The Squad

[robbiez666]

It has undoubtedly been a good window in terms of getting players off the books.

Despite being a club who 'no longer needs to sell their best young players' we've sold our two best young players.

I think DCL has the potential to be very good. Incredibly raw but has a lot of talent. Can do something special. I said with both that I'd be happy with their sale if we reinvested. We certainly haven't done that. Kev must be laughing his ass off. On the face of it, they look like the kind of players Clough might have made.

In terms of the players coming in:

Moore - Good so far, slight concern with long shots and distribution
Hussey - awful so far
Wright - back-up
O'Connell - shaky start but there's clearly something there
Duffy - Quality if he can keep up with the pace
Wilson - Not convinced
Fleck - looks good. needs to play next to better
Clarke - Struggling to understand why we bought him at the moment
Chapman - Not seen enough
Lavery - Good signing in principle
Ebanks-Landell - Really not convinced but we'll see. If he can mature mentally then could be good.
Lafferty - Good signing for me but is he replacing the player already signed to play in that position?!

On the face of it this doesn't look like signings of a club who wants to get promotion. We'll have to see in a few weeks how it's all going but I'm not confident.

• I can't see much of the influence of Paul Mitchell and finding a bargain
• I'm not sure how some of these players fit/now fit into the style of football he wants to play
• We're weak in certain areas
• Where are the goals coming from??
• Who is creating these goals?

It seems like Coutts, Scougal and Freeman are now the answer. Relying on Coutts and not bringing a midfielder in baffles me.

I've seen nothing to suggest that Basham, Coitts, Fleck, Duffy, Scougal are going to score goals from midfield.

What we have:

Keeper - Moore, Long (why is he still here? I assume he'll go off on an emergency loan somewhere), Ramsdale
LB - Lafferty, Hussey
RB - Freeman, Ebanks-Landell
CB - O'Connell, Wilson, Wright, Ebanks-Landell, Semple, Basham
LM - Scougall, Done, Chapman
CM - Fleck, Basham, Coutts, Whiteman, Reed
RM - Duffy, Done, Coutts
CF - Sharp, Clarke, Lavery, Done

I'm assuming the starting line-up with be

------------------------Moore
Freeman O'Connell Ebanks-Landell Lafferty
-------------------Basham Fleck
-----------Duffy--------Lavery--------Scougall
------------------------------Sharp

Subs:

Long
Hussey
Wilson
Chapman
Done
Clarke
Coutts

others

Wright
Whiteman
Reed
Semple
Brooks

It looks a fairly thin squad given we're stuck with it until January. Midfield looks like the main issue to me. Also how are Sharp, Clarke and Lavery going to work. I assume Clarke is not going to be happy sat on the bench.

 

[FriethBlade]

Robbie great summary. Be interesting to see which goalie is on the bench at the weekend as Wilders comments on Long suggested to me he wanted him to leave.

Still not got that dominating centre half, seemed from the rumours that Wilder would have been happy with Morgan or Webster and we got neither although the lad from Wolves, if picked, will add some pace.

What worries me is we are weak as a first 11 and what we really needed the latter part of the window was 2-3,players who would slot straight into the first 11 and improve us. Moore has done that , I guess Lafferty may do too but I'm betting the others will be on the bench.

Not a disaster of a window but same old selling off the youngsters and not getting our main targets. What worries me is the likes of Bolton have seriously strengthened and they are already top and the likes of Millwall kept their best players so on a relative basis have we improved and that's what counts?

 

[Blade56]

Good summary agree with most but time to stop worrying and time to get behind what we've got. Still hoping CW has a plan to bring in a CM alongside Fleck by using the unattached strategy as I agree it's our biggest area of concern. In the lineup I wonder if he's considering playing Sharp just behind Clarke and Done/Lavatory or reverting to the 4321 we started with at Bolton.

With no emergency loans there are going to be a lot of players sat on their hands for the next 4 months that's for sure. Come January they might be a little more eager to get out to clubs on loan just to get a game.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Long (why is he still here? I assume he'll go off on an emergency loan somewhere)

• Clubs are permitted to sign a goalkeeper on a seven-day ‘emergency loan’ basis if they do not have a senior goalkeeper that has made five first-team apps.

