If Ched a waste of money?

[McGrath]

Let's wait until October or November.
He's been out a long time, I'm pretty sure the spell at Chesterfield was to ease him back in and his return home was always the plan.
Not ITK but just an assumption.
He will be training at an intensity he's never experienced so it will affect his body somewhat.
Give the lad a break, he deserves it

The thing is, we're going into a tough division where teams are splurging £17million on quality.

I don't feel like we've got the breathing space to 'give someone a break' and wait till October/November.

 

[Weasel]

The money we spent on Evans could have been divided up and got the Leonard and Holmes deals over the line.

Just saying like....

Not sure it could have though. My impression was that we bid £400k for Holmes whilst Charlton upped their price to nearly the £1m mark. We've bid £500k for Leonard and the latest asking price I heard was that they want around £750ish. Thats a combined total of £850k difference in bids made to alleged asking prices. Id wager that Ched was bought for less than £200k despite what rubbish was spouted by the Chessie director who was desperate to save face with their fans and be thought to have got one over their big city neighbours.

 

[sitwell]

All this because he missed a pre season friendly. Fucking drama queens.

 

[SwissBlade]

This is how i see it. To give the lad a couple of months to get himself back up to speed after a 4 year break out of the game, and then a stop / start year at Chessie not helped by them having a poor physio team, is only fair. In my mind, I never expected a totally fit and ready Ched Evans playing up front for Utd in August. If he's still not fit and ready to go in October though, then and only then will i start to have a couple of doubts. Give the lad a chance, he could be a snip for us.

The big thing, as i understand the physiology aspect (others may know better) is that its not the playing which is the problem, but the recovery.... Which in turn makes the playing a problem too. Fitness wise (cardiovascular) he will be able to last 90 mins. In terms of physique, he's clearly worked hard over the summer

Muscles and joints won't be accustomed to playing and recovering regularly, so he will pick up niggles like he did at Chesterfield last season. Perhaps the season he had there has been detrimental as well (not to criticise Chesterfield). The club and player will have wanted to be back playing and if he felt good then why not?

The Sports science aspect, again i'm far from being an expert, is driving this. Wilder has pointed to this as well during pre season (Stocksbridge game as an example). Whilst Ched will declare himself fit and be prepared to play through a niggle, there will be a programme for him which takes the impact of football (running, jumping, twisting and turning) into consideration. It will also monitor his fatigue based on performance data, which is linked to recovery times.

These programmes are quite dynamic and whilst being cautious, there will be opportunities to accelerate his involvement. As I said on another thread, the 'hip' issue might be precaution and if it was something hanging over him from last season, it will be handled with more care.

Final point, summer games are tougher as the pitches are harder. Malaga will have been a hard pitch, even with watering, it will have been drying out during the game, same with Chesterfield. The benefit of our pitch is that we have a very new sprinkler system, but it will still be quite hard.

 

[S64 Blade]

Does anyone think that he might not actually be injured, and it was just part of the deal that he wouldn't play in the friendly against his old club?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

He missed the 1st couple of months in his last season with us, didn't do too badly when he got fit. Not saying all's well and as posted elsewhere, him busting a gut to do well might not be helping, but for the outlay, not a waste of money....yet

 

[McGrath]

Not sure it could have though. My impression was that we bid £400k for Holmes whilst Charlton upped their price to nearly the £1m mark. We've bid £500k for Leonard and the latest asking price I heard was that they want around £750ish. Thats a combined total of £850k difference in bids made to alleged asking prices. Id wager that Ched was bought for less than £200k despite what rubbish was spouted by the Chessie director who was desperate to save face with their fans and be thought to have got one over their big city neighbours.

Well who knows what goes where to whom.

So far we've brought some decent signings but none that massively improve of us or any that solve would like solve some of the weaknesses in the squad. Not sure what the Evans signing does for us at present, apart from make his legions of fans happy

 

[nopigfansintown]

He's a low cost punt. If you forget he's Ched Evans and take the emotive side out of it, is the deal that bad? A rival has just took a punt on a league two lad for the best part of two million.

 

[Tezza1889]

To the op... the point is valid but a bit too early..

Everybody who's been to the pre season games has wanted the team to do well and a good proportion have wished to see Evans in a blades shirt knock one in (the net btw)

I watched him get drilled (stop it) at at Stocksbridge and I knew he wasn't nowhere near, but, how fit does he need to be to get a shirt, and my answer would be match fit, not fit, or coming back but "match" fit ...because the team showed incredible levels of fitness last year, 90+ every game pushing closing attacking, chasing down and we never give up till the last whistle, you've got to have the legs for that...

