I am absolutely with you regarding the treatment of Maguire. Created by Man U fans but stoked gleefully by the media (not just the gutter press either, the TV lot are as culpable). Seems like they won’t be satisfied until the lad has had a breakdown of some kind.
Thanks Ben – these have been a wonderful bit of Blades’ history.
I’d love to discuss them all, but just a few thoughts/memories . . .
Nick Montgomery – “Defending was his forte – it’s fair to say he lacked a bit of skill going the other way…” One of my abiding memories is of him, though, was scoring at Tranmere Rovers with the song “were you there when Monty scored?” reverberating along the train carriage on the way home!
Harry Maguire – “… a sometimes hilarious willingness to rumble forward with it…” Always my favourite bit of watching Maguire play!
Enda Stevens – “The step up in Enda’s game was breathtaking.” So true. It was impossible to keep your eyes off him when he was at his peak, which did make his eventual decline a bit baffling.
George Baldock – what’s not to love! Athleticism, energy, pure defender and “angriest man ever to play football”. Seems impossible to believe he’s never been sent off, though.
Iliman Ndiaye – “Best of all, though, were the things he did when not actually kicking the ball into the net himself.” They made me laugh out loud, too.
John Egan – “… his standards have barely slipped ever, despite playing virtually every minute of every game for club and country.” Must practice heading in the right direction, though! (And when he eventually retires, he could always take up songwriting).
Great narrative Ben and with a few swaps and the addition of Jamie Murphy into this top twenty pushing Norwood further down the table I would be in full agreement. Brown, Bash and Sharp for me are top three and as you say with the Lord, to be so damned influential and effective from midfield takes some kind of player. But as with the prime Wilder Bunch, more often than not it takes 'the team' to make 'the player'.
Didn't know about Montgomery being at Hibs, little jewels of info in a great read - cheers
I am absolutely with you regarding the treatment of Maguire. Created by Man U fans but stoked gleefully by the media (not just the gutter press either, the TV lot are as culpable). Seems like they won’t be satisfied until the lad has had a breakdown of some kind.
Thanks Ben – these have been a wonderful bit of Blades’ history.
I’d love to discuss them all, but just a few thoughts/memories . . .
Nick Montgomery – “Defending was his forte – it’s fair to say he lacked a bit of skill going the other way…” One of my abiding memories is of him, though, was scoring at Tranmere Rovers with the song “were you there when Monty scored?” reverberating along the train carriage on the way home!
Harry Maguire – “… a sometimes hilarious willingness to rumble forward with it…” Always my favourite bit of watching Maguire play!
Enda Stevens – “The step up in Enda’s game was breathtaking.” So true. It was impossible to keep your eyes off him when he was at his peak, which did make his eventual decline a bit baffling.
George Baldock – what’s not to love! Athleticism, energy, pure defender and “angriest man ever to play football”. Seems impossible to believe he’s never been sent off, though.
Iliman Ndiaye – “Best of all, though, were the things he did when not actually kicking the ball into the net himself.” They made me laugh out loud, too.
John Egan – “… his standards have barely slipped ever, despite playing virtually every minute of every game for club and country.” Must practice heading in the right direction, though! (And when he eventually retires, he could always take up songwriting).
Phil Jagielka – he was a good goalkeeper, too.
Chris Basham – “He became a Sheffield United legend.” Say no more. Well perhaps the Basham Turn © and “Basham’s Arriving”!
Billy Sharp – “…a fan, a leader, a goal machine, a hard worker, a fighter…” Yes, deservedly Number One.
Sue.
Great narrative Ben and with a few swaps and the addition of Jamie Murphy into this top twenty pushing Norwood further down the table I would be in full agreement. Brown, Bash and Sharp for me are top three and as you say with the Lord, to be so damned influential and effective from midfield takes some kind of player. But as with the prime Wilder Bunch, more often than not it takes 'the team' to make 'the player'.