The elephant in the room

[Branton Rover]

I want Billy to sign again and he wants to extend his stay too as I guess most fans do. But the counter argument also needs airing which is, can it be right to put a League One contract offer out to a player who because of old father tune is only likely to be utilised as an impact player/bench option? Then again and I’m contradicting myself again here Billy’s a proven goal getter and their signatures tend to cost more in salary. The other logical question is would Billy accept a lesser contract to reflect his potential game time as he’s a senior pro now. I’m quite sure at this stage of his career he’s well set financially and may well sign a lesser monetary contract to play on as he’s has stated wants to continue into his 40’s.

[andyst79]

I want Billy to sign again and he wants to extend his stay too as I guess most fans do. But the counter argument also needs airing which is, can it be right to put a League One contract offer out to a player who because of old father tune is only likely to be utilised as an impact player/bench option? Then again and I’m contradicting myself again here Billy’s a proven goal getter and their signatures tend to cost more in salary. The other logical question is would Billy accept a lesser contract to reflect his potential game time as he’s a senior pro now. I’m quite sure at this stage of his career he’s well set financially and may well sign a lesser monetary contract to play on as he’s has stated wants to continue into his 40’s.

Showed his class with the finish on Saturday just depends if he's happy to play a bit part. Streets showed what we need from a center forward, he has the strength and hold up play of Ironside but has the pace and guile to get in behind also. Be interesting to see what Grant does pre season as without naming names there's a few that aren't good enough for the step up.

[jmt23]

I think Billy is also one who leads by example and is good for the team/dressing room. He will have improved the team way more than during the game. Also imagine being a young kid, or even a loanee and learning from the very best, I can imagine that would sway loans from clubs.

However, I can also imagine that it would only work if he was a bit more than a bit part player, like this year. 

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I wondered if he might call it a day after finishing this season on a high. Looks like he's going down the Richard Wood route, wanting to play as long as he can. Always going to be difficult knowing when to call it a day.

Obviously, we can't carry players on sentiment. They must contribute and I'm sure GM will assess that and whether he can still add value to the squad, even if game time might be limited once again.

Question is for all of us. Has he fulfilled our expectations this season?

For me, I said I'd be happy if he played half the games and scored around 10 goals. Probably not far off that in the end but I didn't expect GM being so single minded playing one up front for the most part.

Providing it's not at the expense of recruiting other key players, then sign him up. Wood on the other hand.....

[drfchound]

I remember a comment by the Accrington manager back in August in a post match interview talking about his team trying to get back into the game in the second half and he said “…..and then they bring on Billy Sharp”.
Billy coming off the bench for us must be horrible for opposition teams.

[mushRTID]

I think the real elephant in the room is will we have the budget to compete the way Grant has already said (in public) we will.

He’s already said we don’t have one of the top budgets this season in the league below.

And gut feeling is L1 is probably a lot stronger than when we were last there.

I really hope we can match his ambitions. I believe he took a step back into L2 as a short term risk, he will want to kick on now and has said so.

Probably discussion for another day, we’ve a league title to win.

[ncRover]

I remember a comment by the Accrington manager back in August in a post match interview talking about his team trying to get back into the game in the second half and he said “…..and then they bring on Billy Sharp”.
Billy coming off the bench for us must be horrible for opposition teams.

We’ll be playing better teams than Accrington and 10 man Bradford.

Ironside is under contract.

If Sharp signs then that’s only space for one other main striker.

If that new main striker gets injured we’re potentially (depending on other business) having the same attacking problems we’ve had this year but in a harder league.

Need 2 new strikers.

[Chris Black come back]

McCann has only really played with one through the centre for us. Marquis, then Ironside and then Street. That is a certain type of player who is central to that set up. You need basically two of those, and another who can offer something a bit different.

[Prez]

I think the real elephant in the room is will we have the budget to compete the way Grant has already said (in public) we will.

He’s already said we don’t have one of the top budgets this season in the league below.

And gut feeling is L1 is probably a lot stronger than when we were last there.

I really hope we can match his ambitions. I believe he took a step back into L2 as a short term risk, he will want to kick on now and has said so.

