Billy Sharp - Joins Notts Forest on Season Long Loan

[LostBoys]

Not happy with this at all. Ok there were a few costly misses at West Ham and Blackpool but he did well for us and arguably ensured we were promoted. I am not surprised that half the football Championship were after him. Very disappointed.

[red&white56]

I'm not happy about letting Billy go - mistake in my opinion. He knows where the goal is. I think Cortese has got carried away with his business plan and attempts at global branding the Saints. Don't get me wrong, the new signings look exciting, but can they stick the ball in the net like Billy? Only time will tell. If we get relegated - and that is likely - we'll need Billy back again after the others have cleared off.

 

I'm in line with your thinking. If we do get relegated (and yes there is a possibility it will be us) will we keep all of these new players? I don't think so. Players like Billy would play an important role for us if we go down.

 

However, asking him to hang around and be an insurance policy in case we get relegated is not fair to him.

 

Good luck Billy !

[Bearsy]

Dunno bout that LostBoys, if we're playing 4-3-3 he wouldn't be in my first string. Nor, to be honest, my second string.

 

Good option if ur playing 4-4-2 tho!

[Golden Balls]

Seems to me we're being very sensible and only loaning these players just in case we get relegated. Forest and Brighton both have money to spend and no doubt would have purchased them if they could

[pap]

Looking over all the correspondence, Billy seems happy enough with the move. Nottingham is very close to his old stomping grounds. Even without the personal tragedy that Billy and family went through, moving from the North to the South can be a hell of a culture shock. Really hope he does well at Forest.

[OldNick]

when LM got us promoted in the 70's we had Tony Funnel who scored loads of important goals that helped us get promoted. He never played for us in the top division, similar to BS that he was not quite right in the higher grade. Good luck Billy, I dont think we saw you at your best and i hope you carry on scoring.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Somewhat surprised to see him go to be honest because a finisher of his ability could (very likely) still 'do a job for us' in the event of a injury crisis. I suspect however that Billy may not have felt entirely at home down here for some reason.

 

Whatever, a good player and I'm perfectly sure he'll play in big part in getting Forrest back where they feel they belong.

[Whitey Grandad]

I see McGoldrick has gone to Coventry on loan until 2nd January. They must think Billy's better.

 

Good luck Billy, and thanks for all the goals.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Sad to see the guy go.

 

His goals in the run in were crucial to saints promotion.

 

Good player, great bloke - I find him a really inspirational character.

 

Thank you billy, and best of luck to ya. I'm sure he'll tear it up in the champ this year.

[scotty]

I see McGoldrick has gone to Coventry on loan until 2nd January. They must think Billy's better.

 

Good luck Billy, and thanks for all the goals.

 

.........and this week's Sherlock prize goes to Whitey!!!!

[Dig Dig]

Sharp has said on Twitter this morning that the move had nothing to do with him wanting to go back up North... He said he was "perfectly settled" down here. So another myth which can stopped being peddled as he never had a problem coming down here in the first place. He's gone for footballing reasons, nothing more.

 

Hope he does well for them and will be following how he gets on there closely

[pap]

Sharp has said on Twitter this morning that the move had nothing to do with him wanting to go back up North... He said he was "perfectly settled" down here. So another myth which can stopped being peddled as he never had a problem coming down here in the first place. He's gone for footballing reasons, nothing more.

 

Hope he does well for them and will be following how he gets on there closely

 

Spotted that myself. Happy to be proved wrong on the North/South thing. Probably just a case of where he is likely to get the most games.

[hasper57saint]

Shocked! Here's me thinking he's going to stay and then NA lets him go to Forest! Hope you do well Bill. Thanks for the memories.

[Clifford Nelson]

The last interview with him on Saints Player confirmed my suspicion that he wasn't happy to have to compete for a place. Instead he looked and sounded dour. I fear it was a complete shift of pond size for Billy the fish, and it made him uncomfortable. It's a pity, because he was a genuine operator in the box, which I think made him unique in the squad. Nevertheless, you want 25 eager and enthusiastic character on the training ground. The opposite is contagious and the precursor to doom. Emmanuel seems in comparison to be a really positive chap.

