Todays Star - Hammond

[lazyfecklessblade]

I wouldn't be against a 1 year deal, provided his wage was commensurate with us being in the third division.

Is there better available? Probably yes, but given our form with transfers recently I'd stick with the devil we know.

 

[Woodwardfan]

If you can do both you're probably Roy Keane or Patrick Vierra.

Not quite, they were box to boxers. Makelele is probably my best example of what I'm thinking of anyway.

 

[Houston_Blade]

We shouldn't be signing any player over 30 at all, regardless of who they are. They just end up being a drain on resources and have no sell on value to us.

There are players out there in this league and the one below who are younger than Hammond and all have a point to prove and would relish playing for a club like ours.

I think it was a Ben Mansford interview I caught the end of a few days ago and he said the same from Barnsley. He said he refused to sign any more 30 plus players with delusions of grandeur because they'd played in higher leagues.

Not sure I completely agree as there is room for the odd experienced head (look how good McCall, Speed, McGrath, Ehiogu to name a few were for us) in the team but I agree that they should be the exception rather than the rule. Also any wages should be reflective of the players declining stock rather than a last payday.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Yes, it'll save us a lot of money if we can get Whiteman to make late and clums

Did you just lapse into a bit of Norwegian slang at the end there, Bergen?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

If you have Hammond you end up with the creative black hole midfield 4 of Woolford-Basham/Reed-Hammond-Coutts.

And that is not a midfield that's going to get us promoted.

I absolutely agree. If we sign Hammond, we need a creative midfielder in there alongside him who can attack and score goals. Someone who plays like Flynn did on Saturday but every week. We’d also need a new winger or two unless we persevere with 352.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

When Adkins started talking about Hammond's unseen work, it used to annoy me, because I really couldn't see what he brought to the team. However, more recently, I think he's played well (MOM for me at Fleetwood) and he makes things happen around him. He's also come close to scoring a couple of times, one with a header (Vale at home?) and one near the end at Fleetwood when he was our furthest forward attacker.

He still looks knackered after about five minutes and he walks like a man my age (which is considerably older), but I think he puts a shift in and I wouldn't be critical of his workrate.



I was sure it was him that clattered an Oldham player on Saturday, being conditioned to a Hammond yellow every game and it wasn't, it was young Whiteman, who's obviously a quick learner

Yeah I thought at the time it was Hammond. I even gave an ironic cheer when the yellow came out. I wondered why everyone was looking at me funny …….

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Yes, it'll save us a lot of money if we can get Whiteman to make late and clums


I think the ones you mention are better ball players though, so even when their physique is deteriorating, they still have a lot to offer. McCall was a busy terrier as a younger player and it was a relevant concern that he'd be less effective having lost most of that when he joined us. It turned out his know how and ability on the ball was also very good, so he coped well, for one season more. Hammond seems very limited in terms of ability on the ball. I would be surprised if his agent wouldn't try to get him a two year deal. Would we insist on just giving him one year?

I think the comparison with McCall and Brown is significant. Hammond is not as good as McCall was but he does have the positional discipline and the aggression to protect the back four and allow a more creative partner to flourish. No coincidence that Flynn did well against Vale and Oldham whilst being poor against Rochdale when Hammond wasn’t playing. The thing is, at present, we don’t have the calibre of midfielder to make the most of what he does by scoring and assisting regularly. IF we had another Michael Brown type player, Hammond would be fine in the McCall role. But we don’t have a Brown and if we can’t land one, we possibly need better than Hammond as the other central midfielder.


One issue we’ve bemoaned is the lazy, couldn’t give a shit attitude of players and lack of team spirit. Akins firmly believes Hammond is exactly the character needed to help pull that together. Unfortunately, the price we pay is limited footballing ability.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

un fortunately signing a 33 year old who if my calculations are right will be 34 , an open invitation for pete blade to call me a liar I know but hey ho, next season on big money is one of the reasons I am not impressed with Adkins work these days
We need some one with teeth a bit of bite with as the saying goes with a good engine, a 6 litre bmw , not hammonds qualcast mower motor

Born in March 83 so only just turned 33 and will still be 33 in the summer and for the majority of next season.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Paraphrased 'Adkins has given his clearest hint he will attempt to sign Hammond this summer'....'if you talk about doing the basics well how well does Hammond do them'

Well that's ok then a slow 33 year old who can do the basics well will take up a big chunk of weekly wages if our incumbent manager gets his way...I can't wait for us to keep on making the same mistakes as doing those basics well has clearly worked this season and next season he will be another year slower !

I'd sign him (as a player / coach) assuming that he's prepared to take a massive cut on his current wages.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Born in March 83 so only just turned 33 and will still be 33 in the summer and for the majority of next season.

