Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
- Messages
- 6,547
- Reaction score
- 38,677
Midfielders
John Fleck Got his foot in, tackled and did the scrappy stuff but on the ball kept it neat and tidy, showed quick feet and surged forward when he could. The only knock as too many bookings and not scoring enough goals. However, he was a joy to watch at times. He got between defence and attack, got up and down, involved in most of our good attacks and made us tick. How he was never in the Scotland squad is ridiculous really – still in a way that is good as he has less chance of getting injured and he plays less games but he does deserve recognition internationally. A player who is quite rotund and may not have natural pace but he is now slow at all and quick over a few yards. He is very strong for a small player and can outmuscle bigger players. He has a lovely left foot and manoeuvres out of situations so easily and finds space with ease. So fleet of foot and technically very underrated. Just a good all-round footballer. The only knock on him is that he does not score enough goals although got a cracker at Hillsborough of course. Also, maybe got stuck in a bit too much and picked up a lot of yellow cards and one red meaning he missed 6 games due to suspensions I think it was in three separate spells. Some of the yellows were avoidable and a stupid tackle against Bristol City cost us badly that game.
Still, taking away that critique the positives are far and away outweighing these points. He stepped up to this level far better than even I thought. I recall the 4-5 defeat to Fulham and they had Johannson, Cairney, McDonald and Norwood I think playing at different points and he was just as good and I felt showed that night he can live with players like that. I felt it was far harder for him when Duffy did not play and of course when Coutts went out. Lundstram and Evans were both quite inconsistent; and Fleck at times had do the job of two men. He was another that looked very tired by the end of the season but can be proud of his efforts. He is one that has coped really well at this level and indeed may see a few Premier League teams casting their eyes this way and looking at him. He will be glad of his running partner back in midfield hopefully for the start of the season.
Grade B+ (Last season A)
Mark Duffy Had really impressed the season we won the title in the number 10 role and at times was unplayable as he combined with Fleck and Coutts. There were questions if he could step up as his best football had been at League One and he had not done it at Birmingham when at this level before. You wondered if he was a lower league journeyman who had just had one good season but then you also felt he had never really played consistently in this position and with players like we possess. He maybe was one of those players that just gets better with age. He did not start the season as Carruthers was preferred but got in against Barnsley and was man of the match. He never looked back and played really well in several wins. He had runs of games but then had some time out of the team or was rested/or used off the bench. Wilder seemed to realise his age and lack of pace would mean he would have to be rotated around.
Even when we did well he was not always a starter and actually came on against Wednesday but scored ‘that’ goal and then was very good a week later at Forest where they could not cope with him. Played really well in games against Reading and Ipswich and made both goals at Leeds and then was superb against Hull too before being instrumental at former club Burton. In our run up the table he was key. He showed some superb footwork getting out of tight situations and playing it short and long. A lovely player to watch with such close control and some real tricks to boot. He continued to cause opponents all sorts of problems and surprised even many Blades fans with how he adapted and more than coped at this level. The number of view from’s from the superb Roygbiv alluded to the little ginger/blonde lad in midfield that was the best player for United and that they could not get near at times.
Like with others, our reliance on Sharp/Clarke meant we needed more goals from others and Duffy again only got 3 goals which was not enough for a man of his talent – he scored another superb strike v Reading and then one at former club Birmingham; but needed to score more. Still felt he was the player (along with Fleck) that made us tick and it was noticeable when he did not play. Wilder probably did not use him as much as he should have done towards the end of the season. Granted he did not always finish games but we had several games where we lacked creativity and he did not start. Surely, it is easier to start him and take him off?
