Billy Sharp

[Jon Bon]

I think you’re all wrong about Billy. I also used to think that he was a poor signing until it was pointed out to me last week, on here, that he is in fact, the new Dennis Bergkamp!

Apparently, so I was reliably informed, in the modern game, great strikers don’t need to score goals any more to be ‘great strikers’. They just need to run around a lot and…er…. do ‘other stuff’ which doesn’t include scoring goals. With this in mind, I’ve already sent a strongly worded letter to the manager of the club shop, insisting that they accept the return of my Sheffield United Legends mug and issue me with a replacement, having removed Jimmy Dunne and Jimmy Hagan and replaced them with Ashley Ward and Craig Beattie..!

 

[AlienBlade]

I suppose the only other thing is that all good strikers go through lean spells and they just need to know that they're playing to keep confidence up.

Billy will start hitting the target soon, but I think Adkins needs to get the discipline into him that he can't score goals when he's chasing the ball on the wing. Stick down the middle, that's where he gets the goals from

it feels like the old addage though "is it today dad" as everyone keeps saying "Billy will start hitting the target soon...." but its 594 minutes without a goal... that's almost 10hrs of football.... (probably more than 10 if you include all the "added time") and just 1 goal in 1036 minutes!!

for a supposed "20 goal a season striker" and the answer to all our goal scoring problems that's almost Craig Beattie territory!

 

[Smirth]

At this point last season, the much maligned Marc McNulty had a much better scoring ratio than Sharp does this season. That was in a team which struggled to score goals too.

 

[Darthblade]

I feel sorry for Billy. Ran himself into the ground when nobody else would. Sammon was brought in to do the dirty work. To be honest I feel sorry for any lad who comes through the ranks and plays infront of some of you lot. Strange that half of you want one of your own to fail. And he is good enough, just needs a break for many reasons it seems.

You are sooooo wrong !!

I, for one, certainly don't want Billy to fail because if he fails then so do we ......... but for about the last 5 weeks he's definitely not been worth a place in the team !!

Matty Done looked far more of a handful upfront for their defence ( which was as crap as ours ) on Saturday and therefore deserves the shirt. When Billy starts scoring again, then he should be considered and not before.

UTB & FTP

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

At this point last season, the much maligned Marc McNulty had a much better scoring ratio than Sharp does this season. That was in a team which struggled to score goals too.

Not true.

Sharp has more league goals than McNulty had at this stage last season.

 

[Drunk blade]

Got to be dropped, is also greedy and wastes chances shooting badly when other players are in a better position, happened twice at barnsley. Chose to shoot straight at keeper when a simple side foot ball across the six yard box would have led to a tap in

 

[Smirth]

Not true.

Sharp has more league goals than McNulty had at this stage last season.

The stats for all comps are:

McNulty - 7 in 20 (9 starts)
Sharp - 7 in 23 (21 starts)

McNulty's are far superior last season at this point to Sharp's in this.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

The stats for all comps are:

McNulty - 7 in 20 (9 starts)
Sharp - 7 in 23 (21 starts)

McNulty's are far superior last season at this point to Sharp's in this.

I take issue with your definition of far superior.

 

[Smirth]

I take issue with your definition of far superior.

Billy averages 1 in 3 when he starts games.
McNulty's was 1 in 1.25 games.

I don't necessarily think McNulty is a better player, I'd say they are about on par. Billy gets a lot of support and backing and allowances made for him, McNulty doesn't.

 

[wizadry]

For me McNulty is as good as Sharp and is also a lot younger, so you can probably guess who I think we should be helping to progress as a player at this level who can also help us progress up the league, he will then have a price tag so McCabe can get a decent sum for him

 

[Bladesince59]

Agree Sharpy needs a break and that's fine. I am remarkably relaxed about our strike force.

We have had no problem scoring this season and that's partly due to all of our strikers scoring in spirts. Adams got off to a flyer along with Sammon, whilst Billy struggled to score. As the other 2 dried up Billy hit a purple patch; now he is in a dry spell but Done is fully fit and looking very threatening again. Adams and Sammon continue to chip in.Add Baxter to the mix and it's hard to see us not scoring from somewhere.

Strength in depth fellas

Have we both been watching the Blades?

 

[wizadry]

Form is temporary. Class is permanent

Whilst I do believe in the statement DB, I don't think it applies to Sharp. He works hard and has scored goals at other clubs, unfortunately we need goals and results now and i personally feel we'd have a better chance in the next few games at least with Done up top.

He can be a good league one player but for me class is a different kettle of fish completely.

 

[secretchief]

So is the consensus now that every single one of Adkins's signings has been a failure? Sharp is teetering on the brink but it would be a shame to spoil a perfect record...

 

[wizadry]

So is the consensus now that every single one of Adkins's signings has been a failure?...

Not yet mate, lets give them a season to judge properly but the early signs aren't good.

 

[Dec]

I think you’re all wrong about Billy. I also used to think that he was a poor signing until it was pointed out to me last week, on here, that he is in fact, the new Dennis Bergkamp!

Apparently, so I was reliably informed, in the modern game, great strikers don’t need to score goals any more to be ‘great strikers’. They just need to run around a lot and…er…. do ‘other stuff’ which doesn’t include scoring goals. With this in mind, I’ve already sent a strongly worded letter to the manager of the club shop, insisting that they accept the return of my Sheffield United Legends mug and issue me with a replacement, having removed Jimmy Dunne and Jimmy Hagan and replaced them with Ashley Ward and Craig Beattie..!