[Sour Mash]

Anyone else think Chaplow is angling for a move to Burnley on twitter?

[S-Clarke]

Anyone else think Chaplow is angling for a move to Burnley on twitter?

 

Wouldn't blame him, he's 5th choice CM this year, and even down the pecking order for a place on the right. Would expect him to go on loan at some point, he deserves to play.

[Red]

At least.

 

I am going to be so f**ked off if this happens.

 

We are going too far down the Carlos Kick-a-Ball route for my taste.

 

Result - even for above alone!

[Red]

I'm in line with your thinking. If we do get relegated (and yes there is a possibility it will be us) will we keep all of these new players? I don't think so. Players like Billy would play an important role for us if we go down.

 

However, asking him to hang around and be an insurance policy in case we get relegated is not fair to him.

 

Good luck Billy !

 

Yep - he'll be really motivated to get us back up, when he knows what his reward will be - to be shipped out again!

[Frank's cousin]

Think its great that we as fans are disspointed hes gone off to Forrest - I like the fact that as a whole Saints fans are not only appreciative of what Billy Whizz did for us on the pitch - the 10 in 18 helping us get promoted, but also appreciated his courage and all round 'topblokeism' off it.

 

I know some feel that he could or would be able to do a good job for us in the prem, and probably if we played a more traditianl 442 etc and had him and Lambo up front it might be OK, but as its looking likely that we will be more 433 or 4231 etc, we needed more pace for that, and that was where we are lacking and I am sure Billiy would admit its not his strongest aspect. In Lambo we have the more tradtional, etc for when we need that and I guess we dont have time to reward thsoe who got us up with a season in the prem if we are looking to make more rapid progress than just survival? Yes there are others in positions that have remianed in the squad who are not as talented or have not contributed as much, but thats how it goes sometimes.

 

Good to see all teh good luck messages and hope he delivers for forest as he did for us - but if we are honest, the club have to make decisions on what tehy feel will bring progress, not on sentiment. We will need to wait and see if they got that one right

[crouchi]

Yes good player, worth the money for helping get us up

[Saint-Armstrong]

Just watched this: http://www.player.nottinghamforest.c...w:-Billy-Sharp

 

Sharp looks upset/frustrated and says "I need a few answers from Southampton" and shakes his head looking baffled.

[SW11_Saint]

Bought to get the goals to get us promotion and he did that. Have never been convinced he'd cut it in the Prem, so a good move for him and the club. Personally disappointed for him mind, he'd waited a longtime to get to the top division and only got about 15 minutes.

 

Good luck at Forest Billy. You'll score goals and the fans will love you.

[The9]

My "Sharp to play more than Lambert" prediction is in ruins.

 

Ok, Mayuka and Rodriguez both to start more Prem matches than Lambert this season, then.

 

My missus is completely gutted he's gone, says he reminds her of me and just bought herself a LJS band to go with her t-shirt. Still, he has to do what's right for his career in the long term, and 6 months of nothing with us isn't as good as a season of challenging at Forest and potentially coming back to Saints on relegation or getting a deal at Forest if they do or don't go up in a year's time.

Edited 1 September, 2012 by The9

[alpine_saint]

Result - even for above alone!

 

Thank god school is back next week to reduce moronic comments like this.

[Window Cleaner]

Just watched this: http://www.player.nottinghamforest.c...w:-Billy-Sharp

 

Sharp looks upset/frustrated and says "I need a few answers from Southampton" and shakes his head looking baffled.

 

I am obviously totally alone in not being surprised tht he's been farmed out already. Could never understand why we signed him in the first place. NA obviously wanted him here but I'm beginning to think that NA no longer has the final say in who comes and who goes, if JRod doesn't shape up pdq then he could be out on loan already in January.

[norwaysaint]

Don't really get it, sharp's goalscoring record is far, far better than rodriguez'. Is he really better or are saints just preferring the one who cost more money? Genuine question to those who have seen plenty of them both.

