Billy Sharp

[Window Cleaner]

Goal scoring in the lower leagues and pre season kickabouts hardly prove he's good enough for the prem.

 

It's should be obvious to anyone who's seen him play that he's not enough for the prem.

 

Adkins and Pochetino have assssed him correctly.

 

 

PL defenders don't allow the only sort of chance that Sharp scores from. Look at his "first" goal for the club, he didn't even score it, it was an own goal by a Burnley defender. With all the video analysis and GPS data it was just clear to the staff that Sharp would never be good enough for the PL.

[Window Cleaner]

He was Nottingham Forests top goal scorer!

 

Penalties, and SRL takes the penalties for Saints.

[Glasgow_Saint]

But he wasn´t Saints top goalscorer, so that must mean the management did right to deem him not good enough then using your logic on that one????

 

He scored more goals that anyone while he was in the Saints team..... 15 goals in 13 starts (only played the 90 in 5 games) he is the Saints most prolific striker EVER

 

You are so bad at this mate - I will start going easy on you

[saintstr1]

It's a simple question. Could Billy Sharp have contributed any less than Mayuka last season, or even this season? I dont think Billy Sharp is good enough for a long term answer in the premier league but given the choice as to who i'd rather have coming off the bench for the last 10 minutes when chasing a game and the options are Sharp and Mayuka i know which one i'd chose.

 

Totaly Agree, If we are paying him the reported amounts give him a squad number and let him train with the rest. he just might show something training with better players and who knows we just might need him if Injuries& suspensions kick in.

[No 2 to Maybush]

'if you're not good enough to start you're not good enough to be on the bench' school of thought.

 

Does that mean that all the players who sit on the sub's bench are not good enough to start for our First team? Funny, I thought this was a squad game, and that the 25 named as being in the TEAM were all good enough to start. Please correct me if I am wrong. Are you saying Jack Cork isn't good enough to start for our first team? Mental.

[alpine_saint]

Does that mean that all the players who sit on the sub's bench are not good enough to start for our First team? Funny, I thought this was a squad game, and that the 25 named as being in the TEAM were all good enough to start. Please correct me if I am wrong. Are you saying Jack Cork isn't good enough to start for our first team? Mental.

 

 

Ridiculous, isnt it ?

[Olallana]

He scored more goals that anyone while he was in the Saints team..... 15 goals in 13 starts (only played the 90 in 5 games) he is the Saints most prolific striker EVER

 

You are so bad at this mate - I will start going easy on you

 

So, (for 3rd or 4th time) you would use Billy Sharp as a starter for Southampton FC in Barclays Premier League??

[alpine_saint]

Totaly Agree, If we are paying him the reported amounts give him a squad number and let him train with the rest. he just might show something training with better players and who knows we just might need him if Injuries& suspensions kick in.

 

Yep. Not rocket science, is it ?

 

Perhaps if he were permitted to train with the "great and good" rather than some burly security guard with black bomber jacket and ear-piece trying to crush his cranium every time he approach the gate at Staplewood with his kit bag on his shoulder, he might improve and diversify his game himself..

[Glasgow_Saint]

Does that mean that all the players who sit on the sub's bench are not good enough to start for our First team? Funny, I thought this was a squad game, and that the 25 named as being in the TEAM were all good enough to start. Please correct me if I am wrong. Are you saying Jack Cork isn't good enough to start for our first team? Mental.

 

 

Ridiculous, isnt it ?

 

Not sure about you but I feel a bit guilty. This really isn’t a fair fight and the anti Sharp crew are now making fools of themselves.

 

Should we go a bit easier on them?

[SaintRichmond]

That's the nature of football. Martin, Forte, Barnard are on an outrageous wage and won't go anywhere if they don't lower his wage expectations. They can sit tight and get paid if they want but its their choice.

 

Hammond moved on and I'm doubtful he's earning the same as he did here.

 

The club are doing nothing wrong.