Probably discussion for another day, we’ve a league title to win.

Fair point Mush, but i remember Gavin at one of the recent MTO saying how we would be much better off financially if we were in League 1. Im sure we will have a decent budget to compete with.

[jmt23]

It’s not just a lot stronger I bet the budgets are way bigger than when we were last there. Teams like Wrexham, Stockport, Birmingham have had such big budgets I imagine this has forced the hand of others to compete.

[Bentley Bullet]

I remember a comment by the Accrington manager back in August in a post match interview talking about his team trying to get back into the game in the second half and he said “…..and then they bring on Billy Sharp”.
Billy coming off the bench for us must be horrible for opposition teams.

We’ll be playing better teams than Accrington and 10 man Bradford.

Ironside is under contract.

If Sharp signs then that’s only space for one other main striker.

If that new main striker gets injured we’re potentially (depending on other business) having the same attacking problems we’ve had this year but in a harder league.

Need 2 new strikers.

We'll be playing better teams than Accrington and 10-man Bradford BECAUSE of Billy Sharp.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I think the real elephant in the room is will we have the budget to compete the way Grant has already said (in public) we will.

He’s already said we don’t have one of the top budgets this season in the league below.

And gut feeling is L1 is probably a lot stronger than when we were last there.

I really hope we can match his ambitions. I believe he took a step back into L2 as a short term risk, he will want to kick on now and has said so.

Probably discussion for another day, we’ve a league title to win.

Fair point Mush, but i remember Gavin at one of the recent MTO saying how we would be much better off financially if we were in League 1. Im sure we will have a decent budget to compete with.

Two things have registered with me...suggesting GM & TB already know the direction of travel.

1. The investment in the building of a new training facility. McCann said it will help attract better quality players.

2. McCann said we're not going into L1 just to make up the numbers.

Add the additional revenue from EFL, better attendances etc and we're already  adding significant funds.

Sorry to continue off topic.

[Chris Black come back]

Again, we will be better off in cash terms, but relatively we will have a mid to lower budget in League One. We will get lots of additional revenue from various streams but this won't materially change our relative position with respect to budgets in League One. We will be competing with clubs the majority of which have larger budgets than we do.

[Nudga]

Probably an unpopular opinion but I'd be letting Ironside go.

[Draytonian III]

I don’t for one minute think that money is Billy’s motivation, I can only think of one player in League Two who will have earned as much as him and that’s McGoldrick at Notts County. The pair of them are playing because they enjoy it and they feel they can contribute to their respective teams

[ncRover]

I remember a comment by the Accrington manager back in August in a post match interview talking about his team trying to get back into the game in the second half and he said “…..and then they bring on Billy Sharp”.
Billy coming off the bench for us must be horrible for opposition teams.

We’ll be playing better teams than Accrington and 10 man Bradford.

Ironside is under contract.

If Sharp signs then that’s only space for one other main striker.

If that new main striker gets injured we’re potentially (depending on other business) having the same attacking problems we’ve had this year but in a harder league.

Need 2 new strikers.

We'll be playing better teams than Accrington and 10-man Bradford BECAUSE of Billy Sharp.

He struggled for large parts and the attack didn’t function properly when he started games.

Even if what you say is true, that isn’t reason enough to keep him either.

[Ian Nimmo]

Probably an unpopular opinion but I'd be letting Ironside go.

Absolutely not, play him regularly and he will provide the goods.
Don’t forget he has proved he can score goals in L1, playing in a relatively poor side.

[grayx]

Probably an unpopular opinion but I'd be letting Ironside go.

So would I.

[Nudga]

Probably an unpopular opinion but I'd be letting Ironside go.

Absolutely not, play him regularly and he will provide the goods.
Don’t forget he has proved he can score goals in L1, playing in a relatively poor side.

I don't think his lg1 goal return for us would be enough.
This season has proven that he doesn't fit the current playing style.
He plays with his back to goal looking for cheap free kicks.
Rob Street is looking to run behind defences when we're on the counter, hence his goal return.

I'm not a joe Ironside hater BTW, I like him, I just don't  think he fits what Rovers have now become under GM.

