Jamie Murphy

[MBoreman]

Like many I was very excited when he signed and thought he could be the perfect replacement for Blackman. Sadly he has turned out to be one of the most frustrating players I've watched. Whether this is down to confidence, lack of strength or simply not being good enough I'm not sure. Being positive I do think there's a good player in their somewhere which will hopefully come out soon and he'll start ripping teams apart alongside Brandy.

When your at this level without much money buying attacking players like Murphy, you'll tend to have to take a risk, whether that be through buying from a different country (Murphy/Taylor), buying a relatively unknown/out of favour player (Miller) or buying a young player struggling to break through at their club (Blackman). However much scouting you do you can never be that sure it'll come off. At the start of last season we took two punts (Miller, Blackman), which both came off pretty well, we then proceded to sell one of them and the other got injured. In January we took a risk with Murphy and now one with Taylor. Especially with Taylor we can't be entirely sure whether these have come off or not, but so far the signs aren't nearly as positive as they were with Miller/Blackman. Oh well, fingers crossed.

 

[SwissBlade]

Just wait until he's in his last 6 months of his contract, he'll suddenly be a world beater when someone offers £50 and we'll all demand blood for selling him.

It's the Blades way

 

[Bergen Blade]

Murphy, Taylor and Brandy are players with pace who are best used if they can run onto balls. First game apart, they have usually received the ball with their back to goal with a marker breathing down their necks.

Until we manage to let our players make effective use of their good attributes, they will be slagged off as crap. It's a shame if these players do well before and after they've been here, while we're unable to make them perform.

 

[cooperblade]

Murphy, Taylor and Brandy are players with pace who are best used if they can run onto balls. First game apart, they have usually received the ball with their back to goal with a marker breathing down their necks.

Until we manage to let our players make effective use of their good attributes, they will be slagged off as crap. It's a shame if these players do well before and after they've been here, while we're unable to make them perform.

I agree that Murphy often gets the ball in poor positions to make the most of his pace. However, when he gets the chance to run at people, he tends to either turn and come back or run straight into his opponent. He has to do more for me when he has the ball.

I think his movement is pretty good and he makes himself available across the front line, because of this he's seen plenty of the ball in the early games which is a positive. He tends to go sideways when he gets it though.

The biggest negative with his game for me is his ball striking which is awful.

 

[Kenilworth]

Murphy ? Pace?
Gotta be kidding. He is slow, has poor control and is as weak as a kitten.
If that's who our salvation rests on the God help us.
Even Brandy is giving up the ghost now. So much shit around him he is having to work much harder and that is clearly going to lead to muscle tears and ligament strains.
Opposition coaches only have to watch a partial match feed to know that if you nullify Brandy there is absolutely nothing else to worry about.

We are no where near close to being a work in progress.
This is regression theory in practice.
We are as good as Notts county. But only just.

 

[Guesty]

People are still making excuses for Murphy? The man surrenders the ball to the first challenge almost without fail. He's much vaunted goal threat has brought two goals. His ball control is looser than Monty's. But of course it's the system (actually several systems, under two managers), no failing of his own. There's a video of him scoring goals online you see, so he can't be rubbish.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I agree that Murphy often gets the ball in poor positions to make the most of his pace. However, when he gets the chance to run at people, he tends to either turn and come back or run straight into his opponent. He has to do more for me when he has the ball.

I think his movement is pretty good and he makes himself available across the front line, because of this he's seen plenty of the ball in the early games which is a positive. He tends to go sideways when he gets it though.

The biggest negative with his game for me is his ball striking which is awful.

I was very optimistic after the Notts County game as we looked to have an exciting front line, which had the potential of improving with the more mobile option in Taylor for Porter. Murphy looked good and more confident, and I thought he'd finally start realising his potential.

But with McDonald gone, our newfound attacking excitement is just gone, and we're back to looking very average in a system and style that no longer let our forwards use their attributes effectively.

I really hope there are strenghtenings coming in this week, because I can't see the current bunch being good enough for the top six. And I don't think reverting to 4-4-2 is going to help much.

 

[sheffielder]

we don't move the ball quick enough to make any use of Murphy, Brandy or anyone to make use of it however good, shit or wank anyone thinks they are.

 

[Guesty]

I'm not saying our style of play doesn't go some way towards nullifying their contribution. What I'm saying is that Murphy seems to have barely any attributes at all. Playing in a formation that doesn't suit doesn't mean you have to let the first tackler take the ball off you every time, or show the close control of a brick wall. We've seen what Brandy can do even if he can't always do it due to ponderous play around him. With Murphy I've seen next to nothing.

