Bring Back Billy !

[Flatulent_Bob]

Donny can't afford him I think that is a given.

His wages for starters put him out of their league.

Now maybe if Leeds come up and need to replace Beckford?

 

[shorehamview]

Staying onside and not fouling the defender would have been somewhere to start

As much as I really wanted Billy to be a success - after all, he's a Blade like us - I don't think we'll see him back and I don't think that he'll be missed, sentimentality aside. After all, he's probably had more flags waved at him than the Queen.

 

[keenzy]

So it's still just me that thinks that having to change an entire team's strategy to suit one player's alleged strengths is wrong, then? I've never understood this "play to his strengths" malarky. If a player's not able to come into a side and enhance the team, the whole team shouldn't have to adapt to that player to bring out the best in him. It's just flawed.

What, like playing it up to Henderson to win the ball in the air??

Didn't blackwell said that he would pay £10 million for sharp???

 

[Blade]

I don't think we'd have to change half the team we just ahve to get most of them playing to their strengths which I don't think our current style of tactics does. It's not about Donny playing a unique style of play for me, he did it at Scunthorpe too.

Up until Blackwell got rid of Cotterill and Treacy vanished into thin air I'd say we had excellent wingers for this level and if we got them playing to their strengths more and pushed them forward trying to get to the byline and playing balls into the box regularly from difficult positions rather than rarely from deep then I think Sharp (and Evans or Ward) would strive. I still think Ward's good enough to cause trouble but would have to pass on Reid til he stasrts playing and proves if he's any good. We're a side that invested in wingers yet do we really use them properly?

I just don't see our tactics suiting many players at the moment or being conducive to entertaining which even in these result driven days should have some relevance. I would say most of the players we have are more than capable of getting it down and passing to each other rather than empty spaces looking for someone to chase the ball. I'd assume from your assumption Coops that you think they're not and we'd have to change most the playing staff to play any other way than that which they're playing, is this right? What I'm saying I think is that playing a more passing game wouldn't necessarily mean Sharp would be a success but he'd stand a much better chance as would we as a team. Man for Man I still feel we're better than many of the teams we've failed to beat this year and man for man I feel they're more capable of playing the better football when compared to many of the team who have outplayed us.

I propose change of the tactics not because I follow Billy Sharp and have an urge to see him have a good career above the blades but because I think the team would play better football, have more chance of creating chances and have more chance of winning games and feel many fans would feel a hell of a lot happier watching it.

The only reason I can see for sticking with these tactics is if more and more footballers are scheduled to leave soon and we don't have the significant investment opportunities McCabe still purports but the plan being to replace them with players not as capable and more suited to the way we play.

Must say I'm happy with the improvemnts in results over the last 4 games but it's still pretty dire to watch and for us to now be 4 full months into the season with only 3 home wins is not good at all. It's mainly the home games that will keep your floating fans content and whilst we continue to generally draw and lose more than we win at home; playing poorly in addition; we're in danger of continuing down a path we don't want to be going down.

 

[SwissBlade]

What, like playing it up to Henderson to win the ball in the air??

Didn't blackwell said that he would pay £10 million for sharp???

Yeah but he said he'd pay 3 Mill for Ched, but didn't think Turry and Man City were actually listening ... He likes a laugh our manager!

NB I actually think Ched will come good, but made the comment for attempted comedy purposes....

 

[beechblade]

Yeah but he said he'd pay 3 Mill for Ched, but didn't think Turry and Man City were actually listening ... He likes a laugh our manager!

NB I actually think Ched will come good, but made the comment for attempted comedy purposes....

I think Ched and Sharp (if we brought him back) could come good for us, if KB actually got them playing their roles of feeding off the target man, problem is both Billy and Ched are set up to sit so far back off Hendo or Cresswell that they look like they have no pace because they're having to chase a ball 20yards that has just been excellently flicked on 5 yards to the side of the target man (where if these two were playing properly they would be, Blackwell wants them to do too much at times).

Which is what Camara does he sticks close to the target man and at the moment it is why we look so more dangerous when we have him on the field. I think its high time we change the way they play for us not our whole system to play to their strengths, we need to include them in the system.

