A bit worried about Enda.

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Can’t think of any left backs who look more assured on the ball as him in this league ?

If you really don’t think Stevens is quality you know nothing about football

There's a lot of difference between taking on 5 players and putting in a Beckam-type cross and a defender that is good at our level.
As I said previously, Enda does some great stuff, but too much poor stuff to make him Prem quality.
There were 4 or 5 occasions in the first half yesterday where he showed his frailties.

 

[Harry's Game]

We won’t be selling anyone in January calm down.

 

[bromtom]

Enda's touch has improved a lot this season and he's getting really good at getting past a man with the ball at his feet.

Think he'd be more than capable at a lower half EPL level.

 

[stringer]

I reckon Oconell/Egan/Baldock/Stevens would all cost 5/10 million quid and we got them for frees apart from Egan

And O’Connell and Baldock

 

[NotFallowfieldBlade]

And O’Connell and Baldock

Well pittance compared to what we would have too pay now

 

[10-0 win]

all guesswork if a player can make the step up, how much better with much better players around you ?. taken a season or two to tell, hench the number of players out on loan etc. It's not all Peter Reid stories, but many make the step up without beeing all at sea.(peter reid spent most of his career in the third division till everton took him on at a mature age, league champion and england international, when chance might have let him play out his football at bolton. as a coach I know you never know a players potential before it's tested at the highest level. The effect of playing with better players than yourself lifts anybody to a new level.Nicky Butt is probably one of footballs miracles, very limited, but always was set up to play to his strength at man utd(give it to beckham-Hockey-Currie deal) at Newcastle he failed as he was given a different job . Butt was a specialist at what he did, as parts of the jigsaw of a team it's hard to see who can improve a team before it's tried. Back to Stevens, an Ireland international have been watched by several agents, and in the end it is about selling a product.(that's what is has become) Look at the benches in the premier league, how many of those did the managers watch before signing. Do we really wonna go up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Enda Stevens was never bad enough to receive the vile and unwarranted abuse he got from certain members on here last year and throughout the close season , but neither is he good enough for others to start talking him up as player that Premiership clubs would be scrambling to pay big bucks for .

Given the fact few of them play with wing backs, and then only very occasionally , he would have to appeal as an out and out full back or an attacking left sided player .

He has proved himself to be reasonably competent at both , but not outstanding as either . Having said that , I'm very pleased to have him in our side at the moment given the way we play .

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

loads of players in the premier league are not good enough for premier league

Fact. Especially after watching Soufampton today.

I was just joking about ahr Enda however.

 

[Iceybabey]

Deserves a goal does Enda.

 

[Sean Thornton]

all guesswork if a player can make the step up, how much better with much better players around you ?. taken a season or two to tell, hench the number of players out on loan etc. It's not all Peter Reid stories, but many make the step up without beeing all at sea.(peter reid spent most of his career in the third division till everton took him on at a mature age, league champion and england international, when chance might have let him play out his football at bolton. as a coach I know you never know a players potential before it's tested at the highest level. The effect of playing with better players than yourself lifts anybody to a new level.Nicky Butt is probably one of footballs miracles, very limited, but always was set up to play to his strength at man utd(give it to beckham-Hockey-Currie deal) at Newcastle he failed as he was given a different job . Butt was a specialist at what he did, as parts of the jigsaw of a team it's hard to see who can improve a team before it's tried. Back to Stevens, an Ireland international have been watched by several agents, and in the end it is about selling a product.(that's what is has become) Look at the benches in the premier league, how many of those did the managers watch before signing. Do we really wonna go up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peter Reid's Bolton career was all in the second division other than two seasons in the first division where he suffered a broken leg. He was in an England U21 Euro squad and captained the U21 side in a midfield that definitely included Hoddle and I believe Robson at times as well. He was very highly regarded. He was a superb footballer and signed for Everton at 26. ( the same age TC was when Leeds signed him from us. Hardly a mature age in those days.
Reid's career at Bolton was blighted by injuries several times. Everton's gamble helped them with their future successes of which he was an integral part. He wasn't a lower league journeyman that came good. He was always a good player. A football hero of mine.

 

[Jon Slinn]

I'm not concerned in the slightest.

He's a regular and I don't see any higher placed, or richer, club coming in for him at this time.

After dropping away last season, I think he has picked up again. I still think his delivery is too often frustrating though.

Wouldn't be his lack of first time crosses - would it.

 

[NotFallowfieldBlade]

Enda Stevens was never bad enough to receive the vile and unwarranted abuse he got from certain members on here last year and throughout the close season , but neither is he good enough for others to start talking him up as player that Premiership clubs would be scrambling to pay big bucks for .

Given the fact few of them play with wing backs, and then only very occasionally , he would have to appeal as an out and out full back or an attacking left sided player .

He has proved himself to be reasonably competent at both , but not outstanding as either . Having said that , I'm very pleased to have him in our side at the moment given the way we play .

