The years may have dimmed my recollections of the great man but was he truly that shit? Well at least compared to the chumps we currently have.
If you strip out his early years, that is when he was a youngster, I think you get a goals to games ratio of about one in five. And a couple of seasons in double figures. Something we can only dream about now! Additionally his assists for his strike partners were much appreciated. Carl Leaburn played a lot with his back to goal, it's true. But he could chest the ball further than I can kick it. I remember one header from the edge of the box which went like a bullet into the back of the net - Simon Church couldn't do that with his feet!
The years may have dimmed my recollections of the great man but was he truly that shit? Well at least compared to the chumps we currently have.
no he wasn't as a front man he was very good at holding the ball up and then passing, he might not have scored many goals but I'm sure he created quite a few.
When you watch the old highlights videos it really hits home how much he won in the air and what a presence up front he was. He may not have scored the most for us but he was a warrior when he needed to be and it can't be a coincidence that virtually every other striker while he was at the club always names him as their preferred strike partner.
Was gutted with the way he was treated towards the end of his time here and his subsequent transfer to Wimbledon. Wasn't he playing without a proper contract for about six months? (actually I can't remember much about the exact circumstances so it could well be he was the one at fault.... but at the time I remember it all seemed a bit of a farce)
Leaburn's goal scoring record doesn't look so bad when you consider the 'target men' strikers we've had at this level and L1, very much a Heskey type player (though slower) in that other strikers loved playing with him
I can't remember what happened but back in those day's there was no freedom of contract and no Bosman freebies so maybe you retained the contract even on a week to week one and so got a fee.
I can't remember what happened but back in those day's there was no freedom of contract and no Bosman freebies so maybe you retained the contract even on a week to week one and so got a fee.
That is correct, he was on a week to week contract, and eventually left for Wimbledon for a fee during our promotion season in January 98. Mark Bright did a good job for us alongside Mendonca (completing his South London Hatrick)
I always felt that Carlo was put into the team too young and that affected him throughout his career. I suspect if he had been allowed to develop gradually he would have been more aggressive, however he was kicked from pillar to post by some nasty "hairy arsed" top flight defenders. Talking of aggression, at the Battle of The Bridge he was knocked out by a punch, when he came round he went mad and had Charlton staff rushing from all the place to hold him back.
If he was talking about racism on the terraces did he mention this match, it had the full repertoire of monkey chants, "They are letting them out of the cages now" as we brought on subs ....I was sitting with the Chelsea ... those were the days!!!
I always felt that Carlo was put into the team too young and that affected him throughout his career. I suspect if he had been allowed to develop gradually he would have been more aggressive, however he was kicked from pillar to post by some nasty "hairy arsed" top flight defenders.
This is exactly what Lennie Lawrence said at the City Addicks meeting. He had no choice but to throw him into the team as a 17 year old, very raw, kid. His subsequent development didn't allow him to be the player he could have been in different circumstances.
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What did he say?
Carl Leaburn played a lot with his back to goal, it's true. But he could chest the ball further than I can kick it. I remember one header from the edge of the box which went like a bullet into the back of the net - Simon Church couldn't do that with his feet!
Was gutted with the way he was treated towards the end of his time here and his subsequent transfer to Wimbledon. Wasn't he playing without a proper contract for about six months? (actually I can't remember much about the exact circumstances so it could well be he was the one at fault.... but at the time I remember it all seemed a bit of a farce)
About the same level as Iwelumo.
I liked Carl, always gave full effort and probably not appreciated as much as he should have been.
If he was talking about racism on the terraces did he mention this match, it had the full repertoire of monkey chants, "They are letting them out of the cages now" as we brought on subs ....I was sitting with the Chelsea ... those were the days!!!