Cherry Street
a.k.a. Bailgate Blade
Billy Sharp's form this season has been incredible. We know that last season's debacle could have ended up being even worse had we not had his enormous contribution. However we need to think about things rationally.
Do we honestly believe that Billy will provide the answer for next season? Or, maybe, that we can expect him to score the same amount of goals?
His most prolific seasons have been in League One. I'm certainly not questioning his ability at Championship level; averaging roughly one goal in three is more than respectable. However, now, there are undeniable doubts: his age and lack of pace, less of an issue at this level, now stand against him. I worry that he won't be as effective at Championship level.
I have faith in him linking up with another striker, but what we have at the moment simply doesn't cut it. Clarke's played excellently without pressure (this particular hot streak coming against poor opposition), and his partnership with Billy has only really come to fruition late in the season. Then there's the fact that he's 32.
Similarly, Lavery, whilst showing very brief flashes of brilliance, for one reason or another hasn't developed much this season (possibly due to Sharp's presence and relative lack of injury, partially due to his own lack of match fitness). Let's not even discuss McNulty. Hanson, whilst his link-up play and touches have been excellent, doesn't I feel stand up to the remit required of a Championship striker.
What does this leave us with? A gaping hole up front, against a host of near-Premier League standard defenders. Of course, not all the teams we face next year will have players of that calibre, but I don't need to reiterate the standard of the teams we'll be facing.
I have faith in Wilder. This is a man who has had back-to-back promotions, and is on a steep upwards curve. He understands the dressing room, and what's best, seems to draw the best out of it. He and Knill have turned this club around, tapping into the untouched potential that this team has demonstrated. Let's not forget the incredible signings he's made, nor the terrible one(s), and how he dealt with that situation (Hussey).
I highly doubt Ched Evans has/will cost us a fee of £500,000. What is certain, however, is that we've brought back a very capable striker for a fraction of the cost of what he would have commanded had he not gone down. I'll admit, hindsight is a wonderful thing; his return this season for Chesterfield hasn't been up to scratch. I point out, however, that he has been playing for a side that has offered very little in the way of goal-scoring threat throughout the season, and when we played them away, he was the best player on the pitch for the majority of the time he was on it.
His wildly-successful season was compounded by the partnerships he made with quality players around him, and with the similarly-high-quality supply he received from the likes of Quinn, MacDonald and Williamson. I believe (as must Chris Wilder) that his quality remains; if there's anyone who can unlock that potential again, it's the man who seems certain to trounce the points record for this division in his first season managing in it.
What's more, he'll be surrounded by similarly, probably even more high-quality creators, in the form of Fleck and Coutts. The core of the team remains the same; we've just taken on a difficult but ultimately innocent name who can produce when backed-up by excellent players, which we have. Even the midfielders we had when we were in the Championship (and he played for us) weren't of the standard that we have now.
I'm genuinely interested to see who other would have ahead of Evans at this point. Who else fits the bill of a powerful, fast, technically-gifted striker and won't cost us a bomb?
Evans and Sharp is a tantalising partnership, and what's best is that it's come at a relatively low cost. Let's have faith in the management of the football team.
UTB.
Do we honestly believe that Billy will provide the answer for next season? Or, maybe, that we can expect him to score the same amount of goals?
His most prolific seasons have been in League One. I'm certainly not questioning his ability at Championship level; averaging roughly one goal in three is more than respectable. However, now, there are undeniable doubts: his age and lack of pace, less of an issue at this level, now stand against him. I worry that he won't be as effective at Championship level.
I have faith in him linking up with another striker, but what we have at the moment simply doesn't cut it. Clarke's played excellently without pressure (this particular hot streak coming against poor opposition), and his partnership with Billy has only really come to fruition late in the season. Then there's the fact that he's 32.
Similarly, Lavery, whilst showing very brief flashes of brilliance, for one reason or another hasn't developed much this season (possibly due to Sharp's presence and relative lack of injury, partially due to his own lack of match fitness). Let's not even discuss McNulty. Hanson, whilst his link-up play and touches have been excellent, doesn't I feel stand up to the remit required of a Championship striker.
What does this leave us with? A gaping hole up front, against a host of near-Premier League standard defenders. Of course, not all the teams we face next year will have players of that calibre, but I don't need to reiterate the standard of the teams we'll be facing.
I have faith in Wilder. This is a man who has had back-to-back promotions, and is on a steep upwards curve. He understands the dressing room, and what's best, seems to draw the best out of it. He and Knill have turned this club around, tapping into the untouched potential that this team has demonstrated. Let's not forget the incredible signings he's made, nor the terrible one(s), and how he dealt with that situation (Hussey).
I highly doubt Ched Evans has/will cost us a fee of £500,000. What is certain, however, is that we've brought back a very capable striker for a fraction of the cost of what he would have commanded had he not gone down. I'll admit, hindsight is a wonderful thing; his return this season for Chesterfield hasn't been up to scratch. I point out, however, that he has been playing for a side that has offered very little in the way of goal-scoring threat throughout the season, and when we played them away, he was the best player on the pitch for the majority of the time he was on it.
His wildly-successful season was compounded by the partnerships he made with quality players around him, and with the similarly-high-quality supply he received from the likes of Quinn, MacDonald and Williamson. I believe (as must Chris Wilder) that his quality remains; if there's anyone who can unlock that potential again, it's the man who seems certain to trounce the points record for this division in his first season managing in it.
What's more, he'll be surrounded by similarly, probably even more high-quality creators, in the form of Fleck and Coutts. The core of the team remains the same; we've just taken on a difficult but ultimately innocent name who can produce when backed-up by excellent players, which we have. Even the midfielders we had when we were in the Championship (and he played for us) weren't of the standard that we have now.
I'm genuinely interested to see who other would have ahead of Evans at this point. Who else fits the bill of a powerful, fast, technically-gifted striker and won't cost us a bomb?
Evans and Sharp is a tantalising partnership, and what's best is that it's come at a relatively low cost. Let's have faith in the management of the football team.
UTB.
