Billy Sharp v Derby Fans

[Maidenhead]

When you say "at the moment" do you just mean the last game? We won the four league games before Saturday. Which half of the team weren't playing well during that good run of form?

Billy's a bit of a mixed bag.

He runs around a lot, and we Blades love that, but there is a reason that I usually refer to him as Billy "offside" Sharp.

He also has a tendency to give away far too many silly, unnecessary and niggly fouls, but the flip side of that is that he sometimes gets away with them and a goal results from it.

He's also a decent finisher, not great, because he misses as many good chances as he puts away, but his knack of being in the right place at the right time can not be taught and is invaluable.

Mid table Championship is about his right level. I love his effort, enthusiasm and leadership but he has too many flaws in his make up to be an absolutely top level player though.

I would always rather have him on our side than the opposition though but I would prefer that he was a sixty minute sub rather than a regular starter. Unfortunately at the moment we have no one better qualified to start.

 

[CPB]

Well said.

When a player gives it back they have every right to do so and those that can't take it shouldn't be giving it in the first place.

Even then there is a line that should not be crossed. Banter is fine but chants that would clearly be considered illegal in a court of law is not.

The treatment Hendo got at Elland Road, sex offender songs, songs about tragedy such as Hillsborough, Munich, personal loss etc are well out of order and break the bounds of human decency.

During the game they're the enemy but as soon as the game is over they're just another bloke earning a living and deserve the same respect as anyone else walking the streets.

Exactly, it's fine to give players "stick" but has to be more so of a wind up rather than a verbal abuse/very offensive chants.
Should almost be a like a step up from a panto, but not aggressive/offensive slander. Plus nowadays with camera's in all grounds your also leaving yourself open to charges if you aren't careful.

It's not OK to make fun/chant about of someone's race, sexuality, death of a child or call someone a sex offender when it's obv. not true as well.

 

[bornablade]

Did we cross the line when chanting 'Lee Hughes is a murderer' when he was playing for West Brom?

Did we cross the line when we gave Paddy Kenny stick over the antics of his wife?

Did Eric Cantona cross the line when he could no longer stand the verbal abuse of a Crystal Palace fan in January 1996?

 

[Maidenhead]

Did we cross the line when chanting 'Lee Hughes is a murderer' when he was playing for West Brom?

Did we cross the line when we gave Paddy Kenny stick over the antics of his wife?

Did Eric Cantona cross the line when he could no longer stand the verbal abuse of a Crystal Palace fan in January 1996?

YES
YES
I don't know because I don't know what the provocation was.

We cross the line regularly but I just don't join in with the obviously unwarranted and overly abusive stuff.

 

[sitwell]

I don’t buy into this theory that because Billy is a blade and has credit in the bank he is both invincible and, crucially, unstoppable.

I counted four decent chances yesterday dropping to him to at least make the keeper work and only one weak header on target. The reality is in some games he’s offered nothing, in others he’s offered everything.

If the opposition fans winding him up is affecting his performance he needs to be dropped so he can focus on his game and discipline.

This season we’re going nowhere, likely none coming in either. Let’s use this time to give Brewster and Ndiaye a good run of games with Berge too. One or two games or on from the bench every now and then won’t see us getting the best from them.

As for Billy, he needs to focus on his game more than anything.

So you think that stopped him focusing on his game ?
He should have squared up to Berge to be fair and asked him what he was going to do. Fuck all as usual.

 

[Sheff de party]

Mcburnie - Defends his self after been accosted in the street , a disgrace and wants his contract terminating

Sharp - Confronts a derby fan after the game because he couldn’t take the banter , Fantastic role model leader and legend

Appreciate the point you’re making, but Billy Sharp has been a dedicated servant and captain for a number of years and kept his nose clean. McBurnie is often in trouble and has no credit in the bank.

Billy was on club business, frustrated after a defeat and has to put up with hundreds (maybe thousands) of fans calling him a sex offender then cop it in the car park. McBurnie was stamping on someone’s phone in the street.

Neither are a good look, but I know which one is worse.

 

[Sheff de party]

Billy was shit yesterday should have scored with that header , he's not playing well at the moment , mind you , you can say that about half the team , he should have let it all this go over his head including the previous match , he gets paid very well and should concentrate on putting the ball in the net !

I would disagree with the point about him not playing well. He’s done quite well most weeks. His problem is he’s 35 and in a team that (particularly without Gibbs-White) doesn’t create much. He had one chance on Saturday and whilst it was a good one, people (not saying you) need to steer clear of this ridiculous idea that every chance should go in.

The issue is that we have over £50m of strikers who can’t get in the team ahead of him.

Brewster is starting to come good hopefully, but if I were Mousset or McBurnie I would spend less time looking at my bank balance and more time looking in the mirror. They need to seriously ask themselves whether they want to be footballers or fuck around while an ageing striker puts them to shame.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

I would disagree with the point about him not playing well. He’s done quite well most weeks. His problem is he’s 35 and in a team that (particularly without Gibbs-White) doesn’t create much. He had one chance on Saturday and whilst it was a good one, people (not saying you) need to steer clear of this ridiculous idea that every chance should go in.

