United 1 Rochdale 1 - report

[Brookblade]

<< Wilder, who has the likes of Billy Sharp, Che Adams, Matt Done and Dominc Calvert-Lewin at his disposal in attack, wants a physically-imposing striker to complement them - and 6ft 3in, Revell would have fitted the bill.

“I have some outstanding forward players,” Wilder, who replaced Nigel Adkins at Bramall Lane, said. “For me, Billy is the best striker in the division but the one thing we haven’t got is that player with physical prescence, the ‘target man’.

“We have a brand of football that we want to play, but sometimes we’ll need to change that. In an ideal world we’d have a mix of options and we’re working very hard to get that.

There are a variety of ways to win a football game but winning it is the main thing. “We’re not going to suddenly become a route-one team and bang it forward but we need options, too.”>>


I'm not sure that Clarke was ever part of the original plan. Or why did we try to sign Revell?
Why did we play 4-2-3-1 all pre-season and then abandon it for the real action?

It seems like the plan was a main striker, with the three behind being flexible, mobile and interchanging positions. This seemed to suit many of the current squad better than 4-4-2 (Done, Duffy, Scougall, DCL)

Maybe Clarke became available for a small fee and with other options having gone, we changed the plan to accommodate him?

I'd like to see us go back to plan A, either by playing Clarke deeper or by using him as the alternative option from the bench.

I went to the meet the manager and Wilder admitted to having talks with Revell.He told him he would be a squad player which to me means he wouldn't start every game and would be used as a plan B off the bench. Thats fair enough,but Clarke wont have come here to not start games.I thought Clarke was good today but Sharp was playing too far away from him to feed off him. I wonder if the pair have two big egos and will be poles apart and never combine. i would have hooked Sharp at half time and brought McNulty on. Wilder has got to find the right combination up front and fast as we will always need to score to get anything from games,as the keeper is a liability along with both full backs.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

<< Wilder, who has the likes of Billy Sharp, Che Adams, Matt Done and Dominc Calvert-Lewin at his disposal in attack, wants a physically-imposing striker to complement them - and 6ft 3in, Revell would have fitted the bill.

“I have some outstanding forward players,” Wilder, who replaced Nigel Adkins at Bramall Lane, said. “For me, Billy is the best striker in the division but the one thing we haven’t got is that player with physical prescence, the ‘target man’.

“We have a brand of football that we want to play, but sometimes we’ll need to change that. In an ideal world we’d have a mix of options and we’re working very hard to get that.

There are a variety of ways to win a football game but winning it is the main thing. “We’re not going to suddenly become a route-one team and bang it forward but we need options, too.”>>


I'm not sure that Clarke was ever part of the original plan. Or why did we try to sign Revell?
Why did we play 4-2-3-1 all pre-season and then abandon it for the real action?

It seems like the plan was a main striker, with the three behind being flexible, mobile and interchanging positions. This seemed to suit many of the current squad better than 4-4-2 (Done, Duffy, Scougall, DCL)

Maybe Clarke became available for a small fee and with other options having gone, we changed the plan to accommodate him?

I'd like to see us go back to plan A, either by playing Clarke deeper or by using him as the alternative option from the bench.

I was about to search for that quote to make the same point

 

[Lane Ender]

Aye, Clarke was the problem today....

Have you lot fucking heard yourselves?

Clarkes not a hold up forward he likes to run at players.
Get the fucking ball down Tufty and play football

 

[Bobby Orkiss]

Tuesday night Wilder now needs to man up , put Sharpe firmly on the bench. Give young Chapman his chance from the start and put Done up top where we bought him to play and give the Clarke / Done partnership time. With little / no pace in the side please utilise what pace there is somewhere it can do some damage.

 

[Revolution]

Tuesday night Wilder now needs to man up , put Sharpe firmly on the bench. Give young Chapman his chance from the start and put Done up top where we bought him to play and give the Clarke / Done partnership time. With little / no pace in the side please utilise what pace there is somewhere it can do some damage.

Yes, let's drop our 21 goal striker, who also scored yesterday, to accomadate someone who hasn't played well since May 2015.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I really don't know where to start.

Long, I am a fan but that's one mistake too far.
Brayford just looks ill and uninterested. I would give him away to get him off the wage bil.
Wilson - Started well but doesn't seem to have much confidence in giving the ball to Brayford so pumped in long far too many times.
O'Connell - Impressive and solid. Needs someone with pace alongside him.
Hussey - Hoping that was an off game.
Duffy - set pieces for woeful and has he lost power in his legs or something.
Basham - Can't pass. When you're shouting to tell him to pass, he's not even processed that thought yet.
Fleck - Started well but in desperate need of a midfield partner.
Done - Well he's not a wing back or winger. Do Burton need one?
Clarke - If the ball isn't to him, he's not interested. Seems to have that Kitson/Henderson thing about him where he doesn't feel the need to jump either. When we equalised it took him 10 minutes to get back in his own half.
Sharp - Was a passenger until the last 20 minutes. With the wingers we have I would think he should know to run across the front post for every cross.

