Poll: Should Sharp Still Start?

Boyhood Blade, Billy Sharp will always be a Sheffield United legend. But, is Sharps time as a Blade coming to an end?

Sharp, 36, has lived every Sheffield United fans dream, playing for Sheffield United, scoring for Sheffield United, captaining them, and playing for them in the Premier League. Every childhood Blade has dreams of that, and that’s why the supporters love Billy Sharp. He represents the club so well. He’ll give everything for the shirt because he knows what it’s all about.

Last season Sharp scored fourteen goals and set up a teammate seven times. However, his season was derailed by a calf injury in the latter part of the season, and then a hamstring injury shortly followed which ruled him out for the campaign.

Sharp recovered over the summer, but he suffered an ankle injury during his return to the side earlier this season which saw him out for several weeks. As a result, the veteran poacher has started just three times in the league, and he isn’t having the same impact as he used to give the team.

Sheffield United’s captain hasn’t yet registered a goal, and he got his assist tally up and running last weekend when his shot was well wide of the target but it luckily fell to Ben Osborn who fired home, to start United’s comeback draw against Norwich.

In that game at the weekend, Sharp looked off the pace; he failed to hold the ball up, and he couldn’t keep up with United’s attacks when the tempo was quickened. He won just three of nine duels in the game, and he lost possession thirteen times out of the thirty-five touches he registered.

This is becoming a theme unfortunately for him this season. Sharp is averaging just three successful passes per game in the opposition half this campaign. He is also winning 1.2 total duels per game, which makes his duels success rate 36% on average. 

With his contract running out next summer and his current poor form, is Sharps time as a Blade coming to an end? Do you think Sharp should still be starting league games for United?