| Newb
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 0
Rep Power: 0 | 
Wednesday, 25th April, 2007, afternoon.
Its been two days of hard work, but I've completed my evaluations of the players, at least as far as one can without seeing them in actual game conditions - and thanks to the tapes of their recent games, I've had the chance to see some of those as well.
Here is the current squad:
Goalkeepers:
GK Allan McGregor, 25, Scotland, 6 U-21 caps:
37 games, 36 conceded, 13 clean sheets, 4 MoM, 7.16:
Bought from rivals Sheffield Wednesday in October for £1.3M, this goalkeeper was capped at the Scotland U-21 level. He is determined and brave, with good agility and reflexes, and solid throughout though unspectacular. He doesn't feel like a weakness, though I doubt he's quite as good as Alan Blayney was for me at York. If he's got an area of his game to work on, its his anticipation and command of the area. Stuart McCall is worried about the average displays he's been putting on this season, but at less than one goal per game I'm content at the League One level, though I might want a stronger goalkeeper for the Championship.
GK Phil Barnes, 28, England, uncapped:
20 games, 20 conceded, 7 clean sheets, 1 MoM, 6.85:
Acquired on a free transfer in 2004 to be a backup, Barnes entered this season as the starting goalkeeper. Though he is agile and has good reflexes, there are a number of areas of his game which are lacking, from his decision making to his poor communication and teamwork and his weak punts. As a second keeper, he may be reasonable, but it would terrify me to consider starting him through a season, and he's the only option behind McGregor. Stuart McCall concurs, and recommends letting Barnes go to a lower-division club.
Centre backs:
D C Chris Morgan, 29, England, uncapped:
46 games, 0 goals, 2 MoM, 6.63:
One of the highest-salaried players on the club, Morgan is an exceptionally hard worker, who shows great bravery, determination, and team work, as well as being a fearsome tackler known for his aggressive play. He looks utterly lost in posession of the ball - seriously, I think I'm better with the ball at feet, and one of his long shots crossed the sideline before the end line - but he's been a stalwart in defense. He's got a pulled groin, and on Tom Mitchell's recommendation, I've sent him off for rehabilitation which will officially end his season.
D C Steve Foster, 26, England, uncapped:
35 games, 2 goals, 2 assists, 3 MoM, 7.00:
Acquired from Crewe Alexandra for just under £1M this November, Foster has been in the starting lineup ever since. He's much better balanced than Morgan is, and though he lacks any of the exceptional strengths that the other defender does, his game also seems to lack significant areas for improvement. He's strong in the air, and has good tackling and marking combined with a fine physique and a good understanding of the game, which makes him a solid starter in my mind.
D C Hayden Foxe, 29, Australia, 20 caps, 2 goals:
28 games, 3 goals, 4 assists, 3 MoM, 7.04:
Also acquired from Crewe Alexandra this November, Foxe provides a solid third player for the back four, and I'm tempted to check in on Crewe and see who they have left at the back! The Australian international has an excellent physique and good mental abilities, keeping his composure in many situations. He's quite good on free kicks, and has scored nine goals in the past two seasons, many from dead ball situations.
D C Kyle McFadzean, 20, England, uncapped:
42 games, 0 goals, 1 MoM, 6.43:
A young player who has seen plenty of starts for Sheffield over the past three seasons, McFadzean is one of Stuart's favorites. My new assistant thinks he could go on to achieve great things. At the moment, I can't quite see it: he's got exceptional positioning for one so young, but he doesn't excel in any other areas. He's good in the air, but his technique is fairly weak, and he loses his composure too easily. I certainly won't be expecting him to start, as he has been doing.
D C John Collins, 18, England, uncapped:
1 game, 0 goals, 7.00, plus 40 games at 6.15 in the Reserves:
Once considered a promising youth player due to his incredible determination and very good agility, Collins really hasn't been developing, according to Stuart. There isn't much to his game, and he's struggling to understand the game and keep up with it at speed, a problem exacerbated by his lack of fitness. His contract is expiring, and I'll be glad to see him go.
D C Paul Morgan, 19, England, uncapped:
0 games, plus 28 games at 6.21 in the Reserves: This has to be one of the worst players I've seen in my professional tenure. He is unable to execute even rudimentary technique, and after watching him struggling with anything from tackling to heading to making a throw-in, I was apalled. If he has any redeeming value, its that he concentrates and sincerely tries hard, but I just can't justify keeping him on the squad. He was transfer listed before I got here, and I'll make every effort to move him this summer.
Left backs:
There is no clear starting left back, which has me considering bringing Joe Keenan along from York City.
