CONFIRMED Ricky Holmes

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He's an even better, slightly younger version of Mark Duffy. What's not to like?
 
I don't think we should get overly concerned by age, as long as Mr Wilder and Mr Knill are convinced then we should be fine.

Modern fitness training (sports science or whatever you want to call it) means players can potentially stay fitter for longer, despite their calendar age. The fact that the physio's and fitness coaches were brought on the pitch at the end of our last game, tells me that CW and AK have complete faith in them and what they can do, and the fact that our lads looked fresh (for the most part) into the 90th minute, week in, week out, says they are doing something right.

Maybe it is just me, but at times this season, Billy Sharp looked faster than he has in previous stints at our club, our lads are getting great fitness training.
 
I always chuckle about this experience bollocks people talk of. Experience helps with understanding and tactics of the game yes, but it's actual touch, vision, skill and physical attributes that separate the players in the league set up.

So if a player in non league has all those attributes it makes no difference if they haven't played in the football league before. They are good enough.
What they might need is pro Conditioning, and to get up to speed with the pro systems and tactics but they will get there.

So if our manager feels this lad has the attributes to make an impact for us, played in a way to get his best out of him, and can be trusted to carry out the instructions of the manager....then that'll do for me. He's been a pro long enough to know the tactical side, so it's not like he's a talented kid with no battle scars to bring to the fight.

That's why I'm confident players like Fleck and Coutts are good enough for the premier league. At their best (which they have been most the season) they have shown they have it all. Coutts has lacked drive and had injuries but if he carries in as he has he is too class. Fleck is coming to his peak, maturing and has a few games behind him...he's ready now!!
 
I'd be disappointed if this was true. We can't afford for every signing to be a lower league gamble like Ched and the other lower league kid we've signed. One or two signings like this are fine, but it cannot form the entirety of the transfer policy.

We will need some proven quality at the level we're going to be playing at or we will struggle. Team spirit and a good dressing room can only get you so far in a league with more talented players. We may carry some momentum early on, but like when lower league teams have a good cup run, it only lasts for so long as the players tire and can't maintain playing above their level for a full season.

Additionally, just because Hammond was shit does not mean that every player from the top two divisions we could sign would turn out to be equally terrible. We need to sign a mixture of pace and experience and proven quality in the second tier or above if we're going to compete at a decent level.

Simply put, you don't know for certain if a player can compete at a certain level unless they have done it before. We've taken a couple of gambles, now let's sign some proven quality please.
 
Latters said:
I'd be disappointed if this was true. We can't afford for every signing to be a lower league gamble like Ched and the other lower league kid we've signed. One or two signings like this are fine, but it cannot form the entirety of the transfer policy.

We will need some proven quality at the level we're going to be playing at or we will struggle. Team spirit and a good dressing room can only get you so far in a league with more talented players. We may carry some momentum early on, but like when lower league teams have a good cup run, it only lasts for so long as the players tire and can't maintain playing above their level for a full season.

Additionally, just because Hammond was shit does not mean that every player from the top two divisions we could sign would turn out to be equally terrible. We need to sign a mixture of pace and experience and proven quality in the second tier or above if we're going to compete at a decent level.

Simply put, you don't know for certain if a player can compete at a certain level unless they have done it before. We've taken a couple of gambles, now let's sign some proven quality please.
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The last question posed Latters, problematical that one. I guess we'll never know unless they get the chance to play in a higher division, but sometimes you've just got to go with your instincts and see if you're rewarded. If it comes off you've saved a small fortune in transfer fees, so with that in mind I'd go for it.. If not then we'll just have to re-direct our focus and look elsewhere........there's no strict science to whether a player comes good, just make a judgement and hope you're offered something that repays your faith.
 
Latters said:
I'd be disappointed if this was true. We can't afford for every signing to be a lower league gamble like Ched and the other lower league kid we've signed. One or two signings like this are fine, but it cannot form the entirety of the transfer policy.

