CONFIRMED Enda Stevens signs

[Alfreton14Blade]

Just keeps getting better and better? We're signing Enda Stevens not Chris Wood!

Hopefully he'll turn out to be to a good signing but we're signing a player from League Two, he could just as easily turn into the next Chris Hussey.

Tbf, Hussey was your archetypal approaching-30-years-old lower-league journeyman. Stevens is a different kettle of fish - he's won player of the season two years running and made the overall EFL (all divisions) team of the season this year. A player on the up.

Realise different folks have different expectations. Personally though, I'm loving us being strongly linked with these promising younger players desperate to prove their worth at higher & higher levels.

 

[YES Blade]

Tbf, Hussey was your archetypal approaching-30-years-old lower-league journeyman. Stevens is a different kettle of fish - he's won player of the season two years running and made the overall EFL (all divisions) team of the season this year. A player on the up.

Realise different folks have different expectations. Personally though, I'm loving us being strongly linked with these promising younger players desperate to prove their worth at higher & higher levels.

Like I said hopefully he will be a good signing, but I honestly don't know enough about him to suggest he's going to make it at Championship level. If you're signing players from League Two, there is also a chance that they have been playing at that level for a reason, he's 27 soon which isn't exactly young.

It's more the getting "better and better" comment that I find ridiculous, we're signing a left back from League Two. There is nothing to get excited about until we see how Stevens performs in a Blades shirt.

Wilder has worked wonders and deserves heaps of praise, but some on here seem to want to take it to arse licking levels.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Like I said hopefully he will be a good signing, but I honestly don't know enough about him to suggest he's going to make it at Championship level. If you're signing players from League Two, there is also a chance that they have been playing at that level for a reason, he's 27 soon which isn't exactly young.

It's more the getting "better and better" comment that I find ridiculous, we're signing a left back from League Two. There is nothing to get excited about until we see how Stevens performs in a Blades shirt.

Wilder has worked wonders and deserves heaps of praise, but some on here seem to want to take it to arse licking levels.

Bit surprised at that tbh. Didn't realise Stevens was that age - there's only a year and a half between him and Hussey!

I suppose though nowadays it's often the case with younger players going to big clubs, like he did with Villa, that they have to accept being farmed out on loan for a few seasons before they're able to get established.

But he's clearly been highly consistent over the past couple of seasons, as proven by his awards. He'd be a calculated risk. Much more so than the "wildcard" that Hussey was, what with him having been in and out of Bury's first team the previous season.

Who'd have been excited about Tammy Abraham at this time last season?

 

[TJB.]

I can see some kind of Sun/Daily Sport headline now...

PREMIER CHED GETS ENDA WAY
7-Goal striker deflects Stevens' low cross to boost Blades

 

[Champagneblade]

Just keeps getting better and better? We're signing Enda Stevens not Chris Wood!

Hopefully he'll turn out to be to a good signing but we're signing a player from League Two, he could just as easily turn into the next Chris Hussey.

Despite being in League Two, his peers see him as the best left back in the EFL. That's all 52 of the FL clubs. Not the worst accolade to arrive on the back of. Don't think there was much of a clamour for Hussey to take this one in recent times.

Definitely a smart move and time spent at Villa won't have been time wasted when joining a club our size.

Chris has got this. Relax this pre-season

 

[Booker4]

Despite being in League Two, his peers see him as the best left back in the EFL. That's all 52 of the FL clubs. Not the worst accolade to arrive on the back of. Don't think there was much of a clamour for Hussey to take this one in recent times.

Definitely a smart move and time spent at Villa won't have been time wasted when joining a club our size.

Chris has got this. Relax this pre-season

Is that how it works re the team of the league? I wonder if it just goes on the most votes per position for all the leagues. As an example: If Billy sharp and Dwight Gayle got more votes as the two forwards in their respective leagues then those two would pip say Chris Wood of Leeds out of the team of the season, even though Wood scored his goals at the higher level?

