Pre season positives so far

[Woodwardfan]

They will only have loads of assists if we have the strikers to convert them. Keeper & striker(s) required urgently.

Keeper yes, strikers no. We had a great run under Clough without a single striker - Baxter played as a 'false no.9'. We will have a fantastic midfield with more on the bench and our 5 strikers will benefit from them and do well. If we improve on them fair enough but keeper and central defender more urgent. We have been rocky defensively this pre-season.

 

[Bladezz]

The way we play is the opppsite of pre season.

We all know next year we are going to try and mix it a bit with passing game. But we all know we are going to be the ones battling, hounding down players, hard tackling, closing down. Pre season matches aren't a good example for us.

 

[BushBlade]

What we should have done is a load of friendlies against shit Scottish teams, so we just smash them and everyone's really confident going into the first game. It's worked before. Well, it hasn't but it would look good right now.

Being serious, CW and AK will be having similar discussions to us, but with the benefit of knowing the players' fitness levels and personal circumstances which may affect performances, as well as knowing how hard the players are working in training.

With our relatively limited budget he can't put all his eggs in one basket, he was always going to have to bring one or two in after the season has started. Just like last season.
The main impact could be that we have to spend a bit more on a keeper. I suspect that Holmes messing everyone around will turn out to be a blessing.

The emergence of Eastwood is a nice little bonus. We can probably have him on the bench whilst Moore is recovering. Providing we don't use him much, if Moore's 'replacement' also gets injured, we can bring in an emergency loan if we don't want to over-expose Eastwood. But I think he can certainly go on the 'one for the future' list. Unless those fucking vampires Hoyland and Unsworth start sniffing round.

 

[McGrath]

You'd do well to crawl back under your fucking stone but it ain't a perfect world is it?

I think he makes a valid point.

I've spoken to a number of people in football and in other sports who've said that the players that make it aren't usually the most talented, but those that are single minded and mentally tough enough to make the sacrifices, do the extra training, get down the gym and never stop learning and listening.

They say it's even harder these days, now the culture has changed where youngsters can be earning miles more than the average person whilst still in their teens and no where near the 1st team.

Us fans fawning all over Brooks does him no flavours. It might not be me and you, but there will be people on social media and out and about telling him how wonderful he is. It's a lot to cope with when you only left school a few years before.

The best thing every Blade can do with every young player is to contain our excitment and celebrate them when they are first team regulars and not before.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I think he makes a valid point.

I've spoken to a number of people in football and in other sports who've said that the players that make it aren't usually the most talented, but those that are single minded and mentally tough enough to make the sacrifices, do the extra training, get down the gym and never stop learning and listening.

They say it's even harder these days, now the culture has changed where youngsters can be earning miles more than the average person whilst still in their teens and no where near the 1st team.

Us fans fawning all over Brooks does him no flavours. It might not be me and you, but there will be people on social media and out and about telling him how wonderful he is. It's a lot to cope with when you only left school a few years before.

The best thing every Blade can do with every young player is to contain our excitment and celebrate them when they are first team regulars and not before.

Any point being made was invalidated by the pointless insertion of one his several tiresome and very repetitive agendas. But that's to be expected.

I fully agree with your point however.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

I agree with Pinchy, feck the Bladey Boybanders and lets gets lots of overpaid veterans in.

 

[robbiez666]

Not naming names, but a couple of our players who are a bit off in pre-season look like they may have had rather too much over the summer break. Hopefully, it's just a case of them taking a bit longer to get match fit.

 

[SwissBlade]

The way we play is the opppsite of pre season.

We all know next year we are going to try and mix it a bit with passing game. But we all know we are going to be the ones battling, hounding down players, hard tackling, closing down. Pre season matches aren't a good example for us.

The idea of preseason is to build steadily, its not important to its entirely replicate a 46 game season in 4 games. Each game will be picked for different reasons.

Chesterfield, Rotherham and then Stoke will be good preparation to get players game time, hopefully the final game against Stoke will be a fairly decent test, but i doubt Stoke will be at full strength.

The games against Chesterfield and Rotherham will have given players less time on the ball, compared to say Malaga.

Also individual players will have had different aims for each game. With all the analysis that we do now, the games will be as close to real world scenario's as we can get.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Performances in pre season might not always mean much but for what it's worth these are the players who I've been pleased with so far, based on the Malaga, Chesterfield and Rotherham games.


Basham and O'Connell - they've carried on as they were last season, tidy, solid and just about flawless. No doubt at all that these two will make the step up. I think O'Connell could be our best player this season. He was very good on the ball tonight.