Before anyone says the loan window is closed....

 

[Blade56]

• Clubs are permitted to sign a goalkeeper on a seven-day ‘emergency loan’ basis if they do not have a senior goalkeeper that has made five first-team apps.

Before anyone says the loan window is closed....

Technical genius with the detail L

Much appreciated

Bee hive sir?

 

[pommpey]

It has undoubtedly been a good window in terms of getting players off the books.

Despite being a club who 'no longer needs to sell their best young players' we've sold our two best young players.

I think DCL has the potential to be very good. Incredibly raw but has a lot of talent. Can do something special. I said with both that I'd be happy with their sale if we reinvested. We certainly haven't done that. Kev must be laughing his ass off. On the face of it, they look like the kind of players Clough might have made.

In terms of the players coming in:

Moore - Good so far, slight concern with long shots and distribution
Hussey - awful so far
Wright - back-up
O'Connell - shaky start but there's clearly something there
Duffy - Quality if he can keep up with the pace
Wilson - Not convinced
Fleck - looks good. needs to play next to better
Clarke - Struggling to understand why we bought him at the moment
Chapman - Not seen enough
Lavery - Good signing in principle
Ebanks-Landell - Really not convinced but we'll see. If he can mature mentally then could be good.
Lafferty - Good signing for me but is he replacing the player already signed to play in that position?!

On the face of it this doesn't look like signings of a club who wants to get promotion. We'll have to see in a few weeks how it's all going but I'm not confident.

• I can't see much of the influence of Paul Mitchell and finding a bargain
• I'm not sure how some of these players fit/now fit into the style of football he wants to play
• We're weak in certain areas
• Where are the goals coming from??
• Who is creating these goals?

It seems like Coutts, Scougal and Freeman are now the answer. Relying on Coutts and not bringing a midfielder in baffles me.

I've seen nothing to suggest that Basham, Coitts, Fleck, Duffy, Scougal are going to score goals from midfield.

What we have:

Keeper - Moore, Long (why is he still here? I assume he'll go off on an emergency loan somewhere), Ramsdale
LB - Lafferty, Hussey
RB - Freeman, Ebanks-Landell
CB - O'Connell, Wilson, Wright, Ebanks-Landell, Semple, Basham
LM - Scougall, Done, Chapman
CM - Fleck, Basham, Coutts, Whiteman, Reed
RM - Duffy, Done, Coutts
CF - Sharp, Clarke, Lavery, Done

I'm assuming the starting line-up with be

------------------------Moore
Freeman O'Connell Ebanks-Landell Lafferty
-------------------Basham Fleck
-----------Duffy--------Lavery--------Scougall
------------------------------Sharp

Subs:

Long
Hussey
Wilson
Chapman
Done
Clarke
Coutts

others

Wright
Whiteman
Reed
Semple
Brooks

It looks a fairly thin squad given we're stuck with it until January. Midfield looks like the main issue to me. Also how are Sharp, Clarke and Lavery going to work. I assume Clarke is not going to be happy sat on the bench.

Until January? What (this side of us being in the bottom four and Wilder being toe-ended out into Cherry Street) makes you think that the cash generated by the sale of our better (ha) two players is sat sloshing about waiting to be turned into further options?

We have had mass ditchings (in many cases well justified) and player sales. This was meant to be a period where we turned a corner (according to some) and actually went for the better players. Your summary suggests we haven't, and I agree.

pommpey

 

[Darthblade]

I think you've hit the nail on the head regarding Kev laughing his arse off .....

The only winners in our transfer dealings are the Board. We've brought in £3.5 million and spent about £400,000, whilst slashing the wages bill at the Club.

At least we're now clear on this season's priorities which appear to be not to be relegated. With the squad now at Tufty's disposal, I would guess at a mid-table finish, perhaps 7th or 8th if tufty can find some goals from somewhere in the squad.

It's absolutely incredible that we didn't see a couple of decent CM's acquired, particularly since Tufty wanted this area addressed and a pacey winger would have been a nice to have come in.

