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[Bartleby]

I'm not the manager so I don't have much knowledge of players outside of the lane but I do know that when you sign somebody, you look to sign someone to improve the squad, a player that is better than what we have already. Sharp isn't that in my personal opinion. I agree on McNulty though.

Fair enough - time will tell and as far as I am aware Sharp hasn't actually signed yet anyway.

 

[KABBASVOLLEYAGAINSTFOREST]

I've said before on a different thread that I think we should be playing Done, Murphy and Adams all roaming and switching positions behind a front man. We scored NOWHERE NEAR enough goals last season and havent really looked like battering anyone for 4 or 5 for a really long time and I think a real serious rethink and change of ideas is needed in that part of the pitch. It's not about 'will this strike partnership work' or 'is he strong enough to play up top on his own', our problem has been that we've only been creating about 4 chances a game and playing 90% of our football 60 yards from their net. We need to play ALL our creative players like Done, Adams and Murphy on the pitch at the same time and I reckon Billy would be an ideal fit infront of those three because yes, Billy isn't a perfect striker but if you look at his strengths, they are 1) finishing 2) positioning/having a knack of being in the right place at the right time. Those three would do all his running in the channels, all his harrying and running in behind him creating space for Billy to get on the end of all the cutbacks and finishing off our moves. We'd be playing and pressing so high up the pitch that his lack of pace/strength wouldn't matter so much as he wouldn't need to hold it up to midfielders 40 yards away from him. Remember, at least one of Murphy, Done and Adams would have to be doubled up on too. When Billy is looking tired or out of form, bring young mcnulty to do the same job, if we're creating 15 or 20 chances a game like Wolves and Bristol did when they went up, these players WILL score goals.

I think some people on here are guilty of over-simplifying things and looking at the game in an old fashioned way. We don't need a 'big man little man' partnership or 'someone to play off him' as such. Things don't always have to be that orthadox. Take Chile for example, just winning the Copa America with three centre halves all under 5'7 and pressing really high approaching the game in a way that would seem alien to most fans over here. It works though. Also with Billy, the whole 'it didnt work last time so it wont this time' or 'he's got x in x you know!' blah blah blah is totally irrelevant for me. If we play like I said above and create loads of chances he'l score loads. If we play him upfront on his own and play long ball, he won't score any. I think his first 5 games will make or break him. If he takes a while to get off the mark I can see the weight of expectation getting too heavy like it did last time. I remember him having a massive drought after his 2 million pound move and a lot of the fans got on his back and he became a bit of a figure of fun amongst some and his ratio kept getting used as a stick to beat him with despite it being obvious we weren't playing a system he was ever going to succeed in.

With those front four, a midfield of Basham and Wallace controlling the midfield. (Would like to see Baxter doing Wallace's job if available). Harris at left back whipping those left footed crosses in from deep, Brayford/Flynn bombing on from right back and buying a Roger Johnson and loaning a younger prem centre half and i'd even take a punt on Kirkland from the sty. That leaves a matchday squad of:

Kirkland
Brayford Johnson ?? Harris
Wallace Basham
Adams Done Murph
Billy

Subs: (7 of)
Howard
Freeman
Kennedy
Magahey
Flynn
Cuvulier
Baxter
Scougall
Coutts
Mcnulty


Literally everyone else can go for me. With that 21, that provides enough cover for all positions in case of suspension or injury, as i'd like to see us going for a reasonably settled side once we get going. I'd also mention that i'd really like to see Reed, Khan, Diego, Damaio, and DCL getting game time for us when they can, but if that isn't realistic then i'd send them all out on loans to League 1 and 2 clubs (with immediate recall options) while I really rate all those youngsters, we have to plan on the fact we are going to be championship club at the end of the season and some of these players aren't really teenagers any more and should be able to cut it and really stand out at league 2 level, and if they can't they aren't really going to be much use to us in the Championship, are they? That 26 players would be enough to win the league.

 

[Houso]

I personally don't think his goal scoring record is that bad in recent times when you're a touch more pragmatic about it; taking into account who he was playing for, what their position was, how many times he was on the bench etc.

 

[raul]

All of this is all very well, but what do Derby fans think?

 

[Deleted member 1486]

If we were signing Billy and he hadn't been here before we'd probably all be raving about signing a proven player who had been there and done it at this level and perhaps more importantly had done it for this manager before on more than one occasion. Thankfully we are a very, very different team and play a very different style of a football to how we played 6/7 years ago. I think the recent dip (especially last season) is more of a worry than his previous form for us.

