Salmon today

[judge]

Hoped salmon would do well at bramhall lane but he looses too much in the air

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Great post.

Sammon had a very poor game, but he has generally done well for us this season.

sorry, as with alco - did great early doors, has been out of sorts since.
Don't want any player to fail, but reality has to hit home and we can't afford to carry any player.
Sad thing is - he is here until season ends.

No place for sentiment anymore at this club. - we are virtually on our "doggies chance" with Adkins.

On recent evidence he isn't 1st choice and can't see why a loan player should stay for a season if he is not going to be a first teamer regular as against a bit part player - we would be better with Mcnulty doing a cameo - at least he hits the back of the onion bag.

UTB

 

[INTERUNITED]

He's out of contract with Derby in the summer, so you'd think he'd be busting a gut to earn one with us. The fact he isn't tells us everything we need to know about the player, and why he'll continue to drop down the leagues.

 

[Rodley]

Not really, for me. He's scored a few and had a few good games - but overall he's been poor.

No presence, awful in the air - we should send old "ten bob foot" back as soon as the deal allows.

He's the type of player we've been apologising for for years - with the inevitable sorry outcome

UTB

He's like Porter without the effort or charm.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Inter, I think he does 'bust a gut' problem for me is that thats about it for most of the time he is on the pitch, effort surely though is not enough on its own to continue, mcnulty, although not a holding up target man would be a better bet and then play to your strengths

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

sorry, as with alco - did great early doors, has been out of sorts since.
Don't want any player to fail, but reality has to hit home and we can't afford to carry any player.
Sad thing is - he is here until season ends.

No place for sentiment anymore at this club. - we are virtually on our "doggies chance" with Adkins.

On recent evidence he isn't 1st choice and can't see why a loan player should stay for a season if he is not going to be a first teamer regular as against a bit part player - we would be better with Mcnulty doing a cameo - at least he hits the back of the onion bag.

UTB

Sammon was very poor yesterday but was first choice last week - ahead of Billy.

Afaict McNulty and Sammon are very different players with very different jobs.

Sammon's job is to make the ball stick when it goes up front, goalscoring is important in his role, but secondary. Does COG have a similar goals:game ratio?

McNulty doesn't make the ball stick at all, though he does score goals.

As it happened it almost never stuck with Sammon yesterday and to all intents and purposes we were playing with ten men after he came on.

If we can find a better replacement of course we should - but that's not really saying anything: it goes for every player in every position.

 

[INTERUNITED]

Inter, I think he does 'bust a gut' problem for me is that thats about it for most of the time he is on the pitch, effort surely though is not enough on its own to continue, mcnulty, although not a holding up target man would be a better bet and then play to your strengths

To be honest mate I think his effort levels have dropped from when he first arrived. For a lad of his size he seems to get dispossessed so easily as well. Like you say I'd much rather play McNulty, but feel we need a decent target man for Billy/Done to really shine.

 

[Boxer Blade]

WHF, the thing about Cog for me was things seemed to happen when he was on the pitch, his effort, off the ball running, hold up play were very good, everything for me what you want from a target man, but as you say not enough goals but I would have had cog back tomorrow

 

[alcoblade]

He's like Porter without the effort or charm.

A "Bad" Chris Porter? That suggests there's another version out there.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Sammon was very poor yesterday but was first choice last week - ahead of Billy.

Afaict McNulty and Sammon are very different players with very different jobs.

Sammon's job is to make the ball stick when it goes up front, goalscoring is important in his role, but secondary. Does COG have a similar goals:game ratio?

McNulty doesn't make the ball stick at all, though he does score goals.

As it happened it almost never stuck with Sammon yesterday and to all intents and purposes we were playing with ten men after he came on.

If we can find a better replacement of course we should - but that's not really saying anything: it goes for every player in every position.

you are right about players in most positions - but the difference with Sammon is he has played a level higher, although at the moment we wouldn't really class him as a consistent L1 player. His record wasn't good before he came here and signing him for season long loan was, I am afraid one of Adkins mistakes.

We all expect and should get better performances from a player from the championship.

I didn't go yesterday and will trust other fans judgment - but as for last week, he was utter rubbish and as alco eluded to earlier - it is what we as fans have come to expect - it's time it stopped and I am a little sad it is a black mark against Adkins.

UTB

 

[Lane Ender]

WHF, the thing about Cog for me was things seemed to happen when he was on the pitch, his effort, off the ball running, hold up play were very good, everything for me what you want from a target man, but as you say not enough goals but I would have had cog back tomorrow

Sammon ain't in the same class as Ogrady.
I was willing Clough to sign him a genuine Championship quality striker.
Ogrady with Billy the mind boggles

 

[LoughboroBlade]

We're just going to have to hope he rediscovers some of his early season form, because based on Adkins's quote in the Star he's looking for confirmation from Derby that Sammon won't be recalled in January – Edgar has the same 'Kyle Walker' clause incidentally. Hopefully Birmingham won't screw us over there.