Oh well ....... expectations suitably re-set and I'm going to predict that our season, once again is effectively over.

Roll on the summer ........

UTB & FTP

 

[Jagzz1889]

Great summing up of the squad.
I'm happy with the deals we've done but as everyone else has commented the midfield looks a little weak in regards creating chances and scoring.
Lets give this a dozen games to settle and then see where we are, if we are in touching distance come Xmas time then maybe we will splash the cash (yes I know I'm deluded)....

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Technical genius with the detail L

Much appreciated

Bee hive sir?

Tempt me with a range of styles, Audrey.

Ken
X

 

[DronnieBlade]

It has undoubtedly been a good window in terms of getting players off the books.

Despite being a club who 'no longer needs to sell their best young players' we've sold our two best young players.

I think DCL has the potential to be very good. Incredibly raw but has a lot of talent. Can do something special. I said with both that I'd be happy with their sale if we reinvested. We certainly haven't done that. Kev must be laughing his ass off. On the face of it, they look like the kind of players Clough might have made.

In terms of the players coming in:

Moore - Good so far, slight concern with long shots and distribution
Hussey - awful so far
Wright - back-up
O'Connell - shaky start but there's clearly something there
Duffy - Quality if he can keep up with the pace
Wilson - Not convinced
Fleck - looks good. needs to play next to better
Clarke - Struggling to understand why we bought him at the moment
Chapman - Not seen enough
Lavery - Good signing in principle
Ebanks-Landell - Really not convinced but we'll see. If he can mature mentally then could be good.
Lafferty - Good signing for me but is he replacing the player already signed to play in that position?!

On the face of it this doesn't look like signings of a club who wants to get promotion. We'll have to see in a few weeks how it's all going but I'm not confident.

• I can't see much of the influence of Paul Mitchell and finding a bargain
• I'm not sure how some of these players fit/now fit into the style of football he wants to play
• We're weak in certain areas
• Where are the goals coming from??
• Who is creating these goals?

It seems like Coutts, Scougal and Freeman are now the answer. Relying on Coutts and not bringing a midfielder in baffles me.

I've seen nothing to suggest that Basham, Coitts, Fleck, Duffy, Scougal are going to score goals from midfield.

What we have:

Keeper - Moore, Long (why is he still here? I assume he'll go off on an emergency loan somewhere), Ramsdale
LB - Lafferty, Hussey
RB - Freeman, Ebanks-Landell
CB - O'Connell, Wilson, Wright, Ebanks-Landell, Semple, Basham
LM - Scougall, Done, Chapman
CM - Fleck, Basham, Coutts, Whiteman, Reed
RM - Duffy, Done, Coutts
CF - Sharp, Clarke, Lavery, Done

I'm assuming the starting line-up with be

------------------------Moore
Freeman O'Connell Ebanks-Landell Lafferty
-------------------Basham Fleck
-----------Duffy--------Lavery--------Scougall
------------------------------Sharp

Subs:

Long
Hussey
Wilson
Chapman
Done
Clarke
Coutts

others

Wright
Whiteman
Reed
Semple
Brooks

It looks a fairly thin squad given we're stuck with it until January. Midfield looks like the main issue to me. Also how are Sharp, Clarke and Lavery going to work. I assume Clarke is not going to be happy sat on the bench.

Good summary Rob. Although i don't see Coutts or Done being dropped anytime soon.

Sunday's team sheet will indeed be interesting..

UTB

 

[LSF]

All subjective stuff. I disagree with your so far summaries of Wilson, O'Connell and Fleck. I think the opposite actually.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Robbie,

Good post
For me the issues are
1: Centre midfield. We seem to be taking a punt on Coutts to form a partnership with Fleck and
2: The Sharp- Clarke partnership doesn't appear to be working so far.

Agree we don't need to sell any players unless we get a great offer.

Regards DCL and Adams they weren't even 1st team players.

Agree both have talent and potential but so did Jordan Slew.

I bet if a club, let's say Spurs offered us 5 million at the start of last season to take George Long and young Reid there would have been a massive melt down on here saying how Ling is the most talented young keeper in the country and how Reidy is PL bound.