 

 

 

Allegedly, there was an offer/enquiry from a Prem Club, which (allegedly) was vetoed by the Club.

 

If true, would that not constitute a "wrong" by the Club ?

 

Ie "you can go anywhere you like, as long as it's where we tell you to "

 

"Forcing" a player to seek a Club lower than the Prem is NOT etiquite IMHO

[egg]

Did they? Mayuka was brought in the day before for the window shut, with Sharp sent out on loan. lets be frank, it was all a bit of a surprise to everyone as Sharp had featured thoughout preseason and in the first two games. If he didn't feature in the managers plans then why did he use him and why didn't we offload Sharp sooner?

 

The proof is also in the pudding regarding Adkins attitude to Mayuka, a handful of sub appearances and one start where he was nothing short of woeful and hardly got a kick after that until Adkins was sacked. MP seemed to have the same view as he too would hardly give him a kick, even going on record as saying he needs to buck his ideas up. Now he too is out on loan for a season. It seems MP certainly doesn't rate Mayuka or Sharp and Adkins wasnt a fan of Mayuka.

 

Of course its speculation as to if Sharp would have done any better, but given Mayukas contribution to our season seems to have been about 20 minutes of decent play when he came on against Spurs, its not a great leap to say he couldn't have done much worse is it.

 

In the absence of evidence to the contrary I'll assume the managers have assessed the players and chosen their squad.

 

Sharp's inclusion in pre season means nothing. Look at Guly and Isgrove this pre season.

 

Simply, Sharp was cast aside as it was believed Mayuka was a better option. Sadly he didn't fulfil his potential.

 

With hindsight I doubt Sharp would have done much worse than Mayuka. To be fair Forte and Barnard would have done no less than Mayuka but like Sharp I don't think would have done any better.

[alpine_saint]

Allegedly, there was an offer/enquiry from a Prem Club, which (allegedly) was vetoed by the Club.

 

If true, would that not constitute a "wrong" by the Club ?

 

Ie "you can go anywhere you like, as long as it's where we tell you to "

 

"Forcing" a player to seek a Club lower than the Prem is NOT etiquite IMHO

 

Sounds like a restriction of trade to me...

[alpine_saint]

Not sure about you but I feel a bit guilty. This really isn’t a fair fight and the anti Sharp crew are now making fools of themselves.

 

Should we go a bit easier on them?

 

I dont understand your motviation for this discussion from your posting GS, although I do agree with your posts, but this aint a game.

 

I do hope you arent trolling just for the sake of it.

[Joensuu]

Does that mean that all the players who sit on the sub's bench are not good enough to start for our First team? Funny, I thought this was a squad game, and that the 25 named as being in the TEAM were all good enough to start. Please correct me if I am wrong. Are you saying Jack Cork isn't good enough to start for our first team? Mental.

 

I might be wrong, but isn't egg suggesting that players who are on the bench should be good enough to start?

 

I'd imagine you are both feel that Cork is good enough for the bench, because he is plenty good enough to start; whereas egg feels (IMO correctly) that Billy should not be on the bench, because he, probably, isn't good enough to start.

[norwaysaint]

JRod has 6 goals in 37 starts for saints, Billy Sharp has 9 in 17 according to wiki. In fact he's had a far better scoring record throughout his career than JRod.

 

I've never understood why it's been decided Sharp isn't good enough for the PL, yet JRod seems to be considered PL quality. I'm not saying JRod isn't good enough, or that Sharp is, just that I've never understood JRod being a regular starter and Sharp not getting a sniff.

[alpine_saint]

I might be wrong, but isn't egg suggesting that players who are on the bench should be good enough to start?

 

I'd imagine you are both feel that Cork is good enough for the bench, because he is plenty good enough to start; whereas egg feels (IMO correctly) that Billy should not be on the bench, because he, probably, isn't good enough to start.

