According to the rumour mill, we chased long and hard for Billy Sharp last summer and again in the January transfer window, so why is one of the hampionship's top scorer's not even getting a look in.

Even though he missed a big chunk of the opening quarter of this season after breaking his leg on the opening day of the season at Brighton Billy Sharp was one of the divisions top scorers when he joined Saints at the end of the january transfer window having netted 10 goals in 20 league appearances for Doncaster.

Of course football is about grasping the opportunity when it arises but in his opening three games for Saints, Sharp had notched a goal and although he wasnt what we would term "Saints Fit" he was still no slouch, speaking of opportunity's Tadanari Lee grabbed his when it came and im sure that even Sharp himself would not complain about the Japanese striker being ahead of him in the pecking order, but he cant be too happy about who else has been preferred to him up front apart from Lee.

Sharp is considered one of the best strikers in the division, so why isnt he getting the chance to prove it ? that is the question being asked at the moment, when Lee was playing David Connolly was used before Sharp and in recent games both Guly and even Steve De Ridder have been used in forward roles whilst Sharp has sat on the bench.

But the truth is when he has come on Sharp hasnt played badly, on Saturday at Millwall he put in some good work to create a chance for lambert that forced a defender to bring him down for the first of our penalties, yet on Tuesday at Hull Guly was still preferred up front and De Ridder was preferred coming off the bench, in effect Sharp seems to be the sixth choice striker at the club at the moment, there is clearly some reason as to why he isnt getting game time.

Guly seems to be a favourite of the manager so it was no surprise he got the nod ahead of Sharp, however David Connolly is a diferent matter, here is a player whose form has been indifferent over recent months, since scoring at Leicester back in August, Connolly has only scored twice, I like Connolly as a player, but to be blunt using him as a sub ahead of Sharp against Watford and Barnsley seemed to make no sense, at 34 Connolly is past his best, Billy Sharp however is a man at the peak of his game, at least he was before he arrived at St Mary's. If Sharp isnt quite as fit or as sharp as Nigel Adkins would like him to be, then surely the time to get him back to those levels would have been extended time against both Watford & Barnsley when the game was well won, let him go out and fill his boots so to speak, as we have seen earlier this season and last a confident Billy Sharp scores goals.

Using De Ridder up front against Hull seemed to make no sense at all and is further proof that perhaps there is something that you cant quite put your finger on about the signing of Billy Sharp and his subsequent lack of game time on the pitch, why spend big money on one of the divisions top scorers only to leave him on the bench, he has been at SMS for seven weeks he should be fit enough by now.

Hopefully Sharp will get a look in on Saturday against Doncaster, initial signs are that both Tadanari Lee and Guly are both doubtful, if Sharp doesnt get the nod to start ahead of Connolly and De Ridder up front then there is something amiss somewhere

Photo: Action Images

eusebio added 13:41 - Mar 22 "Using De Ridder up front against Hull seemed to make no sense at all" It did and worked very well
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SaintNick added 13:50 - Mar 22 so why did it work well, did De Ridder drop back into midfield when puncheon came off
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owenthesaints added 14:20 - Mar 22 'he has been at SMS for seven weeks' and then you have forgotten to add: 'and, apart from the FA Cup replay defeat, we have won 7 and drawn 3, accumulating 24 points'. It would seem these statistics speak for themselves, and I'm sure he will play an important part in our final push for promotion with the rest of the squad. One week you state that De Ridder is an impact player and should only be used as a sub, and when this happens you contradict it? You can't have it both ways. In Nigel we trust.

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Toussaint added 14:32 - Mar 22 Anybody thats seen the movie `Moneyball` will get some idea of whos selected,our players are monitered by computers and selected by their results so theres reason to believe hes well below Saints-fit while Lee is natrually more fit.... also think Donny could have `no play `clause on him for Saturday
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SaintNick added 14:58 - Mar 22 Owen, I made it quite clear that i relaised he wasnt in the starting line up because of the form of others, this article just asked the question why wasnt he being used off the bench even in some games With regard to De Ridder I wasnt questioning him coming on as sub, but why he was preferred up front to Sharp when he is a winger
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owenthesaints added 15:13 - Mar 22 We can all question why decisions are made, especially when they are in hindsight but the results speak for themselves. I'm sure we all questioned Sir Alex bringing Scholes out of retirement but they have gone to the top of the pile, and Wenger did a similar job (albeit for a short period of time), when he brought Henry back but it kick started the Ars's season and last night they over took their North London rivals. I don't really care about Man U or the Gooners but it is difficult to argue with the results. The end justifies the means and Nigel is getting it right – again.

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SaintNick added 16:00 - Mar 22 No one is saying that he is getting it wrong, its merely asking questions, thats what being a football fan is all about, debating the topics of the day, including about who should play and who should not
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AdkinsBabies added 16:09 - Mar 22 What is the article asking then!? If you're asking why isn't he being used.... then it's been answered. We're winning and playing well. At the moment there is no need for Sharp in the starting XI. He is coming off the bench occasionally, he helped win the first pen at Millwall. If you are asking why did we sign him in the first place? The n clearly it was to add competition to a squad that looked pretty thin. He has done that. Other players are clearly upping their game, with Lee in particular looking very good, and also Guly showing signs of improvement. A total non-article if you ask me. There is no problem, no issue, no talking point re: Sharp.

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owenthesaints added 16:15 - Mar 22 Down the pub tonight, and every night come to that, we will sort out world poverty, terrorism, as well as winning the world cup in football, rugby and cricket... oh and by the way how many gold medals would you like us to win at the Olympics. I agree that we all should have an opinion, but until his goes drastically wrong, I'll stick with his team selection over a bunch of drunken old farts. Mind you what happened to Yago Falque? Are we still paying some of his wages to 'arry?

