Hendo and Billy both going

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Latest on Billy?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_6221426,00.html

 

[puppet]

Except that Deane (twice) and Fjortoft were key to the United sides they were playing in...unlike Billy Sharp. £1m+ is great business.

BUt Sharp should be a part of the team! he's scored more goals than any other United player for Doncaster Rovers, he's proved that he can do it at this level. Why people think flogging him is the best thing to do is beyond me!

 

[Balham]

BUt Sharp should be a part of the team! he's scored more goals than any other United player for Doncaster Rovers, he's proved that he can do it at this level. Why people think flogging him is the best thing to do is beyond me!

Because to my mind, he has to feel that the team relies on him and that it should be built around him but that has to be balanced against the fact that the weight of expectation gets to him. He's done it at Scunthorpe (avg attendance last year of 6,464) and Doncaster (10,992), both clubs happy to just be in the Championship. However, he's not done it at United (25,120) - are we too big for him? I'd argue that he might struggle at Burnley (average attendance 20,654 in the Premiership) with the pressure of leading a promotion charge.

I appreciate that he's a Blade through and through but that's not enough.

 

[Ecco_Blade]

Because to my mind, he has to feel that the team relies on him and that it should be built around him but that has to be balanced against the fact that the weight of expectation gets to him. He's done it at Scunthorpe (avg attendance last year of 6,464) and Doncaster (10,992), both clubs happy to just be in the Championship. However, he's not done it at United (25,120) - are we too big for him? I'd argue that he might struggle at Burnley (average attendance 20,654 in the Premiership) with the pressure of leading a promotion charge.

I appreciate that he's a Blade through and through but that's not enough.

Thats one way of looking at the situation, but not one I necessarily agree with. I certainly don't think United are too big for him, I think its more that our style of play doesn't suit him.

When he was at Scunny my son was in their Centre of Excellence and got free tickets for home games. Consequently, I saw him play quite a lot of games for them, firstly alongside Andy Keogh and then alongside Jermaine Beckford. The style of play was such that the ball was played into his feet allowing him to turn defenders in the box and get his shots in. There were two quick wingers whose job was to beat the full backs and supply the strikers. This style of play has just not happened under Blackwell and thats the reason I think we have not seen Billy at his best.

When Scunny played Aston Villa in the League Cup, Sharp was up against Martin Laursen and Oleg Mellberg and in no way struggled against a good Premiership defensive partnership. Ok thats a one off game as an example, but it showed me that he is good enough if the game is played to suit his style.

Only time will tell I guess, but I expect him to flourish in any team which plays the ball into feet. He definitely won't do anything when the balls being punted up into the air for him to try and win against much taller centre halves.

It obviously looks likely that he will be leaving the club and I am probably in the minority, but I think it will be one of the most disappointing sales I have known during my time supporting The Blades. I'd much rather we adopted a more passing game of football to suit Sharp as its not easy to find someone who can pretty much guarantee 15+ goals per season.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Ref Billy, our current manager feels that Billy isn't good enough to completely alter our team style and personnel to play around to his individual strengths.

 

[puppet]

Because to my mind, he has to feel that the team relies on him and that it should be built around him but that has to be balanced against the fact that the weight of expectation gets to him. He's done it at Scunthorpe (avg attendance last year of 6,464) and Doncaster (10,992), both clubs happy to just be in the Championship. However, he's not done it at United (25,120) - are we too big for him? I'd argue that he might struggle at Burnley (average attendance 20,654 in the Premiership) with the pressure of leading a promotion charge.

I appreciate that he's a Blade through and through but that's not enough.

So he can do it when theres no expectation lumped on him at 'lesser' teams but not for us??