Chris Porter

[UpTheClough]

I can't get my head around the Chris Porter situation. He doesn't even get near the bench now. I'm no great fan of his but he can do a job when required. So I can't for the life of me understand why Clough offered him a new contract last year if he knew he wasn't good enough or had no plans for him to be in the team just seems a compete waste of a wage.

 

[boo radley]

Saleable asset?

 

[Kenilworth]

Saleable asset?

Not really sure either of those words are appropriate in this thread - if he leaves it will be on a free, surely.

 

[S5Blade]

 

[Old Skool]

I am no expert but why sign someone on a contract with little or no expectation of them ever threatening the first team??? Seems like a waste of money and not something we at SUFC can afford right now given that the reality is that under FFP we need to free up wages before we can do any meaningful business.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I can't get my head around the Chris Porter situation. He doesn't even get near the bench now. I'm no great fan of his but he can do a job when required. So I can't for the life of me understand why Clough offered him a new contract last year if he knew he wasn't good enough or had no plans for him to be in the team just seems a compete waste of a wage.

I am no expert but why sign someone on a contract with little or no expectation of them ever threatening the first team??? Seems like a waste of money and not something we at SUFC can afford right now given that the reality is that under FFP we need to free up wages before we can do any meaningful business.

To play Devil's Advocate, at the time Clough signed Porter, the only striker we had on the books was Baxter.
Who most people would agree is not actually a proper striker.
Porter got a reasonable return of 11 goals last season despite spending most of it as sub.
The opportunity was there to re-sign on reduced terms, an experienced 30 year old "super sub", who was already settled at the club.
Or take a gamble that United would be able to sign and integrate 3 or 4 new strikers before the start of the season.

As it was, we were only able to sign unproven McNulty and then a "not match fit" Higdon a few days before the season.
Porter has failed to replicate his goalscoring exploits of last season and with replacements already in place or pending, he's now surplus to requirements.

 

[Pierre's PC]

To play Devil's Advocate, at the time Clough signed Porter, the only striker we had on the books was Baxter.
Who most people would agree is not actually a proper striker.
Porter got a reasonable return of 11 goals last season despite spending most of it as sub.
The opportunity was there to re-sign on reduced terms, an experienced 30 year old "super sub", who was already settled at the club.
Or take a gamble that United would be able to sign and integrate 3 or 4 new strikers before the start of the season.

As it was, we were only able to sign unproven McNulty and then a "not match fit" Higdon a few days before the season.
Porter has failed to replicate his goalscoring exploits of last season and with replacements already in place or pending, he's now surplus to requirements.

Don't you come round flashing your logic young man, we won't be having any of that wizardry around here.

 

[WeareBlades]

Pretty sure he was on a pay as you play contract or he was on very little so can't blame Clough for signing him as backup. Hope he does well wherever he ends up scored some important goals for us.

 

[Old Skool]

Maybe SUFC should have been a bit more diligent in their search for a striker over the Summer rather than sending time and money on bench-warmers or hoping for the return on you-know-who !! And as for Porter being back-up.....Clough had ample opportunity to utilise Porter and chose not to. Makes no sense. Suprised?? Ermmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[wizadry]

Don't you come round flashing your logic young man, we won't be having any of that wizardry around here.

Pardon

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

I'm sure It benefits the squad in training to keep a few select old pros around...

 

[Bladesway]

Pardon

See what happens when you start taking names in vain!

 

[wizadry]

See what happens when you start taking names in vain!

It's the bladesway

 

[BerksBlade]

Maybe SUFC should have been a bit more diligent in their search for a striker over the Summer rather than sending time and money on bench-warmers or hoping for the return on you-know-who !! And as for Porter being back-up.....Clough had ample opportunity to utilise Porter and chose not to. Makes no sense. Suprised?? Ermmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Exactly my thoughts Old Skool. Did our fruitless pursuit of the bearded one cost us Coady and/or Freeman?
The apparent freezing out of Butler and Collins makes no sense to me either, and I don't buy Clough's bullshit about Butler. To my mind he was bought as insurance in case Maguire left, so should have been used when that happened. But obviously in Clough's mind bringing in McCarthy (who's worse in my opinion) and pairing him with a random selection from McEveley, Basham, McGahey or Alcock was a far better option.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Both Porter and Higdon could make all the difference in getting some clubs to part with players we want ........

As for Butler and Collins it's Nigel's choice, nobody's perfect but I don't think he's done bad so far do you ?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Exactly my thoughts Old Skool. Did our fruitless pursuit of the bearded one cost us Coady and/or Freeman?
The apparent freezing out of Butler and Collins makes no sense to me either, and I don't buy Clough's bullshit about Butler. To my mind he was bought as insurance in case Maguire left, so should have been used when that happened. But obviously in Clough's mind bringing in McCarthy (who's worse in my opinion) and pairing him with a random selection from McEveley, Basham, McGahey or Alcock was a far better option.

For a regular watcher of United I have to disagree totally about the freezing out of Collins and Butler.

Now it's only an opinion, but I think Collins has been poor since signed by Adams - he always has been poor at balls slung into the box - but then so has EVERY CH since Morgs. NC and the management team apparently viewed Collins as the chief culprit - an opinion I and other Blades agree on - as for commitment, never In question, but you have to do the job you are hired to do.

