CONFIRMED Jack Rodwell

[BanderSerge]

I can't see Rodwell getting in our midfield.
So he must be RCB/CB cover , like Jags.

This is very disappointing IF it means that we will not sign any RCB/CB who represents future improvement in the squad.

Neither Bash nor Egan are under pressure for their place and if either get injured , can Rodwell or Jags really provide equivalent cover ?

Seems to me that the RWB , striker & midfield targets are more expensive than we'd hoped , so we can't afford a fee for RCB/CB.

If we get Rodwell up to speed this close season he can quite easily do the Lundstram role.

 

[Chabuddy G]

If we get Rodwell up to speed this close season he can quite easily do the Lundstram role.

He definitely can’t

He can play in midfield but absolutely not as a progressive box to box midfielder with an eye for a goal

 

[Carlton Blade]

Nobody knows what Rodwell can do. He's a footballer in theory, just like Morrison was

 

[Shoreham_Bhoys]

This is the market we're trading in, we can't carry quality depth players.

 

[YES Blade]

Let’s face it, if everyone is fit we all know who the starting back 5 is going to be. So...

1. who are we going to be able to sign who happy to sit on the bench?
2. who is going to accept a modest wage by Premier League standards?

I can’t see us being able to attract players who are much better than Rodwell or Jags for the back up positions. If we start to rotate the defence more next season then we might be able to improve the squad, but until then we have to accept we'll be limited in the players happy to fill those roles.

 

[LJBlade]

Bloody hell, not good enough to play last season unless we were desperate. It's going to be a long hard season at this rate.

Let's hope we don't get injuries as we might have to rely on the likes of Rodwell and Jags, who clearly aren't up to PL football.

Who were you expecting him to get in ahead of last season?

 

[Chabuddy G]

Nobody knows what Rodwell can do. He's a footballer in theory, just like Morrison was

At least we’ve Rodwell we’ve seen him in this league extensively

 

[Carlton Blade]

At least we’ve Rodwell we’ve seen him in this league extensively

Extensively might be a stretch. And it must be 8 seasons since he was a regular at this level

 

[Chabuddy G]

Extensively might be a stretch. And it must be 8 seasons since he was a regular at this level

He’s played plenty in this division. Be it 8 years ago (little stretch) or not. Most will know the basis of what he can do, he’s not developed into a marauding attacking midfielder in that time.

 

[Carlton Blade]

He’s played plenty in this division. Be it 8 years ago (little stretch) or not. Most will know the basis of what he can do, he’s not developed into a marauding attacking midfielder in that time.

Attacking midfielder???

 

[Chabuddy G]

Attacking midfielder???

Exactly the point I was making.
We know what he can do to an extent.

 

[Kanye]

Desperate times I think.. not looking good.

I wouldn't read too much into it, certainly not desperation.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Exactly the point I was making.
We know what he can do to an extent.

I'm just talking about him filling in for Bash and, at a push Norwood/Berge. He's played his whole career in his own half.

 

[Kanye]

The most worrying element of this is the fact we clearly don't have that much money.

Did you not see us spend a reported £18.5m on a GK the other day?

 

[Champagneblade]

This will be an odd season with the quick turnaround. Having experienced back ups like these are probably as good as it gets for now. The first choice 3 are pretty much institutions already.

Show me the teams who have made massive upgrades to their squad by now.

Southampton signed a couple but lost a starter, who Spurs signed. Maybe Chelsea and City spent some cash but otherwise there isn't time to make mass changes which favours us.

Who has shown they can leapfrog us to 9th? Nobody yet.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I’m not troubled by this - although it seems likely that this wasn’t CW’s plan A, otherwise these contracts would have been agreed a while back.

And more to the point they wouldn’t have been included on the original released list. I don’t have a problem with it, but do think it’s likely more a fallback option given the short turnaround and the gaps we need to start quickly filling, rather than as you say Wilder’s plan A. It allows all efforts, and funds, to also be focused on other areas of the squad.

 

[jt64]

This is a bizarre extension

 

[Deadbat]

Tin hat time....

Concerned a bit at these re signings. I really hope we are looking for some young players on the up also and not pinning our hope on these two playing much.

I thought we may address the lack of quality back ups in defence and a bit surprised the 3 cb backs up are all the same. I know they know the system but our defence did not look the same when any of them played. Maybe we may still bring in more too?

If Bash or Egan were out for longer than the odd game the drop off is huge. We saw that at times last season. As others say a GK, CF and another midfielder were priority but I am concerned that we dont really have any young up and coming back ups for the defence- our most successful area. We were right not to go in silly for Robinson who went to Fulham but those type of players are who I would like us to be looking at. I am concerned if we get any injuries at all and they simply as it stands have no competition at all. Granted we may have to spend elsewhere and prioritise. I suppose if its a choice between a top striker and midfielder also coming in and we have to sacrifice depth then you have to live with that.

