Billy.........

[JayGreen17]

Now his ban is over he has to be given his chance like all the others have had from last years promotion winning team..LOVE Wilder but I think he’s dropped a bollock leaving out our top goal scorer so far this season....he’d have buried some of those chances yesterday.

Billy/Mcburnie or Billy/ Didsy for Watford.

 

[Davalon]

Maybe but he's got be in these positions.

How many chances have we missed from typical Billy range or positions? Didsy against Soton but can't remember many others, maybe the odd half chance.

I'm not against Billy starting btw but this season with the way we're generally playing I think at least one striker has to have pace.

Seeing as Robinson isn't showing the pace I thought he had then Mousset us looking more and more important imho.

 

[Seth Rollins]

We cant afford to have McGoldrick on the pitch when he’s missed so many chances. I would personally try & stick with McB & Mousse with Sharp coming off the bench.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Both Billy and Freeman have every right to be annoyed about being benched this season tbh.

 

[Kev Gee]

I think Sharp should be given a couple of starts. I would consider going with OB/Mousset and sharp against Watford.

 

[Mumbo]

Hope Billy starts against Watford.He’s composed in front of goal which buys him time
to pick his spot rather than lashing at the ball or hitting and hoping.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Both Billy and Freeman have every right to be annoyed about being benched this season tbh.

You wouldn’t be saying that if you’d seen him play against Sunderland

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

As the season goes on, it appears that the number of goals we score will be the main issue to be addressed. On the evidence of the first 7 games, the room for improvement is in the number of chances created, not in the percentage of chances converted. It was fascinating to watch Liverpool's front 3 yesterday, especially Mane. He was constantly making runs demanding the ball, and pulling our defenders from side to side or getting in between them. He is a world-class striker, who has scored huge numbers of goals. Yet if you look at his key moments in the game, he scored none and missed 3 sitters - twice when through on goal, and once when he hit the post. All of those were better chances than any we created. If Liverpool had lost 1-0, would there have been a call for him to be dropped? Yet in 1 game he missed more good chances than any of our players have so far. The important thing is to create chances in the first place, and that will depend on the work of the players making killer passes/crosses, and the strikers getting into good positions. Do that, and goals will come. Though, of course, we would be less solid defensively. But it is too soon to write anyone off yet.

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

I'd like to see Billy & the Moose up top with Didsy behind them, but not going to start arguing the selection or tactics of our Miracle Man just yet.

 

[S64 Blade]

I think it's also less about the chances we have had and Billy being able to finish them and more about Billy having the capability to get in positions that others aren't. The amount of times over the years where he has found space where others cannot shouldn't be underestimated.

 

[JayGreen17]

I just think he deserves a run, and should be given the opportunity to that liken the others have.

 

[raimond]

I don't think he's dropped a bollock at all by not starting Sharp...we had to find the best combination and give them all a go. I agree though that our best side will end up featuring Billy or Mousset alongside McBurnie (who I think will be fine) with the other as sub

 

[Bladesman]

Some golden chances in the last couple of matches that you know Billy would have got on the end of.

The low ball crosses into the box yesterday we know Billy would have got on the end of them.

 

[wavy-blade]

Thank god Billy's back , he's gona shock a lot of people once he gets a decent run , just the shot in the arm we needed !

 

[SteveBlade]

Billy scores more than anyone else because he's better at kicking footballs into nets and finding positions that give him the best possible chance of successfully putting the ball into the goal. Billy scores goals when Billy plays football.

But, Billy is the first to get dropped. It's happened for the last few fucking years, we'll drop him, then when he gets his chance again he'll come back in and score goals.

Then we'll drop him again anyway.

 

[LS16Blade]

Bill has shown, even in the relatively few minutes that he has had (against Bournemouth, Leicester and Southampton) that he has plenty still to offer.

There is a huge difference between 'playing players in striking positions' and 'playing strikers'. To my mind, we have been selecting players to play up front who are quite clearly not strikers, at least not yet. Some of them may never be.

