Good Luck Paul Coutts

[GodricBlade]

As others have said, he's created a place for himself in Blades folklore.
When the Rolls was purring it was a sight to behold & I wish him only the best for whatever happens next.
He never gave the ball away, you know.
Mr Coutts - I tip my hat to you, Sir.

 

[boss hog]

Good luck Paul all the best ,thanks for the great memories.
Always one of us ,welcome back anytime.

 

[bramptonblade]

The sadder side of hitting the big time is that we lose some of the players we have grown to love. Thanks for everything Couttsy and all the best to you. UTB!

 

[bornablade]

It will have all been covered before but I wish we'd lost at Burton and kept Coutts fit.

We'd now be looking forward to our second season in the Premier league.

Thanks Paul and good luck.

 

[Champagneblade]

What a player.

If it wasn’t for that injury we might not have gone up this season but I’ll tell you what - we would have had a play off and a trip to Wembley last year.

Wants to play and this is the sharp sword of promotion. Best of luck. Some bloke (from experience) and some fucking player.

Who knows? We were top after the Burton game.

Just goes to show that we are in good hands. Chris forges an excellent team spirit but is ruthless when he has to be. He knows he can't go into a season with doubts on players.maybe in the Championship he could have given him another year. He's preferred Lunny these past few weeks and I think that told it's own story as to where he saw Paul Coutts' future.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Just shows what can be achieved with a meritocracy. Norwood kept hold of the shirt and never let Coutts get a look in. It’s a shame we didn’t put him out on loan for a bit. I’m sure if Couttsy got a run of games somewhere he’ll have been back to his best.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

Couttsy will always be held in high regard for his contribution during that magical League 1 winning season and his imperious performances in our first season back in the Championship, especially that wonderful afternoon in Sheffield 6.

I'm gutted he's leaving but want to wish him every success when he moves on. He'll always be afforded a wonderful reception at Bramall Lane whatever the circumstances.

 

[YES Blade]

DBs appraisal of Bert (and YesB) is that being injured can’t be assessed, but being BOTH very good AND not very good might, just might, not all be down to the player in question !

Just a thought !!

UTB

I appreciate that poor management can hinder a player’s performance but Sharp still managed 21 goals under Adkins, Che Adams managed to impress and earn a move to the Championship. Top quality players will still shine, especially if they are playing in a division below their ability level.

Coutts is a decent League One/Lower Championship player and I think some of the praise on here is way over the top, he is nowhere near one of our greatest ever players or even midfielders. Fleck and Norwood are better for a start and that’s without even looking at past players.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I saw this coming when he didn't get the contract offer that other senior players like Sharp and Basham did. It has still hit me hard in spite of that. He's probably the best exponent of the short passing game that I've seen in my time following United. Only McCall comes close tbh. The way he blended with Fleck and Duffy was a work of managerial genius. Fleck the driver with the ball; Coutts the conductor; Duffy the retainer, overloader and kingpin in the high press. I'm slightly surprised Coutts wasn't involved in more u23 games or sent out on loan to regain confidence in his body. Maybe things could've different then? I hope he gets a good move to a progressive footballing side. He deserves it. This is a stark reminder that there's no sentiment in football.

 

[JohnDenver]

I hope he gets a good move now because I'm confident that with playing time he can get back to a high level.

I hope so. Many have written him off, but he’s just not had a look in since Norwood arrived so we just don’t know how good he’ll be in future. Those who wrote him off presumably forget Coutts was never quick or athletic before his injury - it was all in his brain and that (glorious) first touch.

 

[dazzlingblade]

I appreciate that poor management can hinder a player’s performance but Sharp still managed 21 goals under Adkins, Che Adams managed to impress and earn a move to the Championship. Top quality players will still shine, especially if they are playing in a division below their ability level.

Coutts is a decent League One/Lower Championship player and I think some of the praise on here is way over the top, he is nowhere near one of our greatest ever players or even midfielders. Fleck and Norwood are better for a start and that’s without even looking at past players.

whatever you think of his early performances for us (he was also recovering after serious injuries then) should be pretty irrelevant today of all days

we probably wouldn't be where we are today if he hadn't for that 18 months been a part of the best midfield we have had since Brown/Tonge/Mccall

so why not today just pay tribute to the man, a man that never gave up even when it looked like he was out the door, who has been an integral part of our rise, and leave the bone picking of his time here for another day

 

[Liverpool blade]

The sadder side of hitting the big time is that we lose some of the players we have grown to love. Thanks for everything Couttsy and all the best to you. UTB!