 

 

And where is the evidence ? He hasnt been allowed to try. And he did just as well as the "great and good" in the games where he was allowed in the summer 2012.

[alpine_saint]

JRod has 6 goals in 37 starts for saints, Billy Sharp has 9 in 17 according to wiki. In fact he's had a far better scoring record throughout his career than JRod.

 

I've never understood why it's been decided Sharp isn't good enough for the PL, yet JRod seems to be considered PL quality. I'm not saying JRod isn't good enough, or that Sharp is, just that I've never understood JRod being a regular starter and Sharp not getting a sniff.

 

Club politics. I wish the "Billy Sharp is sh*t and should f**k off and save us the money" crew would at least be honest about it.

[egg]

Allegedly, there was an offer/enquiry from a Prem Club, which (allegedly) was vetoed by the Club.

 

If true, would that not constitute a "wrong" by the Club ?

 

Ie "you can go anywhere you like, as long as it's where we tell you to "

 

"Forcing" a player to seek a Club lower than the Prem is NOT etiquite IMHO

 

I don't buy that story. We allowed Puncheon to move to a prem club so why not Billy?

 

It's about money I would guess. The club won't want to subsidise a move. If I'm right the club are doing nothing wrong in taking that stance.

[benjii]

FFS - I can't believe the amount of hot air here.

 

He is clearly not good enough. The fact that some other players may or may not be is entirely irrelevant.

[egg]

And where is the evidence ? He hasnt been allowed to try. And he did just as well as the "great and good" in the games where he was allowed in the summer 2012.

 

Should Forte, Barnard, Martin, Lee get the same opportunity just in case the coaches got it wrong? We're Hammond and Chaplow denied an opportunity too?

[Glasgow_Saint]

I dont understand your motviation for this discussion from your posting GS, although I do agree with your posts, but this aint a game.

 

I do hope you arent trolling just for the sake of it.

 

It’s a fairly typical reaction from the forum. We (Glasgow, Alpine, Barry, Turkish ect) offer an opinion and without hesitation the standard crew rock up with an alternative view point.

 

Some of them don’t believe it, but are intent with arguing with us.

[Joensuu]

And where is the evidence ? He hasnt been allowed to try. And he did just as well as the "great and good" in the games where he was allowed in the summer 2012.

 

Alpine, do you feel that Forte is good enough to start? What about Forecast last season?

 

If any player is considered good enough they will be given a chance, if they aren't considered to be of the requisite quality they won't be. Billy has a fair amount of ability, but appears to have been determined as being lacking in some aspect of his game that our coaches feel inhibits him from playing an active role in our first team. My evidence is that he hasn't been selected.

 

I would like to see your evidence to back up your claim that "He hasn't been allowed to try".

[alpine_saint]

FFS - I can't believe the amount of hot air here.

 

He is clearly not good enough. The fact that some other players may or may not be is entirely irrelevant.

 

I just love these posts.You try to argue someone hasnt had the chance to prove themself - "hot air"

 

Arrogance of the highest order...

[egg]

FFS - I can't believe the amount of hot air here.

 

He is clearly not good enough. The fact that some other players may or may not be is entirely irrelevant.

 

I agree benjii, I'm only mentioning other players cos apparently Billy deserves a chance just in case he is actually good enough. I'm trying to understand why that rule applies to billy but not the others. Sadly Alpine etc can't answer that point.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Alpine, do you feel that Forte is good enough to start? What about Forecast last season?

 

 

To compare Forte to Sharp is crazy! Sharp scored 15 goals in 13 starts (played the 90 minutes in only 5) he has an Incomparable scoring record (Best ever for Saints)

 

We all moaned and groaned when MLT scored 3 for England and then got dropped - we all said "he couldnt do anymore"

 

Scoring 15 goals in 13 starts...................... could Billy have done anymore to justify a prem "Chance"

[Joensuu]

Club politics. I wish the "Billy Sharp is sh*t and should f**k off and save us the money" crew would at least be honest about it.

