Promotion Usually Needs a Special Player

[wardonia_blade]

In my time, United have been promoted 6 times. Whilst these weren’t 1 man teams, each promotion had a significant contribution from what I would class as a “special” player. Currie, Edwards, Deane and Jagielka. 3 of them went on to play for England.
The only current player who has a chance of achieving this special status IMO is Che Adams. Far from the finished article and plenty of hard work required by the player and the coaches, but the left footer that he rolled past Vorm in the semi-final will live with me for a long time. It had class written all over it.
He could be the man that history suggests that we need. Don’t sell him.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Sharp. 23 goals plus penalties.

 

[Jehovah]

If we stop shipping goals with the new defenders and create chances with the likes of Duffy, I think this season could be legendary for Sharp.

 

[Maidenhead]

In my time, United have been promoted 6 times. Whilst these weren’t 1 man teams, each promotion had a significant contribution from what I would class as a “special” player. Currie, Edwards, Deane and Jagielka. 3 of them went on to play for England.
The only current player who has a chance of achieving this special status IMO is Che Adams. Far from the finished article and plenty of hard work required by the player and the coaches, but the left footer that he rolled past Vorm in the semi-final will live with me for a long time. It had class written all over it.
He could be the man that history suggests that we need. Don’t sell him.

We have a budget.

What would you prefer 2 centrebacks or one Che?

 

[Ricky]

If we stop shipping goals with the new defenders and create chances with the likes of Duffy, I think this season could be legendary for Sharp.

Sharp should've had 30 even last season.

In a good team he could have a great season. With a capable strike partner it would be so much easier for him.

 

[Stretch]

Sorry to be pedantic but didn't Che score that goal with his right foot?

 

[wardonia_blade]

Sorry to be pedantic but didn't Che score that goal with his right foot?

Even better then.

 

[judge]

Think the lad is a long long long way off belonging being mentioned in the same breath as those blades legends

 

[wardonia_blade]

We have a budget.

What would you prefer 2 centrebacks or one Che?

All I am saying is that it is the special players who seem to make the difference.

 

[wardonia_blade]

Think the lad is a long long long way off belonging being mentioned in the same breath as those blades legends

Agree, but he has given glimpses that he has a chance.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Che just scored at Stocky

 

[raul]

We have a budget.

What would you prefer 2 centrebacks or one Che?

How do we know the budget doesn't cover both?

 

[Maidenhead]

How do we know the budget doesn't cover both?

Oi buddy, I thought I was the optimist around here.

If it covers both I'll be delighted.

If it doesn't my toys will stay safely away in the cupboard.

That's all I'm saying.

Never been the have my cake and eat it type of guy

 

[BigBed]

It will be a change to see UTD field 11 football players this season, they couldn't manage that last year. Thanks for that Mr Adkins, WANKER!

 

[grafikhaus]

I'd agree with the OP. While not being a 'one man team', having one of those 'talismanic' players galvanises the rest of the team. In the 'Triple Assault' season it was Michael Brown - 22 goals from midfield.

We've seen ample evidence in the Euros - Bale for Wales, Ronaldo for Portugal etc. England didn't have a single 'world class' player and the result was inevitable.

 

[Blade58]

We've made the mistake of getting shut of our special player












Come back Dean Hammond

 

[blade too long]

the beauty of football is you never know whos going to be the hero
It could be Fleck, scoring from midfield like Brown did
It could be a solid centre half holding us together
It might be a raiding full back with assist crosses

citing aint it

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

In my time, United have been promoted 6 times. Whilst these weren’t 1 man teams, each promotion had a significant contribution from what I would class as a “special” player. Currie, Edwards, Deane and Jagielka. 3 of them went on to play for England.
The only current player who has a chance of achieving this special status IMO is Che Adams. Far from the finished article and plenty of hard work required by the player and the coaches, but the left footer that he rolled past Vorm in the semi-final will live with me for a long time. It had class written all over it.
He could be the man that history suggests that we need. Don’t sell him.

Che is not anywhere near the status of the players you mention and IMO never will be . As mentioned by others the talisman is Sharp , but don't be surprised that this season we will have a number of outstanding leaders .

Sharp could hit 30 with the right service . Even Brayford will benefit from the influx of players who seem for once to have balls.

For promotion out of this league you need a squad of winners .

UTB

 

[blade67]

Sorry to be pedantic but didn't Che score that goal with his right foot?

no - it was his left foot. So less pedantic than inaccurate.

As for Che, I'd say he's one to keep as he's still only 19 and scored 12 goals last year, could really go mad this season if he can progress in terms of strength, speed of thought and decision making which you would expect to improve for a player of that age.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

the beauty of football is you never know whos going to be the hero
It could be Fleck, scoring from midfield like Brown did
It could be a solid centre half holding us together
It might be a raiding full back with assist crosses

citing aint it

Spot on.