Overall though despite the odd quiet game; he was more effective than not and one of our top 5 players without question and pushing Fleck for honours in player of the season as shown by how many of the awards were dolled out. He is 33 in October. He started less than 30 games this season and sure it will be similar next season. I think if Coutts is fit and Brooks still here; we then in essence have Fleck, Coutts and maybe will use Evans in some away games as a three. Other games it could be the Coutts, Fleck and Duffy combo or even Brooks; off course Brooks can play off the striker too. I think Duffy would benefit from more pace up top that he can use to exploit his excellent passing and set up play. At times he has to play all short stuff as there is no out ball for him to knock over the top. Deserved a new contract and will be another key man next season – he never had much pace anyway so another like Clarke that not sure one more year will make much difference in terms of age.
Grade B+ (Last season B+)
Paul Coutts Coutts started the season as he finished the last one. He began very consistently and played 15 of the first 16 league games. He only missed one game v Ipswich due to suspension (5 bookings). He was one of the key men as we started the season so well and along with Fleck and Duffy were big parts of our performances. Indeed, he more than the others was superb really to start the season and allowed us to control midfield. He started our attacks getting the ball form defence, took it out of tight spots and found a shirt or drove forward. He also was involved in several attacking moves. I recall him dominating a good Derby midfield of Huddlestone, Johnson etc in a deserved win. At Hillsborough he was excellent and there were many more games like this. The only knock was he did not score enough goals but got a beauty v Reading and did pick up too many fouls and yellow cards. Still he was the main man as we started the season as we surged to the top of the league. He coped comfortably with the step up and finally was showing the potential he showed many years ago at Derby/Preston. Indeed, his game has matured to the extent that he now knows what he can do and the three in midfield and three behind him suits his game perfectly. Seemed fitter and stronger than ever and was now really looking a powerful player.
Then the awful leg break came. You knew straight away it was bad. A bit of a freak injury as not like any of the previous injuries he has had. He was ruled out for the season and whilst some thought he may come back, you knew that would not happen and so it proved. Did not need an operation which was good and hoping he will start pre-season. With the midfielders we have and the improvements of the new signings, it should be a real battle for places but if he and Fleck are fit they are certain starters. After he went out, we really suffered and whilst others dropped off in form and we tired around Xmas period; his loss was huge. If he had stayed fit; then I do feel we would have comfortably got a playoff place but we saw how much we missed him. That is no criticism to the others; he is just a unique sort of player who controls games with his touch, passing and style of play.
Grade A- (Last season A-)
Samir Carruthers was a player that showed real glimpses in the second half of the season and tantalised fans at times with his play. He was not consistent and lacked fitness/pace but he showed enough that he could be more involved this season. He did well in the pre-season and then got the shock start v Brentford and was one of our better players. He was not quite as influential in the net two away games and lost his place to Duffy who man of the match v Barnsley. After this he did not start another game until Preston at Xmas when we had a bit of an injury crisis. He was used mostly as a sub but when he came on he rarely played well and although scored in the game v Fulham; he did not even make the impact of last season when he came on as sub to great effect.
Seemed to struggle with pace and better players of this level and seemed to want an age to do things. Recall him having a bit of a disastrous cameo at home to Bristol City when he failed to make the most of a great break at the death and then they broke and he lost his tackle and they scored. He was a bit part player but as I say even from the bench he was quite ill disciplined and gave the ball away too much. He did not really do much of anything and seemed well down the pecking order when we signed more midfielders. The Holmes signing meant he was now 4th choice in the number 10 role and was not really trusted as part of the two behind. He was rumoured to be going to Charlton on loan but that never happened. He ended up in the u23’s and then seemed to vanish. It seems there is no real future for him here but he will be on a decent wage so be difficult to offload him as he had another year left on his contract.
Grade E- (Last season C+)
Ricky Holmes Had been chased all summer and then signed a new contract with Charlton and you felt that was that. A player the wrong side of 30; I was not sure he was the answer anyway. However, as Charlton struggled financially and were not that close to the top; Wilder went back in and put in a bid that was probably much smaller than the one the Addicks turned down in the summer and they let him go. He was seen as another attacking option and he started in a game at Wolves and did quite well and one of our better players but this was the only game he started.
