Howson > or < than Leadbitter?

It's a tough call I think; both knit the team together, linking things up, but most of all organising and doing a lot of work that's often unnoticed, especially Howson who was my MOTM today - he was outstanding and was the heartbeat of the team. I'm sure CW loves him, but wished he was 2 or 3 years younger too.

Grant enjoyed being part of a great promotion side, but before that his form wasn't at the same level. For two seasons though he was exceptional for us and a key player.

Howson has chopped and changed roles, which makes it more difficult to judge, but he's a more complete footballer though, more mobile and quicker.

Both deserve to be remembered as great players for us.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
Today's game was the most I've seen us dominate a game since well before the Clayton/Leadbitter partnership.

I look at the forwards that played in front of the pair of them and they were of a much higher calibre than those that Howson and Co have had to supply, the same goes for the players behind them.

We had superb defenders and attackers at this level when Clayton and Leadbitter were in their pomp.
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Can't help yourself can you. :D
 
Howson is playing out of his skin right now, maybe realizing that this could be his last chance at promotion. For me he’s been a “steady Eddie” type of player and although he works hard he’ll never be in the same sort of category as Leadboots, who was a game winner. Nonetheless Howson deserves a lot of credit for sticking by us during the bad times under Pulis etc where he was forced to play wherever, when he could have downed tools so easily.
 
Leadbitter was a championship Roy Keane,absolute warrior and leader.
After a slow start to his Boro career Howson has won me over,he's a model pro and deserves another year in my opinion.
If its a choice between the two,I'd go Grant all day every day.
 
DanBoro4499 said:
I think thats harsh, especially over the last 2 years.

I'd agree with that average under monk/pulis though.
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Not true, another couple of uneducated boro fans.
You can’t compare howson with leadbitter because they are totally different types of players
Howson however is quality on the ball and been crucial to the club with his versatility by playing c/h
Leadbitter was a great leader and a warrior

howson suits the Chris wilder way and expect more from him before his legs give way 👍
 
Leadbitter all day long for me. Howson is playing well atm but he has been very inconsistent throughout his Boro career. So much so that I would have gladly seen him go a few years ago. Long may he continue playing as he is now.
 
Howson might not have had his boot on the ball, but that first goal yesterday was his. He chased his man 15 metres and hounded him. He applied the pressure and Yates crumbled.
 
I'd say it's Leadbitter comfortably.

Howson has on occasion been really good for us, but more often than not he's been average to poor.
He seems to be thriving under Wilder though and I thought he should be done as a starting player earlier this season when playing under Warnock.
Shows what a difference a manager can make and I'm happy for Howson.

Going purely on goal return is slightly deceptive considering Leadbitter took penalties for us.

Howson has a poor return of 6 goals in 205 games for us, and he should have contributed more than he has given he's been an absolute mainstay for 4 and half years and has largely played in the midfield.

Leadbitter managed 33 in 244, but 18 of them were from the penalty spot, though he outscored Howson from open play unless Howson pops up with 9 goals in the next 39 games.
 
I think an interesting question is whether Grant could play in the current Howson role - I don't think he could, he's maybe not mobile enough.

Doesn't really answer the 'better player' question though.
 
Howson is superb at the moment. Wilder is getting the best out of him. Long may it continue
 
probably my MoM yesterday though he had plenty of competition. absolutely bossing it at the moment and getting forward when he can as well. like borolad says the goal was his.
 
Under Monk and Pulis Howson was underwhelming; bought as a goal-scoring box-to-box midfielder but did none of the above. Under Woodgate and Warnock he was used to plug the biggest gaps and never shirked his job but, especially under Warnock, he was often made to look foolish. Under Wilder he has settled as a midfield anchor with licence to press and has arguably been as good or better in that role as Clayton at his best.

I suspect that Howson is a more complete footballer than Ledbitter but that Ledbitter was the more ferocious competitor. I think if we had appointed wilder instead of Monk that Howson would have been fantastic as the right-side attacking midfielder.
 
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