Appreciate him while you can ...

[Isaw Joeshaw]

... Billy Sharp , that is .

Whilst it's clear that his goal scoring feats this season have silenced many of his doubters ( for the time being , anyway ) , I still get the impression that a large percentage still don't appreciate just how special what we are witnessing is.

I've always had a particular admiration for the kind of strikers who score the type of goals which have half the crowd thinking " Well , I could have scored that " , not recognising the extraordinary timing , positional sense and deftness of touch required in the process . His 3 goals last Saturday demonstrated those arts to a tee .

Hopefully , Billy will continue to do this for years to come , a la Kevin Phillips or Teddy Sheringham , but none of us know whether that will be the case .

In the meantime , I for one will continue to be truly thankful that I have the privilege of watching a player in a Blades shirt who is a true master of his craft , the likes of which we shall certainly never see again in my lifetime and probably that of most others on here .

 

[Aston max]

Billy dearden is as close as I can remember to sharp

 

[HydeParkBlade]

I think he can, while he is still a very strong lad, he isn't a striker that relies on his physical attributes to succeed. They are the ones who play into their late thirties.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Billy dearden is as close as I can remember to sharp

First name deffo. Surname, no where near mate

 

[Harry's Game]

His game has never revolved around pace, anticipation and finishing are his strong points.

I think he has two more good seasons left him him at least.

 

[SwissBlade]

Thought this was another Hammond thread

 

[Sheffsteel]

I think he is appreciated and will be a legend for what he’s done.

He reminds me a lot of Keith Edwards, single minded, always thinking about scoring, always anticipating/ making runs, always tends to hit the target. A real goal poacher/ preditor.

However I personally enjoy/ prefer watching clever forwards like Teddy Sheringham more.
I like the creativity and intelligence in a player more than just the finishing.
Always preferred Agana to Deane and really enjoying some of the touches and link play from McGoldrick.

Doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate Billy Sharp though, he was showing signs (like some of the others of looking tired and being on the slide towards the end of last season) but full credit, so far he looks sharper, fitter and stronger this season.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Any striker that consistently scores you 15-20 goals a season is worth their weight in gold.

Very rare commodity these days.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

But his legs have gone...

We should get rid.

He should go to the MLS.

Can't be arsed digging out the quotes from this past summer, but there were some cretins around here...

 

[Rufus Smalls]

Definitely the most natural goal scorer since King Keith. Not sure what the statistics would show on goals per game etc. But for me Edwards has been the best finisher at the Lane since I can remember from the early 70’s.

UTB

 

[BLADES1988]

Thought this was a Jos Luhukay thread for a minute

 

[wavy-blade]

If we want Sharp to score we have got to play the ball from the wing ON THE FLOOR , fast and hard into the box , just like Leon did ( what a ball that was ) when Bill got his hat-trick against Wigan. He feeds off balls like that running into the box !

 

[BritishSteel]

If we want Sharp to score we have got to play the ball from the wing ON THE FLOOR , fast and hard into the box , just like Leon did ( what a ball that was ) when Bill got his hat-trick against Wigan. He feeds off balls like that running into the box !

The majority of goals he has scored for us and for other clubs have come this way. The reason that Wilder has the team set up as it is is so that not only Billy but the other strikers and the late runners , be it midfielders or defenders running into the box have the best chance of scoring. Everyone works hard so when we do get into the box we have chances with a high probability of being converted.

I like this philosophy. The real hard work is done in getting into those positions, creating space and pulling opposition defenders out of position. Having such a clinical finisher as Sharp on the end of a pass or cross to smash it into the onion bag means he will always score goals.

 

[ForgeBlade]

Anyone who doesn't more than appreciate him needs to have a look at themselves. He's made himself a legend this last few years.

 

[Trigger Blade]

If we want Sharp to score we have got to play the ball from the wing ON THE FLOOR , fast and hard into the box , just like Leon did ( what a ball that was ) when Bill got his hat-trick against Wigan. He feeds off balls like that running into the box !

Agree completely, which makes the occasional variation such as his back post header at Blackburn really enjoyable.

 

[DronnieBlade]

The love in with Bill comes and goes.

Give it a 3 game barren run, and the knives will be out once again.

Fickle and reactionary just don’t cut it

UTB

 

[PokerBlade]

I'm sure I've said it on here before as well, but I always joke with my Dad that every defence we play against must have been told the same thing; he won't skin you for pace, he won't beat you for the long balls, he won't trick you with his skill, but for the love of God please don't let him get two yards away from you in the box. And then he does it.

It's something you see from certain players and it makes a huge difference to your success as a footballer. That positional awareness that drops you into a pocket of space in a crowded pitch. For any of his weaknesses, Sharp does that as well as any player I've seen. We play to his strengths and it's easy to underestimate from the stands where you can see the full pitch and where players should move to, but it's a lot harder to consistently get away from your man and drop into a scoring position than it looks.

Yep, it'd be nice to find a younger, faster, more skillful, taller, whatever-er striker than Sharp, but good luck finding one we can afford that will guarantee you the goals Sharp will.