Young players with potential are always a risk. Most never fulfill their potential but £1.4 million to Everton is pin money, they can easily afford the gamble. In the real world 1.4m is a stupid amount for a league 1 reserve player but the PL can afford stupid prices.

 

[Revolution]

Mid table third division team with mid table third division squad and owners who want to put in as little money as possible sells off its young saleable talent to fund outgoings and tries to plug a few gaps to try to ensure it doesn't get relegated.

No "wow" signings, no ambitious signings, no signings with an eye to building a promotion squad.

Just try to paper over the cracks and hope this guy doesn't get us relegated.

Manager to be fired in June after achieving lower mid table finish at best. Club talk big. People buy season tickets. Repeat strategy.

Meh.

 

[pommpey]

Mid table third division team with mid table third division squad and owners who want to put in as little money as possible sells off its young saleable talent to fund outgoings and tries to plug a few gaps to try to ensure it doesn't get relegated.

No "wow" signings, no ambitious signings, no signings with an eye to building a promotion squad.

Just try to paper over the cracks and hope this guy doesn't get us relegated.

Manager to be fired in June after achieving lower mid table finish at best. Club talk big. People buy season tickets. Repeat strategy.

Meh.

Yay. Viva the Revolution.

Now, tell them lot this please.

pommpey

 

[robbiez666]

Until January? What (this side of us being in the bottom four and Wilder being toe-ended out into Cherry Street) makes you think that the cash generated by the sale of our better (ha) two players is sat sloshing about waiting to be turned into further options?

We have had mass ditchings (in many cases well justified) and player sales. This was meant to be a period where we turned a corner (according to some) and actually went for the better players. Your summary suggests we haven't, and I agree.

pommpey

Oh, I don't for one second think there will suddenly be any cash.

I think we might sell another couple and then we'll loan in 4. I believe Chapman is the only one on a season long loan.

We all know Kev will dip into his back pocket if he's getting a lot of grief, so maybe even a permanent.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Oh, I don't for one second think there will suddenly be any cash.

I think we might sell another couple and then we'll loan in 4. I believe Chapman is the only one on a season long loan.

We all know Kev will dip into his back pocket if he's getting a lot of grief, so maybe even a permanent.

On the season long loans, aren't all of these recallable/cancellable in January?

 

[robbiez666]

On the season long loans, aren't all of these recallable/cancellable in January?

I would assume most will give both clubs that option but it would depend on the agreement. They're not automatically.

 

[pommpey]

Oh, I don't for one second think there will suddenly be any cash.

I think we might sell another couple and then we'll loan in 4. I believe Chapman is the only one on a season long loan.

We all know Kev will dip into his back pocket if he's getting a lot of grief, so maybe even a permanent.

FTR (and please, people, pay attention)

I am not suggesting McCabe is diddling the club in any criminal, or nefarious way. I am suggesting he is doing business in a manner any self-respecting executive would.

What I am also suggesting is that people wake the fuck up and stop pretending he is doing it for the club and its supporters. He's had enough of baling the club out as a footballing entity and is allowing it to stagnate and run off it's own reserves (whilst he owns the fucking rump of the monetary assets, which could be liquidated if the club goes belly up) It's business. Where it matters to us that our team is bummed on stilts with a run up by Southend at home, to him, Bramall Lane and all it's trimmings are still there, and they are his. The footballing side of it will look after itself because the hamsters tap the bar and the pellet falls into the tray. Doesn't matter that every time they do the pellet is a little bit smaller and is more and more made of the hamsters own shit. They tap the bar. They tap the bar. They tap, and some even look happy eating their own shit.

pommpey

 

[larkymasher]

Good summary agree with most but time to stop worrying and time to get behind what we've got. Still hoping CW has a plan to bring in a CM alongside Fleck by using the unattached strategy as I agree it's our biggest area of concern. In the lineup I wonder if he's considering playing Sharp just behind Clarke and Done/Lavatory or reverting to the 4321 we started with at Bolton.

