Mark Sykes

[Aston max]

Superb signings? You must have really low expectations mate

I thought we all had ?

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Superb signings? You must have really low expectations mate

You must have a really poor memory.

 

[Mojo]

I’d say so we got promoted twice

Minimal though not insignificant contributions from both of those players in those achievements

 

[Mojo]

We’re lopping 40m off the budget. We will need to be flexible and creative.

Didzy arrived under similar circumstances.

If true of course!

Didzy was always a class act this lad im not so sure about

 

[Mojo]

You must have a really poor memory.

I remember both being bit part squad filler players, what are you remembering?

 

[Mojo]

I thought we all had ?

I did say it sounds about right

 

[FredZeppelin]

This time last year we bought in Ben Godfrey for the role.

It's a very low bar.

utb

 

[Gin&Juice]

That’s a proper Wilder name that, Mark Sykes. Bet he loves a sup and goes to his nan’s for a roast when he’s back home.

 

[AdamSufc1997]

Minimal though not insignificant contributions from both of those players in those achievements

Maybe with cranie I’ll give you that but Jake wright went 40 odd games unbeaten with him in side . Realistically can you see us spending? Really doubtful

 

[Mojo]

Maybe with cranie I’ll give you that but Jake wright went 40 odd games unbeaten with him in side . Realistically can you see us spending? Really doubtful

Wright was very decent in fairness but short lived.

I agree with you , free transfers are now our level but thats not necessarily a bad thing with how badly we have messed up paid transfers

 

[Nick Jansky]

Remember him coming off the bench in 2025 at Home. He caused JLT problems down the right culminating in him scoring the equaliser in the 90th minute. JLT failing to get the tackle in.

He might well be decent but that’s not really a recommendation.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

He scored against us in April aswell. Definitely 2 or 3 goals against us.

 

[Old Programme seller]

Could we have Melanie Sykes instead

 

[Yogi]

On trial according to 2nd tier scoop x account.

Average back up RWB player but could be a decent squad player.

Might suggest we’ve given up on Shackleton finally?

 

[loyalblade95]

Minimal though not insignificant contributions from both of those players in those achievements

Cranie maybe as he didn't play too often, but Jake Wright was a key part of that L1 promotion season.

Started nearly all of our games that season and I'm pretty sure we never lost a game that season when he played.

 

[dexter101]

More of a winger than a full back. More likely to play in Brooks position. Has some pace. Remember him coming off the bench in 2025 at Home. He caused JLT problems down the right culminating in him scoring the equaliser in the 90th minute. JLT failing to get the tackle in. 6 foot can play wide right could be a useful addition.

Just as a reminder, last season JLT gave away a penalty by forgetting the basic rules of football. And picking up the football...

Causing him problems is quite a low bar.

However a wide player with some pace to cause problems, I can at least get excited about

 

[Matlock Blade]

Is this a genuine reporter saying "Sheffield United have took..."? Don't reporters learn grammar anymore?

 

[Blademan89]

W

That’s a proper Wilder name that, Mark Sykes. Bet he loves a sup and goes to his nan’s for a roast when he’s back home.

Well his dad paul loves a good sup & he did swim straits of johor and punched a shark int lug-oil.

 

[sufc323]

He caused JLT problems down the right culminating in him scoring the equaliser in the 90th minute. JLT failing to get the tackle in.

Colour me shocked

 

[LurkerBlade]

If he is on trial with us, why didn't he have a game yesterday like Dozzell last season?

Would have helped on the right wing rather than playing two youth lads out of poition.

 

[Champagneblade]

I can imagine him being one of those signings you shrug your shoulders at and then him ending up a useful signing.

Imagine his role; he covers the right hand side and is a grafter.

Seriki is first pick and someone like O’Hare or Dobbin or even Chong plays in front of him.

But then when it comes to resting Seriki and managing his minutes, Sykes comes on and puts in a shift. When it comes to suring up the right hand side he comes on for whoever is at RW and gives valuable support to Seriki.

Cost effective, hard working, good professional. This may be a key move and it doesn’t take up a loan, especially if Walker isn’t coming.

The fact he can cover all that side means you aren’t just getting another right back only to sideline Seriki or have him sit it out all the time; he covers a few scenarios.

A really good loan winger and a couple of centre backs and youre then just waiting to see if you lose another starter and have a few loans in your back pocket.

 

[Champagneblade]

I should have added too that he’s also played a handful of games in defensive midfield.

Perhaps he is more of a right midfielder then right back but we do play on the front foot so I don’t see this as being detrimental and having one guy able to be second choice right back, second or third choice right wing and fifth choice central midfield means you’ve got depth at little expense.

Someone like Choudhury is more athletic in build but Sykes isn’t going to be on a 60,000 per week contract either.

We can operate with a smaller squad with players like this.

We can sign as few as 4 players, not including Riedewald, and still seem covered in most positions if we choose the right ones (CBx2, Winger).

Then you have time to play the long game on players like Peck, Hamer, Burrows, as well as smartening up the wage bill by doing something with Grbic, Shackleton, Sachdev, Polendakov, Curtis, Norrington-Davies, Zatterstrom , Baptiste, Blacker, Ukaki, Nwachukwu, Marsh, Chong.

Some can add depth, other represent possible wage saving as a loan or further rebalancing as wages and fees.

