Coutts, Fleck and Duffy.. Or...

[Harry's Game]

..Huddleston.

I know who I would rather have. And I doubt their combined Saleries match his on his own.

 

[DronnieBlade]

..Huddleston.

I know who I would rather have. And I doubt their combined Saleries match his on his own.

Based on some of the over inflated transfer fees being paid in this age of financial madness, we have our own £10m CM pair that, IMHO, I wouldn't swap for any other CM pair in the division. They are that good.

Individually superb, collectively outstanding.

UTB

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Too right.

Hungry players with something to prove vs. "established Championship players".

Delighted we've got the former rather than the latter.

Coutts though. Gets better & better & better.

 

[Reedy1889]

I love watching Couttsy, he makes playing football look oh so easy and to think a year or so ago I thought he was finished! Proved me wrong for sure.

 

[Slim Man]

Huddlestone is still a very good player and he could find a 2 pence piece on the other end of the pitch but Coutts and Fleck showed him up today.

Take nothing away from our lads by dumbing down theirs, they are a very talented bunch. Ours were just better. UTB

 

[Reynoldo]

Huddlestone has loads of talent, but no where near the drive and passion of our current midfielders

 

[zablade]

Huddleston is pound land Socrates, strolls about plays the occasional world class pass, but most of the time gives the impression of not giving a shit.

Our midfield played theirs off the park first half.

 

[Ricky]

Teamwork and balance v individuals with big reputations.

One winner.

 

[Bladesway]

Just brilliant to even think we are able to have this conversation. Only 2 years ago we would have pissed ourselves to compare.

How far we have come under Wilder!

 

[Ricky]

Oh and for Coutts to play like that against Derby, a few years and many millions of pounds (for Derby) later.

Brilliant.

 

[flashinblade1889]

Coutts,Fleck and Duffy different gravy....

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Midfield 3 were very good today ,difficult to choose between the 3 of em , Fleck had his best game of season to date , but I thought Basham was MOTM today played very well with some important headers ,

 

[YES Blade]

The difference is the manager not the players, put Wilder in charge of that Derby team and they would piss this league.

Wilder is just working miracles at the moment.

 

[DiggerBlade]

Sheffield United are getting better by every game. The improvement matches the atmosphere.

Keep it up Blades.

 

[DronnieBlade]

The difference is the manager not the players, put Wilder in charge of that Derby team and they would piss this league.

Wilder is just working miracles at the moment.

Love the sentiment. But that's rather too dismissive of our players, several of which looked PL standard on today's performances.

UTB

 

[TCsLoveChild]

Huddleston is pound land Socrates, strolls about plays the occasional world class pass, but most of the time gives the impression of not giving a shit.

Our midfield played theirs off the park first half.

Don't knock Socrates he was a Champions League philosopher. UTB

 

[I should coco]

most of the time gives the impression of not giving a shit.

He ran the game at Wembley in 2014 so either he's become shit or its a sign of how we've come on.

Absolutely superb performances today from all.

 

[Bayingblade]

I can't think of many midfielders who would be taking an attacking free kick deep in the opponents half and 20 seconds later be making a last ditch saving tackle deep in our own box.......

Like John Fleck did today!

He's started slowly this season like he did last year but he's getting better with every game, again like last season.

What a fucking bargain!!!

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Don't knock Socrates he was a Champions League philosopher. UTB

Aaah Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, MD...Perhaps my favourite all time player...

 

[PokerBlade]

I can't think of many midfielders who would be taking an attacking free kick deep in the opponents half and 20 seconds later be making a last ditch saving tackle deep in our own box.......

Like John Fleck did today!

He's started slowly this season like he did last year but he's getting better with every game, again like last season.

What a fucking bargain!!!

Would he make the Coventry side yet?

 

[WalkelyFan]

I watched Huddlestone when he was with Hull 'cos I have a football crazy mate who lives there. He looked really good. Today he looked lazy and that looked like an ageing team. (And they paid an initial £5,000,000 for Lawrence who came on as a sub). Let's all agree. Wilder knows what he is doing.

 

[Anston Blade]

Utd were superb today, each and everyone of them. We have adjusted to the pace of the division and the reduced time on the ball and the players have realised that they deserve to be in the Championship and have the ability to succeed.

I think we have shown that we have nothing to fear and will only get better. UTB

 

[YES Blade]

Love the sentiment. But that's rather too dismissive of our players, several of which looked PL standard on today's performances.

UTB

Remind me how good Coutts was under Clough and Adkins. He'd be nowhere near Championship level if it wasn't for Wilder.

