Monty - Whats the fuss

[SoccerCynic]

I have been Monty's biggest supporter over the years for his effort and loyalty to the Blades and I have defended him many times...but thats where it ends. He has assumed a greater importance than he warrants in the present climate and I think the club are happy for it to remain like that. Is he really that important? If he signs a contract the club will celebrate and say it demonstrates the determination of the board to move on....Really?
He can carry out a decent role as a squad player and I would keep him for that and his undoubted loyalty.
But.....and its a big but.....his only attribute is a spoiling tactic. His technique and in particular his ability to distribute the ball, is questionable, and his tendency to give away free kicks in dangerous position (not to mention penalties) is a liability. His importance has been overstated because his level of effort has led to his position of player of the year....what does that say about the team. This may be an unpopular view but its how I feel and we need someone with flair and skill to compliment Monty's tenacity.

 

[TAMUS]

The results are usually better when Monty plays.

 

[SBSP]

Spot on Cynic.

If Monty is what people want our team to be based on it really does showv the sorry state we are in.

The quicker he us gone the better and we can start to assemble a decent midfield.

 

[Foxy]

I beg to differ chaps.

Monty isn't the complete player, but he is no where near as limited as his stereotype makes out.

His distribution has improved greatly recently.

His benefits by far outweigh the downsides for a team like us, his drive, determination and effort would also be missed big time if we let him go.

He should be part of a core of dedicated and committed experienced pros next year - Paddy, Morgs, Monty, Cresswell.

Compliment him with a fit Willo (not looking likely already) or someone else who has creativity (but also willing to give people an option, rather than bloody hiding) and our central midfield will be fine.

It wouldn't be the end of the world, but it would be a sad day for Sheffield United losing Monty and he'll be difficult to replace.

 

[lenners]

A look at the teams apparently interested in signing him should give you some idea of his worth.
Comfortably a top end Championship player.

 

[Big Mart]

Monty is shit, Foxy once again shows a complete lack of footballing knowledge and an embarrassing willingness not to criticise anything attached to the Blades so what's the point? Perfectly valid thread latched on to by a perfectly rose tinted dimwit, how sad, here we go again

:gallop:

 

[Big Mart]

A look at the teams apparently interested in signing him should give you some idea of his worth.
Comfortably a top end Championship player.

"Apparently" there's been loads of top teams wanting to sign him...........but none ever did, doesn't that tell you something?

 

[ken shabby]

The phantom bidding war for our resident clogmaster will eventually be sussed as the outrageous attempts by his agent to big up his wage demands that it is.

can`t think why anyone would want him, he`s mugged a selection of poor managers at the Lane & at the lane is his only chance of football, though football is the last thing we ever get from him.

"Oh but passing, heading, shooting, crossing isn`t part of his game" i hear the philistines cry, "we love a bloke who can tackle well, tackle bad, even tackle his bloody self".

"Every team needs a monty"... then every team must be bloody shit.

 

[raul]

I would have been happy for him to have left in any previous summer this decade, however I think if he goes this season, given the current state of turmoil, it can only be seen as further indication of the direness of our straits.

If he does go, he goes with my good wishes because no-one can ever, ever say that he's not put everything he has into this club. This is not a debate about whether what he has is good enough, or what we need, and will be another severing of the bonds that hold club and fans together.

Plus, as soon as he's gone everyone who loves him'll be laughing at his travails elsewhere and saying he was shite all along. It's the Blades Way.:thumbup:

 

[raul]

The phantom bidding war for our resident clogmaster will eventually be sussed as the outrageous attempts by his agent to big up his wage demands that it is.

can`t think why anyone would want him, he`s mugged a selection of poor managers at the Lane & at the lane is his only chance of football, though football is the last thing we ever get from him.

"Oh but passing, heading, shooting, crossing isn`t part of his game" i hear the philistines cry, "we love a bloke who can tackle well, tackle bad, even tackle his bloody self".

"Every team needs a monty"... then every team must be bloody shit.

So, mixed feelings then Kenneth?

 

[Revolution]

Compliment him with a fit Willo (not looking likely already) or someone else who has creativity (but also willing to give people an option, rather than bloody hiding) and our central midfield will be fine.

