The fat lad from sheffield

[SouthEssexBlade]

Taking off the Blade tinted glasses, he looks a bit of a busted flush. Also, I would think he's the type of player that might be a low priority in terms of signings. If NA is playing one up front he certainly isn't the answer to that question. If NA is looking to play two up front he tends to go for a big 'un with a little 'un (or at least a more mobile player) alongside. Given that he's said he's going to evaluate the squad before making any decisions, I'd suggest Done right down to DDG will get a chance as the mobile forward before he even considers signings in that position.

Dead thread if you ask me!

 

[DronnieBlade]

Said it b4.

I am firmly of the view that ANY team that is to get out of this division needs a 20 a season striker along with another striker who can chip in about 15. That is the blueprint for success. It is tried and tested. We currently do not have this luxury. I accept that keeping it tight at the back is also important.

If we do keep Matt Done, he and Sharp would be the type of potent strike force that would give us an excellent chance of Auto Promotion.

Not dismissing that there are other important areas we need more urgent attention (CBs).

Nor am I dismissing the other strikers on the books, McNulty in particular, as he would have a very important part to play.

IMHO.

UTB.

 

[Revolution]

Sharp holds a special place for me in my Blades supporting history, in that there's no other player that promised so much and delivered so little.

This was not all his fault, but there you are.

I used to say that I had a firm belief that he would score regularly anywhere but the Lane. He seems to have stopped doing that too.

I would not be against his signing if we keep the likes of Done and Murphy. Sell either of these players and replace them with Sharp - well, that's normal United service resumed.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Said it b4.

I am firmly of the view that ANY team that is to get out of this division needs a 20 a season striker along with another striker who can chip in about 15. That is the blueprint for success. It is tried and tested. We currently do not have this luxury. I accept that keeping it tight at the back is also important.

If we do keep Matt Done, he and Sharp would be the type of potent strike force that would give us an excellent chance of Auto Promotion.

Not dismissing that there are other important areas we need more urgent attention (CBs).

Nor am I dismissing the other strikers on the books, McNulty in particular, as he would have a very important part to play.

IMHO.

UTB.

Agreed.



But where is the evidence in the last few seasons that BS is able to provide any of this?

 

[TonyAgana]

I am firmly of the view that ANY team that is to get out of this division needs a 20 a season striker along with another striker who can chip in about 15

I wouldn't say "any" team - there are plenty of examples of L1 promoted teams that didn't have 20 and 15 goals-per-season strike-partnerships.

 

[YES Blade]

Agreed.



But where is the evidence in the last few seasons that BS is able to provide any of this?

We aren't going to be signing a player from the Championship that has a goal scoring record of 15+ goals a season for the last few seasons. Why would a player like this come to League One?

We'd have to look at League One and Two strikers for records like that, but then why didn't we go in for Andy Williams when he was released from Swindon?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

All good points. However to counter, in a game famous for lack of loyalty, a hiring and firing club has been happy to keep extending his employment.

And we should remember that we are talking about his ability to coach / manage a third division under 21 setup. It's an entirely different prospect to managing a club, and he shouldn't be measured against that, even if we could.

UTB

Agree with that. Also, judging his ability to coach on his ability to manage is like assessing his ability to defend by playing him in the middle of midfield. Whether he is capable of managing a club isn't something I'm particularly bothered about - we have a manager. Being an effective coach is all he should be judged on. While different regimes continue to keep him on, that suggests he's seen as doing a useful job. There is a long list of people considered to be excellent coaches who make absolutely awful managers. Weir may well turn out to be another of those.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

We aren't going to be signing a player from the Championship that has a goal scoring record of 15+ goals a season for the last few seasons. Why would a player like this come to League One?

We'd have to look at League One and Two strikers for records like that, but then why didn't we go in for Andy Williams when he was released from Swindon?

Already sorted, we signed Matt Done, remember? As I said earlier in this thread, a player of this type is already at the club if we need a forward it's the big, bustling type that could play as a lone striker.

 

[YES Blade]

Already sorted, we signed Matt Done, remember? As I said earlier in this thread, a player of this type is already at the club if we need a forward it's the big, bustling type that could play as a lone striker.

I'm not saying we should get rid of Done to sign Sharp, the point I'm making is that Sharp would clearly be good enough for us or anyone else in League One.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Already sorted, we signed Matt Done, remember? As I said earlier in this thread, a player of this type is already at the club if we need a forward it's the big, bustling type that could play as a lone striker.

It's nice to see we're in agreement SEB. In my post #112 I mentioned Done and his suitability to the role of goalscorer. If played upfront, with the appropriate support, possibly a partner although it's not an absolute, Done has it within him to bag 15-20 goals easily, possibly more, but I'll settle for the conservative figure mentioned already. I happen to think we could do with a decent forward, one with pace (definitely not Billy Sharp!) as we should be capable of using this threat as a weapon to win games. Reading the guff about Sharp it's like a party political manifesto that struggles to convince. There are far too many posters who consider coming to Division 1 as a holiday for old pros. It's not! Div 1 is rough and unforgiving. It may lack nuanced football, the type of eloquent play most of us love to watch, but it's not for players whose heyday left far too many questions unanswered.