That sounds very harsh on Coutts cause obviously Coutts has played his part in turning his career around. But I think it's mainly down to Wilder personally.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Remind me how good Coutts was under Clough and Adkins. He'd be nowhere near Championship level if it wasn't for Wilder.

That sounds very harsh on Coutts cause obviously Coutts has played his part in turning his career around. But I think it's mainly down to Wilder personally.

It's my opinion, and only that, but the evidence that Coutts was a special player was always there. Even back then. My observations confirming such. We were in very small minority but a few others saw it as well.

Even to an extent when saddled with a certain Mr Hammond.

I'm not dismissing Wilders input. In general or on Coutts specifically.

It's just that there is a fairly vocal section of our support that if a player doesn't eat lightning and crap thunder, said player will not court favour. It's a Blades thing !

It's very narrow minded of me, but I do tend to make judgements on players based on how good their first touch of the ball is. It's not the be all and the end all. But in a modern expansive side, like the one we now witness under Wilder, it's far far more important than blood thunder and bluster. IMHO.

Coutts has a first touch from the gods. He has it now. He had it 2 seasons ago. Nothing has changed.

UTB

 

[flashinblade1889]

Would he make the Coventry side yet?

No Poker not good enough....

 

[HVR]

In the first half, we played very calm and measured. Passing the ball around, trying to open up their defence. And pressing well.

In the second half, we started to get a bit panicky, chasing too much and upping the tempo. I thought we were getting pushed back by Derby.

When Carruthers came on, he really changed the game. Slowing things down, holding the ball, a few side steps. Keeping hold of possession - and the team seemed to regain their composure. I think if he had not come on we would have been under the cosh til the final whistle.

So I think a shout out to him and a great substitution by Wilder.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I can't think of many midfielders who would be taking an attacking free kick deep in the opponents half and 20 seconds later be making a last ditch saving tackle deep in our own box.......

Like John Fleck did today!

He's started slowly this season like he did last year but he's getting better with every game, again like last season.

What a fucking bargain!!!

That was a match-winning tackle, as they looked odds-on to score. The fact that he did almost the same run near the end of the match, and this time nearly scored, but Carson blocked his shot, shows the work-rate and intelligence of the guy - the first run came after he spotted the danger, the second run when he spotted the opportunity to get through on goal. Key player for me.

 

[YES Blade]

It's my opinion, and only that, but the evidence that Coutts was a special player was always there. Even back then. My observations confirming such. We were in very small minority but a few others saw it as well.

Even to an extent when saddled with a certain Mr Hammond.

I'm not dismissing Wilders input. In general or on Coutts specifically.

It's just that there is a fairly vocal section of our support that if a player doesn't eat lightning and crap thunder, said player will not court favour. It's a Blades thing !

It's very narrow minded of me, but I do tend to make judgements on players based on how good their first touch of the ball is. It's not the be all and the end all. But in a modern expansive side, like the one we now witness under Wilder, it's far far more important than blood thunder and bluster. IMHO.

Coutts has a first touch from the gods. He has it now. He had it 2 seasons ago. Nothing has changed.

UTB

But he still looked gash under Adkins and Clough, special players don't look crap even under poor managers.

It's not about blood and thunder, that's not Coutts' game. He passes the ball well and has a good touch, but so do all top midfielders. Compare Coutts at his peak to McCall at 38 and there is no comparison, Coutts is a decent player and Wilder is certainly getting the best out of him. But we can certainly sign players who are better and would enable us to push on.

 

[DronnieBlade]

But he still looked gash under Adkins and Clough, special players don't look crap even under poor managers.

It's not about blood and thunder, that's not Coutts' game. He passes the ball well and has a good touch, but so do all top midfielders. Compare Coutts at his peak to McCall at 38 and there is no comparison, Coutts is a decent player and Wilder is certainly getting the best out of him. But we can certainly sign players who are better and would enable us to push on.

Then all I can say is that we see this very very differently.

I'll go as far to say Coutts is the most important cog in this Wilder machine. No doubt in my mind. Not being dismissive of others.

Consider this. Does Coutts have more touches of the ball than any other UTD player ? Consistently, game after game ?

Consider why ?? It's not by chance, it's by design. Tuftydesign

All Blades.

UTB

 

[dronny_blade]

Genuine question..has there ever been a better midfield than we currently have the pleasure to watch...yep I've seen Hodges/Brown/Cowans etc but have we ever had 3 midfielders like this in the same team?