29/08/09 - Sheffield United v. West Brom

[Linz]

United play host to relegated West Brom.

This is your match thread for on-topic discussion, predictions and team line-ups.

 

[Vistoma]

Unchanged from Reading if Treacy is fit. This will be a real marker to the season in my opinion.

 

[BuryStEdmundsBlade]

Tough game. I watch them play Ipswich yesterday on the tv and it could have been 7 or 8-0 if Richard Wright hadn't produced a man of the match performance in goal. Not sure whether it was Ipswich playing poorly and making West Brom look good though!
Good luck Blades!

 

[grafikhaus]

West Brom this Saturday

Got to say they looked tasty v. Ipswich on MoTD (tho' a lot of this may be down to how bad Ipswich and their terminally crap manager Keane are).

Brunt looked v. impressive and their whole style of play will be a major challenge this weekend. Hopefully we won't go back to winning away only to lose points at home.

Just a thought - would it be a bad thing if we lost? If not, the next home match is the pigs - the last team to beat us at home in the league, incredibly on 7th February, and I think we can predict that one...

 

[Revolution]

Just a thought - would it be a bad thing if we lost?

Of course it would. It always is.

No one has beaten any of the relegated teams yet. It would be a huge morale boost to do so.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

West Brom are a real test for us, more from our attacking play than defensively I feel. We know we can defend, even though we lose a goal now and then, but have we got enough to break them down..?

 

[Trevor Hockey]

Hopefully this game will show us how far we've come rather than how much we've got to do.

 

[SwissBlade]

Its the first big test of the season, Boro on the 1st game was a tough game but I see WBA have recent experience in this division.

It's not a must win but we just need to avoid defeat.

Last season we lost the Big games at home, Reading, Wolves and Burnley all took maximum points at the lane. We were unlucky in many ways as they all came to us when they were flying.

 

[MAQ]

For me, and as mentioned, this match is going to be a much sterner test, and one that i am happier at the beginning of the season. With what ive seen of them so far i dont expect an easy game at all so if we can get a point from this one i think that will be a good result.

This is not saying that i want us to loose, but i do think that in certain areas they are stronger than us.

Lets hope that we can get at least a point against them.

Looking at the season as a whole, i think we have a good draw. We have played Boro, and are playing West Brom and the pigs early on in the season.With the exception of NEwcastle the rest of the matches upto christmas are teams (With the exception of Peterborough) that we have played before and as such should be able to build a decent run upto christmas which will hopefully keep us in and around the playoff/promotion places.

 

[beightonblade]

2-1 to the Blades.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

As others have said, more of a test than Boro or Reading for me as we know Blackie can set us up for away games, it's the home games where we need to impose ourselves where he has generally fallen short, certainly against the 'bigger' clubs.

 

[Santos]

Got to say they looked tasty v. Ipswich on MoTD (tho' a lot of this may be down to how bad Ipswich and their terminally crap manager Keane are).

Brunt looked v. impressive and their whole style of play will be a major challenge this weekend. Hopefully we won't go back to winning away only to lose points at home.

Just a thought - would it be a bad thing if we lost? If not, the next home match is the pigs - the last team to beat us at home in the league, incredibly on 7th February, and I think we can predict that one...

Brunt is a great player and will be a real test for our defence when he's whipping them in from the left hand side. Genuine test for Walker, I am surprised WBA managed to hold onto him. Other than Brunt I'm struggling to name any of their outfield players though! Still, they've had a great start to the season so shouldn't be overlooked.

It certainly would be a bad thing if we lost, if we can get a win on Saturday and do well against Derby we'll be going into the Wednesday game full of beans.

 

[mattbianco1]

No one has beaten any of the relegated teams yet. It would be a huge morale boost to do so.

No one has beaten us yet!

Should be a tight game. We will only lose to a sloppy goal where we switch off. As for winning. If Treacy is injured then Cotterill has to start, even on the left.

 

[frechyblade]

Its the first big test of the season, Boro on the 1st game was a tough game but I see WBA have recent experience in this division.

It's not a must win but we just need to avoid defeat.

Last season we lost the Big games at home, Reading, Wolves and Burnley all took maximum points at the lane. We were unlucky in many ways as they all came to us when they were flying.

I disagree about it not being a 'must win'. I think if we are harbouring intentions of doing well, these games, at home especially, are the games we must win. The mindset is totally different at the beginning of the season, if this was late April and the points gap was the same would you be still saying it isn't a must win game? Just a thought.

UTB

 

[Isiah]

Agree that Blackie sets us up better away from home, but I think that's because we cope better when clubs come at us rather than sitting back waiting for us to do something.
I expect West Brom, who are a young side and full of early season confidence, to come at us and think we are in for a very good game.
Blades to win 2-1.

