Billy's goal drought

[coolhandluke]

Im being serious .

Ask yourself why you think Wilder signed him ? What was he hoping Hanson would bring to the team ?

Did he think Hanson was a good footballer ala Fleck ? Did he think he'd get the goals ala Sharp or did he think he'd open up defences with intricate passing and pace ala Duffy or Carruthers ?

Or did he see what most others see ..... that he's a lump that makes the oppositions defence a mess , creates chaos in their back line , drags defenders to him allowing the likes of Sharp , Fleck , Carruthers , Duffy etc to exploit . A player who will also score the odd goal , provide a decent outlet and help out in defence ?

If you think Hanson was signed as a prolific marksman or a really good footballer you are missing the point .

I asked Dronnie this question which he avoided answering . The point you make , along similar lines , will almost certainly be avoided too .

Fans who can't see the connection between fluidity of movement, direction and positional play of two front men and goals coming from midfielders and defenders obviously don't understand the principles on which Wilder has set about winning the league. We have fans complaining our defence isn't good enough - they don't understand either. We've conceded 14 goals at home (including the 3 when we were all at "Southend-sea") - they should look at our goal difference and try to get their heads round the logic of how Wilder chooses to play. Would they prefer Billy now being on 30-plus goals and the rest managing about 20 between 'em? How do they think a right-back has managed to pop up all over the shop and grab 10? How do they explain a right-back crossing from wide-deep to a left-back getting on the end of it to score?
I'm not going to bother trying to explain it to them.... if they have no intention of opening their minds to try to understand it.

 

[veganblade]

Although I perceived this thread as sarcasm at the time it was posted, it's quickly shifted to player analysis-paralysis.

No player is exempt from criticism but the condemning of Hanson and the stats to follow are simply worthless and ill timed at this stage; Clarke is unproven/not fit, Lavery is injured, Done not efficient, u-23's not ready yet. Who else is magically going to slot in and 'do a better job' as Sharp's partner is all I ask?

(...no one.)

UTB

 

[Sean Thornton]

I asked Dronnie this question which he avoided answering . The point you make , along similar lines , will almost certainly be avoided too .

I asked him why he thought Billy was always 20 yards away when the ball was punted up to him. He said because Hanson was rubbish!

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Should of singed Ched.

Some bigot on the forum was always harping on we should sign a black player to give us pace , agility , strength up front.

Ched would be as bad a Reed running the midfield .

Hanson , Clarke , good signings at this level .

 

[Bayingblade]

Some bigot on the forum was always harping on we should sign a black player to give us pace , agility , strength up front.

So now it's bigoted if you actively WANT a black player? You learn new something every day!

 

[BushBlade]

Some bigot on the forum was always harping on we should sign a black player to give us pace , agility , strength up front.

Ched would be as bad a Reed running the midfield .

Hanson , Clarke , good signings at this level .

I was only joking. Feel a bit sorry for him because although he acted like a twat, he didn't deserve prison for it. Didn't want him back though.

 

[Bladesince59]

Every team in League 1 and half of the Championship would bite our arms off for Billy.

 

[DronnieBlade]

"Going forwards" is 6 games.

Plus, you know what? I am pleased that wing backs and CBs are scoring. For years I have been saying that we do not score enough goals to get promotion, and that one of the reasons for this was that since about 2012 our managers (most notably Clough and Adkins) have seemingly gone out of their way to (i) collect midfielders with poor scoring and assist records and (ii) play ponderously, which does not allow midfielders to get forward to score goals. Wilder has got more out of some of these players and has signed midfielders who score and/or assist (Duffy and Fleck, most notably).

All promoted teams "rely" on CBs and midfielders to score. It is a feature, not a bug.

Which is where our perspectives differ.

The club will hopefully be around to enjoy a bit more success beyond 6 games.

I do take your point in that if / when promotion is achieved, potentially it's a whole new ball game. Just concerned that the way Wilder glows regarding Hanson, he may be set to feature prominently if we do reach the championship. I believe this would be a mistake. IMHO.