He came off the bench a few times but often it was late on and cannot recall him having a proper chance. When he did come on, it did not quite happen but you do wonder if he could have been given more chances especially when Duffy and Brooks were both not available at times. We did not always open teams up and lacked goals from this area. It seemed off Wilder signing him if he did not give him a chance. As I say, he is not young and not sure he will be any closes to the side next season really. A punt that so far has not come off. If Brooks moves on, he may get more opportunities but you do wonder if he good enough at this level as he has never played here before and maybe lacks pace and athleticism.
Grade D- (Last season NA)
Lee Evans A surprise signing in the January window. A lot of talk was about Leonard and Holmes but then he came in. I knew he was a young player at Wolves that had not been near the first team for a while due to the new investments but I did not even know he had gone too Wigan on loan. Clearly, he was doing well there as they topped the league. Wilder saw something he liked and signed him citing potential to improve. He went straight in the side after being sub against Wednesday and played every league game after making his bow at Norwich. He showed he was a decent footballer, with a good touch and nice range of passing. A big lad but not a physical player, he seemed more of a ball player. He had a few really promising games (the two goals v Boro were special and had a few other assists/decent long-range shots) and at home he did well. Away from home, he was less impressive. I recall him being poor in games at Hull, Barnsley and Birmingham when teams came and fought. If pressurised he struggled as he lacked mobility and pace.
He did ok and was the better of the signings we made in January. I am still to be totally convinced. We won 7 of the 20 games that ended the season and like Lundstram for me was inconsistent. Too many times a good game would be followed by an ineffective one. He is only 23 though and with young players that can happen. I think he needs to get stronger physically and needs to sharpen up. I recall the game v Boro when he scored the amazing volley and the second a good one too; then second half he was awful and wanted too long on the ball or mis controlled it. That summed him up for me. I was deemed as being harsh but as I say Fleck and Duffy played quite well in most games. I am not sure that third wheel; whether it was Lundstram or Evans offered enough in terms of defensive protection or attacking impetus (consistently). He will face a fight to keep his spot with Coutts back but he is someone I feel can get better. Technically he is decent and has a decent touch and can pass but he needs to assert himself more on games and do some of the nasty stuff a bit more too. I felt we saw some teams impose themselves on us and we were a bit of a soft touch in the middle to end the season. Hoping next season he can build on some promise and continued to improve but see him more of a squad player than a starter every week.
Grade C+ (Last season NA)
John Lundstram Signed from Oxford just before the season. Another signing we did not expect but Wilder felt he could give us competition. When he signed we had Coutts, Fleck, Duffy and indeed also Brooks and Carruthers and he was a sub many of the early games. He came in and scored at Forest but was quiet and recall him standing in for the suspended Coutts v Ipswich and he did ok. A big lad who liked the long diagonal pass but showed he could pass short and long. We only saw glimpses until the Coutts injury but then that gave him his big chance. We struggled in a number of games but this was not down to Lundstram who actually did ok in some games and seem to steadily improve. You felt he was getting stronger and was adapting to this level.
Sadly, his performance became patchy again and despite a few goals; he was never totally convincing. Very weak for such a big lad and his touch and passing was up and down. Mixed in some decent games with some poor ones and was never a regular really. If he started, he was sacrificed often as the first sub and seemed to be a long way off what Wilder would require fitness wise. I felt he was top heavy and needed to shed a few pounds personally. When he played we could not quite press and harry as much as he lacks the pace and athleticism to do that. The fact that when Evans signed; he replaced him meant he was very much in and out and maybe more on the bench than playing. Shows some promise with his passing and again decent on the ball; but his deficiencies are his lack of foot speed and his inconsistency in games and game to game. He ended up sub more than he played in the end.
He had a big summer fitness/body wise but I see Fleck, Coutts, Duffy, Brooks and Evans all ahead of him really. He needs to get super fit and show he deserves more games with a more consistent and positive approach when he does play. Still one that has to more week in, week out to command a regular place but young enough to improve.
