Time's up Billy

[DronnieBlade]

First ten minutes of that game and Sharp's set up the offside goal, which was a couple of yards off but good movement, and then completely lost his marker to nod it down for the first goal. He's another player coming back from injury.

Sharp having an otherwise quiet, even poor, game is nothing to be surprised about. Point is even when he has a poor game he still pops up in the box at some point when you need him. He's not first choice if everyone else is fit. Got it. But I'm not going to complain about having a player like him available when needed.

Great points.

Who is first choice btw ?

Why ?

UTB

 

[Bergen Blade]

Don't agree we scored two with Sharp upfront on his own and had another disallowed for offside

Plus if sharp steps up for the penalty you're 90% certain he will score, if its brewster or mcburnie its 90% that they will miss

A shame McAtee took an extra touch instead of threading the ball through to Sharp here. In the end it was a clear offside.

 

[DronnieBlade]

View attachment 145823

A shame McAtee took an extra touch instead of threading the ball through to Sharp here. In the end it was a clear offside.

Said same in real time BB.

Terrific movement from Skipper.

UTB

 

[John Cutsbushes]

Hes still plenty to offer, will score goals this season

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Sharps time has been up for a good couple of years

He scored 10 last season because he knows where the space is and can smell a goal but bar that he offers zilch

We should have blooded players like Jebbison/Brewster/Mcburnie but have stuck with sharp

Now those players look a shadow of what they could have been and lost 2 years development because of the persistence with sharp even the last 3/4 games hecky would rather play sharp ahead of Brewster/Jebbinson

As I have been saying for the last couple of seasons he has held the young forwards back not helped them

What took you so long?

 

[VM198]

Didn't think Sharp was that bad BUT thought we looked miles better in attack when Brewster and McBurnie came on.

A big no brainer, so why did the, no-brain, start the way he did.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Sharp bagged 15 last season and missed about 1/3 of the season.
He's not had a run of games since he returned from injury.
Way too early to judge whether "he's finished."
Chances are, as is always the case with Billy, he's not.

We'd all written Fleck off last season then he suddenly wound the clock back for the run-in and the play-offs.
Shame he can't / won't do that more often.

Norwood, up to a few weeks ago, has stood out in our midfield and has been one of the best in the division. Another we like to write off.
He still has his 1 poor game every 5 or 6 though.

The only one I'm genuinely concerned about is Basham (and I hate to say that).
He's not been able to get back to his old self for a good while now and is looking vulnerable.
His confidence also seems shot, he doesn't seem to back himself like he used to in possession.
Great to have in the squad but if this iteration of Basham plays more games than he misses then I think we'll struggle defensively.

 

[PokerBlade]

Great points.

Who is first choice btw ?

Why ?

UTB

Right now it's McBurnie and N'Diaye for me. McBurnie gives us a different out-ball even though he shouldn't be thought of as a target man. His link up play this season has been quality and he looks like a real goal threat. N'Diaye...should be obvious. He's next level.

 

[LewishamBlade]

Great points.

Who is first choice btw ?

Why ?

UTB

Obviously McBurnie, as much as you hate that

And why? Because he’s been excellent

 

[ReeceofBDTBL]

Billy is absolutely not finished.

1 He's coming back to fitness and
2. Even if he's no longer able to start, he's an outstanding penalty box striker whos never had to rely on pace and would be worth his weight in gold coming on in the last half hour/20 minutes for any team at this level.

Saying it again for the billionth time, our fan base should not take Billy Sharp for granted.

 

[Frank the tank]

There was a huge difference in our attacking play when Brewster and mcburnie came on
Suddenly the ball wasn't getting played back straight over our heads ,we were playing quick one touch stuff and opening them up the sending off changed the shape of the game and reduced it to an attack v defence but I liked what I saw of that front two after watching us pump aimless channel balls for Billy to not get near

 

[Badger Blade]

Billy can still do a job but if we go up, I think it's time to wave him goodbye. Either that or keep him on the coaching staff in some capacity.

Basham on the other hand shouldn't be anywhere near the starting lineup unless we're absolutely desperate. He's outlived the last 4 managers but eventually all good things come to an end. He's nowhere near what he was and seems to be at fault for at least one goal each game he's played in since AA got injured. He's played hundreds of games between Egan and Baldock so there's no excuse for some of the errors we've seen recently, it's not like he's playing an unfamiliar role with unfamiliar players.

He's here until the end of next season but realistically should only be coming in for injuries, plugging gaps late in games and cup ties. Now that AA is vaguely fit, Basham surely has to drop out. If we're winning and AA needs a bit of a rest, bring Bash on but to rely on him every week, he's not going to get the job done any more.

 

[Tezza1889]

It's funny how fate works isn't it, let's say Sharp didn't start Saturday but was a late sub and takes the penalty, anybody upset at that scenario...

But what if he started the game and helped us to a fantastic 2 goal lead....

