United's Best Number 9's

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shreds1975

shreds1975

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I was asked by Prostate Cancer UK (the Football League's charity partner) to submit United's five best number 9's (along with the worst). This is part of a campaign to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer which affects one in nine men each year. They have received submissions from every football league club and you can see links to other club's favourites along the side grouped by letter.

Each week the site will also profile three number 9's who have hit the headlines over the previous weekend. Sadly, this means I wont get to write about the Blades often, unless Chris Porter's mysterious absence ends!

Anyway, you can see my suggested Top 5 along with my Worst No. 9 via the link below and hopefully it can create a bit of debate on here. Why not share yours in this thread.

http://prostatecanceruk.org/get-inv...all-league/best-no9s/clubs/s/sheffield-united
 



Duggie Brown was when I was first going to the Lane (so was Guy) so I don't really remember how bad they were (too young and probably not noticable in an awful side!). Too young for Guthrie.

Whilst I discussed some older players with my Dad to form the best players list, I decided the worst had to be someone I remember watching!
 
Good cause this. My dad was randomly chosen by a screening programme, found to be positive and operated on not too long after. That was about ten years ago and, touch wood, he's in good nick. Found early it can often be dealt with by keyhole surgery and be relatively quickly sorted.

For those who don't know, the test is no longer a finger up the tradesman's - it's now a simple blood test. Any bloke over forty should consider having the test.

Oh, and the correct answer is Tony Agana. :)
 
shreds1975 said:
Duggie Brown was when I was first going to the Lane (so was Guy) so I don't really remember how bad they were (too young and probably not noticable in an awful side!). Too young for Guthrie.

Whilst I discussed some older players with my Dad to form the best players list, I decided the worst had to be someone I remember watching!
Click to expand...

Fair enough, Ian. My best vote would probably go to Edwards, with the great Bill Dearden a close second. Although my elders all swear Doc Pace was the best!
 
I'd say you have to give a premium to those who did it at the highest levels. That moves Edwards down the rankings for me. If it really has to be No 9s [thus excluding Deano!]:

1. Mick Jones
2. Billy Dearden
3. Derek Pace (on trust - never saw him!)
4. Keith Edwards
5. Tony Agana.

Of course if we were judging all those who have played number nine for us, at the height of their abilities, then Ian Rush would be head and shoulders ahead as number one and Peter Withe and Dean Saunders would also be in the top five.
 
shreds1975 said:
I was asked by Prostate Cancer UK (the Football League's charity partner) to submit United's five best number 9's (along with the worst). This is part of a campaign to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer which affects one in nine men each year. They have received submissions from every football league club and you can see links to other club's favourites along the side grouped by letter.

Each week the site will also profile three number 9's who have hit the headlines over the previous weekend. Sadly, this means I wont get to write about the Blades often, unless Chris Porter's mysterious absence ends!

Anyway, you can see my suggested Top 5 along with my Worst No. 9 via the link below and hopefully it can create a bit of debate on here. Why not share yours in this thread.

http://prostatecanceruk.org/get-inv...all-league/best-no9s/clubs/s/sheffield-united
Click to expand...

No contest surely!!!!!!!!
 
I was privileged to see Mick Jones play many times. He really was a great player. Played for England. The best by far.
 
1. Mick Jones
2. Billy Dearden
3. Derek Pace (on trust - never saw him!)
4. Keith Edwards
5. Tony Agana.

I can't argue too much with Pinchy's list but might have to concede that Jock Dodds might have to be included according to folklore. This might have to be at the expense of "Doc" Pace although I loved to watch him when a was a youngster.
 
For me, easily the best was Keith Edwards. Untouchable.

The worst (I think he was number nine anyway) was Pedro Verde, a dreadful centre forward with the mobility of a ninety year old. A player who could have kicked your arse all afternoon and not made it sore. Mind you, Guthrie ran him close.

Sadly, we`ve not had a legendary centre forward since the days of Deano and Agana. :(
 



Keith Edwards would top my list...just an out and out goalscorer.
Bottom of the pile would be Jeff Bourne. I think he played No.9, but if not, then his partner in crime, Barry Butlin....they were both bobbar.
 
Hodgyman said:
1. Mick Jones
2. Billy Dearden
3. Derek Pace (on trust - never saw him!)
4. Keith Edwards
5. Tony Agana.

