Tried his bloody heart out every time he played for us and you can't ask for more than that. He was a far better footballer than many people realised and for most of his time with us he got pretty poor service, it was not a big shock that his best season for us in 91/92 was when Robert Lee was at his best putting in tons of quality from the right. Once Lee went then we never really gave Leaburn that sort of service again.
The only Centre forward we have ever had who was better at defending corners for us than actually banging them in at the other end. But still a Legend....
Because Leaburn was 6' 3, we expected him to be dominant in the air - but he never seemed able to jump. He had good chest control and laid the ball off well and, for a big man, he had a neat turn and was surprisingly skillful on the floor.
His biggest problem was that he suffered 'the Lisbies' in front of goal. He would score when he never had to think about it but when he had time, he dithered and frequently fluffed the chance.
But he scored many more goals than people gave him credit for, including a hatrick in a 5-1 away win at Ipswich.
"But he scored many more goals than people gave him credit for,"
No he didn't - dont tell lies :-) He had a career ratio of around 1 in 6, which is awful for a centre forward. However he did have other attributes which made him a cult figure.
Enjoyed watching him lose it against Chelsea ........
[cite]Posted By: 1905[/cite]"But he scored many more goals than people gave him credit for,"
No he didn't - dont tell lies :-) He had a career ratio of around 1 in 6, which is awful for a centre forward. However he did have other attributes which made him a cult figure.
Enjoyed watching him lose it against Chelsea ........
I meant that people seem to think he rarely scored - some seasons it did seem a bit like this, but he must have bagged 60 or 70 goals in all competitions since making his top flight debut as a 17 year old.
He would make us groan in frustration and then 2 minutes later set up a gilt edged chance for someone like....erm, Kim Grant. ;-)
11,000 of us saw him score a good header in that Quarter Final at Old Trafford in 1994.
Man U couldn't handle him that day.
i'm still of the impression that the club ruined him, due to our small squad and financial situation.
1. he was put in too early 2. he was kept in for too long when his confidence started to fall.
Despite his scoring record, Carl was an excellent team player that opposing centre halves used to dread playing against. Ask his team mates his worth to the side. He also had an excellent scoring record at both youth and reserve level, and if he was eased into first team football, instead of just thrown in and left there, i've no doubt he would of gone on to score a lot more goals than he did.
[cite]Posted By: uppernorth.Ian[/cite]Alot better than supporters gave him credit for, hold up play better than scoring ability,
still miles better than Lisbie.
[cite]Posted By: Ketman[/cite]The only Centre forward we have ever had who was better at defending corners for us than actually banging them in at the other end. But still a Legend....
Not wanting to disagree about Mr Leaburn being a legend, but we owe an awful lot of points to Shaun Bartlett clearing off the line etc, so he has a rival there at least.
I was really upset when Leaburn left - he was just starting to get a partnership going with Mendonca that I thought would take us up, then we sold him. I managed to find Richard Murray's email and sent him an angry note about lack of ambition etc. I got an equally angry reply! Dangerous thing email in those days. In the end Mr Murray and I went on to apologise to each other in more restrained letters. And we still got promoted!
Joe Jordan was eulogised in the press as a great striker because firstly he was a good target man and secondly because he could hold it up he brought others into the game. That more than made up for a perceived lack of goals (say) 10 a season.
As far as I'm concerned Carlo had all of Jordan's attributes yet in typical Charlton style some of our fans slagged him off as they do with other players whose attributes are not blindingly obvious.
Carlo was excellent and with a little more confidence in front of goal could have reached the very top.
AFKA is right about the responsibilities thrust on him at an early stage. Imagine Donovan Simmonds playing for the first team now. That is what LEABUUUURNN did!!
[cite]Posted By: LenGlover[/cite]Joe Jordan was eulogised in the press as a great striker because firstly he was a good target man and secondly because he could hold it up he brought others into the game. That more than made up for a perceived lack of goals (say) 10 a season.
As far as I'm concerned Carlo had all of Jordan's attributes yet in typical Charlton style some of our fans slagged him off as they do with other players whose attributes are not blindingly obvious.
Carlo was excellent and with a little more confidence in front of goal could have reached the very top.
AFKA is right about the responsibilities thrust on him at an early stage. Imagine Donovan Simmonds playing for the first team now. That is what LEABUUUURNN did!!
I don't know how you have done it Len but you have managed to put in a Pro-Kish post in the middle of a Leaburn thread, well played..! :-)
True Charlton legend, although I can also understand the view of the Leaburn haters (and there are a lot of them).
Favourite memories include - The hatrick at Ipswich - the goal he scored away to Southend when he beat the keeper about three times, waited for the defenc to get back and still scored - Chelsea in the play-offs.
I also agree with AFKA's comments that he was kept in too long.
Comments
lol, nice one!!
& I was very surprised to see him come in to bat for Canada last night ;-)
Once Lee went then we never really gave Leaburn that sort of service again.
His biggest problem was that he suffered 'the Lisbies' in front of goal. He would score when he never had to think about it but when he had time, he dithered and frequently fluffed the chance.
But he scored many more goals than people gave him credit for, including a hatrick in a 5-1 away win at Ipswich.
still miles better than Lisbie.
No he didn't - dont tell lies :-) He had a career ratio of around 1 in 6, which is awful for a centre forward. However he did have other attributes which made him a cult figure.
Enjoyed watching him lose it against Chelsea ........
I meant that people seem to think he rarely scored - some seasons it did seem a bit like this, but he must have bagged 60 or 70 goals in all competitions since making his top flight debut as a 17 year old.
He would make us groan in frustration and then 2 minutes later set up a gilt edged chance for someone like....erm, Kim Grant. ;-)
11,000 of us saw him score a good header in that Quarter Final at Old Trafford in 1994.
Man U couldn't handle him that day.
Leeeeeeeeeeeee-buuuuuurn!!!!!
Rose-tinted spectacles Legend.........
Yes Oggy! He was almost a personification of what our club was during those years to me. I loved that chant.
1. he was put in too early
2. he was kept in for too long when his confidence started to fall.
Despite his scoring record, Carl was an excellent team player that opposing centre halves used to dread playing against. Ask his team mates his worth to the side. He also had an excellent scoring record at both youth and reserve level, and if he was eased into first team football, instead of just thrown in and left there, i've no doubt he would of gone on to score a lot more goals than he did.
completely agree......
end of
91-92 season some great back post headed goals.
Southend, Sunderland away, Bristol Rovers at home (well West Ham)
Great days
Wouldnt put my life on him to convert a one on one with the keeper but that wasnt what Carlo was about. Set up far more goals than he scored.
Not wanting to disagree about Mr Leaburn being a legend, but we owe an awful lot of points to Shaun Bartlett clearing off the line etc, so he has a rival there at least.
As far as I'm concerned Carlo had all of Jordan's attributes yet in typical Charlton style some of our fans slagged him off as they do with other players whose attributes are not blindingly obvious.
Carlo was excellent and with a little more confidence in front of goal could have reached the very top.
AFKA is right about the responsibilities thrust on him at an early stage. Imagine Donovan Simmonds playing for the first team now. That is what LEABUUUURNN did!!
I don't know how you have done it Len but you have managed to put in a Pro-Kish post in the middle of a Leaburn thread, well played..! :-)
LOL!!!
Oh Len! You are priceless!!!!
Favourite memories include
- The hatrick at Ipswich
- the goal he scored away to Southend when he beat the keeper about three times, waited for the defenc to get back and still scored
- Chelsea in the play-offs.
I also agree with AFKA's comments that he was kept in too long.