We need to talk about Sydie Peck

[KMC-1889]

I've read pages and pages of this but to take it back a bit, please is there anyone who regularly watched him in the under 21s who can remind/tell us what sort of player he actually is?

Because as far as I can remember, he scored a good few, made plenty and was generally a free kick taking, classy playmaker sort, is that right?

Unless I've completely got the wrong end of the stick, he's basically a Michael Tonge who we're playing as a Nick Montgomery. I know folk loved it when he put in the odd crunching challenge last season but they were basically Paul Scholes challenges...the sort of tackles put in by someone who can't tackle.

He got by on 'lad points' last year but if he is being played out of role, then the management are to blame for him becoming a scapegoat when I'm not sure we've seen him play yet. For such a young player he'll soon lose his identity and what made him succeed too if we're not careful.

It’s the Sander Berge Conundrum. Technically accomplished footballer that looks at his best when playing higher up the pitch, but various managers insist on playing him deep as a defensive midfielder.

 

[Nedski]

I've read pages and pages of this but to take it back a bit, please is there anyone who regularly watched him in the under 21s who can remind/tell us what sort of player he actually is?

Because as far as I can remember, he scored a good few, made plenty and was generally a free kick taking, classy playmaker sort, is that right?

Unless I've completely got the wrong end of the stick, he's basically a Michael Tonge who we're playing as a Nick Montgomery. I know folk loved it when he put in the odd crunching challenge last season but they were basically Paul Scholes challenges...the sort of tackles put in by someone who can't tackle.

He got by on 'lad points' last year but if he is being played out of role, then the management are to blame for him becoming a scapegoat when I'm not sure we've seen him play yet. For such a young player he'll soon lose his identity and what made him succeed too if we're not careful.

That's a good point actually. I'd forgotten his scoring record in the u21s was actually decent. He also scored a very good under-the-wall free kick.

A lot of the development team get played in all kinds of positions before they find "their role" but that often involves them getting shoehorned in to a position that is needed.

I remember when he first went on loan to Oldham and I was surprised to find him in centre midfield as that wasn't really his position.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

He's simply not as good as he thinks he is.

I do think this is true

I'm not sure what he thinks he's so good at. Because he isn't outstanding in any department. He needs to specialise at something. For me his focus needs to be on scoring goals, 7 or 8 a season. It's more realistic than him being a playmaker or defensive player

It'll also help him when he's hopefully paired with Arblaster

 

[Berkshire Blade]

He's holding his own, on his own, against one for the best midfield pairings in the Championship.

So yes.

Still think he has a high ceiling? I see nothing more than a championship future for him at best which is absolutely fantastic compared to the average joe but I don't see any more. He might get carried up with a promoted side but I don't fear any premier league side bidding for him

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

If we are being brutally honest, while Peck had a decent run of games in and around Christmas last year he has been constantly poor since February. At times, he is also a liability, with examples including yesterday's performance and goals coming directly from sloppy passes against Ipswich and Sunderland. Peck just isn't good enough to be the 'main man' in midfield of a top end Championship team. Yes, he can be carried (and contribute better) with an experienced head next to him - but we failed to sign an experienced midfielder in the window after Vini left, and we carried on telling ourselves that at some point soon Blaster and Tom Davies will get fit.

Our problems aren't all because of Peck - a lack of pace, one up front, inability to counter attack, ploddy play, a lack of proper wingers in a 'winger' system, no proper right back. All issues which underpinned last season but were not addressed by the farcical transfer window and the clown manager we had for a few months over the summer.

As with Peck, some hard questions also need to be asked about Brooks and Marsh. These lads perhaps have unfair expectations on them because Blaster is so good - but they have been in the first team squad a while now and they are not materialising as top-end Championship players.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Still think he has a high ceiling? I see nothing more than a championship future for him at best which is absolutely fantastic compared to the average joe but I don't see any more. He might get carried up with a promoted side but I don't fear any premier league side bidding for him

Yep. He was our only player yesterday who looked anything like the required standard until he ran out of legs at about the hour mark.

If you want a grown up discussion about his conditioning then that's an avenue to go down, but I honestly think your vendetta against him is a little weird.

Anyone watching us yesterday and thinking Peck is one of our 'issues' really is taking a personal view about him.

If you had a similar bee in your bonnet about Hamer, then I'd happily join in.

Whisper it, but Selles dropping Hamer may have been the right thing to do.

 

[SouthportBlade]

Doesn’t get in any other side in the leagues starting 11. Shouldn’t be in ours.

Stepped up to the plate massively last year, and deserves huge credit for this but early promise generally petered out.

