Billy Sharp

[alcoblade]

Time for a rest I think. He can't play by himself up there, and we don't have the midfielders to play with 2 in the middle. He looks like he's glued to the centre half. His return from open play is now woeful.

Done should get the shirt for a good run - his mobility will really offer us more options through the middle.

UTB

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Poor Billy - Matty Done gets shifted into the middle in Billy's stead, & two minutes later, BANG!, he's scored! Talk about getting your nose rubbed in it...

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Poor Billy - Matty Done gets shifted into the middle in Billy's stead, & two minutes later, BANG!, he's scored! Talk about getting your nose rubbed in it...

 

[SwissBlade]

Time for a rest I think. He can't play by himself up there, and we don't have the midfielders to play with 2 in the middle. He looks like he's glued to the centre half. His return from open play is now woeful.

Done should get the shirt for a good run - his mobility will really offer us more options through the middle.

UTB

Not seen us for a few weeks, but yes i'd agree. Hasn't he played every league game?

 

[judge]

Should never have signed him

 

[alcoblade]

Not seen us for a few weeks, but yes i'd agree. Hasn't he played every league game?

I think so, and scored about 4 goals from open play. He's been a bit unlucky too, but his game just seems to have gone at the minute. And he displaces Done - who despite being off form too, is one of our few players that the opposition would be scared of.

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[SwissBlade]

I think so, and scored about 4 goals from open play. He's been a bit unlucky too, but his game just seems to have gone at the minute. And he displaces Done - who despite being off form too, is one of our few players that the opposition would be scared of.

UTB

I was messaging my mate about this earlier. Adkins really seems to have lost it with the line up. He shoehorns players into positions, rather than picking his best 11

I'd say at the moment, Billy isn't in his best starting 11. At least not as the target man. He's better in behind Sammon (who's not the best player, but) if he wants to play with players off the centre Forward either in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3/ 4-5-1, then Sammon is the best man for this role. Hence why Clough was so keen on O'Grady and why we brought in Higdon.

The problem is that the Central Striker in this set up, needs to be fit. Sharp has the fitness, but instead of being the target to link players up, he ends up moving out of position to find the ball. Then you have a hole where he should be.

Baxter played the role quite well the season before last as he stuck to the plan (despite sacrificing his own position)

Sharp and Baxter would probably work well together as they're quite mobile along the line, if not pacey and they hold the ball well. This would allow Adams and Done to play off them

 

[zablade]

At first when the goals dried up he was still playing well, but he's now been poor for the last six weeks or so and yesterday was dreadful before being pulled at half time.

As I said on the other thread maybe his new baby being due is affecting him but whatever it is he is not justifying a starting shirt at the moment.

 

[Blade82]

At first when the goals dried up he was still playing well, but he's now been poor for the last six weeks or so and yesterday was dreadful before being pulled at half time.

As I said on the other thread maybe his new baby being due is affecting him but whatever it is he is not justifying a starting shirt at the moment.

Wouldn't blame him if it is affecting him considering what they've been through, but I agree nobody should be guarenteed the shirt week in week out they need to earn it

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I know some will hate me saying this but I feel sorry for Billy. He's a quality striker from second tier down (he's proved it many times) but has again come to the lane at the worst possible time and has suffered a loss of form in parallel with the team. He started so well, that's the frustrating thing for him.

We need to keep him, he will prove his quality when we need it but for the moment I would rest him and look to change the shape of the team for improved results. The break would do him good and give him time to reflect.

 

[sheffielder]

I feel sorry for Billy. Ran himself into the ground when nobody else would. Sammon was brought in to do the dirty work. To be honest I feel sorry for any lad who comes through the ranks and plays infront of some of you lot. Strange that half of you want one of your own to fail. And he is good enough, just needs a break for many reasons it seems.

 

[SwissBlade]

At first when the goals dried up he was still playing well, but he's now been poor for the last six weeks or so and yesterday was dreadful before being pulled at half time.

As I said on the other thread maybe his new baby being due is affecting him but whatever it is he is not justifying a starting shirt at the moment.

I suppose the only other thing is that all good strikers go through lean spells and they just need to know that they're playing to keep confidence up.

