Where will the goals come from?

[SwissBlade]

Simple game, based on the current squad we have, where do we think the (League) goals will come from this season. Last season we got 92 League goals (including O.G and players that we've sold)

Name & Predicted Goals (Potential in Brackets)

• Basham - 3 (6)
• JOC - 4 (6)
• Wright - 0 (0)
• Stearman - 3 (5)
• Fleck - 4 (8)
• Coutts - 3 (5)
• Lundstram - 2 (4)
• Brayford - 0 (0)
• Freeman - 5 (10)
• Stevens - 4 (8)
• Baldock - 2 (4)
• Lafferty - 2 (2)
• Thomas - 2 (5)
• Brooks - 3 (5)
• Duffy - 3 (6)
• Carruthers - 2 (2)
• Ched - 6 (15)
• Clarke - 7 (10)
• Lavery - 6 (12)
• Sharp - 15 (25)
• Done - 0 (0)
• Hanson - 3 (5)
• Total - 79 (143)

Of the players on the list that were here last year they got 77 goals, I don't expect us to finish with 79 goals as a team, but a decent season would represent the goals for that player.

I have also put in brackets the potential goals that player could get, if everything goes right, they keep fit, play the majority of games, then for example Ched could have a very good tally of 15. I also don't think in any world we will get 143 goals either, but its the individuals potential

I've attached an template and i can keep it updated through the season if anyone wants to do it​

 

[grafikhaus]

Now I'm getting worried...

CHED EVANS played just 17 minutes of Sheffield United’s six-match pre-season schedule, flagging up concern about the 28-year-old’s forward’s fitness.

It also brings into sharp focus the Blades strike strategy with just a matter of days remaining before the Championship season kicks-off. Has there been an over-reliance on what Evans can bring?

Manager Chris Wilder revealed recently that among his transfer targets is another forward, possibly two. Evans, hampered by fitness issues at Chesterfield, and now in his second spell at Bramall Lane, is making the task a top priority irrespective of his plight maybe just being an unfortunate coincidence.

Last season free-scoring United amassed 92 goals on their way to a club-record 100 points and the League One title. But all is not quite as it seems if you subtract top scorer Billy Sharp’s contribution of 30 from that total.

His strike partners Leon Clarke (6), Caolan Lavery (4), Matt Done (3), now transfer-listed, and James Hanson (1) produced only 14 league goals between them. The other 48 came from across the team led by wing-back Kieron Freeman (10), Mark Duffy (6) in midfield and loanee defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell, now at MK Dons (5).

With United on the brink of starting life in the Championship, it’s a sobering thought that the slight and popular frame of Stefan Scougall, pictured, the midfield man who moved as a free agent to Scottish Premier League St Johnstone in June, scored more goals (four league, five in total) than all but two of United’s strikers. That despite having last played in January.

Blades manager Chris Wilder said when a £500,000 deal to re-sign Evans was finalised with Chesterfield in early May: “Ched comes to us with targets to achieve along the way. With a full pre-season with us we believe he can provide us with options up front and score goals.”

That clearly hasn’t happened and those options remain very much an aspiration. Evans is apparently now debilitated by a hip injury. This has precluded him from all but what amounts to a cameo role towards the end of United’s 1-0 win against La Liga club Malaga in Spain, the second of the Blades warm-up fixtures for the looming challenge.

Since then Evans has rarely been mentioned, but a growing number of Blades supporters are beginning to question what role he can be expected to play having almost completely missed the assessment period his boss deemed so important.

Rest of link

 

[SwissBlade]

grafikhaus surely there are enough threads discussing the subject of ched....

 

[Blade56]

The opposition

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I can see why the Evans article has been quoted in reply because I think it's easy to overlook one simple fact - and this is captured in the Evans article above - if you take off Billy's goals from last season, we didn't have any other striker making a strong contribution.

You might say it doesn't matter where the goals come from and that it's ok for them to come from across the whole team. I'm not so sure tbh. Most of United's successful teams have been built around a strike partnership up front where two players get lots of goals. (Woodward, Dearden), (Edwards, Morris), (Deane, Agana). I think that it's important strikers score goals and if they don't then they're not really doing the main job they've been employed to do.

I've been saying for weeks that the area where we have the biggest problem is in the striker department. 3 old 'un's in Clarke, Sharp and Hanson - with no pace and only one of these can be relied upon to play and score regularly. 1 coming back from long time out of the game and plagued by injuries, then 2 who are young and unproven.

It's not Doomsday scenario exactly, but what it says is that we will probably need to strengthen in the striker department if we are to do well this season.

 

[SwissBlade]

I can see why the Evans article has been quoted in reply because I think it's easy to overlook one simple fact - and this is captured in the Evans article above - if you take off Billy's goals from last season, we didn't have any other striker making a strong contribution.

