Next week is the test to see if we mean business

[joshua thompson]

Following our terrible start, to then being a half decent good start from the past 4 wins, I think next week could possibly be a significant factor to see if we mean business this year and will push for automatic promotion or at least top 6.

Its fair to say, the performances of late have been a positive, still could be problems at the back with only 1 clean sheet and the obvious MOTM for Simon Moore this weekend, but going forward is much better, and a clear improvement from hoofing the ball to actually passing it about and utilising the wings.

With Scunthorpe doing great lately, and scoring a load of goals, this weekend could be crucial for our progress, Id say if we get a point away it would be great and show a team that is up for the challenge, should give us some confidence going ahead also, although this must be booming lately with the 4 straight wins.

Should we beat Scunthorpe, then great and we move onto the next game, however I would be happy with a point considering there form of late.

With regards to the team, stick to the same team, a winning formula works for me, I just hope lavery can maybe get more minutes if he is more match fit.

Either way, the game this weekend could be our most crucial of the season, as it will clearly bring high confidence if we win and be a great platform for us going forward even though again the last 4 wins will although have a structure to that, and could cause Scunthorpe to bottle it shall we say, even though it is early in the season, I just cant seem them continuing as they are and hoping they wont, hopefully be another Tranmere from a couple seasons ago.

UTB!

 

[Stretch]

I thought the same about Posh, i.e. they would provide a real test and we would do well to get anything. We proved more than up to the challenge and whilst some have said that Posh were unlucky not to draw I felt we were unlucky not to have scored twice, so still would have come away with the points.
To be honest I expect another close match. Both teams will be wary of each other but I would be surprised if both didn't score. I agree that a draw would be a decent result, partly because I can see us hammering Rovers in the following match. That should keep us in and around the play offs at least..

 

[TJB.]

Agree it's a big test with them flying high at the moment, but most crucial of the season? Come on. The season is still suckling its mother's teet. It's barely uttered its first word.

We've got what it takes to beat them, but with Lavary potentially nursing injury and questions about Clarke's fitness, I worry whether we've got the talent on the bench to keep taking the game to them in the latter stages if we're ahead.

Looking forward to the game.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

it is a test - and if we approach it as we did Gillingham/Wimbledon and the first 30 mins v Posh then we will be ok.

Accepted, Scunny are top of the league with a manager I like - but come on - we have a new found resilience now that CW has got his feet under the table and his influence is starting to have an impact.

It's all about us - we take OUR game and impose it on Scunthrorpe - see if THEY can live with us.

Bring it on - absolutely nothing to fear if we approach it the right way.

UTB

 

[Ricky]

There's no pressure on the Scunthorpe game, and there's every reason to think we'll get a result.

We've won four games in a row, including two we didn't necessarily expect to win, and are in the top 6, a much better position than it looked like we were going to be in. It's still early in the season too so there's no pressure on this game. A win can be seen as a bonus, a defeat wouldn't be a disaster.

We're in better form than Scunthorpe. Two wins in four for them, they won narrowly at Shrewsbury (1-0) and drew 0-0 at home to Charlton tonight. They've kept three clean sheets in a row so they're due to concede. They're also due a home defeat. They have quite a settled team with no reason to change it so we should know exactly what to expect. They can't be sure what to expect from us. We've done well in away games recently and appear suited to playing away from home. The clean sheet against Peterborough will have also done a lot for confidence. Lastly, we have the advantage of having not played in midweek, and if Charlton can get a result there then so can we.

There's no reason to be apprehensive going into this game. Little to lose, potentially a lot to gain in terms of belief.

 

[Jehovah]

As per confidence policy with united, I believe we'll win, so its a nailed on defeat.

 

[grafikhaus]

If we lose at Scunny, it won't be the end of the world - the season is still young and there's plenty of time to make up ground. Of more importance is the manner we're playing. The Peterborough game is one we'd have lost - not last season - but earlier this season (think Southend). And I've never understood this 'I'd settle for a point.' What, if we're 2-0 up with 5 minutes left and draw 2-2?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

If we lose at Scunny, it won't be the end of the world - the season is still young and there's plenty of time to make up ground. Of more importance is the manner we're playing. The Peterborough game is one we'd have lost - not last season - but earlier this season (think Southend). And I've never understood this 'I'd settle for a point.' What, if we're 2-0 up with 5 minutes left and draw 2-2?

