What becomes of Billy Sharp?

[Champagneblade]

I must admit I’m quite torn on how this should play out.

I’d love him to be our version of Aritz Aduriz. The guy who has been banging them in for Athletic Bilbao and has still been doing it this season at the ripe old age of 37. That would be a great story.

His goals per game is still impressive even if he’s been missing in a few games and infuriated in a few like Brentford away. 13 goals at 181 minutes per goal is very valuable and he really owned key matches like Leeds home and away and Reading for instance.

Maybe we could have shown more faith in him when Leon was on such a poor run and was undroppable. I wasn’t clamouring for it by any means but who else is available for what we will spend on Billy over the next 12 months AND comes with his track record?

While he can attain double figures in a season where he lost his place at times, I’m not sure spending to replace his spot in the squad is the right thing to do.

He comes over as a very good captain, a great personality and ambassador.

On the other hand you look at the games he was poor in and you look at what the team needs and it will take something better to get us up. I know the money is sizeable but the exact same team we played this season and you put Mitrovic in and it looks like a totally different proposition.

The games he goes missing, can we accommodate this or do we need someone who is more of a threat? Be that pace or power?

He’s not getting any younger either, 33 in Feb. Will he attract more injuries next year? If so, is he going to be worth being a higher wage earner at the club?

Personally I’d like him to stay. But I do want us to make sure we target a first choice striker as priority.

Let’s hope Billy can keep confounding his critics, myself included!

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

Stays important part of squad, hopefully we are in a position to bring in better CF if not then he will be really important!

 

[Pierre's PC]

I'd like to see Billy continue at the lane for the coming season, he does go missing in some games but by the same token, pops up with vital goals and you can't argue with his stats.

Hopefully we will be bringing a new 'main' striker to give us the firepower to kill off teams but Billy is not finished yet and should remain an important part of the squad.

 

[DaleHillBlade]

There should always be a job of some description for him at our club as long as he wants it. When his playing days are over he can continue in his ambassadorial role, as far as I am concerned.

And certainly be part of the playing squad next season. Although, in his shoes, I'd be dreaming of the MLS..

 

[sheffielder]

Carry on as you are Billy. I am proud of what being a blade means to him and the charity work he does.

Taking sentiment away, he was our best player in our last home game so should be treated with a little more respect than he gets off some on here. His goalscoring rate was not too different to Leon Clarke and actually scored 1 in 2.

What's the problem?

 

[Digger]

Since his return he has averaged over 20 goals a season.
Question answered.

 

[sitwell]

Our own lazarus ,he will keep coming back for a while yet.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

We replace the reserve strikers Wilson, Lavery, Hanson and Donaldson with a couple of strikers who are even better than Sharp and Clarke.

Sharp and Clarke become the reserve strikers. That’s how the team and squad gets gradually improved.

 

[FleaPitBlade]

In a team that creates him chances, Billy will be good for 10-15 goals a season until the day he decides to retire. I can also see him going strong until his mid to late 30's - a la Kevin Phillips. Age cannot take from him that which he's never really had.

We need another striker to share the load and mix up our play but that doesn't mean that Billy (or Clarke for that matter) are surplus.

 

[S64 Blade]

There's plenty of strikers that need shifting on before Sharp.

 

[SuperDuperBlades]

Leave Billy alone. He will be our top scorer next year.

 

[Dronfield Blade]

Good OP. I would imagine Wilder is thinking along the same lines as most fans. Billy and leon on the bench with 2 new strikers in to improve the squad.

IF that happens I will be shocked, but it is lovely to imagine us in such a strong postion regarding goal scorers.

The multi-million dollar question is who do we bring in??

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Good OP. I would imagine Wilder is thinking along the same lines as most fans. Billy and leon on the bench with 2 new strikers in to improve the squad.

IF that happens I will be shocked, but it is lovely to imagine us in such a strong postion regarding goal scorers.

The multi-million dollar question is who do we bring in??

Wilder loves Clarke, so it would have to be a couple of serious purchases to get him away from the starting XI.

 

[DronnieBlade]

“Maybe we could have shown more faith in him when Leon was on such a poor run and was undroppable.”



UTB

 

[snootyfenooty]

In a team that creates him chances, Billy will be good for 10-15 goals a season until the day he decides to retire. I can also see him going strong until his mid to late 30's - a la Kevin Phillips. Age cannot take from him that which he's never really had.

We need another striker to share the load and mix up our play but that doesn't mean that Billy (or Clarke for that matter) are surplus.

Sensible comments minus emotional attachments. I've never been one to criticise Billy but also don't see him as a demi god either. As noted above he'll be 33 soon so it would be just plain idiotic to pin our hopes on him. We need at least an equal in the squad, not someone as "back-up", I'm sick of hearing that fucking word as it's just another term for not good enough. We need to look at this in the cold light of day and then play whoever is on form or whoever is more suitable against a particular opposition next season once we have the resources.

