Incoming? Ched Evans

[ChipButtyBlade]

My tip is he will go to Bolton.

 

[Torrix1889]

My two-penneth, for what it's worth, is that in my opinion, Ched Evans would improve our forward line, regardless of the circus surrounding him. He caused us problems yesterday and was unlucky not to score, when he went off, (and Clarke came on) we stretched the game and in the end cruised to victory.

I have said before that Done doesn't score enough, his work-rate may be excellent, (Ched's was yesterday as well) but his finishing is woeful...Lavery is unproven yet and Clarke will be better played as an impact sub, just as he was yesterday....therefore for me, we are still light up-front, especially if Billy picks up and injury.

Will we sign Ched? I personally think we will but I hope it is for the right reasons and that Wilder actually wants him, rather than McCabe getting back what he may see as his rightful asset....

 

[LJBlade]

My two-penneth, for what it's worth, is that in my opinion, Ched Evans would improve our forward line, regardless of the circus surrounding him. He caused us problems yesterday and was unlucky not to score, when he went off, (and Clarke came on) we stretched the game and in the end cruised to victory.

I have said before that Done doesn't score enough, his work-rate may be excellent, (Ched's was yesterday as well) but his finishing is woeful...Lavery is unproven yet and Clarke will be better played as an impact sub, just as he was yesterday....therefore for me, we are still light up-front, especially if Billy picks up and injury.

Will we sign Ched? I personally think we will but I hope it is for the right reasons and that Wilder actually wants him, rather than McCabe getting back what he may see as his rightful asset....

I completely agree. I thought Evans was their best player yesterday and completely bullied Basham for the first 15 minutes or so (after that he played more centrally so wasn't against Basham as much). I think that IF we are missing anything up front then it's a striker like Evans. In the 2nd half he ran at EEL, skipped a way slightly and got a very good shot off from a difficult angle. I thought at the time that we haven't got a striker that can do that.

I think it's easy to look at his goal scoring this season and come to the view that he's not as good as he was but you have to consider the supply that he's getting. He created a good few chances yesterday from very little. Just think what he could do with Fleck, Coutts and Duffy playing behind him.

 

[mattbianco1]

I saw enough from Ched yesterday to suggest 20 goals in a decent side.

 

[Derek1889]

I saw enough from Ched yesterday to suggest 20 goals in a decent side.

Agree with this he looks stronger than before he was a real pain for our defence. Some1 who can create something out of nothing which we need. I think if we had him and billy up top no team would be able to cope with us. Dont think every1 would agree or even want him back tbh.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Dont think every1 would agree or even want him back tbh.

Which is key. We've got unity now, everyone's pulling in the same way. Why risk reviving old bitternesses and disharmony?

Just hope we continue moving on from the past, & seeing the now & the future as being more important.

He's not the only striker on the planet.

 

[Derek1889]

Yea agree with that too. John akinde or omar bogle may be a gd shout in firing form

 

[mattbianco1]

Which is key. We've got unity now, everyone's pulling in the same way. Why risk reviving old bitternesses and disharmony?

Just hope we continue moving on from the past, & seeing the now & the future as being more important.

He's not the only striker on the planet.

If CW wants him. I want him.

 

[Grappler]

Must admit he looked strong and tricky yesterday, but so did Leon Clarke when he came on, Clarke has a lot more pace than people give him credit for, for a big lad. Watch the goal from the checker fraud game mid week and watch his goal yesterday, and this lad can't get a starting position!

 

[LJBlade]

Must admit he looked strong and tricky yesterday, but so did Leon Clarke when he came on, Clarke has a lot more pace than people give him credit for, for a big lad. Watch the goal from the checker fraud game mid week and watch his goal yesterday, and this lad can't get a starting position!

You do know that Clarke has been injured don't you?

 

[Grappler]

You do know that Clarke has been injured don't you?

yes I do know that, my point being that CW plays a settled side so Clarke will have to earn a start, and so would Ched Evans, should we decide to try and sign him (which I don't think we will)

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

If CW wants him. I want him.

Chris knows as much as anyone it's not just a case of "he's popular with the fans", given his unpopularity with plenty too.

Not worth the bother of him potentially derailing a superb season (as he did last time round).

 

[Ricky]

Struggling to see how he'd potentially 'derail' the season.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Struggling to see how he'd potentially 'derail' the season.

Well not because of his ability/lack of ability (he looked impressive yesterday tbh), just that he'd inevitably be controversial.

