goals, but against certain teams, having an aerial outlet like Folan has its uses.

I also think Folan has a bit more class than he's given credit for. He's got a pretty good first touch, and is good at directing flick ons with accuracy.

In terms of what all this means, I feel that Folan, if partnered with Robbie, would get the best out of him, whereas if Best and Keane played together, they'd probably play as independent strikers and not link up too well.

I realize a certain amount of this is speculation, but these are my thoughts. Excited to see Best doing so well though.

Docboy

30/09/2009, 4:48 PM

Call me old-fashioned if you like but I prefer strikers who tend to score goals, from what I've seen of Folan he's not going to be a prolific goal gett;)er.

irishfan86

30/09/2009, 5:18 PM

Call me old-fashioned if you like but I prefer strikers who tend to score goals, from what I've seen of Folan he's not going to be a prolific goal gett;)er.

We all like strikers who can score goals, but sometimes the work of what I would call "complementary" strikers make the team overall better, even if they aren't the ones who put the ball in the back of the net.

To put this another way, would you prefer a striker who scored 5, but got no assists, or a striker who got 0 goals and 10 assists?

I'd take the latter every time. Goals are one key ingredient for a striker, but you've got to look at the total package that an individual brings to the table.

DeLorean

30/09/2009, 5:25 PM

Yeah I definitely agree with irishfan there. Remember the potent Quinn/Phillips partnership. I'm sure there were plenty of better goal scorers around than Quinn at that stage but how many would have complimented Phillips as well?

In the case of Best and Folan, Best may well turn out to be a better player for Ireland. However, at the moment Folan is the one out of the two that offers something different, from what I've seen of both, which hasn't been much.

irishfan86

30/09/2009, 6:46 PM

For the record, I believe Best will have a better club career and score more goals than Folan for Ireland, but they're different players with different skill sets and attributes.

I agree with the sentiments expressed here about Best though, he is looking a scary player.

dr_peepee

30/09/2009, 7:44 PM

I still think Folan offers something different in that he's more effective in the air, and better at hold-up play.

I don't rate Folan. Very one dimensional, and at best he's only average to good at that one dimension. He tried to be a more rounded player lately but it doesn't come off for him.

Stuttgart88

30/09/2009, 9:17 PM

I think people are underestimating Best's presence in the air and his ability to bully defenders.

I thought Folan was excellent in Bari, and started OK in Bulgaria. Poor against SA.

livehead1

30/09/2009, 9:40 PM

irishfan86

30/09/2009, 9:48 PM

I think people are underestimating Best's presence in the air and his ability to bully defenders.

I thought Folan was excellent in Bari, and started OK in Bulgaria. Poor against SA.

He can bully defenders by harrying them and he's too strong to push off the ball, but in the air he's not nearly as effective as Folan (from what I've seen).

Admittedly, I haven't seen a tonne of either player, so I may be wrong on this, but this is what I've picked up from the games I have seen.

Acornvilla

01/10/2009, 7:41 AM

did a few of the weast ham lads not live on the same road growing up?

jbyrne

01/10/2009, 7:46 AM

Call me old-fashioned if you like but I prefer strikers who tend to score goals, from what I've seen of Folan he's not going to be a prolific goal gett;)er.

we have suffered badly since quinn retired. he never scored a huge amt of goals but always brought the best out of those around him due to his size . Ireland v germany wc 02 being prime example

tetsujin1979

01/10/2009, 9:08 AM

we have suffered badly since quinn retired. he never scored a huge amt of goals but always brought the best out of those around him due to his size . Ireland v germany wc 02 being prime example
despite being our second top scorer in international football?

jbyrne

01/10/2009, 9:12 AM

despite being our second top scorer in international football?

21 goals over 92 internationals is not a big return. always helped others to score though

dr_peepee

01/10/2009, 1:14 PM

What did I tell you all 5 years ago....

:D Hah I've been waiting on that one!!!

DeLorean

01/10/2009, 1:26 PM

21 goals over 92 internationals is not a big return. always helped others to score though

He got some right important ones in fairness-

Palermo equaliser v Holland
Wembley equaliser v England
Lansdowne equaliser v Denmark

Maybe more, can't rememer. I'd say the highest quality opposition and most important goal Aldridge scored was against Mexico. Never really scored against any really big teams that I can remember despite the ones against Malta being important. Man I'm gone way off topic, that Best looks a good player:o

Hunty's Flatcap

01/10/2009, 1:41 PM

Not sure where I read it but I remember reading an interview with Chris Coleman talking about how the penny seems to have dropped with Best. He alluded to Best's inclusion in recent Ireland squad's as the reason behind his recent progression and suggested that it's a real motivation for him.

jbyrne

01/10/2009, 2:54 PM

He got some right important ones in fairness-

Palermo equaliser v Holland
Wembley equaliser v England
Lansdowne equaliser v Denmark

Maybe more, can't rememer. I'd say the highest quality opposition and most important goal Aldridge scored was against Mexico. Never really scored against any really big teams that I can remember despite the ones against Malta being important. Man I'm gone way off topic, that Best looks a good player:o

i wasnt having a pop at quinn. complete opposite actually. my original post was just pointing out that we have bissed having a big man since he retired