D/AM RLC Darren Wrack, 30, England, uncapped:
55 games, 4 goals, 3 assists, 2 MoM, 6.76:
A former Walsall player in his third year with the club, Wrack has a fantastic level of physical fitness which, combined with his versatile ability to fill six positions, has seen him start 54 games this year alone. He's an incredibly hard worker whose style of play seems to be to run, run some more, and then keep running once his opponents are exhausted. He's not particularly fast, and some of his defensive attribues, particularly his marking and positional skills, are truly abysmal, and his concentration is inferior. He's under contract through 2008, and I'm sure he'll be a contributor next season due to his versatility even if I manage to prise Joe Keenan away from York to take over at left back.
D/DM RL Kevin Simpson, 18, England, uncapped:
16 games, 0 goals, 6.25, plus 30 games at 6.43 in the Reserves:
A recent graduate of the club's youth academy, Simpson has the physical attributes which I'd like in a player at this level, but is abysmal in both the mental and the technical sides of the game. His concentration wavers, his decisions are poor, his passes go awry, and his first touch frequently goes to the opposition. He would need to make major strides to contribute at the Championship level, and at the moment I don't think he's even ready for competitive non-league football. Stuart thinks he's showing promise, but I would rather abandon him and find somebody who is a little closer to reaching the big show. The fact that he's started 16 games this year just goes to show how thin this club is at the fullback positions.
Right backs:
D/DM RC Eric Deloumeaux, 33, France, uncapped:
51 games, 2 goals, 4 assists, 4 MoM, 7.14:
Acquired as a free transfer at the start of this season, the Frenchman is under contract until the conclusion of next year. He's consistent and strong, displaying fine stamina which has carried him through fifty games this season. A veteran leader with excellent composure, he seems a natural choice for captain. His reading of the game is good, and if he's losing a step and not as perfect a marker as he used to be, those seem acceptable prices to pay for his other qualities. He's under contract through 2008, which seems about right to me, as I doubt he'll be much use past the age of 34.
D R Rory Beanes, 21, England, uncapped:
19 games, 0 goals, 6.26:
A product of the Sheffield youth system, Beanes has been coming in off the bench this season, but really doesn't seem to be cutting it at this level. He is a hard worker with excellent concentration, good tackling, and good marking, but the rest of his play leaves much to be desired. He is too slow for my tastes out wide, and doesn't have the physique to make a shift to central defense. He's a likely candidate for the transfer list in my mind, despite Stuart's opinion that he's showing signs of developing into a quality player.
D RC Dominic Roma, 21, England, uncapped:
5 games, 1 goal, 6.60, plus 30 games at 6.84 in the Reserves:
Another product of the club's youth system, Roma is below the standard of quality I expected from players at York City. He makes good decisions, and he's determined, but his plack of pace and utter deficit of technical ability leave me convinced that he's a Conference player at best. In one particularly painful incident, he tripped over the ball while dribbling, and got up storming mad, completely losing his composure. He's definitely not a player that I will need or keep despite McCall's faith that he has potential.
Central midfielders:
DM C Paul Thirlwell, 28, England, 1 U-21 cap, 0 goals:
48 games, 5 goals, 15 assists, 3 MoM, 6.96:
For the past three years, Paul Thirlwell has been a key member of the United side from a central midfield role. His keen passes have accounted for a team-leading 15 assists this year, and he's a hard worker who is willing to range from sideline to sideline on defense. If there's anything I would want from him, its better decision making, and my ideal defensive midfielder would be a long-range-shot expert, but for now Thirwell is certainly fine in this role.
F C Jack Lester, 31, England, uncapped:
42 games, 8 goals, 1 assist, 6.83:
A wily veteran who has scored 41 goals in the past four seasons with United, Lester is the only attacking midfielder on the squad. He's got some pace and physical ability, but for the most part he makes his offense through guile, clever off-the-ball runs, and good teamwork. He doesn't have the creativity or the long shooting that I would most like to see from a starter in this position, but he'll be an admirable fill-in through next season, when his contract expires.
M C Ian Ross, 21, England, uncapped:
3 games, 0 goals, 6.00, plus 25 games, 2 goals, 4 assists on loan to Conference:
This ambitious midfielder has spent the better part of the past five years going out on loan, and now feels that he is too good to be loaned out. Looking at him, I think he's quite reasonable, with few liabilities in his game either technically or mentally. However, physically, he is weak and seems to have no stamina or fitness. I'm not sure if he just hasn't been applying himself at the gym, or whether his loan coaches have focused on other aspects of his game, but he would need serious work with a trainer to get even remotely in shape. I don't think its worth the trouble, for a player that doesn't play the positions I prefer, so I think I'll put him up for transfer.
