Praise for Blackwell

[Bramley]

Tactically got it spot on - kept Ambrose and Moses out of the game who are two of the form attacking players in the league.

Williamson made the difference with his box-to-box work - he's like a new signing. Either Monty or Harper can play alongside him. Even Evans improved.

With the squad starting to get fit I think now is the time to really judge KB - I think if we continue to improve our performances and make a couple of decent signings at Christmas we'll be top 4 comfortably.

The only disappointment was the atmosphere - 500 odd Palace fans outsang us despite a much improved performance. I suppose its small mercies there wasn't any booing, but we need to turn BDTBL back into a fortress.

COME ON YOU RED AND WHITE WIZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARDS! :thumbup:

 

[beightonblade]

Tactically got it spot on

has to be a first for everything.
sorry to p!ss on the chips BUT cheap as chips just aint gud enuff....... i see a step sideways for him very soon.

 

[shorehamview]

i see a step sideways for him very soon.

Avoiding a particularly large dog egg on the pavement?

 

[Bergen Blade]

Nobody should wish the manager out for the sake of it. If Blackwell gets it right and is successful he should be supported and allowed to continue. There are many things that I wish he would do differently, but if he takes us up it will be proof that his way of doing things can be effective too, at least at this level.

Having said that he should accept blame for our poor patch. Building a squad big and strong enough to deal with injuries was his responsibility. He gambled and it cost us, but we've put some results together now, and we're stilll in a decent position to get promotion.

 

[JohnDenver]

Williamson made the difference with his box-to-box work - he's like a new signing.

He is a new signing.

 

[Guesty]

It's not worth it's own thread so I'll post it here, Blackwell is co-commentating on the West Brom match tomorrow night, so we can here more of his tactical wisdom then

That sounds sarcastic but he did play a good hand yesterday, Palace didn't get a sniff.

 

[Santos]

they had the shits instead!

 

[Guesty]

Yep, well that certainly helped!

I feel that Machievellian picture of Morgs along with a syringe of salmonella is in order.

 

[Gloucblade]

has to be a first for everything.
sorry to p!ss on the chips BUT cheap as chips just aint gud enuff....... i see a step sideways for him very soon.

No TOTALLY wrong, beighton, Blackwell got it exactly right at Plymouth as well, won us the game then as well.

 

[Jon Bon]

I feel that Machievellian picture of Morgs along with a syringe of salmonella is in order.

Maybe they shouldn't have used Chris's Football Catering Co to prepare their breakfasts...

 

[tomtheblade]

Yes, well despite our good run of late being a unitedite of course i have an ability to make pessimistic excuses for our wins

peterborough- home to bottom team, new manager
bristol- let a 2 goal lead slip lucky that they switched off in the last min
plymouth- terrible team, sturrock's last game, only managed to win by 1
palace- club in turmoil off the pitch and half the team running on empty due to illness

despite being only a draw the forest result gives me more cause for optimism than the recent wins because theyre actually a good side.

Our midfield is starting to look good with Williamson returning, that and he can actually pass the ball. I'm cautiously optimistic but i'll be more convinced of promotion/play off potential when we actually manage to beat a good side comfortably.

 

[davidpinder]

No TOTALLY wrong, beighton, Blackwell got it exactly right at Plymouth as well, won us the game then as well.

he may have got it right against palace but i disagree that he did against plymouth we were lucky and he got out of jail.

 

[LouTheBlade]

I sometimes wish people would get off Blackwell's back. Admittedly a few weeks ago things were looking bleak and even I was becoming restless but lets be fair - the man has had horrendous luck with injuries to his players and no one can deny how unlucky we have been in that respect.

I dont think the guy is a tactical genius by any stretch and at times he does make substitutions that are bizarre to say the least - but you can never put yourselves in his shoes so how can we judge. The game is a lot different down on the touchline (i.e. the view from the stands often doesnt tell the whole story).

The football isnt pretty at times but we havent got the players to play one touch 'champagne' football so we need to take a reality check in all honesty. Robson tried to adopt a cultured passing style and we didnt have the personnel for it.

I dont subscribe to this idiotic view that KB lacks method in his tactics - he simply sticks to a style of play that suits the players we have. I would rather we win than entertain and a Blackwell run United team wins more than it loses (and that is a fact).

 

[TonyAgana]

I would rather we win than entertain and a Blackwell run United team wins more than it loses (and that is a fact).

...and certainly doesn't entertain .