 

[keenzy]

I think Ched and Sharp (if we brought him back) could come good for us, if KB actually got them playing their roles of feeding off the target man, problem is both Billy and Ched are set up to sit so far back off Hendo or Cresswell that they look like they have no pace because they're having to chase a ball 20yards that has just been excellently flicked on 5 yards to the side of the target man (where if these two were playing properly they would be, Blackwell wants them to do too much at times).

Which is what Camara does he sticks close to the target man and at the moment it is why we look so more dangerous when we have him on the field. I think its high time we change the way they play for us not our whole system to play to their strengths, we need to include them in the system.

Cresswell is not target man BTW. Fecking awful at Plymouth.

 

[beechblade]

Cresswell is not target man BTW. Fecking awful at Plymouth.

I know he doesn't suit the role as well as Hendo. But on Tuesday there were a few occasions he was trying to knockdown the ball or play the ball into the path of a none existent strike partner. But this completely change when Camara was on playing up there with him.

 

[cooperblade]

I don't think we'd have to change half the team we just ahve to get most of them playing to their strengths which I don't think our current style of tactics does. It's not about Donny playing a unique style of play for me, he did it at Scunthorpe too.

I would say most of the players we have are more than capable of getting it down and passing to each other rather than empty spaces looking for someone to chase the ball. I'd assume from your assumption Coops that you think they're not and we'd have to change most the playing staff to play any other way than that which they're playing, is this right?

Sharp's success with Scunthorpe was in the 3rd Division though where I think you do get more players who are 'poachers' who do little else.

I completely agree that we have players who are capable of getting it down and passing it, we also have some who would probably struggle. Blackwell has built a side which, although it's sometimes difficult to see how, he feels suits the type of game he plays - high tempo stuff which is fairly direct in the main (but not all the time).

Could we pass it more than we do now? Yes, definitely although I do think we already pass it more than some people suggest. Could we switch to a style of play which is the same as Doncaster's? Not without fairly major surgery I don't think.

Is Billy Sharp worth changing things for? No. I'd rather see us change our style to better accomodate someone like Henri Camara who, unlike Billy, has the sort of attributes which scare defenders to death.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Unfortunately Billy is in the same mode as Mendonca, Marsden, Dellas, etc who all played better at other clubs than at the lane.
Personally I do not think Billy is any better than a Mid Championship side and probably would do Donny sterling service if he stayed there for the rest of his career scoring 15 goals per season generally against the poorer sides Wendy, Plymouth, Scunthorpe, peterborough etc

 

[super_pig]

>a Mid Championship side
may i direct you to the current divisional standings

 

[James360]

how long is billy on loan for?

would like to see him get another chance after his bit of form at donny.

 

[Stockholm syndrom]

how long is billy on loan for?

would like to see him get another chance after his bit of form at donny.

And the goals keep coming...

 

[beightonblade]

bring back oh bring back bring Billy to BDTBL.

 

[keenzy]

Can we send creswell the other way???

 

[judge]

om not billys biggest fan but i was convinced he would have scored at least one today

think if we play like that more often there could be a place for billy biglegs after all

 

[keenzy]

Outside the box yesterday!!! Could have had another if his team mate squared it.

 

[JohnDenver]

I don't mean this to sound nasty, but it seems Billy helps us more by playing for Donny. He's taking points off other clubs on behalf of one who won't challenge us.

 

[Thelooneytuner]

Just proves that its us he cant play for. I hope he does come back and keeps the form up.
But I have my suspicions that plans are already in place for his sale even if he does keep this excellent form running

 

[Gloucblade]

A few short memories around all of a sudden, Billy had more chances than any player at BDTBL under two managers. He spent most of his time off side, was slow, didnt run the channels, couldnt hold the ball up, and above all didnt score goals. Great to see that he is scoring at Donny, lets hope we get him back full of confidence or sell him for £2m in January.

 

[keenzy]

He spent most of his time off side, was slow, didnt run the channels, couldnt hold the ball up, and above all didnt score goals.

Umh, Sharp is poacher. Not running into channels, holding the ball up or beating people with pace. Get down the line and put the ball in the box and he will score.

 

[The One]

Sharp's problem for us was he tried to hard. Instead of being in the box where he was supposed to be he spent most of the time on the wings.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

A few short memories around all of a sudden, Billy had more chances than any player at BDTBL under two managers. He spent most of his time off side, was slow, didnt run the channels, couldnt hold the ball up, and above all didnt score goals. Great to see that he is scoring at Donny, lets hope we get him back full of confidence or sell him for £2m in January.