You might say it doesn't matter where the goals come from and that it's ok for them to come from across the whole team. I'm not so sure tbh. Most of United's successful teams have been built around a strike partnership up front where two players get lots of goals. (Woodward, Dearden), (Edwards, Morris), (Deane, Agana). I think that it's important strikers score goals and if they don't then they're not really doing the main job they've been employed to do.

I've been saying for weeks that the area where we have the biggest problem is in the striker department. 3 old 'un's in Clarke, Sharp and Hanson - with no pace and only one of these can be relied upon to play and score regularly. 1 coming back from long time out of the game and plagued by injuries, then 2 who are young and unproven.

It's not Doomsday scenario exactly, but what it says is that we will probably need to strengthen in the striker department if we are to do well this season.

And that's fine, but we've dozens of other threads on this. I wanted others to demonstrate where they think the goals will come from...

 

[TCsLoveChild]

TBF as soon as Clarke was fit he was scoring at will. His 6 goals came in as many games and IF he can stay fit could easily get 12 - 15 goals next season. Plus IF we can keep hold of Brookes he seems to have the magic touch in front of goal and could get something similar. Problem solved UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

It's a nonsense argument to say that if you take out player x's goals you will have x fewer goals...it's true, it's obvious and the reason we bought him was to score goals.

Take out freemans goals, moores saves, flecks assists, JoC's headers the side would've been very different. If Jordan Rhodes and Forestieri scored penalties the pigs would've made the play off final.

The fact was that Billy scored 30 goals because he was played in that role. Play another player there then you may or may not get a different result.

Billy doesn't get many long range goals, but perhaps Clarke or Lavery would've done...

 

[TBW57]

Bring back Matty Done!

 

[mattbianco1]

SwissBlade I think Carruthers has 8 in him. Looking forward to seeing him as first choice attacking mid.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

It's a nonsense argument to say that if you take out player x's goals you will have x fewer goals...it's true, it's obvious and the reason we bought him was to score goals.

Take out freemans goals, moores saves, flecks assists, JoC's headers the side would've been very different. If Jordan Rhodes and Forestieri scored penalties the pigs would've made the play off final.

The fact was that Billy scored 30 goals because he was played in that role. Play another player there then you may or may not get a different result.

Billy doesn't get many long range goals, but perhaps Clarke or Lavery would've done...

That's a very good point actually. Would another player, playing in the same kind of role, have scored a similar number of goals to Billy? We just don't know. The received wisdom, shared by the majority on here I suspect, is that they wouldn't - because Billy is something exceptional - but who knows? I mean, who would have bet on Freeman being second highest goalscorer last season? If anyone had told us that fact before the season started then most of us would have been thinking we were in for a relegation.

To answer your question...I think initially the goals will come from Clarke and Sharp. But I think Brooks and Lavery will not be far behind. I can see Freeman carrying on where he left off but I don't think he'll be making double figures this time. O' Connell will be good for half a dozen I reckon. The current midfielders Coutts, Duffy, Fleck maybe get 4 or 5 each. The new lad, Thomas, looks keen to have a go and I think he could add 8 or 10 goals to the team.

I think Brooks will emerge as our best striker this season - and then we'll sell him of course. But for now I'm going to enjoy watching this lad plummet 15 goals starting next saturday.

 

[8lade]

I really, really, do not like how John Osborne puts his articles together and I can see it is purposefully deceptive. After the 'article' about us not signing enough players with Championship experience comes this beauty:

Blades manager Chris Wilder said when a £500,000 deal to re-sign Evans was finalised with Chesterfield in early May: “Ched comes to us with targets to achieve along the way. With a full pre-season with us we believe he can provide us with options up front and score goals.”

The fee is undisclosed and will not be known until the accounts for this year are released at which point it can be estimated, here we see this deceptive attempt to tell us that Wilder confirms
it was £500k. I reiterate I do not like how this man puts his articles together.

 

[Esablade]

Good guesstimates...you'd think goals will be harder to come by but I'm certain we'll continue to create chances.

UTB!

 

[SteveBlade]

• Basham - 4
• JOC - 2
• Wright - 0
• Stearman - 2
• Fleck - 7
• Coutts - 2
• Lundstram - 2
• Brayford - 0
• Freeman - 4
• Stevens - 5
• Baldock - 1
• Lafferty - 2
• Thomas - 1
• Brooks - 146
• Duffy - 6
• Carruthers - 4
• Ched - 12
• Clarke - 10
• Lavery - 8
• Sharp - 17
• Done - 0
• Hanson - 2
• Total - 237

 

[Sheffsteel]

Thought it was a new report but it's already out of date.

Last night Wilder confirmed that Ched is now fit and taking part in full training at Shirecliffe.

