Re: Player | Luke Gale : Mon Jul 26, 2021 7:56 pm  

Trebor1 wrote:

Things like these happen at all clubs in any professional sport. Club have dealt with it the right way and Gale has fully and publicly apologised which is good to hear. Big move stripping him of captaincy but this great club of ours has the highest level of standards which is why we’ve won so many trophies. I support the club 100 % on this. Time to move on and hope this leads to Gale stepping up his performance.

Agree with this but do think it`s a kick in the teeth taking the captaincy away from him.
Others who have played much worse clearly take it on the chin and I agree it could be down to frustration with Gale who has had an up and down season.
I know it was wrong him throwing punches at the Salford game but he was hit late and had the forwards knee on his neck/face at the time.
Time to move on I guess.

Re: Player | Luke Gale : Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:04 pm  

snowie wrote:

Come on you should of been used to it with Sinfield and Maguire

Sinfield was fine, Mcguire I agree.

Re: Player | Luke Gale : Mon Jul 26, 2021 9:31 pm  

chapylad wrote:

Agree with this but do think it`s a kick in the teeth taking the captaincy away from him.
Others who have played much worse clearly take it on the chin and I agree it could be down to frustration with Gale who has had an up and down season.
I know it was wrong him throwing punches at the Salford game but he was hit late and had the forwards knee on his neck/face at the time.
Time to move on I guess.

Yes ,but he may have lost the captaincy because the players were in disagreement with his actions .it has been claimed they were on Agars side in the bustup

Re: Player | Luke Gale : Tue Jul 27, 2021 4:49 am  

Think a lot depends on how he comes back into the team. He has a year left on his contract after this season and at the moment staying regardless of the fallout suits both parties with the world cup possibly still happening. He needs to play and Leeds have no halves. If wounds don't heel he may walk in the summer especially if Austin comes in which may be the clubs way of nudging him out of the door. Its one that could go either way dependent on the players reaction and future behaviour. On balance it seems the club have managed it well and with integrity.

Re: Player | Luke Gale : Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:41 am  

Quality action from a quality club - keep it in house but send a message out about who is in charge.

Gale is an overrated player with an enormous ego fuelled in part by his agent - a bit like James Ford at York. He looks OK in an era devoid of decent halves - Leeds don't let many really top young players leave - Danny McGuire showed who was real class in the 2017 final.

Re: Player | Luke Gale : Tue Jul 27, 2021 8:57 am  

wouldn't unduly suprise me to see gale move on come October

Re: Player | Luke Gale : Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:22 am  

tad rhino wrote:

wouldn't unduly suprise me to see gale move on come October

Me neither, especially if we sign Austin.

This little episode rightly or wrongly has soured my opinion of him a little, Our success over the last few years has been built around respect and solidarity in the squad yes there has been issues before but I don't think the players that caused the issues have ever lasted very long. The team spirit seems to have come back in spades and I wouldn't want any player ruining that, plus on top of the fact he hasn't really set the world alight especially this season I wouldn't be sorry if he did leave.

Re: Player | Luke Gale : Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:27 am  

I think this could be the end for Gale tbh.
On reflection, he has been slightly disappointing since he came back.
We moved heaven and earth to get him and he will be on a good whack - so I think the club have wanted more.
Don't get me wrong, he is exactly what we needed, and we could have been in a terrible mess if we hadn't brought him in.
He's had some decent games, but he's been inconsistent.
And the stupid disciplinary issues and suspensions - when we were decimated in the halves - are unforgivable for a senior player and captain.
With Sezer coming in and the potential to pair with Austin, I could see Gale being surplus to requirements.

How he might go will be interesting.
Does he sit a year in the stands at Leeds and wait to run out his contract?
Who would pay anything for a 33/34 year old?

In terms of O/S spot to create the space for Austin.
Likely to be Martin or Hurrell who makes way.
We are well stocked in the centre and back row.
We need King and Thompson as front row cover.

Re: Player | Luke Gale : Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:31 am  

christopher wrote:

Me neither, especially if we sign Austin.

This little episode rightly or wrongly has soured my opinion of him a little, Our success over the last few years has been built around respect and solidarity in the squad yes there has been issues before but I don't think the players that caused the issues have ever lasted very long. The team spirit seems to have come back in spades and I wouldn't want any player ruining that, plus on top of the fact he hasn't really set the world alight especially this season I wouldn't be sorry if he did leave.

good post - but you can imagine Gale's ego wouldn't let him be embarrassed in front of his peer group who he considers to be vastly inferior.

Re: Player | Luke Gale : Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:53 am  

Gale can be a contentious figure but he puts his heart and soul into his work. He says he thrives off pressure, well he has some now.

Honestly, I think the initial contract length was ambitious given his age and injury record, but I guess at the time they were keen to attract him in. Same with several other players including Thompson, who is solid enough but I'm still scratching my head over.

Do I think Austin and Sezer make a better half back combination than what we have now? Maybe. If they work together well and are good team mates, I could see it. With the pack we're developing you'd like to think a decent half back combination would have a good time.