 

[Blade58]

Whilst I've been critical over Edgar's performances, of late he has shown improvement so credit to him. On that basis, I hope he remains until the end of the season

Not so sure why NA wants Sammon to remain tho? His contribution hasn't been up to the required standard imho

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Whilst I've been critical over Edgar's performances, of late he has shown improvement so credit to him. On that basis, I hope he remains until the end of the season

In an interview with Radio Sheffield last week he basically said that he came back way too early first time round which saw a drop in his usual level, and that he's back to normal now. Very rarely injured in his career so he said, so he wasn't well-prepared for dealing with it.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

There’s definitely been room for improvement in his recent displays but I think the stick Sammon gets from the crowd at times is unfair. For a big bloke, he’s not very good in the air but he does other jobs. He does link the play well at times, running the channels, holding the ball up and generally making a nuisance of himself. By all accounts, he didn’t do enough of that on Saturday. Perhaps the souring of the relationship with the crowd has affected his motivation and he has become unhappy here. The signing out of whoever is our poorest performer on a given day is disappointing though. People who say send him back in Jan, we can’t. The agreement is for a year and I imagine the only way we can send him back is if we still pay all his wages. He’s not so bad as to warrant that. Biggish Target men types at the lane are much maligned for not being Brian Deane or Billy Whitehurst though. Henderson, D’Jaffo, Flo, Taylor, Cresswell, Porter, Higdon, Sammon etc. All have brought something to the table but have all been hammered at times by our fans. I think Deano is part of the reason. A striker who is over six foot, as strong as an ox, quick, skilfull and a good header of the ball is such a rare thing yet he had one for years and any other big man we sign is just bobbar by comparison. A select few have been able to get the crowd on side (Shipps, Chief, Hulse- Think that’s about it). Of those, I think Shipps and Chief came with relatively low expectations and had effective players benefitting from their work (Pesch, Kabba, Webber etc). Perhaps we need to be a bit more understanding with our big forwards. It’s a shame we couldn’t keep COG because I think he’s the sort of big man who might have been able to keep the crowd on side. But, I think across the entire division, there are probably only 3 or 4 target men better than Sammon. We just struggle to accept the limitations of a 3rd division target man.

 

[1889]

There’s definitely been room for improvement in his recent displays but I think the stick Sammon gets from the crowd at times is unfair. For a big bloke, he’s not very good in the air but he does other jobs. He does link the play well at times, running the channels, holding the ball up and generally making a nuisance of himself. By all accounts, he didn’t do enough of that on Saturday. Perhaps the souring of the relationship with the crowd has affected his motivation and he has become unhappy here. The signing out of whoever is our poorest performer on a given day is disappointing though. People who say send him back in Jan, we can’t. The agreement is for a year and I imagine the only way we can send him back is if we still pay all his wages. He’s not so bad as to warrant that. Biggish Target men types at the lane are much maligned for not being Brian Deane or Billy Whitehurst though. Henderson, D’Jaffo, Flo, Taylor, Cresswell, Porter, Higdon, Sammon etc. All have brought something to the table but have all been hammered at times by our fans. I think Deano is part of the reason. A striker who is over six foot, as strong as an ox, quick, skilfull and a good header of the ball is such a rare thing yet he had one for years and any other big man we sign is just bobbar by comparison. A select few have been able to get the crowd on side (Shipps, Chief, Hulse- Think that’s about it). Of those, I think Shipps and Chief came with relatively low expectations and had effective players benefitting from their work (Pesch, Kabba, Webber etc). Perhaps we need to be a bit more understanding with our big forwards. It’s a shame we couldn’t keep COG because I think he’s the sort of big man who might have been able to keep the crowd on side. But, I think across the entire division, there are probably only 3 or 4 target men better than Sammon. We just struggle to accept the limitations of a 3rd division target man.

I think all the crowd expect from a target man is effort and desire, Jesus no one would ever describe Billy Whitehurst as world class.
Henderson, D'Jaffo, Flo, Taylor, Porter and Higdon all had one thing in common and that was that, far too often it looked as though playing football was just a little bit too much effort for them.
The crowd expect the players to be as passionate about playing for Utd as they would be, if they look as though it is, they're lauded, if they look like they don't care, they're slated. Just as it should be in my opinion.
On Saturday Sammon might as well have stopped in the dugout, the only positive about his introduction was that at least his kit didn't need washing.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I think all the crowd expect from a target man is effort and desire, Jesus no one would ever describe Billy Whitehurst as world class.
Henderson, D'Jaffo, Flo, Taylor, Porter and Higdon all had one thing in common and that was that, far too often it looked as though playing football was just a little bit too much effort for them.
The crowd expect the players to be as passionate about playing for Utd as they would be, if they look as though it is, they're lauded, if they look like they don't care, they're slated. Just as it should be in my opinion.
On Saturday Sammon might as well have stopped in the dugout, the only positive about his introduction was that at least his kit didn't need washing.

