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Billy Sharp for Leeds?

7/5/2013

20 Comments

 

By Rob Atkinson

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Never one to get carried away by mere Twitter rumours, I am nevertheless fairly happy not to say excited at the prospect - however remote - of Leeds United signing Southampton's Billy Sharp, who has spent most of the season on loan at Forest, but who might just be looking at a bigger move than that.

This is one that's been mentioned in the past, and it's always seemed like a good fit for all parties concerned, yet it's never quite happened. At first glance, Billy does seem an unlikely striker signing for United - he's only 27 for a start, and we normally look to the superannuated end of the market.  And he scores goals.  My, does he score goals.  At Championship level, he's a pretty reliable provider of that most valuable and sought-after commodity. Billy Sharp just loves to hit the back of the net.

Any player - and most especially any striker - joining Leeds United needs to have one quality over and above the obviously desirable playing skills, fitness and application.  He needs to be strong-minded, a good character who's resilient enough to step up to the demands of playing for a very demanding and sometimes unforgiving crowd. This is a test that's been failed by some pretty decent-looking performers over the years.  Elland Road has been something of a graveyard for strikers who have arrived with big reputations, but have failed to deliver and have ended up slinking off, beaten and broken men, into anonymous obscurity - or even worse, into the first team at Doncaster Rovers.

Billy Sharp though seems to be a man of different mettle.  It's impossible to comprehend a more tragic and shattering blow for a parent than the death of a baby.  Sharp, and his girlfriend Jade, suffered this awful calamity in November 2011 and the striker could readily have been excused if he'd felt unable to play professional football in the immediate aftermath of such a shattering bereavement.  Yet a mere two days after the death of his baby son Luey, Sharp played against Middlesborough and scored a brilliant volley, raising his Southampton shirt to reveal the message "That's For You, Son" (Pictured above). Thankfully, a more than usually understanding referee decided not to book the emotional Sharp, when normally a yellow card would have been applicable.  Such a very courageous and professional response to tragedy speaks of a very strong character indeed, and this would seem to be the type of man that many a club would seek to have among their playing staff, not only for footballing reasons, but for the example of courage in adversity that will be set by such amazing resilience and fortitude.

I don't know if Sharp will end up in a Leeds United shirt, but I'd love it if he did.  He's demonstrably what people used to call "The Right Stuff", and his goal-scoring credentials are fully in order too.  I could see him being a massive part of United's promotion push next season, and really it's good to be linked - in the early days of McDermott's reign - with any player of this character and calibre.  The Twitter rumour says he's "in talks and a deal looks likely".  Well, we know that these stories float about and are often without foundation, but it's definitely a case of fingers crossed for this one. It might just be a match made in heaven, and the kind of signing which, with a few others in the same vein, could see us challenging for a long-overdue return to the top table of English football.

Billy Sharp - come on down!  You'd be most welcome.
20 Comments
B Mearns
7/5/2013 07:00:37 am

In the lower divisions, supporting the now defunct Rushden and Diamonds, the best players I saw in our team were Billy Sharpe and Lee Tomlin - both should be available for us in the close season.

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Tare
7/5/2013 07:35:16 am

Rob, the right stuff was a nick name for the pre Apollo space program a man on the moon and there is a good movie for it.

But the Right Stuff is needed for sure for promotion I do not support any names but as I have seen CMS of Seagulls playing so he is my number 1 dor striker position.- 2013-2014. Tare

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Any
7/5/2013 07:53:26 am

That's not a saints shirt in the pic but he's a great goal scorer see how many times he's hit the post too

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Philip Thorpe
7/5/2013 08:10:27 am

He was still a Doncaster player when he lost his baby son. As seen in the picture he is wearing a Doncaster Rovers shirt.

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Ben
7/5/2013 10:27:18 am

It does make you laugh. "He just might be looking for a bigger move". Runners up in a European cup. When your club wins even 1 let alone 2 then drop me a message. It would be far more accurate to say its a sideways move or even dare I say a backwards step in comparison with Forests history.

