WTF are United playing at?
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RIP Niftos
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probably not, but someone not a million miles away is
As for Tonge, i hope the guy does well at stoke, I've always liked him even if he has drifted for a while. Just wish we'd got someone conrete sorted out before we'd let him go. I'm sure we'll come up trumps (hehehehe) in the end, Blackie doesn't strike me as the sort of bloke who'd willingly leave himself short.
Come from away
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While I enjoyed the transfer discussions and all the great wit I have to say that for a Championship team loans make far more sense. We don't have the funds available to Premiership teams. We have had too many 1-2 million pound experiments that did not work. If they had come in on three month loans first we could have saved money and effort. Blackwell is being very smart in using the loan route. After Cotterill's loan we were all happy to see the transfer. So for me, well done Blackwell and I look forward to whoever you bring in on loan and we can judge by what he does (not his reputation) whether he will be a good longterm addition to the squad. Bring in the loans!!
This was noted by me and Brunty too. There was numerous occasions where he had time and space, and the harder ball was tried.
RaWW
Active Member
The only problem I see with the deal is that no-one has been brought in to replace him before he was sold.
We might have a few players who we could get on loan but what if the said clubs get a string of bad injuries and they don't want to loan the players out; deals haven't been done or we'd have heard about it. This is a huge gamble IMO
Obviously KB thought his best team was playing Tonge in CM; so if players don't come in we are having to play with a weakened MF. (using KB's logic of Tonge being best player in CM)
if we get a quality replacement I won't be unhappy at Tonge leaving. But anyone coming in MUST be better than Tonge or I just don't see the sense in the deal.
We might have a few players who we could get on loan but what if the said clubs get a string of bad injuries and they don't want to loan the players out; deals haven't been done or we'd have heard about it. This is a huge gamble IMO
Obviously KB thought his best team was playing Tonge in CM; so if players don't come in we are having to play with a weakened MF. (using KB's logic of Tonge being best player in CM)
if we get a quality replacement I won't be unhappy at Tonge leaving. But anyone coming in MUST be better than Tonge or I just don't see the sense in the deal.
Sensiblade
Well-Known Member
I posted this in another thread.
Any of these could fill Tonge's position and we'd not have to get anyone else in.
RaWW
Active Member
Hendrie - Not fit to wear the shirt. Useless, only puts in effort when it suits him
Spring - Not creative enough and hasn't exactly looked hot since his move
Monty - Whay play Monty when Speed does the same job but a hundred times better.
law - He's gone
Squinny - looks to lightweight in the centre each time I've seen him.
The rest your just scraping at the barrel.
This is what I mean, we'd have to totally change the MF to suit any of these players. What we need is a direct replacement for Tonge to keep the MF how it is.
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Load of rubbish, contrary to popular belief. Unless of course my eyes decieve me and I've not seen him repeatedly bust a gut to cover for a young left back caught out in the opposition half. On a rainy, cold, dark night at a Unibond ground. Certainly not useless, he's very talented when on form.
Mixed performances so far, does seem to like to push forward more than most though.
He would indeed more likely be played in a role like Speeds, therefore i'm not sure how realistic them both starting would be.
He played for us last night. Although I do think he'll be off before long, never really lived up to his potential consistantly.
I also fear he would be too lightweight to play this position for the first team. He looked his best to me playing central for the youth/reserve sides though.
It's good that we have all these options, think we are more likely to see a new face (initially on loan) in the long term though.
Blimey, Tonge's departure has polarised opinion if nothing else. Personally I can't see what the problem is. £2m for a player that produces two good games a season sounds like daylight robbery to me. I can't believe how many people rate him as our most creative player, I'd have thought you'd have to pass forwards once in a while to be even slightly creative. How any professional footballer can't hit the target from outside the box is beyond me, but week in, week out Tonge had his one shot a game that flew over the bar and he's seen as a creative talent. What a load of tosh.
Plus he's the only player I've ever seen that seems to move slower when he's actually sprinting.
As for a replacement, Blackwell brought in Spring in the summer who’s now had a few weeks to settle and Hendrie’s looking strong. I think Tonge’s been a passenger in the games I’ve seen him play this season and who’s to say that Blackwell didn’t think that enough’s enough. He was given enough chances to show his potential and we can all count on one hand the amount of times he’s delivered in the last three years let alone this season. Personally, I’d love to get a left winger in on loan, play Cotts on the right and play either Spring or Halford in the middle with Speed. Two players to boss midfield and a creative outlet on either wing, Beattie and Henderson up front. Simple.
Plus he's the only player I've ever seen that seems to move slower when he's actually sprinting.