I can't argue too much with Pinchy's list but might have to concede that Jock Dodds might have to be included according to folklore. This might have to be at the expense of "Doc" Pace although I loved to watch him when a was a youngster.
Click to expand...

By the look of things, Hodgy, we must be of a similar vintage, and I cannot disagree with your 5, only the order of preference. I'd put Doc Pace equal at the top with Mick Jones. It also makes you wonder how many of the players of the last few years would make the list, in the unlikely event of us discussing this again in thirty years time.

George
 
Never saw Mick Jones play for us, but did see Bill Dearden and i reckon he was defininitely the most 'underrated' number 9 of all time.. i can't see how anyone can rate the legendary Chris Guthrie as being so bad.. seeing as he was always injured!!
 
super_pig said:
did see Bill Dearden and i reckon he was defininitely the most 'underrated' number 9 of all time.. i can't see how anyone can rate the legendary Chris Guthrie as being so bad.. seeing as he was always injured!!
Click to expand...

Agree with point one. Bill D was tremendously under-rated.

As for point two. Guthrie wasn't injured nearly enough for my liking. What a big bag of shit for our first 6 figure signing!
Not the worst ever though. In my time surely Sir Duggie 'Bader' Brown would have to be head and shoulders below the rest.
 
Grecian2000 said:
Agree with point one. Bill D was tremendously under-rated.

As for point two. Guthrie wasn't injured nearly enough for my liking. What a big bag of shit for our first 6 figure signing!
Not the worst ever though. In my time surely Sir Duggie 'Bader' Brown would have to be head and shoulders below the rest.
Click to expand...
Maybe we made a mistake and signed Duggie Brown the club circuit comedian
Best No 9 bar none Mick Jones, he had the lot plus an ability to seem to jump and hang in mid air before powering a bullet header into the net, then again he was supplied by the best winger to wear the United shirt Alan Woodward.
 
Mick Jones - Superb leader of the line, good feet, great header of the ball and worked so hard for others, definitely the best of my lifetime.
Doc Pace - One of my first heroes, a natural goalscorer, brave, tough, a handful for the bigger centre halves who tried to boot him all over (especially Swanny)
Bill Dearden - Surely the best 10K signing United ever made - Again, brave and tough allied with a turn of pace, great attitude and an eye for goal
Brian Deane - Nationally underrated but Blades fans knew his qualities, great skill for such a big guy, he could do everything required of a modern day front man comfortably
Dean Saunders - We didn't get him at the peak of his career but I always enjoyed the way he used guile and skill to get into some great positions and he dragged defenders all over to make space for others.

(Keith Edwards certainly came alive in the six yard box and profited from Colin Morris's superb execution of straight forward wing play, but he never did at top level and lost interest on too many occasions for me. A cult hero nonetheless. Most managers would surely have picked the above 5 before Keith given the choice.)

The worst - Dougie Brown, effort is the only positive I can offer for poor Dougie, so sadly out of his depth he drowned very quickly in English football, and his one time partnership with the aptly named in this case John Flood, was probably the worst ever front two to turn out for the Blades. When I think of Harry Haslam I always think 'Dougie Brown'...... 'John Flood' .... and shudder....
 
Can't include Deano on this cos he was number 10!

I think the Number 9 was made for Keith Edwards.
 
Pinchy said:
I'd say you have to give a premium to those who did it at the highest levels. That moves Edwards down the rankings for me. If it really has to be No 9s [thus excluding Deano!]:

1. Mick Jones
2. Billy Dearden
3. Derek Pace (on trust - never saw him!)
4. Keith Edwards
5. Tony Agana.

Of course if we were judging all those who have played number nine for us, at the height of their abilities, then Ian Rush would be head and shoulders ahead as number one and Peter Withe and Dean Saunders would also be in the top five.
Click to expand...


That is my list as well. Was the legendary Bill Punton a Number 9:):)
 



georgebernardshaw said:
Scored a memorable Derby winner at the Kop end - they'd been baiting him all match about the fact that he was as bald as a coot, and he popped up to score from about half a yard. Priceless.
Click to expand...

I was in the old John Street stand, in line with the 18 yard box. I had a magnificent view. The Pigkeeper (Wicks?) half-stopped a shot; He was helpless as old Bill hobbled in and zimmered it home from three inches. Memories are made of this!
 
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