Of course, he has been here before (and there's no avoiding the fact that it simply didn't work out for club or player last time), but I honestly believe the problem he had last time was Blackwell! Yes, yes, he finished 3rd, with a team who under any half-decent manager would have finished 1st (slow clap). Kevin was tactically naive and was trying to fit square pegs into round holes (I know he was signed by Robson, but you know how that went...), he rubbed people up the wrong way and only saw one way of playing the game. You can show me all the stats you want (yes, I've seen the winning% one), nothing anyone tells me will convince me that Blackwell knew what he was doing. Put simply; he had one hell of a team and fucked it up!

I accept that signing Billy again is a risk; yes it could go wrong, yes he may have lost a yard and his best days might be behind him (he isn't a sure thing! If he was a guaranteed goal scoring machine he wouldn't be signing for us in Division 3 would he!??), but wouldn't it be wonderful if (and I know the football gods are watching, so I'll be somewhat cautious...), just for once, we put our chips on the table and it paid off?

If you only believe your eyes and your ears and you take your entire opinion of Billy Sharp from 2007-2010 wearing our colours (ignoring all other factors) then yes, I can see why you might be worried. If you are willing to look at the larger picture, his career as a whole, his form at this level and for this manager, why things might have gone wrong for him during his previous stint, and take into account the factors that may now be right for his return, I'm surprised so many people are worried about the £500K punt (now if it is the only time we splash the cash this off season I can understand, but there's no evidence of this yet).

He isn't a sure thing, but he's a blood good bet!

 

[judge]

We havent even aproached leeds yet according to the yorkshire post

 

[SotonBlade]

You know something Luke?

Have a cold shower and put the boner away max

 

[Jehovah]

Deal delayed due to Sharp being offside inside the office.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Amazed at this signing TBH. If we sign him.
Done for £600k or Sharp for £500k. No comparison
I'm with Bergen Blade on this.

I've never rated the big fat lad one bit.
Too many samey players up front for me. Done Sharp McNulty

What gets you up in pace and power.
Bristol City got up through pace and power, where does BS fit into that scenario?

Has it occurred to you, and others, that 2 similar strikers, paired together, with an overall playing styles that suits their attributes and strengths, potentially makes us TWICE as potent in front of goal ??

UTB

 

[mattbianco1]

If we were signing Billy and he hadn't been here before we'd probably all be raving about signing a proven player who had been there and done it at this level and perhaps more importantly had done it for this manager before on more than one occasion.

^^^ THIS ^^^

 

[Stickman]

I know I'm new to posting here so you'll have to take my word for it that I'm as pessimistic as the next Blade usually, but I can't really see much of a downside to this. The fee is pretty decent to bring a Championship striker down a league (and he IS a Championship striker). I just can't agree that this doesn't improve our striking options - How many cut backs and low crosses did we see go straight across the box to no-one last season? That's Sharp's bread and butter! It should be McNulty's too but he's made of wet tissue and still managed to be top scorer. It doesn't seem to be an either/or situation, just a straight addition to our firepower.

 

[Latters]

One of our main downfalls last season was a lack of goals. If this turns out to be true, our manager's first signing looks to address this by signing a striker from the league above who has scored lots of goals at this level, and lots of goals playing under him.

I'm struggling with the negativity on this one. Especially in light of the positivity that surrounded the appointment of the manager who looks to be choosing to sign him.

 

[metalblade]

The thing that is a worry for me is if Billy was to return but not start hitting the net straight away then sections of the fans would soon have him as a scapegoat, which in light of his two previous spells at the club which ended in failure would not be good for the club and definitely not good for Billy.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

People keep referring to Sharp's previous spells and saying what a failure they were - but dont forge he played under manages that used him to do Beattie's donkey work, often chasing lost causes out wide etc.

Adkins knows how to use him.

 

[mulroeblade]

'We've got billy sharp, billy sharp, we've got billy sharp, nan nan na nan nan na! Will be sung when (not if) he scores first home games vs chezzie

 

[mattbianco1]

The thing that is a worry for me is if Billy was to return but not start hitting the net straight away then sections of the fans would soon have him as a scapegoat, which in light of his two previous spells at the club which ended in failure would not be good for the club and definitely not good for Billy.

We should defo sign him then. We need a scapegoat

 

[Bartleby]

We need to play ALL our creative players like Done, Adams and Murphy on the pitch at the same time ...

Remember, at least one of Murphy, Done and Adams would have to be doubled up on too. When Billy is looking tired or out of form, bring young mcnulty to do the same job, if we're creating 15 or 20 chances a game like Wolves and Bristol did when they went up, these players WILL score goals...
.

That's right, and as well as a good supply of goals from the strikers we need goals from other areas too. Bristol had 4 who got into double figures last season, including centre back Aden Flint . We had 3 who scraped into double figures (I'm not counting Done's goals at Rochdale).

 

[HoodedClaw]

The thing that is a worry for me is if Billy was to return but not start hitting the net straight away then sections of the fans would soon have him as a scapegoat, which in light of his two previous spells at the club which ended in failure would not be good for the club and definitely not good for Billy.