 

Evidence for said claim? Do you have any impartial sources for the 'club politics' suggestion? If I were found to be inadequate in my role, would I be tempted to tell my next employers that 'I wasn't good enough' or would I suggest 'The environment was stifling my ability to perform'?

 

Oh, and can you provide any examples of people arguing that Billy "is sh*t and should f**k off and save us the money"? I have only seen reasonably complimentary posts.

[alpine_saint]

Alpine, do you feel that Forte is good enough to start? What about Forecast last season?

 

If any player is considered good enough they will be given a chance, if they aren't considered to be of the requisite quality they won't be. Billy has a fair amount of ability, but appears to have been determined as being lacking in some aspect of his game that our coaches feel inhibits him from playing an active role in our first team. My evidence is that he hasn't been selected.

 

I would like to see your evidence to back up your claim that "He hasn't been allowed to try".

 

Oh, this is just such drivel.......

 

Forte wasnt putting in regular decent performances in the Championship, therefore arguing he has a chance to try in the PL is utter nonsense.

 

Billy was banging them in up until the end of the Championship season, and pushed us over the line while the rest of the team, including Rickie, were faltering. He rose to the occasion and level he was playing at.

 

He then had a great pre-season. He rose above every hurdle put in front of him.

 

Then he gets a period in ManC game I dont remember, and 20mins against Wigan. He didnt score. Then he is thrown out of the door.

 

Gashton has been given oodles of time to prove himself in comparison, but cost 12m.

 

Osvaldo has already had much longer than Billy, and has created nothing, but cost 15m.

 

Its politics.

[Turkish]

In the absence of evidence to the contrary I'll assume the managers have assessed the players and chosen their squad.

 

Sharp's inclusion in pre season means nothing. Look at Guly and Isgrove this pre season.

 

Simply, Sharp was cast aside as it was believed Mayuka was a better option. Sadly he didn't fulfil his potential.

 

With hindsight I doubt Sharp would have done much worse than Mayuka. To be fair Forte and Barnard would have done no less than Mayuka but like Sharp I don't think would have done any better.

 

It wasnt just preseason, he featured in Adkins first two premier league squads and with us 1-0 at home to Wigan, Adkins decided Sharp was the man to come on for 20 minutes to try and rescue a point. You say there is no evidence but i think most people accept now that Adkins didn't really know what players were coming in and out of the squad last summer.

 

And you're absolutely right, in a 25 man squad last season Sharp has been replaced by a player who did no better and is now so far down the pecking order he's out on loan for a season, so was it really nessasary to replace him? Could he have been our Adam Le Fondre?

[egg]

Does that mean that all the players who sit on the sub's bench are not good enough to start for our First team? Funny, I thought this was a squad game, and that the 25 named as being in the TEAM were all good enough to start. Please correct me if I am wrong. Are you saying Jack Cork isn't good enough to start for our first team? Mental.

 

What? You misunderstand me. You should only be on the bench or in the 25 if you're good enough to start. Billy isn't.

[alpine_saint]

I agree benjii, I'm only mentioning other players cos apparently Billy deserves a chance just in case he is actually good enough. I'm trying to understand why that rule applies to billy but not the others. Sadly Alpine etc can't answer that point.

 

Because unlike the others he was excelling right up until the time we were promoted. He deserved a chance to test himself at the next level. He wasnt given it because we bought someone else.

[SaintRichmond]

I don't buy that story. We allowed Puncheon to move to a prem club so why not Billy?

 

It's about money I would guess. The club won't want to subsidise a move. If I'm right the club are doing nothing wrong in taking that stance.

 

 

With respect, you are missing my point

 

Only Prem Clubs can afford Prem wages.

 

"Allegedly", (and a strong one), a Prem Club were interested in Sharp

 

But, as is alleged, the Club "veto'd " a move to a Prem Club, that only leaves CCC, D1 and D2, and they CANNOT afford Prem wages

 

In that context, the Club ARE wrong by their "you go where we want you to go " stance, because they would be virtually forcing him to take a pay cut, or not play football at all. which is wrong

[alpine_saint]

To compare Forte to Sharp is crazy!