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mark
7/5/2013 03:18:32 pm

Couple of lucky euro cups lol .....how many times champions of england ? We won everything apart from euro cup....jog on forest GUMP.

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FunkyGTC
7/5/2013 11:47:28 pm

Oh dear we are a Sad Bitter little boy aren't we! Oh isn't it also a Fact that during one of our many 70's European adventures that a certain Referee was paid approx £200,000 (if my memory serves me correct,!) To Ensure LEEDS lost a European Final!! However in Typical Eufa The club involved were never made to Relinquish the cup regardless of the fact they were found guilty along with the Referee!... Hmmm as for Old Big Nose! 44 Days for a Drunken Disrespectful Retard! ..... what have you done in the last 30 years?.... Hmmm thought so! FuckAll. Muppet

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RH
7/5/2013 05:55:35 pm

10 goals in 39 forest apearances....hardly prolific??

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Ben
7/5/2013 06:11:43 pm

Do you even know the history of your club. You have won the Fa cup 1 time and league cup 1 time. We have won them 2 and 4 times respectively. Mark my dear boy. If you are going to raise a point. Make sure it makes your club look favourable. 44 days son. 44 days. Of you don't know what that means then your still in dipers.

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Darren
7/5/2013 07:15:23 pm

He asked you about league titles buddy why u answering with cup wins quite sad really that's how long ur only successful manager lasted at a big club

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Ben
7/5/2013 08:22:39 pm

44 days is all it took for him to realise that you can't bring success to a small minded club. Day 43 was the last straw when he walked past your trophy cabinet and laughed till he cried. Small club small minded fans. What more can you say.

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ropeywyla
8/5/2013 01:17:33 am

Forrest are a prestigious historic club and deserve respect but Leeds United are way beyond comparison in terms of size and weight of history, there is no point pretending otherwise

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Rob Atkinson
7/5/2013 08:50:16 pm

Correct - he scored against Boro for Donny, not Southampton. My mistake.

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craig link
7/5/2013 10:21:42 pm

Ben, this ent got nowt to do with silverware but as you point out how many teams made the likes of Bobby Charlton and Georgie Best look like a Sunday pub team, our lads run them ragged funny really you should watch it on utube :)

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Steven742
7/5/2013 10:36:45 pm

To be honest with you I'd rather us go for someone else - as he never really stays around long enough at a club. Hopefully Ross plays all season up front and we won't need this guy!

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Conker
7/5/2013 10:54:06 pm

Sharp is a big Blunt fan and apparently hates us. Buff said, we can do better. ALF would be my choice.

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Phil
8/5/2013 01:32:45 am

Is this the same Billy Sharpe who agreed to sign for us before (when Bekford was close to joining Newcastle) It was that close he signed a Leeds shirt for a young fan in his local pub

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Del
8/5/2013 06:02:28 am

It don't matter what he thinks of leeds from the out side,he would still jump at a move because leeds would be by far the biggest and most famous club he had ever played for.forest deserve respect but come on Ben only forest fans would put you in same breath as leeds utd.doubt forest have over 1000 fans every home game from Scandinavia alone not to mention fans from Ireland at every home match,sideways from forest to leeds is bit of an insult to leeds utd really.

conker
8/5/2013 06:39:55 am

Sharp will not be coming to Leeds and we need better. As regards Forest's history - their fans are all scabs and we have won top division more recently. Nuff said.

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Ben
8/5/2013 09:47:09 am

7-3 lads 7-3. Your club is full of zeros. Your trophy cabinet is a joke, along with your recent form. Another year of mediocrity for you in the bottom half of the ladder. Say no more. Say no more about your humble history. No stars on your badge. Your attendance all season was less than ours and your stadium is bigger. Fans have no class you stick with your team through thick and thin. I hope for your sake that your little club is not relegated next season as when we are promoted next season and we meet you in the next cup. 2 leagues distance between the clubs will leave your little club quaking in your boots. We don't want to see your club humiliated. Only accept there riteful position as a second tier club for the rest of its history.

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