Here I take a look at some of the players who were with us last season and see how they have started at their new clubs.
When United let Lee Evans go to Championship rivals Wigan Athletic more than a few eyebrows were raised. Evans had started the first two games of the season for The Blades and letting him go seemed a strange move from manager Chris Wilder. Little did we know that Wilder had Oliver Norwood up his sleeve to replace the Welsh international. United haven’t looked back since Norwood came into the side whilst it seems Evans has had a mixed start at The DW Stadium:
“He should play every week” “We can rotate plenty of players without too much trouble. But Evans isn’t one of them. Maybe if we’d gone 4-4-2 or played with outright widemen we could get away with it. But if everything is going through the middle Evans needs to be in there”
“Decision to drop Lee Evans was beyond any words i can write here. There’s no reasoning for that decision”
“If we had left Lee Evans on the pitch, we would have be coming back up the A1 with a point !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “
“Evans classy as always. Except those couple of strange corners that hit the first man, not sure what he was trying there.”
“Evans is out of his depth in this league”
“Gibson is better than Evans”
“I’m not impressed by Evans tbh. Slows things down and passes sideways too often.”
“I don’t think Evans is that good he likes a long fancy pass which looks good but doesn’t deliver enough quality passes.”
Another player who probably thought he would be in and around the first team at Bramall Lane this season is Ryan Leonard. After months of chasing him, Wilder quickly made his mind up that Leonard wasn’t in his plans going forward and he was shipped off to Millwall. After a difficult start to the season The Lions have picked up of late and it seems Leonard has been a big part of their recent upturn:
“The more I see of Ryan Leonard, the more I think he is a great signing”
“Massive fan of Ryan Leonard already.”
“He was sensational”
“Leonard & Gregory were outstanding all 90 minutes”
“Leonard has been superb, he looks like a proper ‘Millwall Player’.”
“The stand out performer”
“Pivotal role in the heart of the midfield”
“We could lose him for £8million next summer.”
Cameron Carter Vickers helped United out in the early part of last season before ending the campaign at Ipswich. Now he’s at Swansea but is struggling for game time:
“he might get only a game or two more this whole season.”
“Not had a single minute in 2 games”
“He needs minutes”
“He played well but won’t get much game time”
“Quite solid considering how little he has played”
“a bit of a unit and did OK when he came on.”
The name James Wilson won’t bring to mind many fond memories for United fans after a dismal loan spell at the end of last season. The Manchester United striker is now on loan in Scotland with Aberdeen. After a good start it seems Wilson has lately been suffering with injuries:
“Best striker in years”
“I’m really enjoying the experience of having him here; really fires up the engine of possibility”
“He is literally the only striker we have capable of doing goals”
“There were moments in that game where the ball came to him when surrounded by Hibs players and he came out the other end with the ball against all probability. The lad has skill…..lets try playing the ball to his feet for a change.”
“He had some fucking terrific moments last night” “He is the man
Get him fit
Keep him fit
Get the ball to him early”“he’s a player and he’ll do well for us, if he keeps fit”
“Once we get Wilson 100% fit, we will be fine”
“The white Nicky Maynard”
“He’s a Wanker with all the talk of using us to get himself in the shop window” “Something thats really pissed me off this season is the couple of folk on here that insisted Wilson is out of our league….. he’s on £30k/week don’t you know.
Today: No goals, no assists and a hamstring strain.
He is very much in our league” “disaster with injuries and transfers this summer. who’d have known Hoban was so injury prone, and Wilson, and Wright, and Tansey”“Who’d have thought that signing a bunch of crocks would lead to them missing games.” “Shoot him in the paddock and claim the insurance money.”
When David Brooks left United to join Bournemouth in The Premiership, not many would have expected him to make such an impact so quickly. With 2 goals to his name Brooks has dazzled fans of The Cherries and is already being compared with some of the games greats:
“We have had Sheffield United’s pants down at £12m”
“What a signing.
You could see in the pre season friendlies when he played in a more central role he looked so promising so how the hell did Sheff Utd let him go for that price ?”“I am starting the official David Brooks fan club! Kid just passes the eye test, sniff test and any other test you may have. I think he will be the next Modric. In terms of sheer talent I place him at the top of the club”
“There is probably someone in Sheffield who once told everyone. ” guess who I am? I’m the leader of the David Brooks Fan Club ..that’s who! ” Now an angry broken dude sat in the park with his Pics scratching his sad Yorky Ar#e! Dave Boy sat with his Accountant in Harry Ramsdens( Bournemouth branch) not knowing the poor saps name!
Leave Fan Clubs with the Music Industry where they belongs…let footballers earn their Legend status in time!
Brooksy doesn’t need it….and it’s odds on he will ship out next year..he is destined for the very top..another Thierry Henry”“He’s an excellent footballer”
“we have a real gem here”
“Honestly think he could progress enough to play for any of the top sides one day”
“You know those players who look like they have half a second more than other players In the same situation , IMO he’s one of those . Every touch has purpose and if he doesn’t need to touch the ball he won’t, he has his head up looking at the scene in front of him” “He reminds me of cross between Wade Elliot and a young Frank Lampard.
IMHO, he’s got a better future ahead of him, than Lewis Cook has, and that really is a high level to be above”“Needs to bulk up a little and work on his defending. Looked a tad shaky once or twice when in our box on Monday. Certainly a real talent there though and an exciting young player.”
Finally in this round up I take a look at Clayton Donaldson who always put a shift in at United before moving to Bolton. Unfortunately it’s not been a great start for the veteran striker:
“is Donaldson taking the piss?”
“Donaldson looked like someone I played sunday league with a few years ago. Shocking.”
“Donaldson was just lol”
“lol wtf Donaldson. Awful”
“Donaldson is useless”
“4 Times in the first 20 minutes he failed to lay off a 5 yard ball”
“he will make an impact eventually with his strength and direct style”
“Donaldson is fine for this season, but at 34 can only be a short term answer”