Billy - 2 year deal

[bartman]

He was when we came up. He’s had a promotion % bonus like they all have. Only a handful have since signed new contracts, go figure?

Unless he’s signed on reduced terms

Tue new contract kight have been existing terms extended for another two years. I would have thought at least O'Connell,Norwood,Berge,Egan, Jags,Fleck.
,Moose,McBurnie will be on more than him

 

[Weasel]

I'm more than happy that we have Billy around for another two years. I'm sure he won't be a starter every week, but he is still a very good player and he caused their back line a lot of problems today and on another day would have scored 2.

Why anyone wouldn't want him around as an option next season... I can't fathom.

He will continue to play a very important role for us next season and thankfully CW thinks so too.

 

[wavy-blade]

I love threads like this cus next season when he scores a few winners u can bump them up to the top again

 

[bromtom]

I don’t think there’d have been any negativity if we’d given him a year, why should there be?

There would have been when he left after a year to play for someone else.

I think he'll want to retire at the end of a 2 year deal, not a 1 year.

He deserves the chance to hang up his boots here after what he's done, it's maybe a poor financial decision but football isn't all finance.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

2 years though? Unless the contract is either a lot less than he’s currently on, or the second year is, it just doesn’t make sense. We shouldn’t need a mascot

Never will be a mascot.
He's the Captain, and will be whether he plays or not. He embodies everything about the club and that oozes out of him on and off rhe pitch.
If he doesnt play for 2 seasons , we've got 2 seasons of Captain and Coach.

 

[Toronto Blade fan]

Billy is still getting his chances. More than I can say for the other strikers out there.

 

[Superblades]

Christ! People comparing him to Phillips!

 

[Superblades]

Billy is still getting his chances. More than I can say for the other strikers out there.

Who is to say Moose wouldn’t get those chances and take them?

 

[nopigfansintown]

Took a 50 percent pay cut when he rejoined United. It's the honourable thing to do. How many new strikers do you think we can afford? Sharp can still do a job anyhow.

 

[Chabuddy G]

Complete over reaction. He should be 6th choice striker after mcgoldrick, mcburnie, mousset (if still here) and 2 new signings, but his hold up play was great today and whilst the finishing was disappointing he scored an excellent header against Norwich and don’t see him suddenly being finished when he’s never relied on pace or athleticism.

I’ll back him as a great back up option who can keep going right up until his late thirties just like Kevin Phillips

Complete over reaction... after saying he should be sixth choice?

 

[wak1889]

I've said before his career at the Lane is very far from over, as a player however it's getting close. Perhaps he can be on the Bench and be the player that Chris seems to bring on around 70th minute.

It's really difficult to say but the lads had a banging career and become a long standing legend at the lane. I'm sure he will be aware he's getting a little too old for the game but it isn't always about the 11 lads on the pitch.

This legend I still really don't get , let's not forget sharp has still scored the majority of his career goals for other teams

 

[Toronto Blade fan]

Who is to say Moose wouldn’t get those chances and take them?

More a knock at McBurnie...

I hope the Moose gets an opportunity next year. He should be starting each and every game imo, as he's our best out and out striker.

 

[Keen Blade]

Billy's 2 year contract would not draw any fire if we had a clutch of PL quality strikers who scored plenty of goals + we were not bottom of the table for shots & shots on target.
But it gets noticed because the striker dept is not strong + CW has said "we need more quality at the top of the pitch".
We have Robbo who's been loaned out , Moose who can't play 90 mins , Didsy who hardly scores + is really a linkman , McB who blows hot & cold.
And Leon !
We haven't got a single nailed-on consistent striker of PL quality + so people see the award of a 2 year contract to our aging hero as a sentimental decision which we can ill-afford.
And I admire Billy + appreciate what he's done for us. You only have to look at my status phrase (or whatever it's called) "Look Sharp" to know that.
I reckon if we don't bring in a striker who is better than all the current ones , we are risking our PL place next term.

 

[Chabuddy G]

I love threads like this cus next season when he scores a few winners u can bump them up to the top again

Next season isn’t the problem... a 1 year deal no one would’ve questioned

 

[Chabuddy G]

Tue new contract kight have been existing terms extended for another two years. I would have thought at least O'Connell,Norwood,Berge,Egan, Jags,Fleck.
,Moose,McBurnie will be on more than him

So in the top 10 earners then, at a guess?

 

[Chabuddy G]

No, it's not "literally what they're saying" at all.
You've just totally degraded the role that leaders play in a team's success.

Yeah they literally are my friend. He’s ‘great off the pitch’ if he’s not up to it on, what good is that? We aren’t in a position to carry players who aren’t good enough for too long. Even Chelsea let JT go and he was a one club man and total leader for 20 years

 

[Superblades]

More a knock at McBurnie...

I hope the Moose gets an opportunity next year. He should be starting each and every game imo, as he's our best out and out striker.

Sorry Toronto, wasn’t a dig at you. We all have different opinion. I agree that Moose is our best.
What does me is that Wilder was happy to let Billy go in January, so why give him a new 2 year contract. On that basis, something doesn’t add up other than we see screwed money wise.