He’ll naturally get an easier ride than others, as fans love nothing more than a young player stepping up. If this was a 26 year old new signing putting in these nothing performances he’d be getting dogs abuse.

We aren’t, nor ever will be, in a position to carry development players at detriment to the first 11.

Everyone fit he’s probably 4th or maybe 5th choice in CM. He needs some time out of the starting line up and can still play a contributing squad role.

I’d like to see Soumare get the shirt in the short term and we then pin our hopes on Blaster and Davies maintaining fitness.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Doesn’t get in any other side in the leagues starting 11. Shouldn’t be in ours.

Stepped up to the plate massively last year, and deserves huge credit for this but early promise generally petered out.

He’ll naturally get an easier ride than others, as fans love nothing more than a young player stepping up. If this was a 26 year old new signing putting in these nothing performances he’d be getting dogs abuse.

We aren’t, nor ever will be, in a position to carry development players at detriment to the first 11.

Everyone fit he’s probably 4th or maybe 5th choice in CM. He needs some time out of the starting line up and can still play a contributing squad role.

I’d like to see Soumare get the shirt in the short term and we then pin our hopes on Blaster and Davies maintaining fitness.

It's posts like this that remind me how moronic parts of our fan base are.

We've got the worst RB in living history, our star player is at least a stone overweight, our only striker is about two stone overweight and our only options out wide are League Two quality at best....

But yeah, let's focus on the only player yesterday with the balls, skillset and attitude to actually show for the ball and run around trying to make things happen.

 

[SouthportBlade]

It's posts like this that remind me how moronic parts of our fan base are.

We've got the worst RB in living history, our star player is at least a stone overweight, our only striker is about two stone overweight and our only options out wide are League Two quality at best....

But yeah, let's focus on the only player yesterday with the balls, skillset and attitude to actually show for the ball and run around trying to make things happen.

It’s not either or. I’m not saying Peck is the only or main issue, just one passing comment on in a thread about guess who… I’m also taking more generally, not just off a single performance.

A prat playing at RB nor an off form striker doesn’t get Peck off the hook. If you look at his bright spots whilst he’s been in the team, he’s clearly got talent and think the lads got the potential to play in the PL. I think he’s lost his way, needs some time out of the team.

Genuine question, which bit’s of the post do you deem moronic?

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Yep. He was our only player yesterday who looked anything like the required standard until he ran out of legs at about the hour mark.

If you want a grown up discussion about his conditioning then that's an avenue to go down, but I honestly think your vendetta against him is a little weird.

Anyone watching us yesterday and thinking Peck is one of our 'issues' really is taking a personal view about him.

If you had a similar bee in your bonnet about Hamer, then I'd happily join in.

Whisper it, but Selles dropping Hamer may have been the right thing to do.

No bee. I just fail to see how someone does rate him highly.

As for Hamer we are in agreement. To a certain degree I wouldn't have been too upset if we got a good fee for him.

 

[Sheffsteel]

As for Hamer we are in agreement. To a certain degree I wouldn't have been too upset if we got a good fee for him.

You know if Hamer had been sold like everyone predicted there would have been a fan revolt with many accusing the club of no ambition and refusing to go to matches. Even last season I’m been saying Hamer is a tricky one to assess.

Let’s compare our 2 recent star players who were both rated the best player in the Champiomship.

N’Diaye was always massively involved in every attack, highly skillful with high workrate.

Last season Hamer had quite a lot of quiet underwhelming games where he’d look quite poor, then bang….out of nothing he’d produce a brilliant PL pass or score a fantastic goal from nothing. Basically watch a highlights video of Hamer last season and he looks easy PL standard but watch his matches on a regular basis and he doesn’t get involved enough and gives away daft fouls.

 

[Younger Dryas Blade]

It’s the Sander Berge Conundrum. Technically accomplished footballer that looks at his best when playing higher up the pitch, but various managers insist on playing him deep as a defensive midfielder.

There is zero similarity between Sander and Peck.
The fact that some of our fans actually think Peck is technically accomplished is baffling.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

You know if Hamer had been sold like everyone predicted there would have been a fan revolt with many accusing the club of no ambition and refusing to go to matches. Even last season I’m been saying Hamer is a tricky one to assess.

Let’s compare our 2 recent star players who were both rated the best player in the Champiomship.

N’Diaye was always massively involved in every attack, highly skillful with high workrate.

Last season Hamer had quite a lot of quiet underwhelming games where he’d look quite poor, then bang….out of nothing he’d produce a brilliant PL pass or score a fantastic goal from nothing. Basically watch a highlights video of Hamer last season and he looks easy PL standard but watch his matches on a regular basis and he doesn’t get involved enough and gives away daft fouls.