The issue is that we have over £50m of strikers who can’t get in the team ahead of him.

Brewster is starting to come good hopefully, but if I were Mousset or McBurnie I would spend less time looking at my bank balance and more time looking in the mirror. They need to seriously ask themselves whether they want to be footballers or fuck around while an ageing striker puts them to shame.

"Mousset or McBurnie I would spend less time looking at my bank balance and more time looking in the mirror"

Mousset scored half the goals sharp has all season in 45 minutes @ the dingles yes he is nowhere near as fit as sharp

Brewster is starting to come good because he has finally been given a chance to play , as sharp was playing no9 every minute for Slav and Brewster was out wide or on the bench

Playing sharp is baffling and mirrors this club under the prince , no long term plan at all if were gonna play sharp then we may aswell get jebisson back an give him half a season as our main n09 hes shown at burton already he is good enough to play for us IMO

 

[Sheff de party]

"Mousset or McBurnie I would spend less time looking at my bank balance and more time looking in the mirror"

Mousset scored half the goals sharp has all season in 45 minutes @ the dingles yes he is nowhere near as fit as sharp

Brewster is starting to come good because he has finally been given a chance to play , as sharp was playing no9 every minute for Slav and Brewster was out wide or on the bench

Playing sharp is baffling and mirrors this club under the prince , no long term plan at all if were gonna play sharp then we may aswell get jebisson back an give him half a season as our main n09 hes shown at burton already he is good enough to play for us IMO

Mousset isn’t interested mate, we need to move on. Not doubting his talent but we need to clear him out.

Jebbison has scored one goal fewer than Connor Washington, who has comfortably proven he isn’t good enough to play for us.

Jebbison is getting a game and finding his feet in the game. We don’t need him. We don’t need any more strikers in my view, we need more creativity.

Your anti-Sharp agenda is just confusing.

 

[Mumbo]

Sharp calls bell end‘s bluff,nowt to get knickers in a twist for.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Well said.

When a player gives it back they have every right to do so and those that can't take it shouldn't be giving it in the first place.

Even then there is a line that should not be crossed. Banter is fine but chants that would clearly be considered illegal in a court of law is not.

The treatment Hendo got at Elland Road, sex offender songs, songs about tragedy such as Hillsborough, Munich, personal loss etc are well out of order and break the bounds of human decency.

During the game they're the enemy but as soon as the game is over they're just another bloke earning a living and deserve the same respect as anyone else walking the streets.

100% agree ,

 

[Wards]

Anyone shedding a tear for these cunts if they go bust? Looks likely at the moment...

 

[Bladesman]

Anyone shedding a tear for these cunts if they go bust? Looks likely at the moment...

I still think Ashley will save the day.

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

I still think Ashley will save the day.

Now there’s a selection of words you don’t often see in the same sentence

 

[Bladesman]

Now there’s a selection of words you don’t often see in the same sentence

Not Ashley from Coronation Street either.

 

[Geordie Blade]

Did Eric Cantona cross the line when he could no longer stand the verbal abuse of a Crystal Palace fan in January 1996?

When testifying in court, the skinhead who Cantona attacked said that he was merely shouting "Time for an early bath for you, Mr Cantona".

 

[CaptainMorgans]

"Mousset or McBurnie I would spend less time looking at my bank balance and more time looking in the mirror"

Mousset scored half the goals sharp has all season in 45 minutes @ the dingles yes he is nowhere near as fit as sharp

Brewster is starting to come good because he has finally been given a chance to play , as sharp was playing no9 every minute for Slav and Brewster was out wide or on the bench

Playing sharp is baffling and mirrors this club under the prince , no long term plan at all if were gonna play sharp then we may aswell get jebisson back an give him half a season as our main n09 hes shown at burton already he is good enough to play for us IMO

The Board said (in more acceptable words) that this season was shit or bust. That we were going to go for promotion & if it didn't come off we'd implement a long-term strategy from next season (although an extremely flawed one that's destined to fail).

Therefore, you pick your best players in the here-and-now until such a time that promotion is an impossibility. You may argue that time is already upon us but I'd probably give it to the end of next month before we start compromising on immediate quality for the sake of development.

Sharp needs a rest, but he's still better than the other options in our squad. The ones you seem to regularly support that have cost us 10s of Millions and are taking us backwards.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

The Board said (in more acceptable words) that this season was shit or bust. That we were going to go for promotion & if it didn't come off we'd implement a long-term strategy from next season (although an extremely flawed one that's destined to fail).

Therefore, you pick your best players in the here-and-now until such a time that promotion is an impossibility. You may argue that time is already upon us but I'd probably give it to the end of next month before we start compromising on immediate quality for the sake of development.

Sharp needs a rest, but he's still better than the other options in our squad. The ones you seem to regularly support that have cost us 10s of Millions and are taking us backwards.

How is sharp our best striker ?

I don't understand how anyone could come to that conclusion after watching the last 2 games , this season or even the two seasons in the premier league

He doesn't offer anything , he was a great finisher but seems to have lost that this season 4 goals in 24/25 games from open play is a very very poor return if he isnt scoring then there is no reason he should be starting IMO

Our best striker right now I would say is McGoldrick IMO in terms of what he has done in the past 2/3 seasons , he was fantastic last season in a team that was rock bottom all year.

