Blades boss eyes bid for Connolly

[Linz]

From t'Star: http://www.thestar.co.uk/blades/United-boss-eyes-up-bid.6245273.jp

SHEFFIELD United boss Kevin Blackwell has not ruled out swooping for defender Paul Connolly on a permanent basis in the summer.

The Liverpudlian full-back has returned to parent club Derby County following his productive one-month loan spell at Bramall Lane.

The 26-year-old slotted in seamlessly to United's back four and played his part in the team keeping three clean sheets in his seven appearances.

Connolly has 18 months left of his Derby contract where he dropped out of the first-team picture. After being regularly involved under Paul Jewell, Connolly has been frozen out during Nigel Clough's regime; his last appearance for County was as a late substitute against Scunthorpe three months ago.

The 6ft 1ins ace, who could be brought back on-loan by Blackwell before United's final home match of the season against Swansea on Saturday, has conceded his future lies elsewhere from Pride Park. Speaking before United's draw at Sheffield Wednesday, Blackwell commented: "Losing Kyle Walker was a massive blow at right-back. It took us two months to get a right-back in who was at the level that we were looking at.

"We have had centre halves and midfielders playing at right-back because we couldn't get a right-back in.

"Paul Connolly is a natural right-back. He's played many times in the Championship and has given us a steady look. He has allowed Nyron Nosworthy to go back at centre-half. To have recognised centre halves has given us a platform to build on."

Blackwell has rued not being able to select a settled back four every week. "It is not rocket science but we were changing the back four week in week out," he said. "A lack of understanding and consistency was there. We have been patching back fours up all season. It has been nice to have a similar back four for the last three to four games and that has shown in the clean sheets that we have kept. It goes to show what having a bit of stability can do for you."

The United chief is unsure whether the club can afford to buy Connolly. "There are so many people out of contract and all the loan players will go back. There will be 14 players leaving at the end of the season so there will be room to bring players in," he said.

The departures of Connolly and goalkeeper Steve Simonsen will force Blackwell into making two changes against Swansea. Nosworthy is expected to switch to right-back while Marcel Seip and Kyle Bartley are vying for his place in the centre.

 

[SotonBlade]

Would be an ok move, think he did a reasonable job, and could probably do a better one with a proper pre-season with the boys

 

[raul]

What's that word again BB?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

brown out?

 

[roger mortis]

I think connolly would be a good signing if his wage demands are in the right bracket
also would love to see simonson? sign even (dare i say it?) if it meant selling paddy on

 

[LouTheBlade]

I would settle for that. Looks a solid full back and fairly comfortable on the ball. I cant imagine Derby would want a fortune or Connolly would want massive wages. If we're cutting costs he would be suitable.

 

[LouTheBlade]

I think connolly would be a good signing if his wage demands are in the right bracket
also would love to see simonson? sign even (dare i say it?) if it meant selling paddy on

Controversial!!!!!

I wouldn't go for that to be honest. I rate Simonsen, he's a decent goalie but Paddy is better IMO.

No one would pay much for Paddy at the moment anyway.

 

[beightonblade]

what's that word again bb?

*+~@*&^%+ :d

 

[SheepdipBlade]

Seems steady enough - but to be honest he feels like a step down to me. I don't feel he's a strong as Del was in our promotion season (and given what KB said in the article, it looks like we've seen the last of Del), he can't make Derby's first team, and to me looks like decent mid-table full back, rather than someone who can help push us on.

His lack of "spark" (of the sort brought by Kyle N, Del, Stretch Armstong and Kyle W) - means that the left back will have to carry more of the attacking load. We've not seen Naysmith do that too much (assuming he re-signs) and whilst Taylor has shown some good signs going forward he seems too brittle defensively for a promotion seeking side.

That's re-profiling eh?

 

[Bergen Blade]

I would settle for that. Looks a solid full back and fairly comfortable on the ball. I cant imagine Derby would want a fortune or Connolly would want massive wages. If we're cutting costs he would be suitable.

Didn't a Derby fan come on here and say he was on 10k a week? Connolly seems steady, but not very exciting. We need that type of player in a squad, but I don't think we should be spending major money on the steady-eddies.

Blackwell said he had to keep the budget more in mind when putting together a squad, and maybe it's time for us fans to think more about that as well. It's easy for us to say 'bring in Simonsen, he's good'; 'let's keep Connolly, he's done ok'; 'give Monty what he wants'; 'offer Geary and Harper a new contract'; etc. However, I think we're at a vital stage this summer, and we have the chance to build a new squad, we must make sure that we don't end up again with a dull looking squad with average players on good money.

 

[Revolution]

Blackwell has rued not being able to select a settled back four every week. "It is not rocket science but we were changing the back four week in week out," he said. "A lack of understanding and consistency was there. We have been patching back fours up all season. It has been nice to have a similar back four for the last three to four games and that has shown in the clean sheets that we have kept. It goes to show what having a bit of stability can do for you."

It does, and it's all the more frustrating that most of this instability was caused by the Board, who wilfully dismantled the defence with the best defensive record in 40 years and left us with no fit right back and 1 centre half on the books.

The rest of the instability is of course down to bad luck with injuries and Kenny's idiocy.

I hope we will learn our lesson over this season's defensive fiasco. I suspect we won't.

 

[Grecian2000]

However, I think we're at a vital stage this summer, and we have the chance to build a new squad, we must make sure that we don't end up again with a dull looking squad with average players on good money.

Amen to that.

Exciting squad, forward thinking positive manager. It's the future.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Didn't a Derby fan come on here and say he was on 10k a week? Connolly seems steady, but not very exciting. We need that type of player in a squad, but I don't think we should be spending major money on the steady-eddies.

