Retained List

[dn5 shaun]

Wow. Stark reading. No wonder we were no threat that dark dark season.

Can't just blame the strikers, they had no help from a equally piss poor midfield

 

[dn5 shaun]

The very same midfield that might be supplying our strikers again

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Can't just blame the strikers, they had no help from a equally piss poor midfield

This is often overlooked when we denigrate strikers.

Harry Kane would have struggled for goals being fed by Osborn and a woefully out of form fleck and lundstram downing tools and playing in his flip flops.

It’s Throwing good money after bad if we sign an striker with nothing in midfield to create chances.

 

[bertieblade]

The very same midfield that might be supplying our strikers again

Fleck, Norwood and Lundstram???

Possibly Berge is the only one I expect to be playing this season on a regular basis

 

[Mouth of the South]

Fleck, Norwood and Lundstram???

Possibly Berge is the only one I expect to be playing this season on a regular basis

It wasn't just the individuals (Fleck less effective, Norwood ineffective when pressed, Lundstram not bothered and trying to avoid injury) but also how the team were set-up. Playing such a flat 3 in midfield isolated the strikers which resulted in them feeding off scraps and having long balls fired into them - none of the strikers were effective in holding up the ball meaning the side struggled to get out of their half and lost possession far too easily.

 

[bertieblade]

It wasn't just the individuals (Fleck less effective, Norwood ineffective when pressed, Lundstram not bothered and trying to avoid injury) but also how the team were set-up. Playing such a flat 3 in midfield isolated the strikers which resulted in them feeding off scraps and having long balls fired into them - none of the strikers were effective in holding up the ball meaning the side struggled to get out of their half and lost possession far too easily.

Totally agree, the comment was in reference to the quote that we would very likely have the same midfield this season

 

[BrisBlade]

Back to RND - I think a lot depends on how he’s looking recovery-wise and, if he’s looking good, where Hecky sees him playing.

If they’re keen to make him an LCB then maybe you go with Robinson and RND to scrap for that shirt… with new blood in at LWB and Lowe moves to backup.

Alternatively, if they want him to be an LWB then maybe he starts there with Lowe as backup… the LCB slot then becomes new signing for the starting 11 with Robinson as backup.

Either way I think we are stronger. The risk is RND’s injury looks so bad that we can’t rely on him at all… then we’d need new signings in both LCB and LWB, expensive and lack of familiarity on the left could cause us teething issues.

Here endeth the (tediously long) lesson.

If we really have little to no cash, I'd look to sell Lowe to fund a new LWB or LCB, let Stevens go, and keep Osborn. That way we have RND (if fit) and new player as starters, with Osborn and Robinson as backups. I would like one other, but if we don't have the brass that's how I'd shuffle the pack to sure up left mid.

 

[Keen Blade]

I just went on starts. There's probably an argument that McBurnie was first choice but was injured most of the time but even so I'd say that this year's version of McBurnie was better than 20/21's in the same way that Baldock has improved since that season.

20/21 striker stats:
David McGoldrick 28+7 apps, 8 goals
Oli The Burke 14+11 apps, 1 goal
Rhian Brewster 12+15 apps, 0 goals
Oli McBurnie 12+11 apps, 1 goal
Billy Sharp 7+9 apps, 3 goals (2 penalties)
Daniel Jebbison 3+1 apps, 1 goal
Lys Mousset 2+9 apps, 0 goals
Iliman Ndiaye 0+1 apps, 0 goals
Antwoine Hackford 0+1 apps, 0 goals

Reading that list makes me shudder , what a bunch of hopeless strikers we had - apart from Didsy whom we then allowed to leave.
Some breathtakingly bad recruitment got exposed that season.

 

[Keen Blade]

We need a GK , RCB , LCB , LWB (unless RND is really fit & back to top form) 2 x MF & 2 x ST.
That's 7 in if RND fully on form , assuming Bogle can be taught in preseason how to defend.
Davis , Stevens , Fleck JoC & Sharp should not be in the squad , so 5 to leave.
So the net incomings is 7-5=2.
Of the 7 , it'll probably be 2 transfer fees , 2 free agents , 2 loans from PL & 1 loan from abroad (assuming we can field a total of 3 loanees).
Keep Osborn if he's fit enough & cheap enough to cover LWB & LMF.
Keep Coulibaly as a development project.
Squad should be :
Wes & NEW GK & junior GK.
Baldock & Bogle (if passed defending exams in summer).
RND & Lowe (unless sold & replaced).
Anel & NEW RCB.
Egan & Bash.
Robbo & NEW LCB
Berge (as no one will pay money for him) & Norwood.
NEW Doyle & NEW McAtee.
Coulibaly , Osborn & Blaster.
Ndiaye & NEW ST
McB , Jebbo & NEW ST.
Osula can go out on loan.
All newbies must be mentally ready to become battling Blades.
There.
Piece of cake , this squad refreshing lark.
The only thing is , I don't know which newbies should be loans + which should be given contracts.