As for a replacement, Blackwell brought in Spring in the summer who’s now had a few weeks to settle and Hendrie’s looking strong. I think Tonge’s been a passenger in the games I’ve seen him play this season and who’s to say that Blackwell didn’t think that enough’s enough. He was given enough chances to show his potential and we can all count on one hand the amount of times he’s delivered in the last three years let alone this season. Personally, I’d love to get a left winger in on loan, play Cotts on the right and play either Spring or Halford in the middle with Speed. Two players to boss midfield and a creative outlet on either wing, Beattie and Henderson up front. Simple.
I think two good games a season is very unfair.
Its one of those little comments that a lot of people tend to bring up with Tonge, and generally just isn't true.
He was inconsistent and frustrating, but throughout 8 years and 300 games, he did a very good job for this club. People say he was overrated, id say he was vastly underrated and overly picked on by many fans.
I mean if people actually looked at the big picture instead of constantly harping on about the 2002-03 season. Lets break it down.
2002-03 - obviously he was outstanding that year. Probably the worst thing he could have done, people would ever since go back to that season.
2003-04 - not as good, but once brown left all the pressure was on his young shoulders, still. 15 assists and 4 goals, second in player on the year. Does make me laugh how people forgot that. Good season overall.
04-05 - his poorest season, but then again most of the side bar jagielka was poor.
05-06 - dropped after first few games as he was awful, came back at christmas and was probably our best player after, I remember people on here and generally saying he was back if not better than his best in central midfield. Again, people tend to want to forget this.
06-07 - In premiership, he had good and bad games, but was one of our few players who didnt look out of place and generally comfortable at premiership level. Although central midfield should not have been his position IMO. Some excellent indivdual performances, particually the last part of the season.
07-08 - Second poorest season, but again, he was no worse than anybody else as Robson destroyed the side. When blackwell came in, Tonge and Speed formed an excellent partneship.
People rightly expected alot of him but he was never going to be 2002-03 Tonge, his game changed, he bulked up and lost that bit of agility and pace he had. He hasnt performed to his ability on a consistent basis true, but the stick he had to put up with from some was nothing short of disgusting considering what he has done for this club.
He could have moved on every season if he had wanted to, im quite sure of that. He was a loyal player and more part of the family than complete nobs like Lee hendrie. Shame some people still choose to slate the lad now he has left.
2 million was a good fee and it was time for him to move on, but give Tongey some credit.
Its one of those little comments that a lot of people tend to bring up with Tonge, and generally just isn't true.
He was inconsistent and frustrating, but throughout 8 years and 300 games, he did a very good job for this club. People say he was overrated, id say he was vastly underrated and overly picked on by many fans.
I mean if people actually looked at the big picture instead of constantly harping on about the 2002-03 season. Lets break it down.
2002-03 - obviously he was outstanding that year. Probably the worst thing he could have done, people would ever since go back to that season.
2003-04 - not as good, but once brown left all the pressure was on his young shoulders, still. 15 assists and 4 goals, second in player on the year. Does make me laugh how people forgot that. Good season overall.
04-05 - his poorest season, but then again most of the side bar jagielka was poor.
05-06 - dropped after first few games as he was awful, came back at christmas and was probably our best player after, I remember people on here and generally saying he was back if not better than his best in central midfield. Again, people tend to want to forget this.
06-07 - In premiership, he had good and bad games, but was one of our few players who didnt look out of place and generally comfortable at premiership level. Although central midfield should not have been his position IMO. Some excellent indivdual performances, particually the last part of the season.
07-08 - Second poorest season, but again, he was no worse than anybody else as Robson destroyed the side. When blackwell came in, Tonge and Speed formed an excellent partneship.
People rightly expected alot of him but he was never going to be 2002-03 Tonge, his game changed, he bulked up and lost that bit of agility and pace he had. He hasnt performed to his ability on a consistent basis true, but the stick he had to put up with from some was nothing short of disgusting considering what he has done for this club.
He could have moved on every season if he had wanted to, im quite sure of that. He was a loyal player and more part of the family than complete nobs like Lee hendrie. Shame some people still choose to slate the lad now he has left.
2 million was a good fee and it was time for him to move on, but give Tongey some credit.
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happyhippy
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I agree. He hasn't at first team level for us in particular, in any case. I hope I'm proved wrong, and I reckon I could well be proved wrong!
bettsyblade86
Member
I agree with foxy, great post about Tonge and i too dont understand why Hendrie gets as much stick as he does. Unfortunatley with most blades i doubt "all will be forgotted with Hendrie if he comes in and plays like Robinho some people will never forget, unfortunate, but thats blades for ya!!