I'd like us to do something really radical and play two, yes two central midfielders who aren't completely one dimensional. You know, people that can both tackle a bit and pass a bit. It is not illegal. We don't have to play one player in centre mid completely devoid of attacking nous.

Plus, as soon as he's gone everyone who loves him'll be laughing at his travails elsewhere and saying he was shite all along.

I disagree. Monty is special. Some people will cry when he leaves and will regard it as the worst thing that has ever happened to this team. Every defeat will be met with the comment that "we wouldn't have lost if we'd had Monty".

If he goes, I am looking forward to the reaction of that select group of posters who (a) defend every move the club makes and (b) defend Monty at all costs. How will they cope with the club letting him walk?

 

[Foxy]

Monty is shit, Foxy once again shows a complete lack of footballing knowledge and an embarrassing willingness not to criticise anything attached to the Blades so what's the point? Perfectly valid thread latched on to by a perfectly rose tinted dimwit, how sad, here we go again

:gallop:

It's nice that you are so open to the views and opinions of others.

I do actually start to wonder what the point is myself, why not just have a sounding board where you can post up "**insert name here** is wank, what a twat, anyone who thinks otherwise knows nothing", then only people who agree are allowed to comment?

Pray tell, is Gary Speed a rose tinted dimwit with a complete lack of footballing knowledge too? I mean, he obviously knows sod all about being a midfielder does he?

I'd like us to do something really radical and play two, yes two central midfielders who aren't completely one dimensional. You know, people that can both tackle a bit and pass a bit. It is not illegal. We don't have to play one player in centre mid completely devoid of attacking nous.

I've said all season I'd play a fit and on form Harper and Willo instead, however Harper has been poor and Willo never fit.

Given how much we struggled to replace Michael Brown/Stuart McCall all these years, just where are we going to pull a couple of complete midfielders from?

 

[Torrix1889]

Here we go again, round and round in circles like a broken record. Lets just face it, we've got the Monty is God camp and the Monty is shit camp.

I'm firmly in the latter.

Hmmmm, I feel a poll coming on!

 

[TonyAgana]

We landed an absolute peach with Michael Brown who has played every season since leaving us in the top flight. McCall was an absolute master-stroke, too. Also a player of the highest quality who plied his trade at the top flight. I think it's fair to say we were utterly spoiled with that partnership and it's not something which will be repeated again any time soon. Revolution calls for us to play two complete midfielders but fails to give names. Big Mart throws around insults, make accusations of "rose-tinted-ness" but fails to ask himself if he's the one with the blinkers on. If Nick Montgomery was a complete unknown called Edvard Richtenbrau, brought in at the beginning of last season with no reputation whatsoever, would you consider him "shit"? I'd imagine your answer will still be yes, but I think you'd only be lying to yourself.

 

[Revolution]

We landed an absolute peach with Michael Brown who has played every season since leaving us in the top flight. McCall was an absolute master-stroke, too. Also a player of the highest quality who plied his trade at the top flight. I think it's fair to say we were utterly spoiled with that partnership and it's not something which will be repeated again any time soon.

This is very true. Brown had the best season of any Blades player this century. It's inevitable we can't replicate that easily, but as we all remember it we can be guilty of judging all midfielders by his standards.

Revolution calls for us to play two complete midfielders

Revolution said no such thing. Foxy said that. I wanted midfielders who aren't totally one dimensional. Someone who offers something going forward and defending, not just defensively.

As for names, I never speculate on signing this or that player (the "who should we sign?" type threads). Doesn't interest me and I don't know enough about other teams anyway.

 

[TonyAgana]

Revolution said no such thing. Foxy said that. I wanted midfielders who aren't totally one dimensional. Someone who offers something going forward and defending, not just defensively.

As for names, I never speculate on signing this or that player (the "who should we sign?" type threads). Doesn't interest me and I don't know enough about other teams anyway.

Thanks for replying Rev, my comments about you saying we should play 2 complete midfielders were in reference to you saying 2 players who can break down play and create too. Regarding not speculating on names, how easy does that make your job?? It's not long before you can say stuff like "I think we should sign someone who can score 20 goals a season". The question is, without speculating names, how can you justify your argument?