Billy, by contrast, knows his craft; he doesn't allow defenders to settle; he takes up positions that defenders don't like; he is difficult to muscle off the ball; he knows where to stand and where to run; and when a chance comes, his record as the top scorer in England this century, is testament to the fact that he is more likely than most, to take it.

Wilder said yesterday that we're not taking the big moments in either box, and he's right. We've tried various permutations up front and none have quite clicked. 3 consecutive home blanks now is starting to look like a real problem.

I've felt all season that it was daft to leave the majority of your goals on the bench (just as we did at the start of last season until Sharp came back in at QPR). Now I'd like to see Billy have his chance.

 

[wizadry]

Billy will feel hard done to that he hasn’t started a single league game as of yet, especially considering he’s scored a shed load of goals to get us here.

McBurnie has come from the Championship and had starts, Goldie has come from the Championship with us and had starts, Robbo has come from the Championship and had starts, there’s only Billy who hasn’t had a start. I know it’s a team game but he’s possibly the main reason we find ourselves in the Prem.

He offers a lot more than just goals too, he puts the size 5 into areas where he knows he’d want them putting himself which is an art on its own, it’s then up to our other players to get in those areas.

I’m not writing any of our other strikers off but he must get more game time due to all the attributes he brings.

 

[8lade]

Also the pestilence he causes to the defending team makes availability to his comrades.


Sorry I've just finished reading translation of that German article.

 

[finlaytheblade]

As the season goes on, it appears that the number of goals we score will be the main issue to be addressed. On the evidence of the first 7 games, the room for improvement is in the number of chances created, not in the percentage of chances converted. It was fascinating to watch Liverpool's front 3 yesterday, especially Mane. He was constantly making runs demanding the ball, and pulling our defenders from side to side or getting in between them. He is a world-class striker, who has scored huge numbers of goals. Yet if you look at his key moments in the game, he scored none and missed 3 sitters - twice when through on goal, and once when he hit the post. All of those were better chances than any we created. If Liverpool had lost 1-0, would there have been a call for him to be dropped? Yet in 1 game he missed more good chances than any of our players have so far. The important thing is to create chances in the first place, and that will depend on the work of the players making killer passes/crosses, and the strikers getting into good positions. Do that, and goals will come. Though, of course, we would be less solid defensively. But it is too soon to write anyone off yet.

Not saying we deserved to win Hodgy but we created more than Liverpool yesterday,
yes they had better chances but how many did they as a team create. Most came from bad mistakes we made they didnt make the most of them until the slip by Henderson.
We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot or we will get in trouble as the season progresses. We're not going to score many if the first 7 games are anything to go by so bowlers will cost us points.
We are defending brilliantly to throw points away like we are doing is very frustrating;
CWAK are on the case already let's hope they can solve it.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Not saying we deserved to win Hodgy but we created more than Liverpool yesterday,
yes they had better chances but how many did they as a team create. Most came from bad mistakes we made they didnt make the most of them until the slip by Henderson.
We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot or we will get in trouble as the season progresses. We're not going to score many if the first 7 games are anything to go by so bowlers will cost us points.
We are defending brilliantly to throw points away like we are doing is very frustrating;
CWAK are on the case already let's hope they can solve it.

The mistakes are open to interpretation is how I would put it. Deano's was a howler, and probably a lapse in concentration. I wondered whether it was one of those where he was about to do his time-wasting fall forward to lie on the ground with the ball move, and that's why his right leg was not in 'backstop' position. Maybe he was thinking about throwing it quickly, which sometimes causes an error. Or perhaps a bad bounce. He will need to be honest with himself. The other errors are possibly largely a result of pressing - Salah pinching the ball off Enda, Mane constantly running off the ball, Firmino dropping deep to drag defenders out, etc. Some are chance, as when Egan fell flat on his face. One problem with errors is that the only way to avoid making an error on the ball is never to touch it, and that is exactly the attitude you don't want. I agree with your final points, and we do have just about the best defensive record in the PL, with defenders with almost no PL experience - a remarkable achievement.

