CONFIRMED Chris Porter and Ben Davies

[HeCanDoMagic]

Its a very popular answer because NC has earned the trust and people recognise that.

Davies has already proven his worth.

Basham is a championship player, and a good one. Butler is a player of the year and club captain. These are shrewd and planned signings.

 

[Revolution]

..............Howard
Freeman Butler NewCB Harris
---------Basham Wallace----------
Flynn........Scougs------Murphy
-----------------NewST-----------------

Thats how I see it going.

Unless that striker has 20 goals in him that's not a top 2 side. It might be a playoff team if things break right, though I am not sure it is stronger than last seasons team

 

[EdinburghBlade]

Two good additions. Davies in particular. In Clough we trust. If we sign Wallace, I expect us to sign a RB, a utility defender who can provide cover for Harris or play at CB, and AT LEAST one more striker.

UTB!

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Unless that striker has 20 goals in him that's not a top 2 side. It might be a playoff team if things break right, though I am not sure it is stronger than last seasons team

Im guessing thats why NC is approaching the striker signing with the care he is doing.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

The point I am making Bob is that it's ok to question the decisions of Nigel and his men. It seems a very popular answer to 'trust Nige' on everything.

Yeah it's a knee jerk reaction, probably caused by the constant "clap-clap" comments you get if you defend anything at the club when times aren't quite so positive. It's childish and annoying both ways however it just seems to be the way of internet forums.

 

[ponteblade]

Some doom and gloom merchants on here. I trust Clough, I know you shouldn't trust our lot, because when you think we're going to do something we invariably get let down. But I do think Clough is creating something good at the lane. Time will tell, but pleased with his style and the players he has brought in. UTB

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I am less impressed with the resigning of Porter, especially as he will have had at least 2 months to get himself another club and hasn't done so.

He said there was interest elsewhere and he could have been paid more had be headed elsewhere http://audioboo.fm/boos/2236946-sheff-utd-striker-chris-porter-speaks-about-his-new-deal

 

[sheffielder]

He said there was interest elsewhere and he could have been paid more had be headed elsewhere http://audioboo.fm/boos/2236946-sheff-utd-striker-chris-porter-speaks-about-his-new-deal

Said that myself during contract negotiations. doesn't mean it's true. I don't mind him as an option to be honest as long as he is at least the 2nd or 3rd one.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Said that myself during contract negotiations. doesn't mean it's true.

No disrespect, but I'm more inclined to believe someone talking about a contract they've actually signed...

 

[sheffielder]

No disrespect, but I'm more inclined to believe someone talking about a contract they've actually signed...

huh? nevermind

 

[Woodwardfan]

Porter is 31 in December. The rest is how I feel.

Well well, in which case I change my mind but only slightly. At least he has a few years ahead of him and it does make it more acceptable. However I still think he will not improve and that his failings are in his mind as much as in his skill set. In other words I think he just goes through the motions and is happy to nearly win the ball, nearly reach the ball, nearly get to the chance.

If we have a 4 man strike force like Clough said, I am still very disappointed that Porter is perceived to be good enough to be even fourth in line. If Baxter (IMO our best player and a midfield player ) is another one of the four then I am worried because that means there is only one more to come.

 

[shorehamview]

Unless that striker has 20 goals in him......

Ched?

 

[Going up]

He said there was interest elsewhere and he could have been paid more had be headed elsewhere http://audioboo.fm/boos/2236946-sheff-utd-striker-chris-porter-speaks-about-his-new-deal

Thanks Mate. A great interview IMO and I believe you can see exactly why Nigel signed him on a one year deal. He has passion for the club and a chance to prove himself and earn a new deal which should provide the incentive to be a very useful squad member to the Blades in their promotion push.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Hard to see why players brought into different positions will be a youth blocker during a 60 game season.
Playing young player continuously for long periods of time doesn't do them a great deal of good. They need to be introduced and removed when they need a rest. Previously we've not had the depth to do so, and they've played too long and their form has dipped.

Optimistic about another 14 cup games. Wish I shared your optimism.

 

[Esablade]

There's only one Chris Porter!!!
UTB!

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Optimistic about another 14 cup games. Wish I shared your optimism.

JPT is ours this season, just to get the Wembley monkey off our back.

 

[Bladesman]

Not sure why Porter needed to be re signed.

I can see why we wanted to get Davies in.

 

[mattbianco1]

We have signed McNulty, JCR, Butler, Basham, Porter and Davies so far. All considered squad players and would be ok signings individually. We need to improve the starting 11, already made weaker with the loss of Coady, Brayford and possibly Maguire. I don't see anything to fear in our team at present and we need a couple of players who can change a game.

Ok. Fine.

 

[Darthblade]

Basham for young Connor Dimaio and now got JRC and Davies blocking any progress for Khan. As much as I don't like Doyle, is Basham really an improvement?

We should be there or there abouts for promotion, however we haven't done anything to help guarantee it.

The tea lady would be an improvement on Doyle !!!
Seriously, Basham is definitely an improvement on Doyle and I believe will make us tougher to break down.
UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

How is Basham considered a squad player?