Grade C (Last season NA)
John Fleck Got his foot in, tackled and did the scrappy stuff but on the ball kept it neat and tidy, showed quick feet and surged forward when he could. The only knock as too many bookings and not scoring enough goals. However, he was a joy to watch at times. He got between defence and attack, got up and down, involved in most of our good attacks and made us tick. How he was never in the Scotland squad is ridiculous really – still in a way that is good as he has less chance of getting injured and he plays less games but he does deserve recognition internationally. A player who is quite rotund and may not have natural pace but he is now slow at all and quick over a few yards. He is very strong for a small player and can outmuscle bigger players. He has a lovely left foot and manoeuvres out of situations so easily and finds space with ease. So fleet of foot and technically very underrated. Just a good all-round footballer. The only knock on him is that he does not score enough goals although got a cracker at Hillsborough of course. Also, maybe got stuck in a bit too much and picked up a lot of yellow cards and one red meaning he missed 6 games due to suspensions I think it was in three separate spells. Some of the yellows were avoidable and a stupid tackle against Bristol City cost us badly that game.
Still, taking away that critique the positives are far and away outweighing these points. He stepped up to this level far better than even I thought. I recall the 4-5 defeat to Fulham and they had Johannson, Cairney, McDonald and Norwood I think playing at different points and he was just as good and I felt showed that night he can live with players like that. I felt it was far harder for him when Duffy did not play and of course when Coutts went out. Lundstram and Evans were both quite inconsistent; and Fleck at times had do the job of two men. He was another that looked very tired by the end of the season but can be proud of his efforts. He is one that has coped really well at this level and indeed may see a few Premier League teams casting their eyes this way and looking at him. He will be glad of his running partner back in midfield hopefully for the start of the season.
Grade B+ (Last season A)
Mark Duffy Had really impressed the season we won the title in the number 10 role and at times was unplayable as he combined with Fleck and Coutts. There were questions if he could step up as his best football had been at League One and he had not done it at Birmingham when at this level before. You wondered if he was a lower league journeyman who had just had one good season but then you also felt he had never really played consistently in this position and with players like we possess. He maybe was one of those players that just gets better with age. He did not start the season as Carruthers was preferred but got in against Barnsley and was man of the match. He never looked back and played really well in several wins. He had runs of games but then had some time out of the team or was rested/or used off the bench. Wilder seemed to realise his age and lack of pace would mean he would have to be rotated around.
Even when we did well he was not always a starter and actually came on against Wednesday but scored ‘that’ goal and then was very good a week later at Forest where they could not cope with him. Played really well in games against Reading and Ipswich and made both goals at Leeds and then was superb against Hull too before being instrumental at former club Burton. In our run up the table he was key. He showed some superb footwork getting out of tight situations and playing it short and long. A lovely player to watch with such close control and some real tricks to boot. He continued to cause opponents all sorts of problems and surprised even many Blades fans with how he adapted and more than coped at this level. The number of view from’s from the superb Roygbiv alluded to the little ginger/blonde lad in midfield that was the best player for United and that they could not get near at times.
Like with others, our reliance on Sharp/Clarke meant we needed more goals from others and Duffy again only got 3 goals which was not enough for a man of his talent – he scored another superb strike v Reading and then one at former club Birmingham; but needed to score more. Still felt he was the player (along with Fleck) that made us tick and it was noticeable when he did not play. Wilder probably did not use him as much as he should have done towards the end of the season. Granted he did not always finish games but we had several games where we lacked creativity and he did not start. Surely, it is easier to start him and take him off?
Overall though despite the odd quiet game; he was more effective than not and one of our top 5 players without question and pushing Fleck for honours in player of the season as shown by how many of the awards were dolled out. He is 33 in October. He started less than 30 games this season and sure it will be similar next season. I think if Coutts is fit and Brooks still here; we then in essence have Fleck, Coutts and maybe will use Evans in some away games as a three. Other games it could be the Coutts, Fleck and Duffy combo or even Brooks; off course Brooks can play off the striker too. I think Duffy would benefit from more pace up top that he can use to exploit his excellent passing and set up play. At times he has to play all short stuff as there is no out ball for him to knock over the top. Deserved a new contract and will be another key man next season – he never had much pace anyway so another like Clarke that not sure one more year will make much difference in terms of age.
