Billy Sharp

[scotty]

Don't blame Billy. The Ginger lino played him out of the game yesterday. Guly completely forgot Billy and Adam were on the same pitch and it showed. Billy Sharp is an asset. Let's use him with some support. On yesterdays showing perhaps we should get rid of NA eh?

 

Agreed. Even the BBC taters were saying that, how many onside runs got flagged?

[S-Clarke]

The guy looks so fragile confidence wise. He's failed at a 'big' club before and I bet you that is on his mind. He seems to thrive being the big fish in the small pond, but struggles in setups such as ours and Sheff Utd where he's part of a good squad.

 

I want him to do well for us, I really do, but he doesn't seem to have that quality and agility I thought he had. He doesn't help us as he slows us down, not sure if that's fitness or that's just how he is - if that's how he is then he's going to be no good for us as a long-term striker.

[Chez]

always dangerous to criticise attackers because they have the best opportunity to score goals and make your opinion look bad, but can anyone deny that he is poor in the air, offers limited hold up and link up play, has no trick and is the slowest `non big man' striker you have ever seen?

 

I'm not sure what everyone was expecting, many seemed to be clamouring for his signing. Not sure why, he was exactly the same at Donny. I suspect the leading goalscorers list was the basis of the clamouring. Statistically he might have looked OK (1 goal in 3 games isn't bad), but the reality is he is just a goal hanger that gets 1 in 3 and offers little else. He has 3 goals in 9 appearances (5 starts) for us too. That's what he does, scores goals when he has enough time and space. Without it he offers very little.

 

The question is what other options were there? The Championship wasn't blessed with available strikers, and some of the clubs and players wanted a fortune. Of those that did move Vaz Te has 4 goals 9 appearances, Maynard 1 in 10, Jutkiewicz 3 in 16, Tyrone Bennett 4 in 9, and Jason Roberts 5 in 12. There's you stats, what about their all round game? Certainly Roberts is a handful, Jutkiewcw is good in the air, Vaz Te and Maynard offer pace and Bennett, well I have no idea, but I bet we find out...

[SuperSAINT]

If he scores the winner against the skates next week, can we start a positive thread about him?

[shurlock]

always dangerous to criticise attackers because they have the best opportunity to score goals and make your opinion look bad, but can anyone deny that he is poor in the air, offers limited hold up and link up play, has no trick and is the slowest `non big man' striker you have ever seen?

 

I'm not sure what everyone was expecting, many seemed to be clamouring for his signing. Not sure why, he was exactly the same at Donny. I suspect the leading goalscorers list was the basis of the clamouring. Statistically he might have looked OK (1 goal in 3 games isn't bad), but the reality is he is just a goal hanger that gets 1 in 3 and offers little else. He has 3 goals in 9 appearances (5 starts) for us too. That's what he does, scores goals when he has enough time and space. Without it he offers very little.

 

The question is what other options were there? The Championship wasn't blessed with available strikers, and some of the clubs and players wanted a fortune. Of those that did move Vaz Te has 4 goals 9 appearances, Maynard 1 in 10, Jutkiewicz 3 in 16, Tyrone Bennett 4 in 9, and Jason Roberts 5 in 12. There's you stats, what about their all round game? Certainly Roberts is a handful, Jutkiewcw is good in the air, Vaz Te and Maynard offer pace and Bennett, well I have no idea, but I bet we find out...

 

Would have gone for Roberts, Jutkiewcw or Henderson in Jan and then brought in a bit of movement/pace which we did with Lee.

[Raging Bull]

I think a lot of you are being incredibly hard on the lad. He's been a little hit and miss but there are moments when his movement and positioning are very good, he'll score a few & his confidence will grow imessureably.

 

Seem to remember Lambert taking a while to settle at the start of both league 1 seasons.

[S-Clarke]

I think a lot of you are being incredibly hard on the lad. He's been a little hit and miss but there are moments when his movement and positioning are very good, he'll score a few & his confidence will grow imessureably.

 

Seem to remember Lambert taking a while to settle at the start of both league 1 seasons.

 

Don't remember Lambert taking a while to settle with us, he kind of hit the ground running really and didn't look back. You could see the attributes he had straight away, and although not fully fit he was always going to be a handful.

