CW best ever signings by a Blades manager?

[bornablade]

Paul Mitchell is taking some deserved praise on here.

A few years ago a long time poster (but no longer it seems on here) Woodwardfan would bang on about the importance of getting our scouting sorted out.

Pretty sure he wasn't impressed by Clough's insistence on using his brother.

If Woodwardfan still reads this board then credit where credits due.

The club could well have taken note of what's posted on here.

 

[8lade]

I'd leave out Fleck and Norwood when talking about unearthing gems as for the leagues we were in at the time of their signings I'd say they were guaranteed successes.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

John Harris - Badger, Woodward, Jones, Salmons - all plucked from the playing fields of South Yorkshire and just beyond.

Archie Clark was John Harris's Paul Mitchell.

Add to those the players signed from other clubs on a shoestring budget such as Colquhoun , Flynn , Reece , Dearden ,Hockey and a young lad from Watford whose name escapes me and I think you have a record which takes some beating ( with no disrespect to CW and his team )

 

[bladesince64]

John Harris did an amazing job both in terms of success on the pitch ie achieving promotion and of course signing bargain basement players as well as bringing through ‘ local’ young talent.
Ultimately though the squad strength was not adequately addressed and wether that was his call or the lack of investment from above (probably a bit of both)
This became our undoing in the early seventies as injuries inevitably kicked in (literally) and we couldn’t maintain performance/results when the first teasers were unavailable.
Wilder however,has covered most positions with a relatively competent back-up squad player.

 

[bladesince64]

Teasers should read teamers

 

[BushBlade]

Teasers should read teamers

Yes they should, as often as possible.

 

[Harrisblade]

It's no coincidence that he served under Dave Bassett. They share a very similar approach to signing players (not in playing style / tactics!) in that they sniff out some absolute bargain gems from the less fashionable places. It's a combination of good networks and a stubbornness of only picking those that would fit in with, or add to our system. There are so many managers out there who buy whichever big name players become available, and only later think about how they'll fit in. CW and AK seem to be firmly against that approach, thank goodness.

Using those criteria - John Harris is yer man

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Norwood. The key to our season.

 

[Red Hot Currie]

Jake Wright for me. A player who CW has trusted and taken with him throughout his career. Never heard of Jake Wright before he came to us. Ended up thinking he was one of the best readers of a game I'd seen in a Blades shirt since Paul McGrath. Top professional. Hope that he gets a coaching role at the club.

 

[JOEYDEE]

Post Bassett, Kendall put together a pretty decent side but spent a bit to do so. If we’d gone for a better manager than Spackman we’d have won the league that season. IMO of course. Rather like West Brom this season.

Kendall had us playing some great football,some really good signings,Paterson being ,for me,the best.
Spackman was so unlucky, having players sold without his approval when we were well up for promotion.