Matt Lowton

[sitwell]

To sign 2 year extension to his contract this week. I doubt we will make a better signing this summer.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Completely agree - excellent news.

 

[Blade58]

Excellent news!

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Makes you wonder if we'd had a mediocre season rather than making the play-offs in 09 whether there would have been the same furore over the Kyles. Is Lowton any worse a player than those two were at the time ?

 

[Wards]

Lowton isn't on the same level as those two, absolutely nowhere near.

That's not to say I'm not delighted at us getting him tied down, he will be a very good player for us but I couldn't put him in the same bracket at the two Kyles.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Lowton isn't on the same level as those two, absolutely nowhere near.

That's not to say I'm not delighted at us getting him tied down, he will be a very good player for us but I couldn't put him in the same bracket at the two Kyles.

KW has undoubtedly kicked on since then but he'd only played a handful of games for us at the time he was sold. I'd say ML has shown more versatility and is certainly as good a defender as both of them. I'm still not sure what his best position is but I think it's harsh to say he's nowhere near the level they were at when they were sold.

 

[Micalijo]

KW has undoubtedly kicked on since then but he'd only played a handful of games for us at the time he was sold. I'd say ML has shown more versatility and is certainly as good a defender as both of them. I'm still not sure what his best position is but I think it's harsh to say he's nowhere near the level they were at when they were sold.

Always nice to start the day with a good laugh - cheers Jim.

 

[davidpinder]

KW has undoubtedly kicked on since then but he'd only played a handful of games for us at the time he was sold. I'd say ML has shown more versatility and is certainly as good a defender as both of them. I'm still not sure what his best position is but I think it's harsh to say he's nowhere near the level they were at when they were sold.

I liken ML to Jags in his early days, He may not go on to be as good but i certainly believe he will be in the PL in the next 5 years. I noticed both Kyles look set for a full season in the a PL next season for the first time

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Always nice to start the day with a good laugh - cheers Jim.

Go on then, tell me why you think I'm wrong. Bear in mind I said 'at the time they were sold'. Also bear in mind they played in a relatively successful team, not one which was relegated.

I liken ML to Jags in his early days, He may not go on to be as good but i certainly believe he will be in the PL in the next 5 years. I noticed both Kyles look set for a full season in the a PL next season for the first time

Yep, would agree with that. I remember having to defend Jags many times on BU, particularly after a mullering at Wigan if memory serves.

 

[sitwell]

I agree with you totally Jim ,such a shame that the usual lovely human beings of the forum look for a negative slant on anything Sheffield united.

 

[Grecian2000]

It's great to see him sign the extension.

I would say he isn't at the same level's as the Kyles were at this stage. I am surprised KN hasn't come on as much as he should have done but it didn't take a genius to see what KW had in his locker (despite what some had to say when Len made his case).
Jags was a poor midfield playermaker (i.e. when alongside Monty) and a reasonable defensive midfielder (i.e. when played alongside Tonge) but was an excellent defender. I hope we play Lowton at the back.

 

[beechblade]

Excellent news really, I have to agree with Jim and DP, Matt Lowton does share characteristics with Jags, he's versatile in his roles, and offers us quite that bit more defensively than Kyle Walker did (compare his appearence at CB to Matt Lowton's), he lacks the pace and skill of Walker for sure, but he has great vision and movement off the ball, that makes up for that, his ability to head the ball and his prowess at jumping gives us an extra element too. I'm not saying he his better than either KN or KW but I think ML has the potential to reach similar heights in the future.

 

[JohnDenver]

Yep, would agree with that. I remember having to defend Jags many times on BU, particularly after a mullering at Wigan if memory serves.

Indeed.

Lowton doesn't have Jags' athleticism and pace, though he's clearly a better passer of the ball. The biggest thing he does have in common with Jags is the need to find his best position. A season in Div1 will toughen him up, but there will be games like Jags' Wigan experience along the way. Patience required....

 

[Grecian2000]

I agree with you totally Jim ,such a shame that the usual lovely human beings of the forum look for a negative slant on anything Sheffield united.

I seem to have missed the bit where anyone has said it's not a great thing that he's signed.

 

[Micalijo]

I agree with you totally Jim ,such a shame that the usual lovely human beings of the forum look for a negative slant on anything Sheffield united.

Negative? I've only just stopped laughing that people think Lowton is in the same class as Kyle x 2 were when they were sold, especially Walker. Walker was one of best teenagers I have ever seen in second tier even for the few games he played whilst we owned him, a truly outstanding player. Biggest attacking threat on pitch and unbelievabley good covering and defending imo.

You're well out of date by the way Sitters pal, I'm right behind Danny Wilson. A sensible, thoughtful manager at last. Have a go at Swiss and Brownie for negativity, not me mucker, you sweet, caring human being you.

I think it's safe top say that we have had no £3m or £5m bids from PL clubs which I think Jim is a pretty good sign that you are wrong.

 

[broomhillblade]

You're well out of date by the way Sitters pal, I'm right behind Danny Wilson. A sensible, thoughtful manager at last. Have a go at Swiss and Brownie for negativity, not me mucker, you sweet, caring human being you.

You haven't had your usual go at McCabe, Mic.

Missed a trick there...

