With keeping clean sheets a paramount to success in League
One many Sheffield United fans have been left scratching their heads at the
decision to take two experienced defenders away from the first team.
As any Blades fan will tell you it was strange to see the
club sign an experienced defender at this Level in Andy Butler to see him play
only one game in which he scored a goal then to see him loaned out twice to
rivals in the same division.
Also after being a key member of the first team for many
years the decision to not include Neill Collins since the Chesterfield game in
early October (scoring one of The Blades two goals in the process) again
supporters ask themselves “why?”
There have been rumors of fall outs with the manager along
with rumors that Collins may have assaulted someone in the changing room, but
the truth is no one is really sure why the two defenders have found themselves surplus
to requirements in the mind of Nigel Clough.
Clough had raised reservations about Butler’s performances
in pre-season when asked why he was left out of the opening day squad, after
the second game of the season Butler was pictured with fans of his old club
whilst attending his previous club Walsall’s home game. Clough explained he had
given Butler the day off but had no plans to let Andy leave saying “The way he
can get back in, what any player in their position should do, is to keep on
working hard during training. Because, if I was in their situation, I’d think
nothing is set in stone as the team has lost its first two games.” When asked
if Butler was on his way out he said “we have no plans to let him go.” Under a
week later he was loaned back to former club Walsall.
The Collins situation is a little more shrouded in mystery,
after being left out of the match day squad Clough was asked what the situation
was, and Clough went into a bizarre almost rehearsed statement about the door
always being open and if Neill had an issue he should raise it with him, almost
as if Nigel was unsure if the defender had made a statement without him being
aware. The statement about the open door was reiterated various times over the
next few weeks which included many more omissions from the first team.
So with the future of both players still unsure the mystery
as to what has caused all this remains unsolved, and with Paddy McCarthy’s loan
ending soon experienced centre half’s are not exactly in abundance at Bramall
Lane.
If this is a case of don’t cross the boss one would have to
hope that the situations are resolved sooner rather than later, I hold more
hope of Collins returning than I do Butler with his move to Doncaster being
confirmed this week, but until more is known we will all have to continue playing
the guessing game.
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