And now the majority wont renew his contract but would sharps

 

[Geordie Blade]

He doesn't offer anything , he was a great finisher but seems to have lost that this season 4 goals in 24/25 games from open play is a very very poor return if he isnt scoring then there is no reason he should be starting IMO

Our best striker right now I would say is McGoldrick IMO in terms of what he has done in the past 2/3 seasons , he was fantastic last season in a team that was rock bottom all year.

4 goals in 24 (0.167 per game) is "a very very poor return".
9 goals in 40 (0.225 per game) is "fantastic".

I'm interested in your scale, given the range of words over such as narrow margin. Where does McGoldrick 2019/20 (0.071 per game) fall? Do words even exist for Mitrovic this year?

 

[CaptainMorgans]

How is sharp our best striker ?

I don't understand how anyone could come to that conclusion after watching the last 2 games , this season or even the two seasons in the premier league

He doesn't offer anything , he was a great finisher but seems to have lost that this season 4 goals in 24/25 games from open play is a very very poor return if he isnt scoring then there is no reason he should be starting IMO

Our best striker right now I would say is McGoldrick IMO in terms of what he has done in the past 2/3 seasons , he was fantastic last season in a team that was rock bottom all year.

And now the majority wont renew his contract but would sharps

Probably because the sample size that I have used to form my opinion isn't limited to "the last 2 games." I've admitted he has looked tired in those last 2 games, but Sharp has offered far, far more than Brewster, McBurnie, Mousset or Burke over almost any sample of games (Mousset's one purple patch is the exception).

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

4 goals in 24 (0.167 per game) is "a very very poor return".
9 goals in 40 (0.225 per game) is "fantastic".

I'm interested in your scale, given the range of words over such as narrow margin. Where does McGoldrick 2019/20 (0.071 per game) fall? Do words even exist for Mitrovic this year?

Theres a lot more to been a striker than just goals

McGoldrick links up play and makes things happen , he was our best player last season as most people were saying and has been good this season he affects games sharp doesn't at all

Sharp doesn't if he doesn't score tap ins or penalties he isn't doing anything else

For that period in the premier league mcburnie at times looked a very good premier league striker he has just fell off a cliff since as he has been injured for the majority of time

Sharp has been fit for the past 3 seasons and has been poor i don't get why our fans reckon Hes the second coming of Lewandowski

If sharp supported any other team than us he wouldn't get let off with the performances he puts in

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Theres a lot more to been a striker than just goals

McGoldrick links up play and makes things happen , he was our best player last season as most people were saying and has been good this season he affects games sharp doesn't at all

Sharp doesn't if he doesn't score tap ins or penalties he isn't doing anything else

For that period in the premier league mcburnie at times looked a very good premier league striker he has just fell off a cliff since as he has been injured for the majority of time

Sharp has been fit for the past 3 seasons and has been poor i don't get why our fans reckon Hes the second coming of Lewandowski

If sharp supported any other team than us he wouldn't get let off with the performances he puts in

Ah the famous tap ins and pens don't count ....

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

Ah the famous tap ins and pens don't count ....

Of course they count but you want you striker to be doing a bit more than scoring tap ins

I wouldn't mind if he had scored 15/20 tap ins he hasn't he has scored 4 in 25 matches

 

[Cheesebored]

For that period in the premier league mcburnie at times looked a very good premier league striker

 

[Geordie Blade]

Theres a lot more to been a striker than just goals

Of course. So why were you criticising Sharp based on his goal record?

McGoldrick links up play and makes things happen ,

Other people (I am one of them) argue that McGoldrick actually drops too deep and gets in the way, leaving nobody further up the pitch to link the play to. Look at his ball retention stats - they are generally very poor. A perfect case in point being the last minute against Preston on Tuesday.

he was our best player last season as most people were saying

Most people? The player of the year was Aaron Ramsdale.

and has been good this season he affects games sharp doesn't at all

Apart from you, I don't think I've seen one person suggest that McGoldrick has had a good season so far.

Sharp doesn't if he doesn't score tap ins or penalties he isn't doing anything else

Sheffield United, most assists this season: Billy Sharp: 6. OK, but apart from being our top scorer and having the most assists...

For that period in the premier league mcburnie at times looked a very good premier league striker he has just fell off a cliff since as he has been injured for the majority of time

He looked good (not "very good") against Leicester in August 2019, and against Brighton away later that season. So if that's what you mean by "period", I can just about agree. If you mean any point at all after that, I just don't know where to start.

Sharp has been fit for the past 3 seasons and has been poor i don't get why our fans reckon Hes the second coming of Lewandowski

If sharp supported any other team than us he wouldn't get let off with the performances he puts in

I think the argument is that he is our best striker, not that he is as good as Lewandowski. As above, he is better than McGoldrick and McBurnie and I don't think you'll find many that disagree. If you want to make a case for Brewster, Mousset or Burke, then please feel free.