We're unified now, management, players & fans - something that's been a long time coming. No point risking that, & causing splits, IMO.

 

[LJBlade]

Well not because of his ability/lack of ability (he looked impressive yesterday tbh), just that he'd inevitably be controversial.

We're unified now, management, players & fans - something that's been a long time coming. No point risking that, & causing splits, IMO.

I've always agreed with this line of thinking but i'm starting to think that signing him wouldn't be quite so controversial. He was given a 'not-guilty' verdict and everyone is now aware of this so I'm not sure there will be that much negative press about it.

There will always be some who have a problem with it but there's no longer any basis for this so I can't see many within the footballing world having much trouble with it.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Well not because of his ability/lack of ability (he looked impressive yesterday tbh), just that he'd inevitably be controversial.

We're unified now, management, players & fans - something that's been a long time coming. No point risking that, & causing splits, IMO.

Surely you risk splits whenever you sign a player?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

I've always agreed with this line of thinking but i'm starting to think that signing him wouldn't be quite so controversial. He was given a 'not-guilty' verdict and everyone is now aware of this so I'm not sure there will be that much negative press about it.

There will always be some who have a problem with it but there's no longer any basis for this so I can't see many within the footballing world having much trouble with it.

You say 'no longer any basis for it', but that just applies to the legal situation, not the wider ramifications.

Just look at the continuing debates on here (which reflect wider discussions going on in the wider Blades world). To plenty, his disgusting behaviour brought shame on the club (even if a larger number consider him a hero and would seemingly welcome him back regardless of any consequences).

It's a question of whether we want to open up old wounds now - something which is best avoided.

It still amazes me how he's still seen as some sort of individual 'saviour' by so many when we no longer need one. Chris is showing just what happens when the team is made to matter more than the individual.

 

[Torrix1889]

Surely you risk splits whenever you sign a player?

Absolutely....whenever a player is signed there is always someone currently playing who will have their nose put out....and I can't see Ched's history having any affect whatsoever on our moral or current playing staff....why should it?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Surely you risk splits whenever you sign a player?

But the risks are magnified a hundred-fold in this case.

Chris Wilder's whole ethos is built around teamwork (in the widest sense) & unity. Seems to me that he goes out of his way to bring in players who will further that aim.

Hopefully he'll steer well clear in the case of someone who carries a major risk of injecting divisiveness into what's becoming a wonderfully positive and enjoyable season.

 

[LJBlade]

You say 'no longer any basis for it', but that just applies to the legal situation, not the wider ramifications.

Just look at the continuing debates on here (which reflect wider discussions going on in the wider Blades world). To plenty, his disgusting behaviour brought shame on the club (even if a larger number consider him a hero and would seemingly welcome him back regardless of any consequences).

It's a question of whether we want to open up old wounds now - something which is best avoided.

It still amazes me how he's still seen as some sort of individual 'saviour' by so many when we no longer need one. Chris is showing just what happens when the team is made to matter more than the individual.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that he is some sort of individual saviour. That might once have been true but I don't think it is any longer because, as you say, we no longer need one and I think people now see that. I think many want us to sign him because he's a good player who would add something to our team.

I just don't agree that the 'wider ramifications' are still relevant, at least nowhere near to the extent that they were before. He's now just a football player doing his job. I think yesterday proved this when there was no comment at all about his previous 'situation' other than the fact the he used to play for us.

As I say I did once think that signing him wouldn't be worth the hassle but from what i've seen recently the 'hassle' would hardly amount to anything.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

But the risks are magnified a hundred-fold in this case.

Chris Wilder's whole ethos is built around teamwork (in the widest sense) & unity. Seems to me that he goes out of his way to bring in players who will further that aim.

Hopefully he'll steer well clear in the case of someone who carries a major risk of injecting divisiveness into what's becoming a wonderfully positive and enjoyable season.

Or perhaps he'll have canvassed key figures within the squad to gauge possible reactions?

 

[Ricky]

Ched's got a very good attitude now and will be very motivated. He was popular in the dressing room before. He'll work hard. He's a good player. Nobody involved on the playing side could have any problem with it.

The fans might have a few disagreements about him. That's it. Hardly anything that could 'derail' the season or affect the team in any way.

Ultimately his performances would unite the fans one way or the other. I know which way I think it would be.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Or perhaps he'll have canvassed key figures within the squad to gauge possible reactions?