I'm in agreement, Lou. I also think it's a bit unfair pinning the fact that we have a thin squad on him. He hasn't trotted out the "quality over quantity" line since last season so I think we should stop beating him with that particular stick. There's plenty other sticks that we can use, should we wish! I'm not EVER denying that, but the guy is getting things right recently. If we look at it like footballers' form, then I think he deserves his place on the teamsheet and our backing. For the time being, he's got mine.

 

[happyhippy]

Maybe they shouldn't have used Chris's Football Catering Co to prepare their breakfasts...

How did they get a picture of my old student house?

 

[tomtheblade]

The football isnt pretty at times but we havent got the players to play one touch 'champagne' football so we need to take a reality check in all honesty. Robson tried to adopt a cultured passing style and we didnt have the personnel for it.

I dont subscribe to this idiotic view that KB lacks method in his tactics - he simply sticks to a style of play that suits the players we have. I would rather we win than entertain and a Blackwell run United team wins more than it loses (and that is a fact).

I agree with most of what you say but what disappoints me about Blackwell (and i back him) is that i actually think we do have the players to play better passing football. Not Arsenal standard you get me but definitely better than what we are. Hendo, Monty and Morgs aside the rest of the players, the likes of Killa, Williamson, Harper, Ward, Walker etc can actually pass the ball so we should be more ambitious with our play. I also think we are also too cautious under Blackwell and should come out and attack teams more, especially now that our defence is getting back on form. Being negative is only a good tactic if your team is terrible, which ours isn't.

I think Robson failed not because he tried to get us to play passing football but because he was tactically inept and a boring dullard who couldn't inspire the players or man-manage (or..anything really, except spend loads of money).

 

[LouTheBlade]

I agree with most of what you say but what disappoints me about Blackwell (and i back him) is that i actually think we do have the players to play better passing football.

Some fair points Tom and I agree we do have maybe half a dozen decent ball players in the team and maybe at times we could play more attractive football - but would we want to trade it for a win?

I think my views on this stem from the fact that I am not what many would call a football purist. To me its all about the three points 'by any means necessary.' In my opinion good football is winning football - simple as that. I think there is a certain amount of rubbish spoken about the value of "attractive" football and I get quite frustrated with pundits on TV de-valuing the achievements of the likes of Stoke City for example who use long throws and a direct passing style.

I am not by any means suggesting that United should 'hoof' the ball long to Henderson or constantly play down channels but its horses for courses at the end of the day. Look at Arsenal - they play some of the best passing football ive ever seen and I love watching it, but they havent won anything for what? 5 or 6 years? I know what youre thinking.....neither have United.....but thats just us isnt it

Despite all that I think Blackwell will eventually get us playing in a more entertaining style, but in our current division I dont think its required very often. A lot of the teams in this division dont let you get the ball down. Outside of Newcastle and West Brom I think the division is full of very mediocre teams this year. Has been for a while though. If Forest can sit in third anyone has a chance.

 

[Gingerblade]

Some fair points Tom and I agree we do have maybe half a dozen decent ball players in the team and maybe at times we could play more attractive football - but would we want to trade it for a win?

I think my views on this stem from the fact that I am not what many would call a football purist. To me its all about the three points 'by any means necessary.' In my opinion good football is winning football - simple as that. I think there is a certain amount of rubbish spoken about the value of "attractive" football and I get quite frustrated with pundits on TV de-valuing the achievements of the likes of Stoke City for example who use long throws and a direct passing style.

I am not by any means suggesting that United should 'hoof' the ball long to Henderson or constantly play down channels but its horses for courses at the end of the day. Look at Arsenal - they play some of the best passing football ive ever seen and I love watching it, but they havent won anything for what? 5 or 6 years? I know what youre thinking.....neither have United.....but thats just us isnt it

Despite all that I think Blackwell will eventually get us playing in a more entertaining style, but in our current division I dont think its required very often. A lot of the teams in this division dont let you get the ball down. Outside of Newcastle and West Brom I think the division is full of very mediocre teams this year. Has been for a while though. If Forest can sit in third anyone has a chance.

Talk about hit the nail on the head. U must have read my mind with this post!

 

[Fiery Blade]

On Saturday I thought the game very entertaining with a mix of long ball, short passing, and quick on the break counter attacks albeit versus a very poor Crystal Palace side!
I don't believe it's a case of 'entertaining' passing football against long 'hoofball' tactics but more of utilising several options in order to break down defences or exploiting obvious weaknessess.
Most of the top teams in the country including Man Ure, Man City, Chelsea etc offer many alternatives going forward and the art is to utilise whichever aspect of the game is most effective.
Where I criticise Blackwell is that he goes into a game with some sort of plan which usually involves lumping it up to Henderson and will not change it during the game whether it be effective or not!
Clearly the team can play the different elements very well but usually it's down to the manager who tells them how to play!
Now, thats where I have an issue!

