Should Lenny retire?

joffaboy · Post: # 1138209Post **joffaboy** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:32pm

I mean the end of an era and all, we are probably 4-5 years off challenging again, two knee reco's, who knows how he will come back.

Lenny has been a great player for the Saints but is his time up? Should he be allowed to ship off to GWS, get some coin, and retire which will allow us to try to develop "the next Lenny".

I know this is sacreligious, and I will be attacked, however hard decisions need to be made.

This would be one of the hardest.

I can see the advantages and disadvantages to this strategy, but I would be interested in what you guys think.

Please try not to give a one word answer. I definitely understand an EMPHATIC NO, but i would like to hear your reason why we should keep Lenny instead of developing youngsters.

hungry for a premiership · Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:36pm

Lenny is the heart and soul of the club.

Would you sell your soul for some coin, joffaboy?

Ajer · Post: # 1138216Post **Ajer** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:36pm

Na i disagree. I think he has another year or two left in him, even with this knee injury. Even if he doesnt return to his best form, he always goes in hard and gives 100% every single time, plus his leadership out on the field is exceptional.

Richter · Post: # 1138217Post **Richter** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:36pm

No.

Window still open.
Great clubman who deserves to play (like Harv.s) until his body definitely can go no further.
Will be under the Vets list (?already is) so should be able to earn well with us.
See Melbourne's folly of retiring James MacDonald a year too early - can upset the fabric of a club and who knows what potential that could have to undermine.
This team can still challenge with Lenny in it and the possible emergence of some new younger players over the next 2 years.

plugger66 · Post: # 1138218Post **plugger66** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:38pm

I think he should. He is getting married in November and then going away for 6 weeks so he obviously has a change in priorities. He has just got a dog as well so he has to look after that.

OneEyedSainter77 · Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:39pm

I don;'t think Lenny would leave the Saints for anything? GWS could give him a blank cheque and say "Print any number you want on this paper and we'll pay you that a year" And Lenny would porbably still say no. He bleeds for our club.

Same applies to Roo, in fact.

joffaboy · Post: # 1138221Post **joffaboy** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:42pm

hungry for a premiership wrote:Lenny is the heart and soul of the club.

Would you sell your soul for some coin, joffaboy?

What soul. he was never a Saints fan, came from Sydney.

The guy is 32 next season, has two crook knees and will not be part of our next flag tilt.

We may get something for him and can develop a midfield spot with a youngster.

The guy will probably retire at the end of 2012, cant see him doing a Harvs.

Need to make tough decisions.

Do it for you dog Lenny.

plugger66 · Post: # 1138223Post **plugger66** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:42pm

OneEyedSainter77 wrote:I don;'t think Lenny would leave the Saints for anything? GWS could give him a blank cheque and say "Print any number you want on this paper and we'll pay you that a year" And Lenny would porbably still say no. He bleeds for our club.

Same applies to Roo, in fact.

They all bleed for the club until the club or the player see the writing on the wall. Look at Mini, Bakes and Eddy. All happy to go to GWS as soon as the club saw the writing on the wall.

mad saint guy · Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:42pm

Prior injury he was in the best form of his career. Also consider that fact that he has now effectively sat out a total of three seasons with injuries, which reduces the total wear and tear on the body. I think he has another two elite seasons left in him as well as one or two as an impact backup mid. He doesn't rely on pace, which is usually first to go and his conditioning is just too damn good for him to struggle running out games. No way should he leave the saints so early, especially when he has so much to teach the likes of Armo, Steven, Ledger, Crocker and Cripps.

samwell · Post: # 1138226Post **samwell** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:42pm

Forgetting the debate about whether the window is open or closed.. I would imagine the club would lose quite a few members if they traded Lenny - at a time when we can't really afford to lose any.. I'd be one of them!!

joffaboy · Post: # 1138229Post **joffaboy** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:44pm

mad saint guy wrote:Prior injury he was in the best form of his career. Also consider that fact that he has now effectively sat out a total of three seasons with injuries, which reduces the total wear and tear on the body. I think he has another two elite seasons left in him as well as one or two as an impact backup mid. He doesn't rely on pace, which is usually first to go and his conditioning is just too damn good for him to struggle running out games. No way should he leave the saints so early, especially when he has so much to teach the likes of Armo, Steven, Ledger, Crocker and Cripps.

Great response

joffaboy · Post: # 1138230Post **joffaboy** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:44pm

samwell wrote:Forgetting the debate about whether the window is open or closed.. I would imagine the club would lose quite a few members if they traded Lenny - at a time when we can't really afford to lose any.. I'd be one of them!!

So you support a player over the club???

How did you cope when plugger left?

plugger66 · Post: # 1138231Post **plugger66** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:46pm

joffaboy wrote:
samwell wrote:Forgetting the debate about whether the window is open or closed.. I would imagine the club would lose quite a few members if they traded Lenny - at a time when we can't really afford to lose any.. I'd be one of them!!
So you support a player over the club???