 

[Bergen Blade]

People are still making excuses for Murphy? The man surrenders the ball to the first challenge almost without fail. He's much vaunted goal threat has brought two goals. His ball control is looser than Monty's. But of course it's the system (actually several systems, under two managers), no failing of his own. There's a video of him scoring goals online you see, so he can't be rubbish.

There will always be posters thinking any player is crap. One of the crappiest Blades performances I've seen came from Murphy, but I think there's a chance of making him work.

 

[blade too long]

24 appearances now only 2 goals , theres a lot of mustard left uncut

 

[awblade]

I was really impressed with Murphy yesterday, second half anyway. First half, didn't see much of him at all, second half he always had his head up looking to run with the ball, and barely ever lost it.

I haven't been nearly as impressed with him since he signed as I hoped, but hopefully yesterday will be start of a decent run for him...

 

[Deadbat]

I thought he was poor again. He runs aimlessly and never attacks defenders or goes forward (more sideways) and mostly he cannot wait to get rid of the football. His shooting is poor and he barely gets shots to reach the keeper such is the lack of power. He is slow and brittle and has the heart of a pea.

Now onto his weaknesses.....

 

[Reedy1889]

is this the same Murphy we signed?

what do people think we should do with him, get rid? persevere and hope he eventually comes good? loan him out hoping that'll boost his confidence somehow and he'll come back a different player? personally i dont know anymore what his best position is supposed to be

 

[bartman]

I was really impressed with Murphy yesterday, second half anyway. First half, didn't see much of him at all, second half he always had his head up looking to run with the ball, and barely ever lost it.

I haven't been nearly as impressed with him since he signed as I hoped, but hopefully yesterday will be start of a decent run for him...

Totally agree. thought he was one of the better of a poor outfield bunch yesterday. Wanted the ball and appeared on the front foot trying to effect the game.

Once again Brandy flattered to decived

 

[bartman]

I thought he was poor again. He runs aimlessly and never attacks defenders or goes forward (more sideways) and mostly he cannot wait to get rid of the football. His shooting is poor and he barely gets shots to reach the keeper such is the lack of power. He is slow and brittle and has the heart of a pea.

Now onto his weaknesses.....

Sorry DB,you are describing Brandy yesterday,not Murphy

 

[Latters]

is this the same Murphy we signed?

what do people think we should do with him, get rid? persevere and hope he eventually comes good? loan him out hoping that'll boost his confidence somehow and he'll come back a different player? personally i dont know anymore what his best position is supposed to be

He's never been given a shot up front here really. Get him up front with Porter, who does tend to bring the best out of his strike partners, and we might see a different player.

Ideally I'd like him to forge a strike partnership with Taylor, where both forwards are capable of scoring, but we don't have the intelligence or craft in midfield to create the right type of chances with passes to run onto. McDonald would have been suited to this type of role.

 

[true99blade]

He's never been given a shot up front here really. Get him up front with Porter, who does tend to bring the best out of his strike partners, and we might see a different player.

Ideally I'd like him to forge a strike partnership with Taylor, where both forwards are capable of scoring, but we don't have the intelligence or craft in midfield to create the right type of chances with passes to run onto. McDonald would have been suited to this type of role.

What's happened to McGinn? He played very well against Notts County and after one bad game against Brentford he's dropped. He could maybe play the McDonald role, his usual position before joining us was more of an advanced role.

 

[Pinchy]

Murphy ? Pace?
Gotta be kidding. He is slow, has poor control and is as weak as a kitten.
If that's who our salvation rests on the God help us.
Even Brandy is giving up the ghost now. So much shit around him he is having to work much harder and that is clearly going to lead to muscle tears and ligament strains.
Opposition coaches only have to watch a partial match feed to know that if you nullify Brandy there is absolutely nothing else to worry about.

We are no where near close to being a work in progress.
This is regression theory in practice.
We are as good as Notts county. But only just.

We are a work in progress. Weir will get it right given time, but will he get it from the high percentage of morons within our fan base? (I'm not referring to anyone on our forum!).

The alternative is someone like Upanatem Morgan, isnt it? Get stuck in, Gerritintbox and be outclassed by Yeovil? If we give up on football, I'm finished. The Hoofers can have exactly what they deserve.