Billy will start hitting the target soon, but I think Adkins needs to get the discipline into him that he can't score goals when he's chasing the ball on the wing. Stick down the middle, that's where he gets the goals from

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Kenny EVERETT still rules................in the best possible taste

 

[Wards]

Would like to see Done play down the middle with Baxter working just off him in the 'hole'.

 

[s35blade]

Even a beginner at Football Manager could tell you that he's completely unsuited to be up top by himself. He needs to be playing next to a target man, or just in front of attacking mid like Baxter, who can split the defence allowing Billy to have a one-on-one with the Keeper.

 

[sheffielder]

I was messaging my mate about this earlier. Adkins really seems to have lost it with the line up. He shoehorns players into positions, rather than picking his best 11

I'd say at the moment, Billy isn't in his best starting 11. At least not as the target man. He's better in behind Sammon (who's not the best player, but) if he wants to play with players off the centre Forward either in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3/ 4-5-1, then Sammon is the best man for this role. Hence why Clough was so keen on O'Grady and why we brought in Higdon.

The problem is that the Central Striker in this set up, needs to be fit. Sharp has the fitness, but instead of being the target to link players up, he ends up moving out of position to find the ball. Then you have a hole where he should be.

Baxter played the role quite well the season before last as he stuck to the plan (despite sacrificing his own position)

Sharp and Baxter would probably work well together as they're quite mobile along the line, if not pacey and they hold the ball well. This would allow Adams and Done to play off them

Personally, I think Adkins should be looking at a way of getting Sharp, Done, Adams and Baxter on the pitch at the same time. That's where the goals are. Surely Baxter can float between being a third midfielder and and a striker depending on how the play is going. Unfortunately the reason why he can't is he doesn't have any legs in midfield in Coutts and Hammond, whilst Basham seems to play better in a 3.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Form is temporary. Class is permanent.

Sharp remains one of our very few players that other clubs would like Santa to deliver to them on Xmas morning !

He will come good.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

I suppose the only other thing is that all good strikers go through lean spells and they just need to know that they're playing to keep confidence up.

Billy will start hitting the target soon, but I think Adkins needs to get the discipline into him that he can't score goals when he's chasing the ball on the wing. Stick down the middle, that's where he gets the goals from

So you'd keep playing him? For how long if he doesn't score?

He's scored 4 (four ) goals from open play. Right now, he's as big a part of the problem as the midfield and defence. We can't afford to just sit and wait, IMHO.

UTB

 

[Stretch]

Agree Sharpy needs a break and that's fine. I am remarkably relaxed about our strike force.

We have had no problem scoring this season and that's partly due to all of our strikers scoring in spirts. Adams got off to a flyer along with Sammon, whilst Billy struggled to score. As the other 2 dried up Billy hit a purple patch; now he is in a dry spell but Done is fully fit and looking very threatening again. Adams and Sammon continue to chip in.Add Baxter to the mix and it's hard to see us not scoring from somewhere.

Strength in depth fellas

 

[alcoblade]

Form is temporary. Class is permanent.

Sharp remains one of our very few players that other clubs would like Santa to deliver to them on Xmas morning !

He will come good.

UTB

In this division, or the Fourth?

Class players would have bagged more than 4 goals from open play fella.

Billy Sharp is an above average third division striker, nothing more.


UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

So you'd keep playing him? For how long if he doesn't score?

He's scored 4 (four ) goals from open play. Right now, he's as big a part of the problem as the midfield and defence. We can't afford to just sit and wait, IMHO.

UTB

Yes, I probably would normally, however I think a rest might work for a few weeks.... Difficult to say from not seeing him in a few weeks. Is it form or fatigue at the moment.

One thing is sure he's not the type of player to worry about niggles, he wants to play all the time.

Billy does offer a lot. His all round game has impressed me a lot since his return, he didn't have that before. He was a finisher with no pace, now he's a finisher with less pace and ending up on the wing. Ok that's a touch harsh and partly in jest but he's not effective enough to get dragged about and get into the middle, so Adkins has to work with him if he's not going to give him a break.

All that said, when he's linked up with Baxter and Che he's looked a danger. Not seen him with done yet.

