Hi leeds fans

hearing a few rumours about hardaker today, whats a re your thoughts on him leaving for another SL club?

As far as I'm.concerned he has already left. Where he actually turns up next season is no concern of mine.

This ^^^^^^^^^

BUT, given there is no way (I assume) that we will be getting the £350k transfer fee, I'd like us to at least use him as a bargaining tool to get a player exchange in a position we need to strengthen the side, instead of just letting him go and waving any transfer fee....but I suspect the latter is what will happen or it will be announced as an 'undisclosed fee' which will probably amount to around £50k in reality...if that

Yeah agree with Cheeky. Use him in a deal to get someone to us.

Anyone you would want from Leigh? Reckon Glenn Stewart is their best player but he is yet to lace a boot. Too late now to make Ryan Brierley's dreams come true.

If Hardaker has come back committed and raring to go, it would be madness to force him out.

If of course he hasnt....

Hetherington sticks by players a lot, especially Hardaker in the past, even getting himself a misconduct charge for labelling it a witchhunt when the 2nd homophobic incident popped up when Hardaker blew a kiss at Flanagan of Saints. So for him to come out last month and pretty much make it certain that Hardaker wasn't in Leeds' plans for 2017 is quite telling of how things were left between Hardaker and the club.

Or does he mean that he's burnt his bridges with Mac and wont play while he's still coach?

Whatever actual fee is received GH will put a spin on it, so that's a side issue. The question is do we want a player to return in a key position who may again decide to either get himself in trouble off-field or simply go through the motions and not give a monkey's for whatever reason.

IMO we need to move forwards, and I think GH has said as much. I also think some of the quotes from Hardaker whilst in Oz (making out the long-term deal with Leeds was some kind of serfdom instead of something he negotiated and was probably pretty happy with at the time) would put GH off, not to mention all the extra hassle he's been in his time at Leeds.

Hardaker clearly wants/wanted to stay in Oz, but his performances this year were really average. He certainly wouldn't justify a big wage and any club that took him on based on this year would see him as a squad filler. I've said that maybe with a full off-season and lots of effort (including adding some serious weight without losing speed) he might go well, but he's hardly likely to be offered much in terms of wage, at least for the first year. So it wouldn't surprise me if SL is his only option.

He needs a fresh start, without any of the old baggage that he, unfortunately, comes with. My heart says I'd love to have him back, but my head says that there's too much 'behind the scenes' history and inner demons.
Personally I think he'll go to a rival SL club. I just hope it isn't in Lancashire! He will have something to prove when he returns, and I reckon he'll be back to his 2015 self with a fresh start. For all his sins, he was brilliant for us, and I hope he returns with a bang.

So do I but there seems to be relatively few players prone to personal crises for whom that happens. Much more usual that they never recapture the form of that short period when they burned bright. There are exceptions, of course, but I'd never bet on it.

Rumors on our board that we are in advanced discussions with Hardaker, but so are Salford and Leigh.
Powell managed to get him to go to Fev before Leeds so maybe he wants to work with him again. I would hope he would choose us over both Salford or Leigh, in hope more than anything because as it stands we are doomed with Greg Eden at fb.

I would hope for the sake of Hardaker and his career he'd choose Cas over Salford or Leigh too.

Straight swap for Gale

They'll use the money from selling Solomona to Sale.

I think Cas would be perfect for Zak, as long as he keeps his nose clean. But they would write that into his contract, anyway.

Cas will raise you Zak and Burrow to Cas for Gale to Leeds.
Kyle wood in as reserve 9.

I'd happily take such a deal IF it were on the table

Also rumoured that Leigh are looking at Hampshire and Evalds, either of whom could play fullback - if they aren't happy with McNally and Lee Smith.

Deal!

No thanks

Ben Roberts is the most likely swap.
We have two better halves than Roberts in Chase and Gale. As Meatloaf says, three into two don't go (well, he said something similar anyway).
We are, however, lacking a top full back now Dorn has retired.
You are clearly lacking a decent creative half.
Makes sense all round.

Taking Cas cast offs, how the tables have turned this past year

I wouldn't see it as that.
It seems to me it would be a deal to suit both parties.
Roberts is a quality player but not as good as Gale or Chase. He's on a large contract and probably won't get in the first choice 17.
Hardaker, likewise, is clearly a talent. However, he's doesn't seem to be in the frame at Leeds.
I'd suggest Hardaker is more of a "cast off" than Roberts given he is currently transfer listed?

Give over, Roberts is better then Chase. Benny is staying put, big contract, left foot kicker. Chase 1 year deal, will be behind a fit Roberts. If we sign Zak it means Denny is off to Sale. Zak FB . Eden on the wing.