Blackwell said he had to keep the budget more in mind when putting together a squad, and maybe it's time for us fans to think more about that as well. It's easy for us to say 'bring in Simonsen, he's good'; 'let's keep Connolly, he's done ok'; 'give Monty what he wants'; 'offer Geary and Harper a new contract'; etc. However, I think we're at a vital stage this summer, and we have the chance to build a new squad, we must make sure that we don't end up again with a dull looking squad with average players on good money.

I don't see him as a steady-eddie though, I think he's a good defender and looks for a short pass quite often which is pleasing. Clough doesnt fancy him so I cant see them wanting a huge amount of money for him. If he is on 10k a week I will eat my hat!!!!! There is no way even Derby County would pay 10k a week for a Plymouth Argyle right back, nor would such a player be able to command that sort of salary.

He's a good talker and besides, with our apparent cost cutting United wont be able to afford supremely talented and exciting players in every position (especially at full back) so I think some Blades need to get this new exciting squad idea out of their heads. I am looking for United to build a solid 20 to 23 playing staff which consists of mostly good pros and about half a dozen key players that can give us that little bit extra. That is the best we can hope for and I think it is achievable.

 

[davidpinder]

I expect him to be on a free then Derby just happy not to be paying his wages. Wasn't he 4th on the pecking order at Derby???

 

[Dronfield_Blade]

I think connolly would be a good signing if his wage demands are in the right bracket
also would love to see simonson? sign even (dare i say it?) if it meant selling paddy on

He will not be on that much! if the club say we can't afford a player like connolly we might aswell pack up now.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I don't see him as a steady-eddie though, I think he's a good defender and looks for a short pass quite often which is pleasing.

Isn't that the definition of a steady-eddie? Jewell made him captain at Derby, so probably rated him very highly when he signed him. Connolly arrived on a Bosman as well, which may mean he was given a better contract than one should think. I agree completely that Derby probably won't be asking a lot of money for him.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Isn't that the definition of a steady-eddie? Jewell made him captain at Derby, so probably rated him very highly when he signed him. Connolly arrived on a Bosman as well, which may mean he was given a better contract than one should think. I agree completely that Derby probably won't be asking a lot of money for him.

Not in my dictionary no. I would class a steady-eddie as someone who can get by on limited ability, doesnt contribute a lot to build up play and does just enough to be considered reliable most of the time. So far he hasnt put a foot wrong (other than being sent off in stoppage time). He looks quite a good player and makes a contribution.

I understand where you're coming from in the sense that he just 'does a job' but I think he does an important one quite well. To me a steady-eddie would be someone like Jordan Stewart who will contribute nothing more than putting the odd tackle in and clearing his lines. A few Blades think he's a poor player but that is a wild exaggeration.

 

[Brisca Blade]

Think he would be a good choice at full back, yes he is a steady eddie but i dont think thats a bad thing. A settled back line is what we are crying out for.

 

[bricktop]

Not in my dictionary no. I would class a steady-eddie as someone who can get by on limited ability, doesnt contribute a lot to build up play and does just enough to be considered reliable most of the time. So far he hasnt put a foot wrong (other than being sent off in stoppage time). He looks quite a good player and makes a contribution.

I understand where you're coming from in the sense that he just 'does a job' but I think he does an important one quite well. To me a steady-eddie would be someone like Jordan Stewart who will contribute nothing more than putting the odd tackle in and clearing his lines. A few Blades think he's a poor player but that is a wild exaggeration.

Jordan Stewart, prehaps the most unreliable and unsteady eddie like player at the club!

Connolley on the other hand to me is a true steady eddie, does the job that he needs to do, and does it well, quietly and effiecently and players like that always fit in to team that will do well. I'd sign him up like a shot

 

[Bergen Blade]

Jordan Stewart, prehaps the most unreliable and unsteady eddie like player at the club!

Connolley on the other hand to me is a true steady eddie, does the job that he needs to do, and does it well, quietly and effiecently and players like that always fit in to team that will do well. I'd sign him up like a shot

Agree with your classification on both players. I'm not saying Connolly would be a bad signing, but would it be worth giving him a contract of 8-10k a week? If we give steady eddies at full back 10k wages, and continue to dish out contracts to injury prone players around the age of 30, fans need to realise that we won't be affording many flair players this summer.

 

[Blades_257]

He is a steady eddie - reliable but unspectacular. That's the impression I always had of him before he signed for us.

He'd be a decent signing as long as his wage is reasonable, but the right back I'd go for first is Coleman from Everton, on loan.

 

[Micalijo]

Agree with your classification on both players. I'm not saying Connolly would be a bad signing, but would it be worth giving him a contract of 8-10k a week? If we give steady eddies at full back 10k wages, and continue to dish out contracts to injury prone players around the age of 30, fans need to realise that we won't be affording many flair players this summer.

Hopefully Connolly will accept he has to take a pay cut in this climate. Everyone is steady compared with Walker at RB in this league and his height is a bonus.

Let's hope that flair and pace is signed in midfield and up front. Only need a couple and can be very cheap imo - we must have pace on the bench at all times next season to have any chance (as well as starting obviously).

I'm going to sue you Lou for computer damage after a coffee spitting/laughing incident when I read that you rate Stewart as 'steady'.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Jordan Stewart, prehaps the most unreliable and unsteady eddie like player at the club!

With some of the other players we have at the club I think this is extremely unfair criticism of Stewart. He gets it quite a bit as well which is astonishing considering the fact he's barely played. I cant think of anything in particular that he has done wrong, even though he has never wowed anyone either.

He's just a scapegoat for unhappy supporters, in the same way that Henderson is. I can think of 4 or 5 players in that squad straight away that are worse than Jordan Stewart in their respective positions.