Plans for next season

[Latters]

Completely agree Bergen. I'd rather have a winger who lacks technical ability, but has raw pace. For me, the fundamental criteria for a winger is the ability to go past someone using pace.

But O'Hallorarnonrnran has plenty more pace than Flynn but has looked far inferior when I've seen him play. I'd rather have Flynn than some shit soft bloke just because he can run fast. I've seen Flynn look lively and threatening on a few occasions this season.

 

[SotonBlade]

So you want to spend money we dont have on players for this season and then buy or get free transfers next year as well? The only players we should be getting should be better than what we currently have which upfront shouldnt be difficult now Ched isnt there

I actually meant the other way around

 

[munksyb]

I think a general rule should be ,
Having Sheffield United Players & not Loan players.

As long as Howard is better at commanding his area than Simmo, The Back ( as of today ) is Solid

Is Mac Donald a bit of an injury prone liability ??????

We suffered in the end from having depth , but no quality in that depth,

We should try at all costs to keep the back 5 intact, , but only add quality even if this leaves us a bit exposed to injuries , and nurture the McFazdeans / Kennedy's & Philiskirks et al to play in the easier games, so that when we need someone to fill the gaps, they can step straight in.
I know this will sound a counter argument to what I've just said, but I also think keeping a settled side week-in week-out would pay dividends.

Onwards & Upwards.

 

[Ollessendro]

Interesting analysis Balham. Some discussion afterwards. I think this should be combined with my thread on sustainability and the wage bill. This obviously has an impact on personnel.

My opinion is that firstly we must keep Maguire and Lowton. We should aim to keep the back 4 that served us well and was rock solid. Williams is ok at this level, at least until JLF is back. I'd have Doyle sitting in front of the back 4 and then we have either Cressy or Porter up top. That is a reasonable solid spine for the third tier. All (except Cresswell) on sustainable contracts.

Monty has to go. Realistically we cannot keep Quinn, McDonald and Williamson. We simply cannot afford it. It is likely that this will be dicatated by external forces anyway. I would probably keep K Mac out of the 3. Best midfielder at the Lane we've seen for years, perfect for Wilson's style and really makes the team tick. I can see the merits of keeping Quinn, but can we afford to keep him. He is clearly a class above on his day and his assists rate is excellent. He can make things happen, but is really inconsistent. As he is likely to be on best part of 15k a week and his contract is up next season, then I cannot really see us accpeting a cash fee. Williamson has contirbuted a lot this year in terms of goals. He is great on his day and has managed to stay fitfor the most part. However he is probably on a big salary, is inconsistent and has likely attracted interest from Championship clubs. It is interesting. Do we clear out big earners and go for youth or do we keep the players we know have quality, but this costs a lot?

We simply have to see the step up of some development and academy players. Tonne, Philiskirk, Conneely, McAllister, Harriot, MaCfeazden and Whitehouse will hopefully all push for the squad. We also need to bring in 8-10 players and on a shoe string budget. It is going to be a real test for Wilson.

I am not sure. Do we gamble and go for promotion? The league does not look strong next year and there must be a good chance of winning it if we keep some of the quality and Wilson gets it right. Or do we build for the future? Shift out all the big contracts, get all the large earners off the books and bring through the young players. Take a hit and finish mid table. But build for a push in a few years time.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Completely agree Bergen. I'd rather have a winger who lacks technical ability, but has raw pace. For me, the fundamental criteria for a winger is the ability to go past someone using pace.

For me the fundamental ability of a winger is someone who can put the ball on the strikers head or foot 90% of the time. If you can't do that then there's no point in having the pace to get past your man, as you won't do anything with it when you do make it past.

Unfortunately wingers with pace and top class passing ability will most likely be playing their trade higher up the leagues.

 

[axel smeets]

Interesting analysis Balham. Some discussion afterwards. I think this should be combined with my thread on sustainability and the wage bill. This obviously has an impact on personnel.

My opinion is that firstly we must keep Maguire and Lowton. We should aim to keep the back 4 that served us well and was rock solid. Williams is ok at this level, at least until JLF is back. I'd have Doyle sitting in front of the back 4 and then we have either Cressy or Porter up top. That is a reasonable solid spine for the third tier. All (except Cresswell) on sustainable contracts.

