Billy Sharp... He's not the Messiah...

[Linz]

... he's a very naughty boy... or something.

Seriously though, why when we are three goals down do people start excitedly talking about getting Billy Sharp on as though he is going to make some blinding difference to the game?

He scored a mass of goals in League One

by standing ten yards out

and receiving the ball

to feet.

Now I might have been watching a different season here, but when in a game have United piled on the pressure enough for a ball to be played along the floor in the box to a waiting goal-poacher?

Now I'm not having a go at young Master Sharp here, he is good at what he does. Only that other areas have to be addressed in the Blades' way of playing at the moment in order to make him effective.

I'm at a loss as to why people are under the impression that he is some kind of saviour-in-waiting while we're playing as we are. Bringing him on and expecting him to shine must surely knock his confidence while he was scoring for fun in the reserves.

Call for the service to be sorted out, then call for Billy.

 

[TonyAgana]

Call for the service to be sorted out

That's what many of us have been doing for weeks!

 

[Robbie]

It's because people look at stats and not how the goals are scored Linz.

 

[TonyAgana]

The thing is, on Tuesday night, there were 3 balls in the first half that were played low in to the edge of the 6 yard box that evaded the keeper but nobody picked up. Beattie was loitering around the penalty spot when it needed a sniffer. By the time he was brought on, we'd had to resort to long shots and high balls in and I don't think Sharp touched it once.

 

[shorehamview]

At the moment the chances of Billy scoring are the same as his chances of being the next Prime Minister. Unless he gets the ball passed to him instead of roughly hoofed into the same postal district as the one he's currently standing in he's got no chance. Not his fault, but he's not going to do much of anything with the current kick and rush crap.

 

[matth]

Billy is a dyed-in-the-wool Blade, and as such, you'd hope that he'd be immune to the apathy that seems to have infected the rest of the squad. I'd like to see him come on just so that I could see someone on the pitch wearing the red and white stripes who seemingly gives a toss about whether we win or lose.

 

[Come from away]

Billy is a dyed-in-the-wool Blade, ...... I'd like to see him come on just so that I could see someone on the pitch wearing the red and white stripes who seemingly gives a toss about whether we win or lose.

BUT, when he has been on he has looked no different from any other Blade. So, either they all dont' give a toss or they are all actually trying as hard as Billy. It's hard to be confident when you have shot yourself in the foot so many times. Look at the league, everybody is stubbing their toes. It's a long season so and we do have a good squad.

 

[Bladesman]

Really can we blame any of the strikers though ? When the midfield and defence play so poorly and provide poor service. True Billy is no god and is not performing when he plays alongside Beattie. I think as soon as Hulse is fully fit Sharp and Hulse certainly worth a punt.

 

[RIP Niftos]

Really can we blame any of the strikers though ? When the midfield and defence play so poorly and provide poor service. True Billy is no god and is not performing when he plays alongside Beattie. I think as soon as Hulse is fully fit Sharp and Hulse certainly worth a punt.

and drop beattie? you out of your mind? take his goals out of our results so far and we'd be in more shit than a Plumber at elvis' house, makes no sense to drop him to me

 

[Bladesman]

and drop beattie? you out of your mind? take his goals out of our results so far and we'd be in more shit than a Plumber at elvis' house, makes no sense to drop him to me

Yes drop Beattie to the bench he can tie his shoe laces for aslong as he likes then.

Chill man. Nothing to say we cannot bring him on if Hulse and Sharp aint working though is there ?

 

[keenzy]

down to robsons tactics.

 

[Foxy]

down to robsons tactics.

I'd suggest more down to the fact we have poor movement and poor crossing. If Robbo was on the pitch I bet he'd still put far better balls into the strikers than our current bunch.

 

[keenzy]

so would McCall

keef isnt good enough and we need a centre midfielder who can attack. well.

 

[7UpJordan]

If I remember rightly I'd predicted Sharp to score tonnes of goals... and I thought I was in cuckoo land when I predicted Barry Hayles would do just that when we signed him and then quickly offloaded him again...

 

[Greasy Chip Butty]

Agreed, alright hes a blade and i think we all want him to score, but at the minute he doesnt look like scoring. Maybe he's feeling that he doesnt have to score anymore just run around like a headless chicken to get the crowd on his side. Get on his back and he might do somethin

Also Beattie is our leading assist player this season so i don't think dropping him is the right thing

 

[RIP Niftos]

Yes drop Beattie to the bench he can tie his shoe laces for aslong as he likes then.

Chill man. Nothing to say we cannot bring him on if Hulse and Sharp aint working though is there ?

nah, beatties gotta start for me the problem should be who partners him not who should replace him

 

[happyhippy]

I'd suggest more down to the fact we have poor movement and poor crossing. If Robbo was on the pitch I bet he'd still put far better balls into the strikers than our current bunch.

What movement?

 

[Bladesman]

nah, beatties gotta start for me the problem should be who partners him not who should replace him

Even if Beattie has started scoring in the wrong net.

I am just saying Hulse and Sharp are worth atleast a try and so that Beattie actually has someone to challenge him for his position. Hopefully the fact that Hulse is pretty much fit again is keeping Beattie on his toes.

 

[DazBlade88]

Beattie has to start every game, regardless of who is fit.

I was saying about Billy Sharp the other night, he's the only striker who is a "Legend" on the Kop that's never scored a league goal for us. Whether it's down to the tactics or not, he had a few chances early on in the season and never buried them in the league.

 

[TonyAgana]

Every game regardless, Daz? I think having any player with total immunity is dangerous.

 

[DazBlade88]

Every game regardless, Daz? I think having any player with total immunity is dangerous.

Yeah, he can't be taken off either. Unless he's injured.

It's stupid really in my opinion.

 

[Bladesman]

Beattie has to start every game, regardless of who is fit.

He does not have a divine right to be in the team despite the goals he has scored. He could not score again between now and the end of the season for all we know. Not that that will happen but surely you get what I am saying.

 

[Linz]

He does not have a divine right to be in the team despite the goals he has scored.

No, but surely he should be in the team based on his performances - regardless of whether Hulse is fit?

 

[Bladesman]

No, but surely he should be in the team based on his performances - regardless of whether Hulse is fit?

True but all I am saying is a different strike force might be good especially if Beattie hits a drought and is not performing. Mind you some have said Hulse and Beattie upfront although I cant see that working.

 

[Robbie]

True but all I am saying is a different strike force might be good especially if Beattie hits a drought and is not performing. Mind you some have said Hulse and Beattie upfront although I cant see that working.

The work rate I see from Beattie in the majority of games is good enough for me.

 

[DazBlade88]

He does not have a divine right to be in the team despite the goals he has scored. He could not score again between now and the end of the season for all we know. Not that that will happen but surely you get what I am saying.

From what I've heard, he does, because it's in his contract.

 

[shorehamview]

He does not have a divine right to be in the team despite the goals he has scored. He could not score again between now and the end of the season for all we know. Not that that will happen but surely you get what I am saying.

From what I've heard, he does, because it's in his contract.

Can you really, in any way whatsoever, imagine Kevin McCabe sanctioning contracts like that being drawn up? He'd have P45s ready for club staff quicker than you can blink.

 

[DazBlade88]

Can you really, in any way whatsoever, imagine Kevin McCabe sanctioning contracts like that being drawn up? He'd have P45s ready for club staff quicker than you can blink.

I've thought that myself, but he was prepared to offer him as much money as he did so who knows?

We'll have to see what happens as the season goes on...

 

[Robbie]

From what I've heard, he does, because it's in his contract.

How about the Cup games?

 

[DazBlade88]

How about the Cup games?

It's only league games