However, there is nothing wrong with voicing concerns with our lack of quality depth in this area and if we want to repeat or better last season I feel we needed to do better than these two lads as back ups. You have to keep moving forward and these signings are not forward steps. They strike me as we 'they'll do for now' type of signings. I do feel they won't be on cheap wages (Jags especially) so concerns me we could not find better free agents from all over the World and my concerns about our scouting world wide comes to the fore again?

I think Rodwell and Jack Robinson are mid table Champ at best (That's where they both last played regularish) and even then they were in and put at Blackburn and Forest. I love Jags but he's done at this level for me and if he has to play more than a game or so we would be worried.

I understand we have to spend find wisely but we will be in exactly the same position next summer meaning to get better backups. Maybe even before if any of the back 5 pick up longer term injuries with no viable back up anywhere close to the starters. Robinson and Osborn maybe could play a few games and the former did ok individually but collectively the defence shipped goals badly when we had a few out (9 goals in games v Newc, Soton and Man Utd without normal defence)

So yeah, I am a bit disappointed by these two being brought back. I saw nothing from either to suggest that I would be confortable them starting games at tbis level. Maybe I am being greedy and want us to do better and we dont have the funds to do that but either way if another Prem club did this you'd think they were not able to compete financially with many others or their scouting/recruitment is not at the level it should be.

I'll probably get panned for above but what I feel! If we need to keep improving and progressing we need to get younger and better in all areas of the squad. These two don't do either of those things.

 

[robbiez666]

Who were you expecting him to get in ahead of last season?

When the team was shattered and he clearly needed to rest players he did not trust him to play. Bar a handful of minutes off the bench in one game (I think, from memory).

 

[LJBlade]

When the team was shattered and he clearly needed to rest players he did not trust him to play. Bar a handful of minutes off the bench in one game (I think, from memory).

When we were still going for Europe who were you expecting Wilder to drop for Rodwell?

 

[fireblade]

Could well be a result of spending a substantial sum on a permanent GK, as opposed to getting Hendo back on loan.
The budget only stretches so far, and these two signings will allow the remaining funds to go on priority positions. Pretty sure the management team have been considering this and other options for a few months now.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Tin hat time....

Concerned a bit at these re signings. I really hope we are looking for some young players on the up also and not pinning our hope on these two playing much.

I thought we may address the lack of quality back ups in defence and a bit surprised the 3 cb backs up are all the same. I know they know the system but our defence did not look the same when any of them played. Maybe we may still bring in more too?

If Bash or Egan were out for longer than the odd game the drop off is huge. We saw that at times last season. As others say a GK, CF and another midfielder were priority but I am concerned that we dont really have any young up and coming back ups for the defence- our most successful area. We were right not to go in silly for Robinson who went to Fulham but those type of players are who I would like us to be looking at. I am concerned if we get any injuries at all and they simply as it stands have no competition at all. Granted we may have to spend elsewhere and prioritise. I suppose if its a choice between a top striker and midfielder also coming in and we have to sacrifice depth then you have to live with that.

However, there is nothing wrong with voicing concerns with our lack of quality depth in this area and if we want to repeat or better last season I feel we needed to do better than these two lads as back ups. You have to keep moving forward and these signings are not forward steps. They strike me as we 'they'll do for now' type of signings. I do feel they won't be on cheap wages (Jags especially) so concerns me we could not find better free agents from all over the World and my concerns about our scouting world wide comes to the fore again?

I think Rodwell and Jack Robinson are mid table Champ at best (That's where they both last played regularish) and even then they were in and put at Blackburn and Forest. I love Jags but he's done at this level for me and if he has to play more than a game or so we would be worried.

I understand we have to spend find wisely but we will be in exactly the same position next summer meaning to get better backups. Maybe even before if any of the back 5 pick up longer term injuries with no viable back up anywhere close to the starters. Robinson and Osborn maybe could play a few games and the former did ok individually but collectively the defence shipped goals badly when we had a few out (9 goals in games v Newc, Soton and Man Utd without normal defence)

So yeah, I am a bit disappointed by these two being brought back. I saw nothing from either to suggest that I would be confortable them starting games at tbis level. Maybe I am being greedy and want us to do better and we dont have the funds to do that but either way if another Prem club did this you'd think they were not able to compete financially with many others or their scouting/recruitment is not at the level it should be.

I'll probably get panned for above but what I feel! If we need to keep improving and progressing we need to get younger and better in all areas of the squad. These two don't do either of those things.

The key to judging these decisions will be to look at them not in isolation now but alongside the full amount of business we do by the end of this window.

 

[robbiez666]

I thought we may address the lack of quality back ups in defence and a bit surprised the 3 cb backs up are all the same. I know they know the system but our defence did not look the same when any of them played. Maybe we may still bring in more too?

