I feel it's more of the formation we've been playing in the last few matches that has suited Woolfenden and to a degree Greaves...when we play 4 at the back and play more expansively and out from the back that's when the pressure tells.

Really surprised Burgess did not come back in to the starting line up on Sunday whether 4 or 5 at the back as he's been our most consistent defender when starting.

Keep him until the end of the season at least, he's playing well, local lad so will be happy I'm sure. Next!!!

Would be daft selling a town lad (who has done well so far at this level) and replacing with an ex-budgie.

I really like Woolfie. Hes one of our own. Rralistically, in an attack minded 4-4-2/4-3-3 i think he gets exposed. But in this 5-4-1 I think his reading of the game really comes into its own. Been excellent the last couple games and I hope he stays.

Very good on the ball good communicator. Has learnt to be very calm and focused in his play. Always one step ahead with his brain and has adapted superbly well to premier league level. Just because someone costs more money doesn't mean they are a better player and the fact that he has played in the last 3 games and we have conceded only one goal in open play shows his value.best is still to come from him aswell

Doubt we will let him go!

George Edmunson will leave!

Axel injured

So we won’t get rid

I think we should keep him, he is still improving and is up to the task in the current system.

No way! Way to good to let him go! First on the team sheet for me! Has been immense last two seasoms and has been top drawer last three games he will get even better!
Not going to replace him with anyone better!
We finally got a solid back line! And getting better and better! Sheff utd aint got 20mill+ needed anyway??

Braveblue. How do you work out that wed be short if axel got injured again. Assuming woolfie did go, we'd be in exactly the same position we were before Godfrey arrived. So, 1 in ,1 out.

May be unpalatable for some but we need to accept that if we want to bring players in to improve the squad, then some players will have to leave. And if, as Arnie M says, he has asked to leave, then it would make sense to let him go anyway. As nice as it is to have local lads playing for us, the need to improve the squad has to come 1st.

I hope he stays, he's been good the last few games, and whilst Godfrey might have been signed to replace him things don't always work as expected

He will be playing against us next season then

forming a good partnership with greaves but would not blame him for wanting the move,,at least he will be playing prem foot next season,shame if he went

Perhaps the club are fed up of the team being leaked

Woolfie is probably at something of a crossroads in his career: 26 and not playing regularly. It wouldn't surprise me if he felt the need to move on, but I'd be very disappointed if he did. He's been with us on the journey and has shown that he can grow and adapt to the PL to become a really good player. If he does go, I wish him all the best; but I hope he stays.

Stato has worded his comment fairly bluntly, but the reality is Wolfy has just been replaced (again) and in all likelihood knows hes going to be peripheral, Luongo has reversed his international retirement because he knows he isnt going to feature here and wants to make the most of his year, and we've brought in Chidozi, and now both Doak and Philgene are being linked again to replace Wes.
Sorry guys but although the message was blunt but the reality is there are £200m plus reasons why we need to bring in better and better quality players into the squad to survive. Sentiment aside, it simply HAS to be done. The players that got us out of league one and achieved a miracle to get us to the PL will always have a special place in every fans' heart, but the lads will want to play football so I really do expect the tough decisions will be made and the club will be brave enough to make them....

ArnieM - has he?! Admittedly, his interview a few weeks ago was a bit scathing - nominating himself as the best player in the Fulham game.

As much as I love the idea of Woolfy I think his potential isn't as high as O'Shea, Greaves and Axel. He's an unfortunate 'victim' of us progressing quicker than optimal, another season in the Championship would have really benefitted his progress. And the reality of the squad size limit means tough decisions need to be made. A loan would keep the dream alive but the reality is that he's probably in a position in his career to be moved on and for us to cash in - Sheff U would have money and it would help us on FFP as he's homegrown. Stupid rules as it almost pushes him into the shop window.

He has certainly improved, credit to him however we need to strengthen our squad and some have to go ,we want to survive this season and sentiment has to take back seat imo,if he does go ,good luck to him in future,

No.

I’d like to see another genuine left back and push Davis further up the field so he doesn’t get caught out of position like he did for Fulham’s second.