 

I think Sharp needs to improve his confidence and I'm sure he'll look better once he's done that, but I'm struggling to see any ability and he slows our game down big time.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

I'll match your full stop with a period - the period in question being the first 4 months of 2012.

 

This player has done next-to-nothing (in positive sense anyway) for this club all this calender year. To point out that obvious truth is not to scapegoat him - that is how many SFC fans genuinely see the facts of the matter. Now this seems to outrage the massed ranks of his fan club for some reason - but you can't talk him into being a better player than he is fortunately.

 

Except,to quote LTC...mom at Millwall.....as i said some people get in there limited minds to say "he`s Sh1t" or similar and have to stick to that

as they are unable to ever consider that their opinion is flawed even after a MOM performance....AGENDA`S

[Glasgow_Saint]

If he scores the winner against the skates next week, can we start a positive thread about him?

 

Just like we did last week!? This thread is nonsense, give sharp a few games and he will prove his worth im sure of that!

[MOSaint.]

get rid of guly 1st please

this!!!!

[S-Clarke]

Guly looked better than Sharp yesterday in my eyes....

[Chez]

Seem to remember Lambert taking a while to settle at the start of both league 1 seasons.

he scored 53 minutes into his debut at Huddersfield and was first class immediately in that season for us. Had a terrible first half of the second season though.

[Graffito]

As a couple of others have said, it looks like his confidence is fragile. Stating the bleeding obvious but it's a team game and it was the team that lost yesterday not billy sharp. One further thought, anyone know how Doncaster played him? I remember seeing Coppinger make a few of his goals from the wing but that's the extent of my knowledge.

[MOSaint.]

Why? he at least put in some effort yesterday which is more than you can say for most of the team and he was involved in our best chance yesterday.....at the moment I'd rather have Guly on the pitch than Sharp.

i d rather have tommy Forcast than Guly and where was his "effort" sorry didnt see it when he starts seems that the rest of the team lose confidence, god I hope he does start against the skates

[Saint Billy]

The whole side was gash yesterday and I cannot drag out one bit of positive about that display at all. Sharp was as bad as the rest of them.

 

If we go up it will be interesting to see who can do the business in the prem.

[MOSaint.]

i d rather have tommy Forcast than Guly and where was his "effort" sorry didnt see it when he starts seems that the rest of the team lose confidence, god I hope he doesn t start against the skates

thats better lol

[S-Clarke]

i d rather have tommy Forcast than Guly and where was his "effort" sorry didnt see it when he starts seems that the rest of the team lose confidence, god I hope he does start against the skates

 

What a stupid thing to say.

[Chez]

Just like we did last week!? This thread is nonsense, give sharp a few games and he will prove his worth im sure of that!

you can score and play badly

[shurlock]

As a couple of others have said, it looks like his confidence is fragile. Stating the bleeding obvious but it's a team game and it was the team that lost yesterday not billy sharp. One further thought, anyone know how Doncaster played him? I remember seeing Coppinger make a few of his goals from the wing but that's the extent of my knowledge.

 

This was from the Donny lad who sometimes frequents the forum - impression is that he is a decent lone striker...

 

****

 

Thanks for the comments, the Portsmouth situation could give us a boost if reports are true they are in deep trouble, Billy has never played with a big man whilst at Donny he often played up front on his own with Hayter just behind and a couple of attacking midfielders/wingers. I have no doubt he will be a success at your place,his enthusiasum and determination is a joy to watch, he will get the goals you need to gain promotion I'm certain of that. Him & Lambert will be a frightening partnership & I'm sure you have other quality strikers as well. Good luck, I will certainly be tuning in to watch your game saturday evening.

So he's not big but can play as a lone man and hold the ball up. I know he revels in the fat lad from sheffield schtick but is he quick enough? Cheers

 

****

 

He isn't lightening quick but he is no slouch either, despite his lack of inches he is great as a lone forward, he doesn't half knock 6ft+ defenders around, the ball sticks when he gets it, rarely loses possesion and has great vision. I'd be amazed if by the end of February he isn't a fan favourite. I know the expectation & quality is another level to us but he will rise to that, no doubt about it. What's the chances of him playing tonight?

[gammon cheeks]

Give the bloke a break!! Billy is a class player he will come good!

