Leigertwood tribute thread

[Brum Royal]

Sorry to see him leave, thought he would definitely do a job for us next season as he looked to be like his old self against Burnley on Saturday. The ultimate stopper in that Champo winning team. He also adorns my Prem shirt in tribute to scoring the goal v Forest, and the picture of him crowd surfing is one of my favourite from that evening.

[Royal Ginger]

I'd still have him in the team. Even after a year out, in these last few matches he's shown a touch of class and given the midfield some shape again. He really seemed to help Akpan.

Always be a Reading hero for me. That watertight Ledge/Karacan CM pairing will stand up as one of the best we'll ever have.

[SPARTA]

[kwik-silva]

He really seemed to help Akpan

Totally agree with that, could cover any mistakes he made and Akpan could have a bit of a freer role which seemed to benefit him.

[billybraggsbeard]

Good player, often held the team together and look effortless in his ability to get his foot in and break up attacks, great distributor as well sadly underrated by some fools. Would still do a job next season, but can see the clubs logic about wanting to bring youngsters through and get a relatively high earner off the wage bill

[Whore Jackie]

Real pity to see Ledge go. From one of the worst debuts I've ever seen, he turned in performance after performance, and for such a big fella, he had surprisingly good feet.
WJ Junior did one of those Guard of Honour packages with his club. He's always worn number 8 and Leigertwood came over and shook his hand and stuff. Absolute gent.

[Snowball]

One of my favorite ever players and an example of the short memories fans have.

- First season on loan we went unbeaten for about his first 20 games in the team, inspiring a new dawn Post-Coppell
- Doggedly winning almost every tackle the following season as we finished 1st, chipping in some significant goals too.
- Hounded out of the club after a few mistakes while trying to play through injury against the very best in the country.

Well said. Great player. You could see the side improve when he came back for his swan-song

[Snowball]

Wasn't expecting to see him again, so glad he got to play this season. Good luck Elwood x

What prat called him Elwood?

[Ouroboros]

What a strange player, Mikele. I've barely seen anyone at RFC with a wider range of performance level - at his worst looking like he'd not previously been introduced to a football, but at his best an absolutely dominating presence at Championship level.

Overall perhaps the best defensive midfielder we've had since Sidwell (recognising it's a poor field). And those infrequent but spectacular goals from outside the box were most entertaining.

As a perenially under-appreciated player, the scenes of him being held aloft after the promotion-winning goal made for a seriously special moment.

Thanks Ledge.

[genome]

[Brum Royal]

Thanks G, that's the pic I was referring to as well

[genome]

I tried to find a gif to no avail!

[Ouroboros]

Heart-warming stuff.

Look at his face. Just look at his face!

[genome]

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

I had him on my shirt in 2010/11. Very few players have had that honour.

Loved him when he came in on loan. Loved him getting signing permanently.

Somehow he was everywhere and the ball just stuck to him, you'd see a player on a mazy run through midfield, casual as you'd like Ledge would stick his leg out and the ball would stop whilst the player carried on.

Always known to come in with a bang then settle at clubs, lasted a little longer than many clubs before performances dropped and although there were some clangers and age caught up a bit, at times he was an unfair scapegoat and genuinely lovely guy.

Keeping him would have been a risk, he probably shouldn't have been playing at the end of this season but was thrown in because of our injury crises. Looked like he was going to have to retire from that injury too, but strong men keep on. His last performance was excellent and I'm glad he went out on a good performance.

Plus there was the LEDGEHAMMER, "one goal, we only need one goal" and crowdsurfing.

We've lost some great people from the club in Kaspars, Ledge and Jobi, which epitomised what this club has been about.

I miss him. In an almost Bryn way.

Perfectly summed up Maffff. This season might have been just a little better if he'd not had such bad luck with injuries. All the best for the future Mik!

[genome]

I love the random Heart FM journalist in this pic.

"Mikele, can I have a word?

Mikele?"

[Ian Royal]

Great Championship player. Put in a shift in the PL and tried hard, can't blame him that he wasn't up to it and got bugger all support but was played every week anyway. Shame he spent most of this season injured, would have done a job when Karacan, Williams and Guthrie were out.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Top bloke an unsung hero and a loss to the team but right move for all concerned, love his work rate simplicity , he scored a cracking goal last season but I can't remember against who, but it was a thunderbolt

[SCIAG]

First 6 months he was at the club he was a 8+/10 every game.
Might well have won POTS if he'd been there all season.

'Greed. We were pretty rubbish before he came in, but he transformed the side and was instrumental in our playoff campaign. Got my vote for POTS.

His contribution in the PL was under-appreciated - he did good jobs on Berbatov and Fellaini, and played that amazing pass to Kébé against Newcastle. In a three man midfield (with Guthrie and later Carrico) he would have been more than fine.

Huge player for us. I hope his injury hasn't affected his career long term.

Press mute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr54rZLzvOM

[MmmMonsterMunch]

I think the club have been incredibly stupid not to offer him another year. Harder to replace than Jobi IMO.

He was fooking superb on Sat as well.

Good luck for the future Leigertwood. You are an absolute don at championship level.