 

[JJ Sefton]

In the pre-Wilder years there were really only two things that kept this club going, Billy Sharp and Jim Phipps.

 

[Sean Thornton]

If we want Sharp to score we have got to play the ball from the wing ON THE FLOOR , fast and hard into the box , just like Leon did ( what a ball that was ) when Bill got his hat-trick against Wigan. He feeds off balls like that running into the box !

Billy was very complimentary about that pass. As you say, he thrives on balls like that.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Definitely the most natural goal scorer since King Keith. Not sure what the statistics would show on goals per game etc. But for me Edwards has been the best finisher at the Lane since I can remember from the early 70’s.

UTB

Yes , Keith was the nearest to him I ever saw and there are other similarities such as being grossly underrated by managers in the early part of their careers and being sold on for buttons .

Does anyone have the comparable stats of goals scored in their times with us . ? Would do it myself but off to bed soon for tomorrow's early flight .

 

[Topplayersleave]

If we want Sharp to score we have got to play the ball from the wing ON THE FLOOR , fast and hard into the box , just like Leon did ( what a ball that was ) when Bill got his hat-trick against Wigan. He feeds off balls like that running into the box !

Shame somebody couldn't have made Robson and Blackwell aware of this

 

[Grappler]

Yes , Keith was the nearest to him I ever saw and there are other similarities such as being grossly underrated by managers in the early part of their careers and being sold on for buttons .

Does anyone have the comparable stats of goals scored in their times with us . ? Would do it myself but off to bed soon for tomorrow's early flight .

Keith Edwards has scored a lot more for us than Billy Sharp. 171 goals from 293 appearances.

I love Billy though, and for me he is already a club legend.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Shame somebody couldn't have made Robson and Blackwell aware of this

Remember a few times when Sharp played in the same team as Beattie.

Sharp was used almost as a winger. Beattie was clearly the main man. Remember Sharp having the temerity to shoot and Beattie waving his arms around complaining to Sharp why he didn’t pass.

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

These images, which I commented upon at the time, show why Bill might have two or three more years in him. There’s no reason to think that Moore, Lundstram, Evans, Carruthers and Lafferty don’t have the reaction time of the average league footballer. They all realise at more or less exactly the same time as each other that Brooks has skinned Hunt and is in on goal. Sharp reacts significantly quicker. That would be worth two yards start to him on the pitch. If you can see what’s developing before the people around you you have a huge advantage over them. It will continue to stand him in good stead.

 

[Topplayersleave]

These images, which I commented upon at the time, show why Bill might have two or three more years in him. There’s no reason to think that Moore, Lundstram, Evans, Carruthers and Lafferty don’t have the reaction time of the average league footballer. They all realise at more or less exactly the same time as each other that Brooks has skinned Hunt and is in on goal. Sharp reacts significantly quicker. That would be worth two yards start to him on the pitch. If you can see what’s developing before the people around you you have a huge advantage over them. It will continue to stand him in good stead.

Maybe the rest didn't care as much as Billy
They probably told him to "siddarn"

 

[cahill]

Given Billy’s current prowess and Leon always likely to start another run of scoring do we still think another striker is absolutely vital to sign in January ?

Washington doesn’t look likes he’s going to figure much more than a throw on at the end

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Given Billy’s current prowess and Leon always likely to start another run of scoring do we still think another striker is absolutely vital to sign in January ?

Washington doesn’t look likes he’s going to figure much more than a throw on at the end

The answer is no , IF Clarke , Sharp and McG all remain available throughout the season , which is unlikely.

That being the case , a replacement for Billy would be ideal and the only one I can think of who would come anywhere close is Jermain Defoe and he may , just may , be within our reach .

( Although his legs may have gone , obviously)

 

[ForgeBlade]

Given Billy’s current prowess and Leon always likely to start another run of scoring do we still think another striker is absolutely vital to sign in January ?

Washington doesn’t look likes he’s going to figure much more than a throw on at the end

IF Leon can start repeating last season's form then no. However I'd rather we sign someone who WILL do it, rather than rely on someone who MIGHT.
I'd love Leon to step up and help Billy to fire us to promotion, but ifwe could sign someone better, then that would be great as well.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Great post mate.

I think the biggest compliment I can pay Billy is that he’s changed my mind about him.

I remember him banging them in for the reserves and we were thinking..”.one day he might do that for the first team”.

But he was sold on and his previous reincarnations fell a bit flat.

I likened him to Clive Mendonca. Good for others, not for us.

But since he came back he’s assumed hero status. I’ve been critical of him in some games because he’s had no impact. There are parts of his game where he’s found lacking. But when it comes to being in the right place at the right time, and goalscoring instinct, he’s right up there amongst the best.

I actually think he’s a better player now than he was 10 years ago!

Well done Billy lad!

 

[grafikhaus]

Definitely the most natural goal scorer since King Keith. Not sure what the statistics would show on goals per game etc. But for me Edwards has been the best finisher at the Lane since I can remember from the early 70’s.

UTB

According to Wikipedia:



So Dearden scored 2.86 Goals per game for The Blades, Edwards (in two spells) 1.82 and Sharp (in three spells) 2.31 so far.