WHEN WILL CITY PLAY THE PRINCE OF PERSIA?

[Manwell Pablo]

Sheehan is an excellent passer generally.

Is he F**k.

And we neever let up about the things he does wrong, as you never let up about the things he does right.

[Ric Flair]

I'd piss if Kaebi played on Saturday now.

[mancunianfox]

Try about 1/4.

I have way too much time on my hands so I looked this up. Its 1 in 3. Couldn't be bothered to work it compared to appearances bit he has made 8 apps out of the a possible 12 so its a bit better than 1/3.

We have scored ten goals in the league and five in the cups...fifteen in total. Sheehan has scored two (Forest & Watford), we scored two against Shef Weds from Sheehan corners, Campbell's goal against Watford was a rebound from a Sheehan freekick. Thats fives goals he's had a hand in...a third of what we have scored this season. Not too bad, especially considering that he he been left out of a few matches this season.

I'm not trying to say that he is a great player or whatever...I still think that the Guardian match report against Forest put it best but he has provided us with goal scoring chances from his set pieces.

'The City equaliser had a touch of real class as Alan Sheehan, a midfielder with a sweet left foot, if not much else, curled a free-kick over the wall and beyond Smith.'

[STUHILL]

Oh dear, the same old arguments are appearing again!! Could you imagine if there was no Thracian, we would all probably be positive towards these youngsters as well as honest. Instead this man riles us up in such away we all tend to lose it and insult them. I just hope in a couple of years time, if players like Dodds, Porter and Hammond are playing, or still playing league two standard football, then he will be big enough man to say, yes sorry i was wrong to suggest they were championship standard players and admit that all my 'over-hyping' has not helped there cause one bit. Nahhhhh

[Geo V]

I have way too much time on my hands so I looked this up. Its 1 in 3. Couldn't be bothered to work it compared to appearances bit he has made 8 apps out of the a possible 12 so its a bit better than 1/3.

We have scored ten goals in the league and five in the cups...fifteen in total. Sheehan has scored two (Forest & Watford), we scored two against Shef Weds from Sheehan corners, Campbell's goal against Watford was a rebound from a Sheehan freekick. Thats fives goals he's had a hand in...a third of what we have scored this season. Not too bad, especially considering that he he been left out of a few matches this season.

I'm not trying to say that he is a great player or whatever...I still think that the Guardian match report against Forest put it best but he has provided us with goal scoring chances from his set pieces.

'The City equaliser had a touch of real class as Alan Sheehan, a midfielder with a sweet left foot, if not much else, curled a free-kick over the wall and beyond Smith.'

Out of curiousity, would you play him just for his delivery at set-pieces?

I personally don't think Sheehan is that bad. He has got a cultured left-foot but I'm not convinced he gives enough as an all round player to be a regular within the side. Then again, we don't know much about Ferreira and Hayes has been injured whilst Levi or even Kishishev () have hardly done enough to be classed as starters anyway! Maybe the lesser of all evils?!

[Ric Flair]

I have way too much time on my hands so I looked this up. Its 1 in 3. Couldn't be bothered to work it compared to appearances bit he has made 8 apps out of the a possible 12 so its a bit better than 1/3.

We have scored ten goals in the league and five in the cups...fifteen in total. Sheehan has scored two (Forest & Watford), we scored two against Shef Weds from Sheehan corners, Campbell's goal against Watford was a rebound from a Sheehan freekick. Thats fives goals he's had a hand in...a third of what we have scored this season. Not too bad, especially considering that he he been left out of a few matches this season.

I'm not trying to say that he is a great player or whatever...I still think that the Guardian match report against Forest put it best but he has provided us with goal scoring chances from his set pieces.

'The City equaliser had a touch of real class as Alan Sheehan, a midfielder with a sweet left foot, if not much else, curled a free-kick over the wall and beyond Smith.'

I think this highlights just what little amount of goals we score from open play as well. It's very worrying.

Both goals at Palace were from Clemence corners.

Two of the four against Watford were from Sheehan free-kicks.

Hume's against QPR was a penalty.

1 of the 3 against Forest was a Sheehan free-kick.