Spot on assessment. This is the downside to promotion but I know that Chris will have thought about this whilst making the decision which won’t have been easy!!.
Good luck to the lad anyway. I like most blades will have good memories of his time playing for the blades.
I just wish I hadn’t seen that donkey sordell make that stupid, clumsy challenge but that’s football unfortunately. UTB

 

[Guesty]

I appreciate that poor management can hinder a player’s performance but Sharp still managed 21 goals under Adkins, Che Adams managed to impress and earn a move to the Championship. Top quality players will still shine, especially if they are playing in a division below their ability level.

Coutts is a decent League One/Lower Championship player and I think some of the praise on here is way over the top, he is nowhere near one of our greatest ever players or even midfielders. Fleck and Norwood are better for a start and that’s without even looking at past players.

We were top of the league when he broke his leg, and he was probably the best player in that team. Certainly a great deal better than Fleck, at the time, albeit less eye-catching.

 

[YES Blade]

whatever you think of his early performances for us (he was also recovering after serious injuries then) should be pretty irrelevant today of all days

we probably wouldn't be where we are today if he hadn't for that 18 months been a part of the best midfield we have had since Brown/Tonge/Mccall

so why not today just pay tribute to the man, a man that never gave up even when it looked like he was out the door, who has been an integral part of our rise, and leave the bone picking of his time here for another day

Can I just point out that no one has died! A player has left the club, it happens all the time.

I’ve wished him all the best and acknowledged he was great in the League One Championship season.

 

[dazzlingblade]

Can I just point out that no one has died! A player has left the club, it happens all the time.

I’ve wished him all the best and acknowledged he was great in the League One Championship season.

i'm guessing your a little older and have seen some of the true greats leave, and i'm guessing at the time it probably hit you a little hard, i remember deano going, and as you state no one died, but for a few days it was gut wrenching to know i wouldn't see him in a blades shirt again

some of the posters on here will not remember some of the players we do, to some of these lads, coutts is their TC or their Michael Brown, so while i agree i have seen better players come and go, to some people he will have been one of the best they have seen

my kids are only a few years into their blades journey, and there has been a few tears in their eyes tonight, so yes no one has died, but try remember how you felt when your favourites left

 

[Pinchy]

I appreciate that poor management can hinder a player’s performance but Sharp still managed 21 goals under Adkins, Che Adams managed to impress and earn a move to the Championship. Top quality players will still shine, especially if they are playing in a division below their ability level.

Coutts is a decent League One/Lower Championship player and I think some of the praise on here is way over the top, he is nowhere near one of our greatest ever players or even midfielders. Fleck and Norwood are better for a start and that’s without even looking at past players.

Utter, abject drivel.

 

[Pinchy]

We were top of the league when he broke his leg, and he was probably the best player in that team. Certainly a great deal better than Fleck, at the time, albeit less eye-catching.

He was indeed a great deal better than Fleck. There was never any doubt who was the gaffer in the Trinity.

 

[YES Blade]

i'm guessing your a little older and have seen some of the true greats leave, and i'm guessing at the time it probably hit you a little hard, i remember deano going, and as you state no one died, but for a few days it was gut wrenching to know i wouldn't see him in a blades shirt again

some of the posters on here will not remember some of the players we do, to some of these lads, coutts is there TC or their Michael Brown, so while i agree i have seen better players come and go, to some people he will have been one of the best they have seen

my kids are only a few years into their blades journey, and there has been a few tears in their eyes tonight, so yes no one has died, but try remember how you felt when your favourites left

If it was a first team regular being sold then fair enough, but it’s a player who has hardly featured in one of our greatest recent years.

Rightly so we should acknowledge contributions players make for the club, but some are going way over the top. I’m sorry if my opinion hurts peoples feelings.

We’ve moved on and signed a better player in his position and will more than likely sign a even better players. It’s an exciting time to be a Blade right now!

 

[YES Blade]

He was indeed a great deal better than Fleck. There was never any doubt who was the gaffer in the Trinity.

