Lengthy absence for Monty?

[cooperblade]

Didn't sound good from Blackwell's interview on RS. Leg in a brace with possibility of ligament damage.

When is Williamson fit?

Monty has been one of our most consistent performers so far this season, would be a big blow if he's out.

 

[davidpinder]

no more loans aloud as well, well we can get one in but can't play him

 

[Ted Danson]

Nightmare, Montiniho will be a big loss

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Maybe it'll force his hand ? It's not as if the defensive approach with Monty sitting in front of the defence has worked dividends in recent weeks.

 

[Torrix1889]

Could be a blessing in disguise. Wouldn't wish an injury on the lad but for me Monty is everything that's wrong about SUFC.

 

[Berks_Blade]

Monty is everything that's wrong about SUFC.

In what way exactly? He's one of the few players that will always give his all however badly things are going, who never hides even when he's having a bad game, who's been played in many different positions over the years without ever moaning, who doesn't forget to acknowledge the crowd (despite all the stick he'd had at various times from many), and has also been one of our best/most consistent players last season and this. Losing him would be a big loss.

 

[Bramley]

Didn't sound good from Blackwell's interview on RS. Leg in a brace with possibility of ligament damage.

When is Williamson fit?

Monty has been one of our most consistent performers so far this season, would be a big blow if he's out.

Saw Williamson out and about in Leeds on Saturday night. Can't be too far off.

 

[Dog Blade]

Maybe it'll force his hand ? It's not as if the defensive approach with Monty sitting in front of the defence has worked dividends in recent weeks.

Got to agree with that - A 'Montyless' side could force Blackwell to change things a little. Be interesting to see if Ryan France in there could put his foot in but also pass the ball and give us a springboard to move forward quicker and look more of a threat on the floor.

 

[Torrix1889]

In what way exactly? He's one of the few players that will always give his all however badly things are going, who never hides even when he's having a bad game, who's been played in many different positions over the years without ever moaning, who doesn't forget to acknowledge the crowd (despite all the stick he'd had at various times from many), and has also been one of our best/most consistent players last season and this. Losing him would be a big loss.

Because he's shit...............................:thumbdown:

 

[Revolution]

and has also been one of our best/most consistent players last season and this

the number of goals coming straight down the middle of the park in the last few matches, coupled with mistakes against Swansea and Coventry, would tend to suggest that Monty is not exactly setting the World on fire at the minute.

who's been played in many different positions over the years without ever moaning

serious question - when did Monty last play anywhere other than central midfield? I honestly can't remember. Was it back in 2003 or more recently?

 

[Wards]

We struggled badly before Monty got to full fitness last season and probably suffer again in the middle until he's fit again.

Does a lot of work off the ball that people don't appreciate. Just watch how many times he fills in for others during a game and I reckon these holes will start appearing again. A midfield of Quinn and France will be too light for most games in the Championship.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Harper did the 'Monty' job for Reading, admittedly he had the likes of Sidwell alongside him but that seems the obvious solution.

Despite Monty being seemingly the 1st name on the teamsheet in the last 12 months, I wonder whether Harper / Williamson wouldn't be his 1st choice pairing anyway.

 

[S64 Blade]

Monty has been at Claremount Hospital this afternoon. A mate of mine who works there has spotted him.

 

[Chengdu_qwade09]

big loss for the blades for me monty is one of best great work rate and will be missed seems like were stuck with quinn

 

[Berks_Blade]

serious question - when did Monty last play anywhere other than central midfield? I honestly can't remember. Was it back in 2003 or more recently?

Probably not for a while, admittedly. In the past he was used right wing and right back on occasion, or as a man-marker but I can't remember now how long ago. My point was though, he's always done whatever was asked of him, and in or out of the team I can't remember him complaining. If players with more obvious 'talent' (though I think Monty is underrated in this regard anyway, and has played v well in most games recent years) had the same attitude and work ethic they/we would be a lot better off.

 

[SBSP]

Although monty gives 1million% and would do anything for us - this is a brilliant thing for us football wise.

Now we will have 11 players on the pitch rather than 10 and 1 headless chicken.

I think the first option for replament will be harper - he hasn't been great since he came but this is the job he excelled at.

We need someone at the side of him who is going to make things happen and get forward regulary and support donkey Hendo.

