Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
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Strikers
Billy Sharp 30 goals the previous season but still many, including United fans wondered if he could cope with this level at his age now. He had scored goals here before but the division seemed to have got much better in terms of pace, power and level of defender. Still, Sharp began the campaign as captain and United did not really bring in new strikers that would properly challenge (if you take away Evans and then later Donaldson). He started with a winner at home to Brentford and then after missing a few chances at Cardiff scored in games against Barnsley and at home to Derby and already had 4 goals to begin the season and our first 4 goals (not including the Derby own goal) we scored back at this level. Our reliance on him still was clear to see. He got an injury and missed a run of games but got back in to score at Leeds and then at home to Reading; both poachers goals. He was rested for some games even when scoring but scored two at Burton and had 8 goals mid-November. As United’s form tailed off, so did Sharp’s form. He was then rotated in and out as Donaldson played with Clarke for a period and then Wilson came in.
He was surprisingly not used against Wednesday at the Lane and that will have hurt him to not feature especially as he did so well against Leeds as he showed when he scored a tremendous volley and a penalty winner to complete the league double. He got another double at Reading but then had an off spell again and missed some big chances at Brentford and was back out of the side around Easter. He ended up sub in some of the crucial games and you feel he could have been used more perhaps as Donaldson and Wilson and even Brooks at times; continued to flatter to deceive (do very little!).
Many felt he would struggle with his lack of pace and athletic ability but he knows where the net is and has always been a good finisher – he maybe should have had more than the 13 goals he got. At times he played well and looked hungry but as daft as it sounds his partnership with Clarke still did not always work as a collective – at times it did; even though they scored a lot of goals really and one of most effective partnerships in the league for goals scored. Other games he looked slow and quite weak and looked for fouls or was not a factor. At times he looked quite old and got outmuscled in games we struggled. He would keep surprising by coming back and showing signs of life – testament to how much he cared about United.
His future next season has some uncertainty even as the second leading scorer. He did not finish as a regular. He is still club captain but you wonder if he will play even less. I would not begrudge him say a move to the States or something similar. Not sure he would want to play for anyone else now other than United in the UK – he has reached the peak of his career and had so many special moments over the last few years. Been a great servant and a leader – the stuff he does in the community and the way he comes across shows him a blade, a family man but someone who knows what it is like to be a fan. A really down to earth decent bloke who loves the Blades. I would not want him to leave due to falling out with Wilder or becoming frustrated. I would not be averse to him being around for another year even if not a regular but whether he wants to do that I am not sure. Whatever happens in the next 12 months (can’t imagine Sharp being here after that being honest); it is great at the third time of asking he proved himself; and then some; at the Lane.
Grade B- (Last season A)
Clayton Donaldson A player I always liked but he was clearly not quite as quick and dangerous as he had been and Birmingham were quite happy to release him. He came in when we had a few injuries and made an instant impact with a great double v Sunderland. After this he pulled his hamstring and then was not back for a while. Saw him at Forest and at QPR and he was non-existent really and was then back on the bench but came in and scored 2 against Villa and helped us get a vital point stopping a bad run. He played some games but was mostly sub. He nearly scored versus Wednesday and then did score a week later at Norwich but this was his last goal. After this he was mainly a sub although started at Fulham when Clarke was injured. He came on at Brentford and versus Cardiff and missed some glorious chances; two one on ones at Griffin Park and then hit the post from point blank range in the game on Easter Monday at the Lane; if he scores that then we would have won that game. He was really poor at Birmingham in a crucial game.
Seemed to always play better away than at home; maybe being able to run off defenders with more space suits him more where as teams at home play more defenders and go forward less so less space. Bit hit and miss at times. His touch was erratic and sometimes made poor decisions with the ball but then would surprise you with some quality. He did his best but think if we had a bit more quality than him and Wilson off the bench or as back-ups we may have got more goals and more points. He is out of contract this summer. I personally would not bring him back. He is 34 now and not sure he would want to stay as someone who rarely plays. At League One level he would score a hatful I feel as still has enough about him. Seems another really decent bloke so hope he can find a local-ish club- maybe Bradford or Doncaster – as he is a Yorkshire lad.