 

[derrywan]

Here we go again, round and round in circles like a broken record. Lets just face it, we've got the Monty is God camp and the Monty is shit camp.

I'm firmly in the latter.

Hmmmm, I feel a poll coming on!

There's also "the Monty is alright I suppose" camp who don't feel particularly strongly one way or the other. I'm happy enough when he's playing, I don't think he's half as bad as some people like to make out and neither do I feel personally violated in the way some people do when he steps on to the pitch. Equally, though, there are better combinations we could play if we had everyone fit and available which would probably see Monty fall down the pecking order. I wouldn't start crying into my super-strength lager if that happened either.

 

[davidpinder]

He doesn't score enough goals for me his record is shocking, can't fault his work rate but the argument that our results were better with him is a fair one, although i think thats only because we don't replace him when he is out, i think Nicky Butt would be a good replacement and i think he'd get more goals. Just my opinion, i'd like him to stay but don't want us to break the bank to keep him.

 

[Revolution]

Thanks for replying Rev, my comments about you saying we should play 2 complete midfielders were in reference to you saying 2 players who can break down play and create too.

To me they are not the same thing. Michael Brown in 2003 is a complete midfielder, in that he does everything well. Someone who can do things defensively and offensively may not be as good as that, and hence not "complete", but will be more than one dimensionsal. An in form Stephen (or Alan) Quinn is a decent example - good engine, can tackle, can pass reasonably well and can score goals.

It's not long before you can say stuff like "I think we should sign someone who can score 20 goals a season". The question is, without speculating names, how can you justify your argument?

Asking for someone who scores 20 goals is a world away from asking for someone with a particular skill set.

And naming names is irrelevant. All I want is someone to play in midfield who has more of a creative/attacking dimension to their game than Monty. I am not asking for a needle in the haystack. That covers every midfielder in the division except Shaun Derry.

 

[SBSP]

Getting on a bit now but I saw that Lee Carsley is leaving Birmingham at he end of he season.
He can actually do the 'Monty' job that Monty himself can't do. Breaks up play well, seems to be there eveytine the ball drops and can play a pass.

 

[Houso]

Getting on a bit now but I saw that Lee Carsley is leaving Birmingham at he end of he season.
He can actually do the 'Monty' job that Monty himself can't do. Breaks up play well, seems to be there eveytine the ball drops and can play a pass.

The clue is in the the first clause of your first sentence.

Bring in Lee Carsley on the wages that he would no doubt demand, and we'd be left with another Harper type player who once did a job but doesn't have the same legs now.

I'm not going to argue in favour of Monty (though I believe I'm in the majority these days), but I do think that if we lose him, it will be very difficult to replace his energy. I think he'll go, so we're currently staring at a very worrying lack of central midfielders come the start of the new season.

I'd certainly sell Quinny before I'd be willing to lose Nicholas.

 

[Jostein Flo]

There's also "the Monty is alright I suppose" camp who don't feel particularly strongly one way or the other. I'm happy enough when he's playing, I don't think he's half as bad as some people like to make out and neither do I feel personally violated in the way some people do when he steps on to the pitch. Equally, though, there are better combinations we could play if we had everyone fit and available which would probably see Monty fall down the pecking order. I wouldn't start crying into my super-strength lager if that happened either.

I'd fall into this camp if I'm honest - I've never been his biggest fan but I believe he's a capable defensive midfielder who would be difficult to replace and is an asset against bigger clubs where we need to break up their play. There's been a lot of talk recently about the clubs 'soul being sold' and whilst I don't quite agree with that sentiment I think the sale or release of a commited player who's come through the ranks would be a big loss.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

that select group of posters who (a) defend every move the club makes and (b) defend Monty at all costs.

Now that some club to be a member of?

 

[Big Mart]

It's nice that you are so open to the views and opinions of others.

I'm far from it and the first to admit it. I respect the views of others when they are deserving of that respect, not of brown noses nor sycophants, unfortunately some on here would fall into those two categories.