I know he was shit and that's why we sold him but I think harper and Tonge would be good centre pairing for this league. but this again brings up the number of loans problem (assuming he would come back).

 

[judge]

not bad news really ,except we are now going to be another body light

but if people expect to see this fantastic passing football they are all craving im afraid it wont happen with monty in the team

he just cant do the basics

id also add that this off the ball work he is supposed to be good at has totally passed me by

i have on a few occasions just watched him for the entire game to see exactly what it is he does

im afraid the words chicken and headless spring to mind

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

KB has been able to justify playing Monty in that role because of the solid defence and results, particularly away from home. However, the last few weeks this has gone out of the window so it will be interesting to see what he does.

2 away games to come followed by 2 tough home games so I can't see much changing TBH and if Harper is fit, he'll just drop back and play that role.

 

[Sensiblade]

Why do people continually repeat themselves saying Monty can't pass and is rubbish?
He can't pass as well as Essien or Gerrard, granted but he can pass and he can tackle and he can play football.
He does the job asked of him and I think he will be missed while he's injured.

 

[Revolution]

Why do people continually repeat themselves saying Monty can't pass

Because he can't, as a rule. Oh, he can nudge the ball sideways, I suppose. But he can't split a defence open, or cross a ball with consistency, or play a good one-two on the run. And some people expect more.

And this "he does the job asked of him" argument is wearing a bit thin given the ease with which people seem to be making their way to the edge of our box and beyond at present.

I agree he'll be missed, though, as we are running out of warm bodies. I do have some sympathy for United on this front. They have a decent transfer window and ship out a lot of dead wood that would never play unless we have an injury crisis, and we immediately have an injury crisis which deprives us of our in form striker, one of our key defenders, the best defensive midfielder who ever lived, and Harper and Treacy. When you add the Naysmith injury, Williamson showing no sign of playing any time soon, and what's happened to kenny and Robertson - not United's fault of course - it's certainly a run of bad luck. No doubt the next thing in store is a Morgan or Henderson suspension.

 

[Sensiblade]

Because he can't, as a rule. Oh, he can nudge the ball sideways, I suppose. But he can't split a defence open, or cross a ball with consistency, or play a good one-two on the run. And some people expect more.

I personally don't expect him to split defences and play one two's as he is a Defensive midfielder and really truly isn't in the side to do that. But I have seen him do that kind of thing on occasion and sometimes too much recently which maybe where our defensive problems are being shown. He's got more confident since people started not booing and cat calling him evertime he gets the ball. So he may have got more adventurous and our other midfielders are not filling the space he leaves while going forward.

And this "he does the job asked of him" argument is wearing a bit thin given the ease with which people seem to be making their way to the edge of our box and beyond at present.

What else would you want of him?
For him to not do the job asked of him?
For him to go and stand up front with Relish and try to be a striker?
For him to stand behind the back 4 and play everyone onside?
What?
He plays defensive midfield, (which is the job asked of him) simples!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

When is Williamson fit?

Blackwell seemed to imply in the same interview that Williamson, Naysmith, and even Derek Geary may be available in the next month or two. All three would be a massive boost. Naysmith was superb last season, and Williamson should hopefully make a big difference to the midfield.

As for Geary, I thought last season that we'd never see him again, even before the retirement rumours, given we had Naughton, Walker, Halford and Bromby all ahead of him. Walker has looked a little suspect defensively in some games this season, and France is not good cover for him. If Geary can get fit and playing in anywhere near the level he can, it would be a unexpected boost to the season.

 

[Revolution]

What else would you want of him?
For him to not do the job asked of him?
For him to go and stand up front with Relish and try to be a striker?
For him to stand behind the back 4 and play everyone onside?
What?
He plays defensive midfield, (which is the job asked of him) simples!

You've missed my point. I know he plays defensive midfield. My point is he isn't playing that position very well at the moment, given the errors he is making and given the way that goals are coming through the middle with an alarming regularity compared to last season.

 

[Sensiblade]

What else would you want of him?
For him to not do the job asked of him?
For him to go and stand up front with Relish and try to be a striker?
For him to stand behind the back 4 and play everyone onside?
What?
He plays defensive midfield, (which is the job asked of him) simples!

You've missed my point. I know he plays defensive midfield. My point is he isn't playing that position very well at the moment, given the errors he is making and given the way that goals are coming through the middle with an alarming regularity compared to last season.

