Ben Sheaf (5 Viewers)

Offhegoes

Well-Known Member
Sheaf is looking trim, and in good shape from the pre season videos I've seen.

Is a new contract still a possibility?

Grimes, Rudoni and a fully firing Ben Sheaf for 25/26. Don't think they'd be any better midfields in the division.

You'd think playing for Frank Lampard would be hard to walk away from,

If he's pushing for a move (and not signing an extension), then I don't think he'd get a Premier League move. Maybe a Southampton, Leicester...
 

usskyblue

Well-Known Member
@Earlsdon_Skyblue1

Angry Spongebob Squarepants GIF
 

AFCCOVENTRY

Well-Known Member
You know we won’t get a full season out of Sheaf. He is an injury prone player unfortunately. Still an important player but he he didn’t seem at his best last season. Hopefully a decent pre season gets him into the best form.
 

Earlsdon_Skyblue1

Well-Known Member

That is a respectable artists impression of my reaction opening this thread actually. No arguments there!

In all seriousness though, this has been done to death. The squad as a whole is much stronger now, particularly with the addition of Grimes who is the better player. Whilst there would be a time and a place, to have them both playing together is far too negative for 90 minutes every game if you want to take the front foot against other teams with any serious potency. Sheaf is very good defensively, but going forwards he is atrocious - and if he was playing with Grimes he would be trying to do that, which does hold us back significantly.

It would make sense to move him on if someone was willing to give us some worthy cash to reinvest, but whilst I could be wrong, I just don't think anyone will be willing to pay it. It has been three years already with people saying how good he is and how he is going up a step in his career (albeit dropping their expectations as to which club he is going to go to each year), so I think at some point the penny needs to drop.

That said, if he is going to be here and play a role then that is fine by me. Just so long as it isn't 90 minutes every game (which Grimes almost certainly will be), because players like Torp will offer us something better in midfield when it comes to being effective in the more forward areas.

We have a lot of good midfielders, which is a nice problem to have. As I said on the other thread though, players like Eccles and Allen are also very capable and shouldn't be overlooked. Both of those players I would argue play a very important role for us.
 

Briles

Well-Known Member
Sheaf needs to iron out the mistakes that still haunt his game. Perhaps it's less of an issue now we have Grimes in front of the defence but it's probably time for him to move on really.
The thing is what makes sheaf so good is he is very relaxed in possession, but its also his Achilles heel. If you take away his calmness you would take away his biggest attribute but also his biggest weakness. Tough one.
 

Hobo

Well-Known Member
The thing is what makes sheaf so good is he is very relaxed in possession, but its also his Achilles heel. If you take away his calmness you would take away his biggest attribute but also his biggest weakness. Tough one.

Hopefully he can learn from Grimes how to be relaxed and make fewer errors. I actually think Grimes will help bring the best out of him. I think we have some decent permutations in midfield.
 

oneofourown

Active Member
FL is on a mission and at this moment the players are buying into it, they fail together, they succeed together. I think FL has told all players they have a season with us (next) and to give it to the city and him. There may not be many more additions because FL has belief in the squad - DK and MR know the quality of the squad. I think they will assess the situation in January more than this summer.
 

Samo

Well-Known Member
FL is on a mission and at this moment the players are buying into it, they fail together, they succeed together. I think FL has told all players they have a season with us (next) and to give it to the city and him. There may not be many more additions because FL has belief in the squad - DK and MR know the quality of the squad. I think they will assess the situation in January more than this summer.

The one niggling worry I have with FL is that he's too emotional. He's all about relationships, which is fantastic from a man management point of view but may lead to poor decision making if he cannot let go. There needs to be a realism re abilities/bigger picture that informs decisions. I hope you are not too nice Frank.
 

Hobo

Well-Known Member
The one niggling worry I have with FL is that he's too emotional. He's all about relationships, which is fantastic from a man management point of view but may lead to poor decision making if he cannot let go. There needs to be a realism re abilities/bigger picture that informs decisions. I hope you are not too nice Frank.

It is pre season training. A period of assessment and coaching. He would be foolish not to be all inclusive at this stage. Get Portugal out of the way and a couple of friendlies and he will know how he wants to tweek things. He probably has a good idea already. But don't be surprised if it doesn't mirror some of the opinions on here.

Even if and when someone goes out it doesn't mean that is FL first choice because it will based on another clubs interest; that will start the wheeling and dealing.
 

Bigelvesy

Well-Known Member
That is a respectable artists impression of my reaction opening this thread actually. No arguments there!

In all seriousness though, this has been done to death. The squad as a whole is much stronger now, particularly with the addition of Grimes who is the better player. Whilst there would be a time and a place, to have them both playing together is far too negative for 90 minutes every game if you want to take the front foot against other teams with any serious potency. Sheaf is very good defensively, but going forwards he is atrocious - and if he was playing with Grimes he would be trying to do that, which does hold us back significantly.

It would make sense to move him on if someone was willing to give us some worthy cash to reinvest, but whilst I could be wrong, I just don't think anyone will be willing to pay it. It has been three years already with people saying how good he is and how he is going up a step in his career (albeit dropping their expectations as to which club he is going to go to each year), so I think at some point the penny needs to drop.

That said, if he is going to be here and play a role then that is fine by me. Just so long as it isn't 90 minutes every game (which Grimes almost certainly will be), because players like Torp will offer us something better in midfield when it comes to being effective in the more forward areas.

We have a lot of good midfielders, which is a nice problem to have. As I said on the other thread though, players like Eccles and Allen are also very capable and shouldn't be overlooked. Both of those players I would argue play a very important role for us.
Wow, usually i absolutely hate everything youve ever said about Sheaf, but this is right on the money for me.
I agree, the starting 11 cant contain Sheaf & Grimes for EVERY game, but there will absolutely be games its required.
Additionally should Grimes get injured (very rare) or suspended he provides perfect cover there.

IF there was a silly money offer for him randomly, i would accept it and reinvest, but i wouldnt let him go for just anything he is still one of the best players in the squad, he just had a shocker of a year last season injury wise (which i think then affected his form too)
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top