 

[LouTheBlade]

Where I criticise Blackwell is that he goes into a game with some sort of plan which usually involves lumping it up to Henderson and will not change it during the game whether it be effective or not!

I think the above comment is fair to some extent. At times we do look a little one dimensional and I do think if there can be any criticism of the manager, its that sometimes we dont have a plan B. That can often be due to a manager's overriding belief in his own methods and an unwillingness to change. In some ways it can be detrimental but at the end of the day he's there to make the decisions and he has always taken criticism with great dignity which you have to admire.

If you look at the spine of our team (i.e; Morgan, Monty, Hendo) as strong as it is none of them have sparkling footwork or a wonderful array of passing - but they are the heart of the team and in essence any team's style will in most cases be dictated by those players. We are what we are at the end of the day. We arent the best side in the world but we have at least 8 or 9 players I wouldnt trade for others in the Championship.

Henderson takes some stick at times for being a bit of a brute but I happen to think he's a decent footballer and is quite intelligent in terms of getting into good positions. If we can finish in the top 6 this season I would say we have met realistic expectations - from there its in the lap of the gods. I think we will finish there or there abouts and we will do it with a good mix passing and direct play - which will do for me!

 

[Grecian2000]

maybe at times we could play more attractive football - but would we want to trade it for a win?

Why would we have to?

I am always staggered when people suggest that playing "attractive football" will somehow prevent you from winning. Aside from Arsenal, the best "footballing" side in the country are Man Utd who are chasing a fourth straight title.

When Howard Kendall took over from Dave Bassett we had a side which appeared absolutely incapable of stringing two passes together before having to smack it up to Flo/Blake. Kendall changed this philosophy in a heartbeat. It took him a while to get the players playing as he wanted but gone were the aimless boot days and we were far better for it (until he lost his bottle the season after).

If Blackwell can get a better balance between football and the hoof then great. If we can't then we aren't going anywhere.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Why would we have to?

I am always staggered when people suggest that playing "attractive football" will somehow prevent you from winning.

I know where you're coming from and I appreciate the comments. Im not suggesting we can have one or the other. All im saying is you don't have to keep the ball on the deck constantly to have long term success. I would agree Man Utd are indeed one of the best footballing teams in the country but they mix it up a bit as well.

It is possible to win regularly with any style of football but you have to play to your strengths. We have some decent footballers in the team but I am not convinced we have the players (on the whole) to play the type of football some of our supporters demand.

I am open to any style of football but I recognise sometimes you can't have it all. We all know that any time United find a decent ball player they get sold on - its happened time and time again. Generally speaking im happy with the manager and I am just about content with the playing staff albeit we could do with a bit more attacking quality.

I still think we are moving in the right direction as a club and im happy to be a bit more patient. Or we could just frantically chase the dream like Leeds, Portsmouth, Sheff Weds or Newcastle......

We need to get real. Football does'nt have a level playing field anymore and has'nt had for about 20 years or so.

 

[Darthblade]

I think the above comment is fair to some extent. At times we do look a little one dimensional and I do think if there can be any criticism of the manager, its that sometimes we dont have a plan B. That can often be due to a manager's overriding belief in his own methods and an unwillingness to change. In some ways it can be detrimental but at the end of the day he's there to make the decisions and he has always taken criticism with great dignity which you have to admire.

If you look at the spine of our team (i.e; Morgan, Monty, Hendo) as strong as it is none of them have sparkling footwork or a wonderful array of passing - but they are the heart of the team and in essence any team's style will in most cases be dictated by those players. We are what we are at the end of the day. We arent the best side in the world but we have at least 8 or 9 players I wouldnt trade for others in the Championship.

Henderson takes some stick at times for being a bit of a brute but I happen to think he's a decent footballer and is quite intelligent in terms of getting into good positions. If we can finish in the top 6 this season I would say we have met realistic expectations - from there its in the lap of the gods. I think we will finish there or there abouts and we will do it with a good mix passing and direct play - which will do for me!

He hasn't always taken critisism with dignity. He said on Radio Sheff that the supporters didnt know what they were talking about.
Most supporters arent expecting us to play like Arsenal, but we do have the ability to play some decent football and we do look much more effective when we do.
UTB