 

[Chali 2na]

Good OP. I would imagine Wilder is thinking along the same lines as most fans. Billy and leon on the bench with 2 new strikers in to improve the squad.

IF that happens I will be shocked, but it is lovely to imagine us in such a strong postion regarding goal scorers.

The multi-million dollar question is who do we bring in??

Wilder loves Clarke, so it would have to be a couple of serious purchases to get him away from the starting XI.

I would imagine Clarke is still very much in Wilder's plans.

So he should be: great work ethic and third highest scorer in the division.

 

[Chali 2na]

Sensible comments minus emotional attachments. I've never been one to criticise Billy but also don't see him as a demi god either. As noted above he'll be 33 soon so it would be just plain idiotic to pin our hopes on him. We need at least an equal in the squad, not someone as "back-up", I'm sick of hearing that fucking word as it's just another term for not good enough. We need to look at this in the cold light of day and then play whoever is on form or whoever is more suitable against a particular opposition next season once we have the resources.

Which part of his post did you deem an "emotional attachment"?

 

[snootyfenooty]

Which part of his post did you deem an "emotional attachment"?

Nowhere, it was a very objective post. That's why I said "minus".

 

[Chali 2na]

Nowhere, it was a very objective post. That's why I said "minus".

My apologies, I thought you were saying that his post was good except the emotional bits - and like you, I read it thinking it was very objective and sensible, so you can see my confusion!

 

[BigBed]

Player manager next season if CW turns his back on us.

 

[Revolution]

As things currently stand we have the following forwards on our books:

Billy Sharp
Leon Clarke
Ched Evans (who is rubbish)
Caolan Lavery (who is transfer listed and available for loan)

Unless there is a sudden influx of strikers who are demonstrably better than Sharp and Clarke, logic suggests that Sharp will be here next season and very much part of the squad.

Sharp's return last year was more than respectable. Until he stops scoring goals there is no reason to be rid of him.

 

[sitwell]

As things currently stand we have the following forwards on our books:

Billy Sharp
Leon Clarke
Ched Evans (who is rubbish)
Caolan Lavery (who is transfer listed and available for loan)

Unless there is a sudden influx of strikers who are demonstrably better than Sharp and Clarke, logic suggests that Sharp will be here next season and very much part of the squad.

Sharp's return last year was more than respectable. Until he stops scoring goals there is no reason to be rid of him.

The Ched comment will come back to bite you next season.

 

[Revolution]

The Ched comment will come back to bite you next season.

Let's hope so because we are thin up front.

But I was told that last year, and the year before that.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

We replace the reserve strikers Wilson, Lavery, Hanson and Donaldson with a couple of strikers who are even better than Sharp and Clarke.

Sharp and Clarke become the reserve strikers. That’s how the team and squad gets gradually improved.

Exactly that. Ideally that would have been the approach last summer – think it’s important to pursue this summer.

As things currently stand we have the following forwards on our books:

Billy Sharp
Leon Clarke
Ched Evans (who is rubbish)
Caolan Lavery (who is transfer listed and available for loan)

Unless there is a sudden influx of strikers who are demonstrably better than Sharp and Clarke, logic suggests that Sharp will be here next season and very much part of the squad.

Sharp's return last year was more than respectable. Until he stops scoring goals there is no reason to be rid of him.

I think Hanson is still contracted. The best that we can expect from Evans at this stage in my opinion is him offering an option as back-up, and frankly we should be looking at better, fitter, more reliable alternatives than that.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

The Ched comment will come back to bite you next season.

This has a very James Wallace esque air of misplaced confidence. Let’s not raise expectations – at this stage it’ll be a bonus if he at least returns to some level of fitness. He then faces the additional hurdle of becoming a decent Championship striker. I’ll be delighted if he achieves both – but at this stage, very surprised.

 

[Dronfield Blade]

I would imagine Clarke is still very much in Wilder's plans.

So he should be: great work ethic and third highest scorer in the division.

Agree, I'm not knocking Leon's work ethic at all, just going off the little comments Wilder has said (I think against Villa) something along the lines of "quality decides games" Wilder must looks at the chances created and belives we could have scored even more goals this season.

Both should be at the club next season but to improve we should be getting 2x strikers for them to compete with.

Baby steps to improve is the way forward and I think starting at the top of the pitch should be our priority at the moment.

 

[RedandWhite]

Hope he stay's with us, he's a big part of our team. - I hope we sign better forwards but he's done a hell of a job for the last 3 years and a proud captain.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Doubt Big Jimmy Hanson will be getting many takers. Didn't score a single goal for Bury and apparently offered nothing either.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Doubt Big Jimmy Hanson will be getting many takers. Didn't score a single goal for Bury and apparently offered nothing either.

Ditto that then in his barren spell bar that one , priceless and invaluable contribution (apparently) to our promotion !

UTB

 

[Esablade]

"What Becomes Of The Broken Sharp-ed..."

Sorry, doesn't quite scan does it, I'll get mi coat...