Positive side of Beattie going?

[shorehamview]

Before anybody tries to lynch me I should just state that personally I think selling Beattie would be a mistake.

But if he does go are can we make his going into something positive?

Well, for a start it would let all the Blades who keep saying that Beattie is lazy find something else to concentrate on.

If he is indeed on £35,000 a week then it's entirely possible that we could sign two or more players who wouldn't be on that much money between them. Another forward and a couple of wingers possibly. Or a defender.

It would give players like Henderson the chance to show what he can bring to the team, which on the evidence of today's match against Norwich would be not only goal scoring but also his excellent ball control and distribution.

So rather than being really negative, is there a bright side to look at should Beattie go?

 

[bettsyblade86]

I agree with the above, its common knowledge that just about every player in the world is available "at the right price" my only issue is with the fee being rumoured. If what McCabe says about the deal being right for the club, and having a suitable replacement lined up, then i wont have a huge issue with the club.
The thing I am most wary of is improving the squad during the transfer window, rumours circulating about Beattie,Kenny, Quinn and Naughton leaving, how can a club like us replace those players. obviously all is speculation, but will be interesting to see if we do strengthen or indeed weaken during the next month....

 

[silverfox]

Positives?? Well for starters...

I think today was a strong "team" performance with Henderson being the main man.

Weak link? Cotterill for me.

 

[keenzy]

Where's the negative section?
Ill start...
Only having henderson sharp and webber up front will mean more long punts up field!

 

[Foxy]

Where's the negative section?
Ill start...
Only having henderson sharp and webber up front will mean more long punts up field!

What like today? We played it on the floor for the majority of todays game, scored from a good move.

 

[keenzy]

What like today? We played it on the floor for the majority of todays game, scored from a good move.

Indeed like today, plenty of it. Howard hasnt been playing well, but taking a passing midfielder out didnt look good. We kept launching it upto henderson, fair play he won all of it pretty much, But i thought blackwell was going to get us playing attacking and attractive football on the deck? The long balls happened at swansea also...

 

[Linz]

Indeed like today, plenty of it. Howard hasnt been playing well, but taking a passing midfielder out didnt look good.

The only player in midfield who saw none of the ball was Cotterill... and that's because he wasn't in the positions to become effective.

Much of the play came through midfield today... the only long balls I noticed were cross field ones to switch the play or from Paddy's kicks.

 

[Foxy]

Indeed like today, plenty of it. Howard hasnt been playing well, but taking a passing midfielder out didnt look good. We kept launching it upto henderson, fair play he won all of it pretty much, But i thought blackwell was going to get us playing attacking and attractive football on the deck? The long balls happened at swansea also...

Personally I thought we played more football than we have for a while. When we were under pressure in the second half we started knocking it long, at times just to get rid of the pressure. I wouldn't say we played a long ball game though. We put together a few good passages of play and passed it about. The goal was a good move that certainly wasn't just hit and hope.

As for Howard, he hasn't been passing the ball, he's been making sure he's not in space and therefore doesn't have to take the responsibility for weeks. If Quinny hadn't had a bit of a mare (barring his shots) then we'd have been better in the middle.

 

[metalblade]

I thought henderson had a good game today. Will we miss Beattie if he does go ???? Not a lot if Henderson can consistantly play like that, he won most of the headers and held the ball up superbly everything Beattie can't do in the role of a targetman. Get another striker who doesn't fall on his arse all the time and we might be onto something.

 

[Linz]

Get another striker who doesn't fall on his arse all the time and we might be onto something.

A very good point... we can't be paying them enough if they can't afford some studs!

 

[TonyAgana]

Barring upset fans, there's not many negatives to him leaving in my book.

 

[Foxy]

I want to know who supplies the studs, the amount of players we've had hitting the deck of their own accord this season is unbelievable.

 

[S64 Blade]

I agree Foxy. Happened on a few occassions today didn't it!

 

[matth]

Whilst I agree that Hendo had a very good game today, I'm still to be convinced that he can put in a performance like that week in, we out. Here's hoping he proves me wrong!

 

[Bladesman]

Apart from saving a few quid there isnt many positives of Beattie going.

Unless we somehow magically sign Phillips or Ebanks-Blake.

 

[The One]

Apart from saving a few quid there isnt many positives of Beattie going.

Unless we somehow magically sign Phillips or Ebanks-Blake.

Don't want Phillips, scores goals but for how much longer can he go on?

 

[Kev Gee]

If we got back what we paid for him & signed a good foil for Henderson (Lita) then i'd be happy with that. Hopefully we will sign a Left Winger & a CB as well.

 

[yuley82]

The only player in midfield who saw none of the ball was Cotterill... and that's because he wasn't in the positions to become effective.