We will need some proven quality at the level we're going to be playing at or we will struggle. Team spirit and a good dressing room can only get you so far in a league with more talented players. We may carry some momentum early on, but like when lower league teams have a good cup run, it only lasts for so long as the players tire and can't maintain playing above their level for a full season.

Additionally, just because Hammond was shit does not mean that every player from the top two divisions we could sign would turn out to be equally terrible. We need to sign a mixture of pace and experience and proven quality in the second tier or above if we're going to compete at a decent level.

Simply put, you don't know for certain if a player can compete at a certain level unless they have done it before. We've taken a couple of gambles, now let's sign some proven quality please.
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I'm inclined to agree with you here mate but for a couple of reasons I can't really see us dipping into the market for championship players .

Firstly , Mitchell , our chief scout , has almost wholly only scouted in the lower leagues . He is very good at this though . Secondly , I think aquisitions from the lower leagues with bags of potential is the way Wilder likes to do business . It's clearly worked for him before and it's something that fairly and squarely fits with his overall team ethic built upon attitude and desire .

I think there will be 1 or possibly 2 he brings in who are proven at this level but the overwhelming majority will be lower league recruits with potential and the right attitude .

Will this work ? Who knows . But Huddursfield and to a lesser extent Barnsley and Preston have shown what is possible . Time will tell .
 
itsinyerblood said:
The last question posed Latters, problematical that one. I guess we'll never know unless they get the chance to play in a higher division, but sometimes you've just got to go with your instincts and see if you're rewarded. If it comes off you've saved a small fortune in transfer fees, so with that in mind I'd go for it.. If not then we'll just have to re-direct our focus and look elsewhere........there's no strict science to whether a player comes good, just make a judgement and hope you're offered something that repays your faith.
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As I say, there's no harm in taking a couple of gambles, we've already done that, but there's a risk it won't pay off, so to reduce the risk, we need to supplement them with proven players.

I personally think Ched will prove to be an astute gamble, but I have no foundation for this belief.

I just think that a lot of our fans associate higher division players with some of the dross we've signed, like Hammond, and assume they'll all be like that. They won't. If we get a couple of steady to good Championship or lower Premier League players, aged between say 27 and 31 to add to what we have, and maybe gamble on some youngsters, that would be ideal.
 
Latters said:
As I say, there's no harm in taking a couple of gambles, we've already done that, but there's a risk it won't pay off, so to reduce the risk, we need to supplement them with proven players.

I personally think Ched will prove to be an astute gamble, but I have no foundation for this belief.

I just think that a lot of our fans associate higher division players with some of the dross we've signed, like Hammond, and assume they'll all be like that. They won't. If we get a couple of steady to good Championship or lower Premier League players, aged between say 27 and 31 to add to what we have, and maybe gamble on some youngsters, that would be ideal.
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I agree, in principle it makes a lot of sense. Thing is, wouldn't a proven Championship or Premiership player expect a salary package that would cast a spell like a dark cloud over the existing player's wages? And therein lies a problem that Wilder might wish to avoid. I do take your point, there are plenty of decent players, perhaps not star quality, but who would bring enormous tactical nous that would serve us well....what price do you put on that?
 
You've got to take each player on individual merit but chances are that a player who's career is on the decline is going to care a lot less than a youngster with something price or a lower league prospect who's given a chance.

I'm not sure which catogry Holmes falls into though.
 
Latters said:
Your body will only allow you to run through so many walls though, just as playing above your natural level can't be sustained for a full season.
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The players kept up an amazing effort right to the end of this season.

Yes it's a higher level but nobody's expecting 100 points

Give me 11 triers at full pelt all season that 11 premadonnas on 40k a week all day long
 

Ldn_Rd_Blades said:
The players kept up an amazing effort right to the end of this season.