Either way, the fact Stevens made the team of the league bodes very well!

 

[Bladezz]

Enda Stevens won everything he can while playing for Pompey, he is in every team of the year and it doesn't make a difference how it ends up, he is in every single team of the year.

He can do no more.

 

[YES Blade]

Despite being in League Two, his peers see him as the best left back in the EFL. That's all 52 of the FL clubs. Not the worst accolade to arrive on the back of. Don't think there was much of a clamour for Hussey to take this one in recent times.

Definitely a smart move and time spent at Villa won't have been time wasted when joining a club our size.

Chris has got this. Relax this pre-season

Darren Ferguson is the EFL manager of the year, so is he a better manager than Wilder?

 

[BigBed]

So, I wonder if there is an Irishman called Enda Way?

There's a Welshman that goes by that name...........Oh, wait...........................NO, his name is Ched, my mistake, carry on

 

[FTPE]

When this is officially I hope Roy digs out that "you've just bagged yourself the best winger outside of the premiership" quote I saw earlier this week.

 

[Large Mendonca]

When this is officially I hope Roy digs out that "you've just bagged yourself the best winger outside of the premiership" quote I saw earlier this week.

I just hope he's better than "best left footed player in L1" Hussey

 

[FTPE]

I just hope he's better than "best left footed player in L1" Hussey

If we are digging up the past I think wilder said he had wand of a left foot and that his set pieces were second to none.
Ouch!

 

[Booker4]

Enda Stevens won everything he can while playing for Pompey, he is in every team of the year and it doesn't make a difference how it ends up, he is in every single team of the year.

He can do no more.

I know he couldn't do anymore mate, I was just curious how the overall team was decided! I really want us to sign Stevens, he sounds very promising.

 

[Kenilworth]

Mate of mine (we used to coach at the same club in Warwick) who is a very good friend of Michael Doyle says he was speaking to Stevens on Sunday and he confirmed he's signing for us.

My mate goes and watches all Doyle's games.
Used to travel to Leeds from Cov
Used to come up to Blades
Went to see Doyle play at Pompey
He knows his stuff and he described Stevens as "brilliant"

Mate also confirmed Doyler going back to Cov (Baker too) - he's a Cov fan. One of the good ones

 

[SteveBlade]

In the peak of his career.

Glowing reviews from everywhere.

Will sign for nothing.

Will have a winning mentality.

Top signing to set up a very exciting transfer window.

 

[Champagneblade]

Darren Ferguson is the EFL manager of the year, so is he a better manager than Wilder?

I think the post further down addressed this. The guy won every accolade he could.

Doesn't make sense that so many awards are voted on so early. Rosler has still done well but it looks somewhat silly now, Wilder sat there on 100 points and Rosler as a defeated play off semi finalist after dropping to 4th place. Looks like it was voted on the basis he'd sneak 2nd and we wouldn't finish with 7 consecutive wins.

Likewise on some of the voting, the Fleetwood right back getting in one of the teams of the year while Freeman finishes the season on 11 goals, which is phenomenal for a full back, let's be fair.

 

[YES Blade]

I think the post further down addressed this. The guy won every accolade he could.

Doesn't make sense that so many awards are voted on so early. Rosler has still done well but it looks somewhat silly now, Wilder sat there on 100 points and Rosler as a defeated play off semi finalist after dropping to 4th place. Looks like it was voted on the basis he'd sneak 2nd and we wouldn't finish with 7 consecutive wins.

Likewise on some of the voting, the Fleetwood right back getting in one of the teams of the year while Freeman finishes the season on 11 goals, which is phenomenal for a full back, let's be fair.

My point is that these awards aren't proof of anything, being in the EFL team of the year doesn't mean he is the best left back out of all 72 clubs.

We're signing probably the best left back from League Two, but we're a Championship club and it's possible this signing could go either way. Keep the praise on hold until he's shown he's a good signing, he's got to get the shirt off Lafferty yet.

