Joe Ledley

He was prolific once, at the start of his first real season 2008/09 he scored 9 goals in the first 8 games, a few of which he played up front with Maloney in behind but once Vennegoor and McDonald came in and Maloney got injured he was paired with McDonald or Vennegoor and the goals disappeared.

Samaras imo would probably score 20 a season playing up front alone if he was supported by 2 wingers and a Commons or Paddy, like....

Kayal Ledley
Forrest McCourt Commons
Samaras
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I think he's too stupid to be expected to get goals whatever the setup. Whatever off-the-ball movement he once had is now gone.

Left wing is his best position by miles, unless we're holding on to a lead, in which case he would be a good option to put up front on his own.

 

Samaras will never get us 20 goals in a season, no matter if he is the lone striker, a winger, with a partner upfront, you get the idea where i'm going with this. The top and bottom of it is, he just isn't a prolific goalscorer. He just isn't a good enough finisher. His best position may well be LM, but we are not at our best when he plays there IMO. Izzy can't get forward, and his delivery is far better than Samaras's. I would have Joe back at LM.

 

Sammy is at his best when he can get the head down and drive at people. That is why he has done so well on the left in recent times and it's also why he would never score consistently in Scotland as a striker, seeing as defences are so deep and packed that there is literally no space to run with the ball.

Away from home in Europe as a lone striker maybe but certainly not in domestic games.

 

Even the idea of Samaras up front on his tod and no Hooper, to facilitate a different formation giving midfielders slightly more sttacking scope, does confuse me in truth. Having that as a Plan B? Fine. Having it as the Plan A however.....I can't fathom the logic there.

 

I can see where you're coming from. Gordon Strachan certainly curtailed the attacking instincts of Paul Hartley and Scott Brown when he signed them and it was a mistake in both instances in my opinion.

I think Joe Ledley does have more goals in him and that would become evident if he was given the freedom to get into the opposition's box more often. Having said that, it's difficult to criticise the way Neil Lennon uses Joe Ledley or the way Joe Ledley performs in the role he's been given. His level of performance is consistently good and he's one of the key players in our team.

 

He was equal 3rd top goalscorer for Celtic last season, behind Stokes and Hooper (outscoring Samaras by 50% of goals, which is worthy of note.)

It's not like his attacking instincts have been curtailed overly at all - we seem to be getting the best out of him in every way possible, if truth be told.

 

So we drop our top scorer, for Ledley to score and extra 2/3 goals? aye okay....


Also the part about him being able to pop 15 in for cardiff has to be the most ignorant stat I have ever seen! It only takes 5 seconds to realise he never achieved that in his time there.

 

When you think about it his goal and assist record in big games is outstanding. Scoring twice against the huns, and against Rennes and Helsinki, setting up Commons and Sammy against the huns.

 

No-one said he scored 15 for cardiff, a player of his caliber could have as years went on, he could , for me reach the 15 mark with a bit more freedom.


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I'd rather him scoring goals in big games rather than bagging one here and one there everytime we are giving some team a hiding! He isn't called Joe Deadley for nothing

 

That makes little/no sense. Should we give Mulgrew more freedom as he might get 15 a season?

 

How does that make no sense ? No we slotted Mulgrew in at Centre Back because he looked good there ?

Everyone agrees Ledley looks good going forward and breaking into the box. I was just wondering if there would be a benefit if he didnt have to worry about defensive duties as much . Its just a thought.


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there may well be a benefit, but I wouldn't really want an extra 6 goals a season to sacrifice the stellar job that Ledley carries out at the minute.

 

He looks good where he is playing right now.

Giving a player more freedom doesnt guarantee more goals/assist either! If we play him more advanced then the opposition will be tighter on him and his late runs to the box will be less effective.

 

I wouldn't have Joe as the 'advancing type' in a 3 man midfield. He's at his best when bursting forward from deep because he has more space and time that way. If he were to play further forward he'd be marked more closely and Joe, as great as he is, doesn't really have the best burst of pace or tricky feet to play in an advanced position.

 

There is a mixed opinion. Im only suggesting I would like to see it tried out for 1 game maybe. Obviously he does a excellent job for us, im sure everyone would agree they would like to see ledly play a petrov role.against 1 or 2 easier teams just to see. My original thought thinking he could play that role could be totally wrong.

I think he has the ability.


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I dont see anyone on here talking about "super joe " tonight . Put in centre mid ,where joe lovers say is his best position. Shocking game today hopping about trying to get the ball on his left peg slowed the whole game down. "Deadly" my * more like "deadleg"