Yes it's a higher level but nobody's expecting 100 points

Give me 11 triers at full pelt all season that 11 premadonnas on 40k a week all day long
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Why do better players have to be prima donnas? Talent and effort aren't mutually exclusive.
 
There was a thread about how many of the dark sides players we wanted and none was the overwhelming consensus. We tried the other year with Hammond and we know where that got us. This season has been about team spirit and as mentioned players running through walls for Mr Wilder, I sort of agree about players who have been there and done it but it's just as much of a gamble in getting the right ones as poaching the best players from lower divisions. We'll see how things go but I've just had the best season in many a year so if Mr Wilder wants to go this way, especially with a player he's worked with before, then I'm with him:)
 
3 ways young players get to the premier, premiership reserves/academy breaking into the 1st team,young foreign talent and lower league players with the right attitude. No reason why we can't find an Alli, Walcott or a chamberlain.
 
YES Blade said:
That's because they're good players!

We got promoted with an expensive squad in League One terms, why wouldn't you want us to spend a decent amount of money in the Championship?
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I do, and I trust wilder to find some gems, he will look closely at attitudes.

I just think it's the easy and expensive way to go for established championship players that will come at a premium
 
YES Blade said:
That's because they're good players!

We got promoted with an expensive squad in League One terms, why wouldn't you want us to spend a decent amount of money in the Championship?
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Investment's a good idea, but it would also be foolish not to see how those who've been retained cope in the Championship, wouldn't it?

Wilder will know exactly what needs to be done, who we need to sign, and who we should keep an eye on for future possible signings, that's what he's paid to do and he seems to be pretty good at his job. We're in good hands, so the idea of spending for it's own sake seems a bit circular. By all means let's blow a few million on a quality player(s), but not until Wilder feels it's the right thing to do.
 
itsinyerblood said:
Investment's a good idea, but it would also be foolish not to see how those who've been retained cope in the Championship, wouldn't it?

Wilder will know exactly what needs to be done, who we need to sign, and who we should keep an eye on for future possible signings, that's what he's paid to do and he seems to be pretty good at his job. We're in good hands, so the idea of spending for it's own sake seems a bit circular. By all means let's blow a few million on a quality player(s), but not until Wilder feels it's the right thing to do.
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Exactly. I trust CWs judgement implicity and whilst I understand the call for a few seasoned championship campaigners to be signed, I'm also of the opinion that a good few of the Blades players have already played at that level at some time or another, whilst I also like the thought of Utd hoovering up the pick of the bunch from the lower leagues as it is a market that they will know really well. Fishing in this pond should also give real value for money which you just don't get in the higher leagues.

I want players who hae something to prove to themselves and I reckon the best players brought in from the lower leagues will prove to be more than good enough for the majority of the championship teams next season and thereafter.

Speading big money for spending sake is nonsensical and could prove to be counterterproductive in the long run as the issue of comparable wages between players in the squad could end up being problematic.

CW's on the right track again - I have no doubts at all.
 
Weasel said:
Exactly. I trust CWs judgement implicity and whilst I understand the call for a few seasoned championship campaigners to be signed, I'm also of the opinion that a good few of the Blades players have already played at that level at some time or another and I also like the thought of Utd hoovering up the pick of the bunch from the lower leagues as they know it well and they will be getting real value for money.

I want players who hae some thing to prove to themselves and I reckon the best of the lower leagues will be more than good enough for the majority of the championship teams.

Speading big money for spending sake is nonsensical and could prove to be counterterproductive in the long run as the issue of comparable wages between players in the squad could be problematic.

CW's on the right track again - I have no doubts at all.
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It's not spending big money for the sake of it, it's spending big money to be successful.

Like it or not, generally the teams that spend big are at the top. We spent big money in League One terms last season, I didn't hear anyone complaining about it then.

We can't spend big in Championship terms, so it seems like many are pretending they don't want to spend big for some reason?
 
YES Blade said:
It's not spending big money for the sake of it, it's spending big money to be successful.