 

[DeepcarBlade]

is this the same Murphy we signed?

what do people think we should do with him, get rid? persevere and hope he eventually comes good? loan him out hoping that'll boost his confidence somehow and he'll come back a different player? personally i dont know anymore what his best position is supposed to be

Looking at that video, his best position is up front, not messing about on the wings. I think only 1 of those goals came from him cutting in from the wing. The rest were opportunist goals or goals where he crafted something for himself using his undoubted skill. Get him up front alongside Porter, who will create chances for him.

 

[moDtheGod]

Looking at that video, his best position is up front, not messing about on the wings. I think only 1 of those goals came from him cutting in from the wing. The rest were opportunist goals or goals where he crafted something for himself using his undoubted skill. Get him up front alongside Porter, who will create chances for him.

Some of us have been saying this for a while You're right, though.

 

[Kenilworth]

We are a work in progress. Weir will get it right given time, but will he get it from the high percentage of morons within our fan base? (I'm not referring to anyone on our forum!).

The alternative is someone like Upanatem Morgan, isnt it? Get stuck in, Gerritintbox and be outclassed by Yeovil? If we give up on football, I'm finished. The Hoofers can have exactly what they deserve.

We are a work in progress. Weir will get it right given time, but will he get it from the high percentage of morons within our fan base? (I'm not referring to anyone on our forum!).

The alternative is someone like Upanatem Morgan, isnt it? Get stuck in, Gerritintbox and be outclassed by Yeovil? If we give up on football, I'm finished. The Hoofers can have exactly what they deserve.

It's not binary though, Pinchy. It's not just pure or hoof. There are many points in between but we seem incapable of getting a balance that suits the players abilities. It all seems a bit painting by numbers at the moment.

From the games I have witnessed it is not a work in progress.
They are making the same mistakes and STILL not creating chances, bar the game vs County, which was the exception -but that was the first match and its all been utter garbage since.

 

[super_pig]

murphy is a nippy little forward being played out of position to accomodate the formation.. i still haven't seen anything to make me rate him though. he seems identical to ryan flynn. monty style control.. headless chicken sideways runs and nesh

 

[JohnDenver]

(I'm not referring to anyone on our forum!).

Polygraph required!

 

[Bergen Blade]

What's happened to McGinn? He played very well against Notts County and after one bad game against Brentford he's dropped. He could maybe play the McDonald role, his usual position before joining us was more of an advanced role.

McGinn played in McDonald's role for a while in one game, but I think Weir sees him as a more holding playmaker and prefers Doyle and Coady so far. Like the former management, the current seem to be huge fans of Doyle.

 

[Pinchy]

Polygraph required!

I've already booked a slot on the Jeremy Kyle show. Invitations are going out to selected posters as we speak. I've nominated you to be the semi-neutral friend who sits in the audience to give me some support.

 

[Pinchy]

It's not binary though, Pinchy. It's not just pure or hoof. There are many points in between but we seem incapable of getting a balance that suits the players abilities. It all seems a bit painting by numbers at the moment.

From the games I have witnessed it is not a work in progress.
They are making the same mistakes and STILL not creating chances, bar the game vs County, which was the exception -but that was the first match and its all been utter garbage since.

I agree with much, though not all, of what you say. Surely, though, DW deserves a little longer to settle in and create his own team (which I guess will include very few of the players he has inherited). For Heaven's sake, I gave Blackwell and Adams more chance than this!

 

[MBoreman]

I think we looked most threatening yesterday on the counter when the likes of Murphy, McFadzean, Brandy and Taylor were able to run onto balls. So in future I reckon we should adjust to playing a much more counter-attacking style as we don't seem to be able to score when there's defenders near their goal.

 

[Kenilworth]

I agree with much, though not all, of what you say. Surely, though, DW deserves a little longer to settle in and create his own team (which I guess will include very few of the players he has inherited). For Heaven's sake, I gave Blackwell and Adams more chance than this!

Since when have I called for the head of Weir?
Just pointing out that a prem philosophy with gar age players delivers garbage.
I just want him to recognise his to make the most of the shit he has to deal with and deliver some hope to the fans rather than paint it by numbers.

 

[Hodgyman]

I still think that played in the right position (STRIKER) and given a decent service of throgh balls he is fast enough and good enough to score for us. Remember that Millar also struggled when he first plated for us, also on the wing (also out of position).

He needs to be playing as a front 2 partnership, feeding from each other.

One man up front is not working.