CONFIRMED - Billy Sharp

[West Stand Man]

Can't see Pog leaving unless we get another striker, we would have nobody capable of playing upfront on there own

There is nothing we can do to keep Pog if he really want's to go and his release clause is met.
Pog and his Agent do not care that we may be left with nobody capable of playing up front on there own.

This is something that RFC have no control over now, it was them that drew up the contract in the first place, so cannot have any complaints now.

You have missed the critical bit, (as well as the awful apostrophe crime). There needs to be someone who wants him, even at the rate that his release clause allows for. Nothing that he did last year would have suitors banging our doors down for access and, even I they did, they might not want to meet his pay demands.

It is not quite done and dusted yet.

[LoyalRoyal22]

What I mean is that we shouldn't be offering him to clubs or hoping he goes as we need him.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Seems strange to me that Sharp would want to come here, knowing that if we go up Adkins doesn't rate him as a Prem player

[maffff]

Wasn't it Cortese loaned him out?

[One8Seven1]

Wasn't it Cortese loaned him out?

I was asking a few Saints fans this earlier and they agreed it was Cortese, not Adkins. The fans are split and think there was a fall-out with Adkins, but if that was the case then it would be unlikely Sharp would fancy a third stint under him, and by all accounts it appears he does.

[One8Seven1]

Billy Sharp's mrs has been tweeting back Reading mongs who expected her to tell all... Christ! So far she said no he wasn't going any where, but then said he would be honest as soon as a deal was agreed, and who he'd spoken too. Sometimes I wish fans couldn't reach out to sports men and women, celebs etc. Idiots.

[GSY-Royal]

That's a good point, Cortese pulls the strings at that club far too much for my liking. Very grateful that Anton doesn't do it to that extent.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Sharp would be a good signing. Doesn't mean Pogrebnyak is off though....

[Extended-Phenotype]

10 goals in 30 last year isn't that much to get excited about.

[Snowball]

His career average in a goal every 174 minutes, which ent bad.


Last Four Seasons

39 10 Goals - 8 Assists 274 Mins/Goal 2,740 Minutes Forest
35 19 Goals - 5 Assists 136 Mins/Goal 2,585 Minutes Doncaster & Southampton*
29 15 Goals - 6 Assists 159 Mins/Goal 2,386 Minutes Doncaster
33 15 Goals - 8 Assists 191 Mins/Goal 2,860 Minutes Sheffield United

Last four seasons 136 Appearances 10,571 Minutes = 59 Goals = 179 Minutes per Goal
Last four seasons 136 Appearances 10,571 Minutes = 27 Assists = 391 Minutes per Assist


That's very tasty in goals and assists. For comparison Jobi McAnuff's assists for his last 4 championship seasons = 13,391 Minutes for 36 Assists at 1 every 371 minutes


His figures last season are a little odd. He started with a long blank run (Forest were dire) then he scored
10 goals in 20 games, then there was another 16 games (3 not selected) where he blanked again

[winchester_royal]

10 goals in 30 last year isn't that much to get excited about.

A number of those 30 apps were off the bench, and people seemed to get excited enough about Alf's 12 in 32

[Extended-Phenotype]

He started with a long blank run (Forest were dire) then he scored
10 goals in 20 games, then there was another 16 games (3 not selected) where he blanked again

You can't just start counting from the moment he starts scoring, and stop when he stops.

[Major Inconvenience]

He started with a long blank run (Forest were dire) then he scored
10 goals in 20 games, then there was another 16 games (3 not selected) where he blanked again

You can't just start counting from the moment he starts scoring, and stop when he stops.

Can't he? I've only been posting on here a little while, but reading for some years, and that seems like exactly the kind of thing he can do.

[Ian Royal]

He started with a long blank run (Forest were dire) then he scored
10 goals in 20 games, then there was another 16 games (3 not selected) where he blanked again

You can't just start counting from the moment he starts scoring, and stop when he stops.

Agree, typical snowballing.

But equally, you probably shouldn't ignore all the other season's he's scored very well in.

[Extended-Phenotype]

He started with a long blank run (Forest were dire) then he scored
10 goals in 20 games, then there was another 16 games (3 not selected) where he blanked again

You can't just start counting from the moment he starts scoring, and stop when he stops.

Agree, typical snowballing.

But equally, you probably shouldn't ignore all the other season's he's scored very well in.

My reason for being selective is form. I'm not ignoring other seasons to make my point; it's this stat which leaves me feeling flat.

[blythspartan]

Is this just an elaborate rumour started by a couple of Saints fans on the wind up?

There has been nothing in press about him joining us. The only thing I have read recently is that Doncaster want to re-sign him.

I think he would be a good player for us, so hoepfully it is true.

[SPARTA]

Is this just an elaborate rumour started by a couple of Saints fans on the wind up?

Might be, but Forest fans were also saying at the same time they'd heard he was in talks with us, and that was after a friend of mine claimed to have seen a player in talks at the hotel. Saints fans seem adamant that he's coming here, and a poster on here who others are vouching for (Noel Gallagher) says unless there is any unexpected problems the deal should be completed this week, so 'that' player appears to be Sharp. We'll just have to see. Talks mean very little until something is signed and he's presented..

[LoyalRoyal22]

Not excited about this. When we play one upfront it will be POG, if he leaves we will get another target man. If we play 442 I imagine Le Fondre would be preferred and rightly so. But Sharp is good back up.

[andrew1957]

I think it is possible that Sharp is ALF's replacement rather than Pog's but time will tell. I still think an offer could come in for ALF and if he wants to go I don't see the club standing in his way.

With a currently crocked Roberts I think we need a minimum of 5 strikers and we have 4 now which means that we need one more plus a replacement for any of the 4 that leave. There could still be a few comings and goings in this position before the summer is out.

[LightwaterRoyal]

Pretty sure Billy Sharp has played alone upfront at Doncaster and still performed really well.