Depends what he offers to the group on the training ground. If its to make the transition from player to coach or to play a similar role to Huddlestone a couple of years ago then there's possibly some sense in it.
Does seem a bit odd to finally sign him now, when he's semi-retired in LA. On the other hand, he's a poacher who the likes of Delap can maybe learn from. And maybe it's about that, and setting an example of high standards and demanding success, as much as it is about him contributing directly on the pitch.
I think Delap probably learnt plenty in the first team at Man City from Aguero etc, when your first arguement for a signing being good involves not playing that’s not a good signing.
Then why do teams repeatedly sign or retain players at the end of their careers precisely with dressing room influence and limited minutes in mind? He won't be costing us much, so if Liam thinks he has something to offer then so be it. I do know some of the discussion surrounding Liams contract was about adding to the coaching side. Maybe Sharp is envisaged to come in with a foot in both camps?
I can’t see Sharp getting much game time, but seems like a decent option to throw on last 15 when needing a goal. Striker was never the priority for me, would much rather focus on a winger and left back.
I’d rather us focus on what it’ll actually be. A ****house coming in, who might nick a goal or 2, get the crowd fired up etc. and be a good dressing room presence. He won’t be coming in to teach Delap and Connolly a thing, he’ll be brought on with 10/15 left to try see out a game or be thrown into the box to nick a result. Not particularly a fan of the signing as think we can go a different route but it’s low risk so won’t damage us long term
Could be worth a few points we wouldn't otherwise get. Can't see him playing much more than the last 15 in many games though. There'll be 2 or 3 more in addition to him though. So let's see where we are at the end of the window.
I'm still not convinced it's the one Acun was referencing yesterday. He stated on Humberside he couldn't say who it was until the other club announced it and Sharp is a free agent. *edit, he's still under contract until 1st Jan. So it could be.
Depends on the end result. I doubt Aguero spent much time 1-2-1 with an 18 year old Liam Delap when training to win the Premier league, whereas im sure Sharp would be brought in for 15 minute goal scramble cameos, but mostly to spend time helping refine Delaps and Connolys techniques. If it adds 3 or 4 goals each to them over the rest of the season a few grand a week isn't a bad return. I doubt Man Utd fans complained at the Huddlestone signing because their youth players should be learning from Bruno Fernandes. Anyway, I'd be worried if this was our main signing for a promotion push but i highly doubt it is.
You're probably right that it is primarily about him playing (it'd be a bit daft to pay someone a player's wage otherwise) but I do think there's some logic to the idea that Delap might improve on the weakest part of his game by training with Sharp every day and watching how he gets himself into scoring positions and beats the keeper. Delap has all the raw ingredients to his game but just lacks the guile in the box that Sharp has an abundance of.
The MLS season has ended but he's still under contract until 1.1.24 Bit like our season ends in may but contracts tend to expire at the end of June.
Billy Sharp would be a cracking signing don’t care what anyone says. Absolutely ideal off the bench, goalscorer all the way.
I suspect a lot of the chagrin at Sharp being outed as the new signing, isn't so much about Sharp himself, but more that most of us saw the announcements coming out yesterday and thought it'd be a more exciting signing, someone who could come in and improve the starting 11, names like Kent and Bird had been mentioned and we maybe got ahead of ourselves. In isolation, he's not a bad signing, adds depth and experience - against the excitement that came yesterday tho, people are feeling a bit meh is all.