 

[jono_t2000]

We need a GK , RCB , LCB , LWB (unless RND is really fit & back to top form) 2 x MF & 2 x ST.
That's 7 in if RND fully on form , assuming Bogle can be taught in preseason how to defend.
Davis , Stevens , Fleck JoC & Sharp should not be in the squad , so 5 to leave.
So the net incomings is 7-5=2.
Of the 7 , it'll probably be 2 transfer fees , 2 free agents , 2 loans from PL & 1 loan from abroad (assuming we can field a total of 3 loanees).
Keep Osborn if he's fit enough & cheap enough to cover LWB & LMF.
Keep Coulibaly as a development project.
Squad should be :
Wes & NEW GK & junior GK.
Baldock & Bogle (if passed defending exams in summer).
RND & Lowe (unless sold & replaced).
Anel & NEW RCB.
Egan & Bash.
Robbo & NEW LCB
Berge (as no one will pay money for him) & Norwood.
NEW Doyle & NEW McAtee.
Coulibaly , Osborn & Blaster.
Ndiaye & NEW ST
McB , Jebbo & NEW ST.
Osula can go out on loan.
All newbies must be mentally ready to become battling Blades.
There.
Piece of cake , this squad refreshing lark.
The only thing is , I don't know which newbies should be loans + which should be given contracts.

You're allowed 5 loanees in ur matchday squad. So technically we could have 2 UK loans + 3 international loans

 

[Westran]

So based on the star article, they're assuming Norwood and McBurnie have already triggered extension options in their contracts, Jebbison was mentioned too. Seems to be based on the way they talked about next season in press interviews, probably as good a guess as any.

My guesses on the remainder are as follows

Stevens (release)
Sharp (reduced/coaching contract) - probably why the retained list is being held up
Osbourn (keep)
Foderingham (keep)
O'Connell (release/conditioning coach contract)
Fleck (release)
Coulibaly (release)
Robinson (Keep)

 

[Mouth of the South]

We need a GK , RCB , LCB , LWB (unless RND is really fit & back to top form) 2 x MF & 2 x ST.
That's 7 in if RND fully on form , assuming Bogle can be taught in preseason how to defend.
Davis , Stevens , Fleck JoC & Sharp should not be in the squad , so 5 to leave.
So the net incomings is 7-5=2.
Of the 7 , it'll probably be 2 transfer fees , 2 free agents , 2 loans from PL & 1 loan from abroad (assuming we can field a total of 3 loanees).
Keep Osborn if he's fit enough & cheap enough to cover LWB & LMF.
Keep Coulibaly as a development project.
Squad should be :
Wes & NEW GK & junior GK.
Baldock & Bogle (if passed defending exams in summer).
RND & Lowe (unless sold & replaced).
Anel & NEW RCB.
Egan & Bash.
Robbo & NEW LCB
Berge (as no one will pay money for him) & Norwood.
NEW Doyle & NEW McAtee.
Coulibaly , Osborn & Blaster.
Ndiaye & NEW ST
McB , Jebbo & NEW ST.
Osula can go out on loan.
All newbies must be mentally ready to become battling Blades.
There.
Piece of cake , this squad refreshing lark.
The only thing is , I don't know which newbies should be loans + which should be given contracts.

"Coulibaly , Osborn & Blaster." if they're three of your central midfield options we might as well forfeit now. Arblaster is miles away from Prem standard, Coulibaly couldn't make the squad last season and Osborn is L1 level at best (if any L1 teams are short of a headless chicken that only passes sideways and backwards)

 

[Davalon]

Maybe there isn't a retained list

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Maybe, they’re all being retained?

 

[ancientblade]

So based on the star article, they're assuming Norwood and McBurnie have already triggered extension options in their contracts, Jebbison was mentioned too. Seems to be based on the way they talked about next season in press interviews, probably as good a guess as any.

My guesses on the remainder are as follows

Stevens (release)
Sharp (reduced/coaching contract) - probably why the retained list is being held up
Osbourn (keep)
Foderingham (keep)
O'Connell (release/conditioning coach contract)
Fleck (release)
Coulibaly (release)
Robinson (Keep)

osborn cannot be kept at the club hes been a great servant for the club but hes a mid to lower end championship player at best thesedays him stevens and fleck all have to be released

 

[blade too long]

So based on the star article, they're assuming Norwood and McBurnie have already triggered extension options in their contracts, Jebbison was mentioned too. Seems to be based on the way they talked about next season in press interviews, probably as good a guess as any.