Like it or not, generally the teams that spend big are at the top. We spent big money in League One terms last season, I didn't hear anyone complaining about it then.

We can't spend big in Championship terms, so it seems like many are pretending they don't want to spend big for some reason?
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As you say, we don't have the resources to spend big so it's really a bit hypothetical really.

Taking the point of 'spending big' to the extreme, yes I can see the merit in spending big and bringing in Ronaldo and Messi. I'm sure with enough money we would be the new Man City. But that's not what deep down I really want to happen to Utd. In reality, I want Utd to have a competitive budget, but no I can honestly say that I really don't want Utd to go out and spend a fortune on players of spend silly on wages. It just brings disharmony and greed and we will lose the connection and rapport that we have built up this season with our players and management.

Give me young up and coming players with a real enthusiasm to do well any day and I can assure you I would get much more enjoyment out of seeing that type of squad do well than a bunch of overpaid players only at the Lane for a big pay cheque.

No need to spend big I don't think. Wilder's good enough to get us challenging in the championship in the next couple of years without having to resort to doing so. I want to see a young exciting hungry team represent Utd and I think thats what we will get. Bring it on.
 
YES Blade said:
It's not spending big money for the sake of it, it's spending big money to be successful.

Like it or not, generally the teams that spend big are at the top. We spent big money in League One terms last season, I didn't hear anyone complaining about it then.

We can't spend big in Championship terms, so it seems like many are pretending they don't want to spend big for some reason?
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The problem with spending big is that the player is only with you because you had the best bid, he is there for the cash.
Go down and he'll be off to play for some other mug.

I'd rather have the young up.and coming players who want to play for the shirt/club/manager because he has taken a chance and believes in them.

Wilder won't fanny around.
 
YES Blade said:
It's not spending big money for the sake of it, it's spending big money to be successful.

Like it or not, generally the teams that spend big are at the top. We spent big money in League One terms last season, I didn't hear anyone complaining about it then.

We can't spend big in Championship terms, so it seems like many are pretending they don't want to spend big for some reason?
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I really don't understand the logic, assuming there is logic supporting this comment, about certain posters pretending they don't want the club to spend. Hasn't it already been made clear that Wilder will be the person who decides how much we spend and on who? Attempting to create an issue when there is none is puzzling. When the time comes for Wilder to spend he will do so, until that moment arrives let's see who he signs. If Wilder signs someone possessed of the quality as a player like Fleck I doubt anyone will moan, "Not much cop though, only cost a pittance". Surely it's the quality of the player that matters, not the price tag around their neck?
 
GRUMPY BLADE said:
The problem with spending big is that the player is only with you because you had the best bid, he is there for the cash.
Go down and he'll be off to play for some other mug.

I'd rather have the young up.and coming players who want to play for the shirt/club/manager because he has taken a chance and believes in them.

Wilder won't fanny around.
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What about the players we signed last season who got a pay rise?

That seemed to work out ok, don't you think?
 
YES Blade said:
It's not spending big money for the sake of it, it's spending big money to be successful.

Like it or not, generally the teams that spend big are at the top. We spent big money in League One terms last season, I didn't hear anyone complaining about it then.

We can't spend big in Championship terms, so it seems like many are pretending they don't want to spend big for some reason?
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Anybody tell me what happened between 'spend big' Sheffield Wednesday and 'cheap as chips' Huddersfield Town, forgone conclusion I'd have thought?
 

SouthEssexBlade said:
Anybody tell me what happened between 'spend big' Sheffield Wednesday and 'cheap as chips' Huddersfield Town, forgone conclusion I'd have thought?
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Rotherham had a similar budget to Huddersfield and look what happened to them.

I haven't said that spending big guarantees you promotion, only that it gives you a much better chance of success.

Seen as you bring up Wednesday, they were relegation candidates before the tuna man came in, now look at them. The improvement the investment has brought them is obvious for all to see.
 
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