Billy Sharp: Inspirational Sheffield United skipper deserves a proper crack at the Premier League

Eve May 07, 2020
Billy Sharp: Inspirational Sheffield United skipper deserves a proper crack at the Premier League
He is the most prolific English League striker of his generation. He is the comeback king. His name is BillySharp.Scoring 227 league goals since the year 2000 is a pretty remarkable achievement – that is before any mitigating factors come into the equation.Billy Sharp has been the driving force behind Sheffield United’s Championship promotion bid6
Billy Sharp has been the driving force behind Sheffield United’s Championship promotion bid
Sharp’s story has been one hell of a rollercoaster with more than a fair share of adversities along the way.None more so than the tragic loss of his son, Luey Jacob, back in October 2011.He was just two days old when he tragically died of gastroschisis.Many would have understandably taken the necessary time out to get their head straight – not Sharp.Three days later and he was captaining his side at that time, Doncaster, in a Championship clash at home to Middlesbrough.He opened the scoring with a 14th-minute wonder goal, which he celebrated by lifting up his strip to reveal a T-shirt bearing the slogan ‘That’s for you, son’. The club icon, pictured celebrating promotion to the third tier with supporters two years ago, has been in devastating form this season6
The club icon, pictured celebrating promotion to the third tier with supporters two years ago, has been in devastating form this season
Despite eventually falling to a 3-1 defeat, Sharp labelled the goal ‘the most important of his career’, as the striker gained huge plaudits and respect for his show of incredible strength.Now 33, you’d be thinking Sharp – the modern day ‘fox in the box’ – would be showing signs of slowing up. Think again.He has already scored an incredible 24 goals in 38 appearances for Chris Wilder’s promotion chasers this season – including a superb hat-trick at Aston Villa back in February.Not bad for a ‘fat lad from Sheffield’ – the words etched across a shirt he unveiled during a game back in 2010. Sharp, 33, has found the net 24 times in just 38 appearances this season – including a hat-trick at Aston Villa6
Sharp, 33, has found the net 24 times in just 38 appearances this season – including a hat-trick at Aston Villa
Sharp has regrets.Speaking after becoming the joint-highest scoring Englishman this century following a brace against Blackburn in December, he said:“If I could have played here all my career then I would have done.“I’d have loved to have done that.“I had to go away a couple of times to benefit myself but I feel as if I’ve come back at exactly the right time.“I feel as fit and as strong as ever. I feel I can keep going for sometime yet.”And who could argue with that?

TOP GOALSCORERS IN ENGLISH FOOTBALL THIS CENTURY

BILLY SHARP – 227Rickie Lambert – 219Wayne Rooney – 208Jermain Defoe – 191Frank Lampard – 158Sergio Aguero – 157Harry Kane – 126It’s not just at Bramall Lane where Sharp has made his mark, though.He made his first-team debut for the Blades during the 2004/05 season, but after struggling to make an impact was shipped out on loan to Rushden & Diamonds.The potential was there for everyone to see even at that tender age.Nine goals in 16 games prompted Scunthorpe United to sign the striker on a permanent basis in 2005.Over the next two seasons Sharp quite literally had a field day.He scored 23 times in his maiden campaign and followed that up with another 30 in the 2006/07 season helping guide the Iron to promotion to the Championship.Come that summer the interest in Sharp was intensifying and deservedly so.A number of clubs made bids for his services, but ultimately only one of those really floated his boat.A return to the Steel City, it was to be. Sharp arrived back home with a 2million price tag slapped on his head and expectations galore.However, it was not to be the dream return he would have envisaged.He had to wait until March to score his first league goal against Coventry, finding the net just three more times that season.Sharp went back to the drawing board and started the 2008/09 season in devastating fashion.An opening day hat-trick against Queens Park Rangers looked like setting the tone for the rest of the campaign, following that up with a crucial equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Coventry a few weeks later.But that was to be his last league goal of the season.Come July and Sharp’s dream return had turned into a nightmare – finding himself on the transfer list following the Blades’ failure to secure promotion.Sharp in action during his second stint at Bramall Lane6
Sharp in action during his second stint at Bramall Lane
A season-long loan to Doncaster followed. Sharp was unusually handed the No 5 shirt for the new campaign – and that killer goal instinct was well and truly back.Injury halted his progress towards the end of the 2009/10 season, but still Sharp notched 15 goals in 33 league games.United rejected a 1m from Doncaster, before Sharp himself turned down a move to recently relegated Burnley – despite the offer in excess of 1m being accepted.Doncaster finally struck gold though, agreeing a fee of around 1.15m to land Sharp on a three-year deal in July 2010.Sharp was a big hit at Doncaster during three separate spells6
Sharp was a big hit at Doncaster during three separate spells
The second chapter of Sharp’s Sheffield United career had closed.Unsurprisingly, he was a big hit at Doncaster during his two years at the club – and was on the move again in January 2012, reuniting with his old Iron boss Nigel Adkins at St Mary’s, penning a three-and-a-half year deal in the process.However, it proved to be a strange time for Sharp at Southampton – making just 17 appearances spanning a two-and-a-half year period.While he found the net nine times during that time, he was shipped out on loan to Nottingham Forest, Reading and former side Doncaster during that time.The prolific striker made just 17 appearances for Southampton during a two-and-a-half year spell6
The prolific striker made just 17 appearances for Southampton during a two-and-a-half year spell
Leeds United was Sharp’s next port of call, albeit a brief one.The front man will be the first person to tell you that his spell at Elland Road was not the finest time of his career, scoring just five times in 33 appearances.But then it was time for him to return home – and as they say, the rest is history.His first season back at Bramall Lane heralded 21 goals, with his 30-goal return the next season helping Wilder’s men return to the Championship.He has continued his goalscoring heroics in the second tier, too.After falling just short of making the play-offs last season, there is increasing confidence around the Steel City that this is the season they return to the big time.And Sharp – voted in the EFL Team of the Year earlier last weekend – deserves that more than anyone.He comes alive in front of the Bramall Lane faithful, who he deservedly holds legendary status with.However, for the great goalscorer he is – Sharp has just two Premier League appearances to his name.That could all change next season. A return to the promised land would be nothing more than that ‘fat lad from Sheffield’ deserves.
Mark Viduka scored inside 12 seconds for Leeds at the Valley