[Chez]

One further thought, anyone know how Doncaster played him?

they just played him all the time and he did what he has done for us, very little in the build up, very little in terms of threat, he just got in the box and waited for chance to come his way and he took some of them. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

He will score goals for us too, not loads, but he will score simply because if you play strikers long enough, create chances for them and ask him to get in the box (which he does), goals will come. He'll grab the winner on Saturday.

Edited 1 April, 2012 by Chez

[Chez]

He isn't lightening quick but he is no slouch either,

He's very slow. But he does come alive when a chance falls to him.

[Chez]

Give the bloke a break!! Billy is a class player he will come good!

can you describe what you mean when you say class player? Genuine question.

[Window Cleaner]

they just played him all the time and he did what he has done for us, very little in the build up, very little in terms of threat, he just got in the box and waited for chance to come his way and he took some of them. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

He will score goals for us too, not loads, but he will score simply because if you play any striker long enough, create chances for them and ask him to get in the box, goals will come.

 

let's face it with a player like Diouf in your side you're bound to create a few chances. Diouf is a **** but if he turns up he's a pretty dangerous player.

[Genk]

A bit of revision on the offside law wouldn't go amiss.

 

The linesman had a shocker on two of the calls yesterday where he was on side. I remember Lee and Guly being offside ALOT in certain home games.

 

Lay off Billy. He's going to score a few more crucial goals this season to prove you haters wrong. Fickle fans

[shurlock]

let's face it with a player like Diouf in your side you're bound to create a few chances. Diouf is a **** but if he turns up he's a pretty dangerous player.

 

Diouf hardly played with Sharp -at least as a % of Sharp's time at Donny.

[Graffito]

This was from the Donny lad who sometimes frequents the forum - impression is that he is a decent lone striker...

 

****

 

Thanks for the comments, the Portsmouth situation could give us a boost if reports are true they are in deep trouble, Billy has never played with a big man whilst at Donny he often played up front on his own with Hayter just behind and a couple of attacking midfielders/wingers. I have no doubt he will be a success at your place,his enthusiasum and determination is a joy to watch, he will get the goals you need to gain promotion I'm certain of that. Him & Lambert will be a frightening partnership & I'm sure you have other quality strikers as well. Good luck, I will certainly be tuning in to watch your game saturday evening.

So he's not big but can play as a lone man and hold the ball up. I know he revels in the fat lad from sheffield schtick but is he quick enough? Cheers

 

****

 

He isn't lightening quick but he is no slouch either, despite his lack of inches he is great as a lone forward, he doesn't half knock 6ft+ defenders around, the ball sticks when he gets it, rarely loses possesion and has great vision. I'd be amazed if by the end of February he isn't a fan favourite. I know the expectation & quality is another level to us but he will rise to that, no doubt about it. What's the chances of him playing tonight?

 

Thanks. Those comments don't describe the player we're seeing yet. Perhaps he's inhibited by weight of expectation. It does strange things to people. Look at west ham at home.

[Graffito]

they just played him all the time and he did what he has done for us, very little in the build up, very little in terms of threat, he just got in the box and waited for chance to come his way and he took some of them. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

He will score goals for us too, not loads, but he will score simply because if you play strikers long enough, create chances for them and ask him to get in the box (which he does), goals will come. He'll grab the winner on Saturday.

 

Can they just have played him? He had a reasonable scoring record in a fairly poor team. I don't know enough about how Doncaster and S****horpe played him.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

i d rather have tommy Forcast than Guly and where was his "effort" sorry didnt see it when he starts seems that the rest of the team lose confidence, god I hope he does start against the skates

 

 

 

So where shall we play forecast...wide right,in the hole,up front you choose....

[John Boy Saint]

i d rather have tommy Forcast than Guly and where was his "effort" sorry didnt see it when he starts seems that the rest of the team lose confidence, god I hope he does start against the skates

 

Tommy Forecast would be sent off in the first 10 minutes, two yellows: both for catching the ball and drop kicking it up field!!

 

[Leicestersaint]

If ever there's a time we need him to find some form - it's now.