Monty has to go. Realistically we cannot keep Quinn, McDonald and Williamson. We simply cannot afford it. It is likely that this will be dicatated by external forces anyway. I would probably keep K Mac out of the 3. Best midfielder at the Lane we've seen for years, perfect for Wilson's style and really makes the team tick. I can see the merits of keeping Quinn, but can we afford to keep him. He is clearly a class above on his day and his assists rate is excellent. He can make things happen, but is really inconsistent. As he is likely to be on best part of 15k a week and his contract is up next season, then I cannot really see us accpeting a cash fee. Williamson has contirbuted a lot this year in terms of goals. He is great on his day and has managed to stay fitfor the most part. However he is probably on a big salary, is inconsistent and has likely attracted interest from Championship clubs. It is interesting. Do we clear out big earners and go for youth or do we keep the players we know have quality, but this costs a lot?

We simply have to see the step up of some development and academy players. Tonne, Philiskirk, Conneely, McAllister, Harriot, MaCfeazden and Whitehouse will hopefully all push for the squad. We also need to bring in 8-10 players and on a shoe string budget. It is going to be a real test for Wilson.

I am not sure. Do we gamble and go for promotion? The league does not look strong next year and there must be a good chance of winning it if we keep some of the quality and Wilson gets it right. Or do we build for the future? Shift out all the big contracts, get all the large earners off the books and bring through the young players. Take a hit and finish mid table. But build for a push in a few years time.

Interesting views ollie, but I cannot see how a club that has supposedly lost £15m over the past 2 years could turn down promotion next year in order to build for a push in a few years' time. Equally, there would be a gamble in putting all our eggs in one basket to get up next year and failing. This is an absloutely apalling league, will be again next year and I for one cannot wait to get promoted out of it in 2012/13.

 

[Balham]

So far; so good, only Morgs' retirement to go for a full sweep...unless McDonald chooses to sign elsewhere

Now that we've been consigned to another season in League One, the planning for next season should begin. The starting point should be a rational examination of the squad:

Goalkeepers:
Release:
Simonsen: Out of contract and reputedly a high earner, it's time for Simonsen to find the fifth club of his career. It's a shame that his time with the Blades ended with him blasting the 22nd spot kick over the Wembley crossbar but that shouldn't cloud the decision, which has to be to release him.

Defence:
Release\retire:
Taylor: out for a long time with injury and not at the same level since his return. A change of scenery would probably do him good too.
Morgan: again, out for a long time with a knee injury. He's been working on the coaching side and his reserves won the league: it's probably time for Morgs to hang up his boots.
Conneely: hasn't had the impact desired and will probably be released.

Midfield:
Keep:
Re-sign
McDonald: highly unlikely but the fulcrum of our team. If a deal can be agreed that would be a huge bonus - he should be the best player in League One next season if he stays
Williamson: if the price is right. If his demands are too high, he should go.

Release:
Williamson: if his demands are too high
Ertl: I've put him down as a midfielder as that's probably his least-worst position. Comes across as a thoroughly nice bloke but footballing-wise he's been a waste of a wage.

Forwards
Release
Beattie: a disastrous signing. No goals, two red cards - the latter when we needed him. Looks like he's going through the motions.

Others:
Evans: who knows. If his appeal is successful then re-signing him should be a priority but I can't see it happening.

The released players will have, as a rough estimate, taken a good £3.5m off the wage bill next year (Evans c£1m, Simonsen c£800k, Beattie c£400k, Ertl c£350k, Taylor c£300k, 11 reserves c£650k). If Morgan retires that'll take the figure up to £4m; if (and it's a big if) we can shift on Montgomery it'll take it up to £4.75m you're looking at over half of the wages gone and only Evans' departure weakening the team.

I wouldn't be surprised if the contract offered to Williamson was on reduced terms and McDonald's should be top-end of League One with a bonus if we get promoted.

The upshot of this is that we should have a considerable amount of flexibility to strengthen: if we sign players from smaller clubs who want to shine at the Lane or youngsters from Premiership clubs who aren't going to make the grade at that level, rather than players on the slow descent at the end of their careers.

 

[Bergen Blade]

But O'Hallorarnonrnran has plenty more pace than Flynn but has looked far inferior when I've seen him play. I'd rather have Flynn than some shit soft bloke just because he can run fast. I've seen Flynn look lively and threatening on a few occasions this season.

As far as first team football is concerned, O'Halloran had played 2 x 10 minutes as a sub, both against Macclesfield before we decided to take a chance on him. He's clearly lacked maturity and intelligence when we've thrown him on.