 

[lazyfecklessblade]

Personally, I think Adkins should be looking at a way of getting Sharp, Done, Adams and Baxter on the pitch at the same time. That's where the goals are. Surely Baxter can float between being a third midfielder and and a striker depending on how the play is going. Unfortunately the reason why he can't is he doesn't have any legs in midfield in Coutts and Hammond, whilst Basham seems to play better in a 3.

4-2-4, go big or go home (having conceded lots of goals).

Seriouly though, the only time this season things have really worked is attacking, not keeping possession or controlling games. It'd be good to see us shoehorn all of them in and just try to outscore the opposition

 

[Harry's Game]

Sammon was supposed to be the Mobile front man who would create the space to allow Sharp to get the goals, unfortunately Sammon has looked less and less like Profesional footballer as the season has gone on.

If we can return Samon in January I would do so and look for another option to play alongside either Sharp or Done.

Worringly I don't think Sharp or Done can play in the same side and get the best out of either of them.

 

[Bladesince59]

Form is temporary. Class is permanent.

Sharp remains one of our very few players that other clubs would like Santa to deliver to them on Xmas morning !

He will come good.

UTB

WHEN

 

[blade.i.am]

DCL and McNulty could be back in Jan. Both should be considered having scored a reasonable number of goals. Not sure who would play with who and I appreciate they have been playing in league 2, but I can't see us signing players in Jan so let's make the best of those we have.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I think Sharp's been genuinely unlucky in the games I've seen him recently. Having seen Done's goal on the highlights, he must have had about three fortunate touches from Oldham players that in each aspect fell in Done's favour (including the shot, which didn't have much power but did take a slight deflection). Great to see Done's own bad run in front of goal end, and it wouldn't surprise me if he now has a scoring spell. Sharp needs exactly something like that at the moment – just a bit of luck to get any sort of goal. He's a good, hardworking player that's going through a rough spell. He might need a few appearances from the bench before he gets through it, but I've no doubt he will soon enough.

 

[Smirth]

Done is a better all round player IMO.

He's quicker, fitter, works harder, has more composure and is the better finisher. Billy's third spell has been disappointing so far. His all round game has improved but his finishing has got worse, that may be due to the pressure he puts on himself playing for us again but he has missed a lot of very good chances.

Done is wasted on the wing, he had the best season of his career playing as a striker last season. He was one of the top scorers in the league despite playing half the season at an unfashionable club. He managed to bag a lot of goals for us despite playing in a team which didn't make many chances and was in the end one of the few shining lights in a poor season.

So what do we do? Play him out of position most of the time to accommodate an under performing 'big blade' Billy Sharp. Only at United.

Nothing personal against Billy, he seems a smashing bloke but now really is the time to be ruthless and players need picking on form and recent successes.

 

[MBoreman]

Even when he was scoring he missed lots of good chances. I'd play Done with Baxter behind him (a position he's rarely played for us despite it being his strongest), then Freeman and Adams on the wings, with Adams interchanging with Baxter and Done. Alternatively, as both Adams and Done have been wasted out wide lately, and Che can't defend, I'd play the diamond we had briefly on Saturday with Baxter behind Che and Done. With their pace and his passing we should score plenty, especially away from home.

 

[sitwell]

Even when he was scoring he missed lots of good chances. I'd play Done with Baxter behind him (a position he's rarely played for us despite it being his strongest), then Freeman and Adams on the wings, with Adams interchanging with Baxter and Done. Alternatively, as both Adams and Done have been wasted out wide lately, and Che can't defend, I'd play the diamond we had briefly on Saturday with Baxter behind Che and Done. With their pace and his passing we should score plenty, especially away from home.

And concede even more.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Challenge for Adkins, as I see it, is this.

Neither Done or Adams is ideal out wide, as has been said. However this is how we have been set up. This tends to isolate Sharp and his form from the beginning of the season has dropped off.

IF we could get two wide men out there that could also track back and defend, it would allow Sharp AND Done to play in their best positions. Out and out strikers. Done having the capability to drop off, find the ball, and exploit his pace.

Flynn and Kieron Wallace would probably be my choices to fulfil these demanding roles on the flanks. K Freeman could also play in front of Beard.

I really don't think it comes down to a choice of Sharp or Done. Both are good enough to be accommodated.

UTB