We can't go judging too early, especially when so many of us are over the moon with just the fact that he's back, but don't doubt his commitment and what he wants to give back to the fans and club, tell you what, have a chat with him, he'll give you the time and just then you might give him a bit as well..to get "match" fit.. or wilder fit.. whichever is the benchmark.

 

[Revolution]

Brooks will only be sold if CW wants to sell him.

Do you really think He would go against the managers wishes?

"Chris, we've had an offer for young Brooksy, I've accepted it"

"Behind my back?"

"Erm....."

"Look, I've reduced the wage bill, sold some promising youngsters, got a profit on transfer deals and still got us up, this one I don't want to sell"

"I'm selling him"

Can you see that happening?

Yes. That happens all the time in football.

 

[sitwell]

Well who knows what goes where to whom.

So far we've brought some decent signings but none that massively improve of us or any that solve would like solve some of the weaknesses in the squad. Not sure what the Evans signing does for us at present, apart from make his legions of fans happy

Probably one of the most ridiculous posts Ive read on here ,and that takes something.

 

[Hodgesleftpeg]

Yes. That happens all the time in football.

If it happens all the time, give me 20 situations that are proven where a successful manager whose had a fantastic season, is loved by the fans and chairman alike has had a player sold categorically against his wishes

 

[Stretch]

Ched was always a gamble due to the time he has been out of the game. Fitness, getting over injuries, rediscovering his goalscoring form.....all changes for Wilder et al but if anyone can get him playing again they can.

So it's a cheap gamble that could bear fruit or not. Either way it's not like the future of the club hinges on it.

 

[BushBlade]

If it happens all the time, give me 20 situations that are proven where a successful manager whose had a fantastic season, is loved by the fans and chairman alike has had a player sold categorically against his wishes

I can certainly think of one.

 

[McGrath]

Probably one of the most ridiculous posts Ive read on here ,and that takes something.

Would you do me the service of explaining what is ridiculous about it?

You will pardon me for being a cynic, but I find it very hard to understand how someone who's barely kicked a ball in 6 years is going to help us compete in this division

 

[I should coco]

You will pardon me for being a cynic, but I find it very hard to understand how someone who's barely kicked a ball in 6 years is going to help us compete in this division

How's about "form is temporary, class is permanent"?

If he can get properly fit, he will come good and he will do a job for us.

 

[mattbianco1]

I tried to be optimistic when Evans came in, however he's took this long already, to even get on the bench in a pre season game.

He came on against Malaga. He looked OK. Was fast and strong but could see he was rusty.

I would much rather we eased him back in gently than do what Chesterfield did and just threw him straight in at the deep end. He had a long time out of the game, his body will take time to readjust fully. We have got a top medical team at SUFC, proven by the injury count last season. He'll be ready to start games by the end of August.

 

[McGrath]

How's about "form is temporary, class is permanent"?

If he can get properly fit, he will come good and he will do a job for us.

Well in those first 2 depressing seasons at Bramall Lane there was very little class to be seen. Maybe if his class had been a little bit more permanent we wouldn't have been stuck in division 3 for 6 years

 

[I should coco]

Well in those first 2 depressing seasons at Bramall Lane there was very little class to be seen. Maybe if his class had been a little bit more permanent we wouldn't have been stuck in division 3 for 6 years

He was a young man learning the game with the pressure of a massive fee and managed by an idiot. It is not coincidence that Sharp was in a similar position and failed when Blackwell kept trying to make him into a winger.

Did you see no quality at all in 2011/12, none?

The season hasn't even started and you are moaning and deciding on scapegoats already. God knows what shitstorm will hit us if we don't beat Brentford 6-0.

Have a word with yourselves, Blades, have a word.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

I'm only going off what the reports were saying. That's the only thing to go off. If he was less, and if he works out and even gets 10 goals all competitions, I'll eat my words. But at the moment, I'm worried with his injuries, no doubt his quality is worth a million, but his whole fitness at the monent puts his worth down

No eating your words is not enough..............you have to go on the Town Hall steps and bare your bum.

 

[Liverpool blade]

I just wish that some people would stop slagging ched!. True he's got a couple of injuries at the moment but he's been out of the game for the last five years!!. I believe that given time he will an asset to us. We've got Lavery and brooks who are looking really strong!. Wilder knows how to get the best out of players so let's see how it goes!. Utb

 

[BanbridgeBlade]

not many had him on their first XI for the start of the season. Most went with Sharp & Clarke/Lavery.

If it takes him to October to get back to fitness that still gives him 8 months of the season to make an impact.

July is way too early to make a judgement on how good/bad a signing he is. Like many have said, he has the quality he just needs time after having so long off.

Baldock was out injured last night, why aren't people moaning about him being a waste of money?

