Daniel Lafferty appreciation

[FMBlade1]

Out of all our players he seems the one who gets the least attention/praise and is even slighted by a small minority as a weak link in the team.

We have to remember the players who have played for us in that position during league one: McEverly, Hill, Williams and Hussey were really poor for the most part and Lafferty is also certainly an improvement on Harris and LJF.

He's not a natural wing back, more of a conventional full back, so it does frustrate people when he gets the ball so much he's not able to deliver to the extent that say Freeman does, though he did score a goal of the season contender against Rochdale:



In addition, though not many on here really care about international football, I think its a great thing for one of our players to be represented at that level, his call up to the Northern Ireland squad was the first we've had from our squad for a long time and was merited and it would be lovely to see him play at the World Cup potentially.

Overall he has plugged a real weakness in our side making us defensively solidly and rarely puts in a bad game, had a low transfer fee with modest wages, won't look out of place in the championship IMO.

Thank you and well done Daniel Lafferty!

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

He will struggle next term.

UTB

 

[Captain]

I think he's done good since signing and will easily hold his own in t'Chamionship, International, scores cracking 35 yarders, could be the next Jose Baxter!

 

[Grizzly blade]

I don't see him struggling next season at all.
He's pretty quick and very hard working. Ok, his crossing is a bit hit and miss, but that can be worked on with practice.

He will be fine next season

 

[Snowman]

Class back four defender IMHO. Only ever had a problem with him on positioning and delivery as LWB when over the half way line. Good option to have if we adopt a more solid approach next season. Wasn't the MANU kid supposed to be his cover?

 

[blader]

Done OK, probably the best option we've had there all season. However, he's also the first player that needs upgrading in our team IMO. If you look at our regular 11, I think it's fair to say that LB and Striker are the two positions that definitely need upgrading if we are to compete next season. Thanks for the memories but there can be no sentiment next season. He needs to be reduced back up.

 

[BushBlade]

It's not like he's already played fifty odd games in the championship already or owt like that.

 

[GrayBlade]

Some players actually can do better at a higher level. Remember how well Morgs did in the Premiership after most had written him off?

Anyway, no doubt Sir Chris will will know exactly what's required especially as a former fullback himself.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

I don't see him struggling next season at all.
He's pretty quick and very hard working. Ok, his crossing is a bit hit and miss, but that can be worked on with practice.

He will be fine next season

Would doubt his crossing will improve with pratice. If it's pretty poor after playing for about 20 years man and boy it ain't going to change now. EG JCR.

 

[blader]

It's not like he's already played fifty odd games in the championship already or owt like that.

Neill Collins played over 100, so did: Nyron Nosworthy, Jordan Stewart, James Harper, Dean Hammond, Jay Mceveley, Steve Simonsen, Mark Yeates and many more.

With respect, that doesn't prove anything.

 

[Smirth]

We have struggled when he has been out of the side this season which is usually the sign of a good player.

He has contributed well this season and I think he will be decent in the Championship. I think we will sign Joe Riley on a season long loan again to have the two competing for the place. If Riley is as good as Man Utd fans make out then Lafferty will be second choice but that is still good back up to have.

 

[BushBlade]

Neill Collins played over 100, so did: Nyron Nosworthy, Jordan Stewart, James Harper, Dean Hammond, Jay Mceveley, Steve Simonsen, Mark Yeates and many more.

With respect, that doesn't prove anything.

It proves the gap is overrated.

Two things determine how well a player will do; technical/physical ability and attitude/motivation. I'd suggest the players on that list were lacking one or the other by the time they played for us.

But we do need a left back as we have no cover and if we could sign a better one than Lafferty then it would make sense to do so, as it will improve us.

What I find odd though, is that the day after being crowned as champions, posters are all over a thread started with the intention of praising a player, slagging the player off.

 

[wizadry]

Lafferty is an honest, hardworking decent LB who will be a good player to have around the squad next year who is obviously a better fullback than a wingback.

The only thing I question regarding the OP is that personally i don't think he is a better player than Bob Harris and the system we used this season would've suited Harris down to the ground.

Fitness and injuries put a stop to that being put into task anyway so not fussed either way.

Well done Dan Lafferty.

 

[Superblades]

Solid enough and will do a steady job next season imo. He gets in some decent positions when attaching, only thing that lets him down is his shooting at times.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Don't be so sure.

As a lad he may have spent all his youth in a different position, probably centre half. Then as he made it into youth teams and first team switched to left back with no encouragement to push forwards as much as he has this season.
It's fine tuning to be fair, not a complete change of technique. Just a matter of improving his consistency which I am led to believe by my sons coaches comes with pure practice. Repitition....sick of hearing the word....that and "1000 hrs of practice to learn it"...blah, blah, blah.