 

Yep, the Billy-haters do themselves no favours with such specious analogies. I've even seen him compared to Forecast on here - thats just plain insulting.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

If Billy Sharp could genuinely offer something to a team that has Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez, and Daniel Osvaldo, and he 'only' earns £18k a week, how come another Premier League team has not offered us £2m for him and snapped him up straight away?

 

I won't pretend there wasn't anything peculiar about his exit and Mayuka's arrival (whole thing stinks of decisions made outside Adkins and his team if you ask me) but speculating about last season is useless. If this is about what Sharp has to offer now surely it is very hard to justify him being anywhere near the team?

[alpine_saint]

If Billy Sharp could genuinely offer something to a team that has Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez, and Daniel Osvaldo, and he 'only' earns £18k a week, how come another Premier League team has not offered us £2m for him and snapped him up straight away?

 

I won't pretend there wasn't anything peculiar about his exit and Mayuka's arrival (whole thing stinks of decisions made outside Adkins and his team if you ask me) but speculating about last season is useless. If this is about what Sharp has to offer now surely it is very hard to justify him being anywhere near the team?

 

Meanwhile, back at SMS, after an investment of something like 19m on attacking players in the last year, the mighty Saints are thumping them in with impunity...

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Meanwhile, back at SMS, after an investment of something like 19m on attacking players in the last year, the mighty Saints are thumping them in with impunity...

 

In your opinion would Billy Sharp make a difference to that?

[egg]

It wasnt just preseason, he featured in Adkins first two premier league squads and with us 1-0 at home to Wigan, Adkins decided Sharp was the man to come on for 20 minutes to try and rescue a point. You say there is no evidence but i think most people accept now that Adkins didn't really know what players were coming in and out of the squad last summer.

 

And you're absolutely right, in a 25 man squad last season Sharp has been replaced by a player who did no better and is now so far down the pecking order he's out on loan for a season, so was it really nessasary to replace him? Could he have been our Adam Le Fondre?

 

He was clearly bench warming for a replacement in the first couple of games. Mayuka was a young central striker shoved out wide in a league well above what he was used too. He was a bit of a car crash but his ability has been proven at international level.

 

Simple question, based on the pedigree of Sharp and Mayuka was it not reasonable to pick Mayuka over Sharp? Forget hindsight, look at the situation as it was when Mayuka arrived.

[Joensuu]

Oh, this is just such drivel.......

 

Forte wasnt putting in regular decent performances in the Championship, therefore arguing he has a chance to try in the PL is utter nonsense.

 

Billy was banging them in up until the end of the Championship season, and pushed us over the line while the rest of the team, including Rickie, were faltering. He rose to the occasion and level he was playing at.

 

He then had a great pre-season. He rose above every hurdle put in front of him.

 

Then he gets a period in ManC game I dont remember, and 20mins against Wigan. He didnt score. Then he is thrown out of the door.

 

Gashton has been given oodles of time to prove himself in comparison, but cost 12m.

 

Osvaldo has already had much longer than Billy, and has created nothing, but cost 15m.

 

Its politics.

 

Right, so your argument is that Saints are cutting off their nose to spite their face. Of course, that makes loads of sense. I can imagine the discussion - 'Billy is doing well, too well. If we're not careful he's going to show up our new signings." "Drat, right, sod relegation, the most important thing here is to save face. We have to keep playing our expensive summer recruits, and not out best player Billy'.

 

Seriously Alpine, that doesn't stack up. There are only two reasons the club aren't playing Billy. Either he has been judged to not be good enough, or he has done something we haven't been informed about that has effected his position within the squad. There is no chance that there is a bizarre face-saving conspiracy going on. If you are good enough you will get the chance to show it.