M C Paul Cooke, 18, England, uncapped:
3 games, 0 goals, 6.33, plus 37 games at 6.43 in the Reserves.
Another youth academy product who hasn't panned out, Cooke is close to reasonable. Physically, he could get the job done, and in a number of places he falls just shy of the mark. However, in the key areas of tackling, marking, passing, creativity, and decision-making, he comes up well short. That, combined with Stuart's report that he hasn't been improving, and his choice of position, have me thinking he's straight for the transfer-wire.
M C Stuart Cross, 17, England, uncapped:
2 games, 0 goals, 6.00, plus 36 games at 6.28 in the U-18s.
I feel like I'm writing this a lot, but he's another player from the United youth system who just isn't ever going to be good enough. He's got the physical aspect down, and he's got good teamwork, but in the main he lacks the determination and ambition required to turn sheer physical ability into talent on the pitch. His technical skills are atrocious, rivalled only by his poor decision making, utter lack of creativity, and poor positional play. His contract is expiring, but I'll see if anybody might want to purchase him.
M C Mark Murray, 17, England, uncapped:
0 games, plus 40 games at 5.97 in the Reserves: This product of the youth academy appears physically mature and able of competing on this level, but there are so many fundamental flaws in his game that it really won't be worth investing time in him. He's on a par with Paul Morgan for the title of 'worst I've ever seen', from pathetic tackling to poor passing to slow decision-making and a lack of composure. He doesn't seem to know where to go on the pitch, whether his team has the ball or not, and I'll be glad to be rid of him.
There is only one attacking midfielder - and two decent central midfielders, period - which means this is an area I'll need to dramatically strengthen over the summer if I'm going to move to the 4-5-1 formation which I ran at York. That formation requires two strong attacking midfielders, and four or five total to account for rotation and injuries.
Left wing:
AM LC Alan Quinn, 27, Ireland, 6 caps, 0 goals:
52 games, 3 goals, 5 assists, 3 MoM, 6.60:
For the past three years, this former Wednesday man has started almost every game, sometimes central and sometimes on the wing. With seven goals and eleven assists, he's been a key member of the United attack, and one practice session was enough to convince me of his quality. He looks like exactly the quality of player I would want for the Championship, solid in many aspects, determined, hard working, with pace, good teamwork, and a solid game that has no holes to speak of. Unfortunately, his contract was expiring this summer, and he's already agreed to join Swansea City on a Bosman. That's going to leave me with a real hole on the left side, as the next-best wing is unable to match him in any respect.
AM L Jonathan Forte, 20, England, uncapped:
25 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, 6.32:
This result of the youth system offers more than all of the others combined. He's quite fast, with good off the ball runs that make up for his relatively mediocre play in other respects. He'll never contribute much defensively, but with a bit of work on his crossing and dribbling, he could make a solid attacking winger. Stuart thinks that with hard work and a bit of luck, Forte could become a very good player for the club.
Right wing:
AM R Chris Sedgwick, 26, England, uncapped:
41 games, 6 goals, 4 assists, 1 MoM, 6.59:
A tremendous player physically, Sedwick was acquired from Rotherham last season for £1M. He's got the key attributes I look for from a winger, the pace, the crossing ability, a bit of dribbling. If he were able to win a header at all, I think he might be looking for a place in the Premiership, but perhaps his creativity and decision-making aren't up to snuff either. Still, at this level he should be a tremendous asset on the right wing, freeing me to worry about other positions for now.
AM/F RC Andy Liddell, 33, Scotland, 12 U-21 caps, 1 U-21 goal:
0 games, 20 games, 2 goals, 1 assist, 6.58 on two loans to Conference National: Currently on loan with Harrogate Town in the Conference National, and with his contract expiring, I doubt I'll ever see the aging Liddell play. The coaches don't think he's Championship quality, and he's unlikely to want to renew given that he hasn't played for the United senior side since last February.
M RC Stephen Pearson, 16, England, uncapped:
0 games, plus 39 games at 5.72 in the U-18s:
Another youth programme player, Pearson looks similar to the others, with reasonable physical skills but seemingly lacking the foundation. I'll give him the time until he turns seventeen, but I can't seem him making the tremendous strides he would have to make both technically and physically before he could be considered a contributor beyond the U-18 level.