Wilder - The biggest disappointment to me. So in a week he's gone from seeing what we see to doing an Adkins on us. Where was the passion in your little box. Sort it

yes, like that.

Saw it just about the same as you but you have been more measured than I have been since 5pm
You are being kind and hinting at the players you think aren't going to be good enough - in effect giving a few the benefit.

It will be interesting to see what happens on Tuesday night.

Some changes or same old, same old? I know Southend have lost a few, but they were one of the teams that gave us a lesson on our own patch last season. Think it was Leonard (no 10) that ran midfield.

UTB

 

[Bobby Orkiss]

Yes, let's drop our 21 goal striker, who also scored yesterday, to accomadate someone who hasn't played well since May 2015.

Yes, let's drop our 21 goal striker, who also scored yesterday, to accomadate someone who hasn't played well since May 2015.

I'm sorry but our 21 goal striker who should have got more than double that as he needs a minimum of 5 chances to put one away !

Last season and so far this is showing us exactly why he's never managed to carve out a career above this poor level of football we find ourselves having to watch for another season and from what I've seen so far for many seasons to come !

 

[Revolution]

I'm sorry but our 21 goal striker who should have got more than double that as he needs a minimum of 5 chances to put one away !

Last season and so far this is showing us exactly why he's never managed to carve out a career above this poor level of football we find ourselves having to watch for another season and from what I've seen so far for many seasons to come !

He's got one in 2 league games and Clark missed more chances than he has.

Plus this is small sample size. I'll go with the guy who scored a goal in every two games until he proves he's lost it. And he hasn't yet. He's scored our only league goal.

 

[LenTednTony]

Yes, let's drop our 21 goal striker, who also scored yesterday, to accomadate someone who hasn't played well since May 2015.

He might have scored Rev, but he was rank average at best. Clarke does not jump high enough to control any headers and when attacking goal, not high enough for power. Unless something changes we will struggle all season. Both Clarke and Sharp like to run at a defence but so does McNulty. I say give Blondie a run.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

but so does McNulty. I say give Blondie a run.

I have always stood up for Mcnulty on this forum, but after watching yesterday's debacle there is no point in Mcnulty staying.

If CW won't play him when we are that crap, then there is no point him being on the payroll.

He is the only natural finisher on the books - and yes, some think he is a twat - but still a goal scorer.

Give him a chance or get rid Wilder.

UTB

 

[Rodders]

Yes, let's drop our 21 goal striker, who also scored yesterday, to accomadate someone who hasn't played well since May 2015.

I have to agree, yes he was "quiet" yesterday and possibly doesn't fit Wilders style of play, but Christ where on earth will the goals come from if he doesn't play?

 

[blader]

Last season and so far this is showing us exactly why he's never managed to carve out a career above this poor level of football we find ourselves !

Erm, what you on about mate? The man has practically played above this level his whole career. He's also been Donny's POTY (in the championship) and been in the championship team of the month. If there's one thing you can't accuse him of, it's being successful at a higher level than this.

 

[Chief_Froley]

If we're both not using the wingers AND getting bossed in the midfield, we might as well go 4-3-3 long ball

It seemed like we did switch to 4-3-3 towards the later stages (once Duffy went off).

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

Brilliant report as ever DB, my ratings for what they are worth;

Long 1 completely useless...bin him off
Brayford 3 poor at defending and poor going forward...bin him off
Hussey 5 so so
Wilson 7 ok
O'connell 7 ok
Duffy 5 starts well but fades
Bash 3 as ever plenty of effort but zero quality....bin him off
Fleck 5 in and out of game again
Done 2 play him CF or not at all
Sharp 3 other than goal fucking awful
Clarke 6 anonymous in 1st half but thought he did lot better in 2nd

Chapman 4 hard for a 18 year old in thatsituation
Scoogal 5 i am not a fan but did bring a bit of energy at least.

Wilder 4 who knows if he has been trying but not to bringa keeper in is criminal

Crowd 10 we want fucking medals watching this shit

 

[LenTednTony]

Long 4 made 2 mustakes but also 2 good saves
Brayford 5 played ever bit as good as Hussey but also prefers to run rather than punt long ball
Hussey 5 so so
Wilson 7 ok
O'connell 7 ok
Duffy 5 became cut out because of the way we played
Bash 4.5 worked hard in centre and on the right but ran out of ideas on tge edge of the box
Fleck 6 but disappeared in second half gifting Midfield to Rochdale
Done 5 gives everythung but once again being played out of position. Feel for the lad
Sharp 3 other than goal fucking awful
Clarke 4 anonymous in 1st half but thought he did lot better in 2nd however, he aint never a target man.

