Best striker at Lane since Deane left in 93?

[Darren]

Actually, closer inspection shows differently. The following shows, all appearences (before it was just league), sub appearences, gaols and then the ratio:

------starts (sub apps) goals ratio

Beattie 60 (5)--------41----1.45
Fjortoft 37 (6) --------23 ----1.6
Blake 59 (15) -------- 35 ---- 1.7
Marcelo 60 (20) ------ 32 ---- 1.9
Peschy 41 (54) ------- 20 ---- 2
Lester 31 (19) -------- 14 ---- 2.2
Bent 56 (0) ---------- 24 ---- 2.3
Gray 61 (2) ---------- 26 ---- 2.3
Asaba 60 (17) -------- 24 --- 2.5
Taylor 69 (36) -------- 26 ----2.7
Shipps 34 (5) -------- 11 ----- 3
Hendo 58 (7) --------- 17 ---- 3.4

It shows that Beattie was the most prolific striker for the Blades with 2 goals every 3 starts. Closely followed by Fjortoft and Blakey.

Makes an interesting top 12 in terms of goals to game ratio. Of course Blake, Marcelo, Asaba, Taylor, Lester and particularly Peschisolido have an unfair advantage as they are liklier to have scored in sub appearences.

Where do you get the 41 goals for Beattie? he only ever scored in the league - 34 goals.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

It's a shame that we end up with a list like this - they tend to undervalue the importance of certain strikers whilst overvaluing others. I would never, ever, place Gray ahead of Shipperley when I look back and consider their importance to the club.

Hulse only scored 8, but they were in the top league in the country. I'd say it's tougher to score 8 from 29 games in the Premiership than it is to score to any of the degrees listed by those that scored for us just in the Championship, so for me, in terms of overall ability, Hulse wins it hands down. If you picked any other player off that list, I don't think they could have given that kind of return, not even Beattie (who for a better team in the same season scored 2 in 33, both penalties).

The best strikers are for me the ones that will stick in the mind as being most memorable. Shipperley is in that mould, given the enormous contribution to the promotion season. Pesch too for the so-nearly season. Andy Walker was also critical to us staying up in 1996 - each of his goals that season weren't amazing goals, but were absolutely precious.

I like Hendo, but as it stands I wouldn't put him, or Taylor, or Gray, ahead of any of these when I think about who the best have been since Deane.

 

[Big Mart]

Billy Sharp, best striker we never had. Scores goals for fun at football clubs and yes, even at Championship level for lowly Doncaster which just goes to prove what a huff and puff set of carthorses we are.

Don't think any of the coaching staff at the Lane would recognise a footballer with a footballers brain even if he kicked them in the bollocks

:gallop:

 

[implied]

don't think any of the coaching staff at the lane would recognise a footballer with a footballers brain even if he kicked them in the bollocks

'plus one'

 

[Ollessendro]

Where do you get the 41 goals for Beattie? he only ever scored in the league - 34 goals.

You're right. It should then look like:


Fjortoft 37 (6) --------23 ----1.6
Blake 59 (15) -------- 35 ---- 1.7
Beattie 60 (5)---------34 ----1.7
Marcelo 60 (20) ------ 32 ---- 1.9
Peschy 41 (54) ------- 20 ---- 2
Lester 31 (19) -------- 14 ---- 2.2
Bent 56 (0) ---------- 24 ---- 2.3
Gray 61 (2) ---------- 26 ---- 2.3
Asaba 60 (17) -------- 24 --- 2.5
Taylor 69 (36) -------- 26 ----2.7
Shipps 34 (5) -------- 11 ----- 3
Hendo 58 (7) --------- 17 ---- 3.4

It's a shame that we end up with a list like this - they tend to undervalue the importance of certain strikers whilst overvaluing others. I would never, ever, place Gray ahead of Shipperley when I look back and consider their importance to the club.

Hulse only scored 8, but they were in the top league in the country. I'd say it's tougher to score 8 from 29 games in the Premiership than it is to score to any of the degrees listed by those that scored for us just in the Championship, so for me, in terms of overall ability, Hulse wins it hands down. If you picked any other player off that list, I don't think they could have given that kind of return, not even Beattie (who for a better team in the same season scored 2 in 33, both penalties).