It goes beyond just players in the squad though.

CW's shown he's aware of & in tune with the pulsebeat of fans. I'm confident he'll not just crassly think "Ched Evans is a hero with Blades fans", because that doesn't apply across the board, far from it (& he'll know that).

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

It goes beyond just players in the squad though.

CW's shown he's aware of & in tune with the pulsebeat of fans. I'm confident he'll not just crassly think "Ched Evans is a hero with Blades fans", because that doesn't apply across the board, far from it (& he'll know that).

Sorry, your emails only mentioned the squad so just debated that point - however even signings like Marlon King didn't cause any damage in the stands so cant see Evans doing so.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that he is some sort of individual saviour. That might once have been true but I don't think it is any longer because, as you say, we no longer need one and I think people now see that. I think many want us to sign him because he's a good player who would add something to our team.

I just don't agree that the 'wider ramifications' are still relevant, at least nowhere near to the extent that they were before. He's now just a football player doing his job. I think yesterday proved this when there was no comment at all about his previous 'situation' other than the fact the he used to play for us.

As I say I did once think that signing him wouldn't be worth the hassle but from what i've seen recently the 'hassle' would hardly amount to anything.

Fully accept that you don't see him as an individual saviour, but disagree that no-one sees him in that way any longer. Many still do (& don't care about any possible negative consequences of him returning here - their righteousness is far more important).

And while I agree that the wider ramifications are lessened from what they were before (in terms of entirely negative publicity, say - although media spotlight very much still remains a live issue), they haven't gone away because of the outcome of the court hearing. He still provokes very strong feelings & attitudes amongst Blades (as you're aware), & it's all about whether it's worth stirring all these issues up again. It's one thing appreciating him from afar as he plies his trade for some other side, another thing entirely bringing him back to where it all kicked off.

Very gratifying from my POV yesterday was that, just after he was substituted and got applauded from all four sides, the "we've got Billy Sharp" chant rang out. We've moved on.

 

[Bartyblade]

Fully accept that you don't see him as an individual saviour, but disagree that no-one sees him in that way any longer. Many still do (& don't care about any possible negative consequences of him returning here - their righteousness is far more important).

And while I agree that the wider ramifications are lessened from what they were before (in terms of entirely negative publicity, say - although media spotlight very much still remains a live issue), they haven't gone away because of the outcome of the court hearing. He still provokes very strong feelings & attitudes amongst Blades (as you're aware), & it's all about whether it's worth stirring all these issues up again. It's one thing appreciating him from afar as he plies his trade for some other side, another thing entirely bringing him back to where it all kicked off.

Very gratifying from my POV yesterday was that, just after he was substituted and got applauded from all four sides, the "we've got Billy Sharp" chant rang out. We've moved on.

But as we now know, the media spotlight will last as long as.....................his 1st game.
And nothing "kicked off" here, the incident happened in Rhyl, his employer just happened to be SUFC at the time, or do you think the club tried to cover up his crime?
All that matters now is whether Wilder thinks he will be a useful addition to the squad or not.
I personally think that far more would like to give him another chance than would be mortally offended if Wilder did go for him.

 

[Westran]

I for one would rather we stayed away, he's not as good as he used to be, we've got better strikers and we're better off without the baggage.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

But as we now know, the media spotlight will last as long as.....................his 1st game.
And nothing "kicked off" here, the incident happened in Rhyl, his employer just happened to be SUFC at the time, or do you think the club tried to cover up his crime?
All that matters now is whether Wilder thinks he will be a useful addition to the squad or not.
I personally think that far more would like to give him another chance than would be mortally offended if Wilder did go for him.

"All that matters now is whether Wilder thinks he will be a useful addition to the squad or not." Really? That simple, eh?

We've got a heavyweight manager though, who'll properly weigh up the pros & cons (if he's at all interested in Evans in the first place), rather than just seeing it as a simple black/white "is he good enough?"-type issue.

 

[Bartyblade]

"All that matters now is whether Wilder thinks he will be a useful addition to the squad or not." Really? That simple, eh?

We've got a heavyweight manager though, who'll properly weigh up the pros & cons (if he's at all interested in Evans in the first place), rather than just seeing it as a simple black/white "is he good enough?"-type issue.

Perhaps I'd taken that into account in my answer?
I'll write it out in full for you next time.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Perhaps I'd taken that into account in my answer?
I'll write it out in full for you next time.

Cracking. You do that.