[Turkish]

Evidence for said claim? Do you have any impartial sources for the 'club politics' suggestion? If I were found to be inadequate in my role, would I be tempted to tell my next employers that 'I wasn't good enough' or would I suggest 'The environment was stifling my ability to perform'?

 

Oh, and can you provide any examples of people arguing that Billy "is sh*t and should f**k off and save us the money"? I have only seen reasonably complimentary posts.

 

I do love a good "if that was me on my role job" type scenario.

 

Here's a thought. If you were doing a perfectly good job for your company, they then brought in other people to replace you, do your job for you who werent any better and they sent you off to the filing department with all the 18 year old trainees. Told you that they wanted to get rid of you and you should look for another job but when you found another job they told you that they wouldn't accept your resignation and you had to carry on working in the filing office away from the rest of the company, do you think that you might have a case for constructive dismissal? Maybe Billy should take Saints to court, thats what you do if that was you in your job right?

[alpine_saint]

In your opinion would Billy Sharp make a difference to that?

 

He might.

 

But it wont be pretty, and I am guessing it will grate with the disciples of the "Southampton Way".

 

Meanwhile Gashton will continue to look pretty for 70mins, and thats about it....

[egg]

Because unlike the others he was excelling right up until the time we were promoted. He deserved a chance to test himself at the next level. He wasnt given it because we bought someone else.

 

And why do you think we bought someone else? Perhaps we thought Billy wasn't good enough and/or new boy was better.

[Minty]

It's pretty simple really IMO - the coaching staff see him in training every day and make their judgement accordingly. I personally though he would've had a chance, but for whatever reason he hasn't, and without evidence to the contrary, I'm not going to jump on some conspiratorial political bandwagon or try to make it a bigger issue than it is (for some).

[alpine_saint]

Right, so your argument is that Saints are cutting off their nose to spite their face. Of course, that makes loads of sense. I can imagine the discussion - 'Billy is doing well, too well. If we're not careful he's going to show up our new signings." "Drat, right, sod relegation, the most important thing here is to save face. We have to keep playing our expensive summer recruits, and not out best player Billy'.

 

Seriously Alpine, that doesn't stack up. There are only two reasons the club aren't playing Billy. Either he has been judged to not be good enough, or he has done something we haven't been informed about that has effected his position within the squad. There is no chance that there is a bizarre face-saving conspiracy going on. If you are good enough you will get the chance to show it.

 

I think you misunderstand me a bit.

 

I have absolutely no doubt about NCs intentions. He is trying to do his best by the club, and trying to get us to highest level. But he has to stand by his decisions and make them work especially when they involve so much of the owners capital. I also think he has a bit of an idealistic attitude about how he wants us to play.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Right, so your argument is that Saints are cutting off their nose to spite their face. Of course, that makes loads of sense. I can imagine the discussion - 'Billy is doing well, too well. If we're not careful he's going to show up our new signings." "Drat, right, sod relegation, the most important thing here is to save face. We have to keep playing our expensive summer recruits, and not out best player Billy'.

 

Seriously Alpine, that doesn't stack up. There are only two reasons the club aren't playing Billy. Either he has been judged to not be good enough, or he has done something we haven't been informed about that has effected his position within the squad. There is no chance that there is a bizarre face-saving conspiracy going on. If you are good enough you will get the chance to show it.

 

Not the 1st time the club has done this - Puncheon wasnt 'allowed' to play for us in league 1 but walked into the Blackpool team in the premiership!!

 

Go figure

[alpine_saint]

And why do you think we bought someone else? Perhaps we thought Billy wasn't good enough and/or new boy was better.

 

Yep, this is clearly an utterly pointless discussion. You dont like my answer, wont consider it, move on to some other b*ll*cks to try to discredit my opinion.

 

Very tedious.

[egg]

With respect, you are missing my point

 

Only Prem Clubs can afford Prem wages.