I disagree with the first sentence. I thought Cresswell and Porter offered desire in bucketloads but still came in for a lot of stick mainly because of their lack of ability and pace. I can agree with the point about some like Higdon and Paynter but I think there’s more to it than that. I thought D’Jaffo also did a lot of donkey work for the team and I would say the same about Sammon. Cresswell is probably the front runner though with his broken ribs on his debut, Terry Butcher headband against the pigs and peg leg and eye patch against Udders in the PO final.

 

[alcoblade]

We're just going to have to hope he rediscovers some of his early season form, because based on Adkins's quote in the Star he's looking for confirmation from Derby that Sammon won't be recalled in January – Edgar has the same 'Kyle Walker' clause incidentally. Hopefully Birmingham won't screw us over there.

I can't read that without smiling. On what planet would Derby want Sammon back at Christmas?

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

I think all the crowd expect from a target man is effort and desire, Jesus no one would ever describe Billy Whitehurst as world class.
Henderson, D'Jaffo, Flo, Taylor, Porter and Higdon all had one thing in common and that was that, far too often it looked as though playing football was just a little bit too much effort for them.
The crowd expect the players to be as passionate about playing for Utd as they would be, if they look as though it is, they're lauded, if they look like they don't care, they're slated. Just as it should be in my opinion.
On Saturday Sammon might as well have stopped in the dugout, the only positive about his introduction was that at least his kit didn't need washing.

We were worse with him on. If he wasn't on the pitch pretending to make himself available, other players would have filled the space.

One of the worst 20 minute displays I've ever witnessed.

UTB

 

[Stretch]

A shame that he's suddenly looking shit. When I watched him against Chesterfield, I thought he was brilliant.

Agreed, first few games he played for us I thought 'yes!!! Finally we have a decent target man who can actually play' since then he has only impressed me once, when he came on at Bradford and changed the game.

NA should get rid if he doesn't start performing again very soon.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I can't read that without smiling. On what planet would Derby want Sammon back at Christmas?

UTB

My reaction too. The only possible explanation I could think of is if in being out of the team he worries he's jeopardising his chances of impressing and getting a decent contract offer from anyone in the summer. His agent could try and find someone more willing to start him as first choice in League 1 – with that lined up, he could then ask Derby to recall him so the other loan (or permanent deal) could go ahead.

 

[alcoblade]

My reaction too. The only possible explanation I could think of is if in being out of the team he worries he's jeopardising his chances of impressing and getting a decent contract offer from anyone in the summer. His agent could try and find someone more willing to start him as first choice in League 1 – with that lined up, he could then ask Derby to recall him so the other loan (or permanent deal) could go ahead.

True. Let's hope we can offload then, because I was thinking we were stuck with him.

UTB

 

[LoughboroBlade]

True. Let's hope we can offload then, because I was thinking we were stuck with him.

UTB

To be honest, the more I think of this the more I reckon it might actually happen. Sammon probably thought he and Sharp were going to be the strike partnership for the season (and after the first few games, so did I). He's now occasionally getting a start, but mostly he's having to sit on the sidelines. He might feel he has a chance to regain his place, but if we're not going to look to keep him on after May (and I'm not sure we will) it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's asking Adkins for reassurances that he's going to be a big part of the second half of the season.

Here's another thing to throw into the mix – Clough is a known admirer. This is just making more sense as the minutes pass...

 

[alcoblade]

To be honest, the more I think of this the more I reckon it might actually happen. Sammon probably thought he and Sharp were going to be the strike partnership for the season (and after the first few games, so did I). He's now occasionally getting a start, but mostly he's having to sit on the sidelines. He might feel he has a chance to regain his place, but if we're not going to look to keep him on after May (and I'm not sure we will) it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's asking Adkins for reassurances that he's going to be a big part of the second half of the season.

Here's another thing to throw into the mix – Clough is a known admirer. This is just making more sense as the minutes pass...

Go on Cloughie, you know it makes sense.

UTB

 

[1889]

I disagree with the first sentence. I thought Cresswell and Porter offered desire in bucketloads but still came in for a lot of stick mainly because of their lack of ability and pace. I can agree with the point about some like Higdon and Paynter but I think there’s more to it than that. I thought D’Jaffo also did a lot of donkey work for the team and I would say the same about Sammon. Cresswell is probably the front runner though with his broken ribs on his debut, Terry Butcher headband against the pigs and peg leg and eye patch against Udders in the PO final.

I fully agree with your assessment of Cresswell, I thought he always gave his all and lead by example. Which is why you won't find his name in my original post

As for Porter, we'll have to agree to disagree I'm afraid.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I fully agree with your assessment of Cresswell, I thought he always gave his all and lead by example. Which is why you won't find his name in my original post

As for Porter, we'll have to agree to disagree I'm afraid.

Fair enough mate. Wasn't a comment on you really but the support in general. Very few target men over the years seem to have been popular and I think part of that comes down to the fact that they can't do what Brian Deane could.