I think you will find Graf that our game management at the end of a game now is totally different under CW - if we get 2 nil up with 5 to go, I might just put my house on a result Thought we saw the game out in an expert fashion v Posh - very impressed.

UTB

 

[Deleted member 875]

Scunthorpe will be a big measure of where we actually are at the minute. If we come away from Glanford Park with a point then it will be another tough fixture out of the way, and after Scunthorpe we have 5 or 6 games coming up that are all very winnable on paper against some of the lesser teams in the Division.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Disagree completely , every game of every week is the next most important one ,
The minute we start thinking like the massives ,
Is when we start to think we are better than we are , lets get out of this league first , then concentrate on our next aim.

 

[BushBlade]

If we lose at Scunny, it won't be the end of the world - the season is still young and there's plenty of time to make up ground. Of more importance is the manner we're playing. The Peterborough game is one we'd have lost - not last season - but earlier this season (think Southend). And I've never understood this 'I'd settle for a point.' What, if we're 2-0 up with 5 minutes left and draw 2-2?

Agree, if we lose, just make sure we win the next one.
'I'd settle for a point' means before the game is played. It's just hypothetical and a way of expressing one's expectations. It's like saying 'a point would be a good result' when, again, if you were two nil with five to play, it wouldn't feel like a good result if you drew.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

I'm really looking forward to the Scunthorpe game and I agree that it will be a test.

If we can show the same resilience as we did against Peterborough then I will be happy. Scunthorpe have been good at both ends of the pitch this season but they did play last night and I am hoping that the extra game for them will have sapped some energy from their legs.

UTB

 

[joshua thompson]

Agree it's a big test with them flying high at the moment, but most crucial of the season? Come on. The season is still suckling its mother's teet. It's barely uttered its first word.

We've got what it takes to beat them, but with Lavary potentially nursing injury and questions about Clarke's fitness, I worry whether we've got the talent on the bench to keep taking the game to them in the latter stages if we're ahead.

Looking forward to the game.

Yeah can see what you saying with the most crucial game of season, it is early on and maybe that was too far, I should have maybe said so far with the first 9 games played after the scunny game, and again your point with the mid-week game could be a factor that could push the fixture towards our way, lets hope so!

UTB

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Blimey, Scunthorpe and Bristol Rovers is a real test to see where we are. How times have changed. Anyway, 10 days to the REAL test at Highbury

 

[Sheffsteel]

It's no where near the most crucial match.

The most crucial so far was beating Oxford at home.
Getting our first win of the season, especially after going a goal behind, worked wonders for our confidence.

Even if we lose to Scunthorpe don't think it will have any affect on our confidence and season ahead.
We'd need a string of poor results/ performances to damage the momentum Wilder has built up.

I also feel confident we won't lose on Saturday. Think we'll draw 1-1 but it wouldn't surprise me if we beat Scunthorpe then fail to beat Bristol Rovers the following Tuesday.

 

[Darthblade]

it is a test - and if we approach it as we did Gillingham/Wimbledon and the first 30 mins v Posh then we will be ok.

Accepted, Scunny are top of the league with a manager I like - but come on - we have a new found resilience now that CW has got his feet under the table and his influence is starting to have an impact.

It's all about us - we take OUR game and impose it on Scunthrorpe - see if THEY can live with us.

Bring it on - absolutely nothing to fear if we approach it the right way.

UTB

Fair points but this issue of injuries has really highlighted the very shallow squad depth that we have ...........

The first eleven pretty much picks itself and whilst the current first eleven is possibly strong enough to get around the play-off zone, there's nothing on the bench to change a game.

A pity that our recruitment wasn't earlier and filled a couple more positions with better quality or we could have done well this year.

UTB & FTP

 

[Harry's Game]

I don't think it's that big a deal if we were to lose on Saturday as long as we follow it up with a win against Bristol R on Tuesday.

As others have said the recent turn around in form has given us a little leeway and if we keep in play off contention up to the JTW then that is in line with and maybe exceeding sensible expectations this season.

 

[TJB.]

we have 5 or 6 games coming up that are all very winnable on paper against some of the lesser teams in the Division.