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

I would say the truth lands somewhere in between those two scenarios. We did have a little wobble in January. Then we signed Hanson and haven’t lost since. However, it’s down to a lot more than just Hanson and I think we would still be in the top 2 without him. We are the best team in the league. Hanson provides us with an option that is different to what we had in Sharp, Done, Lavery and McNulty whilst Clarke was out injured. I think it’s handy for clubs to have a player like Hanson or Clarke in their squad (not that they are that similar but both are big and could be described as target men).


I, like you, think we over-utilise Hanson and his aerial prowess. I think it’s taken a little bit of the flair out of our attacking play. Persnally, I prefer Lavery as a partner for Sharp most of the time and I suspect Sharp does too. I think Hanson is well worth a place on the bench though because as I say, he brings a different option and allows us to mix it up despite his technical limitations. His presence proved invaluable at Peterborough for example. He got another assist at Oldham on Saturday too.

A plan B then ?

Happy with that. In fact positively encourage it.

Bench player for me.

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[1danewhitehouse]

A plan B then ?

Happy with that. In fact positively encourage it.

Bench player for me.

UTB

Agreed. Although I think there are times, perhaps Bolton at home and Oldham away where I would have started him to cope wit the opposition's physical presence or to cope with the awful pitch accordingly. But generally, more often than not, plan B.

 

[blade too long]

I don’t for a minute think Hanson is useless. However, when Sharp was interviewed after the Oxford game (I think) he talked about how Lavery had helped turn the game and must be pushing for a start. Just my perception but I got the impression that he was willing Wilder to play him and that he would rather play alongside him. I think Billy prefers playing with a quick partner who will turn defences as opposed to an archetypal target man such as Hanson. His goals record alongside Done/Lavery compared to playing alongside Clarke/Hanson (or even Henderson during his last spell) would back this up.

think thats the squad mentality , not Billy showing a preference
everyone plays a part, and those that get regular spots like the others to get a game

theres games where Hanson will batter the opposition into submission and games where a more subtle approach is the order of the day

just glad we have some expansive options

its the tightest squad I can ever remember

 

[RealMcCoy]

Is it only on a Blades forum where you'd get the leagues leading scorer linked with a thread title including the words "goal drought".
He's one of the first names on the starting list for a reason.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Is it only on a Blades forum where you'd get the leagues leading scorer linked with a thread title including the words "goal drought".
He's one of the first names on the starting list for a reason.

1000% this.

 

[Revolution]

A plan B then ?

Happy with that. In fact positively encourage it.

Bench player for me.

UTB

So Hanson is on the bench.

And Lavery is injured.

Who starts with Sharp against Coventry?

Clarke? You didn't like him either.

 

[DronnieBlade]

So Hanson is on the bench.

And Lavery is injured.

Who starts with Sharp against Coventry?

Clarke? You didn't like him either.

Honest answer ?

Done, McNulty, Samir, Jayo, Clarke, Chapman, and at a pinch Freeman (although who would replace him at RWB could be tricky).

All viable if not perfect options where we can set up in a way that, IMHO plays to our strengths, not straight in to our opponents hands. If / when this isn't working, then you call on big Hanson to mix it up with 25 to go.

That's how I see it. It would allow Sharp to be more centric to the offensive pattern, with more time in the middle rather than out wide, where he is visibly less effective.

We have a dynamite midfield. Let's not bypass it by going long !!

UTB

 

[1danewhitehouse]

think thats the squad mentality , not Billy showing a preference
everyone plays a part, and those that get regular spots like the others to get a game

theres games where Hanson will batter the opposition into submission and games where a more subtle approach is the order of the day

just glad we have some expansive options

its the tightest squad I can ever remember

Possibly. We will probably never know.


I agree that it’s nice to have different options though.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Honest answer ?

Done, McNulty, Samir, Jayo, Clarke, Chapman, and at a pinch Freeman (although who would replace him at RWB could be tricky).

