Howard Buy Or Lent

[Father Ted]

Howard to Burnley?

It is no secret that as well as the need to plug the gaps in defence, Owen Coyle is also seeking to give the side more options up front. Accordingly he has mentioned his desire to try and get a target man in to help relieve some of the pressure on Martin Paterson. A tall, pacy centre forward could well be just what we need!

One person who might fit that role is the former Luton and Derby striker, Steve Howard who not for the first time has been linked with a move to Turf Moor.

Clarets fans may well remember the strong rumours that former gaffer, Steve Cotterill was interested in bringing the striker to Turf Moor a few seasons back whilst he was playing for Luton but nothing came of that.

It now appears, according to the Burnley Express that Coyle might also be tempted to bring the player, now at League 1 side, Leicester City, to Turf Moor.

Howard started his professional career with Harlepool after joining them from non-league side Tow Law Town in 1995.

He then joined Northampton Town for £120,000 in February 1999. A record signing for the club at the time.

Howard however came to prominence when he joined Luton Town for £50,000 in March 2001 They would have paid another £25,000 if Luton had avoided relegation but they didnt!

At Luton he became their top scorer over a number of seasons helping them win promotion

signing a new deal in 2005.

In his first season at the Championship level, he scored 15 goals in 45 appearances.

Howard however played a large chunk of the season at centre-half following an Hatters injury crises.

Luton fans regarded Howard as a club legend, with over 100 goals in all competitions (96 in the league), five years of service plus helping them win two promotions.

They must have been gutted therefore when he signed for Derby County for £1 million in July 2006 following the beginning of the slide down the Leagues for the Hatters.

Leicester City signed Howard on New Years Day 2008 for a fee of £1.5 million but he was unable to prevent the club being relegated to League 1.

Although born in Durham, the 32 year old striker was found to be eligible to play for Scotland and has one Scotland B cap to his name.

[Thracian]

Not sure how Howard satisfies the need for a pacey forward.

And unless Howard's another with a leaving clause in his contract I cannot understand why City would contemplate letting him go if they're serious about challenging for the title.

Howard might be a frustrating player but he's a likely guarantee of 16 goals plus for the season barring injury.

[Webbo]

Not sure how Howard satisfies the need for a pacey forward.

And unless Howard's another with a leaving clause in his contract I cannot understand why City would contemplate letting him go if they're serious about challenging for the title.

Howard might be a frustrating player but he's a likely guarantee of 16 goals plus for the season barring injury.

Agreed.

[dilko2008]

Pacey ? no didnt know he could play at centre half though i would be gutted if he left to be fair cause we are just starting to see the real steve howard

[Mickey O'Neil]

I'd keep him tbh, unless an offer too good to turn down is made. I'm hoping Bazza has a good time out on loan and someone comes for him before Howard.

[Flynny]

Haha, tall and pacy. Tall and large maybe.

[Jimmy]

would be stupid to let him go without 1st getting in another target man

[General Smuts]

Please let this be true.

Sappleton for the 1st team once back from Bournemoth. Stuff of dreams.

[Jimmy]

Sappleton isn't ready yet

[lildave3]

Sappleton isn't ready yet

In 6 weeks he will be ready.

[General Smuts]

Sappleton isn't ready yet

Were not ready for Sappleton yet.

I'm still waiting on the fireworks to be delivered from Beijing, the bastards used more than they needed for some event thing they were holding there.

In the meantime i've got 200lbs of confetti and a life size statue of godzilla with his face on it without a home. This is the problem with outsourcing!

[Fez of Mahrez]

Were not ready for Sappleton yet.

I'm still waiting on the fireworks to be delivered from Beijing, the bastards used more than they needed for some event thing they were holding there.

In the meantime i've got 200lbs of confetti and a life size statue of godzilla with his face on it without a home. This is the problem with outsourcing!

[Jimmy]

In 6 weeks he will be ready.

why 6 weeks he only went there for a month

[General Smuts]

You laugh now but i've pencilled you in for the 2nd tier of the 15 man pyramid were making to celebrate his excellency. LD3 your on top dressed in nothing but the Sappleton flag.

I've rang his fellow countryman Usain Bolt to see if he'll appear, he seemed interested.

[lildave3]

why 6 weeks he only went there for a month

It was a Soccer AM thing. Ignore me.

You laugh now but i've pencilled you in for the 2nd tier of the 15 man pyramid were making to celebrate his excellency. LD3 your on top dressed in nothing but the Sappleton flag.

I've rang his fellow countryman Usain Bolt to see if he'll appear, he seemed interested.

Ha.

Apparently, there's a picture of me on Sappleton's bebo!

I heard nothing of one of you being there though

[Fez of Mahrez]

You laugh now but i've pencilled you in for the 2nd tier of the 15 man pyramid were making to celebrate his excellency. LD3 your on top dressed in nothing but the Sappleton flag.

I've rang his fellow countryman Usain Bolt to see if he'll appear, he seemed interested.

I hope there will be a cornucopia of famous Jamaicans (or Famaicans, if you will)

[Fez of Mahrez]

Do you reckon you could get your missus to change her name on Facebook to "Ricky Sappleton"? I want to see it say you're in a relationship with Big Sapps.

[syston_fox]

You laugh now but i've pencilled you in for the 2nd tier of the 15 man pyramid were making to celebrate his excellency. LD3 your on top dressed in nothing but the Sappleton flag.

I've rang his fellow countryman Usain Bolt to see if he'll appear, he seemed interested.

Is Ricardo Fuller welcome to then?

[General Smuts]

Ha.

Apparently, there's a picture of me on Sappleton's bebo!

I heard nothing of one of you being there though

He won't even accept me on facebook.

I hope there will be a cornucopia of famous Jamaicans (or Famaicans, if you will)

Big Frank, Jamie Lawrence, Levi Roots, Jimy Cliff, Shabba Ranks, Desmond Dekker, Shaggy, Courtney Walsh, and Mob Barley (the worlds formost Bob Marley impersonator).

All the greats will be there.

Do you reckon you could get your missus to change her name on Facebook to "Ricky Sappleton"? I want to see it say you're in a relationship with Big Sapps.

I wish. I literally wish.

Is Ricardo Fuller welcome to then?

Mablo's in the pyramid and for logistical reasons i can't have them both attend.

[General Smuts]

I want to edit his Wikipedia entry but i daren't.

[Fez of Mahrez]

You still watching Reading? In a shock move, Metallica have altered the lyrics to their anthem to Enter Sappleton.

[General Smuts]

You still watching Reading? In a shock move, Metallica have altered the lyrics to their anthem to Enter Sappleton.

Id love to enter Sappleton. Im sure he's more of a pitcher though tbh.

In other news. Cribs + Johnny Marr = amazing. <3

[davieG]

You laugh now but i've pencilled you in for the 2nd tier of the 15 man pyramid were making to celebrate his excellency. LD3 your on top dressed in nothing but the Sappleton flag.

I've rang his fellow countryman Usain Bolt to see if he'll appear, he seemed interested.

But he's bigger than Sapps

[Chairman of the Bored]

Er, on the Howard to Burnley story, if we could have Wade Elliot in return then, defo.

[Cheese Me]

Howard is playing well.

We have no need to sell.

Hope this isn't true (and I didn't really expect to be saying that before the season started but fair play to him, he's working hard and putting performances in)