With no emergency loans there are going to be a lot of players sat on their hands for the next 4 months that's for sure. Come January they might be a little more eager to get out to clubs on loan just to get a game.

I think you will see the under 23s becoming more like a reserve team.

It will be the only way to keep the squad ticking over. That then is a great way to push the likes of Semple, Brookes etc by playing next to first team squad players week in week out.

 

[robbiez666]

FTR (and please, people, pay attention)

I am not suggesting McCabe is diddling the club in any criminal, or nefarious way. I am suggesting he is doing business in a manner any self-respecting executive would.

What I am also suggesting is that people wake the fuck up and stop pretending he is doing it for the club and its supporters. He's had enough of baling the club out as a footballing entity and is allowing it to stagnate and run off it's own reserves (whilst he owns the fucking rump of the monetary assets, which could be liquidated if the club goes belly up) It's business. Where it matters to us that our team is bummed on stilts with a run up by Southend at home, to him, Bramall Lane and all it's trimmings are still there, and they are his. The footballing side of it will look after itself because the hamsters tap the bar and the pellet falls into the tray. Doesn't matter that every time they do the pellet is a little bit smaller and is more and more made of the hamsters own shit. They tap the bar. They tap the bar. They tap, and some even look happy eating their own shit.

pommpey

This summer has been all about cost-cutting and making some money back for Kev

 

[pommpey]

This summer has been all about cost-cutting and making some money back for Kev

Again, I don't necessarily think he is 'making money' in the sense that some would have he is 'profiting'.

I think his tactic is making the club pay for itself and live off its means. I think we can all see that. He has finished investing and is enforcing that, which is why we have had a fast turn over of disillusioned managers. The bit that sticks is his belief the all of us buy his shit the he is a Blade and he has promotion in his list of ambitions. Clearly by selling good players and buying shit ones, that is evidently not the case and besides, we will want him to stump up for better players if we do go up and wish to remain in the Championship.

Getting promoted is, for McCabe, the worst outcome for the team.

Getting promoted, is what we, as supporters want. Some believe his shit. Others don't.

pommpey

 

[Balham]

This summer has been all about cost-cutting and making some money back for Kev

FFS. McCabe doesn't make any money out of United. This summer has been about making United take less out of McCabe.

 

[robbiez666]

Again, I don't necessarily think he is 'making money' in the sense that some would have he is 'profiting'.

I think his tactic is making the club pay for itself and live off its means. I think we can all see that. He has finished investing and is enforcing that, which is why we have had a fast turn over of disillusioned managers. The bit that sticks is his belief the all of us buy his shit the he is a Blade and he has promotion in his list of ambitions. Clearly by selling good players and buying shit ones, that is evidently not the case and besides, we will want him to stump up for better players if we do go up and wish to remain in the Championship.

Getting promoted is, for McCabe, the worst outcome for the team.

Getting promoted, is what we, as supporters want. Some believe his shit. Others don't.

pommpey

By cost-cutting I believe he's trying to make the club lose as little as possible and by 'make money' he'll just lose lose money.

Understandable in a way, although the fact he's losing so much money is almost solely down to his bad management of the club over the years.

 

[larkymasher]

This summer has been all about cost-cutting and making some money back for Kev

I agree Robbie.

In my opinion though to pay off Hammond, Woolford then sign 11 new players with all the fees and salary that entails, we have spent quite a bit of money.
If the Adams and DCL fees go to squaring the books then so be it.

 

[TJB.]

I assume Clarke is not going to be happy sat on the bench.

He comes across as someone who would be happier anywhere else apart from on a football pitch. Right miserable fecker.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

FFS. McCabe doesn't make any money out of United. This summer has been about making United take less out of McCabe.

Is it even possible to make money out of a League 1 club?!

 

[pommpey]

Is it even possible to make money out of a League 1 club?!

It is if you own a prime couple of acres just off Sheffield City Centre. And the academy, and other chattels.

pommpey

 

[SandyMcBlade]

What's the point in moaning about McCabe ?
You either take it or leave it because there is not a dam thing you can do about it except stay away, and if that's what you chose to do fine, but 19,000 of us go because we love the Blades.
Do we think the board could do more YES.
But then again what fan of any club dosen't
UTB

 

[Bergen Blade]

It has undoubtedly been a good window in terms of getting players off the books.