All viable if not perfect options where we can set up in a way that, IMHO plays to our strengths, not straight in to our opponents hands. If / when this isn't working, then you call on big Hanson to mix it up with 25 to go.

That's how I see it. It would allow Sharp to be more centric to the offensive pattern, with more time in the middle rather than out wide, where he is visibly less effective.

We have a dynamite midfield. Let's not bypass it by going long !!

UTB

I can’t agree about McNulty starting over Hanson. I don’t think he compliments Sharp and he doesn’t really offer anything different to Sharp. I can see the argument for Done or one of the attacking midfielders playing off him. Wouldn’t move Freeman from where he is. I think part of his goalscoring success is the fact that he makes undetected runs from deep whereas if he was up front, he’d me more tightly marshalled.



All that said, as much as I don’t think the Clarke/ Sharp partnership has worked this season, now that promotion is pretty much assured, I wouldn’t mind if Wilder decided to have another look at it.


I also think that we showed against Wimbledon that just because Hanson is on the pitch, it doesn’t mean we have to aim for him at every opportunity. It’s something I think we’ve done a bit too much of lately but I do think it’s possible to get it down and play even with Hanson on the pitch whilst reaping the rewards of his ability on set pieces and other crosses into the box.

 

[LJBlade]

Honest answer ?

Done, McNulty, Samir, Jayo, Clarke, Chapman, and at a pinch Freeman (although who would replace him at RWB could be tricky).

All viable if not perfect options where we can set up in a way that, IMHO plays to our strengths, not straight in to our opponents hands. If / when this isn't working, then you call on big Hanson to mix it up with 25 to go.

That's how I see it. It would allow Sharp to be more centric to the offensive pattern, with more time in the middle rather than out wide, where he is visibly less effective.

We have a dynamite midfield. Let's not bypass it by going long !!

UTB

I agree. If Hanson hadn't been involved we wouldn't have 'played into our opponent hands' and we might not have lost the last 10 games.......

We haven't been going long (Oldham apart). I'm not sure why you're so desperate convince everyone otherwise.

 

[Sean Thornton]

McNulty rather than Hanson? Think Dronnies calendars fast. It's 1st April tomorrow.

 

[Kenilworth]

Hanson is a real handful at set pieces - both attacking and defending.
No surprise to me that we haven't lost with Hanson in the team.
Bullies Bolton never threatened at all, did they? Despite their well renowned prowess at set plays.

Hanson creates opportunities for others - whether that's a flick on or a lay off (O'Shea at Oldham) or just his sheer physical presence (JO'C goal vs 'Wall)
If ya can't see - ya not looking.

Icing on the cake? Yep, a few more goals from the feller.
Still time
Makes a positive impact
If Lavery is fit and he comes on then he terrorises a defence that's already been bruised and battered

 

[Bergen Blade]

Hanson is a real handful at set pieces - both attacking and defending.
No surprise to me that we haven't lost with Hanson in the team.
Bullies Bolton never threatened at all, did they? Despite their well renowned prowess at set plays.

Hanson creates opportunities for others - whether that's a flick on or a lay off (O'Shea at Oldham) or just his sheer physical presence (JO'C goal vs 'Wall)
If ya can't see - ya not looking.

Icing on the cake? Yep, a few more goals from the feller.
Still time
Makes a positive impact
If Lavery is fit and he comes on then he terrorises a defence that's already been bruised and battered

Millwall's centre halves are both about 6'4/6'5, but the rest of their starting line up didn't have a lot of height. For set pieces they put Webster on Hanson and Cooper on Basham. This meant O'Connell was being marked by their left back (Craig) who's quite a bit lighter and smaller. For the vital opener O'Connell got rid of him and headed home.

If we'd played another smaller striker alongside Sharp, it is likely that one of their big centre backs would have marked O'Connell, which may have meant he wouldn't have been allowed a free header.

Hanson also marked Cooper at their set pieces and helped us cope.

 

[Silent Blade]

Hanson is a real handful at set pieces - both attacking and defending.
No surprise to me that we haven't lost with Hanson in the team.
Bullies Bolton never threatened at all, did they? Despite their well renowned prowess at set plays.

