That Scoreline...

[Smirth]

It's one game. Isolate it and move on. No need to over react.

Bolton lost at home to Swindon who were fucking awful when we played them. I think they should be the ones more concerned.

 

[borg elite]

Most of those games pre interweb. I remember coming back from the Leeds game and yes we were pissed off as fans but we didn't have a collective meltdown and overreaction like some folk like to have online these days. It's one game, one game.

1970-1. Lost 3-0 at Swindon. Promoted in second place.

1981-2. Lost 5-1 at Colchester. We won the division.

1989-90. Lost 4-0 at Leeds, 3-0 at Oxford and 5-0 at West Ham. Promoted in second place.

2005-6. Lost 4-1 at home to Watford. Promoted in second place.

 

[DiggerBlade]

You always get these results in good seasons.

Every promotion season I remember we've had a few unexpected or heavy defeats.

Our 4th Division championship winning season I can remember losing and being totally outplayed at Scunthorpe. A fantastic season but a shocker at Scunthorpe.

These things do happen.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Hopefully it will give us a much needed toe up the arse.

 

[Lane Ender]

Our 4th Division championship winning season I can remember losing and being totally outplayed at Scunthorpe. A fantastic season but a shocker at Scunthorpe.

These things do happen.

Blip

 

[Harry's Game]

For any avoidance of doubt this thread is to raise a legitimate concern and not a slasher thread. I am still confident of automatic promotion and convinced we have the best management team in the division.

I don't think however it should be dismissed "as one of those things' and be forgotten about and I am sure Wilder will think so as well and be looking this week at where we went wrong to insure we don't suffer it again.

 

[Isar]

I will just cry into my wine tonight

Anyway, still in a much better position at this stage of the season than I ever thought we would be

 

[derfblade.3]

In Bournemouth's promotion from league 1 they lost 4 in a row then followed that with 10 wins and 5 draws in the next 15. After Christmas they then lost another 5 in a row then again went on another run of 10 wins and 2 draws in next 12 games. During those losing spells they lost away at Sheff Utd 5-3, Swindon 4-0, crawley 3-1, and Walsall 3-1. Nothing in football is nailed on. Today was a mare but it happens.
Bournemouth fans must have gone through the mill with those statistics but look at them now. Keep the faith.UTB!

 

[Snowman]

Fuck it. Seriously, fuck it.

Normal service resumes next week. One off freak result.

UTB

Funny, we've had three one off freak results against them.

 

[oldblade]

Most of those games pre interweb. I remember coming back from the Leeds game and yes we were pissed off as fans but we didn't have a collective meltdown and overreaction like some folk like to have online these days. It's one game, one game.

Agreed, and the Watford defeat illustrates your point. After that game there were even people wanting Warnock sacked!

Today was very disappointing, but it's how we respond that matters.

In 1989-90 we followed up the 5-0 defeat at West Ham with a 2-1 home defeat to Barnsley (we actually scored first in that game), and things were beginning to look a bit shaky. However, we then went and won 2-0 at Oldham. That doesn't sound particularly impressive today, but during that season Oldham were virtually unbeatable at home. We were the only side to do it in the league.

 

[BLADEBEER]

We knew that at some stage we would have a bad result, and this was a bad one,it obviously now depends on how the players respond . With a bit of luck Billy would have had a couple, although that does not excuse the bad result. Time to panic if we repeat this performance.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

What a thing to happen.... Smack bang in the middle of a transfer window n'all.

 

[Ricky]

Often you get emphatic scorelines that don't reflect the game, this was one of them.

Horrendous goalkeeping and defending at crucial times, bang bang bang, 4-1.

If Simon Moore wouldn't have dived over the ball for the second it may well have been totally different because that was a counter against the run of play, just like at Bramall Lane (in almost identical circumstances, allowing Oztumer to run inside). He could've also done better with the first IMO and then gave the penalty away to make sure Oztumer got his customary goal.

EEL was all over the place. The warning signs were there in the first half that they could get behind our defence and that's what happened in the second half for two of their goals. I really don't like EEL as the last man, and I don't like him in the middle. In hindsight, it was a game for Jake Wright.

Conceding goals away is a problem and could do with improving there, but that was a defensive one off. What was equally disappointing today was the failure to create enough good chances.

A lot of us still stayed behind at the end of the game, chanting and applauding them off. I think it was important to do that. They looked dejected and bewildered but seeing that will have been good for them.

One off, ridiculous game, move on.

 

[SwissBlade]

Hardly. We have lost to Walsall three times this season. The issue isn't today's result it is why have we lost three times to them and what is it they do (or did) that we can't respond to. Wilder and Knill culpable there in my opinion.

Well we don't have to play them again this season, so let's not pull out the rope to hang ourselves just yet. Still top

 

[Fanny magnet]

That result will shake the world. I'm in the States and it's already all over the news here. They've even cancelled the NFL play offs later in recognition of the earth shattering result. Trump 's holding a joint press conference with Putin later in a plea for calm etc. etc......