Couldn't agree more. Been saying all Summer there's no way a PL team was paying £15m+ for a player so obviously not an elite athlete.

The only fan revolt would have come from those hard of thinking Bladey McBlades.

 

[GymClassHero]

You know if Hamer had been sold like everyone predicted there would have been a fan revolt with many accusing the club of no ambition and refusing to go to matches. Even last season I’m been saying Hamer is a tricky one to assess.

Let’s compare our 2 recent star players who were both rated the best player in the Champiomship.

N’Diaye was always massively involved in every attack, highly skillful with high workrate.

Last season Hamer had quite a lot of quiet underwhelming games where he’d look quite poor, then bang….out of nothing he’d produce a brilliant PL pass or score a fantastic goal from nothing. Basically watch a highlights video of Hamer last season and he looks easy PL standard but watch his matches on a regular basis and he doesn’t get involved enough and gives away daft fouls.

Hamer's issues are fitness and sometimes he just doesn't get into the game. Needs to be more determined, he has the ability to grab games by the scruff of the neck, now he needs the mindset.

 

[Sean Thornton]

It's posts like this that remind me how moronic parts of our fan base are.

We've got the worst RB in living history, our star player is at least a stone overweight, our only striker is about two stone overweight and our only options out wide are League Two quality at best....

But yeah, let's focus on the only player yesterday with the balls, skillset and attitude to actually show for the ball and run around trying to make things happen.

“Worst RB in living history”

I know some people like to pad out their posts with, let’s say, over exaggerated claims, but you’ve clearly blanked out Harry Clarke (just last season) who, luckily for us but not him was injured early on. At least HC was a designated RB, obviously in the loosest possible term, and not a CB shoved out wide in a back four after some clown decided that was the way to go. Wilder chose him there yesterday as well but - unless you believe he dealt with all the transfer dealings behind Selles back claim - at least he has some excuse, Clarke not withstanding.

We’ve had “proper” RB’s who were far poorer than Godfrey who as l said yesterday is now our official scapegoat in waiting.

As for Peck, yes, he’s easily driven into a backwards pass at times and balls out wide seems to be his only option but maybe Campbell putting a shift in and New Brewster but nowhere near as good Big Fee Must Play Tom turning into even a Sunday League level striker, may, just may, give Sydie another opening.

 

[More Bladier than thou]

Harsh words, he needs to be confident, otherwise he wouldn’t be a player. He does need to start driving forward with the ball alot more- way too many sideway passes, he’s been chucked in the deepend and needs to be coached on how to be that player.
He's an england player- theres alot of potential and i expect to see him develop quickly now.

 

[jono_t2000]

It's a great conundrum, what is Pecks actually position..

He's not an attacking midfielder as shown by his non-existent goals and assists, he's not a defensive midfielder as his ground duels won are below average percentile for midfielders.

I wouldn't even call him a box to box midfielder as his progressive carries are very low.

As others have said he's a fairly tidy player who keeps things ticking over but not sure what he actually adds.

A prime Norwood or fully fit Blaster or Tom Davies would easily take Pecks place in the team.

 

[KMC-1889]

It's a great conundrum, what is Pecks actually position..

He's not an attacking midfielder as shown by his non-existent goals and assists.

He always bags for the U21 and Rngland teams, got a hatful last England elite u20s game he played.

 

[BiggerBladeThanThou]

Said it last season, Peck needs to be further forward and one those MF’s who arrives in the box late. This requires decent wing play which I thought Ogbene looked good at. It also requires someone that actually shoot and score - Peck has looked woeful in front of goal for us so maybe we just bench him?

 

[Sean Thornton]

He always bags for the U21 and Rngland teams, got a hatful last England elite u20s game he played.

Scored twice for the England U20 side.

 

[TopBoy]

Peck is a young lad, and most young players need to drop out of the team from time to time. Peck has pretty much played in every match since Blaster got injured. The one thing he does give is 100%, I just think he needs 2-3 games on the bench to rest and regroup.

 

[UHLENBEEKS-RIGHT-BOOT]

I really like Sydie, he embodies everything Sheffield United for me. He is a young lad who had played 40 games more than expected, and this is based on merit. But unfortunately circumstance (Arblaster, Souza departure, Hamer position change, Davies permanently injured etc) has now formed into the main man in the middle, and it's not fair on him.

Let's be straight, if the board last year had pulled their finger out and done the business earlier on, he was heading for a league one loan - I am sure he was all set to go to Rotherham.

I think he had a very very promising future ahead of him, but can't help but feel sorry for him currently.

I do think it's a blip and if we turn a corner, so will he.