Hanson creates opportunities for others - whether that's a flick on or a lay off (O'Shea at Oldham) or just his sheer physical presence (JO'C goal vs 'Wall)
If ya can't see - ya not looking.

Icing on the cake? Yep, a few more goals from the feller.
Still time
Makes a positive impact
If Lavery is fit and he comes on then he terrorises a defence that's already been bruised and battered

Well said!

 

[Kenilworth]

Millwall's centre halves are both about 6'4/6'5, but the rest of their starting line up didn't have a lot of height. For set pieces they put Webster on Hanson and Cooper on Basham. This meant O'Connell was being marked by their left back (Craig) who's quite a bit lighter and smaller. For the vital opener O'Connell got rid of him and headed home.

If we'd played another smaller striker alongside Sharp, it is likely that one of their big centre backs would have marked O'Connell, which may have meant he wouldn't have been allowed a free header.

Hanson also marked Cooper at their set pieces and helped us cope.

Whilst a simple, "I concur" would have sufficed, I appreciate the detailed analysis, backing up my earlier statement, Bergers.
Especially as you are approx 550 miles away and I was a matter of yards from the action
But you're an avid student of the match vids and a very knowledgeable reader of the game, I know, so I allus take stock of what you say.

I love the contrast between the responses from you and Silent Blade, which was "Well said"
He's surprisingly succinct and pithy, don't you think

 

[DronnieBlade]

I agree. If Hanson hadn't been involved we wouldn't have 'played into our opponent hands' and we might not have lost the last 10 games.......

We haven't been going long (Oldham apart). I'm not sure why you're so desperate convince everyone otherwise.

Taking Oldham out the equation, yes we have. Unequivocally so. To the overall detriment of the team dynamic.

As an example, compare directly Tuesdays 1st half and 2nd half.

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

Millwall's centre halves are both about 6'4/6'5, but the rest of their starting line up didn't have a lot of height. For set pieces they put Webster on Hanson and Cooper on Basham. This meant O'Connell was being marked by their left back (Craig) who's quite a bit lighter and smaller. For the vital opener O'Connell got rid of him and headed home.

If we'd played another smaller striker alongside Sharp, it is likely that one of their big centre backs would have marked O'Connell, which may have meant he wouldn't have been allowed a free header.

Hanson also marked Cooper at their set pieces and helped us cope.

Maybe if you all try hard enough, we can get Hanson credit for some of this lot as well



UTB

 

[Bergen Blade]

Maybe if you all try hard enough, we can get Hanson credit for some of this lot as well



UTB

Do you disagree with anything I said?

 

[DronnieBlade]

Do you disagree with anything I said?

I might.

UTB

 

[ourbob]

Although I perceived this thread as sarcasm at the time it was posted, it's quickly shifted to player analysis-paralysis.

No player is exempt from criticism but the condemning of Hanson and the stats to follow are simply worthless and ill timed at this stage; Clarke is unproven/not fit, Lavery is injured, Done not efficient, u-23's not ready yet. Who else is magically going to slot in and 'do a better job' as Sharp's partner is all I ask?

(...no one.)

UTB

Vegan.
If only people would read my post from the start and look at the date.
Sarcasm?
Yes.

But people slowly drift after the first half dozen post to suicidal tendencies.

 

[veganblade]

Vegan.
If only people would read my post from the start and look at the date.
Sarcasm?
Yes.

But people slowly drift after the first half dozen post to suicidal tendencies.

My point exactly. I don't understand the furor when there's no worthwhile replacement at this stage of the season.

 

[I should coco]

My point exactly. I don't understand the furor when there's no worthwhile replacement at this stage of the season.

I think the 'Anyone-but-Hanson' camp would be happier with Long or Hussey up front.

Blades top of the league, the team playing some exhibition football and Billy looking good for 30 goals, yet we still have the apparent MAJOR PROBLEM of Hanson.

The phrase 'backing yourself into a corner' seems particularly apt.