Wrap em in cotton wool

[Boxer Blade]

Like everybody else I am enjoying watching United and like everyone else our three central midfielders, coutts, Fleck and Duffy, on their day they look top end championship when playing together, do what ever it takes to keep em all fit Chris, for all the other talented players we have these three are key, everything revolves around them, they are the engine room.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Hard balance to strike when we are playing so well and need consistency but so far wilder hasn't shown much inclination to rotate even in cup games.

Players like freeman have more or less played every minute. Hopefully it doesn't come back to bite us later on in the season.

If we are comfortable in a games I'd like to see the likes of chapman / scouggs ' whiteman etc getting some decent minutes and easing the burden on the current first choices. It's a long season

 

[larkymasher]

I think we all have a good idea of our strongest 11 or near as damned it.

I think i would like to see a different FA CUP squad at Bolton. Too many times recently we have had a lot of cup fun and no promotion. This year, less cup fun and promotion would suit me just fine.

Let fringe, young lads gain some needed experience whilst going up. That would be perfect.

 

[Bartyblade]

Hard balance to strike when we are playing so well and need consistency but so far wilder hasn't shown much inclination to rotate even in cup games.

Players like freeman have more or less played every minute. Hopefully it doesn't come back to bite us later on in the season.

If we are comfortable in a games I'd like to see the likes of chapman / scouggs ' whiteman etc getting some decent minutes and easing the burden on the current first choices. It's a long season

It's a difficult one for the manager - from a players point of view, when you're on the pitch in a team playing as we are atm - there's no burden!

 

[Bladeinleeds]

It's a difficult one for the manager - from a players point of view, when you're on the pitch in a team playing as we are atm - there's no burden!

Suspect you're right. The likes of fleck coutts are probably more than happy to play 90 rather than 60 mins.

Just Hope injuries don't come into play - although out options and completion for places looks strong so far.

 

[Slim Man]

Those three are living proof that you don't need an 'anchor' defensive minded clogger with no talent in midfield. As long as the ball players can strike a defensive balance and work their arse off that's all you need.

I think you only need a defensive midfielder at the very top level where the margins are fine or when you have a 'luxury' player like KMac who isn't willing to do the leg work that a Fleck, a Duffy, and lord above a COUTTS will.

 

[sitwell]

Those three are living proof that you don't need an 'anchor' defensive minded clogger with no talent in midfield. As long as the ball players can strike a defensive balance and work their arse off that's all you need.

I think you only need a defensive midfielder at the very top level where the margins are fine or when you have a 'luxury' player like KMac who isn't willing to do the leg work that a Fleck, a Duffy, and lord above a COUTTS will.

One week we are going to meet a team who will want to kick our 3 midfielders all over ,at this level they are all talented to get away from that player but our team isn't about individuals ,its a unit and they will back each other up to the extent that the sum of the parts will be much stronger than any dirty bastard opposition. There is always EEl to call over too

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

I think we all have a good idea of our strongest 11 or near as damned it.

I think i would like to see a different FA CUP squad at Bolton. Too many times recently we have had a lot of cup fun and no promotion. This year, less cup fun and promotion would suit me just fine.

Let fringe, young lads gain some needed experience whilst going up. That would be perfect.

See what you're saying, but I've got this strange, strong feeling we're destined to meet the pigs in the cup this season.

And with this manager, and this level of hunger and application, and the quality we've now got (& with dissatisfaction starting to take hold over there) it could just be a special time for that to happen.

Really hope we go for it with a full strength side at Bolton, personally.