A rare goal at Villa from open play and against Stoke from open play both by Fryatt.

2 more goals from Sheehan corners against Sheff Wed.

Worrying, need a lot more creativity from open play.

[Geo V]

I think this highlights just what little amount of goals we score from open play as well. It's very worrying.

Both goals at Palace were from Clemence corners.

Two of the four against Watford were from Sheehan free-kicks.

Hume's against QPR was a penalty.

1 of the 3 against Forest was a Sheehan free-kick.

A rare goal at Villa from open play and against Stoke from open play both by Fryatt.

2 more goals from Sheehan corners against Sheff Wed.

Worrying, need a lot more creativity from open play.

Im no expert in stats but Im sure a hefty chunk of goals do come as a result of a set-piece of sorts. We may be above average but I'm sure its something like 3 or more goals out of 10 coming from dead ball situations?

[mancunianfox]

Out of curiousity, would you play him just for his delivery at set-pieces?

I personally don't think Sheehan is that bad. He has got a cultured left-foot but I'm not convinced he gives enough as an all round player to be a regular within the side. Then again, we don't know much about Ferreira and Hayes has been injured whilst Levi or even Kishishev () have hardly done enough to be classed as starters anyway! Maybe the lesser of all evils?!

At the moment I would, but I was hoping that we would bring someone in over the summer who was a dead ball specialist but could also offer us something from open play.

This division is so tight that a good set piece can be the only difference between sides in some games and I think it is vital that you have good delivary, especially if you want to get crafty 1-0's like Megson does. Not only that but we have three players in Kisnorbo, Mcauley and Bruno who can all get goals from decent balls into the box.

[Geo V]

At the moment I would, but I was hoping that we would bring someone in over the summer who was a dead ball specialist but could also offer us something from open play.

This division is so tight that a good set piece can be the only difference between sides in some games and I think it is vital that you have good delivary, especially if you want to get crafty 1-0's like Megson does. Not only that but we have three players in Kisnorbo, Mcauley and Bruno who can all get goals from decent balls into the box.

I don't think its "all or nothing" though. Last season Kisnorbo got plenty of goals from set-pieces and who was taking the majority of set-pieces? Its not like Sheehans delivery is so good that we cant do without it if push came to shove. Mattock has a decent left-foot and even Clemence was slinging in some good corners after a shaky first game crossing the ball in.

The wide midfield players need to be really creative for us if we play a 442 and set-pieces alone isn't enough to warrant a place in the side.

[mancunianfox]

I don't think its "all or nothing" though. Last season Kisnorbo got plenty of goals from set-pieces and who was taking the majority of set-pieces? Its not like Sheehans delivery is so good that we cant do without it if push came to shove. Mattock has a decent left-foot and even Clemence was slinging in some good corners after a shaky first game crossing the ball in.

The wide midfield players need to be really creative for us if we play a 442 and set-pieces alone isn't enough to warrant a place in the side.

Clemence's corners are ok but not brilliant. Sheehan's delivary isn't deadly but it is decent and it is consistant and he also takes a better freekick than Clem.

It is a hard selection to make though. In a 5-3-2 I don't think it makes too much difference defensively if it is Mattock or Sheehan playing because the back three provide plenty of cover. In 5-3-2 I'd go for Sheehan because its a defensive strategy were set pieces are your best chance of scoring. In a 4-4-2 though I don't have confidence in Mattock and Sheehan together and I would have to favour Mattock at LB with a decent LM playing in front of him.

[STUHILL]

Clemence's corners are ok but not brilliant. Sheehan's delivary isn't deadly but it is decent and it is consistant and he also takes a better freekick than Clem.

It is a hard selection to make though. In a 5-3-2 I don't think it makes too much difference defensively if it is Mattock or Sheehan playing because the back three provide plenty of cover. In 5-3-2 I'd go for Sheehan because its a defensive strategy were set pieces are your best chance of scoring. In a 4-4-2 though I don't have confidence in Mattock and Sheehan together and I would have to favour Mattock at LB with a decent LM playing in front of him.

I watched some of the Women's World Cup and i swear their dead-ball deliveries were better than ours! Whipped em in with real pace and precision each time! Beat the first 'woman' at corners no problem. Either our boys take note or I'm putting in a bid to bring LM Rachel Yankey to the Walkers!