But we can't dismiss the value of pace because O'Halloran hasn't done well for us. The value of pace, in combination with the knowledge of how to use it (by the player and his team), can be seen in any match at a higher level.

 

[Latters]

As far as first team football is concerned, O'Halloran had played 2 x 10 minutes as a sub, both against Macclesfield before we decided to take a chance on him. He's clearly lacked maturity and intelligence when we've thrown him on.

But we can't dismiss the value of pace because O'Halloran hasn't done well for us. The value of pace, in combination with the knowledge of how to use it (by the player and his team), can be seen in any match at a higher level.

Who's dismissing the value of pace? I didn't say that pace isn't useful, just that O'Halloraranarnon is shit.
Pace isn't the be all and end all. If you know where to stand, you don't have to run to get there. Look at McDonald. He hardly ver breaks into a full on sprint but always has acres of space. If you pass and move well, pace isn't a necessity.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Who's dismissing the value of pace? I didn't say that pace isn't useful, just that O'Halloraranarnon is shit.
Pace isn't the be all and end all. If you know where to stand, you don't have to run to get there. Look at McDonald. He hardly ver breaks into a full on sprint but always has acres of space. If you pass and move well, pace isn't a necessity.

Who's saying pace is the be all and end all?

Nobody is saying all players need to be quick, but we should aim to have some players within the team and squad that add that attribute (+ a minimum of other attributes). McDonald's passes would be even more effective if he had quicker teammates that could outpace their markers and run onto his through balls.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

For me the fundamental ability of a winger is someone who can put the ball on the strikers head or foot 90% of the time. If you can't do that then there's no point in having the pace to get past your man, as you won't do anything with it when you do make it past.

Unfortunately wingers with pace and top class passing ability will most likely be playing their trade higher up the leagues.

Good point Highbury - Stanley Matthews didn't have much pace did he

 

[stannyblade]

If Morgs isnt to play again then we should redo his contract. He is on far too much for a coach

 

[Bergen Blade]

For me the fundamental ability of a winger is someone who can put the ball on the strikers head or foot 90% of the time. If you can't do that then there's no point in having the pace to get past your man, as you won't do anything with it when you do make it past.

Unfortunately wingers with pace and top class passing ability will most likely be playing their trade higher up the leagues.

I like the combination of one quick out and out winger on one side, and a more playmaking/early crossing wide man who is (usually) defensively more solid on the other. Giggs/Beckham was a classic example, as was Ndlovu/Tonge.

I think it's frustrating that we've often failed to go for such a combination. For example when we had a great crosser of the ball in Andy Liddell, we usually had Alan Quinn on the opposite side, i.e. no pacey winger on either side, and it meant we were too predictable and struggled to stretch and get in behind teams.

 

[JohnDenver]

I like the combination of one quick out and out winger on one side, and a more playmaking/early crossing wide man who is (usually) defensively more solid on the other. Giggs/Beckham was a classic example, as was Ndlovu/Tonge.

Bobby Ford / Paul Devlin.

 

[Kenilworth]

Bobby Ford / Paul Devlin.

Ford was more central. His most memorable moment was a winner versus pigs from the spot.

 

[Balham]

Ford was more central. His most memorable moment was a winner versus pigs from the spot.

I don't think it was a winner? I thought it put us 1-0 before someone equalised with a hugely deflected free-kick.

 

[Revolution]

Yes, Ian Hendon equalised from the aforesaid freekick.

And Ford is not playmaking. He was merely the most notable occupier of the Jamie Hoyland hole, the place where United central midfielders go to hide, also occupied in recent years by Brian "Fordy" Howard, James Harper, and of course Paul "One full season and no one noticed" Thirwell.

 

[Guesty]

Ian Hendon it was who equalised, I think. The deflection was off Woodhouse, maybe.

Ford also scored his penalty against Coventry in the FA Cup Semi Final shoot-out. I think this is what led to him being named first choice penalty taker.

Edit: Yeah what Rev said.

 

[Revolution]

That was the day Woodhouse was arrested after the game for fighting with Wednesday fans, I think.

 

[Kenilworth]

Ford was more central. His most memorable moment was a winner versus pigs from the spot.

Ford was more central. His most memorable moment was a goal versus pigs from the spot that put us into the lead before being pegged back to 1-1. I remember it well, Ian Hendon scored an equaliser from a free kick that took a wicked deflection off Woodhouse - who was later involved in a fracas with some Wendy ultras and kick started his boxing career