Interesting view on "Lanky Leon" courtesy of Stoke Sentinel

<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><span class="articlehead">MY APOLOGIES LEON, AND THE BEST OF LUCK </span></td></tr><tr><td>Next Story | Previous Story | Back to list </td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><font face="arial" size="1">
15:00 - 15 January 2007 </font></td></tr><tr><td>If lanky Leon joins the Tykes today, let me be first in the queue to wish the big man all the best as I swallow down the last of my slice of the humble pie.When 'The Archer' arrived I thought Vale had signed a proper donkey. It's all to do with how he runs, you see.

<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left"></td></tr></tbody></table>For those who haven't seen him in the flesh, Leon has rather ungainly action, which makes him seem somewhat lazy - especially when your team isn't getting the rub of the green.

Even when he started banging in the goals I refused to admit he had either the ability or the commitment required of a first-team regular. In Burslem, we want people to die for the shirt - or at least try.

Then, to cap it all, he went and snatched at that sitter at Villa Park in the cup when it was still 0-0. I was about 50 feet away and I'm pretty sure old Leon heard my thoughts.

But as the months passed I realised that not all strikers play the game like Alan Shearer - or Billy Paynter, for that matter.

I also came round to the way of thinking that I didn't mind what Leon Constantine did for the other 89 minutes of the game??? so long as he scored.

And score he did: 30 goals in 67 appearances, to be precise.

Not bad for a bloke we bought for a bargain-basement &pound;20,000.

Take Leon's goals out of the equation this season and we'd be bottom of the table. Take him out of the equation altogether and we wouldn't have had two glorious, money-spinning cup runs either.

Yes, it hurts that we can't hold on to our top scorers, but I guess it was ever thus. And, make no mistake, &pound;120,000, plus a young striker, is good business for the Vale - particularly as Leon would have gone on a free in the summer, which would have hurt a hell of a lot more. (The prosecution would like to call wee McPhee to the witness box at this point???)

And before anyone starts spouting nonsense about there being no player loyalty these days - behave yourselves!

Every player has a price and they all want to (or should want to) play at a higher level. And in an industry where you're often finished at my age (34), who can blame them?

Leon, who's 28, has been a great servant to the Vale and deals like this (and cup runs) are what keep clubs like our solvent. No-one needs reminding that a couple of years ago we almost didn't have a Port Vale.

So where do we go from here? Well, let's hope Rodgers and Richards (sounds like a gentlemen's outfitters) - or one of them at least - can do the business for the rest of the season.

Surely there's enough goals in the team to win us another four games and make us safe so we can sit back and enjoy watching Dario Gradi looking over his shoulder at the drop zone.

Meanwhile, Tin Foyle can concentrate on preparing for next season. He might want to start by offering Jeff Smith a new two-year deal before another League One club realises he's out of contract in May.

The winger has morphed into a different player this season and, in my book, has certainly done enough to earn himself a lengthy deal.

So here's hoping some of John Rudge's wily wheeler-dealering has rubbed off on the gaffer: Bank the &pound;90,000, Martin, and back your new strikers to fill Leon's (rather large) boots.

Good luck if you go, Leon. Thanks. And sorry.
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How long do you reckon he'll get

before its "bring back Richards, at least he runs abart." ?

also, where's Durkar and bright red, cos I reckon I've twigged why Mattis has got so much stick.

 

Next Saturday

Assuming he fails to score against Luton I fully expect him to be booed on his home debut before a ball is kicked. </p>

Dwayne and Leon joined the tarn,
but after 1 week they both felt darn.
</p>

 

Yes, of course he will.

 

If he shows any semblence of skill he wont make Half-Time!

We like &quot;100%ers&quot; apparently.