[Manwell Pablo]

I think this highlights just what little amount of goals we score from open play as well. It's very worrying.

Both goals at Palace were from Clemence corners.

Two of the four against Watford were from Correction, Clemance hit the free kick which lead to Campbells goal

Hume's against QPR was a penalty.

1 of the 3 against Forest was a Sheehan free-kick.

A rare goal at Villa from open play and against Stoke from open play both by Fryatt.

2 more goals from Sheehan corners against Sheff Wed.

Worrying, need a lot more creativity from open play.

[Ric Flair]

Thank god for that.

[mancunianfox]

Thank god for that.

Oops

[Thracian]

I don't think its "all or nothing" though. Last season Kisnorbo got plenty of goals from set-pieces and who was taking the majority of set-pieces? Its not like Sheehans delivery is so good that we cant do without it if push came to shove. Mattock has a decent left-foot and even Clemence was slinging in some good corners after a shaky first game crossing the ball in.

The wide midfield players need to be really creative for us if we play a 442 and set-pieces alone isn't enough to warrant a place in the side.

Why would anyone want to "do without" someone who has had a hand in five goals in 11 games so far? That equates to 20+ goals/assists in a season. Nothing against either but I doubt Mattock and Clemence will be directly involved in 10 between them and it is not as if we're a side that is scoring or conjuring up goals from all areas. Quite the contrary unfortunately.

[Geo V]

Why would anyone want to "do without" someone who has had a hand in five goals in 11 games so far? That equates to 20+ goals/assists in a season. Nothing against either but I doubt Mattock and Clemence will be directly involved in 10 between them and it is not as if we're a side that is scoring or conjuring up goals from all areas. Quite the contrary unfortunately.

As I said before, last season we had the likes of Tiatto taking the set-pieces and in Mattock and Clemence we have players as good or if not better than him and we did OK last season.

Your estimation on Sheehan making 20+ goals is far fetched as usual as there is nothing at all to suggest that trend will continue for the whole season. This is not American Football and we cant afford a special teams unit to take set-pieces. We need to have allround players who can create in open play too and I cant think of any that he has created from open play.

BTW what next? Do we sign a defender who can sling a throw-in 40 yards as it will increase our chances of scoring from throw-ins????!

[Bert]

Will you lot shut up. I'm tryna read the paper.

[Thracian]

As I said before, last season we had the likes of Tiatto taking the set-pieces and in Mattock and Clemence we have players as good or if not better than him and we did OK last season.

Your estimation on Sheehan making 20+ goals is far fetched as usual as there is nothing at all to suggest that trend will continue for the whole season. This is not American Football and we cant afford a special teams unit to take set-pieces. We need to have allround players who can create in open play too and I cant think of any that he has created from open play.

BTW what next? Do we sign a defender who can sling a throw-in 40 yards as it will increase our chances of scoring from throw-ins????!

I said that if he maintained the rate he is involved at just now it equates to 20+ goals a season and that is a fact. I didn't estimate that is what he would get. I would estimate 14-16 or so if you want to know because there are times when he won't be playing.

Like others I accept Sheehan has things he needs to improve. As do all our players. But to say he's cannot create in open play is bullshit. He has always been creative and it was demonstrated as recently as Sheffield Wednesday (his gift opportunity that Campbell squandered, Forest when he attacked the box continually in the first half, Accrington where he made the only goal, Quorn when he laid on DeVries's goal etc. etc.

Furthermore, he has had no more "bad games" than anyone else - two so far this season - and our defence has conceded slightly fewer goals on average when he's played than when he's not.

Ignore these things if you like - you won't be alone. But even on the free kicks issue alone, every team needs such a specialist and Sheehan is as good as there is in the Championship.

[Ric Flair]

Why would anyone want to "do without" someone who has had a hand in five goals in 11 games so far? That equates to 20+ goals/assists in a season. Nothing against either but I doubt Mattock and Clemence will be directly involved in 10 between them and it is not as if we're a side that is scoring or conjuring up goals from all areas. Quite the contrary unfortunately.