Credit where it's due, he "caculated" he'd be 34 next

 

[BushBlade]

Not quite, they were box to boxers. Makelele is probably my best example of what I'm thinking of anyway.

but Makalele couldn't do both at top level, as far as I can recall.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Did you just lapse into a bit of Norwegian slang at the end there, Bergen?

I decided to scrap that (not very funny) comment, but it obviously came back as I replied to someone else a bit later!

 

[Trigger Blade]

I decided to scrap that (not very funny) comment, but it obviously came back as I replied to someone else a bit later!

We've seen a lot worse on here over the years Bergs. It also had a basis in truth, a home grown enforcer would be cheaper than Hammond

 

[DronnieBlade]

Very black and white with me this matter.

I don't really rate Hammond and have only seen him produce (at best) decent performances in a Blades shirt. He is nothing special IMHO. Adkins it would appear thinks otherwise and there is always a bit more to it than ability. Personality, team ethic etc etc. I am more than happy for Adkins to recruit his own soldiers for the job in hand.

Hammond is currently on a Prem League screw of in excess of £30,000 per week. We are apparently paying half this at the present time during the loan spell. So £15,000 + as it stands.

Everything considered (Age etc), there is NO fucking way we should be paying this lad more than £500,000 per year, assuming we are still a L1 club. No way.

So the real question is will Hammond drop permanently 2 divisions with a salary drop of over 50% ??

UTB

 

[Ecco1889]

It's like the story of The Kings New Clothes.

Only stupid people can't see his unseen work.

I can and I think it's marvellous. Can't you?

It's a very good analogy my friend,and I must be very stupid

 

[blade too long]

Born in March 83 so only just turned 33 and will still be 33 in the summer and for the majority of next season.

I did write he will be 34 next season
I didnt put exactly when , when the candles go on display is hardly at issue

 

[Bladesway]

Oh dear Adkins can't honestly be thinking signing him on a contract is a good idea. Wages are one of the factors we do have to look out for when it comes to ffp. Surely he has to be on a high wage coming from a premier league club, so why are we thinking of blowing our budget on him? Is he going to be taking a paycut to join us?
It would also mean that we have two high wages with him and Brayford in the team and tbh they are not game changing players that are going to win you games.

How do you know what he will be on? How do you know what he will be offered? You don't know. I'm all for arguing whether the bloke is good enough but all this bollocks about how much he is earning? Not relevant in my opinion. Let the moneymen worry about that not the fans. We have become a right set of worrying fannies. What does he earn? What about ffp? Will he have a bigger knob than collo had?

One thing only matters. Is he good enough.

 

[FriethBlade]

If you can do both you're probably Roy Keane or Patrick Vierra.

Or Sam Morsy but we'd rather go with the slow 33 yr old more expensive version.

For anyone in any doubt as to his effectiveness watch the goals we conceded at home to Peterborough ! I'd actually rather have Basham play that role and hes better at centre half.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Or Sam Morsy but we'd rather go with the slow 33 yr old more expensive version.

For anyone in any doubt as to his effectiveness watch the goals we conceded at home to Peterborough ! I'd actually rather have Basham play that role and hes better at centre half.

Agree even though I'm not too confident about Basham's intelligence and discipline as a midfielder.
]

 

[Woodwardfan]

but Makalele couldn't do both at top level, as far as I can recall.

Bush, we are not communicating well. I didn't say he should do both, I said he could do both and yet settle to do one role well. I think that's clever' you know playing within himself but doing a big job for the team and yet, importantly, if need be chip in with that little bit extra.

 

[Gordon cowans]

Not what we need,surely we've seen enough to know either the system doesn't suit or he is slow,unathletic,and fouls a plenty.
The latter in my opinion.
Why would anyone believe he would better us a season down the line??,he is exactly what we're after if we want to finish 12th.
A squad player at best with maybe a eye on coaching (im hoping)

 

[finlaytheblade]

There's plenty of amateur football managers on this site and we all have our own opinion.The one that really matters is Adkins as he has the task of winning football matches.Hammond is one of these players who managers love and fans don't really appreciate. Adkins would nt be so keen on him if
he wasnt giving him what he's looking for.Professional s look at things differently . No manager would bring any player in if he was nt giving him what he wanted,Adkins beleaves in him,we have to accept that .There's no doubt he's got to stop getting all these bookings 11 so far which is too many concidering he didn't play until October at this rate he will reach 15 and that would mean a 3 match ban possibly kicking in before end of season,which could mean he missed play offs if we got there.
If Adkins offers him a contract for next season then he beleaves his fitness will hold up,He's just 33 so will only be offered a year.There's no hiding place for players now with GPS vests so his stats must be good and he would have to to acheave similar next season.
My conclusion is we have to trust the manager ( Adkins )who is building a younger team who will need experienced players around them ,call Hammond a minder if you like but without experience around them a young team will not acheave anything.As I said earlier we have to trust the manager for in any case if he gets it badly wrong! he would be gone.