Sensiblade
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What i've seen of him this Season (Hendrie that is) his attitude has been fantastic, he was very much a team player against Port Vale and in the friendly against Chengdu.
Also in the Chengdu game Monty was passing and showing very good skills. Not sure if i was in an alternative reality that night or just a good sign of things to come
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The only thing you could really get him on is being booked for celebrating a goal. Other than that, he tried to gee up the crowd consistantly and was one of the few who looked like they were arsed.
As i've said elsewhere, I've been very impressed with what i've seen so far this year in the reserves/friendlies... I think he's been labelled on mainly previous stories + reputation.
Rightly or wrongly, the majority of the time I think people like to paint him as some sort of evil arse who is just a leech on the clubs resources, mainly down to his percieved reputation.
For example... the widely reported (and unseen by many), shirt incident pre-season.
im even going to say that his attitude has been better than tonges.
Hendrie has been putting the effort in, encouraging, and wanting to get forward.
Tonge hasn't really done anything! Yes he's been a decent player over the years for us, but he's also had some shocking games and gone missing.
On the bright side, with tonge gone and keef out, we may get corners into the box now instead of the first man!
Hendrie has been putting the effort in, encouraging, and wanting to get forward.
Tonge hasn't really done anything! Yes he's been a decent player over the years for us, but he's also had some shocking games and gone missing.
On the bright side, with tonge gone and keef out, we may get corners into the box now instead of the first man!
I tend to agree....
Quinn aside all the above mentioned are deadwood and these players would not get into any of the top ten championship sides centre midfields.. If any of the afore mentioned were good enough they'd already be in the side..
Granted Tonge was not setting the world alight but I still feel he had more to offer than any of the options mentioned above. the fact is that Monty, Spring and Hendrie are simply not good enough and bringing in the likes of Sun Jihai to play in the cm is an ill concieved proposal, moving a player who is performing well in defence and unbalancing the defence and midfield is an appaling suggestion... putting square pegs in round holes will not cut the mustard at promotion seeking championship level
Monty- counteracts everything he does by losing the ball the second he has won it ...
Spring- In a pool of his own urine at Luton, pity signing by Blackwell, not shown enough on his brief appearances
Hendrie- Not fit to represent the Club off the field
Not fit to represent the Club on the field
I really hope that the rumours are true and we will be bringing in some midfield quality to bolster the squad, 2 and a quarter million in theory is a good fee for Tonge but if we fail to bring in anyone it would prove an herendously timed deal
BexleyBlade
Member
Not sure of your point here Sharpy?
Its not as if Hendrie turned us down 9 years ago. And Im pretty sure he was playing in the prem at the time so maybe he has something on Tonguey there
stinkyblade
Active Member
what has tonge being here 9 years got to do with the players attitude in the games so far this season?
Hendrie has wanted to win things and perform, tonge has been carried pretty much every game.
Sensiblade
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Fair enough Lee Hendrie has had a few moment's he would probably not do over again in his career but he is a loyal player.
Look at his teams so far.
Years Club
1993–2007 Aston Villa
2006–2007 → Stoke City (loan)
2007 → Stoke City (loan)
2007– Sheffield United
2008 → Leicester City (loan) 251 (27)
Not exactly a player that moans about his club and moves on.
His attitude can't be that bad cos he's never been run out of a club by a manager for any problems he's had.
Look at his teams so far.
Years Club
1993–2007 Aston Villa
2006–2007 → Stoke City (loan)
2007 → Stoke City (loan)
2007– Sheffield United
2008 → Leicester City (loan) 251 (27)
Not exactly a player that moans about his club and moves on.
His attitude can't be that bad cos he's never been run out of a club by a manager for any problems he's had.
rachyblade
Active Member
On championship manager Tonge moans about everything... I put him in reserves.
metalblade
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Is that the same Hendrie who stated he could'nt wait to sign for Leicester while on loan there ????? He soon changed his mind when they were relegated.
To the people slagging Tonge you are doing a big diservice to a good servant to Sheff Utd, ok he has had a bad time over the last few seasons but I suggest a lot of that is down to circumstances of being required to play a more defensive game under Warnock in the Premiership and then being lumbered as the rest of the team was with Robsons slow sideways football tactics. Tonge was never a hard tackling ball winning midfielder and he never will be, he was always better running at defences something he has not had licence to do for a good few years now. Makes me wonder about some fans, a large section could'nt get of his back when he was with United and they still can't now he has gone but Lee Hendrie who has put in about two good perfomances all the time he has been here is suddenly what we have been looking for in midfield since the days of McCall, if he was that good Tonge would'nt have kept him out of the first eleven. :thumbdown::thumbdown::thumbdown:
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