Chapman 4 hard for a 18 year old in thatsituation
Scoogal 5 is a dynamo and not afraid of the big boys in the playground

Wilder 5 needs some of the funds for a keeper and a tall mid creator

Crowd 7 we haven't been given ANYTHING to cheer as yet, so we don't. Nothing wrong in that.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Don't need ten games, you are wrong!

We will see.

I said Higdon was wank after 45 mins. No one agreed with me then either.

Time will tell

UTB

 

[Bobby Orkiss]

Erm, what you on about mate? The man has practically played above this level his whole career. He's also been Donny's POTY (in the championship) and been in the championship team of the month. If there's one thing you can't accuse him of, it's being successful at a higher level than this.

If you read my post correctly you'll find I said "career" not a couple of seasons ! Also lets not forget the calibre of teams he's played for , Donny ! oh come on mate !

 

[blader]

If you read my post correctly you'll find I said "career" not a couple of seasons ! Also lets not forget the calibre of teams he's played for , Donny ! oh come on mate !

He's played in 9 different seasons Of the championship. If that isn't a career, I don't know what is. Sharp is our best player, he is the last person we need to be concerned about.

 

[Razor1967]

We will see.

I said Higdon was wank after 45 mins. No one agreed with me then either.

Time will tell

UTB

I really hope you're right but very worrying yesterday....

 

[Revolution]

We will see.

I said Higdon was wank after 45 mins. No one agreed with me then either.

Time will tell

UTB

You also thought David Weir knew what he was doing...

We will see.

 

[robbiez666]

Watching their goal again, the defence and midfield are a shambles. Obviously, dreadful keeping, but the lack of tackling or pressing or anything for the first shot is laughable. http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10535610/sheff-utd-1-1-rochdale

 

[lazyfecklessblade]

Having just watched it on the Player, I thought we shaded it out of 2 very average teams. Brayford looks like his head has gone, needs sorting or replacing.

 

[DronnieBlade]

You also thought David Weir knew what he was doing...

We will see.

I said Weir was moving the playing side in the right direction after years of neglectful, woefull hoofball.

Happy to correct you.

UTB

 

[super_pig]

Yes, let's drop our 21 goal striker, who also scored yesterday, to accomadate someone who hasn't played well since May 2015.

why not??

 

[Revolution]

I said Weir was moving the playing side in the right direction after years of neglectful, woefull hoofball.

Happy to correct you.

UTB

Utter nonsense.

 

[LSF]

Thought O'Connell generally lost his ariel battles with his man. Wilson looks a tidy player to me, a pleasant surprise, not so sure about O'Connell just yet. Hussey better yesterday than against Crewe. Fleck a little disappointing yesterday. Clarke was the best of the new signings (again), he will flourish as the season unfolds imho.
However, the team display and inability to vary our approach was disappointing, to say the least.

 

[Silent Blade]

I said Weir was moving the playing side in the right direction after years of neglectful, woefull hoofball.

Happy to correct you.

UTB

We played a lot of passing football under Wilson so you are incorrect.

Weir's style was even more "passing for the sake of passing" in slow tempo

Awful, awful!

 

[DronnieBlade]

We played a lot of passing football under Wilson so you are incorrect.

Weir's style was even more "passing for the sake of passing" in slow tempo

Awful, awful!

Yep. I usually am.

Made up nonsense

UTB

 

[Reedy1889]

Just had a quick skim through this thread & I cannot believe Clarke is recieving the criticism that he is. He did the best he could off the scraps he was fed yesterday.

Their was far worse performances than his yesterday.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Clarke put in a decent shift against Rochdale and would have been even more effective with a quick forward alongside him who knows how to play of a target man, leader of the line whatever you want to call him. Those that are rubbishing his performance are those that simply don't believe in target men full stop. We've tried going without target men under Clough and Adkins (Sammon was an awful forward and after the first couple of months was nothing more than a bit part player) and we're still in the third division.

It's not rocket science (although Clough tried to reinvent the wheel and failed) to get out of this division, strong spine (physically and mentally) and a strong back line and you'll not go far wrong. We've got a decent leader of the line in Clarke, but are missing at centre mid and centre half, although I get the impression O'Connell could be a good 'un provided we get a dominant centre half to partner him. To get the best results with playing a target man, they need a quick 'un alongside him.