FFS, it's a setback, get a grip.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

1970-1. Lost 3-0 at Swindon. Promoted in second place.

1981-2. Lost 5-1 at Colchester. We won the division.

1989-90. Lost 4-0 at Leeds, 3-0 at Oxford and 5-0 at West Ham. Promoted in second place.

2005-6. Lost 4-1 at home to Watford. Promoted in second place.

2016 -17 lost 4-1 away to Walsall , Promoted as champions.

 

[Guesty]

We clearly can't play against Walsall. The problem is, we clearly can't play against Bolton either.

The other thing is that falling behind in every away game was bound to catch up with us.

 

[zablade]

Often you get emphatic scorelines that don't reflect the game, this was one of them.

Horrendous goalkeeping and defending at crucial times, bang bang bang, 4-1.

If Simon Moore wouldn't have dived over the ball for the second it may well have been totally different because that was a counter against the run of play, just like at Bramall Lane (in almost identical circumstances, allowing Oztumer to run inside). He could've also done better with the first IMO and then gave the penalty away to make sure Oztumer got his customary goal.

EEL was all over the place. The warning signs were there in the first half that they could get behind our defence and that's what happened in the second half for two of their goals. I really don't like EEL as the last man, and I don't like him in the middle. In hindsight, it was a game for Jake Wright.

Conceding goals away is a problem and could do with improving there, but that was a defensive one off. What was equally disappointing today was the failure to create enough good chances.

A lot of us still stayed behind at the end of the game, chanting and applauding them off. I think it was important to do that. They looked dejected and bewildered but seeing that will have been good for them.

One off, ridiculous game, move on.

Cheers Herb, good to hear about the fans at the end.

 

[spongebobblade]

Often you get emphatic scorelines that don't reflect the game, this was one of them.

Horrendous goalkeeping and defending at crucial times, bang bang bang, 4-1.

If Simon Moore wouldn't have dived over the ball for the second it may well have been totally different because that was a counter against the run of play, just like at Bramall Lane (in almost identical circumstances, allowing Oztumer to run inside). He could've also done better with the first IMO and then gave the penalty away to make sure Oztumer got his customary goal.

EEL was all over the place. The warning signs were there in the first half that they could get behind our defence and that's what happened in the second half for two of their goals. I really don't like EEL as the last man, and I don't like him in the middle. In hindsight, it was a game for Jake Wright.

Conceding goals away is a problem and could do with improving there, but that was a defensive one off. What was equally disappointing today was the failure to create enough good chances.

A lot of us still stayed behind at the end of the game, chanting and applauding them off. I think it was important to do that. They looked dejected and bewildered but seeing that will have been good for them.

One off, ridiculous game, move on.

Was there also Ricky and I saw it pretty much like you. We were poor by our recent standards but that doesn't mean to say we were truly awful. Our defending wasn't up to scratch though and EEL and Moore had there worst games in a Blades shirt. Moores confidence was shot after the first two goals and he looked like George Long v Southend for a while. We need Wright back in the centre of the three IMO. He is the no nonsense calming influence.
Glad to see so many clap the lads off though. They needed to know we still have faith in them and though they didn't deserve it on the day they deserved it overall for what we have seen so far

 

[spongebobblade]

We do lack pace at the back and sounds like we struggled with their direct running. EEL seems to be more effective in the opposition box than defending and Done isn't really up to it.

The odd defeat is one thing but 4-1 against a very average team is worrying.

Done was no worse than anyone else today. He got forward better than Lafferty and certainly wasn't responsible for any of there goals. Did get a deserved yellow though

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Can't help thinking of the 2-5 result at Colchester in the 81/82 Division 4 campaign. (But was recently reminded that we only signed Colin Morris after that defeat - maybe Samir, maybe someone else as the catalyst to set us on fire for the latter part of the season?? Just shows, you've got to keep progressing & developing.)

Let's be honest - that was a total fucking embarrassment. But no-one bar Scunny could take advantage.

Who knows? The start of a decline, or a hell of a kick up the arse. Next week is really big all of a sudden.

 

[BladeFisher]

Well we don't have to play them again this season, so let's not pull out the rope to hang ourselves just yet. Still top

It's not about hanging, it's about analysis.

Three times to the same club in the same season? If Chelsea had lost 3 times to West Brom, I hope someone in Chelsea's management would be saying "what the bloody hell's going on here". Doesn't mean to say they won't win the league but might indicate Pullis had uncovered a major weakness that needed addressing before others sussed it too.

 

[SwissBlade]

It's not about hanging, it's about analysis.

Three times to the same club in the same season? If Chelsea had lost 3 times to West Brom, I hope someone in Chelsea's management would be saying "what the bloody hell's going on here". Doesn't mean to say they won't win the league but might indicate Pullis had uncovered a major weakness that needed addressing before others sussed it too.

