Quick player report vs Brentford

[Sheffsteel]

Think some are being a bit harsh on Billy, he took a pretty hard whack to the head just after he'd scored and that would have knock anybody's duck off, so to speak...

I'm sometimes Billy's biggest critic because he rarely shows the all round game forward play that Leon showed on Saturday
BUT scoring is the hardest and most valued asset and he has this knack of always coming up with the goods.
Credit to him and I'm really pleased that as a Blade himself he's making such a positive contribution to our history.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I though Samir had a great game, linked up well and was disappointed he was brought off. Bash was a beast.

I suspect Carruthers was feeling the effects of the earlier knock he received

 

[TJB.]

On a side note - I just love watching Coutts play football, he makes it look oh so easy

Remember when we all thought he was shit?

 

[Woodwardfan]

I'm sometimes Billy's biggest critic because he rarely shows the all round game forward play that Leon showed on Saturday
BUT scoring is the hardest and most valued asset and he has this knack of always coming up with the goods.
Credit to him and I'm really pleased that as a Blade himself he's making such a positive contribution to our history.

Clarke is a goalscorer too.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Remember when we all thought he was shit?

That's because he was!

We all knew he had skills but his attitude towards the last manager was 'shit' and before that he was nowhere near fit or able to play much more than half a game.

I've only just forgiven him for not trying for Adkins, inexcusable really, but he has been so good for Wilder so he's forgiven. I'm sure he will be relieved

Seriously, it is a real case of a player respecting and believing in his new manager and responding with total effort. He is enjoying his football so much these days and those dark days fade away for him and us. We fans are all reborn as is Coutts and thank goodness too, we deserve it as Wilder said yesterday.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

I thought Stevens at RWB had a very poor game,and i hardly noticed Lafferty,we have no pace in the team,and the bench is very weak

 

[Pinchy]

I thought Stevens at RWB had a very poor game,and i hardly noticed Lafferty,we have no pace in the team,and the bench is very weak

Ah yes, astonishingly the exclusive team news turned out to be utter bollocks, didn't it? Oodathortit eh?

WUEDBP.

 

[Antonb]

Stevens had a good game against pacy and tricky players.

 

[Reedy1889]

Remember when we all thought he was shit?

It is remarkable the turnaround he has had

 

[Slacky1889]

Sent this to a mate yesterday who didn't make the game, seen as there is a thread I'll post my player report.

Gk - Blackman 9/10 made some top class save, looks calm and relaxed and dominant in air. Only downfall is he has dodgy kicking

RWB - Freeman 7.5/10 Another solid game from him. Defended well, didn't have as much space to attack into.

RCB - Basham 8.5/10 Puts everything into it, second half that Watkins did him once or twice, but can't fault the lad made some big challenges for us.

CB - Stearman 8.5/10 Really impressed with his debut, made some crucial interceptions, looks dodgy on ball sometimes.

LCB - O'Connell 8.5/10 Same as basham really, made one challenge in particular that stopped a near certain goal.

LWB - Stevens 8/10 Looks a reyt signing this kid. Loves to attack, deliveries are spot on and cracked post in first half. Got caught owt once or twice in second half.

LCM - Fleck 7/10 Started off slow but got into it more as game went on. Last 20 mins we had ten men behind ball so midfield couldn't do much.

RCM - Coutts 7.5/10 He just controls the game. But like said above hard game for the two in midfield.

CAM - Carruthers 7/10 Looked positive, wanted to create but their midfield stuck to him and he didn't create much in the end. Worked a lot harder defensively which was good to see.

ST - Clarke 8.5/10 His presence helped us massively today, put a lovely ball on sharps head. Never gave up on any ball and caused problems for most of the game. He must of been knackered by end.

ST - Sharp 8/10 Does what he does best, bags. Scored when we needed him too. Looked a threat but chances were a premium.

Overall think you could tell we don't have the quality that Brentford did today. And another day it could of been a draw. But we defended brilliantly and every player gave their all. Couldn't ask for much more as a blade. And as long as that man wilders in charge I think we'll do just fine. Lacking pace up top. Atmosphere was unreal.

Subs came on when we was defending for our lives so can't really judge them.

 

[Kimmy Blade]

it just shows how people see the game differently, i thought fleck didnt have his usual influence/control on the game today, i thought couttss carried him a little today, not a dig i love fleck, just how i saw it today


blackman - 8 couple of fine saves, especially the one on one, looked comfy on crosses too

freeman - 7 worked hard as usual, thought he was better defensively today and not bombing on as much, maybe something wilder has been looking at

stearman - 7.5 good debut for me, looks like he reads the game very well

joc - 8 - solid as a rock, great last ditch tackle

bash - 8 most improved player ive seen in years, arguably one of the first 3 or 4 on the teamsheet

edna - 7.5 steady, good on the ball and gets forward too

fleck - 6 thought he was very quiet and didnt get his usual grip on the game

coutts - 8 where the hell has this player come from, so comfy on the ball and looks fit as a fiddle now

samir - 8 best ive seen from him, not been his biggest advocate but thought he caused them all sorts of trouble today, worked his socks off

billy - 7 pretty quiet today but like all good strikers he took his chance

leon - 8 put himself about and caused problems. great dummy before the cross for the goal



subs

lundstram - hmmmmmm wont judge him on 20 mins of football, but looked off the pace to me and a little ungainly

lavery - usual hustling self, great bit of link up between him and clarke


all in all very satisfying, they were a good side and we did well to negate the threat on the whole, think unless samir was knackered it was the only decision i would have disagreed with today, we had them on the rack for 10 mins before he went off, after we lost his energy we were on the back foot for the last 20. right decision not to bring brooks on today. at 1-0 it was a bit too tight, he will get his chance soon though, well done blades its only week 1, but plenty of positives to take forward

That's pretty much how I saw it too

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Someone like Monty would have been good to bring on near the end yesterday.

 

[wizadry]

Someone like Monty would have been good to bring on near the end yesterday.

He wouldn't mate, we wanted to hold on for the win.

 

[dazzlingblade]

He wouldn't mate, we wanted to hold on for the win.

he would have made it 2-0 with a 35 yard thunderbolt

 

[wizadry]

he would have made it 2-0 with a 35 yard thunderbolt

We're not on about the Scottish golfer!

 

[Lawrence]

Someone like Monty would have been good to bring on near the end yesterday.

Do you think we could get him back though??