I feel we are often better when we have less to do, have to be smart with money and are allowed to use the loan market sensibly.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I can imagine him being one of those signings you shrug your shoulders at and then him ending up a useful signing.

Imagine his role; he covers the right hand side and is a grafter.

Seriki is first pick and someone like O’Hare or Dobbin or even Chong plays in front of him.

But then when it comes to resting Seriki and managing his minutes, Sykes comes on and puts in a shift. When it comes to suring up the right hand side he comes on for whoever is at RW and gives valuable support to Seriki.

Cost effective, hard working, good professional. This may be a key move and it doesn’t take up a loan, especially if Walker isn’t coming.

The fact he can cover all that side means you aren’t just getting another right back only to sideline Seriki or have him sit it out all the time; he covers a few scenarios.

A really good loan winger and a couple of centre backs and youre then just waiting to see if you lose another starter and have a few loans in your back pocket.

You’ve just described exactly the role Shackleton is supposed to do, and Wilder has told us how important he will be for us this season.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I should have added too that he’s also played a handful of games in defensive midfield.

Perhaps he is more of a right midfielder then right back but we do play on the front foot so I don’t see this as being detrimental and having one guy able to be second choice right back, second or third choice right wing and fifth choice central midfield means you’ve got depth at little expense.

Someone like Choudhury is more athletic in build but Sykes isn’t going to be on a 60,000 per week contract either.

We can operate with a smaller squad with players like this.

We can sign as few as 4 players, not including Riedewald, and still seem covered in most positions if we choose the right ones (CBx2, Winger).

Then you have time to play the long game on players like Peck, Hamer, Burrows, as well as smartening up the wage bill by doing something with Grbic, Shackleton, Sachdev, Polendakov, Curtis, Norrington-Davies, Zatterstrom , Baptiste, Blacker, Ukaki, Nwachukwu, Marsh, Chong.

Some can add depth, other represent possible wage saving as a loan or further rebalancing as wages and fees.

I feel we are often better when we have less to do, have to be smart with money and are allowed to use the loan market sensibly.

Was saying exactly this over the weekend. Unless we lose a load of players, i can see our starting XI already being here and talk of us bringing in a dozen players is wide of the mark.

Obviously this changes if Peck and Hamer move on, but other than a general lack of athelticslism and speed, we've got a technically solid top half championship starting XI. If we can use loans on potential game changers like McAtee/MGW/Rak Saki rather than CB and RB then that feels a much better option...

We need to look at Hull and Millwall and see how they achieved success last season rather than getting caught up in an arms race with other clubs.

 

[FriethBlade]

Was saying exactly this over the weekend. Unless we lose a load of players, i can see our starting XI already being here and talk of us bringing in a dozen players is wide of the mark.

Obviously this changes if Peck and Hamer move on, but other than a general lack of athelticslism and speed, we've got a technically solid top half championship starting XI. If we can use loans on potential game changers like McAtee/MGW/Rak Saki rather than CB and RB then that feels a much better option...

We need to look at Hull and Millwall and see how they achieved success last season rather than getting caught up in an arms race with other clubs.

Agree with a lot of this. However given what Wilder has said I will be amazed if we dont bring in a big dominant CB. We've only got Tanganaga and McGuiness with any kind of first team experience with Baptiste, Sas and Zlatter as cover. Thats nowhere near enough especially as its clear Wilder doesnt rate McGuiness.

What i like about Millwall is that they 'know what they are' and have built an identity around their ground and the no one likes us mantra. Not only are they very solid at the back with big bastards who clear it out but they have a couple of forwards in Ivanovic and Coburn who are built for the championship. At 8/1 for promotion there are a lot worse bets around and thry are going for it as they have already brought 3 new signings in this summer.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Agree with a lot of this. However given what Wilder has said I will be amazed if we dont bring in a big dominant CB. We've only got Tanganaga and McGuiness with any kind of first team experience with Baptiste, Sas and Zlatter as cover. Thats nowhere near enough especially as its clear Wilder doesnt rate McGuiness.

What i like about Millwall is that they 'know what they are' and have built an identity around their ground and the no one likes us mantra. Not only are they very solid at the back with big bastards who clear it out but they have a couple of forwards in Ivanovic and Coburn who are built for the championship. At 8/1 for promotion there are a lot worse bets around and thry are going for it as they have already brought 3 new signings in this summer.

Wouldn't disagree and I wouldn't be surprised if Wilder brought in a grizzled RB as well.

However, i can't see us adding any perm signings in mid/att this Summer. As lamentable as a lot of them were last season, I'm not sure with the money we have to spend, we could do any better.

The point about identity is very well made. At his best Wilder has done that. Where it fell apart two seasons ago was when we started losing and he lost the plot. Difficult to engender a siege mentality when it's your own manager gobbing off and starting fights!!

 

[sufc323]

Signed for Millwall

 

[Champagneblade]

Signed for Millwall

Season ruined!

Edit: he was shit anyway!

 

[mattbianco1]

He scored against us in April aswell. Definitely 2 or 3 goals against us.

He's played against United 6 times. His record against us is - W2, L1, D3 with 2 goals.

Sheff Utd 1-1 BCFC (11 Mar 25)
BCFC 1-0 Sheff Utd (6 Apr 26)

 

[EddieColquhoun]