 

[Slim Man]

Exactly, Jake Wright and JOC look like handy bastards to boot.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Continuity as well as context is the key to being successful. By bringing in Wilder and Knill, the recruitment of obviously better players than we've had, and the run that we're on, when you consider all the facts, including the poor start we had, we're now on fire. As has been stated above, we are a unit, the work ethos is amazing, the desire to cover for one another and create opportunities is such a refreshing change to the previous seasons where we've been stuck in the mire. There was no genuine progress to speak of, and we were crying out for someone with a clue, someone who knew what they were doing and made sure that the players wanted exactly what the manager wanted. We now look like we are good enough to compete with the best this division can throw at us. Yes, we will have an off day, that's almost unavoidable, but due to our manager, Sir Christopher of Shoreham, we won't be allowed to wallow in disappointment for too long, he'll have the players fired up and looking to win their next match. Most importantly, it seems the players themselves are self-starters who don't need to be told what they have to do. We now have a team of winners.....I can't recall the last time I thought that about the Blades.

 

[larkymasher]

See what you're saying, but I've got this strange, strong feeling we're destined to meet the pigs in the cup this season.

And with this manager, and this level of hunger and application, and the quality we've now got (& with dissatisfaction starting to take hold over there) it could just be a special time for that to happen.

Really hope we go for it with a full strength side at Bolton, personally.

I can't really argue with that Alfreton.......

 

[BushBlade]

Those three are living proof that you don't need an 'anchor' defensive minded clogger with no talent in midfield. As long as the ball players can strike a defensive balance and work their arse off that's all you need.

I think you only need a defensive midfielder at the very top level where the margins are fine or when you have a 'luxury' player like KMac who isn't willing to do the leg work that a Fleck, a Duffy, and lord above a COUTTS will.

We don't need a sitting midfielder because we play three at the back. If we played two and pushed our fullbacks forward like we do now, we'd need one.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Topic of our midfield is one of my favourites.

Sheer class. The point about trying to protect them I completely understand. But I wouldn't dare suggest that to them at the moment because if you did the response might be abuse. You can see they want to play, they are enjoying playing, and they will want to play almost every minute.

Could say take em off when games won, like yesterday, but in truth they were cruising and in all honesty were just warming down!

If I were Wilder, I might make training sessions a bit shorter, give them a day off with families, take them out as a group to relax as an alternative to resting them from match day. Sadly, they are always one overstretch or one bad tackle away from lengthy spells out of the side. So make the most while we can.

Anyway, I'm sure Wilder has it in hand, I trust the guy implicitly.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

I think some of our fans need to calm down a bit. Coutts, Fleck and Duffy are not top end Championship players even on a good day.

I'm no slasher but I do think some of our fans are getting carried away.
I have said on other threads we have no one to fear in this division.
The division above however is a different kettle of fish altogether.
The song yesterday about coming to get Wednesday was a bit cringe worthy.
Though it pains me to say it we are miles behind them in terms of the quality of players we and they have.
Let's just concentrate getting out of this division.
Then let's pray the Prince is true to his word and the Championship is where the serious investment will happen, because we are going to need it.

 

[Slim Man]

We don't need a sitting midfielder because we play three at the back. If we played two and pushed our fullbacks forward like we do now, we'd need one.

Disagree entirely. Why do you need one of those when our midfielders both defend and attack?
The full backs wouldn't both bomb on like they do obviously because the whole set up would be different.

It's about having a defensive and attacking balance, Wilder said after taking over there is no such thing as a defensive or attacking midfielder and at this level I do agree with him. You have to be an all rounder to succeed in this league and that's what we've got now. They have the defensive awareness to cover when our defenders go walkies and have the tenacity to put a foot in, why do you need a monty or a doyle when you've got perfectly good footballers who can defend AND attack?

 

[Slim Man]

I think some of our fans need to calm down a bit. Coutts, Fleck and Duffy are not top end Championship players even on a good day.

I'm no slasher but I do think some of our fans are getting carried away.
I have said on other threads we have no one to fear in this division.
The division above however is a different kettle of fish altogether.
The song yesterday about coming to get Wednesday was a bit cringe worthy.
Though it pains me to say it we are miles behind them in terms of the quality of players we and they have.
Let's just concentrate getting out of this division.
Then let's pray the Prince is true to his word and the Championship is where the serious investment will happen, because we are going to need it.