Grade B+ (Last season B+)
Paul Coutts Coutts started the season as he finished the last one. He began very consistently and played 15 of the first 16 league games. He only missed one game v Ipswich due to suspension (5 bookings). He was one of the key men as we started the season so well and along with Fleck and Duffy were big parts of our performances. Indeed, he more than the others was superb really to start the season and allowed us to control midfield. He started our attacks getting the ball form defence, took it out of tight spots and found a shirt or drove forward. He also was involved in several attacking moves. I recall him dominating a good Derby midfield of Huddlestone, Johnson etc in a deserved win. At Hillsborough he was excellent and there were many more games like this. The only knock was he did not score enough goals but got a beauty v Reading and did pick up too many fouls and yellow cards. Still he was the main man as we started the season as we surged to the top of the league. He coped comfortably with the step up and finally was showing the potential he showed many years ago at Derby/Preston. Indeed, his game has matured to the extent that he now knows what he can do and the three in midfield and three behind him suits his game perfectly. Seemed fitter and stronger than ever and was now really looking a powerful player.
Then the awful leg break came. You knew straight away it was bad. A bit of a freak injury as not like any of the previous injuries he has had. He was ruled out for the season and whilst some thought he may come back, you knew that would not happen and so it proved. Did not need an operation which was good and hoping he will start pre-season. With the midfielders we have and the improvements of the new signings, it should be a real battle for places but if he and Fleck are fit they are certain starters. After he went out, we really suffered and whilst others dropped off in form and we tired around Xmas period; his loss was huge. If he had stayed fit; then I do feel we would have comfortably got a playoff place but we saw how much we missed him. That is no criticism to the others; he is just a unique sort of player who controls games with his touch, passing and style of play.
Grade A- (Last season A-)
Samir Carruthers was a player that showed real glimpses in the second half of the season and tantalised fans at times with his play. He was not consistent and lacked fitness/pace but he showed enough that he could be more involved this season. He did well in the pre-season and then got the shock start v Brentford and was one of our better players. He was not quite as influential in the net two away games and lost his place to Duffy who man of the match v Barnsley. After this he did not start another game until Preston at Xmas when we had a bit of an injury crisis. He was used mostly as a sub but when he came on he rarely played well and although scored in the game v Fulham; he did not even make the impact of last season when he came on as sub to great effect.
Seemed to struggle with pace and better players of this level and seemed to want an age to do things. Recall him having a bit of a disastrous cameo at home to Bristol City when he failed to make the most of a great break at the death and then they broke and he lost his tackle and they scored. He was a bit part player but as I say even from the bench he was quite ill disciplined and gave the ball away too much. He did not really do much of anything and seemed well down the pecking order when we signed more midfielders. The Holmes signing meant he was now 4th choice in the number 10 role and was not really trusted as part of the two behind. He was rumoured to be going to Charlton on loan but that never happened. He ended up in the u23’s and then seemed to vanish. It seems there is no real future for him here but he will be on a decent wage so be difficult to offload him as he had another year left on his contract.
Grade E- (Last season C+)
Ricky Holmes Had been chased all summer and then signed a new contract with Charlton and you felt that was that. A player the wrong side of 30; I was not sure he was the answer anyway. However, as Charlton struggled financially and were not that close to the top; Wilder went back in and put in a bid that was probably much smaller than the one the Addicks turned down in the summer and they let him go. He was seen as another attacking option and he started in a game at Wolves and did quite well and one of our better players but this was the only game he started.