Coutts - has looked good and consistent in all three games I've seen. You can tell he's in good condition. He's gone a long time without fitness issues now and I think he's returning to the Championship in good shape. He's been better than Fleck, who has been quite sloppy at times.

Stevens - I've liked what I've seen of him. Looks like a real all rounder. Scored twice now as well. Freeman was our goalscoring wing back last season, maybe it'll be Stevens this season. I think he's got it in him.

Brooks - I've said enough about him on the Brooks thread, but he looks completely at ease in the first team and has won us these last two games. He has to have a serious chance of starting v Brentford. He seems more likely to make things happen than anyone else we have. Yes they're only friendlies he's played in but his quality couldn't be more obvious.

Carruthers - for the most part I think he's had a good pre season. He's got plenty of minutes under his belt and his general performance level has been good. He's putting himself in a good position going into the season. Hopefully his fitness is better than ever. He's got great potential and if he gets anywhere near reaching it there's a regular place for him in this team.

I think that assessment is absolutely spot on. I've not seen all the games but that is my take on it as well.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Carruthers' form could determine our season.

Jeepers! I hope not Woody - or we're DOOMED I tell ye!

(Actually think Carruthers is very talented - but it doesn't often produce much)

 

[Cerberus Blade]

The club want to use Brooks very carefully or he will get footy burnout,not had a rest due to Toulon,and young lads need to able to recharge there batteries.

yes, they can't take the pace like the older ones eh?

 

[SwissBlade]

Thanks for the updates, particularly Ricky and Tyler Durden

Not too worried about the likes of Sharp, Clarke, Freeman and Fleck having below par preseason games, we know what they all offer.

What is encouraging is the depth we’re getting in this squad. Stevens, Baldock, Brooks and Carruthers all seeming to be playing decent. I think its important for Carruthers and Brooks to be on it, as I expect Duffy to be a week or two behind them in terms of match fitness. Stevens and Baldock will no doubt have decent roles to play this season, we were lucky with Freeman and Lafferty last season that we were able to cover with the likes of Bash, EEL, Chapman etc, but this season will be a more physical test as well. So we need that back up.

My concern is injuries and knocks picked up this preseason, Moore, Ched and Hanson

I expect a bit more business to be done this week.

 

[Ricky]

I suspect that Holmes messing everyone around will turn out to be a blessing.

In more ways than one. It's opened the door for Brooks, a potentially better player, and certainly a more valuable one. In addition to that it could lead to more funds being available for a keeper and a striker, for example. I really wouldn't have expected missing out on him to work out better than signing him, but it looks like it could.

Similar happened last season - we were in for Tafazolli and McFadzean, but ended up with O'Connell and EEL - maybe we wouldn't have O'Connell if we got Tafazolli. Not signing Alex Revell was also a positive.

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

Rotherham's up 'n' at 'em approach was a fair test for us last night, and knowing they would be handing over after an hour meant their lads could go all out from start to finish before being replaced by 20 fresh legs. Some of ours looked a bit tired at the end but still had enough in reserve to see them off. The performances of Samir and Eastwood were certainly positives, and generally we looked pretty sound defensively. They weighed in with some brawn and challenging height, but also had a bit of pace and width about them so I thought we dealt reasonably well, apart from one or two slow reactions now and then.
More positives? I'd say Brooks is such a talent (plus confidence and ability to create time & space) that there should not be too many worries about bringing him through for frequent appearances. We should be worried about the poachers though.
Big Jack is going to be a big player for us this season - he's got more skills than folks realise. I know most think I'm daft for saying it, but given a choice I still think he's a better prospect than Maguire.
Ex-Owl Lavery is another big positive for me; he should continue to improve and gives us much needed pace.
Apart from an early lapse, I though Enda did OK and looks a decent acquisition. Stearman looks OK too, but I thought Jake looked at least as good when he came on.
Freeman doesn't look nearly as fit as he was last season, but then again he was way off the supreme fitness scale last season so not too worried there.
One worrying negative - there are obviously a few "bonding" problems amongst some of our fans so maybe there should be some segregation to be considered to avoid too much disharmony before the season begins in earnest.

 

[SteveBlade]

The fact that Fleck and Billy can look relatively poor when playing against semi pro players in pre season friendlies is enough for me to write off taking any real meaning from them whatsoever.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

One worrying negative - there are obviously a few "bonding" problems amongst some of our fans so maybe there should be some segregation to be considered to avoid too much disharmony before the season begins in earnest.