*Stop Press – released as of 11th May 2018. Not a surprise really as stated above and the right move for me.
Grade C (Last season NA)
Leon Clarke Clarke had a late resurgence in the season after a so so first year at the Lane and scored some vital goals but no one thought he would have that much of an impact at the higher level and many fans from rival clubs laughed at the thought of him being a key player. He had a slow start but then his first goals for the season came at Hillsborough and he got another 2 a few days later; again versus another former club in Wolves. This set him off and the spell where he scored 10 goals in 5 games in November-into December was remarkable. He showed pace, power and led the line. He looked like Ronaldo at times (the older one!) as defences could not cope with his power. He showed some great skill and all of a sudden seemed to show pace I never quite thought he had. He was on fire and suddenly other clubs such as Villa were being linked with him and we had to get him tied down on a new contract. He looked superb and had the lot. Showed some real skill, some cool finishing and looked so powerful. Defences were struggling with him. He held it up and a real talisman. He looked the complete striker. His work ethic was incredible. I never thought he had in him that kind of determination as he chased defenders all over. It was a massive turnaround from the Clarke I had seen but was more than effort; it was everything on and off the ball.
It was remarkable as him and Sharp were the leading scoring partnership in the league. It was hard to see it lasting and it did not. He picked up a few niggling injuries and lost his form and went 3 months without scoring but he always seemed to be the first-choice striker picked due to his size, hold up play no matter. His confidence started to wane and he had some poor games and missed a few games with injuries etc but Wilder never properly took him out of the team. He started to look quite languid and started to sulk a bit for me. I felt he was struggling and missed some big chances in games that he had to bury. More than this though the effort and team ethic was just left lacking at this vital stage of the season. As the Easter period came he finally got back in the goals scoring v Cardiff and played much better in this game. He scored then at Barnsley in a mixed game and then he was poor at home to Boro at fault for their goal and missing a sitter. His performances became up and down but he scored again v Millwall and then you could see how much we missed him at Birmingham. He ended with a goal at Bristol and finished with 19 goals.
Named in the PFA team of the year. If you had said that at the start of the season; I would have thought you insane. Overall, a really good season and a huge surprise.
Grade B+ (Last season B-)
Ched Evans Evans came back amidst a great deal of controversy. Some were delighted feeling he was now an innocent man and had unfinished business at the Lane. They pointed to his impressive showing v the Blades for Chesterfield and his power and shooting. Others felt he had been too unfit and barely featured for the Spireites and a shadow of the player before his imprisonment. His pre-season was stop start due to fitness and he was only given his first outing really when he came on and made a real difference in the comeback League cup win at home to Walsall, helping set up two goals. After this he was only a sub at best with a rare league appearance against Norwich where he looked well off the pace. It was agreed he needed an operation and he was out for a while only coming back at the turn of the year. He was mostly an unused sub but did play in the league game at Ipswich but was quite rusty again. He did not even make the bench in many of the games in the run in and seemed behind Clarke, Brooks, Sharp, Donaldson and Wilson. He simply has never got fully fit and if he was fit towards the end in the glimpses he had did not really look sharp enough at this level looking quite slow and his touch poor. The signing has not really worked at all yet and he has another 2 years left on his contract. I think we need to be in the market for much better. One option is to loan him out to a League One club for 3 months at the start of next season and hope he finds form and fitness – not scored a goal for well over a year. The other is we cut our losses and release him – we would not get a fee for him. I would not really be that bothered if we did the latter. He has not shown enough. Wilson got pelters for his loan spell but Evans was as bad in the games he played – it is only his previous spell that has fans somehow hoping he will get back to near that level. That was over 6 years ago and the reality is he is not the same player and we are also playing at a higher level.
Grade E (Last season NA)