Yes , he has. This has come from someone very close to the player himself.
I think there’s more factors attached to this player than is common knowledge. He hasn’t been in the 5am much . Started the first 2-3 games, did ok, then had a few words with McKenna and then the team selection leak thing, and has disappeared from the team for long periods again. I was told that he has said he wants away to get regular game time. I get that. Maybe he’s played the last few game because of the change of formation and McKenna won’t play two left footers ( Greaves/ Burgess) at the back, so Woolfenden gets in again.

IMHO, He’s nowhere near the DEFENDER calibre of Greaves, Burgess and O’Shea in that box, which is one of the reasons he’s not getting picked. Being “ comfortable / calm on the ball” and “good with the ball at feet” ( making 3 yard passes always to his right!), does not signify solid DEFENDING. He looks ok in this current formation because he’s sat in between two very good, solid defenders Graves and O’Shea, and looked better when he had the outstanding Axel to his right.

I’d say without doubt Godfrey will vi with OShea for the right CB slot, assuming Godfrey is not left footed . If he is then a back line of Davis,Greaves, OShea, Godfrey, Axel …or in a back four, Davis, Greaves, OShea, Axel, with Burgess , Godfrey being the pressure for CB and Johnson, Godfrey also pressure for right back. What we don’t have is true competition for Davis atm.

So when you list all those defenders and the various positions / set ups, Woolfenden has a lot to do to push in to that defensive squad and as I’ve tried to say so many times, if we are considering actual DEFENSIVE capabilities, ( heading ability, strong challenges/ tackling, physical presence in the box) he’s very average.

If McKenna had thought our defenders were as good as many on here feel they are, we wouldn’t be having the likes of Greaves, OShea, Axel, Godfrey here, and Edmundson, out on loan, and Woolfenden largely warming the bench. ( if that).

Contrary to some peoples beliefs on here I think he’s vastly overrated ( by some Town fans). Just because he’s come through our early academy, doesn’t make him a strong first team contender. Previous managers dispensed with him, but McKenna gave him a chance to re ignite his career, 8n League One. But at no time to my knowledge, have clubs been sniffing around him in the last 3 years. He’s never been in any “ Team of the Week”, when players like Burgess, and then Greaves have. I think there’s a lot of blue tinted glasses view of Woolfenden, but I’m not one of them. I’ve watched many, many Town defenders over the years. Woolfenden is “ easy on the eye” when on the ball, but it gets to actual defending in that box and making clearances , tackling, physicality, for me he’s not as good as the other we now have,

If he does leave I wish him well, without doubt, but as someone else has said at 26yrs of age , and largely anonymous from the weekly squad for most of the season ( there’s a reason for that), then I think he’s doing the right thing to say he wants to leave, which he has.


As usual I will get slaughtered for daring to voice this view on here. But for those of you that feel I am wrong ask yourselves, why has McKenna rarely played him this season, if, as some of you say, he’s “so good”? Has Kieran McKennas football judgment suddenly evaporated? I don’t think so.

There's no guarantee of regular football wherever you go. Wolfy looks more comfortable playing with three centre backs. On the subject of not being picked ArnieM i think you will find Burgess is the one who is not being picked at the moment sorry if im mistaken.

Google seem to have this rumour originating with TWTD. My Sheffield United supporter pals said “Luke who?”

Arnie, you've talked down Woolfie for years. It comes across as personal, like a ditched lover.

McKenna rates him. He played all the time in the two promotion seasons and is still in and around the team today, in a similar way to many others from the promotion team.

McKenna may not see him as the future. Fair enough. And players move on. But he is still willing to play him the last 3 games so of course he still rates him!

You get slammed because you are not balanced and don't seem to understand being a defender is not all about tackles and heading and diving in. There are other ways to play, which is how Woolfie plays.

I'd be sad to see him go.

Agree Burgess is not featuring now Greaves is back in the team and rightly so as he’s a far better player. I’d be surprised if he leaves with Tuanzebe injury prone and Edmundson on loan. I can think of others ahead in that queue.