Don't take Billy off

[Bruce Wayne]

It seems to be a habit to take our most prolific striker in recent years off for fresh legs. He might be the wrong side of 30, he might be blowing out of his arse but for sure he's the only player we have that can pop up at any time and get a scruffy goal. I was surprised Wilder didn't sub him v Norwich, I was less surprised when he scored the injury time winner. Leave him on.

 

[spongebobblade]

They’re are occasional games when no matter how hard Billy works the game just seems to pass him by. It will happen now and again. Today was one of those though it has to be said where the substitutions had zero effect on the game

 

[Bruce Wayne]

They’re are occasional games when no matter how hard Billy works the game just seems to pass him by. It will happen now and again. Today was one of those though it has to be said where the substitutions had zero effect on the game

The game can pass him by for 89 minutes pal, but for that split second the ball drops right in the area he's on it in a flash. That's what he does, that's why I would never take him off.

 

[spongebobblade]

All about opinions but that’s why we have subs to freshen things up when someone’s having an off day. Whose to say Billy doesn’t run himself into the ground? Today the ball wasn’t sticking up front second half. Shame the subs didn’t alter things

 

[BettingBlade]

Think what a lot of people forget is his off the ball work.

The thing I like about Bill is that he knows his limitations but he makes up for it with experience. Like when he’s up against big centre halves and the ball is in the air, he knows he won’t win the header but he makes sure the defender doesn’t get a clean one.

For me he’s great to have on the pitch, is hold up play is fantastic and as you say is always likely to pop up with a goal. He is getting on a bit now but he’s never really been blessed with pace even when he was younger but it’s the stuff mentioned above which makes me think he’s just got better with age.

It’s a shame he can’t always make a full 90 and it’s the same with Duffy as well. It’s alright when the game is pretty much sewn up last week but when we are in need of a goal like today it’s a real blow without the pair of them on the pitch

 

[Bill Johnson]

If Sharp and Duffy could both do 90 mins we'd get auto. If Wilder can find a similar pairing 5 years younger we still will.

 

[Laney Blade]

They’re are occasional games when no matter how hard Billy works the game just seems to pass him by. It will happen now and again. Today was one of those though it has to be said where the substitutions had zero effect on the game

Sometimes players say at half time if they feel they can last the full 2nd half or not & another example is a player saying they can't 2 games a week of a full 90 minutes each game. I believe our Manager listens to his players & takes on board what they say.

 

[Ricky]

Having to substitute Duffy regularly is quite a big problem for us.

It's a big reason we tend to struggle more in the second half.

I wonder if bringing him on at half time could be a good option? Firstly, it should help us finish games stronger. Secondly, it could counteract the second half tactical changes opponents make that often get the better of us, giving them something they didn't expect.

 

[The Jackdaw]

Billy Sharp is a Blades legend and we are privileged to have him. Some lucky few of us know this.

Maybe those that don’t can spill their bile to the next player who scores 67 goals in 4 seasons.

 

[BettingBlade]

Thinking about it they were probably both taken off today with the Birmingham game in mind.

It’s definitely a winnable game for us especially if Fleck is back. Will be a huge boost to have him back fit. As well as Birmingham have been playing recently without actually winning, we can definitely get at them early doors but could do with Duffy and Sharp rested up to take full advantage.

 

[Beans]

Thought Sharp was heading for a second yellow today with this ref and hadn’t been particularly effective. Made sense to bring on fresh legs IMO.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

If Sharp and Duffy could both do 90 mins we'd get auto. If Wilder can find a similar pairing 5 years younger we still will.

They are hardly zimmer frame candidates. Just watched Liverpool earlier, James Milner is a great example of quality before age.

 

[Laney Blade]

Having to substitute Duffy regularly is quite a big problem for us.

It's a big reason we tend to struggle more in the second half.

I wonder if bringing him on at half time could be a good option? Firstly, it should help us finish games stronger. Secondly, it could counteract the second half tactical changes opponents make that often get the better of us, giving them something they didn't expect.

Probably a good idea but some of our gobby fans would whinge he should have started etc etc. When we are where we are on a tight budget .....due to our excellent manager..... I detest people criticising his decisions. With a bit of luck he will think up you & ignore the whingers !

 

[Laney Blade]

They are hardly zimmer frame candidates. Just watched Liverpool earlier, James Milner is a great example of quality before age.

But are they going to release him on a free & can we match his wages ?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Probably a good idea but some of our gobby fans would whinge he should have started etc etc. When we are where we are on a tight budget .....due to our excellent manager..... I detest people criticising his decisions. With a bit of luck he will think up you & ignore the whingers !

Welle wrotten yuo.

 

[essexblade73]

"Game passed him by"! He's a fckin goal poacher, he can be quiet for 89 mins then all of a sudden bangs one in. He's like Klose and Inzaghi. That he got subbed today is a fckin mystery to me.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

But are they going to release him on a free & can we match his wages ?

I wasn't advocating that we sign Milner.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Billy Sharp is a Blades legend and we are privileged to have him. Some lucky few of us know this.

Maybe those that don’t can spill their bile to the next player who scores 67 goals in 4 seasons.