Much of the play came through midfield today... the only long balls I noticed were cross field ones to switch the play or from Paddy's kicks.

he wasn't in the positions because he doesn't know how to get in position, many of the time kyle 'super' naughton had the ball and was looking for cotts running down the wing, but cotts just seemed to stand still when he got to the halfway line, he's a really irratating player because last season he showed what he's cappable of but just is'nt doin it this season, he needs to get some confidence back in his game or i could see blackwell shipping him out..

 

[Linz]

he wasn't in the positions because he doesn't know how to get in position, many of the time kyle 'super' naughton had the ball and was looking for cotts running down the wing, but cotts just seemed to stand still when he got to the halfway line, he's a really irratating player because last season he showed what he's cappable of but just is'nt doin it this season, he needs to get some confidence back in his game or i could see blackwell shipping him out..

I agree. If you look back, myself and jodman have had numerous exchanges where he felt I was being too critical of Cotterill. I don't doubt he has potential because he showed it off-and-on at the end of last season when he was looking for a contract... but even then, he wasn't consistently involved in the game when he was on the pitch.

He definitely has the potential to be a good player... but this season, he seems to lack the motivation. But he is still young and has time to develop... just wish it would hurry up!

 

[Come from away]

If Blackwell will stick with him for two or three games - let him start at Orient and Watford it may give him some of the confidence he needs - Quinn and Webber got to play when they were not doing well and they are starting to contribute.

 

[keenzy]

The only player in midfield who saw none of the ball was Cotterill... and that's because he wasn't in the positions to become effective.

Much of the play came through midfield today... the only long balls I noticed were cross field ones to switch the play or from Paddy's kicks.

Only commenting on the first half then?

Second half we didn't know what to do and was under the cosh alot and it was long balls up front most of the time.

 

[Foxy]

Only commenting on the first half then?

Second half we didn't know what to do and was under the cosh alot and it was long balls up front most of the time.

There was still a lot through the wings/midfield though. Yes we went through periods of booting it forward, mainly to relieve pressure.

We aren't ever going to go a full match playing pretty football, we rely on mixing it up.

Could you say we played more long ball with Hendo in the team than Beattie? I think we played less if anything.

 

[keenzy]

There was still a lot through the wings/midfield though. Yes we went through periods of booting it forward, mainly to relieve pressure.

We aren't ever going to go a full match playing pretty football, we rely on mixing it up.

Could you say we played more long ball with Hendo in the team than Beattie? I think we played less if anything.

We just counting todays performances? Or the ones were one of the other has been played?

Swansea, alot of long balls were played when we ran out of ideas, we just kept trying and trying and trying hoping for it to work. Most of the time we aren't mixing it, just keep trying the same over and over, no resorting to plan B.

Norwich were a weak side, and pretty poor, id like to see us play like we did at wolves, where we got down the wing. Webber did o.k but hes not a proper winger and cotterill didn't do it full stop.

 

[Foxy]

We just counting todays performances? Or the ones were one of the other has been played?

Obviously the most recent time sticks in the mind, but there are plenty of other times Henderson has played where we haven't just hoofed the ball to him. QPR 3-0, many were saying that Sharp scored a hat-trick because we played the right way instead of hoofing the ball/expecting him to come out to the wings.

Swansea, alot of long balls were played when we ran out of ideas, we just kept trying and trying and trying hoping for it to work. Most of the time we aren't mixing it, just keep trying the same over and over, no resorting to plan B.

Swansea was a poor game full stop. Not helped by playing half of the game with 10 men.

Norwich were a weak side, and pretty poor, id like to see us play like we did at wolves, where we got down the wing. Webber did o.k but hes not a proper winger and cotterill didn't do it full stop.

However weak they were, we beat them and I'd say we played less long ball than many other times this season. Even when he did receive a long ball he mainly brought the ball down, held it up before releasing it to a midfielder. Fair enough we may not carry on that way, but you couldn't say from Saturday that it looks like without Beattie there will be more long ball. Hopefully it'll continue if he does go.

 

[Come from away]

Losing BT would be a blow as there is no reason to assume that either Lita or Kitson or both could fill the gap. The one problem with BT is our inability to find anybody who can play alongside him, given that, creating a new partnership may be worth the risk - but it is a risk against a known quantity - a goal every couple of games, not bad.

 

[SRBlade]

Saturday Henderson done what most Blades wanted BT to do.

Hendo looked for the ball, he dropped back to make himself available when he needed to, he knocked it on a lot more than BT would, he also seemed more mobile than BT did, as well as powering his way past and between defenders, of which BT rarely did.

Don't get me wrong though, I don't want BT to leave but if he does leave, with Henderson playing we may score as many goals, but coming from all areas of the pitch, rather than from one player.

I hope he continues like that tomorrow and again at his old club Watford