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp reveals which Reds stars impressed him against Red Star JURGEN KLOPP praised his Liverpool players after watching them dismantle Red Star Belgrade 4-0 with a ruthless
Jurgen Klopp and Xherdan Shaqiri all smiles as delighted
Mehdi Benatia could help United’s problems at the back

HEADS OR TAILS Ashley Young posts perfect Twitter response after Arsenal fan hurled coin at Manchester United players in 3-1 FA Cup win
~ Ashley Young posts perfect Twitter response after Arsenal
Liverpool will face Tottenham at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on June 1

Former Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini scored the winner for Shandong Luneng Taishan during his Chinese Super League debut on Friday. Fellaini moved to China from Manchester in January after it became clear that he was a peripheral figure at United under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Marouane Fellaini Scores On China Debut - Thewistle
Cole and Lampard won many trophies together at Chelsea, including the Champions League in 2012

Addicks go behind in League One play-off final following Dillon Phillips' catastrophic error; N'Golo Kante 'a major doubt' for Chelsea ahead of their Europa League final against Arsenal after suffering knee injury; Manchester United transfer latest: Juventus to offer Paulo Dybala AND Alex Sandro in order to bring Paul Pogba back
Addicks go behind in League One play-off final following
It looks like relegation this season for Rotherham, according to our Super Computer

Leeds United will clash with arch-rivals Manchester United next summer in a mouthwatering pre-season friendly in Australia, the Elland Road club have announced. The teams have agreed to meet at
Manchester United confirm Leeds United friendly for 2019/20
Birmingham are facing the biggest EFL points deduction in over a decade

Cristiano Ronaldo ' s Las Vegas Rape Accuser Dropped Lawsuit A rape lawsuit against Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo in the U. S . that made headlines last year and sent the club' s shares down 15% has been quietly dropped . A notice of voluntary dismissal was filed last month in Nevada state court in Las Vegas .
Premier League managers as players: Ranking the 20 top-flight
hollywoodadviser.com/premier-league-managers-as-players-ranking-the-20-top-flight-bosses-on-their-playing-careers/
Cristiano Ronaldo rape allegations: Der Spiegel shares documents claiming Juventus forward's lawyers requested translations of sex terms Related posts May 28, 2019 Hollywood Adviser 0
Woman alleging she was raped by Cristiano Ronaldo was suicidal
Dybala has been linked with a move away from Juve

Mauricio Pochettino could end up becoming the 'Arsene Wenger of Spurs' if he chooses to remain at club, says Emmanuel Petit The former Gunners midfielder was speaking ahead of the north London
Is Mauricio Pochettino the 'Arsene Wenger of Tottenham
Steve Bruce was pictured with England cricket head coach Trevor Bayliss and assistant Paul Farbrace in Barbados last week

Ray Parlour pays tribute to fellow Arsenal Invincible Jose Antonio Reyes Stats prove Arsenal legend's theory about Spurs star Dele Alli is incorrect Saints star James Ward-Prowse backed
The Good, The Bad & The Queen share video for "The Truce of
gistjunction.com/2019/03/12/the-good-the-bad-the-queen-share-video-for-the-truce-of-twilight-watch/
When giving a Track by Track breakdown of The Good, The Bad & The Queen's first album in 11 years, Merrie Land, former Clash bassist Paul Simonon described "The Truce of Twilight" as a comment on "a nostalgia for a past that never really existed like people imagined."
Southampton post video of 13-year-old James Ward-Prowse
Hazard blew kisses to the Chelsea fans
Chelsea news: Jorginho tells Maurizio Sarri not to take
Huddersfield will play in the Championship next season

Derby County confirmed on Monday they have signed former England international left-back Ashley Cole. The Rams announced the capture of the ex- Chelsea and Arsenal defender on Twitter: Derby
Arsenal and Chelsea legend Ashley Cole joins Derby aged 38 in
The ex-Bristol City man, left, recently signed a one-year contract extension at Loftus Road

Marcelo Bielsa has named his Leeds United team to face Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup on Sunday. The eccentric Argentine was more than happy to divulge secrets of his team before the Championship sides meet at Loftus Road.
Confirmed lineups: QPR v Leeds United at Loftus Road
Tags:

Post a Comment

0 Comments