I knew we'd lost twice in the league to Walsall. But on another thread I found we'd also lost to the same club in the piss pot cup. Sorry, but it's a poxy cup with no real concept of the reality of the football league. So we've lost twice or 3 times. It's not consistent bunch of results against a number of teams. It's one club.

 

[Salopian Blade]

I predicted the scoreline,only problem was I got it the wrong way round.I, like the vicar, live in the midlands and only see games in that region,but what struck me was how vulnerable we were on the break and what appeared to me to be a persistence in trying to get the ball down the right side of the field,we seemed at times static with few runs in to the box.On two occasions when we did in the second half they looked flustered.Hopefully normal service will be resumed next week.

 

[coolhandluke]

...will shake the division. Not so much the defeat, no way were we going to go undefeated from now to the end of the season, but to be comprehensively smashed like like that is the worry.

It may well be an off day but if we had gone down 2-1 or 1-0 it would have had little impact on the rest of the season, may well have been dismissed as one of those things like Newcastle losing 1-0 at Blackburn, but that scoreline will give enormous encouragement to everyone we play in the next few weeks, whether they be top of the table or bottom of the table sides, any aura of invincibility or a triumphant inevitable march to the tittle has just been smashed to smithereens.

If there is any bright side to today it may convince the board that we are not assured of promotion and Wilder needs further backing to strengthen the squad in the next fortnight.

1 - 4 is a freak , out of the blue scoreline .

The fact that I predicted that score in the prediction thread should tell you all you need to know . I ALWAYS take the piss in that thread and predict ridiculous scorelines .

Pick ourselves up , dust ourselves down , roll our sleeves up and go again with a point to prove .

 

[Stretch]

Often you get emphatic scorelines that don't reflect the game, this was one of them.

Horrendous goalkeeping and defending at crucial times, bang bang bang, 4-1.

If Simon Moore wouldn't have dived over the ball for the second it may well have been totally different because that was a counter against the run of play, just like at Bramall Lane (in almost identical circumstances, allowing Oztumer to run inside). He could've also done better with the first IMO and then gave the penalty away to make sure Oztumer got his customary goal.

EEL was all over the place. The warning signs were there in the first half that they could get behind our defence and that's what happened in the second half for two of their goals. I really don't like EEL as the last man, and I don't like him in the middle. In hindsight, it was a game for Jake Wright.

Conceding goals away is a problem and could do with improving there, but that was a defensive one off. What was equally disappointing today was the failure to create enough good chances.

A lot of us still stayed behind at the end of the game, chanting and applauding them off. I think it was important to do that. They looked dejected and bewildered but seeing that will have been good for them.

One off, ridiculous game, move on.

That's a fine post is that young man.

 

[Large Mendonca]

I know it's not a time to overreact, but you can bet your arse there'll be a few L1 managers studying Walsall's two league games against us after that. Wilder and Knill need to do the same and plug the gaps.

 

[Ricky]

Walsall matched our formation in both games. Other teams have done the same, and we've struggled each time.

I think playing 4 at the back may be a solution for us when teams do that.

 

[Grappler]

Often you get emphatic scorelines that don't reflect the game, this was one of them.

Horrendous goalkeeping and defending at crucial times, bang bang bang, 4-1.

If Simon Moore wouldn't have dived over the ball for the second it may well have been totally different because that was a counter against the run of play, just like at Bramall Lane (in almost identical circumstances, allowing Oztumer to run inside). He could've also done better with the first IMO and then gave the penalty away to make sure Oztumer got his customary goal.

EEL was all over the place. The warning signs were there in the first half that they could get behind our defence and that's what happened in the second half for two of their goals. I really don't like EEL as the last man, and I don't like him in the middle. In hindsight, it was a game for Jake Wright.

Conceding goals away is a problem and could do with improving there, but that was a defensive one off. What was equally disappointing today was the failure to create enough good chances.

A lot of us still stayed behind at the end of the game, chanting and applauding them off. I think it was important to do that. They looked dejected and bewildered but seeing that will have been good for them.

One off, ridiculous game, move on.

Good stuff Rickster. Me and the Mrs stayed to clap the lads, because they have been great for the majority of the season.

CW and AK will no doubt take a long hard look at the video of this game and hopefully work out what went wrong.

We went behind, JOC pulled us level, first half ended.Started second half brightly and then it all fell apart. Walsall looked dangerous every time they broke. We made some huge errors to gift them a 3-1 lead. The final penalty was the icing on the cake.

Worst part of this? They are a bang average League 1 side, big and fast, with one good footballer (Otzumer), at least one terrible clogger who looked like he was not even good enough for a Sunday pub side (14, Osbourne?) and a couple of dubious ref decisions, but all in all, they kept closing us down quickly and caused us trouble.

We need a very different "Plan B", for when things go wrong.

Man of the match (for us) Kieron Freeman

UTB

 

[BladeFisher]

I know it's not a time to overreact, but you can bet your arse there'll be a few L1 managers studying Walsall's two league games against us after that. Wilder and Knill need to do the same and plug the gaps.

Absolutely.