That's not what was said though, was it?

You insinuated that a striker must score a goal to have had a good game - I was proving that it's not necessarily as simple as that. There's a bit more to playing upfront than scoring, but I'm sure you'll continue to take what I said completely wrongly and unnecessarily patronise.

Of course he needs to score goals - he has 7 of them, by the way. More will come.

Those saying or agreeing that McNulty is as good as Sharp - really? What the fuck gives you that impression...

 

[wizadry]

Those saying or agreeing that McNulty is as good as Sharp - really? What the fuck gives you that impression...

Billys' time with us and McNultys' time with us that's what I've judged it on, if that's alright with you mate

 

[Dec]

Billys' time with us and McNultys' time with us that's what I've judged it on, if that's alright with you mate

It's fine but I can't for the life of me see how you came to that conclusion.

Granted Billy hasn't played great these last half dozen games but his all round game (AND goal return - Jon Bon) is much more useful to us than McNulty's.

McNulty hasn't got a clue what to do with the ball or without it half the time. Got a decent shot but his poor movement means that he doesn't get many chances.

 

[Jon Bon]

It's fine but I can't for the life of me see how you came to that conclusion.

Granted Billy hasn't played great these last half dozen games but his all round game (AND goal return - Jon Bon) is much more useful to us than McNulty's.

McNulty hasn't got a clue what to do with the ball or without it half the time. Got a decent shot but his poor movement means that he doesn't get many chances.

Whereas Sharp gets chances but just can't finish them. Hmmmmm. But hey, you just keep believing that Billy Bergkamp is the messiah. I'm sure he'll buy you a pint for your loyalty next time he sees you but perhaps not out of his goals bonus, eh?

 

[Dec]

Whereas Sharp gets chances but just can't finish them. Hmmmmm. But hey, you just keep believing that Billy Bergkamp is the messiah. I'm sure he'll buy you a pint for your loyalty next time he sees you but perhaps not out of his goals bonus, eh?

I never said he was amazing. He's struggling at the moment and has a lot of great chances - too many, in fact.

What I said was he's our best striking option. Maybe Done but nobody else is close from what I've seen.

 

[Jon Bon]

I never said he was amazing. He's struggling at the moment and has a lot of great chances - too many, in fact.

What I said was he's our best striking option. Maybe Done but nobody else is close from what I've seen.

In all seriousness mate, let's hope he hits form soon eh and starts putting those chances away.

 

[wizadry]

It's fine but I can't for the life of me see how you came to that conclusion.

Granted Billy hasn't played great these last half dozen games but his all round game (AND goal return - Jon Bon) is much more useful to us than McNulty's.

McNulty hasn't got a clue what to do with the ball or without it half the time. Got a decent shot but his poor movement means that he doesn't get many chances.

I much prefer strikers to put the ball in the net rather than run around a lot and unfortunately for Billy that's all he's doing at the minute. I haven't given up on him and he's useful to have but he definitely needs a rest and Done needs a run of games.

McNultys' goal scoring record is very good so what else should he be doing? standing out wide, running the channels more, tracking back more, if so then why when he scores goals? Linekar didn't do hardly any of these so do you think he was clueless?

The game might have changed over the years but you still need goals to win games, this might sound obvious but it seems that a lot of people forget this.

Work harder and run more is something i get sick of hearing when McNulty plays when it's quite obvious he has the knack to get in the right areas to do what's required to win games.

The mentality of people nowadays has changed dramatically, it's as if there needs to be changes to things that don't even need changing. Why change a goalscorer into something that he isn't? Goalscorers are a rare breed and worth their weight in gold and barring injuries, don't be suprised if McNulty scores more than Billy over the same timescale. I have been wrong many times before though so i won't hold my own breath

 

[Cyprus Blade]

The game might have changed over the years but you still need goals to win games, this might sound obvious but it seems that a lot of people forget this.

"Are you Adkins in disguise"

 

[wizadry]

"Are you Adkins in disguise"

Don't be stupid mate, we have to stay united together

 

[AlienBlade]

Not true.

Sharp has more league goals than McNulty had at this stage last season.

20 league games 7 goals ratio of 0.35 goals per game (2.8 games per goal)
15 league games 5 goals ration of 0.33 goals per game (3 games per goal)

however considering that Mcnulty was not often starting and usually only had the last 10-15mins to play and score it would be fairer to see it minute by minute...

and by this point of the two seasons....

1756 minutes on the pitch (not counting additional time) 7 goals = 1 goal every 250mins (2.77 games)
1060 minutes on the pitch (not counting additional time) 5 goals = 1 goal every 212mins (2.35 games)

which actually means McNulty's goal ratio is actually better than Sharp's and that's actually what Smirth actually said (not the number but the RATIO)

 

[BushBlade]

20 league games 7 goals ratio of 0.35 goals per game (2.8 games per goal)
15 league games 5 goals ration of 0.33 goals per game (3 games per goal)

however considering that Mcnulty was not often starting and usually only had the last 10-15mins to play and score it would be fairer to see it minute by minute...

and by this point of the two seasons....

1756 minutes on the pitch (not counting additional time) 7 goals = 1 goal every 250mins (2.77 games)
1060 minutes on the pitch (not counting additional time) 5 goals = 1 goal every 212mins (2.35 games)

which actually means McNulty's goal ratio is actually better than Sharp's and that's actually what Smirth actually said (not the number but the RATIO)

Which proves stats only tell part of the story. McNulty wouldn't be the first player to take advantage of tiring defences, both David Fairclough and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer made a good living out of it.