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nobby added 16:33 - Mar 22 Nick, you seem to be avoiding the issue in the previous post.
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nobby added 16:34 - Mar 22 ..correction, the previous article.
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SaintNick added 16:52 - Mar 22 adkinsbabies, you are missing the point, yes we are winning and playing well no one is denying that, but Im wondering why we would pay a substancial fee for a player, possibly well inside the top ten of transfer fees paid and obviously alongside that he is probably one of if not the top earner in the club, yet we dont seem to be using him much, even when the situation allows it, ie winning games easily, surely that is time to let him get on get a feel for the team and the way it plays and to get confidence in front of goal, for when we do need him why is it that when articles like this are put up, some people take it as a personal affront against Nigel Adkins, I can see why the manager isnt starting him, but i honestly cant see why connolly for instance is getting a game ahead of him

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brightonsaint added 17:24 - Mar 22 I Have to agree with you on this point Nick, it does seem strange that David is getting the nod in front of Billy, but at least we have cover upfront, which during the early part of the season we really didnt. I cant see David or Lee Barnard staying at the club after this summer whatever happens in the coming weeks
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bstokesaint added 17:27 - Mar 22 I actually think it's a valid question. Results wise there's no reason to escalate this point any further at the moment, but everyone assumed he'd be an instant starter. I can only assume he is back-up for Lambo and isn't as versatile as the other options. He'll get his chance. When he does he needs to seize it.
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ArchersRoad added 18:12 - Mar 22 It is an interesting question - Sharpie doesn't look quite as trim as he did at Doncaster so have been wondering if his fitness is in question. Let's not forget as well he's had a lot of emotional upheaval recently and maybe he's still coming to terms with that. Moving away from Donnie must have been difficult and maybe he and his family need time to settle. Whatever the situation I'm sure Nigel Adkins knows what's best. In respect about the comment about De Ridder I totally agree with eusebio - It was a bold, positive move and it worked well.

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tiptop added 18:30 - Mar 22 Its a question that fans are asking and there fore a valid article. I've said it before and i'll say it again. Sharp is back-up. Imagine us having put ourselves in this position and RL gets ruled out for the rest of the season. Who would be the main goal getter? Connolly? Lee? Barnard? Knowing how tough this league is it was a tactical acquisition by the manager as far as i see it and a very good one. On tues SdR was brought on to play on the right. By bringing on Sharp we would have committed ourselves to a 4-4-2 when we needed to play 4-5-1 and close Hull out. It is a little curious but just remember the NA did buy Sharp. His purchase is not some egotistical NC idea (ala Abramovich) I'm sure. Sharp will play when needed and when its right according to NA. Question what is most important. Saints winning or Sharp getting a game? ...Exactly. Bring on Doncaster...whom ever NA decide to play. COYR's

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hmmm added 20:15 - Mar 22 It's just Nick, as usual, trying to start an argument when there isn't a real problem, as we are winning, and he can't find anything else negative to say.
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saintBob added 21:12 - Mar 22 Billy Sharp has been given plenty of chances to shine and hasn't done so. David Connolly is a quality player and is better than Sharp. At the start of the season it was the Connolly-Lambert partnership that got us off to a great start. I agree with tiptop, Sharp adds nothing to the first team and is merely a good back up. Nick - you are still evading the issues in the previous article, are you afraid to address them?

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saintBob added 21:15 - Mar 22 ...and Nick, please read your article through before you hit the return key! What on earth is the "hampionship"?
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iwtwms added 21:21 - Mar 22 And some of us would say that Billy Sharp's goal was actually an own goal and therefore hasn't even got off the mark.
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iwtwms added 21:54 - Mar 22 Nick, why do you write articles posing question and ignore nearly all the responses? You obviously can see why Sharp is not being selected but it is something only NA would be able to answer. We can all give our view on the subject and it would be good if we could reach a conclusion but you never come to one. instead you start another article and leave the last one in limbo.

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Kiwifiedpom1 added 22:23 - Mar 22 My interpretation of your article, Nick is that you are quirying why Sharp is is not playing as much as he should, after we paid a small fortune recruiting him from Doncaster, particularly as Guly, De Ridder and Connolly have been preferred over Sharp. Truth is I'm as puzzled as you are 1.8 million pounds is a lot of money, but I think he hasn't gelled in as quickly as Adkins had hoped. Tradinari Lee has brought so much vigour to Saints line, that Adkins underestimated him and overestimated Sharp. Even Fergason makes mistakes and Adkins has nowhere near Sir Alex's experience.

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SingaporeSaint added 03:43 - Mar 23 I think this is a very valid article. Sharp was a big signing and we are not playing him - he may be a back up to Lambert but when Lambert came off against Barnsley NA brought on Jack Cork and we have often played Connolly infront of Sharp.. I dont see Connolly as a goal threat and does not have the physical presence or strength to hold up the ball and doesnt have pace either. NA has got it right on Lee by the look of it, I saw a bit of him in Asian football and didnt think he'd be strong enough - but he is proving me wrong... We cant argue with results and I'm loving it although statistically we have not been dominant recently and we need to dominate to best ensure we win games and get promoted. I would like to see Sharp get some game time as I do think he has a goal threat..

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bstokesaint added 06:57 - Mar 23 Would it be so bad to let Sharp loose against Doncaster at some stage. Let's face it if you were a Rovers fan you wouldn't want him playing. I assume there's no agreement or clause between the two clubs?
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saintwiz added 07:16 - Mar 23 Why run Sharp down? I hope he comes back to bite you on the ar$e.
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