From what I've seen, Sharp is a hard working nippy striker with a bit of pace that seems to get in the right position at the right time. He is the sort of striker we missed last season. I don't think we scored enough of the chances we created. Having said that though, I would prefer Maynard - Best striker in the league.
I'm panicking thinking that we might be lacking funds a little. Can someone reassure me? I was assuming we'd probably still be a financial heavyweight in this league. Presuming we've offered around the 3mil mark for sharp, I'm not so worried.
Letissier86, NC has the history of spending money when needed, but he willl not overpay. if we get the reputation of just throwing money around, then prices just go up 30 - 40% whenever we enquire about a player. We need to remain patient and remember that NA is not looking at a wholesale overhaul of our squad, just adding 2 - 3 players where needed. we are not that crowd along the M27 who bring in 10 players a season before realising they cannot pay the wages!!
Does that really matter so long as what we get works for us? Spending money to prove we have money is pointless.
The first priority is a player who wants to come to Saints. We know we're a great club, but the problem is to convince others of that. Do we raise the offer until we get our man or do we say 'too dear' and find a player that NA can turn from silver to gold.
Personally speaking I think we can do better than either Sharp or Maynard , I want a striker who is going to score 20 to 30 goals in this division alongside Lambert and send us back to the premiership not a striker who might score 15 goals a season and keep us just above the relegation zone. Lets face it they both have good scoring records but not great ones and if they were that good surely they would be playing for better teams than Donny and Bristol City. The problem is there a striker out there that can do that for us and can we get him to come to the mighty saints.
With the likes of Adam Lallana, Chambo and a new centre mid supplying passes/crosses, I reckon one of Maynard or Sharp could score 20-25 goals next year.
How often do you see Lambert trying to take on players or busting a gut to get in the area, barely ever thats why him and Barney make such a good partnership because they compliment each so well because Lambert does what Barnard isn't as good as him at like heading and holding up the ball and Barney will run all day which allows Lambert to get into the right position to head home his crosses.
From what I have seen of them, I think Maynard is potentially the better player . I just feel that Sharp would be the ideal strike partner for Rickie Lambert. He's got good pace, good movement and is the fox in the box we have been lacking. For me last season, Rickie became a more complete player. He may not have scored to the level of the previous season but he showed a better all round game. With Sharp alongside him I think he will improve even more. So I would say if the prices being floated about are correct I would go with Sharp. But if you are looking to build for the Premiership? Maynard looks to have the better chance of making it at that level.
How you can call Lambert lazy is beyond me. He's not blessed with blistering pace and is a tall well-built guy which make some people believe he's 'overweight and lazy' Lambert runs just as much as most of the others but plays a completely different role to them meaning he doesn't actually need to, It's not in his job description to be like that though, he's not the type of player to run at defenders or in and behind them, that's not his style of play, it doesn't make him lazy at all, why try and change that or critisise that when he's so good as he is and he's scored the amount of goals for us as he has?! Some people are just never happy are they. He's reminds me of Le Tissier in a lot of ways, both blessed with divine skill and technical ability but no pace. Also, just because Sharp is a little stocky doesn't mean he isn't quick, he's very quick have a little look on youtube if you've never seen him in person! He works his absolute socks off, is a natural finisher and has pace. Like someone else said (sorry can't remember who and can't be bothered to scroll up!) if you take away his time at Sheff Utd he's a totally different player. He's a bit like Mackail-Smith IMO, isn't as fast but puts in a huge amount of effort and scores loads of goals - yet has proven himself at Championship level. Maynard IS better than Sharp, and has more potential, hence the reason his price has been set at something around £4.5m rather than £3m, but would it really be worth it? I doubt it. Neither of them have really had the chance at a big club with good support strikers/wingers so who knows how good they could ACTUALLY be! I think either would flourish in our team, they're both mid twenties and have scored bags full of goals already in their careers. If you want a player who will score 20-30 goals in the Championship this year then these two are the ones to get. Danny Graham, Grant Holt, Steve Morisson and Scott Sinclair are all in the Premiership now, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Shane Long there with them by the end of the window. I know you shouldn't read anything into football-rumours.co.uk, but Danny Ward Jack Cork and Billy Sharp would be the perfect Summer, a long with a defender from abroad or somethingggggggg - Don't rate that St.Ledger lad. Although I wouldn't be too disappointed if we only signed Sharp and no one else, If we can keep Chamberlain that is.
If a player is far too good for the Championship, they will be picked up by a Premier League team (ie Danny Graham). Nicky Maynard is good enough for the Premier League IMO but had an injury which stopped him from being one of the top scorers. Sharp also had an injury and was out for some time. In 09/10, Maynard finished 2nd top scorer with 20 goals (ahead of Gary Hooper) so I think he'd be a great signing.
As we casually talk of 4-5 £Million signings, these would be a record signing for the club, would they not? Shows how far we have come, but I suspect that NC will be looking for players who will appreciate in value.
I'd happily take either, but given the choice between the two, I'd go with Sharp every time. I'm a big, big fan of Sharp's.
This Fris-Hansen bloke has a pretty good record in Europe and I reckon he could find someone better than Sharp or Maynard for half the price. Since our current crop are good enough to be going on with, we have time on our side. Would you rather have Javier Hernandez or Fernando Torres in your team? It's not a hard one. If you didn't know their transfer history, you'd never guess which one cost £50million. Spending the most money isn't always the best option, it's where it goes that counts. Personally, I don't think Maynard or Sharp would be our best use of £4.5m or £3m respectively, but I'd gladly be proven wrong. I'm not against spending, but I'd want what is spent to be spent well. Nothing is a given in the Championship and there is a lot of overpriced dross out there that is hell to shift if it doesn't work out as we well know.