Some of the performances which United have produced in recent years after these words have been uttered will haunt my dreams forever.

 

[8lade]

Off topic some what but I disagree about not having game changers on the bench Fleck & Chapman, on their day should be able to find a killer pass or touch of skill to open things up. If we have injuries maybe it's time to see a youngster at least 'getting the atmosphere' with a seat on the bench.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Beating Scunthorpe will put down a marker. They are the worthy league leaders.
Losing to them will reinforce what work we still have to do.

 

[Tyler Durden]

The most crucial match changes with the circumstances. I'd say that they're all equally important until at least Christmas. This stage of the season is about laying the groundwork.

That said, a win at any team who currently occupies top spot is always a psychological boost.

But the real test of how much we mean business is how we deal with the supposedly easier sides afterwards. We have yet to convincingly put any game out of sight and are the only team in the top 10 on a negative goal difference.
It's clear that we've made progress and there's no doubt that we will continue to do so, but that higher gear needs to be found in the coming weeks.

 

[Drunk blade]

Big game against Scunthorpe ffs .... we really need to get out of this league

 

[blade.i.am]

If we get anything at Scunthorpe I will be more than happy. For me Bristol is the more significant game. For too long we've lay down and died at home to teams who are unlikely to trouble the top six (Colchester, Shrewsbury, Crewe etc).
If we're serious about promotion we need to see the return of fortress Bramall Lane. That season after relegation we were banging in 3 or 4 goals regularly. It wasn't a case of would we win but by how many.
Hopefully Wilder is bringing back the resilience and winning mentality we've sometimes lacked in recent seasons.

 

[RealMcCoy]

Big game against Scunthorpe ffs .... we really need to get out of this league

That's why it's a big game!

 

[PokerBlade]

The context of our current standing and team development makes things a little complicated with regard to the importance of this game. If you look at first and second last season they had I think seven and eleven losses respectively. If we came away from the Scunthorpe game with a fourth loss from our opening nine, then while you aren't close to ruling anything out, you're raising the bar higher for how we have to play the rest of the season.

Now take the scenario in which we win. Five wins from your opening nine fixtures, and one in the bag, away from home, against a likely rival at the top end of the table. Suddenly we wouldn't be chasing the pack, we'd be right up there setting the pace and back to being one of the favourites on merit. We're on the cusp of going from a side looking to find its feet to a side other hope will slip up.

A draw would be a very good point, but not particularly interesting unless the performance was up there with last week. It would still be denying two points to a rival, and have us in good standing moving forward.

The mitigating factor is that, regardless of the result, we are a work in progress. We're still developing the right system and finding out how to best emphasise our obvious strengths and eliminate some of our weaknesses. We do have a board, for all I criticise them, that have shown they'll occasionally go out and make a Moore signing happen, and so our prospects to go out and make a difference if all's close in the JTW are likely stronger than other teams around us, and Wilder's recruitment so far has been good enough to think he won't just spunk it all on Hammond MKII.

So, no, our season won't rest on Saturday. But a win would create belief, and deservedly so. A loss, and we might feel a little bit of that nagging feeling that we're set to be the nearly men again. A heavy loss, we'll soon be reading about how Posh was luck, and Oxford and Wimbledon are relegation fodder.

 

[Blade56]

We can only afford to lose another 2/3 games this season if we want automatic.

If we win on satdi CW will be entering demi legend status.

Can't believe I'm on edge about playing Scunny even though I think we will walk it.

 

[BushBlade]

We can only afford to lose another 2/3 games this season if we want automatic.

If we win on satdi CW will be entering demi legend status.

Can't believe I'm on edge about playing Scunny even though I think we will walk it.

Burton went up after losing eleven last season.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

I know the cliche is "you can only beat what's in front of you" or something like that, but have you seen who Scunthorpe have beaten so far this season?
I can see another 3 points for the Blades on Saturday!

 

[Blade56]

.....have you seen who Scunthorpe have beaten so far this season?

For your information

 

[Boxer Blade]

I bet the scunny fans wish they had played us a few weeks earlier, they will be looking at us,after winning four games as a big test, get passed this one and we will be genuine promotion material etc, same as us really, they will fancy it but without doubt nervously, I agree with others, play like we have been but with another 20% of new found confidence and we will win,why not? 0-1, onwards and definitely upwards.