Agree but don’t know of any bile towards Billy, there has been criticism but it’s been fair criticism.
Think everyone knows he’s been a top player for us.
He’s not the greatest allround striker, both McGoldrick and Clarke have a better allround game
But when it comes to finishing (which is the most valued skill in the game) then Billy is up with the best we’ve had in decades.

 

[Sheffsteel]

"Game passed him by"! He's a fckin goal poacher, he can be quiet for 89 mins then all of a sudden bangs one in. He's like Klose and Inzaghi. That he got subbed today is a fckin mystery to me.

That’s always the criticism of Billy, games do pass him by, sometimes he contributes very little to a game.
Logically you would sub him or drop him but as you say he’s got a bit of Keith Edwards about him.
He can be playing crap, never touch the ball, then pop up with a tap-in to score a winner in the 89th minute.
That is Billy’s style......he lives for goals and is a born finisher.

I suppose Wilder would say football has changed since Edwards day, now most clubs have 20 players good enough to be 1st team regulars. Using subs and squad rotation has become a much more important part of the game. All the players have GPS monitors on their shirts, so Wilder has loads of data regards the fitness and running strength of every player during a match. The data must show that Duffy must run out of energy on the 70 minute mark.

 

[spongebobblade]

"Game passed him by"! He's a fckin goal poacher, he can be quiet for 89 mins then all of a sudden bangs one in. He's like Klose and Inzaghi. That he got subbed today is a fckin mystery to me.

I’m not slagging Billy off because he’s an important player and a legend but if a player isn’t having an effective game and we have options to change it what do you do? Leave him on because of what he’s done in the past? Hes not the only person capable of scoring a goal. What wrong with freshening up the forward line late on when we need a goal? Or should Billy play every minute no matter how well he’s playing or taking into account any other factors? That goes for all the strikers.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Don't blame him for making changes, although I may have subbed Mcgoldrick off instead of Sharp. The real problem were the midfield changes which resulted in us losing control of a game we'd controlled up to that point.The lack of a Duffy alternative is the biggest problem; particularly with him ageing and dipping after an hour in games and post christmas in the overall campaign. This game should have been dead and buried after a hour of dominance.Our strikers can have no complaints.

 

[SwissBlade]

It seems to be a habit to take our most prolific striker in recent years off for fresh legs. He might be the wrong side of 30, he might be blowing out of his arse but for sure he's the only player we have that can pop up at any time and get a scruffy goal. I was surprised Wilder didn't sub him v Norwich, I was less surprised when he scored the injury time winner. Leave him on.

He would’ve got a red had he stayed on.

His booking was for persistent infringement and the ref was pulling him for every little thing.

 

[super_pig]

I’m not slagging Billy off because he’s an important player and a legend but if a player isn’t having an effective game and we have options to change it what do you do? Leave him on because of what he’s done in the past? Hes not the only person capable of scoring a goal. What wrong with freshening up the forward line late on when we need a goal? Or should Billy play every minute no matter how well he’s playing or taking into account any other factors? That goes for all the strikers.

‘what do you do leave him on because of what he’s done in the past’?
well yes .. he can appear to do nothing all the game and then tap one in in the 90th minute.. that’s what he does!
in this game i think chris took him off so he didn’t get a red though

 

[AWetFlannel]

We didn't create any clear chances after he came off. How people are surprised when he rarely finishes the 90 is beyond me.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

The game can pass him by for 89 minutes pal, but for that split second the ball drops right in the area he's on it in a flash. That's what he does, that's why I would never take him off.

He’ll be playing for us until he’s in his 80’s then?

I agree he’s an instinctive finisher, the best. But if he’s otherwise not having a good game he should be subbed. We can’t keep him on the pitch just because he might pop up with a goal. He has to contribute 100% like what is expected of everyone else.

 

[Silent Blade]

It seems to be a habit to take our most prolific striker in recent years off for fresh legs. He might be the wrong side of 30, he might be blowing out of his arse but for sure he's the only player we have that can pop up at any time and get a scruffy goal. I was surprised Wilder didn't sub him v Norwich, I was less surprised when he scored the injury time winner. Leave him on.

Were you at the match yesterday?

Genuine question.

 

[essexblade73]

He’ll be playing for us until he’s in his 80’s then?

I agree he’s an instinctive finisher, the best. But if he’s otherwise not having a good game he should be subbed. We can’t keep him on the pitch just because he might pop up with a goal. He has to contribute 100% like what is expected of everyone else.

Was he having a bad game? He played no worse than any other game. He'd have buried the sitters McGoldrick missed.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Were you at the match yesterday?

Genuine question.

No

Genuine answer.

 

[DronnieBlade]

In a tight game like yesterday, any manager worth his salt will attempt to change / impact / influence the game in a positive way. Swapping out your offensive players is usually the way in which this is done. Credit to Wilder for that.

That said, and worryingly for Sharp, who entered the final months of his contract, he does appear to be the one that consistently doesn’t get the full 90 minutes to have his own influence on the game. Which as has been said, being that type of player, can happen in an instant.

I genuinely believe, for all the bluster to the contrary, Wilder really doesn’t rate him that highly.

Maybe I’m wrong.

UTB

 

[SuperDuperBlades]

Surprised they kept McGoldrick on. Missed a couple in the first half. Slipped umpteen times in the second.