He came off the bench a few times but often it was late on and cannot recall him having a proper chance. When he did come on, it did not quite happen but you do wonder if he could have been given more chances especially when Duffy and Brooks were both not available at times. We did not always open teams up and lacked goals from this area. It seemed off Wilder signing him if he did not give him a chance. As I say, he is not young and not sure he will be any closes to the side next season really. A punt that so far has not come off. If Brooks moves on, he may get more opportunities but you do wonder if he good enough at this level as he has never played here before and maybe lacks pace and athleticism.
Grade D- (Last season NA)
Lee Evans A surprise signing in the January window. A lot of talk was about Leonard and Holmes but then he came in. I knew he was a young player at Wolves that had not been near the first team for a while due to the new investments but I did not even know he had gone too Wigan on loan. Clearly, he was doing well there as they topped the league. Wilder saw something he liked and signed him citing potential to improve. He went straight in the side after being sub against Wednesday and played every league game after making his bow at Norwich. He showed he was a decent footballer, with a good touch and nice range of passing. A big lad but not a physical player, he seemed more of a ball player. He had a few really promising games (the two goals v Boro were special and had a few other assists/decent long-range shots) and at home he did well. Away from home, he was less impressive. I recall him being poor in games at Hull, Barnsley and Birmingham when teams came and fought. If pressurised he struggled as he lacked mobility and pace.
He did ok and was the better of the signings we made in January. I am still to be totally convinced. We won 7 of the 20 games that ended the season and like Lundstram for me was inconsistent. Too many times a good game would be followed by an ineffective one. He is only 23 though and with young players that can happen. I think he needs to get stronger physically and needs to sharpen up. I recall the game v Boro when he scored the amazing volley and the second a good one too; then second half he was awful and wanted too long on the ball or mis controlled it. That summed him up for me. I was deemed as being harsh but as I say Fleck and Duffy played quite well in most games. I am not sure that third wheel; whether it was Lundstram or Evans offered enough in terms of defensive protection or attacking impetus (consistently). He will face a fight to keep his spot with Coutts back but he is someone I feel can get better. Technically he is decent and has a decent touch and can pass but he needs to assert himself more on games and do some of the nasty stuff a bit more too. I felt we saw some teams impose themselves on us and we were a bit of a soft touch in the middle to end the season. Hoping next season he can build on some promise and continued to improve but see him more of a squad player than a starter every week.
Grade C+ (Last season NA)
John Lundstram Signed from Oxford just before the season. Another signing we did not expect but Wilder felt he could give us competition. When he signed we had Coutts, Fleck, Duffy and indeed also Brooks and Carruthers and he was a sub many of the early games. He came in and scored at Forest but was quiet and recall him standing in for the suspended Coutts v Ipswich and he did ok. A big lad who liked the long diagonal pass but showed he could pass short and long. We only saw glimpses until the Coutts injury but then that gave him his big chance. We struggled in a number of games but this was not down to Lundstram who actually did ok in some games and seem to steadily improve. You felt he was getting stronger and was adapting to this level.
Sadly, his performance became patchy again and despite a few goals; he was never totally convincing. Very weak for such a big lad and his touch and passing was up and down. Mixed in some decent games with some poor ones and was never a regular really. If he started, he was sacrificed often as the first sub and seemed to be a long way off what Wilder would require fitness wise. I felt he was top heavy and needed to shed a few pounds personally. When he played we could not quite press and harry as much as he lacks the pace and athleticism to do that. The fact that when Evans signed; he replaced him meant he was very much in and out and maybe more on the bench than playing. Shows some promise with his passing and again decent on the ball; but his deficiencies are his lack of foot speed and his inconsistency in games and game to game. He ended up sub more than he played in the end.
He had a big summer fitness/body wise but I see Fleck, Coutts, Duffy, Brooks and Evans all ahead of him really. He needs to get super fit and show he deserves more games with a more consistent and positive approach when he does play. Still one that has to more week in, week out to command a regular place but young enough to improve.
Grade C (Last season NA)