[S-Clarke]

Don't really get it, sharp's goalscoring record is far, far better than rodriguez'. Is he really better or are saints just preferring the one who cost more money? Genuine question to those who have seen plenty of them both.

 

Rodriguez is a completely different type of centre forward. He's better technically for a start, has more to his all round game and can bring others in to play with his ability. We're yet to se the best of him, but i've always been a fan. I think he's far superior to Sharp and that's based on me seeing a fair bit of both and their all round games.

 

I am still of the opinion that the club felt we needed a striker in January to get us over the line, we tried for Hooper and tried again for Rodriguez - but it didn't happen. That's when we resurrected the Sharp deal as it was quite a good deal being under £2m at the time. The deal did what it was itended to, an investment into a goalscorer to get us over the line. And we've now made his transfer fee back, and then some.

 

Come the summer, we're in a position to approach Rodriguez again - and this time we're able to sign him. Therefore with the return of Lee, the addition of Rodriguez and the arrival of Muyaka then he's too far down the pecking order for me - and he deserves to play, that's what I think the club have put to him.

[ART]

Just heard on the radio that Liverpool have the option of recalling Carroll in January. Seems this is a common clause in season long loans. Wondering whether we at Saints have this option of recalling Billy Sharp in January. Would be reassuring if we were able to do so.

[Saint Garrett]

Would have thought so but he's not going to get games here.

[melmacian_saint]

With all the signings we've made it would be unlikely to see him get the game time he needs and wants.

 

Good luck Billy, hopefully he'll do well and return to the squad!

[ByTheGolacs]

Whilst I personally can see the logic of loaning Billy to Forest it is interesting that he at least believes that the reasons for letting him go were not fully or adequately explained. An alternative reading of it might be that it was explained to him, but he still feels he has unfinished business at Saints.

 

Go to love those journo's!!!!!!!!!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19490760

[Matthew Le God]

Odd they are running that story on 5th September, Sharp made those comments on 1st September in a post match interview after Forest vs Charlton. So not exactly "news".

[Raging Bull]

Looked through some of his tweets earlier on & I must admit (especially looking at the pictures he tweeted) he loved his time here and didn't want to move on.

[alpine_saint]

Feel sorry for him. He had a big interview in one of the nationals a few weeks before saying how much he liked living down here and how being with us was helping get over the death of Luey.

 

To me it feels like he's been tossed aside for a newer and "better" model.

 

I reckon we might end up regretting this.

[Saint Garrett]

We clearly wanted a striker in January. Our priorities were probably

 

1) J-Rod

2) Hooper

3) Maynard

4) Sharp

 

We bought him in, he tipped us over the line and got us promoted. Yes he deserves a chance with us in the fans eyes, but the club have clearly decided that J-Rod has come in to replace him along with Mayuka. Are they better options than Billy? Time will tell. Feel sorry for the bloke as I really liked having him here and he clearly loved it here.

[Matthew Le God]

We clearly wanted a striker in January. Our priorities were probably

 

1) J-Rod

2) Hooper

3) Maynard

4) Sharp

 

And Tadanari Lee.

[Bobbyboy]

Not entirely sure about this, but I wonder if he is (was) the most natural finisher in the squad. Or at least the best 'poacher'. I'd have liked to have seen him given some kind of chance, even if it was off the bench.

[alpine_saint]

Not entirely sure about this, but I wonder if he is (was) the most natural finisher in the squad. Or at least the best 'poacher'. I'd have liked to have seen him given some kind of chance, even if it was off the bench.

 

He's definitely the sort of guy you want available on the bench, to somehow get on the end of the ball in the box in the last 20mins of a tight crunch game you must win.

 

But then we are supposed to be walking in loads of goals with pretty passing from half-way inside our own half this season, arent we ?

[Deano6]

He's definitely the sort of guy you want available on the bench, to somehow get on the end of the ball in the box in the last 20mins of a tight crunch game you must win.

 

But then we are supposed to be walking in loads of goals with pretty passing from half-way inside our own half this season, arent we ?