How did you cope when plugger left?

Im still here.

CURLY · Post: # 1138235Post **CURLY** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:50pm

joffaboy wrote:
hungry for a premiership wrote:Lenny is the heart and soul of the club.

Would you sell your soul for some coin, joffaboy?
What soul. he was never a Saints fan, came from Sydney.

The guy is 32 next season, has two crook knees and will not be part of our next flag tilt.

We may get something for him and can develop a midfield spot with a youngster.

The guy will probably retire at the end of 2012, cant see him doing a Harvs.

Need to make tough decisions.

Do it for you dog Lenny.

Two crook knees? wtf I thought he had knee recos to fix them.

samwell · Post: # 1138237Post **samwell** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:50pm

joffaboy wrote:
samwell wrote:Forgetting the debate about whether the window is open or closed.. I would imagine the club would lose quite a few members if they traded Lenny - at a time when we can't really afford to lose any.. I'd be one of them!!
So you support a player over the club???

How did you cope when plugger left?

you're right

trade him

SaintPav · Post: # 1138238Post **SaintPav** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:52pm

plugger66 wrote:I think he should. He is getting married in November and then going away for 6 weeks so he obviously has a change in priorities. He has just got a dog as well so he has to look after that.

Who is Lenny getting married to? Molly Meldrum?

SaintPav · Post: # 1138240Post **SaintPav** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:53pm

plugger66 wrote:I think he should. He is getting married in November and then going away for 6 weeks so he obviously has a change in priorities. He has just got a dog as well so he has to look after that.

He will also be busy with his new TV cooking show: Lunch with Lenny.

GoTheTorp · Post: # 1138245Post **GoTheTorp** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:56pm

SaintPav wrote:
plugger66 wrote:I think he should. He is getting married in November and then going away for 6 weeks so he obviously has a change in priorities. He has just got a dog as well so he has to look after that.
Who is Lenny getting married to? Molly Meldrum?

Sounds like shes ugly..

plugger66 · Post: # 1138246Post **plugger66** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 4:57pm

GoTheTorp wrote:
SaintPav wrote:
plugger66 wrote:I think he should. He is getting married in November and then going away for 6 weeks so he obviously has a change in priorities. He has just got a dog as well so he has to look after that.
Who is Lenny getting married to? Molly Meldrum?
Sounds like shes ugly..

No she isnt. She is fantastic.

OneEyedSainter77 · Wed 14 Sep 2011 5:00pm

plugger66 wrote:
joffaboy wrote:
samwell wrote:Forgetting the debate about whether the window is open or closed.. I would imagine the club would lose quite a few members if they traded Lenny - at a time when we can't really afford to lose any.. I'd be one of them!!
So you support a player over the club???

How did you cope when plugger left?
Im still here.

I lol'ed

Getting back to your point from before plugger about EVERY player bleeding for the club, i get that, but I just have the feeling Lenny and Roo wouldn't want to play anywhere else.

I remember in 2004 or 05 whenever Jones played his last season, after he quit, Essendon or someone was trying to poach him and Jones said something like if he wasn't playing for St Kilda the next year, he wouldn't be playing at all.

Lenny to me, seems to be in a similar vein. Next year, he either plays for St Kilda or he doesn't play.

That's just my opinion of course. What would i know about what really goes through Lenny's mind?

spert · Post: # 1138251Post **spert** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 5:03pm

Over 30 and two reco knees, no more midfield for him, I think it's time to move him into the forward line as we need a bit of grunt and attack on the opposition down there- would also be good for young guys like Siposs to have Lenny in the forward line.

Armoooo · Post: # 1138260Post **Armoooo** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 5:07pm

If he were to go to GWS I would be happy for him.

If he wants to stay and have one last real tilt at that elusive premiership then I would be more than happy to see him go around again in the next couple of years.

skeptic · Post: # 1138261Post **skeptic** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 5:08pm

Lenny fills a role that we can't cover... same as Milne. He's not holding anyone back

It's different to say Baker who is holding a spot from a Geary

U leave Lenny and and bring in who?

Given the positives he brings, he has to stay

saintphantom · Wed 14 Sep 2011 5:08pm

spert wrote:Over 30 and two reco knees, no more midfield for him, I think it's time to move him into the forward line as we need a bit of grunt and attack on the opposition down there- would also be good for young guys like Siposs to have Lenny in the forward line.

With the service he has given the Club. He will be given the chance to go out on his own terms.

Lenny will know when that is.

SainterK · Post: # 1138266Post **SainterK** » Wed 14 Sep 2011 5:09pm

I found myself wondering in the last quarter v Sydney what amazingly uplifting thing Lenny would of done had he been out there.