Several inaccuracies. Seems like the author might have an agenda.
Ever heard the saying. "Let's wait and see before writing someone off".

 

[I should coco]

Since then Evans has rarely been mentioned, but a growing number of Blades supporters are beginning to question what role he can be expected to play having almost completely missed the assessment period his boss deemed so important.

Shit stirring wanker (the writer, not grafikhaus obviously).

He may be factually correct that the 10% who didn't want him may now be up to 12%, but I contend that the overwhelming majority of Blades wanted him back and expect him to contribute this season.

Re the OP there is an element of 'double counting', for instance you have Freeman on 5 and Baldock on 2 but they won't play in the same team so 7 goals from right back would be exceptional (I know all about last season but that was a one off against much poorer teams). Similarly you have 6 from left back (Stevens/Lafferety) which I can't see happening.

I think we will get between 50-60 goals with once gain, Billy chipping in with the lion's share.

 

[blade.i.am]

Most of the goals will come from feet, some from heads and a controversial last minute winner against the pigs deflected in off the refs arse.

 

[BanbridgeBlade]

I think Clarke & Lavery between them can get 20.

Clarke showed at the end of last season he has an eye for goal when fully fit & I believe he can do this in the Championship.

There is a player in Lavery, but I don't know if he'll be anything more than an impact sub barring injury as Wilder seems to prefer Clarke.

Between the 2 of them & Sharp I would guess at 35 goals. I genuinely shudder at the thought of Hanson getting any playing time in the Championship.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Who is the prick that wrote the article?

Whoever it is, no better job of having a dig at the club and player could have been done if it had been written by a pig.....or one of those on here with the weird love of sticking the boot into their own club.

 

[Working Class Hero]

SwissBlade I think Carruthers has 8 in him. Looking forward to seeing him as first choice attacking mid.

Carruthers has only scored 8 in his entire career!

There are plenty of goals throughout the team but if Sharp gets injured you do have to worry that it leaves a big hole.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Goals will come from all over the pitch.

Beauty of this system is that it's fluid. Any player save the central of the three centre backs is likely to be in the box in open play at least once during a game. And if you're in and around the box you have a chance to score.

Simples.

 

[Bladezz]

We scored 92 last seasson in League one.

I believe our team is stronger this season than last season.

We are in a tougher league so that will effect the goals we score. If we say 35 goals would have been stopped by a better quality of opposition we may score 57 goals.

Derby scored 54 last season.

 

[Slim Man]

Hanson will be lucky to get 1.

I'll not stop saying it till we do - we NEED another striker.

 

[Pierre's PC]

Carruthers has only scored 8 in his entire career!

There are plenty of goals throughout the team but if Sharp gets injured you do have to worry that it leaves a big hole.

Carruthers is a clever player who, although may not score many himself, will create opportunities by drawing fouls in dangerous areas.

 

[Pinchy]

I can see why the Evans article has been quoted in reply because I think it's easy to overlook one simple fact - and this is captured in the Evans article above - if you take off Billy's goals from last season, we didn't have any other striker making a strong contribution.

You might say it doesn't matter where the goals come from and that it's ok for them to come from across the whole team. I'm not so sure tbh. Most of United's successful teams have been built around a strike partnership up front where two players get lots of goals. (Woodward, Dearden), (Edwards, Morris), (Deane, Agana). I think that it's important strikers score goals and if they don't then they're not really doing the main job they've been employed to do.

I've been saying for weeks that the area where we have the biggest problem is in the striker department. 3 old 'un's in Clarke, Sharp and Hanson - with no pace and only one of these can be relied upon to play and score regularly. 1 coming back from long time out of the game and plagued by injuries, then 2 who are young and unproven.

It's not Doomsday scenario exactly, but what it says is that we will probably need to strengthen in the striker department if we are to do well this season.

It's some fan doing a Blog. It carries no more authority than a post on here.

 

[Pinchy]

Who is the prick that wrote the article?

Whoever it is, no better job of having a dig at the club and player could have been done if it had been written by a pig.....or one of those on here with the weird love of sticking the boot into their own club.

His articles are of no greater consequence or authority than posts in this forum. Far less, in some cases...

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Carruthers is a clever player who, although may not score many himself, will create opportunities by drawing fouls in dangerous areas.

 

[I should coco]

Hanson will be lucky to get 1.

I'll not stop saying it

Yawn, is broken record time already?

I think we know your position and constantly singling someone who helped get us up, does not reflect well on you.

 

[Slim Man]

Yawn, is broken record time already?

I think we know your position and constantly singling someone who helped get us up, does not reflect well on you.

Not bothered if it reflects well on me as long as we do something about it. The last thing I want is for the club to end up in a relegation battle due to not quite doing enough in the transfer market.

 

[Pierre's PC]

Self portrait?