No one would have predicted the season Brown had in 2002-2003, and don't forget Tonges role that season.

I also think Unsworth in 2005-2006 was the final peice in the jigsaw, his distribution from left back was incredible, and drove the team on. Ironic that he was the one who relegated us the year after!

What's promising is that we have some potential special players in sharp, Adams, Duffy, fleck, even James Wallace if he were to stay fit.

 

[Stretch]

no - it was his left foot. So less pedantic than inaccurate.

As for Che, I'd say he's one to keep as he's still only 19 and scored 12 goals last year, could really go mad this season if he can progress in terms of strength, speed of thought and decision making which you would expect to improve for a player of that age.

Watch the replay, right footed shot running in from the left side of the box. He opened his body to shoot with his right, the most difficult option considering how he was positioned. Thats the reason everyone creamed themselves about it. A world class finish.

 

[blade.i.am]

Although it wasn't quite a promotion season I would include Ched in that list

 

[Bladesway]

How do we know the budget doesn't cover both?

But we are just a little third division club. Market forces. You can't play players against their wishes. Everyone bumps their transfer prices up 50% when we come along. Stuff like that, you know?

FWIW there are a list of underachievers who with the right management and leadership have the ability. Done is one I think underperformed massively and I blame Adkins playing him all over the shop for that.

It genuinely is a clean slate for all concerned. From Scoogs, Mcnulty, Done, Brayford the lot. They have a chance to shine this season. I have more faith in Wilder because he won't tolerate any shit from them. He also seems to be cutting the cancer of failure from the club.

Wilder is about to show if he really is the real deal.

 

[Bladesway]

We've made the mistake of getting shut of our special player












Come back Dean Hammond

Well his Mum thinks he is special.

 

[Harry's Game]

We have had a few special needs players in the last few seasons.

 

[1973Blade]

I'm not sure in our promotion season with Warnock we did have that 'special' player. We were a team who played with great spirit.

 

[itsinyerblood]

But we are just a little third division club. Market forces. You can't play players against their wishes. Everyone bumps their transfer prices up 50% when we come along. Stuff like that, you know?

FWIW there are a list of underachievers who with the right management and leadership have the ability. Done is one I think underperformed massively and I blame Adkins playing him all over the shop for that.

It genuinely is a clean slate for all concerned. From Scoogs, Mcnulty, Done, Brayford the lot. They have a chance to shine this season. I have more faith in Wilder because he won't tolerate any shit from them. He also seems to be cutting the cancer of failure from the club.

Wilder is about to show if he really is the real deal.

You're spot on Bladesway, when Done arrived at Utd he was on fire and offered us the type of attacking threat that we badly needed. Injuries lead, for reasons I can't comprehend, to his being played in a defensive position, and the result of this was a drop in confidence and a string of underwhelming displays. No wonder there was a call to sell Done. I can only attribute this to poor tactical awareness and no appreciation of the player's strengths.

Fast forward to our current management team and there seems to be an air of common-sense about the whole place, with decent analytical skills through to understanding each player's strengths and weaknesses. I hope for everyone's sake that we have that marriage between manager, supporter, chairmen, through to everyone employed by SUFC, that will finally gel and bring with it the resolution to push on and secure promotion. It all begins with the first team of course, with the realisation of what's required to bring about a promotion push. I don't doubt both CW and AK's desire to take this club forward, I only hope we have the players who share the same hunger for success.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Could Duffy be the fabled talisman? If he can beat a man and put in a cross that doesn't end up in row Z we are in uncharted territory.

 

[Bladesway]

You're spot on Bladesway, when Done arrived at Utd he was on fire and offered us the type of attacking threat that we badly needed. Injuries lead, for reasons I can't comprehend, to his being played in a defensive position, and the result of this was a drop in confidence and a string of underwhelming displays. No wonder there was a call to sell Done. I can only attribute this to poor tactical awareness and no appreciation of the player's strengths.

Fast forward to our current management team and there seems to be an air of common-sense about the whole place, with decent analytical skills through to understanding each player's strengths and weaknesses. I hope for everyone's sake that we have that marriage between manager, supporter, chairmen, through to everyone employed by SUFC, that will finally gel and bring with it the resolution to push on and secure promotion. It all begins with the first team of course, with the realisation of what's required to bring about a promotion push. I don't doubt both CW and AK's desire to take this club forward, I only hope we have the players who share the same hunger for success.

Round pegs and round holes. Lack of this approach has been the failure of every manager since I don't know when. Even Warnock got lost playing players out of position on occasion.

 

[Bladesway]

We have had a few special needs players in the last few seasons.

And our terminally gifted chairman/owner.