It's not all on his shoulders though, the team as a whole have shown a kind of inability to hold onto the ball long enough.
We give the ball away upfront, the attacking midfielder/winger fails to cut out the pass to the opposition midfielder/winger, the defensive midfield/full backs fail to stop the forward runs and the central defenders/keeper don't block/save the shots.
It's the team as a whole failing for every goal not just one player and certainly not just Monty no matter how much you do or don't rate him.

Plus I was being a bit sarcastic with my previous post

 

[Fiery Blade]

All of a sudden Monty is the key to our salvation!
Monty plays very well considering his limitations and he gives 100% every time he runs onto the field.
Unfortunately he is very limited to what he can do- He is not a great passer of the ball, He cannot shoot, His ball control leaves a lot to be desired and He tends to give away stupid fouls in dangerous areas !!!
And every week the crowd down at BDTBL think he will turn up a different player!

 

[theblade1957]

here we go again, MONTYS the blame for everything thats goes wrong, well i for one will miss his total commitment to sheffield united, and watch the results start to fall now hes out for the season or near as dam it, the resent results are not MONTYS try looking at walker messed up for 3 goals this term allready, try morgan with his stupid free kicks ,try taylor hes worst than useless, try killganon, not playing with and heart (a man knowing hes leaving in jan) quinn crap, evans crap,cotterill crap,now whats that leave us let me think, not a lot, most of these guys would not get in most first teams, with the exception of MONTY,LITTLE, TRACEY,please look at yourselfs blaming MONTY, once again ffs try watching what he does when hes not got the ball, and try waatching the rest of um, and btw MONTY has not gave away many freekicks within shooting distance, he will take a booking because hes fouled on the halfway line

 

[SBSP]

here we go again, MONTYS the blame for everything thats goes wrong, well i for one will miss his total commitment to sheffield united, and watch the results start to fall now hes out for the season or near as dam it, the resent results are not MONTYS try looking at walker messed up for 3 goals this term allready, try morgan with his stupid free kicks ,try taylor hes worst than useless, try killganon, not playing with and heart (a man knowing hes leaving in jan) quinn crap, evans crap,cotterill crap,now whats that leave us let me think, not a lot, most of these guys would not get in most first teams, with the exception of MONTY,LITTLE, TRACEY,please look at yourselfs blaming MONTY, once again ffs try watching what he does when hes not got the ball, and try waatching the rest of um, and btw MONTY has not gave away many freekicks within shooting distance, he will take a booking because hes fouled on the halfway line

Do you mean about 4-5 yards BEHIND where the play in, not in the position he SHOULD be and NOT making his man. Then trying to chase back to where he SHOULD be and giving away a stupid FOUL.

I wish people would see him for what he is and stop loving him for being a shit tryer.

 

[judge]

this is an interesting debate personally i think he goes through patches of good form where he seems to accept his limitations and shields the back four really well

the rest of the time he looks like a lost soul ,up and down the midfield too far behind the attack and too far in front of the defence if he could pass ,cross shoot or organise the team i could accept this

but like i say ive watched him on a few occasions and i think he can do well in the team but seems to get a bit carried away and think he is a footballer

 

[Woodwaaard]

I like Monty, and I think he'd make a great captain of a second division side. Chesterfield for example.

For me, the key point to the debate as to whether or not he's good enough, can be illustrated by the number of other clubs who have genuinely tried to buy him in the last ten years.

There were rumours that Birmingham were in for him when Bruce was manager and that Middleboro may have bid for him this Summer. And that's your lot as far as I know. Have there been any genuine offers?

We all bemoan the fact that United are a "selling club" yet no other club has managed to prise Monty from us. According to some, "every club needs a Monty". This does appear to have a ring of truth. Sadly every other club doesn't need Nick Montgomery himself and in our case we constantly try to pair him with player after player who all, for one reason or another,appear not to be good enough.

For all his effort I'd prefer us to play with a midfield pairing that can both play and tackle. The two skill-sets are NOT, and should never be regarded as, mutually exclusive.

 

[theblade1957]

good well you have anew pairing now dont ya francis and quinn now there a very skillfull pair if ever ive seen one, do you ever wonder if the other sin midfield did there job monty might not be under so much pressure to cover for them, not even enters your heads as you are so blinkered you cant see the field for allthe grass