 

4 goals in 2 games against last season's best two sides doesn't suggest a problem with scoring goals.

[Matthew Le God]

4 goals in 2 games against last season's best two sides doesn't suggest a problem with scoring goals.

 

All from open play as well.

[itchen_dan]

I've said before, I would've kept him here as a squad player as IMO, he will score goals at any level you play him. He is a natural goalscorer. He knows exactly where the net is and as an option with 10-15 mins to go and we're chasing the game, throw him up top and he'll chase everything, use his strength and just be a nuisance.

 

Definitely wouldn't have got rid of him.

[alpine_saint]

All from open play as well.

 

That post is kind of self-defeating, imo.

 

The likes of the two Manchesters play open football and dont see the need to close us down, so let us play open football too.

 

Billy Sharp is not suited to these sort of games, he is suited to tight niggly scraps, like we will get against a dozen other teams this season, where you take your one chance, even if it blasphemously comes from a set-piece or corner...

[alpine_saint]

4 goals in 2 games against last season's best two sides doesn't suggest a problem with scoring goals.

 

I dont recall me saying we are having a problem scoring goals, but now you mentioned it, we failed spectacularly against Wigan, a much tighter game on paper.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

That post is kind of self-defeating, imo.

 

The likes of the two Manchesters play open football and dont see the need to close us down, so let us play open football too.

 

Billy Sharp is not suited to these sort of games, he is suited to tight niggly scraps, like we will get against a dozen other teams this season, where you take your one chance, even if it blasphemously comes from a set-piece or corner...

 

I am sure Mancini and Ferguson would not see it that way or allow it either

[dronskisaint]

I've said before, I would've kept him here as a squad player as IMO, he will score goals at any level you play him. He is a natural goalscorer. He knows exactly where the net is and as an option with 10-15 mins to go and we're chasing the game, throw him up top and he'll chase everything, use his strength and just be a nuisance.

 

Definitely wouldn't have got rid of him.

 

I concur - a puzzling decision from where I sit, hope there is a recall clause that can be activated...he does provide that predator instinct in the box that, aside from Ricky, we've yet to see in the others.

 

BUT...in NA we trust and it's been earnt trust so far.

[alpine_saint]

I concur - a puzzling decision from where I sit, hope there is a recall clause that can be activated...he does provide that predator instinct in the box that, aside from Ricky, we've yet to see in the others.

 

BUT...in NA we trust and it's been earnt trust so far.

 

No little niggling doubts after Sunday's substitutions ???

[pingwing]

Billy Sharp is not suited to these sort of games, he is suited to tight niggly scraps, like we will get against a dozen other teams this season, where you take your one chance, even if it blasphemously comes from a set-piece or corner...

 

Except against Wigan for the last 15 mins he made categorically no impact on the game. As hard it is to accept he was our 4/5th choice buy last Christmas and is goin to have basically the same fate as Maynard and baldock, will be sold back to the champ where teams can be built around because his game isn't big enough for how we want to play.

[VectisSaint]

4 goals in 2 games against last season's best two sides doesn't suggest a problem with scoring goals.

0 goals against a very very poor Wigan might suggest otherwise, but basing this on one game is clearly even less statistically probable than basing our ability to score on 2 games. Time will tell.

[alpine_saint]

Except against Wigan for the last 15 mins he made categorically no impact on the game. As hard it is to accept he was our 4/5th choice buy last Christmas and is goin to have basically the same fate as Maynard and baldock, will be sold back to the champ where teams can be built around because his game isn't big enough for how we want to play.

 

So we've (the club and the fans) tossed out the player who pushed us over the promotion line last season on the basis of his first 15mins of the season.

 

Talk about impatience/judgementality. Amazing how the likes of Goolie gets a 100 chances though...

[dronskisaint]

No little niggling doubts after Sunday's substitutions ???

 

I'm a little less knee-jerk than that.

 

We've played three games, two against last year's champions and runners up and the other who are the form team over the previous ten games - it takes a promoted team time to adjust and the quality of our football suggests we are more than capable of doing so.