Despite being a club who 'no longer needs to sell their best young players' we've sold our two best young players.

I think DCL has the potential to be very good. Incredibly raw but has a lot of talent. Can do something special. I said with both that I'd be happy with their sale if we reinvested. We certainly haven't done that. Kev must be laughing his ass off. On the face of it, they look like the kind of players Clough might have made.

In terms of the players coming in:

Moore - Good so far, slight concern with long shots and distribution
Hussey - awful so far
Wright - back-up
O'Connell - shaky start but there's clearly something there
Duffy - Quality if he can keep up with the pace
Wilson - Not convinced
Fleck - looks good. needs to play next to better
Clarke - Struggling to understand why we bought him at the moment
Chapman - Not seen enough
Lavery - Good signing in principle
Ebanks-Landell - Really not convinced but we'll see. If he can mature mentally then could be good.
Lafferty - Good signing for me but is he replacing the player already signed to play in that position?!

On the face of it this doesn't look like signings of a club who wants to get promotion. We'll have to see in a few weeks how it's all going but I'm not confident.

• I can't see much of the influence of Paul Mitchell and finding a bargain
• I'm not sure how some of these players fit/now fit into the style of football he wants to play
• We're weak in certain areas
• Where are the goals coming from??
• Who is creating these goals?

It seems like Coutts, Scougal and Freeman are now the answer. Relying on Coutts and not bringing a midfielder in baffles me.

I've seen nothing to suggest that Basham, Coitts, Fleck, Duffy, Scougal are going to score goals from midfield.

What we have:

Keeper - Moore, Long (why is he still here? I assume he'll go off on an emergency loan somewhere), Ramsdale
LB - Lafferty, Hussey
RB - Freeman, Ebanks-Landell
CB - O'Connell, Wilson, Wright, Ebanks-Landell, Semple, Basham
LM - Scougall, Done, Chapman
CM - Fleck, Basham, Coutts, Whiteman, Reed
RM - Duffy, Done, Coutts
CF - Sharp, Clarke, Lavery, Done

I'm assuming the starting line-up with be

------------------------Moore
Freeman O'Connell Ebanks-Landell Lafferty
-------------------Basham Fleck
-----------Duffy--------Lavery--------Scougall
------------------------------Sharp

Subs:

Long
Hussey
Wilson
Chapman
Done
Clarke
Coutts

others

Wright
Whiteman
Reed
Semple
Brooks

It looks a fairly thin squad given we're stuck with it until January. Midfield looks like the main issue to me. Also how are Sharp, Clarke and Lavery going to work. I assume Clarke is not going to be happy sat on the bench.

I think your formation is right. I have a feeling that Lavery will be competing with Done for the main striker role, now that we've seen pace and mobility can help us stretch teams. I think Wright will keep his place for now, and would be surprised if Wilson was benched immediately. When the new players are considered ready and match fit (and assuming the current first choices do well in the next couple of games) I think this could be Wilder's short term preference for each position:

GK - Moore, Long, Ramsdale

RB - Freeman, Ebanks-Landell
LB - Lafferty, Hussey
RCB - Wilson, Ebanks-Landell
LCB - Wright, O'Connell

CM - Coutts, Basham, Fleck, Whiteman, Reed
RLAM - Duffy, Lavery, Scougall, Chapman, Done, Reed
ACM - Sharp, Duffy, Scougall, Brooks

CF - Lavery, Done, Sharp, Clarke

Giving this first eleven:

Moore
Freeman Wilson Wright Lafferty
Basham Coutts
Scougall Sharp Duffy
Lavery​

Not many six footers there, and against some teams Wilder will possibly include a bigger player (EEL, Hussey, Clarke), especially to cope at set pieces.

Long term we'll have real competition at centre half, while the attacking trio behind the main striker will be rotated, maybe to the extent it'll be difficult to say who's first choice.

 

[FinBlade]

Anyone can hint where I could find those new squad numbers?