I think this is a huge point/potential concern.

Our CB back ups next season are Championship standard, legs gone, championship standard. I feel he'll bring someone else in as well, but they're not guaranteed to settle or work in our system. I thought Robinson did brilliantly to come in last season but there was a marked difference in quality, which showed after a few games.

If we were unlucky with injuries and lost say JoC and Egan for a long period I think we'd be lucky to stay up. It's easier said than done to bring in competition at this level and with our funds but it's worrying. Next season we're in precisely the same position. No young players coming through. we have to spend money to replace 3 players instead of doing it gradually. I can;t imagine this hasn't passed Wilder by, but unless he's going to bring in several players and just loan them out (so they don't take up squad places) then that's 3 of the 4 back-up CB squad slots gone. All 3 aren't good enough to play regularly at this level.

I would have no issue with the Rodwell and Jags extensions if we weren't limited in numbers, but we are.

 

[robbiez666]

When we were still going for Europe who were you expecting Wilder to drop for Rodwell?

Chris Wilder stated that our players were tired and there was nothing left in the tank by the end of the season. Yet he wasn't prepared to rest anyone for Rodwell, even after Europe was beyond us. What does that say to you?

 

[Nah den]

Share other's misgivings. We were pretty lucky with injuries last season, and our league position was entirely down to how our defence performed. If we aren't as lucky with injuries again I'd be a bit concerned.

Obviously there is a finite amount of budget, and if these guys have been extended to allow for 2 or 3 real quality signings that we have prioritised then fair enough, it's a calculated gamble.

Still, would have preferred to see a couple of youngsters who may develop and happy to work alongside our first choice defenders, in the knowledge they would benefit and be ready to step in if required. The players at Blackburn and Swansea that have been mentioned previously spring to mind. I'd hope as a PL team we would be an attractive enough proposition for that type of player.

 

[LJBlade]

Chris Wilder stated that our players were tired and there was nothing left in the tank by the end of the season. Yet he wasn't prepared to rest anyone for Rodwell, even after Europe was beyond us. What does that say to you?

I’ll ask again. Who were you expecting him to drop for Rodwell? The obvious answer is Basham, who is the fittest player in our team and didn’t need resting.

The truth is you’re being negative for the sake of being negative, it’s what you do best.

 

[HeySethUTB]

Deadbat with you on this one, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to say they were never in wilders initial plans for the upcoming season, the reason I suspect this is it goes against a lot of what wilder has stood for in the past, moving forward, progressive, no room for sentiment etc, added to the fact they were released. Nothing wrong with covering our arses, but the only reason we would need to do this is if we think it’s unlikely the players we have targeted may not actually sign on the dotted line. That or as alluded to saving budget to spend a little bigger on a striker. They’ll do us a job type signings are not what I expected during the window. Can’t claim to be anyway near an expert in terms of recruitment but I find it difficult to comprehend their aren’t any younger potentially cheaper (wage wise) Players out there we couldn’t attract.

UTB! Wilder hasn’t made many mistakes, he’s a legend, but it is still slightly worrying, no one is above critical appraise even if we are just fans of the football club.

 

[LJBlade]

Share other's misgivings. We were pretty lucky with injuries last season, and our league position was entirely down to how our defence performed. If we aren't as lucky with injuries again I'd be a bit concerned.

Obviously there is a finite amount of budget, and if these guys have been extended to allow for 2 or 3 real quality signings that we have prioritised then fair enough, it's a calculated gamble.

Still, would have preferred to see a couple of youngsters who may develop and happy to work alongside our first choice defenders, in the knowledge they would benefit and be ready to step in if required. The players at Blackburn and Swansea that have been mentioned previously spring to mind. I'd hope as a PL team we would be an attractive enough proposition for that type of player.

We may yet see a couple of youngsters. Some people seem to be assuming that it signals the end of our transfer activity.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

No real issue re-signing Rodwell. He was sat behind our player of the year who also happens to be made out of granite in basham. So he wasn’t never going to feature heavily.

For all the moaning about spending a wage on Rodwell - to me it seems quite reasonable to have someone that at a push could cover CB, RB, DM and RCB and who already knows the staff and the system all in one squad place. Wilder obviously saw enough in his spell here to want to keep him. Similar argument to having Osborn as cover for fleck and Stevens at a reasonable price.

 

[Varkanoid]

I think these two signings were pretty good cheap no brainer ones. Dont forget its not just injury cover but if one of our CB's picks up a red etc then they are out so to have Jags there to cover the odd one or two matches plus available as a sub makes perfect sense. We all wish we could have PL standard back up but dont forget we are still Sheffield United we aint got a barrel of money. Remember the song ! PL players are not going to come to us just to sit on the bench.

Be interesting to see what these couple of signings they are chasing which was mentioned on twitter this weekend turn out to be when its announced in the next week or so.