As for Butler - saw him twice in pre season, the first time at Burton where he partnered Collins - fucking useless comes to mind, the pair of them.
As for the reason he has been frozen out - numerous have been thrown into the ring - ok, hear say this, but there is always an element of truth. The favourite is Morgs told both of them in pre season they couldn't defend (and I can imagine how Morgs would have used expletives in private) and they both took exception including Doyle. It follows that all three did not play early on - Doyle, as captain apparently relented or apologised or saw that as he was captain had to make amends. Butler apparently would not. So here we have Management at odds with the workforce - only one winner.

Whatever happened- the theory of Butler was fine, but that's the way it is and to be fair we have struggled all season at CH.

For me we need at least 1 x CH in the window, to probably partner Mcevely who was exception at QPR, but is still learning the CH role, but with a more experienced partner it might just work.

UTB

 

[BerksBlade]

Interesting theory Fulwood. Would Morgs have been expressing the opinion of his management team, or was this a personal view?
So instead we started the season with Alcock & McGahey. I'd be happier to accept Morg's judgement had we not gone out and signed McCarthy - who in my view has performed no better than Butler would have.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

I'm sure It benefits the squad in training to keep a few select old pros around...

hmmm -wasn't these was it ?

 

[bertieblade]

Fulwood agree with the reasoning behind doyle, Collins and butler being placed on the naughty step.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Interesting theory Fulwood. Would Morgs have been expressing the opinion of his management team, or was this a personal view?
So instead we started the season with Alcock & McGahey. I'd be happier to accept Morg's judgement had we not gone out and signed McCarthy - who in my view has performed no better than Butler would have.

Again having seen McCarthy I don't think he was any better than Basham has been - with Basham being excellent at bringing the ball out of defence - something that NC is very hot on. Someone else on here has analysed the games Mccarthy played in and apparently we didn't concede that many (Chezzer apart) the the defence seems better - we just didn't score as many as we should so results appeared worse.

As for Morgs - NC has obviously defended Morgs - just what I would have expected from the boss - if he doesn't defend his right hand men then anarchy would rule. To be fair, the "camp" appears to be as one now and assuming we get a couple of key signings things hopefully will improve.

UTB

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Isn't this why he signed him on loan first ?
On paper McCarthy was just the job, much the same as Butler who we signed was, but if a piece of the jigsaw doesn't fit why waste time trying to hammer it in .
Your not going to change players who are over thirty are you ?.....

 

[Rupicola]

Feel sorry for porter a bit he did well for us last season, maybe there was an element of Clough looking after him by giving him a new deal. He does like him. prob should have let him go and saved on wages. Don't agree with loyalty to players in that way especially if it doesn't benefit the club. Plus Clough hasn't given him a chance really thought he would have considering our scoring record of late. Saying that he dunt usually play our leading scorer McNulty.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Feel sorry for porter a bit he did well for us last season, maybe there was an element of Clough looking after him by giving him a new deal. He does like him. prob should have let him go and saved on wages. Don't agree with loyalty to players in that way especially if it doesn't benefit the club. Plus Clough hasn't given him a chance really thought he would have considering our scoring record of late. Saying that he dunt usually play our leading scorer McNulty.

Unfortunately not everyone we sign can be good - Porter is just NGE. The lad needs to find his own level - sadly L1 in England is now just too good for him and how he plays. Back to Scotland may do him a world of good. Does he need a lift?

UTB

 

[HolmesfieldBlade]

Passed it, not the level of player we need around to push for promotion.

Thanks Chris but time to move on... Done.

 

[Sheff de party]

Exactly my thoughts Old Skool. Did our fruitless pursuit of the bearded one cost us Coady and/or Freeman?
The apparent freezing out of Butler and Collins makes no sense to me either, and I don't buy Clough's bullshit about Butler. To my mind he was bought as insurance in case Maguire left, so should have been used when that happened. But obviously in Clough's mind bringing in McCarthy (who's worse in my opinion) and pairing him with a random selection from McEveley, Basham, McGahey or Alcock was a far better option.

To be fair, Coady clearly doesn't want to play in League One. He enjoyed his time here but he went back to Liverpool hoping to get a game. Although he didn't he'd proved himself easily capable at this level and quite rightly signed for a Championship side.

 

[bigbirdblade]

i thought Clough had said he wanted a reasonable sized squad as it is a long season as has been proved with all the cup matches. I think Porter was kept in case of injuries and tiredness for other more regular players. He took a pay cut i believe but was obviously committed to united. I know he's not Lionel messi but there is no doubting his commitment to united, work ethic and passion. I like the lad and hope he gets a chance wherever he goes. And for what it's worth i reckon certainly at the Barnsley game he should have played 90 mins as i think he could have done a job for us.

 

[wizadry]

i thought Clough had said he wanted a reasonable sized squad as it is a long season as has been proved with all the cup matches. I think Porter was kept in case of injuries and tiredness for other more regular players. He took a pay cut i believe but was obviously committed to united. I know he's not Lionel messi but there is no doubting his commitment to united, work ethic and passion. I like the lad and hope he gets a chance wherever he goes. And for what it's worth i reckon certainly at the Barnsley game he should have played 90 mins as i think he could have done a job for us.

Most of the things you say are indeed correct and there's no doubting Chris Porter is a good bloke,but unfortunately he's not good enough to play for us now and that's what matters as we are a football club and not a social one.

 

[bigbirdblade]

Surely it's a vicious circle. Would he not be a better player if he played more often? If he were to go on loan for a month or two, bag a few goals, get some confidence and come back to united for the last month or so when all those regular players aching limbs are at breaking point he could perhaps do us some good as a replacement or late game sub. Perhaps. Maybe i'm dreaming.