 

[Lard_Lad]

Some great reviews from his team mates, looks like he's got a decent cross on him and solid defensively

 

[Booker4]

Some great reviews from his team mates, looks like he's got a decent cross on him and solid defensively

Until he signs I refuse to watch that! I thought it would be done by now, based on what Radio Sheffield said it seemed imminent but its not going to be done this week and I hope Stevens hasn't had other offers!

 

[Grizzly blade]

EFL player awards are a bit hit and miss, but I believe we have some justification for some bias towards our own players.
Freeman had a great season, and his goal tally should have seen him through to the team of the year in the same way it did for Morris at Scunny.
But I suspect there was perhaps a bit of "we can't have 6 Sheffield U players in it"

Anyway....this Stevens lad sounds promising. Adds depth to the squad.

 

[Gretsch Blade]

Living on the south coast I have friends who are season ticket holders at Fratton park. They all speak very highly of this lad.
Some comments that stuck in my mind from a chat earlier (after seeing the rumour on here); Fabulous crosser, fittest bloke in their team who runs up and down the flank all day long, Mr reliable last season rarely had a bad game, would walk it in the Championship (and deserves it after last season), huge prospect who earned his move to a bigger club.
By the way they all fancy having McNuts back in their side for next year and for what it's worth, also applauded Doyle for a proper Captains role during the last couple of seasons. UTB.

 

[davidblade]

Living on the south coast I have friends who are season ticket holders at Fratton park. They all speak very highly of this lad.
Some comments that stuck in my mind from a chat earlier (after seeing the rumour on here); Fabulous crosser, fittest bloke in their team who runs up and down the flank all day long, Mr reliable last season rarely had a bad game, would walk it in the Championship (and deserves it after last season), huge prospect who earned his move to a bigger club.
By the way they all fancy having McNuts back in their side for next year and for what it's worth, also applauded Doyle for a proper Captains role during the last couple of seasons. UTB.

I'd like to get this transfer over the line ASAP

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Too late, they're 'ere Guv.........................

I'm Wilder, I'm hungry for success and I've not had mi tea.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Should be good! His first name is an anagram of Dane. So that's a good omen!

It's also an anagram of Nade though!

Hat trick of aned's, who'd have thought it.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Enda the Dragon

so we've all going to be singing "everyone was kung fu fighting"?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Reporting he is Irish, thought he was a cockney?

Sure he's an Eastenda.

Irish would make him a westenda?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Why will they have a "great understanding" when they play on opposite wings? It's like saying Billy Sharp will have a great understanding with Simon Moore

Ched had an understanding with McDonald and they weren't even in the same team.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Despite being in League Two, his peers see him as the best left back in the EFL. That's all 52 of the FL clubs. Not the worst accolade to arrive on the back of. Don't think there was much of a clamour for Hussey to take this one in recent times.

Definitely a smart move and time spent at Villa won't have been time wasted when joining a club our size.

Chris has got this. Relax this pre-season

Guthrie came in with great accolades.

 

[coolhandluke]

Darren Ferguson is the EFL manager of the year, so is he a better manager than Wilder?

I'm still at a loss as to how he managed that . Bias aside , how anyone can rate Ferguson ahead of Wilder this season is simply beyond me .

 

[Ernest]

not really , a lot of or goals we conceded this season came from freemans side because he either didn't bother coming back or he couldn't get back in time. Enda coming in will mean freeman will be more defensively reserved, don't forget we conceded goals with freeman out of position when we were the number one side , this time we will be seen as one of the underdog teams , meaning a lot of the teams will have Much higher quality players, that will punish people being out of position, so unless we sign a first team centre back. From the top 6 in the league , then freeman needs to be more defensively aware, and having enda on the other side will make him be

I think you'll find that the majority of the goals we conceded actually came from the left. Also, this whole, "they will have a great understanding of each other's games" is a load of bollocks. As mentioned earlier, Freeman barely played when he went on loan to Portsmouth.