 

[The Fox]

Talking of West Brom Memories and the infamous BOBL ( I'm sure it will be mentioned yet again on the run up to Saturday in terms of WW3 )
It was probably one of the less dirty games of to involve so many red cards.A handball from the keeper and a minute of madness was about it.

Untill I saw on on TV later I was convinced Santos went for the ball ligitimately ( blades tinted spectacles etc)

Strange to be driving home waiting fror the other results at the time not realising what a big issue it was to have a game abandoned for running out of players .

Glad i was there as you could put all the Boll*cks that followed in perpective.

 

[Ollessendro]

2-1 to the Blades.

Ok, that is a positive comment on not only Unitedite but also on here. Are you feeling ok?

I also think that we shall win 2-1 mind.

People are right that this is a stern test. That's not to say Boro away was not the first big test; I disagree with anyone who desputes that. Boro have proved since we played them that they are dangerous and capable of scoring. The fact that we completely nullified them is very positive.

It wil be a different test though on Saturday. The emphasis is on us to win. Win the home games draw the aways and we can get out of the championship. Unlike the Boro game we are expected to win this. Not only this, but we are expected to take the game to West Brom.

If we keep the same team and play to our strenghts we have a very good chance of winning. KB seems to have learnt (touchwood) that we have a strong team and can beat anyone on the day. Hence we should not worry about opposition. If he does this then I think we'll win.

 

[kop_blade9]

Talking of West Brom Memories and the infamous BOBL ( I'm sure it will be mentioned yet again on the run up to Saturday in terms of WW3 )
It was probably one of the less dirty games of to involve so many red cards.A handball from the keeper and a minute of madness was about it.

Have to disagree there.
West brom started the game intimidating us with niggly fouling tackles which the ref gave us nothing for. when we started doing the same it was a free kick every time to west brom. So our players were getting frustrated before the infamous tackle by santos.

after the sending offs our players didnt care so went in over the top tackling and because the ref had already sent 2 off he was loathe to reduce us anymore.
we could easily have crippled some of their players and the ref did not want to know.

One of the dirtiest games I have seen from both sides.
Keith Curle being the dirtiest.

 

[matth]

Keith Curle? Dirty? Get outta town!

 

[The Fox]

One of the dirtiest games I have seen from both sides.
Keith Curle being the dirtiest.

You may well be right ,. the fine detail of the match got a little lost in the mayhem . I just remember thinking at the time that it was hardly a bloodbath and christened the BOBL to hype the events up.

Agree about Keith Curle though, proper nut case. It would ave been nice to see him alongside Morgs !

 

[Ted Danson]

Im thinking a draw for this one, maybe 2 -2 or 0-0 but i think il go with 2-2. Obviously I'd love us to nick it 2-1 though.

UTB!

 

[Selly]

1-1 for me, us to go 1 up, them to equalize, Happy with a point at the end of the day.

 

[Ollessendro]

I've just been looking for highlights of the infamous BOBL on the net. Found absolutely naff all.

Is this for legal or sensitivity reasons?

 

[Vistoma]

I've just been looking for highlights of the infamous BOBL on the net. Found absolutely naff all.

Is this for legal or sensitivity reasons?

Here you go mate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDsjY3uFdE

 

[Ollessendro]

Cheers Vistoma.

Jeez, that was a shocker from Santos wasn't it. I remember reading something in Warnocks autobiography that he said to big George don't go after him, because of some incident that had gone on between him and johnson previously.

Absolute shocker though. It's the type of tackle that can ends peoples careers. Same thing that tosser Ainsworth did to Dane Whitehouse. Except that really was a carrer ender! :-(

 

[DazBlade88]

Cheers Vistoma.

Jeez, that was a shocker from Santos wasn't it. I remember reading something in Warnocks autobiography that he said to big George don't go after him, because of some incident that had gone on between him and johnson previously.

Absolute shocker though. It's the type of tackle that can ends peoples careers. Same thing that tosser Ainsworth did to Dane Whitehouse. Except that really was a carrer ender! :-(

After what Johnson had done to Santos the previous year, I'm not surprised that Santos went in like he did. As soon as he brought him on we all knew what was going to happen...

 

[S64 Blade]

My first game of the season this saturday Can't wait for it, i've missed the football....I think we'll win Saturday, 2-1.

 

[rachyblade]

I don't think we will win this one, I'm going for 2-0 to them.

 

[yamyamblade]

My first prediction so here goes 1 -1 draw Ward to score last

That's what will be on my coupon tomorrow anyway

 

[Revolution]

After what Johnson had done to Santos the previous year, I'm not surprised that Santos went in like he did. As soon as he brought him on we all knew what was going to happen...

It was worse than that. Santos essentially admitted what he was going to do in an interview in the week leading up to the game. That being the case, I have never understood why Warnock brought him on.