 

[wizadry]

Those saying we don't have anyone who can score 20 goals next season just have a look at last season and how attacking we were, yes, I know, we weren't.

McNulty got 13 goals from 19 starts I think, what's saying he can't get 20 this season in a more attacking side with more appearances.

Done scored 18 all together and missed quite a lot of games towards the end, he can score 20 plus.

We also have Adams and Murphy(for now) who will get goals, what we need is someone to create the chances and two CB's.

We have far more pressing concerns than whether to sign Billy or not.

 

[Barney Rubble]

We aren't going to be signing a player from the Championship that has a goal scoring record of 15+ goals a season for the last few seasons. Why would a player like this come to League One?

We'd have to look at League One and Two strikers for records like that, but then why didn't we go in for Andy Williams when he was released from Swindon?

We did, but then we decided to sack the bloke who wanted to sign him.

 

[BushBlade]

Actually, I find it hard to give a shit about either topic on this muddled thread.
If NA thinks Billy would be a good signing he may well sign him.
If NA thinks Morgs isn't up to managing the u-21s he'll no doubt have a word with the board and tell them they are entrusting the wrong person with their future assets.

 

[Bergen Blade]

We aren't going to be signing a player from the Championship that has a goal scoring record of 15+ goals a season for the last few seasons. Why would a player like this come to League One?

We'd have to look at League One and Two strikers for records like that, but then why didn't we go in for Andy Williams when he was released from Swindon?

It is possible to find players with good potential and attributes, who hasn't quite managed to succeed at senior level yet. They don't even have to be teenagers.

Whose record is this?

• 2009/10: 1 app, 0 goals (Championship) 18 years old when season finished
• 2010/11: 18 apps, 1 goal (Blue Square Premier) 19 years old when season finished
• 2011/12: 3 apps, 1 goal (Blue Square Premier) 20 years old when season finished
• 2012/13: 12 apps, 1 goal (League One) 21 years old when season finished

Spoiler: Who'd want this guy?

Callum Wilson. Scored 22 in 41 games the following season (League One). Then scored 23 in 50 games in the Championship.

Whose record is this?

• 2009/10: 6 apps, 0 goals (Premiership) 19 years old when season finished
• 2010/11: 9 apps, 1 goal (Scottish Premier) 20 years old when season finished
• 2011/12: 34 apps, 6 goals (League One) 21 years old when season finished
• 2012/13: 33 apps, 6 goals (League Two) 22 years old when season finished

Spoiler: Career going nowhere?

Kieran Agard. Then scored 26 in 55 apps in League One, winning promotion. Then 14 in 48 apps and winning another League One promotion

 

[LoughboroBlade]

It is possible to find players with good potential and attributes, who hasn't quite managed to succeed at senior level yet. They don't even have to be teenagers.

Whose record is this?

• 2009/10: 1 app, 0 goals (Championship) 18 years old when season finished
• 2010/11: 18 apps, 1 goal (Blue Square Premier) 19 years old when season finished
• 2011/12: 3 apps, 1 goal (Blue Square Premier) 20 years old when season finished
• 2012/13: 12 apps, 1 goal (League One) 21 years old when season finished

Spoiler: Who'd want this guy?

Callum Wilson. Scored 22 in 41 games the following season (League One). Then scored 23 in 50 games in the Championship.

Whose record is this?

• 2009/10: 6 apps, 0 goals (Premiership) 19 years old when season finished
• 2010/11: 9 apps, 1 goal (Scottish Premier) 20 years old when season finished
• 2011/12: 34 apps, 6 goals (League One) 21 years old when season finished
• 2012/13: 33 apps, 6 goals (League Two) 22 years old when season finished

Spoiler: Career going nowhere?

Kieran Agard. Then scored 26 in 55 apps in League One, winning promotion. Then 14 in 48 apps and winning another League One promotion

Excellent work. Wasn't at all aware of Wilson's early career - it really does take time for everything to click for some. Lowton is mentioned on another thread, and didn't it take till he was 21 before he became a regular for us?

 

[mosbolad]

It is possible to find players with good potential and attributes, who hasn't quite managed to succeed at senior level yet. They don't even have to be teenagers.

Interesting stats Bergen. The only difference I would say is that BS is now 29 and these two lads are heading towards there mid 20s when strikers usually get into their stride. But to the uneducated football eye (mine) there wasn't anything to suggest they would be so prolific the following season.

BS has scored 21 goals in the last 3 seasons, well off his form for Donny Rovers where he was scoring one in two. Whilst of course he is a Sheffield lad and Blade there isn't anything to suggest he would be the answer to us bagging the goals.