DeLorean

01/10/2009, 3:14 PM

i wasnt having a pop at quinn. complete opposite actually. my original post was just pointing out that we have bissed having a big man since he retired

I didn't for a second think you were. I totally took it that you were praising him actually. I probably used the words "in fairness" for no good reason.

elroy

01/10/2009, 4:14 PM

He got some right important ones in fairness-

Palermo equaliser v Holland
Wembley equaliser v England
Lansdowne equaliser v Denmark

Maybe more, can't rememer. I'd say the highest quality opposition and most important goal Aldridge scored was against Mexico. Never really scored against any really big teams that I can remember despite the ones against Malta being important. Man I'm gone way off topic, that Best looks a good player:o

remember the goal Aldo tried to claim against portugal at home in our 1-0 win in the Euro 96 campaign i think. Was an own goal by their goalkeeper Baia (?), Aldo didnt even touch it!!

Paulie

01/10/2009, 4:26 PM

Strangely enough, I think about 8 or 9 of Aldo's goals came against Latvia.

Supreme feet

01/10/2009, 5:04 PM

Strangely enough, I think about 8 or 9 of Aldo's goals came against Latvia.

Yeah, we played them four years in a row in the early 90s, winning all games. Aldo got a hat-trick in '92, one in '93, two in '94 and another two in '95.

Mad Moose

01/10/2009, 7:41 PM

What did I tell you all 5 years ago....

An interesting fact also: In last nights game. Will Hoskins scored for Watford and Leon Best scored for Coventry. They both went to the same school at the same time; I can't imagine that has happened too often!

Did Will Hoskins have a spell at Forest?. I know he was up at Rotherham and was prolific for them. I often meant to ask about his shirt been on the wall of the Holy Trinity. Did Best go to school there James if you went there?

livehead1

02/10/2009, 5:39 PM

Did Will Hoskins have a spell at Forest?. I know he was up at Rotherham and was prolific for them. I often meant to ask about his shirt been on the wall of the Holy Trinity. Did Best go to school there James if you went there?
Yeh on loan but was injured. They both went to school there.

Paddy Garcia

05/10/2009, 10:39 PM

Championship player of the month for September.

Tipp Townie

06/10/2009, 12:41 PM

remember the goal Aldo tried to claim against portugal at home in our 1-0 win in the Euro 96 campaign i think. Was an own goal by their goalkeeper Baia (?), Aldo didnt even touch it!!

..and then doing a really lairy celebration right in Baia's face (or was it Couto?!)

Brilliant:cool:

DeLorean

06/10/2009, 12:53 PM

..and then doing a really lairy celebration right in Baia's face (or was it Couto?!)

Brilliant:cool:

Yeah twas Couto after Baia'a og. Funny alright. Dunne should have done that to Hughes last night:D

eaststand85

21/10/2009, 12:13 PM

Best a concern for play-offs

Coventry City striker Leon Best has emerged as an injury worry for the Republic of Ireland�s World Cup play-offs against France. Best limped out of last nights defeat at Cardiff with a knee injury and left the stadium on crutches.

His club are waiting to discover the full extent of the injury with a scan scheduled for tomorrow but manager Chris Coleman admitted the initial prognosis was not encouraging.

�We are not sure how long he is going to be out for,� said Coleman. �His knee has swollen up badly and we won�t be banking on him returning soon. He�s a tough kid but it doesn�t look too good. It�s a real worry.�

Best has yet to break his international duck but has won five caps under Giovanni Trapattoni, the most recent coming in the final qualifier against Montenegro.

Ireland face France on November 14th at Croke Park, with the return leg taking place at the Stade de France four days later. A place at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa awaits the winners.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2009/1021/1224257179787.html

boovidge

21/10/2009, 12:36 PM

This is bad news. He's impressed every time I've seen him.

shaneker

21/10/2009, 12:37 PM

Gutted for Leon, really hope he makes it back in time - second leg, maybe? Gives us a useful option to change things around. Here's hoping.

Emmet7

21/10/2009, 1:50 PM

Hope he recovers soon.

Himself and Folan are real options for Ireland to put themselves about and get under the skin of defender's.

Keane and Doyle are good players, but sometimes it's really important to win headers and flick on's up front and Folan and Best are very good at that. They give us a different option if Keane and Doyle are not getting anywhere on the ground against good defenders.

geysir

21/10/2009, 1:55 PM

According to predictions, Folan will not be available for the play offs either

eaststand85

21/10/2009, 1:57 PM

Andy Reid for striker? :D:D

seanfhear

21/10/2009, 2:52 PM

Hope he gets back for the playoff.

blobbyblob

21/10/2009, 3:42 PM

Good luck to him with his recovery. Hope he gets there.

dr_peepee

21/10/2009, 3:49 PM

Ben Burgess it is so!!

as_i_say

21/10/2009, 3:56 PM

nah a recall for david connolly please.

Serb

21/10/2009, 4:05 PM

nah a recall for david connolly please.

Give Clinton Morrisson the nod I reckon.

Stuttgart88

21/10/2009, 9:46 PM

Ben Burgess it is so!!Very good!

Actually, given that Trap is on the record (I think) as saying he revised his plan B of playing A. Reid behind a lone striker because of the different option offered by Folan or Best, if neither of these is available...