[GazLaz]

We need more mobility than Ironside and Sharp. I wouldn’t be falling into the trap of re-signing Sharp on the wave of emotion and if we can find a home for Ironside that would be great also. We will be playing plenty of games on the counter attacking L1. We need pace and mobility. Managers are emotional beasts by nature so I can imagine him being loyal to his troops.

[PDX_Rover]

Copps played on in L1. Billy’s lean and fit. Trust Grant on this.

[GazLaz]

His goals return has been good. 0.45 goals /90mins. Can’t argue with that at all. Nobody can question his finishing. It’s what style of striker best suits McCanns style and the style we will be forced into playing next season. Is it a pretty slow “fox in the box” or a profile based on the Rob Street style of being quick, strong and a willing work horse? I think it’s the latter but each to their own.

[Michael Shaw]

No brainer for me. Sign Billy and let Joe go. Billy will probably be even better in league one than in league two.

[pib]

Maybe it’s the sentiment talking but he’s shown he’s still capable of delivering from the bench (although I doubt he’d thank anyone for pigeon holing him as a sub). If a chance falls in the box you want him on the end of it. That’s got to be worth something.

Ironside still has another year so if he were to move on we’d need to find a taker.

I always like watching players like Street who have that pace and mobility about them. Like when we had Wilks and at times were electric on the counter. Wouldnt mind a couple of quick players in that mould for next season. In fact, it’ll be needed I think.

[Usher wide.]

Joe Ironside doesn’t have Rob Street’s pace & mobility however, he does hold the ball up better (he’s strong & ‘clever’ with the ball at his feet & back to goal) & with ‘a runner’ close by he would be a very effective No.9 still in Lg1 in my opinion.

Let’s remember Rob Street, as much as we might love him to be, is not our player and given the successful period he’s had with us this season I fully expect him to be turning out against us next season in Lincoln colours.

So that leaves us with Joe & possibly Billy as one pairing up front (should we ever play two up under GM) & on that note I would look to offer Sharp a deal AND keep Joe. Surely ‘we can afford’ that while still looking for other options up front in the ‘Rob Street vain’?

Anything is possible between now & next August. I’m only looking at the ‘here & now’.

[AmericanRover]

Regardless, we will need to make some shrewd moves to not only stay up next season(Which really though I think we will) but push on and really have a solid season in general.  I think we have just as good of a setup as Stockport does and they are in the playoffs already for instance.

[andyst79]

Joe Ironside doesn’t have Rob Street’s pace & mobility however, he does hold the ball up better (he’s strong & ‘clever’ with the ball at his feet & back to goal) & with ‘a runner’ close by he would be a very effective No.9 still in Lg1 in my opinion.

Let’s remember Rob Street, as much as we might love him to be, is not our player and given the successful period he’s had with us this season I fully expect him to be turning out against us next season in Lincoln colours.

So that leaves us with Joe & possibly Billy as one pairing up front (should we ever play two up under GM) & on that note I would look to offer Sharp a deal AND keep Joe. Surely ‘we can afford’ that while still looking for other options up front in the ‘Rob Street vain’?

Anything is possible between now & next August. I’m only looking at the ‘here & now’.

Like you say Joe still has plenty to offer, the 10 roles been our biggest disappointment this year as he's had nobody in and around him. If this is still our favoured formation next year it's a position that needs drastic improvement.

[POD]

I’m sure that Grant will know exactly what to do and sentiment won’t come into it.   

Billy has already been released by Sheffield United and Hull City when they were going to be playing in leagues above where they felt Billy could not contribute more than just a squad member or impact substitute, which he was with us for most of the season.

He’s now coming up for 40 years old and with the step up to League One ahead of us, Grant has a difficult decision to make, but he knows what he has to do.

   

[Arsenal Of The North]

Billy still has something to offer to us in league 1, yes he has his limitations, but he knows where the net is, he should have scored an extra 5/6 goals this season. Yes he will be a bit part player, but he will have his part to play

But for me grant needs a pacey powerful striker to stretch defences from the off. I hope he looks for this in the summer and not in January as he did with street and Haks the season before

[IDM]

Perhaps he did look in summer but for whatever reason didn’t get his man.?