 

[fuerstenberger]

A right back needs pace. The higher a player goes up the pyramid the quicker they need to be. Lots of wingers at youth level end up as right backs due to lack of pace. Wilder himself, though technically able, didn't have the pace for the Premiership, hence Basset selling him. Lafferty is fast enough for the Championship. I would argue Lafferty has been instrumental for us, just look at how unbalanced we looked when he was injured. I am a big big fan of the bloke. Can he make the step up? Piece of piss. Of course it all depends on what Wilder thinks.

 

[BushBlade]

A right back needs pace. The higher a player goes up the pyramid the quicker they need to be. Lots of wingers at youth level end up as right backs due to lack of pace. Wilder himself, though technically able, didn't have the pace for the Premiership, hence Basset selling him. Lafferty is fast enough for the Championship. I would argue Lafferty has been instrumental for us, just look at how unbalanced we looked when he was injured. I am a big big fan of the bloke. Can he make the step up? Piece of piss. Of course it all depends on what Wilder thinks.

Personally I'd keep him at left back but as you say, it's up to CW.

 

[fuerstenberger]

Personally I'd keep him at left back but as you say, it's up to CW.

Oops. Of course I meant full back. Thank you Bush.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I think Lafferty has been solid without being spectacular. His crossing perhaps needs to be more consistent but he has put some really good ones in. The one for Chapman to score the winner at home to Bristol stands out.

Calamity Bob Harris better? I don't think so. I don't have my heart in my mouth every time the ball goes near Lafferty in our box.

 

[RammyBlade]

Neill Collins played over 100, so did: Nyron Nosworthy, Jordan Stewart, James Harper, Dean Hammond, Jay Mceveley, Steve Simonsen, Mark Yeates and many more.

With respect, that doesn't prove anything.

Yeh but Myron Nosworthy was very funny ! Comedy genius !

 

[Lane Ender]

I think Lafferty has been solid without being spectacular. His crossing perhaps needs to be more consistent but he has put some really good ones in. The one for Chapman to score the winner at home to Bristol stands out.

Calamity Bob Harris better? I don't think so. I don't have my heart in my mouth every time the ball goes near Lafferty in our box.

Agreed he's improved since he arrived here.
Could well go on to a he next level

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Suppose the "criticism" of him - amongst the Flecks and the Couttses, and the centre-backs, all of whom quite regularly put in 9 out of 10 performances, and the goalscoring exploits of a Billy Sharp - is that Lafferty just churns out the 7 out of 10s, week-in and week-out, in a very unglamorous way.

Nowt flash, nowt flamboyant, but very consistent and solid. A very likeable player, just not "hero" material.

But it's his ultra-consistency, and the balance he gives, that's his very strength.

In saying that, whether he likes it or not, he bloody well is a hero now, no escaping it!

Also love the fact that, in this historic season, Lafferty has been an integral part of it all with his links to Derry City. It just sort of plugs the present glory into a bit of significant Blades history.

 

[sheffielder]

I think Lafferty is one of the most underrated players in the team to be honest. Yes his final ball or pass sometimes is a head scratcher but strikers do need to relearn the art of running across the front post anyway.

He's a great defender and he also plays the wing back role perfectly spreading the pitch and making it bigger.

 

[blade67]

I don't see him struggling next season at all.
He's pretty quick and very hard working. Ok, his crossing is a bit hit and miss, but that can be worked on with practice.

He will be fine next season

Agree. Has the physicality required. Decent left back

 

[Mouth of the South]

Not a massive fan of Lafferty and expect/hope CW upgrades for next season. That said, he's light years ahead of Bob Harris, who I'm still staggered avoided almost any criticism during his time at the club. I would honestly have prefered McEveley at LB

 

[Foody]

I have every confidence he can step up and be decent. In fact, I might be on my own with this one, but Lafferty doesn't worry me but Freeman does. We will have a lot more defending to do next season and one of our wing backs looks solid and consistent whilst the other is in the opponents box. One of those is great when you're top of the league, but a potential liability in any other situation.

 

[RealMcCoy]

I have every confidence he can step up and be decent. In fact, I might be on my own with this one, but Lafferty doesn't worry me but Freeman does. We will have a lot more defending to do next season and one of our wing backs looks solid and consistent whilst the other is in the opponents box. One of those is great when you're top of the league, but a potential liability in any other situation.

Yes. This is what I was about to post. I love Freeman, but I think Lafferty might fare better next season because he's more solid in his defensive role.

 

[tomtheblade]

I think sometimes you have to judge the position and not just the player. If we can get Riley back and fit for next season then I think him and Lafferty would make a good duo to fight for the left back role. Together they provide a good blend of youth and experience, talent, pace and technical ability, with a mix of defensive and attacking play.

In my opinion Lafferty is too good to be simply a back up to a better player, and wouldn't be willing to stick around if used as such, but still has to prove that he has the quality to ultimately be our best option there. Keep him for now with the addition of a talented youngster ready to go, but who has less expectation of being a regular starter and we have good cover IMO.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Woeful today.

UTB

 

[super_pig]

gives the ball away a lot