 

[finlaytheblade]

The mistakes are open to interpretation is how I would put it. Deano's was a howler, and probably a lapse in concentration. I wondered whether it was one of those where he was about to do his time-wasting fall forward to lie on the ground with the ball move, and that's why his right leg was not in 'backstop' position. Maybe he was thinking about throwing it quickly, which sometimes causes an error. Or perhaps a bad bounce. He will need to be honest with himself. The other errors are possibly largely a result of pressing - Salah pinching the ball off Enda, Mane constantly running off the ball, Firmino dropping deep to drag defenders out, etc. Some are chance, as when Egan fell flat on his face. One problem with errors is that the only way to avoid making an error on the ball is never to touch it, and that is exactly the attitude you don't want. I agree with your final points, and we do have just about the best defensive record in the PL, with defenders with almost no PL experience - a remarkable achievement.

Take your point Hodgy ! turnover of possession is what footballs all about .We sometimes think we have more time on the ball Fleck a big culprit yesterday ( accept he played well ) it's something we have to wise up to .Liverpool didnt create much at all from there possession and that has been the way of most games so far

 

[VictoryBlade]

Billy deserves a start that's for sure!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Billy will feel hard done to that he hasn’t started a single league game as of yet

He really shouldn’t. Ruling yourself out of contention of 2 of the 7 league games due to a brainless tackle that didn’t need to be made hasn’t exactly helped him. Had he not done that, his impact in that game might have seen him start one of the next games. At the very worst he’d have certainly been introduced off the bench vs Liverpool rather than Clarke. With McGoldrick’s injury, McBurnie getting a few knocks, these last two games were the perfect time for Sharp to potentially have more game time and possibly a start. The person to blame as to why that hasn’t happened is Sharp himself.

 

[wizadry]

He really shouldn’t. Ruling yourself out of contention of 2 of the 7 league games due to a brainless tackle that didn’t need to be made hasn’t exactly helped him. Had he not done that, his impact in that game might have seen him start one of the next games. At the very worst he’d have certainly been introduced off the bench vs Liverpool rather than Clarke. With McGoldrick’s injury, McBurnie getting a few knocks, these last two games were the perfect time for Sharp to potentially have more game time and possibly a start. The person to blame as to why that hasn’t happened is Sharp himself.

I disagree. It’s debatable whether it was a red card to start with and he should’ve had a start before then due to his goal scoring record, couple that with his all round game been the best it’s ever been and I’m a bit gobsmacked that he hasn’t started over any other striker because for me he’s still our main forward, until that changes then he should be playing.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I disagree. It’s debatable whether it was a red card to start with and he should’ve had a start before then due to his goal scoring record, couple that with his all round game been the best it’s ever been and I’m a bit gobsmacked that he hasn’t started over any other striker because for me he’s still our main forward, until that changes then he should be playing.

For me, Mousset has more of a case for being unhappy at not starting than Sharp.

 

[wizadry]

For me, Mousset has more of a case for being unhappy at not starting than Sharp.

Not a chance, he clearly hasn’t looked match fit to start although he should surely be there now?

I like Mousset but what has he done for the Blades to deserve a start over Billy?

Just because he’s cost shy of £10M doesn’t mean he’s better or deserves a start, that isn’t directed at you by the way or anyone in particular.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

For me, Mousset has more of a case for being unhappy at not starting than Sharp.

Really?

Billy has scored over 100 goals for this football club.

Mousset has scored 1.

 

[blade67]

I think Sharp should be given a couple of starts. I would consider going with OB/Mousset and sharp against Watford.

this - get billy in

 

[Niceguyeddie]

Not a chance, he clearly hasn’t looked match fit to start although he should surely be there now?

I like Mousset but what has he done for Blades to deserve to start over Billy?

Just because he’s cost shy of £10M doesn’t mean he’s better or deserves a start, that isn’t directed at you by the way or anyone in particular.

What has mousset done to deserve a start over Billy ?
looked a much better player every time he's played

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

What has mousset done to deserve a start over Billy ?
looked a much better player every time he's played

Much better player?

Mousset is faster than Billy, I'll give you that.

After that you're struggling.