I do actually start to wonder what the point is myself, why not just have a sounding board where you can post up "**insert name here** is wank, what a twat, anyone who thinks otherwise knows nothing", then only people who agree are allowed to comment?

For me I just call it as I see it, I think Monty is a turd, that's what the thread's about, that's my opinion so not just throwing general insults around for the sake of it so no need to "insert name here".

Pray tell, is Gary Speed a rose tinted dimwit with a complete lack of footballing knowledge too? I mean, he obviously knows sod all about being a midfielder does he?

Gary Speed's job is one of motivation. Telling a talentless dimwit, who we're stuck with, that he's a talentless dimwit would hardly motivate. Far better to bin the talentless dimwit in my opinion but hey, that's just what it is, an opinion, please feel free to disagree.

:gallop:

 

[Foxy]

I'm far from it and the first to admit it. I respect the views of others when they are deserving of that respect, not of brown noses nor sycophants, unfortunately some on here would fall into those two categories.

So go on then, tell me why I'm given no respect?

Gary Speed's job is one of motivation. Telling a talentless dimwit, who we're stuck with, that he's a talentless dimwit would hardly motivate. Far better to bin the talentless dimwit in my opinion but hey, that's just what it is, an opinion, please feel free to disagree.

Gary Speed has much more to his job than motivation.

Do you really believe his opinion of someone is based purely on making them feel good? is that why his fellow pro's felt the need to vote for him as their player of the year, simply to motivate him?

 

[super_pig]

it's simple.. our main problem is that our midfield are shite.. it is rightly pointed out it has been since lord brown and stuart mac left.. i can't make my mind up whether we bypass the midfield because it is our 'style' or because KB doesn't trust them with the ball.. i'm not sure.. but until we replace the middle two (i include montys partner in crimes against football stephen quinn) then we won't get anywhere.. i say this every year.. nowt happens.. we find a player. then sell him anyway.. no doubt we'll get the 'we're not ac milan' argument now.. there are decent all round midfielders out there.. wellens.. dorrens.. hoolihan.. stock.. snodgrass.. all well within our budget..
stuff the forwards.. we need to push the boat out for a proper midfielder.. and then not play them with one of the keystone cops.. zidane would have struggled in our midfield.

 

[Maidenhead]

I beg to differ chaps.

Monty isn't the complete player, but he is no where near as limited as his stereotype makes out.

His distribution has improved greatly recently.

His benefits by far outweigh the downsides for a team like us, his drive, determination and effort would also be missed big time if we let him go.

He should be part of a core of dedicated and committed experienced pros next year - Paddy, Morgs, Monty, Cresswell.

Compliment him with a fit Willo (not looking likely already) or someone else who has creativity (but also willing to give people an option, rather than bloody hiding) and our central midfield will be fine.

It wouldn't be the end of the world, but it would be a sad day for Sheffield United losing Monty and he'll be difficult to replace.

I agree with all of that, even the same four players first on my teamsheet

 

[JohnDenver]

I agree with all of that, even the same four players first on my teamsheet

Same here. Although these days filling the teamsheet is more a matter of finding eleven fit players than actually having to make decisions between them.

 

[Linz]

I'm far from it and the first to admit it. I respect the views of others when they are deserving of that respect, not of brown noses nor sycophants, unfortunately some on here would fall into those two categories.

Unfortunately, this isn't the forum for you then.

I take it that you failed to read the bit about "joining in with respect" when you signed up. It doesn't matter whether that's Foxy or anyone else.

 

[Kenilworth]

I think Monty is a turd

Some might say that Gordon Brown has a suitable word for you Big Mart.

Monty is not Lampard or Fabregas I'll grant you but he is not as bad as you make out. Limitations yes, turd - definitely not.
If we had another midfielder with greater gifts and vision to work with him Monty would be the perfect gofer for him. That's what we need for Monty to be even more effective than he is - his role is as a destroyer and cover for when we give the ball away, which actually happens quote a lot if you hadn't noticed.

Anyway, whats' with that iritating bloody horse that runs around your posts?
Could it be the source of the horse shit you peddle - straight from the horses mouth eh?