My guesses on the remainder are as follows

Stevens (release)
Sharp (reduced/coaching contract) - probably why the retained list is being held up
Osbourn (keep)
Foderingham (keep)
O'Connell (release/conditioning coach contract)
Fleck (release)
Coulibaly (release)
Robinson (Keep)

Id take a risk with Coulibaly , hes raw but has good tricks and a bit of freshness
osborn go instead

 

[Westran]

osborn cannot be kept at the club hes been a great servant for the club but hes a mid to lower end championship player at best thesedays him stevens and fleck all have to be released

Id take a risk with Coulibaly , hes raw but has good tricks and a bit of freshness
osborn go instead

Agree to a point, but Osbourn can cover in so many different positions, he might not be good enough to be a starter, but as a squad player he's probably the most flexible of the lot. Coulibaly hasn't shown enough for me, but he is still young, the club are much better placed to see whether he has the potential or not than us.

 

[Keen Blade]

"Coulibaly , Osborn & Blaster." if they're three of your central midfield options we might as well forfeit now. Arblaster is miles away from Prem standard, Coulibaly couldn't make the squad last season and Osborn is L1 level at best (if any L1 teams are short of a headless chicken that only passes sideways and backwards)

They won't be in the matchday squad but we won't be spending any money replacing them , once we've finished the recruitment of players who will.

 

[Mouth of the South]

They won't be in the matchday squad but we won't be spending any money replacing them , once we've finished the recruitment of players who will.

If they are deemed good enough to be in the squad, what is the point of keeping them? Might as well have you and I - we'd be a lot cheaper!

 

[brownblade]

Can't just blame the strikers, they had no help from a equally piss poor midfield

It's true, in hindsight

Agree to a point, but Osbourn can cover in so many different positions, he might not be good enough to be a starter, but as a squad player he's probably the most flexible of the lot. Coulibaly hasn't shown enough for me, but he is still young, the club are much better placed to see whether he has the potential or not than us.

Agree and Osborn (a Championship player) will be better as backup than the youth players that have barely played professional football.

 

[Keen Blade]

If they are deemed good enough to be in the squad, what is the point of keeping them? Might as well have you and I - we'd be a lot cheaper!

I understand your point but after sorting out the first 22 members of the squad , and having spent every penny , who do you suggest for the last 3 ?
Maybe you prefer to put some U21s in?
If we had unlimited money , the 3 stooges would be gone , but my views are based on realistic spending budget.

 

[Mouth of the South]

I understand your point but after sorting out the first 22 members of the squad , and having spent every penny , who do you suggest for the last 3 ?
Maybe you prefer to put some U21s in?
If we had unlimited money , the 3 stooges would be gone , but my views are based on realistic spending budget.

Personally I wouldn't waste another penny on Osborn - if the choice is between keeping Fleck, exposing Coulibaly / AN Other youngster (even though he's no longer that young) or him, my preference would be that order (although I'd still prefer to pay you than him!)

Of course, all of those options will incur spend - I'd rather another replacement be brought in. Paul Mitchell and team should have 10 options that would prove better value for money than all of the above options.

 

[BLADES1988]

Love Osbinho me.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Can't just blame the strikers, they had no help from a equally piss poor midfield

Yeah, our midfield were stood on our defenders toes. Ol Chrissy baby did adopt a bit of a Rorke’s Drift defensive strategy before his sad departure.

 

[Bristol Blade]

Norwood staying for another year apparently.

Key midfielder to remain at Sheffield United as Premier League newcomers are linked with Norwich City trio

INFLUENTIAL Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Norwood has reportedly triggered a contract extension to keep him at the Premier League club for the 2023-24 season.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

 

[More Bladier than thou]

Iam meeting up with Billy later this afternoon so i will ask him what’s happening. But iam not going post on here what he tells me as its kind of a betrayal and possibly confidential . Unless he is happy for me to tell the world. He does seem in very good spirits though atm.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Absolutely pathetic that we’ve not released Fallowfield and Stegosaurus yet..

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Stevens, Fleck and Osborn should be not be retained. Not only are they no longer good enough for the PL, they’ve all had really poor injury records of late. This is a golden chance to get rid of them.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

So based on the star article, they're assuming Norwood and McBurnie have already triggered extension options in their contracts, Jebbison was mentioned too. Seems to be based on the way they talked about next season in press interviews, probably as good a guess as any.

My guesses on the remainder are as follows

Stevens (release)
Sharp (reduced/coaching contract) - probably why the retained list is being held up
Osbourn (keep)
Foderingham (keep)
O'Connell (release/conditioning coach contract)
Fleck (release)
Coulibaly (release)
Robinson (Keep)

No chance that O'Connell & Sharp come in as coaches.

It's clear Sharp still sees himself as a squad member for a few more years & I think O'Connell will get a job closer to Liverpool.

 

[brownblade]

Iam meeting up with Billy later this afternoon so i will ask him what’s happening. But iam not going post on here what he tells me as its kind of a betrayal and possibly confidential . Unless he is happy for me to tell the world. He does seem in very good spirits though atm.

How do you know the great man? Please tell him he'll always be a legend at the Lane.