 

"Allegedly", (and a strong one), a Prem Club were interested in Sharp

 

But, as is alleged, the Club "veto'd " a move to a Prem Club, that only leaves CCC, D1 and D2, and they CANNOT afford Prem wages

 

In that context, the Club ARE wrong by their "you go where we want you to go " stance, because they would be virtually forcing him to take a pay cut, or not play football at all. which is wrong

 

I'm not missing your point. I don't buy that we would veto a prem move, Puncheon is a case in point.

 

He's a championship player who will attract a championship club. They won't pay his wages.

 

Billy can stay and take his wage or take a cut if he wants a move. That's his choice, not the club.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

He might.

 

But it wont be pretty, and I am guessing it will grate with the disciples of the "Southampton Way".

 

Meanwhile Gashton will continue to look pretty for 70mins, and thats about it....

 

It's hard to pick a team based on speculation though. For what it is worth I would find it strange for Pochettino to make a decision over a player without having the chance to look at him in training. Sharp is hardly an outsider - he was a popular member of the squad who was involved heavily pre-season and then dropped very methodically the moment Mayuka arrived. That Sharp hasn't even had a chance to prove to Pochettino what he can do in training doesn't sit right to be honest, and again I'll speculate that I think there are influences outside the first team coaching staff (last year and this) as to why that is.

 

But if I try to look at it and exclude the way he has been treated, I don't see a place for Sharp whatsoever now.

 

Last season, maybe I do - perhaps after it emerged how unrefined Mayuka is. But I guess by then Sharp was on a seasons-loan and there was nothing we could do about it.

 

In terms of Ramirez, he hasn't started a game in the league for us this season so I am not sure where further negativity against him comes from.

[alpine_saint]

It's pretty simple really IMO - the coaching staff see him in training every day and make their judgement accordingly. I personally though he would've had a chance, but for whatever reason he hasn't, and without evidence to the contrary, I'm not going to jump on some conspiratorial political bandwagon or try to make it a bigger issue than it is (for some).

 

I look forward to the day when Minty shows some passion and jumps off the cosy fence and actually puts content into a post that stimulates discussion...

[alpine_saint]

It's hard to pick a team based on speculation though. For what it is worth I would find it strange for Pochettino to make a decision over a player without having the chance to look at him in training. Sharp is hardly an outsider - he was a popular member of the squad who was involved heavily pre-season and then dropped very methodically the moment Mayuka arrived. That Sharp hasn't even had a chance to prove to Pochettino what he can do in training doesn't sit right to be honest, and again I'll speculate that I think there are influences outside the first team coaching staff (last year and this) as to why that is.

 

But if I try to look at it and exclude the way he has been treated, I don't see a place for Sharp whatsoever now.

 

Last season, maybe I do - perhaps after it emerged how unrefined Mayuka is. But I guess by then Sharp was on a seasons-loan and there was nothing we could do about it.

 

In terms of Ramirez, he hasn't started a game in the league for us this season so I am not sure where further negativity against him comes from.

 

Really ? Could have sworn I read this morning he is a **** in the dressing room and a disruptive influence.

[Joensuu]

I think you misunderstand me a bit.

 

I have absolutely no doubt about NCs intentions. He is trying to do his best by the club, and trying to get us to highest level. But he has to stand by his decisions and make them work especially when they involve so much of the owners capital. I also think he has a bit of an idealistic attitude about how he wants us to play.

 

That sounds fair. However, I feel the owners will give Cortese more credit for finishing higher in the league, than the would for playing the expensive players. Surely the players deemed to be the best will be played above others?

[Window Cleaner]

There was an interview with Sharp's agent, published pretty much everywhere that talks about football, towards the beginning of August. He certainly doesn't say anything about any PL club offer and if I recall correctly at that time we'd just had an offer from Doncaster. Then there was the Celtic rumour but obviously nothing came of that. I really do think that the EPL club offer is just a figment of someone's imagination.