 

[Keen Blade]

So in the top 10 earners then, at a guess?

Please stop reminding me that Jags is on big money for very little playing time - hopefully he's not getting another contract though - if he does , I will be calling out CW as sentimental - something he promised he would never be with player contracts

 

[SUFCinks]

I think his role is similar to jags - knows the club inside out, loves it and his passion + experience will feed into the other new players. I think having those 2 around is good for morale. He will be keeping the starters on their toes as we know he wont accept anything less than 100% and set the tempo in training. Personally if we are ambitious his game time should be limited but he still will have a part to play in the odd cameo at 70/80 mins.

 

[Chabuddy G]

Please stop reminding me that Jags is on big money for very little playing time - hopefully he's not getting another contract though - if he does , I will be calling out CW as sentimental - something he promised he would never be with player contracts

I actually don’t think he is if I’m being honest

 

[Nah den]

Stealing a wage is obviously ridiculous and actually pretty disrespectful. However, whilst a great servant, not PL quality. Never has been really, most of his career and goals outside of the top flight, even in his younger years.

But Billy isn't the problem. We have no strikers who are going to score us 15 goals next season. People talking about McB scoring goals if he gets the service. I'm not sure we're ever going to create those chances unless we change things up. We consistently have about 30 - 40% of possession in games this year. We aren't going to create many chances when we are digging in (usually successfully) 40 yards from our own goal for large spells.

Investment needed in strikers, and creativity and pace. McG for all his skill doesn't possess the pace or power for his 'tricks' to actually result in anything. Doing some skill is good but not when it still doesn't mean you get away from people. Probably an unpopular opinion, but great work rate, honest player but not PL quality.

I wonder how attractive a proposition we are, lowest PL wage payers and usually concede 70% possession so a lot of running around without the ball required.

Still, a fantastic season and a great effort. Pre season will be really interesting (hopefully).

 

[Hamburg Blade]

We've seen very clearly these last few games how the team lives or dies depending on the mental attitude of the players. From everything I see and hear, Sharp is key to that and Wilder may well have decided that the risk of losing him and things going to shit because of that is too high.
I don't think he's anywhere near past it and I think he is PL quality - from top to bottom of the PL the quality varies significantly and he can definitely be held up against a lot of other forwards in the division.
At the moment the team seems to be suffering from a lack of confidence - there was a freekick in a similar spot to where we scored from against Wednesday, but I just knew no one would have the guts to shoot - and I think Billy's the same; his two chances today should have been hit earlier, the first he looked up for the cross when he should have shot and the second he tried to make it too unmissable. But as someone else pointed out, he's the striker getting those chances, that isn't coincidence. With more minutes, more confidence and in a team also high on confidence, he will score more.
I accept that we need to sign a top striker, but as things stand, he is my no. 2 behind Mousset.

 

[ReeceofBDTBL]

Complete over reaction... after saying he should be sixth choice?

When people are calling him a mascot and saying he is of no use absolutely. He’s good to bring on if opposition is sitting back towards the end and we’re getting the ball in the box (more likely to be happening next season), not to mention cups and back up in case of an injury crisis.

He’s an experienced finisher who’s never relied on pace, think he’s got at least a couple more seasons in him where he can help the team out.

Also, one of the best managers in the game gave him a 2 year contract extension, might be something in that

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I would have absolutely no issue if CW has said to BS, 'Here you are son, two more years to make the rest of your life comfortable. You've been a great servant, provided us with some fantastic moments and important goals as well as captaining this side on and off the field from mid-division one through the Champ and into the Prem.
I've kept a few quid up my sleeve, ready as a thank you.
As one Blade to another, I'm sure the rest of the fans wouldn't begrudge it you....."

 

[robbiez666]

I said at the time, and copped grief for it, that I would have given Billy and Didzy one year (especially with Covid and reduced budgets) but not two.

Neither will be starting players in the 21/22 season yet that 2 of the 25 squad places taken up (if we're still in the top flight).

 

[Bladesman]

Not sure what Sharp was doing today. He did everything right winning the ball and getting into a good position but why the fuck didn't he bury or lay off the chance in the second half.

It seemed like he was too keen to score against Soton. I think he was getting quizzed about it by Jags when he had been subbed off.

The lockdown certainly killed his form that is for sure as he was just getting into a bit form back in March.

 

[Sam64]

I thought his general play was up there with the best it's been this season. No idea what he was trying to do when he got in front of goal though.

 

[Bladesman]

I thought his general play was up there with the best it's been this season. No idea what he was trying to do when he got in front of goal though.

Very unlike Sharp I would have expected him to bury that chance in the second half. He had all the time in the world to make his mind up.

 

[Sam64]

Very unlike Sharp I would have expected him to bury that chance in the second half. He had all the time in the world to make his mind up.

Yeah was like he was scared to just have a shot

 

[Bladesman]

Yeah was like he was scared to just have a shot

He had players running in that he could have squad it to.