Deane & Agana best Blades front 2 ever?

[Grizzly blade]

Yep.
Telepathic.
Both complimented the other beautifully. We have those two at their best now we make Europe no problem IMHO

 

[Champagneblade]

Sharp & McGoldrick certainly beats Sharp & Clarke and probably beats Deane & Agana for me personally. Based on who I’ve seen:

1. Sharp & McGoldrick
2. Deane & Agana
3. Kabba & Shipperley
4. Hulse & Steadinho
5. Deane & Fjortoft (albeit more two good players playing alongside each other rather than a partnership)

I don't mean this in an offensive way but I am 43, so was in my mid teens when Deane and Agana were together so I have a very clear recollection of them. Are you a couple of years younger?

Reason why I ask is that having experienced peak Deane and Agana and enjoyed so much Bassett dragging us out of the doldrums, no way is anyone since the 70s better than Deane and Agana. It's not even a debate for me. Billy and McGoldrick did well in that one promotion season.

But Deane and Agana were just brilliant together. Both had pace. One had left foot, the other right. Both were decent size, Deane particular was good in the air. I know it was at League One level but for both forwards to finish that season with 30 goals in their first season is just unfathomable.

It is a pity Agana eventually succumbed to injury but for the 3 years they played consistently together, they were often unplayable and both created a lot from open play, something where Billy lacks to be fair.

And bear in mind as well, we really spent sod all. I know Wilder has done great but the degree of tightfistedness during the Bassett years was unparalleled.

To me Deane and Agana were a once in a lifetime phenomenon.

 

[Champagneblade]

Sharp and McGoldrick, then Deane and Agana. The rest is debatable.

Think there is some recency bias kicking in there or you didn't watch Deane and Agana live.

Deane and Agana miles ahead of Didzy and Sharp.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I don't mean this in an offensive way but I am 43, so was in my mid teens when Deane and Agana were together so I have a very clear recollection of them. Are you a couple of years younger?

Reason why I ask is that having experienced peak Deane and Agana and enjoyed so much Bassett dragging us out of the doldrums, no way is anyone since the 70s better than Deane and Agana. It's not even a debate for me. Billy and McGoldrick did well in that one promotion season.

But Deane and Agana were just brilliant together. Both had pace. One had left foot, the other right. Both were decent size, Deane particular was good in the air. I know it was at League One level but for both forwards to finish that season with 30 goals in their first season is just unfathomable.

It is a pity Agana eventually succumbed to injury but for the 3 years they played consistently together, they were often unplayable and both created a lot from open play, something where Billy lacks to be fair.

And bear in mind as well, we really spent sod all. I know Wilder has done great but the degree of tightfistedness during the Bassett years was unparalleled.

To me Deane and Agana were a once in a lifetime phenomenon.

It‘s why I said based on who I’ve seen. I‘m a bit younger. I was 8 when I saw Deane & Agana for the first time in 91, so while I can remember them working well together, it’s not as clear a memory as I have of Sharp/McGoldrick together, I clearly missed both promotions where Deane/Agana were key, and really I caught the tail end of Agana‘s time with us.

 

[shorehamview]

Deane and Agana were frighteningly good. If they were playing now we’d have qualified for the Champion‘s League. Don’t get me wrong, I like Billy Sharp and hope he scores a hatful next season, but he’s not as good as Brian Deane was. That’s not saying Billy isn’t good, but he isn’t Brian Deane levels of good.

 

[The Hobott]

With Deane and Agana in the middle from a corner it was often like a penalty for us. Oooh its a corner Oooh its a corner we sang.

Lol. Deffo in div 3. And that's ignoring the fact that Deane was scoring machine in open play and Agana had a really good touch.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

They never really player together at the top level
Only.in.div 2 and 3

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Agana's fitness let him down and was often injured at key times. First game of the season against Liverpool he Cruyff turned Hansen/Hysen and left them dead, what a player. Deane best striker we have ever had, if Agana had been less injury prone he would have done serious damage with Deano at the top level. I once got talking to him after he went to Notts Co and he says that move pretty much ended his career, he was not very copmlimentary about Warnock!