Strikers:
S C Peter Weatherson, 26, England, uncapped:
23 games, 8 goals, 1 assists, 7.17:
Led Grimsby Town with 20 goals during their promotion campaign from League Two in the 2005/06 season, including that memorable four-goal performance against Torquay United. He added 7 more goals and 7 assists in the first part of this season before being bought by Sheffield United for £1.4M. That's a bit over what he is probably really worth, but he's the best striker on the squad with pace, strong finishing, and excellent jumping. He has no particular weaknesses, though his concentration can waver in some games and he hasn't quite settled into form since the mid-season transfer. He wears the number 9 jersey for the club, and Stuart says they're hoping he'll really come into his own next season.
S C Billy Sharp, 21, England, uncapped:
28 games, 10 goals, 2 assists, 3 MoM, 7.04:
In his fifth season with the club, this is the first year Sharp has really been given the opportunity to start, and he's responded by finding the net ten times in only 20 starts, leading the squad. I don't think he's quite Weatherson's quality - he doesn't have any hope of reaching the Premier League, as he lacks any truly standout attributes - but he has quality finishing, and a supporting game which is good enough to see him free of trouble. He's on an incredibly cheap salary for the club's leading scorer, earning a mere £7,000 per annum, which is about a fifth of what my starters were earning at York, and less than a tenth what some of his contemporaries are earning. Stuart thinks he's showing signs of developing into a quality player, and I suspect a new contract will be in order shortly.
S C Dene Cropper, 24, England, uncapped:
17 games, 6 goals, 0 assists, 6.71:
Dene Cropper was one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the Conference North when I played there, knocking in 19 goals two seasons in a row for Worksop Town. Early this season, desperate for strikers, United acquired him for £85,000. His current salary is more than ten times that of Sharp, and he's nowhere near the player the younger man is. As a target man, he does have an incredible talent for reaching an aerial ball and playing a flick-on header, but with the ball at feet he is almost useless. I'm certainly going to have to transfer him, and hope that I can find somebody who is willing to take him so that I don't have to eat that ridiculous salary.
S C Marcus Stewart, 34, England, uncapped:
4 games, 1 goal, 6.50, plus 28 games at 6.82 in the Reserves:
An aging veteran who is drawing a quarter of a million pounds in salary, which will expire shortly, Stewart is a definite albatross, signed in a moment of weakness last season, apparently in memory of his 16-goal season with Sunderland during the 2003/04 campaign more than a realistic assessment of his chances with Sheffield United. After struggling to find playing time last year, he's spent this year almost exclusively in the Reserves. He seems to be counting the days to his retirement, and honestly, however good he may once have been, at this point he seems slow and uninterested in the game.
S C Chris Coupe, 20, England, uncapped:
15 games, 2 goals, 1 assist, 6.67:
The only other youth product who is beginning to make good, Coupe has come off the bench 12 times this season, eight of those in Cup matches. He doesn't thrill, lacking any truly outstanding ability, but given time he can find the net. His fitness is a worry, and his lack of determination concerns me, but according to Stuart, he is showing signs of developing into a quality player.
S C Andrew Roberts, 18, England, uncapped:
3 games, 1 goal, 6.33, plus 41 games, 16 goals, 8 MoM, 7.02 in the Reserves:
Its hard to explain to a young player how he can score 16 goals, and earn Man of the Match 8 times, while playing constantly in the Reserves and still be released at the end of the season. In Roberts's case, though he is determined and physically adept, like so many of the products of the United youth system he seems to lack any hope technically, and his understanding of the game is pretty abysmal. I'd rather find players a bit closer to developing than take a chance on him for another three or four years, especially after Stuart cautioned me that he hasn't really improved this year.
S C John Talbot, 18, England, uncapped:
1 game, 0 goals, 7.00, plus 37 games, 12 goals, 6.68 in the Reserves:
Its the same story with his strike partner, who has added 12 goals and 6 Man of the Match awards, but has the same trouble with the fundamentals. Neither of them is showing the quality which would prompt me to take a closer look.
.
Overall, that feels about right to me. There are six players who will fit in well for my core XI, and though I want to bring in five new starters, I have the transfer budget available to do that. I've identified 13 players that I want to sell, plus there are a few whose contracts are expiring that I don't intend to renew, so in general it will be a rebuilding plan, which may cost me at the start of next season if my summer moves don't gel immediately.
The key need on the squad is for attacking midfielders. To fully pull off my scheme, I'll want to bring in four whom I think can contribute at the senior level, and ideally I'd have two more training at the youth and reserve level.
We also need a left back, a replacement for Alan Quinn at left wing, and a long-term solution at right back, occupied by the aging Deloumeaux.
I switched our players over to a physical training schedule similar to what I was using at York, and that's led to some early grumbling from players who feel it is too strenuous, in particular aging Marcus Stewart and out-of-shape midfielder Ian Ross. I'm not surprised.
|
Linear Mode