 

[blade too long]

"So far we've brought some decent signings but none that massively improve of us or any that solve would like solve some of the weaknesses in the squad."

massively , not a word Id use on a sheffield forum, but why do we need massively improving
either they are decent signings or they are rubbish , which is it
a team thats not lost a game since February , does it need massive improvements

when did some of our fans decide , right we got up , but now we arent fit for purpose
players who did great are suddenly bags of crap incapable of improvement
last years heroes are inadequate incompetent sluggish unfit and clueless , according to blades with a penchant for wednesday fan instilled phrases
wednesday fans are the only ones saying we will go straight down , a few of our fans seem to believe what they say more than realising we had championship squad that was too good for league one

 

[Chief_Froley]

Can't be arsed to read the full thing so apologies if these have been said.

We signed Lavery last season and he had fitness issues so didn't see any action until nearly December. He turned out alright.

My brother also made a good point in that Malaga may have been the only match we've played so far where we were safe to actually play him. He may be innocent but there's still are people who hate him and based on older interviews he's mentioned the grief he's had from professionals in the game. Purely speculation but I think all it would have taken was one Stocksbridge player with no career and not much to lose to come along and put in a nasty challenge for us to have a player with a serious or career ending injury so it might have been wise to keep him on the sidelines (may be taking it to the extreme but you know what I'm getting at).

Now seeing as the only other game we have had was Chesterfield and it would have been a bit of a dick move on our part to bring him on I'm going to wait to make any judgement. Even if all the above turned out to be shit the lad still needs a good pre season behind him before he gets going. With the intensity of our training I fully expect the new lads to get knocks anyway regardless of fitness levels.

 

[Sheffsteel]

500 k. Same price we spent on Billy sharp. Who has a great record in then championship unlike Evans. I'm not slating Evans quality I'm just questioning if he's capable of being what he once was. Just like if sharp was having these injury problems for the past year, people may be questioning him

Wilder was interviewed about the transfer when we signed Ched.
He laughed at the £500K reports and said it was significantly less than that.
Said it was a financial package set in favour of the club, suggesting it's performance related.
It's due to the injury concerns that we got him at such a low price, so it's a low risk transfer.

The OP makes a fair point about Cheds injury concerns but it's way too early to comment.
I reckon if Sharp doesn't score in his first 4 matches the OP might be asking if Sharp has lost his scoring touch.

 

[blade too long]

As for Ched I will take bets on him

He will score 15 or more before hes played 36 games in my opinion
he will get the service, and put them away

his fitness will be finefrom august onwards which was the plan from day one and CW saved his debut till it was in Spain deliberately to avoid the press.

 

[Mouth of the South]

500 k. Same price we spent on Billy sharp. Who has a great record in then championship unlike Evans. I'm not slating Evans quality I'm just questioning if he's capable of being what he once was. Just like if sharp was having these injury problems for the past year, people may be questioning him

The fee was nowhere near the amount you stated.

I note you failed to specify who you would have preferred the club to buy instead - please enlighten us.

Regardless of how much he cost, did you also write off Clarke last season while he suffered from injuries?

 

[Sheffsteel]

Would you do me the service of explaining what is ridiculous about it?

You will pardon me for being a cynic, but I find it very hard to understand how someone who's barely kicked a ball in 6 years is going to help us compete in this division

Can I ask if you went to matches in 2012?

I was never a fan and didn't really rate him but I was made to eat humble pie and saw a player that was far too good for league 1. He virtually made us a 1 man team, he was that good.

He's been out of the game along time but it wasn't due to a career threatening injury.
He's still quite young and doesn't have the wear and tear on his body like other players his age.
Even if he return to 75% of his ability he'll still do a reasonable job in the Championship.

I don't think many fans are expecting him to be an instant world beater.
I reckon he could have a similar season to Leon Clarke, initially be under whelming in the early months.
Always have injury niggles but finally get up to speed and be a real asset towards the end of the season.
We need to be patient and lower our immediate expectations but I reckon in 2018-19 he will be a real asset.

 

[LenTednTony]

The money we spent on Evans could have been divided up and got the Leonard and Holmes deals over the line.

Just saying like....

IMO, we didn't pay anything for Ched. I believe that when Chesterfield needed a cash injection to survive, United were the source of that money (circa £200K I believe) and that it was agreed then that we would get Ched instead of a repayment of that money. I may ne way off the mark........but I might be bang on. All speculation of course.......absolutely no ITK.

 

[sitwell]

Well in those first 2 depressing seasons at Bramall Lane there was very little class to be seen. Maybe if his class had been a little bit more permanent we wouldn't have been stuck in division 3 for 6 years

So you just conveniently ignore the season where he was unplayable scoring 35 goals ,and even the season before he was our top scorer ,did that simply not happen in your world. Did you not go that season ,did you not see a class footballer ?