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I think Mic has it spot on with his last sentence.

Regardless i'm glad he's signed.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I think it's safe top say that we have had no £3m or £5m bids from PL clubs which I think Jim is a pretty good sign that you are wrong.

That was the gist of my initial comment. Had Lowton been around in 08/09 or had the Kyles broken through last season, I think the players would have been viewed differently by other clubs. We did alledgedly put a £4M price tag on Lowton when Blackpool enquired I'd hazard a guess that if we take this league by storm (stay with me ) and ML has a great season, the bids will come.

 

[oldblade]

Always nice to start the day with a good laugh - cheers Jim.

I don't see what there is to laugh at.

We all have a different view on any player, but I don't see that JC has said anything outrageous. Lowton looks to me to be not far off the calibre of the two Kyles as they were two seasons ago. They put in good performances assisted by good players around them. Lowton has put in good performances in spite of the players around him.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Lowton's attitude is also a little bit different to others i.e Slew. The lad puts a huge value on playing regularly above the basic pay. He seems to have concluded at this point in his career he needs games to develop, the money will come later.

Sensible lad.

 

[oldblade]

I think Mic has it spot on with his last sentence.

That's arguable.

I think that when your side is good and playing well, you tend to get better offers for players than when your side is poor and playing badly, regardless of the abilities of individual players. A good player in a bad side is tainted by that and his value is affected accordingly.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I think Matty has the potential to be another Jagielka.

He is clearly not at that level just yet but he has shown some real potential of late.

Seems to have a good knack of making late runs into the box and scoring.

This would be excellent news as I think he has come on leaps and bounds since that sending off on his debut.

 

[Houso]

I think Lowton is more solid than either Kyle, but he's less of an attacking threat (even though he's got a good shot and excellent header on him).

In terms of the sum of all parts, I don't think he'll ever be closer to KW or KN, but that doesn't mean he won't be an excellent player and could certainly play in a lower Prem side one day.

You really can't underestimate that level of reliability.

 

[Pinchy]

As to versatility, he's 5' 10" tall: He's stopped growing. No amount of wishful thinking will turn him into a centre-back. Forget it.

Best Wishes,

Ryan Shawcross.

 

[Micalijo]

That's arguable.

I think that when your side is good and playing well, you tend to get better offers for players than when your side is poor and playing badly, regardless of the abilities of individual players. A good player in a bad side is tainted by that and his value is affected accordingly.

I suppose you are right Old. Any player playing for Blackwell will have their value tainted. We did well to get so much for em considering that.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I think Lowton is more solid than either Kyle, but he's less of an attacking threat (even though he's got a good shot and excellent header on him).

In terms of the sum of all parts, I don't think he'll ever be closer to KW or KN, but that doesn't mean he won't be an excellent player and could certainly play in a lower Prem side one day.

You really can't underestimate that level of reliability.

I think it depends which position he settles in. Jags started off in midfield, was excellent at RB in 02/03, looked a bit dodgy there the season after and was moved back into midfield where he excelled in the promotion season. He only really flirted with CB for us despite the fact I always thought that was his best position and I think ML is the same at the moment, we don't really know what his best position is.

I agree that he's not the same attacking threat at full back as the Kyle's but he's shown already that he can find the net and is a threat at set pieces.

 

[oldblade]

I suppose you are right Old. Any player playing for Blackwell will have their value tainted. We did well to get so much for em considering that.

The Kyles were sold after we finished third and got to a play off final. Matt Lowton played in a side that finished 23rd. We weren't great under Blackwell, but we were better than we are now, had some good players (far better players than we currently have) and we were better than most of the teams in the division.

 

[SwissBlade]

I'll echo what others are saying, Lowton is very much out of the Jags mould rather than being similar to the Kyles. The exceptions would be:

- Jags was an excellent fullback and I preferred him out at fullback until he bulked out. At that stage he became an inexperienced Centre Half
- Lowton isn't on the same level as Jags, Kyle or Kyle at Fullback.
- Lowton has a greater potential to get a lot more goals. He weighed in at the back end with some (almost) critical goals from set pieces.
- Jags never got enough goals and perhaps didn't put himself in the position to get them. Even now I think this is his shortfall.

Lowton is right now an inexperienced and slightly lightweight centrehalf which may cause us problems when faced with heavy weight strikers, so I think given that we have a shortage of fullbacks then we'll no doubt see him at Right Back, Right Mid or Centre Mid.

I think McAllister will get the nod for Centre mid, but some of this depends on who fills out the most.

Long-term I can see Lowton slotting in at Centrehalf... but 'long-term' isn't often used at the lane!

This is an excellent signing, so given that Slew has and Lowton is (hopefully) going to commit to at least this season with the club, then Wilson/ the club have done well here, credit where its due.

 

[Pinchy]

McAllister is 6-1 and about 12 stones in weight. How much more do you want him to fill out?

Lowton was, is and will remain, too small to be a centre-half. You cannot wish him taller.

 

[beechblade]

McAllister is 6-1 and about 12 stones in weight. How much more do you want him to fill out?

Lowton was, is and will remain, too small to be a centre-half. You cannot wish him taller.

No you can't but he certainly has proven he can out jump most of those taller than him.