Unfortunately, Billy's style doesn't fit how we play, and before anyone says 'we should change it so it does', two things.

1. Would Wenger buy Wayne Rooney? Course not. He's not that style of play. Doesn't mean the style is wrong, doesn't mean the player is crap, but they dont go together.

2. After yesterday (and the last few games) there does seem to be a real effort being made to play more 'on the floor' penetrating football rather than trying to batter teams and see what comes out of the channel balls. I am aware there seems to be a gulf between Billy and Blackie but playing in this forward role with the ball coming into his feet might be interesting.

That said, I doubt if Billy will ever play for us again. He's got a cut price deal written all over him, maybe Donny, maybe somewhere else, but it also seems clear to me that he is more comfortable being the biggest fish in the pond...

 

[BladesMad]

I don't mean this to sound nasty, but it seems Billy helps us more by playing for Donny. He's taking points off other clubs on behalf of one who won't challenge us.

You see, Blackwell is a tactical genius

 

[tomtheblade]

the relationship between Sheff Utd and Billy Sharp is like dancing the hokey cokey

You buy the young lad in
Then you sell him out
In out in out
Loan him all about

he goes to donny rovers and turns them around
'get him back' the fans all shout..

WHOOAAAA BILLY SHARP
WHOAAAAA BILLY SHARP
WHOAAAAA BILLY SHARP

comes back- doesnt score- on-the-bench!

 

[puppet]

but it also seems clear to me that he is more comfortable being the biggest fish in the pond...

if those teams play to his strengths, why wouldnt he??

 

[Foxy]

I like how we talk about playing to his strengths, yet his goal on saturday was from a punt downfield (of course Donny don't do that!) which the defender headed to him.

Good finish, but it was hardly the footballing masterclass and chance creating people make out.

 

[JohnDenver]

I like how we talk about playing to his strengths, yet his goal on saturday was from a punt downfield (of course Donny don't do that!) which the defender headed to him.

Good finish, but it was hardly the footballing masterclass and chance creating people make out.

It'd be telling to see how many of his goals for Donny are scored from within 12 yards. He scored with a great finish yesterday from further out, and that's what he needed to do when playing for us (but didn't).

Donny usually play patiently, allowing Billy to get into the box and poach. Our direct play meant he was usually the poor sod chasing the percentage ball.

 

[tomtheblade]

I like how we talk about playing to his strengths, yet his goal on saturday was from a punt downfield (of course Donny don't do that!) which the defender headed to him.

Good finish, but it was hardly the footballing masterclass and chance creating people make out.

good point, but you could take this either way tbh. You could say that given this theres no reason why he shouldnt be playing and scoring for us if he can score from that type of football.

Or you could say that if he has that potential then theres no point getting him back because he's had chances with that style and not taken them.

*scratches head*

 

[LouTheBlade]

Interesting comments, I’ve been debating this subject with family and friends recently. To be honest I don’t think Billy Sharp’s apparent lack of goals for United can be narrowed down to just one thing. Occasionally it just doesn’t work out for a player at a particular club. Sometimes great players move and just can’t produce the same form for a new employer - Robbie Keane at Liverpool being one of many.

Billy is a good instinctive goal scorer, which is proven – regardless of how many goals he has scored for the Blades. The fact that he hasn’t been banging them in for us, might well be due to a combination of over-exuberance, pressure and the fact that as some of you have said ‘he just doesn’t suit our playing style.’ I think all points bear some truth.

I would however say that regardless of this he would be worth one more chance at the Lane. Purely off the back of his current form for Donny. Let’s face it; Ched Evans hasn’t got another 10 goals in him this season and at times looks a little lazy – I stress not physically lazy, but mentally lazy (in terms of anticipation and making the right run) there is a difference.

I would much rather see Billy running his blood to water (as he generally does) and not scoring, than see Evans standing around having no impact either. Regardless of paper talk I doubt there is any real money available to invest in a new striker so Billy has to be worth one more go.

I figure try to ride the back end of his current form and he might just get us into the playoffs! *cringes at the thought of another playoff campaign*

Playing alongside big Darius might be good for him. If you remember, in the short time he was given a run alongside Henderson last season he did OK. A hat-trick against QPR inspired by his big strike partner springs to mind.