The best strikers are for me the ones that will stick in the mind as being most memorable. Shipperley is in that mould, given the enormous contribution to the promotion season. Pesch too for the so-nearly season. Andy Walker was also critical to us staying up in 1996 - each of his goals that season weren't amazing goals, but were absolutely precious.

I like Hendo, but as it stands I wouldn't put him, or Taylor, or Gray, ahead of any of these when I think about who the best have been since Deane.

You are absolutely right Loughboro. I don't know whether you read the rest of the thread, but i stated that I thought Hulse was the best striker because of his contribution, work rate and how effective he was (at the top level). I had Jan Aage as a close 3nd as he was such a complete player: strong, skilful, good in the air, good on the deck (poor mans Torres).

The reason why I put the list was for context. Darren put the list of goal scorers (without number of games) and I thought it was misleading so I put the goals to game ratio. Of course it needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

 

[SwissBlade]

Billy Sharp, best striker we never had. Scores goals for fun at football clubs and yes, even at Championship level for lowly Doncaster which just goes to prove what a huff and puff set of carthorses we are.

Don't think any of the coaching staff at the Lane would recognise a footballer with a footballers brain even if he kicked them in the bollocks

:gallop:

I agree, but I always wanted us to persist with Billy and give him a proper run of games and not take him off all the time.

Perhaps the same could've been said for Cotterill, except I didn't like Cotterill but liked Billy

He's also played as the main striker at Donny isn't he?

 

[blades1889]

i dont see Hao Haidong

 

[JJ Sefton]

Its a shame to see no votes for Bent. After Beattie I think he was, technically at least, the best goal scorer weve had since Deane.

 

[Ollessendro]

Its a shame to see no votes for Bent. After Beattie I think he was, technically at least, the best goal scorer weve had since Deane.

Not strictly true (see my post 3 or 4 above). However his goal scoring recored was almost in every 2 games, which is very good. When you couple that with the fact that it was an awful United side that he was playing in at the time then he shows he was class.

 

[Ollessendro]

I'm attempting to revive this poll/thread, as it closes in a few days.

Unsurprisinlgly Beattie is the run away winner. I am surprised that he won it by such a convincing margin though.

Personally I'm very disappointed at this. I think that Hulse (pre injury) and Fjtortoft were better strikers during their time at the Lane. I'd even argue that Shipps, Bent and Blake could be in front of him. What did we ever achieve with BT in the team? He scored a lot of goals (at Championship level) including a lot of penalties but we never got anywehere with him. He played in a decent team and we were nowhere near promotion. He never forged a decent partnerhsip with anyone and the team actaully played better without him (proved by our upturn in results last season when he left). Hulse was top quality at Premiership level and had he not broke his leg we would have stayed up. Fjortoft has a better goal scoring record for the Blades than BT does and he didn't take penalties! Shipperley didn't have the ability levels or BT, but he worked a damn sight harder and was instrumental in our promotion season. Plus he forged 2 good partnerships with Webber and Kabba; again something BT never did. Bent's goalscoring record was not far off Beattie's but he was playing in an awful team.

So what exactly was it that makes almost everyone think BT was the best? Short memories? To an extent I think yes. Maybe peoples memories of the liks of Fjortoft has eroded. But this can't account for everything! Why is it that Beattie is more popular than Fjortoft, when Jan Aage actaully had a better goal scoring record and didn't take penatlies? Why couldn't Beattie form a apternership with anyone, the team play poorer with him in it and us achieve nothing and still be rated higher than Shipperley who was instrumental in getting us promotion??

I am a little bit mythed that James Beattie is held in a god like status when he achieved nothing, turned up every other game, his work rate was poor and the team played better without him.

 

[Guesty]

Bent could be in front of Beattie? Good god.

 

[raul]

Its a shame to see no votes for Bent. After Beattie I think he was, technically at least, the best goal scorer weve had since Deane.

Agree, but I think what counts against him is he never had that likability factor that, say Pesch or even Sarbs had, despite being a better footballer.

If this poll were X-Factor, he'd be Danyl.

 

[Houso]

Agree, but I think what counts against him is he never had that likability factor that, say Pesch or even Sarbs had, despite being a better footballer.

If this poll were X-Factor, he'd be Danyl.

 

[shorehamview]

Is it just me or is Cheryl Cole yet another famous bird with a three-nob-gob?