Champagneblade
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So we have 4 loan players in the squad.
What are the chances of them not being here come 31st Jan? And if that was the case, what would we do?
Olsen - unavailable for a few games and has effectively lost his place to Wes Foderingham, who is gaining, in typical Blades-embrasing-underdog fashion, a cult following. The World Cup is at the end of this season. I'm not sure Olsen getting splinters for the rest of the season is going to be ideal prep for the tournament, though he benefits from his understudies being, let's say, low profile. If he finds himself not playing mid Jan, it's not inconceivable that he and his agent may look for a way out.
Options - This has got all the hallmarks of the Blades way. We happily let Olsen go, Foderingham gets injured after securing a Play Off spot and we end up facing West Brom with Jake Eastwood in goal. Or Michael Verrips facing cold sweats and flashbacks from the last time.
Heart says - keep him. I'm torn but whilst logically it's a waste paying him as a reserve and on its own this makes sense, the lack of reliable replacements in an already stacked department is a worry. Plus getting someone to come as back up isn't going to attract top candidates. Verrips is likely to move on having damaged his chances almost irreparably with his debut and Eastwood has a long way to go to be considered for this level. The others are too green to consider as second choice.
Davies - I don't think there is much question that we would voluntarily send him back. He's maybe not quite hit top levels yet and he's not shown a penchant for overlapping really but he is a good player at this level and left footed. It's more likely someone like West Ham, who have been linked, see him as a decent pick up, given they also have injuries in central defence.
Options - Jack Robinson, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Kacper Lopata.
Heart says - if he goes then I think getting a replacement could be the difference between making the top 6 or not, though if we don't then it could create a pathway for one of the home grown lads to really surprise. We've more been 3-4-3 than 3-4-1-2 so I'd say overlapping isn't a must have it once was, more a bonus. If Lopata's injury is not bad, then his aerial dominance would be a bonus at both ends though he'd probably attack less. In fact I'd probably move Egan over to LCB where he plays for RoI. Another intriguing option would be RND who was talked of as a potential O'Connell understudy. He would lack height and looks like he may be a little rash at times, but he is one of those fierce competitors and he would be available on the overlap. You're very much going down the unproven route here. The assured thing to do would be to loan a replacement but this has been hard and if not left footed probably not worth it. In an act of solidarity, I'm going to blank Jack Robinson in the same way he did york blade on this one! Oh, and nobody wants to see Stevens there.
Gibbs-White - The sky is the limit with this guy. In a full season he'll be in the top 3 loanees with Glynn Hodges and Dean Henderson. It would be a huge blow. Right now he's out best player.
Options - Berge, N'Diaye, Freeman.
Heart says - it would have a seismic effect to our confidence. N'Diaye in a 3-4-3 probably. Berge possible if we ended up back at 3-5-2. Freeman potentially fulfilling his planned role if 3-4-1-2. We have options to get by and I think if we do lose him then we will not replace unless we spot someone of his calibre. Might be a very last minute thing. How to replace your best player at such short notice?
Hourihane - probably will start to show his worth under Hecky and not one the manager will send back. But with Norwich sniffing and maybe an 18 month deal in the offing we may not have a say
Options - Osborn, Berge, Fleck, Freeman, Coulibaly.
Heart says - if he goes I don't think we'll replace, especially if we do bring Coulibaly back. I know he isn't right footed but we're not all as OCD as Chris was.
What are your thoughts?
What are the chances of them not being here come 31st Jan? And if that was the case, what would we do?
Olsen - unavailable for a few games and has effectively lost his place to Wes Foderingham, who is gaining, in typical Blades-embrasing-underdog fashion, a cult following. The World Cup is at the end of this season. I'm not sure Olsen getting splinters for the rest of the season is going to be ideal prep for the tournament, though he benefits from his understudies being, let's say, low profile. If he finds himself not playing mid Jan, it's not inconceivable that he and his agent may look for a way out.
Options - This has got all the hallmarks of the Blades way. We happily let Olsen go, Foderingham gets injured after securing a Play Off spot and we end up facing West Brom with Jake Eastwood in goal. Or Michael Verrips facing cold sweats and flashbacks from the last time.
Heart says - keep him. I'm torn but whilst logically it's a waste paying him as a reserve and on its own this makes sense, the lack of reliable replacements in an already stacked department is a worry. Plus getting someone to come as back up isn't going to attract top candidates. Verrips is likely to move on having damaged his chances almost irreparably with his debut and Eastwood has a long way to go to be considered for this level. The others are too green to consider as second choice.
Davies - I don't think there is much question that we would voluntarily send him back. He's maybe not quite hit top levels yet and he's not shown a penchant for overlapping really but he is a good player at this level and left footed. It's more likely someone like West Ham, who have been linked, see him as a decent pick up, given they also have injuries in central defence.
Options - Jack Robinson, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Kacper Lopata.
Heart says - if he goes then I think getting a replacement could be the difference between making the top 6 or not, though if we don't then it could create a pathway for one of the home grown lads to really surprise. We've more been 3-4-3 than 3-4-1-2 so I'd say overlapping isn't a must have it once was, more a bonus. If Lopata's injury is not bad, then his aerial dominance would be a bonus at both ends though he'd probably attack less. In fact I'd probably move Egan over to LCB where he plays for RoI. Another intriguing option would be RND who was talked of as a potential O'Connell understudy. He would lack height and looks like he may be a little rash at times, but he is one of those fierce competitors and he would be available on the overlap. You're very much going down the unproven route here. The assured thing to do would be to loan a replacement but this has been hard and if not left footed probably not worth it. In an act of solidarity, I'm going to blank Jack Robinson in the same way he did york blade on this one! Oh, and nobody wants to see Stevens there.
Gibbs-White - The sky is the limit with this guy. In a full season he'll be in the top 3 loanees with Glynn Hodges and Dean Henderson. It would be a huge blow. Right now he's out best player.
Options - Berge, N'Diaye, Freeman.
Heart says - it would have a seismic effect to our confidence. N'Diaye in a 3-4-3 probably. Berge possible if we ended up back at 3-5-2. Freeman potentially fulfilling his planned role if 3-4-1-2. We have options to get by and I think if we do lose him then we will not replace unless we spot someone of his calibre. Might be a very last minute thing. How to replace your best player at such short notice?
Hourihane - probably will start to show his worth under Hecky and not one the manager will send back. But with Norwich sniffing and maybe an 18 month deal in the offing we may not have a say
Options - Osborn, Berge, Fleck, Freeman, Coulibaly.
Heart says - if he goes I don't think we'll replace, especially if we do bring Coulibaly back. I know he isn't right footed but we're not all as OCD as Chris was.
What are your thoughts?
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