 

[Lane Ender]

Jones/ Birchinall/Tudor

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Think there is some recency bias kicking in there or you didn't watch Deane and Agana live.

Deane and Agana miles ahead of Didzy and Sharp.

Watched both live on many occasions. My opinion stands, although there’s very little in it.

Sharp and Didzy did it in a side that played much better football and in a more difficult era.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I was a regular home and with many away in the mid 80’s....saw most of Deane and Agana’s games.

Deane; A real presence....he just needed to stand near the penalty spot and you could sense the opposition were nervous in fear.
good hardworking attitude....great in the air (one of the very best headers the club has seen in past decades).
Fairly quick, more skilful than people thought but his long legs made him look a bit gangly and untidy.

Agana: very quick, quite skilful and more of a team player....great awareness, unselfish and quite good at passing/ linking with Deane.
He hardly played in the PL but in the promotion season I always preferred Agana to Deane...looked more classy than Deane.

Sharp: the closest I’ve seen to Keith Edwards....a real predator.....always looking to score....fox in the box...good at finding space.
Great character and attitude...leads by example.

McGoldrick: The worse finisher of the 4 but a sublime first touch with eyes in the back of his head meaning he can make some great passes setting up others.
Regards class and footballing ability the best of the 4 players but not a natural striker for me.

The best pairing from the 4 players above would be Deane (target man and scorer) with McGoldrick (provider sitting deeper)l

If I had to choose the best pairing I’ve seen since I’ve been watching us from 1975.
It has to be DEANE and AGANA.....the main reason is both were very quick.....much much quicker than Sharp or McGoldrick.
Deane was a great target man and could hold the ball.....so D&A in the present team would give us an out ball.
We could defend deeper and still look really dangerous on the break.

 

[Brownieblade]

Not in my top 5 but minor/unnecessary mentions for:

• Walker & Taylor – they were a very effective pairing for 95/96, and for much of the following till JAF arrived. I feel Andy Walker is often forgotten by us – really liked him as a striker.
• Porter & Miller – the only genuinely effective pairing we had in 2013/13. Blackman may well have been a better player than both, but this pair seemed to have a good understanding. Sadly brought to an abrupt end by Miller’s injury.
• Saunders & Katman – they probably only had 4 or 5 games together, but I thought it was a partnership that saw success and had promise. Sadly brought to an abrupt end by cashing in on Saunders.

Loved Andy Walker

 

[Mumbo]

Deane and Agana all day long.

I don’t think I will see that kind of pairing again.

You never know,
I said to my mate when Adkins was in charge that the Blades would never make the prem in my lifetime,then Wilder walked in.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Our natural place of the 1st div/PL, means they are the only that count so Woody with TC, Mick Jones or Billy D for me. https://www.worldfootball.net/alltime_goalgetter/eng-premier-league/tore/sheffield-united/1/

Billy Dearden greatly underrated player, you just knew when Woody crossed the ball Billy would be on the end of it

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

In this type of debate, the players involved normally have to have played over a good period of time. As established pairings in my lifetime I would go for Jones and Birchenall, Deane and Agana, Pace and Russell, in that order. Outstanding individuals such as Edwards and Sharp don’t in my mind have a striking partner whose name is automatically associated with them.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

No one going to put forward sharp and mcburmie
I know we are always in for an exciting game when.I.see them two starting

 

[essexblade73]

Not even up for reasonable debate imo. Deane and Agana had everything you could need from a front 2, scored goals, could beat a man, had pace, could hold the ball up, could turn their man, both could head a ball esp Deano. Unplayable on their day.

