The Way we Play

[Currie on Radio]

I am sure we have all noticed that pre-match and at half time there are little groups of players knocking the ball in circles with one in the middle trying to get it off them in a display of one-touch football. Later they lengthen the gap and start passing long.

Why don't they do this the other way around? Much more useful to the style we play.

Last night's first half was a carbon copy of the Wednesday home game last season when frankly we had no idea.

Our players run away from the ball looking for a long pass. Good footballing teams run towards the player with the ball to make the short pass easier. They play in triangles - we rarely do. That way they keep possession. We hoof it and give it away.

I wrote elsewhere that Doncaster played superb football last night according to the reports and a reply came "It didn't do them and Swansea much good last season did it?" Doncaster murdered us at Bramall Lane last season. Don't tell me you wouldn't want to watch football like that each week? And they and Swansea had about half our resources. O'Driscoll will eventually get snapped up by a Premier team like Martinez did.

Here are two more answers. They are both in this league and so are we. Indications are that Doncaster are improving. With a strike force like ours they ought to walk this league.

The second one is that holding the ball, retaining possession and short passing didn't do Barcelona much harm did it? 80% of what they do I reckon most professional footballers including ours could do.

The extra 20% makes the European champions of course - but we are just aiming to get out of the Championship at the moment.

Teams at this level can do it. Leicester showed that in parts last night. We spent £3 million on a striker after spending £2 million on a striker. We have another £2 million striker and a £600,000 striker. We tend to hoof the ball to them. We might has well have spent the money on a donkey off Blackpool Beach. At least the opposition centre-halves would have something to think about.

We have no decent midfield. And haven't had for a number of years. I'd like to see any money spent there and on a new manager.

There are two Spaniards on trial. If they are football playing midfielders then they will be out of place here.

 

[Micalijo]

What an absolutely tremendous post.

Money on a new midfield and a new manager. Music to my ears. It won't happen Currie but we can dream eh?

 

[Currie on Radio]

Ta! Nice to know I am not on my own.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Weve been looking for a midfielder for how long and bought/loaned the following Legs of Wood, Fahti, Howard, O'toole,Quinn Snr, Morrison, Halford, Cotterill, Ried, Treacey, Hendrie, Little, Speed
as well as Tonge, Jags, Law, Monty thru the ranks Oh for a twenty something Stuart McCall - now he was quality
As for a new manager Blackwell needs to be moved on as soon as possible but McCabe likes him because he's a cheap option and does as he's told!

 

[Foxy]

As for a new manager Blackwell needs to be moved on as soon as possible but McCabe likes him because he's a cheap option and does as he's told!

I assume the year on year improvements whilst sorting the budget mean nothing to him eh?

 

[Fiery Blade]

I assume the year on year improvements whilst sorting the budget mean nothing to him eh?

Blackwell has had at his disposal one of the most costliest squads in the league (in terms of wages)
He's sold the best players Beattie, Naughton, Stead, Hulse, Walker bought mainly TAT and loaned even more TAT Craig Beattie, Lupoli, O'Toole,
His biggest problem is man management eg Hendrie, Cotterill,
And also watch him on the touchline - bollocks the ones who don't answer back! never a word to SQuinny or Henderson.
There are many that could have done what Blackwell has done except perhaps Robson!