NC on Basham: "We'll be certainly finding room in our starting 11 for Chris"

What makes you think Butler has been brought in as a squad player?

Agree here ...... I think that Basham will replace Doyle and Butler will replace Collins.
Doyle & Collins will become squad players who will likely be allowed to leave in January if all is going well and somebody comes in for them.
UTB & FTP

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Davies, Basham, Butler! All leaders and two of them possible captains. Anyone else see a common character trait emerging for next season?

 

[Sirius]

You name me another striker who will be happy to sit on the bench, get paid next to nothing (for a footballer) and have the same goals per minute ratio as Porter last season...

ME Me I'm here gaffer. You only have to ask.

 

[Bladesway]

I love how you're all asuming that porter won't be first choice up front!!

He's one of, if not the worst striker to ever pull a blades shirt on, just check his goals per game ratio and you'll see the issue, if he is played up front from the first game were going nowhere because he will not score enough goals...

0.28 league goals per game (carreer) soccerbase...

No matter how funny it is that he has an ironic cult status, he should have been released, he isn't good enough...

So a second string striker will score one in 4. I'll have that thanks. As for one of the worst strikers ever to pull a blades shirt on, I'm sorry but that is utter shit. Marcus Bent MK2 James Beattie mark 2, Cofie, James Thomas, Richard Cadet, Billy Sharp just off the top of my head have worse returns than Porter last season.
If you are going to lambast the bloke at least make it sensible.

 

[Latters]

Davies, Basham, Butler! All leaders and two of them possible captains. Anyone else see a common character trait emerging for next season?

Too many chiefs and not enough Indians?

I remember we had bother when Danny Cullip, who was shit, came in and didn't like Morgs being captain.

Hopefully our new "leaders" won't get all precious when they don't get the armband.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Too many chiefs and not enough Indians?

I remember we had bother when Danny Cullip, who was shit, came in and didn't like Morgs being captain.

Hopefully our new "leaders" won't get all precious when they don't get the armband.

Just the one chief, Nigel only has a spokesman on the pitch, but we have been lacking that vocal element for some time!

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

It hasn't taken the knockers long has it? Let's see were we are on the 31st Aug.

I'm confident enough to wait until the end of May 15 although I'm also sure Mr Clough will not make me wait that long by three weeks.

 

[JOEYDEE]

If you were Paul Walker,with a freedom to ask what you wanted to,wouldn't you have asked about the rumours of Ched returning ?
The seemingly lack of talk of signing an experienced striker,and resigning Porter,smells of undercover dealings that is taboo talk officially at the club,I can see Ched and/or Sharpe coming back....just sayin'..

 

[Woodwardfan]

In NC's interview about Porter and Davies he said " two great lads to have around" That's one of the keys to his approach.

IMO Billy Sharp would be another "great lad to have around". Would Ched?

 

[Bladesway]

I can only assume it's pre season boredom but some of the bluster is ridiculous. We have made signings and thus far the manager has proven he can do shrewd business and take what was a relegation squad to the edge of the play offs in half a season.

Surely even the most jaded cynic would say that's not a bad effort. There is so much time still to go and many contracts of players running out end of June so why the uproar when we give our leading scorer a new contract probably on less money?

I have been one of those cynics with good reason in the past but I can see the manager is doing the right things. Given time he will get the strikers we need. He hasn't let us down yet has he?

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Personally, I'm glad to have the Porter Beast (or "The Man Who Made It All Possible" as we started calling him during last season's cup run) confirmed for next year, mainly for the comedy value if I'm honest. Don't think I've seen a Blades player spend more time on his arse in the last ten years. Two of my major highlights of last season were driving to Wembley wearing Porter masks, and Chris's thoughts in interviews--where he repeatedly announced he was at the very peak of his powers. When my younger lad first started coming to games, our comedy gold was Geoff Horsfield, who we actually saw score at MK Dons (in decades to come, hundreds of thousands will claim to have been there that day). The Porter Beast has brought back some great memories for us.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't meant to be snide. Porter tries as hard as anyone, and he has scored us some important goals. Even if some of them might have been accidental, and trying hard is something any of us could do, this is a hell of a lot more than the some of the useless twats who've sullied the shirt in recent years. He's given us some proper hilarity, and won us some proper games. In the third division, that makes him a valued member of the squad for me.

I'm not sure about the Shipperley comparisons: Shipps was much better technically, more versatile, and a whole lot better at reading the game, and being in the right places, than the Porter Beast has ever been. Even after he famously ate too many mince pies over Christmas (copyright Warnock) Shipps was also still probably quicker, or less slow, than the Mighty Chris. But the point about Porter's goals per-minutes-on-the-pitch ratio, last season, is an important one. Subject it to detailed scrutiny, and my guess is it would put our other alleged goal-threats from last year to some serious shame.

As for Davies. Set pieces (tick); back-up for other players (tick); steadying things down a bit and helping us close out games when we're leading with not long left, from the bench (tick). Game-changing investment (cross). Happy, on balance, with that.

As everyone knows, though, and as everyone keeps saying, we need more quality between now and August if we're gonna repay the faith the bookies appear to have in us.