A group of about half a dozen lads to my left last night were showing a bit of "disharmony" with each other just after half time One bloke in particular took a nasty punch from a bigger guy behind him before the stewards eventually decided to intervene and took them out,

There was also one man in the row behind me who, just as the game was starting, climbed up the steps to Row O where his seat was, on all fours he was so pissed. He stunk like a fuckin brewery and at half time, someone had to help him down the steps and back up to his seat again afterwards.

At a friendly with Rotherham for fucks sake?

 

[Sheffsteel]

A group of about half a dozen lads to my left last night were showing a bit of "disharmony" with each other just after half time One bloke in particular took a nasty punch from a bigger guy behind him before the stewards eventually decided to intervene and took them out,

There was also one man in the row behind me who, just as the game was starting, climbed up the steps to Row O where his seat was, on all fours he was so pissed. He stunk like a fuckin brewery and at half time, someone had to help him down the steps and back up to his seat again afterwards.

At a friendly with Rotherham for fucks sake?

The other observation at the Rotherham match was the atmosphere was generally subdued and quiet, as you'd expect at a friendly match BUT

at half time in the concourse areas many Blades were singing creating a great atmosphere with a few videoing it on their phones.

Is this a new trend where some fans save their vocal chords for the main event at half time in the concourse?

 

[Ricky]

The Blade on Blade thing is no surprise, we've had this before at friendlies but nevertheless it is totally pathetic to see after the season we've just had. How the hell some people are going to cope when we're not pissing the league I have no idea.

The atmosphere thing is also concerning. It does seem to be a trend for them to save their voices until half time. Which is fucking stupid because the focus should be on supporting the team, but they don't seem to think like that. It's more about 'looking good'.

I hope that large away followings sitting down away at Chesterfield and Rotherham doesn't set the trend for the league campaign. But we won't be winning every week next season so I wouldn't be surprised if we slipped back into the habit of sitting down and shutting up again, like last time we were in the Championship.

 

[Dnblade]

The other observation at the Rotherham match was the atmosphere was generally subdued and quiet, as you'd expect at a friendly match BUT

at half time in the concourse areas many Blades were singing creating a great atmosphere with a few videoing it on their phones.

Is this a new trend where some fans save their vocal chords for the main event at half time in the concourse?

I just don't get it,what a waste of time and energy sounding like Fenerbache in the concourse,but more like MK Dons in the stands.
Save it for the actual game lads.

 

[Rodley]

The Blade on Blade thing is no surprise, we've had this before at friendlies but nevertheless it is totally pathetic to see after the season we've just had. How the hell some people are going to cope when we're not pissing the league I have no idea.

The atmosphere thing is also concerning. It does seem to be a trend for them to save their voices until half time. Which is fucking stupid because the focus should be on supporting the team, but they don't seem to think like that. It's more about 'looking good'.

I hope that large away followings sitting down away at Chesterfield and Rotherham doesn't set the trend for the league campaign. But we won't be winning every week next season so I wouldn't be surprised if we slipped back into the habit of sitting down and shutting up again, like last time we were in the Championship.

I think people acting the dickhead to our own fans and generally giving it the big un will be nipped in the bud after trips to Leeds, Forest, Sunderland, Wolves, Birmingham City, etc.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

I think the increased/increasing use of Columbian marching powder is a big factor. And yes. The half time concourse thing is pathetic. But then so are the scroatish cuntstick oxygen thieving walking abortions that do it. Wannabee BBC wankers.

 

[blades78]

Freeman is probably knackered. Played almost every minute last season and during this pre season. Need Baldock fit to give freeman a break and freshen things up

 

[Small Mendonca]

If we start sitting down at away games next year, I have no interest in going to them. Kills the atmosphere. I don't mind the concourse stuff as long as we create that atmosphere in the game, which we don't always seem to do. It does seem like quite a few of our fanbase would rather flaunt about in Stone Island giving it the big one and getting pissed/coked up rather than watching the game and supporting the team. You could understand if we were shit but who wouldn't want to watch us at the minute?

 

[Bladesway]

Lavery is hit and cold

Great mixed metaphor Grizzler.

 

[Pinchy]

If we start sitting down at away games next year, I have no interest in going to them. Kills the atmosphere. I don't mind the concourse stuff as long as we create that atmosphere in the game, which we don't always seem to do. It does seem like quite a few of our fanbase would rather flaunt about in Stone Island giving it the big one and getting pissed/coked up rather than watching the game and supporting the team. You could understand if we were shit but who wouldn't want to watch us at the minute?

You're missing something. Those throat-strangling ne