If Alan Sheehan get's 15 assists this season i'll assasinate any footballer over the age of 20 of your choice. You have this in writing. It will be Professional Football recognised assists as well, not one's tampered with by your sometime's bizarre assists mechanism, such as 'Sheehan farted as Fulop kicked the ball up pitch which fell to Fryatt and he unleashed a thirty yard shot past S****horpe's Goalie'.

Without Sheehan this season the stats prove we'd be a good 5 or so goals worse off, which is obviously a significant amount in the games he's played. I'm happy for him to play if he does continue to create and score goals as we need as many as possible, but if he hits a lean spell then he'll be instantly dropped because he brings not much else to the side in terms of defending, passing, marking and open play attacking.

[Thracian]

If Alan Sheehan get's 15 assists this season i'll assasinate any footballer over the age of 20 of your choice. You have this in writing. It will be Professional Football recognised assists as well, not one's tampered with by your sometime's bizarre assists mechanism, such as 'Sheehan farted as Fulop kicked the ball up pitch which fell to Fryatt and he unleashed a thirty yard shot past S****horpe's Goalie'.

Without Sheehan this season the stats prove we'd be a good 5 or so goals worse off, which is obviously a significant amount in the games he's played. I'm happy for him to play if he does continue to create and score goals as we need as many as possible, but if he hits a lean spell then he'll be instantly dropped because he brings not much else to the side in terms of defending, passing, marking and open play attacking.

At least you seem prepared to acknowledge what he has done and, if he plays regularly, I am quite sure he can get to or close to that number. Because he is far better at passing and open play attacking than you seem to give him credit for. His marking is my main concern and his abuility to cope with people who run at him.

But if you'd drop him faster than others in a lean spell I'd find it hard to understand why. Leicester have won five games this season. Sheehan has played in four of them and played a significant part in every one of those wins.

[Manwell Pablo]

How has he got three assits anyway I can recall two and that all it says on the FL website

[mancunianfox]

How has he got three assits anyway I can recall two and that all it says on the FL website

Erm...thats my fault.

You have already corrected the one against Watford though so I don't know why we are still talking about three. He has two assists and two goals.

[Manwell Pablo]

Right.

That's not even an assist anyway it took a massive **** off deflection.

[Geo V]

How has he got three assits anyway I can recall two and that all it says on the FL website

As I am home for another 2 hours Ive used the last few mins trying to clarify the boy Sheehan this season according to the report from our OS.

Blackpool - Didnt play - No goals

Accrington - Played - assist by Hume goal by Weso

Crystal Palace - Played (subbed for Levi) - Assist first goal by Kisnorbo via Clem corner and second goal Clemence (Corner)

Watford - Played 85 mins - First goal (Hume), just says picked up 25yds out not sure of assist. 2nd goal Sheehan assist (sort of). His free-kick blocked but ball fell to DJ. Third Goal Sheehan. Deflected free-kick. de Vries got the 4th but no info of assist, he basically made it himself anyway!

Plymouth - Played 90 mins - No goals

QPR - Played 90 mins - Goal via Hume Peno (DJ bought down)

Forest - Played 90 mins - 1st Goal Sheehan, superb free-kick. 2nd goal Stearman picke dup loose ball to score and third was an assist by MDV for Clems great finish.

Charlton - Played 45 mins subbed at HT - NO goals

Villa - Played 90 mins - Assist DJ who fed Fryatt for goal

Stoke - Didnt play - Chambers passed to Fryatt to score.

Wolves - Didnt play - No goals

Sheff Weds - Played 90 mins - 1st goal McAuley from Sheehan corner. 2nd goal Sheehan corner, there keeper punches it onto there defender Sodje.

He`s obviously had an impact to the team when goals are concerned but Clems corners have also created goals. Its hardly conclusive either way but it is interesting to read that in two of the games he didnt play we didn't score. I'm not reading too much into it as I prefer to judge players all-round game but I stand by what I said earlier, he needs to create more in open play.

[Manwell Pablo]

You can't give direct assists for deflected free kicks .

A direct assist is when a final ball is played and not touched by an oppenent. Free kicks which take massive deflections do not count!