It's a conundrum isnt it, I'll tell you what, let's look somewhere else for the issue, as its not Billy Sharp is it?

 

[Revolution]

There was a huge difference in our attacking play when Brewster and mcburnie came on
Suddenly the ball wasn't getting played back straight over our heads ,we were playing quick one touch stuff and opening them up the sending off changed the shape of the game and reduced it to an attack v defence but I liked what I saw of that front two after watching us pump aimless channel balls for Billy to not get near

How’d you like the penalty?

More seriously, I thought Sharp did better than most seem to think he did, but it has been a stop-start season for him to say the least. Personally I’m pretty relaxed about who plays up front at the moment as by and large, goals are not the problem for once. That lies further back.

 

[Bladesman]

It's funny how fate works isn't it, let's say Sharp didn't start Saturday but was a late sub and takes the penalty, anybody upset at that scenario...

But what if he started the game and helped us to a fantastic 2 goal lead....

It's a conundrum isnt it, I'll tell you what, let's look somewhere else for the issue, as its not Billy Sharp is it?

The amount of times people keep saying his legs have gone only for him to end up scoring 10 or 15 goals that season.

 

[Katzenjammer]

Gentle reminder that Our Billy got another assist today.

I know this fact will annoy those who have wanted to drive him to the glue factory since 2015

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Gentle reminder that Our Billy got another assist today.

I know this fact will annoy those who have wanted to drive him to the glue factory since 2015

It was a shot which got blocked and fell to Osborn. I’ve nothing against Sharp but that’s hardly anything to go off.

 

[Torrix1889]

Gentle reminder that Our Billy got another assist today.

I know this fact will annoy those who have wanted to drive him to the glue factory since 2015

He was wank...again...

 

[Katzenjammer]

He was wank...again...

Sorry that Billy's continued existence offends you

 

[jono_t2000]

Gentle reminder that Our Billy got another assist today.

I know this fact will annoy those who have wanted to drive him to the glue factory since 2015

If anything I think this game showed more than anything that father time has finally caught up with Billy.

He's running on passion and adrenaline but reality his legs are like concrete and today it showed.

The question is do we win that game without our leader showing that passion and fight vs captain cool Egan who just chews his chewing gum and doesn't really ever seem to be all that fired up.

 

[ForgeBlade]

He did well to assist Osborne's goal today.

But sadly, there will come a time where we all keep saying "he'll come good and prove you wrong" and...he won't. He's 36, time will catch up eventually.

I love Billy. He's a legend, and he will rightly be remembered as one of our best ever. In fact, he will be remembered as one of THE best ever, outside the premiership.

But at the moment, and probably going forward, he is not the answer.

It's sad to watch it unfold, it really is. I would like nothing more than for him to hit a vein of form and bang in 12-15 before the end of the season but realistically, that isn't going to happen.

As much as we all love him, we, as a club, need to very quickly work on a Sharp-less future.

 

[Bert]

Gentle reminder that Our Billy got another assist today.

I know this fact will annoy those who have wanted to drive him to the glue factory since 2015

 

[Torrix1889]

Sorry that Billy's continued existence offends you

It's not his continued existence that offends me, its his pace of a snail and inability to remain upright on his own two feet that offends me.

Legend that he undoubtedly is....his time is clearly up at this level....as is Bashams....as is Flecks......and if he keeps on picking them....so is Heckys.

 

[Torrix1889]

Assist my arse....

 

[Torrix1889]

He's running on passion and adrenaline but reality his legs are like concrete and today it showed.

He's running like he's dosed up on fucking Imodium and he's desperate not to shit his pants....maybe that's why he falls over all the time so he can do the Lineker shuffle...

 

[originaltrueblade]

Never right Billy Sharp off

 

[just ted]

Bill set the tone and effort levels second half. Even when he’s not getting service or playing well he sets standards, gets under the opposition’s skin and get the crowd involved. Can’t understand some of the criticism

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

It's not his continued existence that offends me, its his pace of a snail and inability to remain upright on his own two feet that offends me.

Legend that he undoubtedly is....his time is clearly up at this level....as is Bashams....as is Flecks......and if he keeps on picking them....so is Heckys.

Considering he was up against one of the leagues best players and also played on the wrong side - somewhere he has only recently been deployed despite our LCB problems dating back to JOC’s injury - I thought Basham did very well yesterday.

 

[Torrix1889]

Considering he was up against one of the leagues best players and also played on the wrong side - somewhere he has only recently been deployed despite our LCB problems dating back to JOC’s injury - I thought Basham did very well yesterday.

One swallow and all that....Bash has been beyond shocking most of the season.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I don't think we're creating chances around the six yard box in the same way as we used to.

It's not necessarily a bad thing but we used to play to Billy's strengths with everything centred around overloads, get to the byline, cut it back for Billy... now it's a little more varied as Doyle, Ndiaye and McAtee don't mind going through the middle.