 

[Pedro Verde]

No mention of Barry Butlin and Jeff Bourne

 

[diplomat]

Agana's fitness let him down and was often injured at key times. First game of the season against Liverpool he Cruyff turned Hansen/Hysen and left them dead, what a player. Deane best striker we have ever had, if Agana had been less injury prone he would have done serious damage with Deano at the top level. I once got talking to him after he went to Notts Co and he says that move pretty much ended his career, he was not very copmlimentary about Warnock!

I was about to mention the turn on Hysen, I think he might have done it twice. Turned and ten yards gone before he’d even turned his head.
It might be my age, mid teens watching them, and a bit of naivety re the league system at the time, but I genuinely felt that if those two were up top we were going to give anyone a game.

If Agana has been fullyfit that season we’d have won the league. Which would have been unbelievable. In hindsight getting level points with L**ds was incredible.

I love the pair of them. Mainly because they both seem absolutely lovely blokes too.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

No mention of Barry Butlin and Jeff Bourne

He's here
He's there
He's every fucking where
Jeffrey Bourne
Jeffrey Bourne.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

As a pairing , which is the subject of the OP , Deane and Agana were the best I ever saw with Jones and Birchy a close second and all others some way behind .

This view is based not only on their outstanding abilities and prodigious goal scoring feats but also the sheer excitement they generated when they were on song , which was more often than not .

As an individual , Deano is by some distance the best all round striker I ever saw in a Blades shirt , his nearest rivals in my view being Mick Jones , Doc Pace , Billy Sharp and Keith Edwards .

 

[haich1889]

As a pairing , which is the subject of the OP , Deane and Agana were the best I ever saw with Jones and Birchy a close second and all others some way behind .

This view is based not only on their outstanding abilities and prodigious goal scoring feats but also the sheer excitement they generated when they were on song , which was more often than not .

As an individual , Deano is by some distance the best all round striker I ever saw in a Blades shirt , his nearest rivals in my view being Mick Jones , Doc Pace , Billy Sharp and Keith Edwards .

Brilliant post. Just shows you though how folk think different. I always preferred Agana out of the pair, no real reason, just did.

 

[haich1889]

Jones and Birchenall

That was me dad's answer.

 

[haich1889]

Where's Higdon and Mcnulty

Dougie Brown & Trenton Wigan

 

[8lade]

Sharp: the closest I’ve seen to Keith Edwards....a real predator.....always looking to score....fox in the box...good at finding space.

Not arguing with the rest of your post but I'd say Sharp is better than Edwards, stronger, hits the ball cleaner and done it at a higher level.

Edwards and Sharp don’t in my mind have a striking partner whose name is automatically associated with them.

Edwards and Juan Colin Morris

 

[burtonstreetblade]

Jones and Birchinall. The Blond Bombshells!
Best young strikers in the country.
I cried when we sold them to Leeds and Chelsea.

 

[bornablade]

Bob Hatton and Keith Edwards

 

[originaltrueblade]

In this type of debate, the players involved normally have to have played over a good period of time. As established pairings in my lifetime I would go for Jones and Birchenall, Deane and Agana, Pace and Russell, in that order. Outstanding individuals such as Edwards and Sharp don’t in my mind have a striking partner whose name is automatically associated with them.

That Billy Russell first half hat trick in the quarter final of the FA Cup @Newcastle certainly shows the quality the Ex teacher from Manchester had, an amazing first 45 minutes

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

That Billy Russell first half hat trick in the quarter final of the FA Cup @Newcastle certainly shows the quality the Ex teacher from Manchester had, an amazing first 45 minutes

(Shameless plug alert) You will be looking forward to the thread ‘60 Years Ago This Month’ for that and other highlights. I hope you will have other memories to contribute as the season progresses.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Not arguing with the rest of your post but I'd say Sharp is better than Edwards, stronger, hits the ball cleaner and done it at a higher level.

Edwards and Juan Colin Morris

I can only get you on a technicality - Morris and Edwards was a winger/striker combination rather than a pair of strikers. Bloody good, though, and a great understanding between them.