 

[Ricky]

How do you know what he will be on? How do you know what he will be offered? You don't know. I'm all for arguing whether the bloke is good enough but all this bollocks about how much he is earning? Not relevant in my opinion. Let the moneymen worry about that not the fans. We have become a right set of worrying fannies. What does he earn? What about ffp? Will he have a bigger knob than collo had?

One thing only matters. Is he good enough.

I see where you're coming from there but overpaying in wages, especially for players whose contributions barely justify half of what they're on, has continually set us back significantly and many are anticipating more of the same with Hammond. It's understandable that we concern ourselves with the financial aspects.

Look back to when we signed Brayford. I was livid we spent what we did because I thought it would have heavy implications for our summer budget, and that turned out to be the case. We can't afford to be as careless in the future. Refusing to pay Hammond more than 5/6k p/w would be a start.

 

[Harry's Game]

Everyone knew this was coming, best we can hope is that it's in a player coach role, and he is used mainly from the bench for the last 15 minutes when we are winning and need to block up midfield and kick a few.

 

[alcoblade]

I see where you're coming from there but overpaying in wages, especially for players whose contributions barely justify half of what they're on, has continually set us back significantly and many are anticipating more of the same with Hammond. It's understandable that we concern ourselves with the financial aspects.

Look back to when we signed Brayford. I was livid we spent what we did because I thought it would have heavy implications for our summer budget, and that turned out to be the case. We can't afford to be as careless in the future. Refusing to pay Hammond more than 5/6k p/w would be a start.

I share your concerns, but we have to remind ourselves that nobody actually knows what wages he'll be offered.

UTB

 

[finlaytheblade]

I share your concerns, but we have to remind ourselves that nobody actually knows what wages he'll be offered.

UTB

The key is what he's worth,if championship clubs show interest in him then he can command possibly 10 k + at 33 maybe championship clubs will not
show real interest (will be interesting to see ) ,his wage then would be more in line with what we are willing to pay.Many players drop down the pay scale when 33 or beyond so his demands may not be so big.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

I'm sure i'm not the only one, I would like to see United sign players that are the polar opposites of the drug abusers, the sex offenders, the players who think that by signing for Sheffield United they only wear the shirt, but rarely play for the shirt. Keep the players with gambling/alcohol related issues off the radar.

Age doesn't play a part in any of the above, it guarantees none of the traits mentioned.

And one last thing, players signed should be educated... that we are Sheffield United, NOT Sheffield......

 

[robbiez666]

Let's be honest, if he's on low wages and free then he's probably a benefit for the squad. Sadly, he's neither.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

How do you know what he will be on? How do you know what he will be offered? You don't know. I'm all for arguing whether the bloke is good enough but all this bollocks about how much he is earning? Not relevant in my opinion. Let the moneymen worry about that not the fans. We have become a right set of worrying fannies. What does he earn? What about ffp? Will he have a bigger knob than collo had?

One thing only matters. Is he good enough.

I never said I knew how much he is on, but logically it must be a fair amount coming from a premier league club.
What I do know is that he's certainly not good enough, that's been evident from day one with us.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

There's plenty of amateur football managers on this site and we all have our own opinion.The one that really matters is Adkins as he has the task of winning football matches.Hammond is one of these players who managers love and fans don't really appreciate. Adkins would nt be so keen on him if
he wasnt giving him what he's looking for.Professional s look at things differently . No manager would bring any player in if he was nt giving him what he wanted,Adkins beleaves in him,we have to accept that .There's no doubt he's got to stop getting all these bookings 11 so far which is too many concidering he didn't play until October at this rate he will reach 15 and that would mean a 3 match ban possibly kicking in before end of season,which could mean he missed play offs if we got there.
If Adkins offers him a contract for next season then he beleaves his fitness will hold up,He's just 33 so will only be offered a year.There's no hiding place for players now with GPS vests so his stats must be good and he would have to to acheave similar next season.
My conclusion is we have to trust the manager ( Adkins )who is building a younger team who will need experienced players around them ,call Hammond a minder if you like but without experience around them a young team will not acheave anything.As I said earlier we have to trust the manager for in any case if he gets it badly wrong! he would be gone.

Agree . Adkins to succeed requires both players / blokes around him he can trust and rely on . If we are having this so called pathway for younger players either via the academy or loan system , we are going to require some old head minders , to ensure we have some backbone and structure .

Hammond , Sharp , Baps from Boro , Brayford may well be the players to pull us together . Putting aside the shit , mess and mismanagement we have created ourselves , we finally may be having a plan.

There's method in Adkins madness.

UTB