[VectisSaint]

i d rather have tommy Forcast than Guly and where was his "effort" sorry didnt see it when he starts seems that the rest of the team lose confidence, god I hope he does start against the skates

What a load of absolute ******. You do know who Guly is don't you? I could describe him if it helps, because clearly you are mixing him up with someone else. I would suggest that yesterday he would probably have been in the top 2 or 3 for yardage covered during the match. The effort he puts in is actually huge, how often yesterday was he back defending when our defence was all over the place. Yes some free kicks went against him, though in almost every case the replays showed the referee had got it wrong. Unfortunatel ythe guy has a languid way of running, but he is actually very quick and covers a huge amount of ground. He did not have a great game yesterday, but then neither did anyone else, but to accuse him of not putting in effort simply shows that you are either (a) completely ignorant or (b) don't actually know which player Guly is. I would love to see the Opta stats for ground covered during matches, I think this would put this myth to bed that some ****s on here have. Get behind the players FFS, and stop scape-goating one player who has actually done a great deal for the team this season overall. I criticised Sharp yesterday because he was absolutely shocking, but I will support him next time he plays and get behind him.

[beatlesaint]

Not sure how a guy who scored 2 well taken goals just last week can be short of confidence, that doesn't make much sense to me.

He was awful yesterday, no point denying that but so was everyone else.

 

If its true about Tadanari Lee being out then Billy, Guly and Connolly have to come in and do a job. They are all capable.

[S-Clarke]

Not sure how a guy who scored 2 well taken goals just last week can be short of confidence, that doesn't make much sense to me.

He was awful yesterday, no point denying that but so was everyone else.

 

If its true about Tadanari Lee being out then Billy, Guly and Connolly have to come in and do a job. They are all capable.

 

Conners is injured too though.

 

Injuries are hitting us at the wrong time.

[beatlesaint]

Conners is injured too though.

 

Injuries are hitting us at the wrong time.

 

He is/was, but I assume he isnt out for the season, it was only a bang in the knee after all, according to NA.

[Window Cleaner]

Not sure how a guy who scored 2 well taken goals just last week can be short of confidence, that doesn't make much sense to me.

He was awful yesterday, no point denying that but so was everyone else.

 

If its true about Tadanari Lee being out then Billy, Guly and Connolly have to come in and do a job. They are all capable.

 

missing the penalty probably got to him,need to be a tough nut to miss one like that knowing that Rickie sinks every one since the dawn of time and not let it affect you.

[doddisalegend]

Conners is injured too though.

 

Injuries are hitting us at the wrong time.

 

So lets play Lee Barnard.....

[DrunkenSaint]

If promoted to the Premier League, I can see Saints going for Gary Hooper again in the Summer.

 

Five striker options for 2012/13...

 

Lambert

Sharp

Hooper

Guly Do Prado

Tadanari Lee

 

Connolly is out of contract in the summer and the club may not renew. Barnard would be on the fringes and might also leave.

 

Can't see us going for Hooper we need someone who is alot better than him and each time i look at the Celtic team he is on the bench his work rate isnt that good either from what ppl have told me, he's quite lazy on the pitch and thats something we don't want. I wouldn't count on Guly being here either defo not prem class, only Lee and Lambo would be ok i wouldn't be surprised if we were to have half a new team next year if we go up. As for Sharp, atm he's not right for us but i don't think we will sell him that quickly.

[solentstars]

What a load of absolute ******. You do know who Guly is don't you? I could describe him if it helps, because clearly you are mixing him up with someone else. I would suggest that yesterday he would probably have been in the top 2 or 3 for yardage covered during the match. The effort he puts in is actually huge, how often yesterday was he back defending when our defence was all over the place. Yes some free kicks went against him, though in almost every case the replays showed the referee had got it wrong. Unfortunatel ythe guy has a languid way of running, but he is actually very quick and covers a huge amount of ground. He did not have a great game yesterday, but then neither did anyone else, but to accuse him of not putting in effort simply shows that you are either (a) completely ignorant or (b) don't actually know which player Guly is. I would love to see the Opta stats for ground covered during matches, I think this would put this myth to bed that some ****s on here have. Get behind the players FFS, and stop scape-goating one player who has actually done a great deal for the team this season overall. I criticised Sharp yesterday because he was absolutely shocking, but I will support him next time he plays and get behind him.

 

Good post its about time some people realised we are top of the league and all the squad has played its part rather than listen to the divisive element who want to scapegoat when we lose a game now and then.