He’s proved that he’s the best left back in the league over two years by a long way

 

[United Aren't Back.]

You have to chuckle at people describing Stevens as nowt special. To get a better player than that you’d have to pay £6-7m, and that’d be no guarantee of anything more than a marginal improvement.

For me Stevens is a top class Championship wingback, with a first date attitude. Really think he’s in contention for POTY so far.

Does he get a kiss at the end of it?

 

[United Aren't Back.]

loads of players in the premier league are not good enough for premier league

We had Jostein Flo.
Jamie Hoyland
Willie Falconer.
Etc etc etc.

 

[Rodley]

Does he get a kiss at the end of it?

I don’t know what the rules are these days pal!

 

[Wards]

From our very own Blades Analytics

 

[Sheffsteel]

From our very own Blades Analytics

But those stats are misleading.
United tactical plan is to overload the flanks and create chances from the wing, no other club does this to such an extreme.

So whoever plays as a fullback at SU is going to be a major player in our system creating plenty of chances.

Last season, Enda started well, playing positive attacking football.
He then a fed mistakes losing the ball and our fans started giving him stick.
For the rest of the season he played it too safe (plenty of sideways passing) seemingly content with not making mistakes.

This season, his mental attitude seems to have changed because he’s regained his confidence to be more expansive.
He defensively sound but occasionally goes on attacking runs and tried something difficult.
Really pleased for him, he’s having a very good season but don’t think he’s PL standard just yet.

 

[Davalon]

Wouldn't be his lack of first time crosses - would it.

Sometimes yeah. I just think his ratio of good crosses to bad crosses is far too much on the wrong side considering how many opportunities he gets.

He's far from the only culprit though, and you also have to take into consideration that often we have one man in the box at best when attacking from open play.

 

[BigBed]

He made a few errors v Derby, I wouldn't say he was prem class, he's possibly, "most improved", but he's championship class only for me.
I'm happy to be proved wrong, should Wilder get us up though.

 

[Sabella's Socks]

Deserves a goal does Enda.

Outstanding technique to connect with a technically difficult volley against Ipswich. Caught it perfectly and hit it with real power. Looked goal bound (as much as you can tell side on) but hit a defender - who, fair play to the lad, did well not to start crying and run over to his mum.

That definitely deserved a goal.

 

[The Tea Lady]

I think we should all take a moment to appreciate, amongst other things, that pass for Billy's second.

 

[FMBlade1]

I'm delighted to have been proved wrong about him. I thought he should have been dropped and almost given up on this time last year for Lafferty.

Really come on, fantastic work SUFC!

 

[coaxingstar71]

I think we should all take a moment to appreciate, amongst other things, that pass for Billy's second.

Superb ball.

Unlucky not to score first half with the one that hit the bar.

Playing really well at the moment.

 

[Rojoyblanco]

Thought Enda was outstanding today. Boldock and Egan too.

 

[Fanny magnet]

My motm today just in front of Billy, both were work I g hard and be I g extremely positive when we weren't playing well first half but I though enda pulled them all over the place for the full 90 mins and defended well too

 

[blademark]

Well, quite a few were less than convinced about Enda, back in December.
Anyone like to revise their opinion?
Personally I think he is now among our best 3 or 4 players, and guaranteed a starting place should we be promoted.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Well, quite a few were less than convinced about Enda, back in December.
Anyone like to revise their opinion?
Personally I think he is now among our best 3 or 4 players, and guaranteed a starting place should we be promoted.

Yes, agreed. If we manage to go up - quite happy with him being in the starting team next season.

I think he realised last season, like a lot of our players that the division wasn't La Liga after all and that he along with others in our team could compete on an even footing.

The additions to our team in the summer - generally, the spine of the team has allowed others like Stevens to step up their game.

There was a particularly pleasing moment v Leeds on Saturday in the first half (shown on the highlights) - an old fashioned drag back with his left foot, pushed it past the defender and went on his way - completely bamboozled the Leeds player.

Will be interesting to see if he and Egan start for the ROI. On one hand it would be good, on the other, they may get injured.

UTB

 

[Sheffsteel]

Agree, Enda is getting better every match, a contender for our player of the season.
Think a lot of it is down to confidence and belief that he belongs at top Championship level.

 

[Booker4]

I think Enda has a genuine chance of being in the Championship team of the season, great effort by him. He always had the ability but I must admit I had my doubts at the beginning of this season, and fair play to him, he's proved many of us wrong. If we go up, he is one who is likely to remain first choice in my view. Saying that we need quality back up; currently, we only have Johnson, who is o course a winger and not our player!

 

[wizadry]

Stevens has done very well this season at LWB and also done very well at LCB, I can’t help but think if we went to a flat back four with a winger supporting him in front of him he’d flourish even more and definitely be a good LB in the top division. It remains to be seen if he can play at the top whatever position he plays but I think he’ll get the chance either way, he deserves a crack at it.