More of a worry for me is the pressure he'll put on himself if he doesn't hit the ground running. It may be a case of too depserate to do well for us that it has a negative impact on his performances.

 

[Darthblade]

One of our main downfalls last season was a lack of goals. If this turns out to be true, our manager's first signing looks to address this by signing a striker from the league above who has scored lots of goals at this level, and lots of goals playing under him.

I'm struggling with the negativity on this one. Especially in light of the positivity that surrounded the appointment of the manager who looks to be choosing to sign him.

Im guessing here ...... but I think the "negativity" is because he's so much like what we already have. He's similar to Done ( but slower) and McNuts ( but older) and what we really need and have needed for about 5 years imho, is a big, strong, fast, goal hungry striker.
UTB & FTP

 

[maxstertheblade]

Sun journo Alan Nixon says we're discussing personal terms. He's in the squad to face Harrogate tomoz for Leeds

 

[mattbianco1]

Im guessing here ...... but I think the "negativity" is because he's so much like what we already have. He's similar to Done ( but slower) and McNuts ( but older) and what we really need and have needed for about 5 years imho, is a big, strong, fast, goal hungry striker.
UTB & FTP

I think McNulty's games will be extremely limited if Sharp signs. Done can fit in around him. I don't feel Done and Sharp are too similar

 

[YES Blade]

I think McNulty's games will be extremely limited if Sharp signs. Done can fit in around him. I don't feel Done and Sharp are too similar

I see Done being able to play the Andy Keogh role in the partnership. Done does all the running and Billy stays in the box to score the goals and get all the glory.

 

[mattbianco1]

I see Done being able to play the Andy Keogh role in the partnership. Done does all the running and Billy stays in the box to score the goals and get all the glory.

Basically what Sharp did for Beattie?

 

[Mouth of the South]

I think McNulty's games will be extremely limited if Sharp signs. Done can fit in around him. I don't feel Done and Sharp are too similar

Unless there are other departures I can actually see McNulty either going out on loan or leaving altogether next season. I can see him being behind Sharp (if he signs), as well as Done, Adams and even DdG and Higdon in the pecking order.

The same could be said for Scougall given the competition for midfield places

 

[ListerBlade]

Will we have room for another scape goat? I thought Coutts had already had a successful interview to replace Doyle in that role. We don't want rumblings within the squad now do we...

 

[itsinyerblood]

Unless there are other departures I can actually see McNulty either going out on loan or leaving altogether next season. I can see him being behind Sharp (if he signs), as well as Done, Adams and even DdG and Higdon in the pecking order.

The same could be said for Scougall given the competition for midfield places

I actually like the idea of players feeling pressure from the thought that there's someone else, equally good, just waiting to get a chance in the first team. Of course some players are a shoe-in and it'll always be that way, but good managers select players on what they bring to the team's performance, so if a player doesn't 'turn up', we'll have someone else eager to stake their claim and perform to a level that will make team selection that bit harder for the manager. All of which are exactly the type of problems a manager wants I'd imagine.

I know it's been commented on in other posts, but as regards the midfield, I'd love to see Cuvelier and Wallace avoid injuries and show what they're capable of. We've lacked dynamism in this department, after all it's the engine room of any team, so I hope both players get the chance to add that energy we've been missing. The effect this would have on the players around them would be phenomenal (I hope), which is exactly what Adkins will be hoping for. I'm looking forward to the new season, not because I'm making assumptions, but because I get the feeling that Adkins has got the bit between his teeth and is imparting that declaration of intent to the players who currently play for this club.

 

[Pinchy]

We should defo sign him then. We need a scapegoat

I don't approve of scapegoating. On the other hand I don't approve of of mindless, non-footballing, ball-losing, shadow-chasing midfielders either.

What a conundrum! I know. Let's not have either...ever again...

 

[Davie Blade]

Im guessing here ...... but I think the "negativity" is because he's so much like what we already have. He's similar to Done ( but slower) and McNuts ( but older) and what we really need and have needed for about 5 years imho, is a big, strong, fast, goal hungry striker.
UTB & FTP

Who can add that weight and height whilst defending set pieces.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Who can add that weight and height whilst defending set pieces.

BS will be a good signing if he comes. Adkins will have a different strategy to Clough . A big . fast , energetic striker will also arrive . BS will be a addition to the squad of quality . Each player has to be good enough to play first team football , not second rate or second class , as players who came in to the team last season. We just didn't cut it last season.

I still can see a number of players who will be deemed not good enough or surplus to requirements.

We have a first class manager , so we have to give him some slack on player recruitment . They will come .

The good thing is , i don't think he will just let them go through the motions .

UTB

 

[sheffielder]

Who can add that weight and height whilst defending set pieces.

Higgy