The Bohemian
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- Joined
- Jul 24, 2012
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Many supporters will see 6th position after 13 games as a disappointing start to a season where expectations were set understandably high, following last season's dramatic improvement, after Cloughie took charge.
Conscious, always, of my tendency towards optimism where the Blades are concerned, I still believe the evidence of the season, so far, points to The Blades finishing in an automatic promotion place and battling it out with Bristol City for the DIv 3 title.
Cloughie made seismic changes to his squad during the close season - some enforced, some not. The result of these changes was that the team that started the season against Bristol, contained only 4 players that started the final game of last season (Howard, Flynn, Scougall and Murphy). Most notably, the team kicked-off in August with an entirely new back four, including a central defensive partnership, consisting of an 18 year-old with 6 league appearances to his name and a right back being played out of position. The club captain was dropped and replaced by a talented but inexperienced and physically developing 17 year old. Unsurprisingly the team looked disjointed and vulnerable, losing its first two games.
To his credit, Cloughie acknowledged the problems he had inflicted on his team and restored Collins and Doyle for the Peterborough game, which provided a much needed win.
If we take the view that the season effectively started for The Blades at Peterborough, by which time Cloughie had learned some important lessons and got his close season hysteria out of his system, an interesting picture emerges.
In 11 league games since the defeat at Coventry the Blades have gained 23 points from 11 league games. If they continue to acquire points at this ratio they will finish the season on 92 points - a points total that has equated to a top two League One finish in 8 out of the past 10 seasons.
The most significant aspect of the season so far is the team's performance levels, which Cloughie and a large majority of supporters perceive as inconsistent and generally underwhelming (I have seen 8 league games and witnessed only one dominant 90 minute performance, against Gillingham). So, every reason to believe the team can and should improve, as a group of new players become accustomed to each other and Cloughie works out what his best 11 looks like.
Indicators of a team starting to find its rhythm are clean sheets: 4 so far this season of which 2 have been achieved in the last two games, and goals scored: 6 in the first six games; 15 in the last seven games.
What's more, The Blades have been deprived of key players through injury during the early part of the season, with Scougall, Baxter and Wallace missing or playing with niggles at various stages. Indeed, it could be argued that Cloughie has yet to have his best 11, fully fit and available for selection.
The data suggests a team making steady and significant improvement in a league which looks there for the taking (irrespective of Cloughie's protestations to the contrary).
Unlike last season, when the squad looked threadbare and vulnerable to the loss of a key player or two, this season's group confers good cover options in most positions, with the possible exception of central striker.
There are still problems to be addressed: Cloughie is still, evidently, unconvinced about the central defenders at his disposal and replacing Harry has proved to be every bit as difficult as expected. But there are also exciting new possibilities, with the emergence of McNulty as a possible 20 goal striker and Louis Reed, who to my eyes looks to be the most promising midfield prospect to emerge from the Academy to date. We've seen relatively little of James Wallace, but what we have seen has oozed class and composure.
Of course, the unexpected can happen and it would be foolhardy to suggest promotion was nailed on. However, based on evidence so far, I expect The Blades to finish the season with a similar or better points per games ratio as that achieved since the Coventry defeat, and this should ensure a top two finish.
For those who like a bet, you can still get 10/1 against The Blades winning promotion. I reckon that's a knocking good price and one which will only contract from this point on.
UTB!
Conscious, always, of my tendency towards optimism where the Blades are concerned, I still believe the evidence of the season, so far, points to The Blades finishing in an automatic promotion place and battling it out with Bristol City for the DIv 3 title.
Cloughie made seismic changes to his squad during the close season - some enforced, some not. The result of these changes was that the team that started the season against Bristol, contained only 4 players that started the final game of last season (Howard, Flynn, Scougall and Murphy). Most notably, the team kicked-off in August with an entirely new back four, including a central defensive partnership, consisting of an 18 year-old with 6 league appearances to his name and a right back being played out of position. The club captain was dropped and replaced by a talented but inexperienced and physically developing 17 year old. Unsurprisingly the team looked disjointed and vulnerable, losing its first two games.
To his credit, Cloughie acknowledged the problems he had inflicted on his team and restored Collins and Doyle for the Peterborough game, which provided a much needed win.
If we take the view that the season effectively started for The Blades at Peterborough, by which time Cloughie had learned some important lessons and got his close season hysteria out of his system, an interesting picture emerges.
In 11 league games since the defeat at Coventry the Blades have gained 23 points from 11 league games. If they continue to acquire points at this ratio they will finish the season on 92 points - a points total that has equated to a top two League One finish in 8 out of the past 10 seasons.
The most significant aspect of the season so far is the team's performance levels, which Cloughie and a large majority of supporters perceive as inconsistent and generally underwhelming (I have seen 8 league games and witnessed only one dominant 90 minute performance, against Gillingham). So, every reason to believe the team can and should improve, as a group of new players become accustomed to each other and Cloughie works out what his best 11 looks like.
Indicators of a team starting to find its rhythm are clean sheets: 4 so far this season of which 2 have been achieved in the last two games, and goals scored: 6 in the first six games; 15 in the last seven games.
What's more, The Blades have been deprived of key players through injury during the early part of the season, with Scougall, Baxter and Wallace missing or playing with niggles at various stages. Indeed, it could be argued that Cloughie has yet to have his best 11, fully fit and available for selection.
The data suggests a team making steady and significant improvement in a league which looks there for the taking (irrespective of Cloughie's protestations to the contrary).
Unlike last season, when the squad looked threadbare and vulnerable to the loss of a key player or two, this season's group confers good cover options in most positions, with the possible exception of central striker.
There are still problems to be addressed: Cloughie is still, evidently, unconvinced about the central defenders at his disposal and replacing Harry has proved to be every bit as difficult as expected. But there are also exciting new possibilities, with the emergence of McNulty as a possible 20 goal striker and Louis Reed, who to my eyes looks to be the most promising midfield prospect to emerge from the Academy to date. We've seen relatively little of James Wallace, but what we have seen has oozed class and composure.
Of course, the unexpected can happen and it would be foolhardy to suggest promotion was nailed on. However, based on evidence so far, I expect The Blades to finish the season with a similar or better points per games ratio as that achieved since the Coventry defeat, and this should ensure a top two finish.
For those who like a bet, you can still get 10/1 against The Blades winning promotion. I reckon that's a knocking good price and one which will only contract from this point on.
UTB!
