James Bree (Signed for Luton Town)

[dave.woodhall]

Stevens was an odd one. He was 27 and an unremarkable lower divisions player then he suddenly took off.

[brontebilly]

Just don’t get why we signed a player and then didn’t even use him. Fair to expect a chance. Must have been frustrating for him.

He made a couple of dozen appearances, which is enough of a chance. Every manager makes signings like this - sometimes you get David Platt or Shaun Teale, sometimes it's Jordan Bowery.   

That's largely where I am but I'd add that Bruce more than most has a habit of signing a player without doing much research and then deciding it was a mistake and not playing them much within a few months, it happened to an extent with Bjarnason, Hogan and Lansbury as well. It's why I hated his approach of buying players he liked the look of and then working out how to use them after the window was closed.

Bruce claimed he had scouted Hogan extensively since his Rochdale days..Lansbury was arguably as bad if not worse, Forest were keen to get rid but Bruce was duped by his stats. About five games in it was clear Lansbury was bone idle lazy unfortunately.

Bree was worth a punt at the time Hourihane came in from Barnsley but never once looked like he was good enough for us. Has time on his side to get his career back on track.

[SoccerHQ]

Just don’t get why we signed a player and then didn’t even use him. Fair to expect a chance. Must have been frustrating for him.

He made a couple of dozen appearances, which is enough of a chance. Every manager makes signings like this - sometimes you get David Platt or Shaun Teale, sometimes it's Jordan Bowery.   

That's largely where I am but I'd add that Bruce more than most has a habit of signing a player without doing much research and then deciding it was a mistake and not playing them much within a few months, it happened to an extent with Bjarnason, Hogan and Lansbury as well. It's why I hated his approach of buying players he liked the look of and then working out how to use them after the window was closed.

Yep a young lad like Bree would've required coaching on the training pitch with regards positioning so not exactly Bruce's forte, he prefers the tried and tested player who dosen't need that if they've played 200-300 games already in their career so that's why we signed AEM six months later who fitted that perfectly. Hutton was also still around and playing regularly in 17-18.

[robbo1874]

I quite liked Stevens. He seemed to have a good attitude. Just appeared to be out of his depth at times.

[eamonn]

Enda went back down the leagues and worked his way up again. Not everyone gets that opportunity but he made the most of it and he's one of Wilder's most reliables now. Fair play to him. Like our Conor, he's made the most of his moderate talent with a strong work ethic.

[N'ZMAV]

I quite liked Stevens. He seemed to have a good attitude. Just appeared to be out of his depth at times.

We've had worst left backs play for us since we let him go.

[brontebilly]

Stevens was an odd one. He was 27 and an unremarkable lower divisions player then he suddenly took off.

Stevens is quite honest as to why it took him so long, decent interview below. Doesn't say much for the coaching or direction he received in McLeishs time with us.

https:www.balls.ie/amp/football/enda-stevens-sheffield-united-interview-407496

[sickbeggar]

Good luck to the guy. At 22 you're hardly the finished article so I presume Smith doesn't rate him to make the grade which is fair enough. Put it down to another wtf signing by Nan's hair. (poor Newcastle)

[dave.woodhall]

Good luck to the guy. At 22 you're hardly the finished article so I presume Smith doesn't rate him to make the grade which is fair enough. Put it down to another wtf signing by Nan's hair. (poor Newcastle)

It was a gamble on a promising young player from the lower leagues. That sort of thing happens all the time.

[dcdavecollett]

Never let us down in the number of positions he was asked to play, never made a fuss.

Good luck to the lad.

[SaddVillan]

Somebody posed the question as to whether we've got a sell-on clause.

You'd hope we put that into all our sales deals - just in case. If we trade off a selling price of say £3m for a lower one of say £2m with a 25% sell-on clause might it help us ship out some of the dead wood? Bearing in mind we'd get them off the payroll too.

Similarly when we're trying to sign somebody, could giving the selling club a sell-on clause make our bid more attractive to the club we're trying to buy from?

[Louzie0]

Sub not used today but he could help in the Carabao Cup rounds to come. 👍

Well done, Luton!

[dcdavecollett]

Hat-trick for James Collins!

[Louzie0]

Hat-trick for James Collins!

Hurray!