Fleck is on his day. The other points I agree with wholeheatedly.

 

[larkymasher]

I think some of our fans need to calm down a bit. Coutts, Fleck and Duffy are not top end Championship players even on a good day.

I'm no slasher but I do think some of our fans are getting carried away.
I have said on other threads we have no one to fear in this division.
The division above however is a different kettle of fish altogether.
The song yesterday about coming to get Wednesday was a bit cringe worthy.
Though it pains me to say it we are miles behind them in terms of the quality of players we and they have.
Let's just concentrate getting out of this division.
Then let's pray the Prince is true to his word and the Championship is where the serious investment will happen, because we are going to need it.

6 years of shite .................. Lets get carried away !!........... Don't get too hung up on the enthusiasm Broomhall, a lot of it is tongue in cheek i am sure. Although every point you make is correct, lets enjoy this, its been a while.

 

[Torrix1889]

Duffy was poor first half yesterday and only really started to shine as the game was stretched, when the camera panned to Wilder whispering in Scougs ear it wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't thinking about putting him on for Duffy......

 

[BushBlade]

Disagree entirely. Why do you need one of those when our midfielders both defend and attack?
The full backs wouldn't both bomb on like they do obviously because the whole set up would be different.

It's about having a defensive and attacking balance, Wilder said after taking over there is no such thing as a defensive or attacking midfielder and at this level I do agree with him. You have to be an all rounder to succeed in this league and that's what we've got now. They have the defensive awareness to cover when our defenders go walkies and have the tenacity to put a foot in, why do you need a monty or a doyle when you've got perfectly good footballers who can defend AND attack?

I can't really respond to that because of your second paragraph. You have a sitting midfielder to allow your full backs to push on when you play four at the back.
There are lots of different ways to play, none right or wrong, just what suits the players and what the manager wants to do.

 

[Slim Man]

I can't really respond to that because of your second paragraph. You have a sitting midfielder to allow your full backs to push on when you play four at the back.
There are lots of different ways to play, none right or wrong, just what suits the players and what the manager wants to do.

You have a midfielder that sits, doesn't necessarily have to be a defensive midfielder if you ask me. Fleck and Coutts are perfectly capable of covering their marauding full backs imo that's why I think it works even when we go 4-4-2 like we did yesterday after the goal.

 

[itsinyerblood]

6 years of shite .................. Lets get carried away !!........... Don't get too hung up on the enthusiasm Broomhall, a lot of it is tongue in cheek i am sure. Although every point you make is correct, lets enjoy this, its been a while.

Nicely described larky. I think we deserve to let off a little steam, I mean, if we can't celebrate now when can we?

Apart from perhaps the odd stray loon who imagines that promotion is a given, like yourself, I doubt anyone is taking anything for granted. A lot of tough games are still to come, but given the team Wilder has assembled I hope we'll be in for exciting times. Who knows how this season will unfold, but even if we miss out on promotion I'd see this season as the stepping stone in our return to the Championship. No predictions, no absolutes, but we do seem to have a good managerial team, with the right approach that will make us a better team, able to play attractive, skillful football, and who are capable of recruiting better quality players to take us over the line. I know we've had false dawns before, but there's something about the current Blades set-up that suggests we have the right people to take us forward.......so please, anyone who suggests caution, I understand your need not to get excited, but please indulge those of us who occasionally want to write a few positives about the team we support UTB

 

[BushBlade]

You have a midfielder that sits, doesn't necessarily have to be a defensive midfielder if you ask me. Fleck and Coutts are perfectly capable of covering their marauding full backs imo that's why I think it works even when we go 4-4-2 like we did yesterday after the goal.

I didn't say it had to be a defensive midfielder. I used the term 'sitting midfielder' because I'm talking about a role, not a player type.