 

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

[doddisalegend]

Can't see us going for Hooper we need someone who is alot better than him and each time i look at the Celtic team he is on the bench his work rate isnt that good either from what ppl have told me, he's quite lazy on the pitch and thats something we don't want. I wouldn't count on Guly being here either defo not prem class, only Lee and Lambo would be ok i wouldn't be surprised if we were to have half a new team next year if we go up. As for Sharp, atm he's not right for us but i don't think we will sell him that quickly.

 

Yeah lets do a QPR it's worked so well for them much better than Norwich and Swansea who didn't go out and replace most of their teams.....

[CWD]

Remember how good Chaplow was at the start of the season before his injury? At the time I thought he would be a bit part player for us in the NPC but he had a good preseason and was quality until he turned his knee. Watch Billy do the same. He'll grab a few more goals before the end of the season but won't set the world alight. Then he'll be worked harder than he's ever worked in his life in July and August and we'll see a PL quality player.

 

Trust me.

[david in sweden]

No, not at all. I've seen him play quite a few games for us now and whilst he's clearly not firing on all cylinders for us at present I fail to see the potential in him. I am very confident that we will go up this season and I don't see any place for him in a Saints Prem team. /QUOTE]

 

 

 

think maybe... you ought to talk with Nigel Adkins, I don't think he'd agree with you.

so ...when Cortese sacks him...you can have the job .......and the task of selling Billy .. OK ?

[david in sweden]

QUESTION ....

Are we all discussing the same Billy Sharp who scored 2 goals last week ?

 

He had a bad game yesterday....along with about 8 others in the side (btw).......so let's sack him NOW !

[derry]

I lost count of the number of times players up front made an early run and were ignored while we went through the ten passes midfield to back four to goalkeeper and back again until the lump upfield to our outnumbered attackers. Blackpool nailed us yesterday by exploiting our slow build up in our own half to consolidate and close down our attackers then hit the space left wide by the narrow diamond and expose the full backs and suck in the central defenders.

[DrunkenSaint]

Yeah lets do a QPR it's worked so well for them much better than Norwich and Swansea who didn't go out and replace most of their teams.....

 

I don't want us to have half a new team but our fringe players are not Championship class let alone Premiership quality. Our youngsters will take a while to get into the first team but they do look good but for one thing we do need new players, most of our fringe players should have been sold by now and been replaced with players who are capable of stepping up. I like sharp but he's taking his time to adjust and like i said he wont be sold quickly like some ppl have been saying. I would like us to get more Chaplow type players in, the midfielder's who get stuck in and help defence and attack very quickly but for one thing like i said, we need a better striker also and Hooper or Guly just wont do, oh and we need to think of a replacement for Lambo for when he's injured or a few years later.

[Window Cleaner]

I don't want us to have half a new team but our fringe players are not Championship class let alone Premiership quality. Our youngsters will take a while to get into the first team but they do look good but for one thing we do need new players, most of our fringe players should have been sold by now and been replaced with players who are capable of stepping up. I like sharp but he's taking his time to adjust and like i said he wont be sold quickly like some ppl have been saying. I would like us to get more Chaplow type players in, the midfielder's who get stuck in and help defence and attack very quickly but for one thing like i said, we need a better striker also and Hooper or Guly just wont do, oh and we need to think of a replacement for Lambo for when he's injured or a few years later.

 

Chaplow like players will just be red cards and every increasing suspensions waiting to happen in the PL.

[ulstersaint]

For several weeks posters have been asking, "Why is NA not playing Billy Sharp after paying big money for him in January?"

 

Yesterday we got the answer to that question. He is clearly not fit enough / confident enough / settled enough to be ready for the first team. But he will be - give Nigel time.

[Leicestersaint]

So lets play Lee Barnard.....

 

Please no!

[ant]

Christ, how fickle are football fans? I hope some self-righteous so-and-so gets the chance to dig this thread up in 12 or 24 months time and we can all laugh at the posts within as per the Lallana/Schneiderlin threads etc. etc. He will come good given the chance (and I certainly wouldn't call 5 starting appearances 'a chance').

[St_Tel49]

For once Guly didn't stand out because everyone else lowered their game to his level. It was f/cking embarrassing all round. And i agree with the OP - Sharp is fat, slow, no confidence at all, and no potential either. I think he'll go down in that list of duff players we've bought over the years.

I love it -a player written off after 2 or 3 appearances in one of which he scored twice. You couldn't make it up.