Then we signed Norwood who took us up to the next level. That’s football, players come and go, managers will improve the team by signing better players.

 

[dazzlingblade]

Then we signed Norwood who took us up to the next level. That’s football, players come and go, managers will improve the team by signing better players.

we were top when Coutts got injured, we were already at that level, lets just agree to disagree, but your wrong

 

[Pinchy]

we were top when Coutts got injured, we were already at that level, lets just agree to disagree, but your wrong

The pre-injury Couttsy was a better player than Norwood. He was running every game. Our players danced to his tune and opponents couldn’t get near him. They needed a second ball in the pitch because Coutts had the first one and nobody else was going to get a kick. Truly a proper footballer.

 

[Pinchy]

If it was a first team regular being sold then fair enough, but it’s a player who has hardly featured in one of our greatest recent years.

Rightly so we should acknowledge contributions players make for the club, but some are going way over the top. I’m sorry if my opinion hurts peoples feelings.

We’ve moved on and signed a better player in his position and will more than likely sign a even better players. It’s an exciting time to be a Blade right now!

Let’s be just as blasé when Sharp is replaced, shall we?

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Paul Coutts, Martin Cranie, Conor Washington, Daniel Lafferty and Caolan Lavery will all leave Bramall Lane when their current deals expire this summer.

Leon Clarke, Jake Wright, Ched Evans, Samir Carruthers, Nathan Thomas, Ben Heneghan and Ricky Holmes have all been placed on the transfer list, despite still being under contract.

Meanwhile, Dean Henderson, Kieran Dowell, Scott Hogan, Gary Madine and Marvin Johnson will all return to their parent clubs following the completion of their loan deals.

Who’s left?

We doing 5 a side next season?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

The pre-injury Couttsy was a better player than Norwood.

I disagree with that. More consistent, certainly. Better passing percentage, highly likely. But whereas Coutts tended to orchestrate the start and middle part of moves, the style we adopted this season had Norwood much more involved not only at the start of moves, but importantly at the end, with so many whipped balls from the Toxic Ollie Zone resulting in key goals. I would argue he’s also better at the defensive aspects of our game when our defenders have bombed forward. It’s no slight against Coutts, or understating his importance pre-injury, but it’s telling that Wilder preferred to stick with Norwood despite him needing an operation rather than hand responsibility to post-injury Coutts at any point these past months. I’m not at all surprised to see us/him move on.

I thank him hugely, he was central to the unforgettable League 1 season, and I hope that he recovers to somewhere near to his past abilities.

 

[bromtom]

Think we should all chuck in and buy him an actual Rolls Royce as a parting gift.

How many active non robots on here? Put a fiver in I'm sure we could get him a nice 70s Silver Shadow or summat.

 

[Bert]

Let’s be just as blasé when Sharp is replaced, shall we?

They all get replaced one day, just like Bert, when he's gone somebody else will sit in his seat.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Can I just point out that no one has died! A player has left the club, it happens all the time.

I’ve wished him all the best and acknowledged he was great in the League One Championship season.

And beyond....yes, no one has died, but perhaps the number of posters stating just how good Coutts was should tell you something you seem to have missed.

Until the dreadful tackle that put and end to his career at United, Coutts was easily way above average during our return to the Championship. He looked every inch a Premiership player, so it makes me wonder if your ability to assess and critique a player is that good? One thing that was clear was that with Coutts alongside him Fleck was far more threatening as Coutts' spacial awareness meant that Fleck could get forward and contribute far more to our attacking threat than he has since Coutts injury. It's United's loss, but I guess that as you see Norwood week in, week out this makes ON a vast improvement on Coutts. It doesn't, but I guess we'll never know just how good Coutts could have been.

 

[Pinchy]

They all get replaced one day, just like Bert, when he's gone somebody else will sit in his seat.

A sad day...

We never properly replaced Tony Wagstaff, did we?

 

[itsinyerblood]

They all get replaced one day, just like Bert, when he's gone somebody else will sit in his seat.

Ah, but will they employ the quaint literary third person device to describe whoever happens to take Bert's place?

 

[Bert]

A sad day...

We never properly replaced Tony Wagstaff, did we?

Oh yes we did..