A point about Duffy (and our AM role)

[Bladesthorpe]

Duffy has been shocking for most of this season, he pulls out of tackles and gives the ball away far too often.

Try the Samaritans, as Del Boy would say " What a plonker "

 

[lakedistblade]

I get the feeling he knows his position is under threat and seems to be working harder than ever in his 65 min appearances. His ability to pick out a well weighted forward pass is brilliant and a nice Change from what sometimes seem repetitive laborious efforts to set up a cross. Got a lot of good games left in him and credit to the club that since the start of the season we have added mcgoldrick and dowell to provide needed depth in that position but Duffy is my first pick there. Looks more like prem quality than champ to me.

 

[Rob86]

I reckon our front 3 - whether it be a 3421 or 3412 or even 343 formation will come from

Sharp/Madine/Duffy/McG and Dowell.

CW & AK have got a host of combination to chose from whether it be home or away.

If we are winning games we can bring Coutts on, but if we are losing or drawing, we've got some great attacking changes in those 5.

As for Clarke/Washington - doubt now we'll see much if any of these except for injuries/suspensions.

We have to go for top 2 - we've put ourselves in a great position and no FA Cup to be concerned about - just go for it Blades.

UTB

I think you’ve nailed it, it’s a great 5 to pick from out of 3 positions. Washington to come on to rest Billy if we are 2-0 or so.

In terms of Duffy and the original OP, he continues to start for me, but if he is having an off day then I hope Wilder makes the change quickly. 60 mins not 75/80. Of course if Dowell then changes the game in our favour he most likely starts the next game. If he’s ineffective, he doesn’t. At last we have a serious option.

Both Duffy and Dowell are quality players but no doubt both can have bad days or be ineffective, that’s when the other takes over.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

What makes you think that Joe ?

If we don’t see much of him it should mean that dowell will do well which I don’t mind , 50/50 for me between duff and dowell

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

He definitely hasn’t been as good as he was last year and apart from maybe villa and the stoke match , duff hasn’t been as good as he can be

 

[Plymouthblade]

Hope they bounce again on the 4th of March and Duffy starts every time for me

 

[Chali 2na]

He definitely hasn’t been as good as he was last year and apart from maybe villa and the stoke match , duff hasn’t been as good as he can be

You're perhaps right in sense that he may have been marginally better last than this season - he set extremely high standards.

Regardless, he's still the sides most creative player, by some margin, and so much of our play depends on him.

You say he hasn't been as good as he can be: what are you basing this on?
This is a player who started in the none league and has played two thirds of his career at league 1 and below. Until joining us, his only experience of the championship was playing for struggling teams. He's playing at the highest level of his career, at 33, an age where you'd expect him to be declining.

It's safe to say he's a blades hero for many, he's a huge part of a team performing incredibly well and he even scored in his last game - cut the man some fucking slack.

 

[lakedistblade]

Yes and it was a great goal to watch at Wigan. Real composure which is one of his hallmarks

 

[SHOREHAMST.com]

I think we ought ask Duffy if he fancies a bit of overtime to do some scouting. Identify some possible replacements and get working closely with them, basically morphing them in to a new Duffy. This is assuming we can’t make a Duffy clone using his DNA.

It needs to happen soon though as he’s been the biggest, most important cog in the Chris Wilder-driven Sheffield United engine.

 

[ThatJa]

To think Burton released him after their Promotion season to the Championship (Duffy playing a key part) and then didn't sign him after his season long loan because they thought he wouldn't be good enough for the Championship.

No wonder they're in L1....

 

[Chali 2na]

To think Burton released him after their Promotion season to the Championship (Duffy playing a key part) and then didn't sign him after his season long loan because they thought he wouldn't be good enough for the Championship.

No wonder they're in L1....

Is that true? I thought he rejected their offer

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Think we are seeing now just how understated the job Duffy did. As good as we look with the ball we don't look threatening.

 

[super_pig]

Think we are seeing now just how understated the job Duffy did. As good as we look with the ball we don't look threatening.

agreed but we’re not playing like that anyway.. freeman is capable of doing that role but it doesn’t exist with the flat 3

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

agreed but we’re not playing like that anyway.. freeman is capable of doing that role but it doesn’t exist with the flat 3

With nothing but absolute admiration for Lunny, I'd sacrifice him to get our AM role back. We've proven we can compete with the elite, so I'd be tempted to give Didsy that position and drop Robinson for Sharp.

 

[super_pig]

With nothing but absolute admiration for Lunny, I'd sacrifice him to get our AM role back. We've proven we can compete with the elite, so I'd be tempted to give Didsy that position and drop Robinson for Sharp.

agree totally mate

 

[FinchleyBlade]

We greatly miss Duffy. That's all.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

agree totally mate

Second that. Lunny has proven himself but our system is missing too much without the AM role

 

[Northyorksblade]

Get used to it. We're not going to be as gung ho in this league.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Get used to it. We're not going to be as gung ho in this league.

Was we really "gung ho" last season?

Several times we setup safety in mind by putting Bash into the middle which on occasion backfired (e.g. Leeds away 1st half lucky to keep it 0-0, Villa away last 20 mins threw away 3-0).

I don't think, or ever thought, playing an AM who retains possession higher up the pitch is reckless.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Was we really "gung ho" last season?

Several times we setup safety in mind by putting Bash into the middle which on occasion backfired (e.g. Leeds away 1st half lucky to keep it 0-0, Villa away last 20 mins threw away 3-0).

I don't think, or ever thought, playing an AM who retains possession higher up the pitch is reckless.

I don't think we were reckless. Just think this season we will be more cautious. And I'm not sure McBurnie is working and yes I know it's early days.

 

[Sean Thornton]

We greatly miss Duffy. That's all.

But Duffy wouldn’t work in the system we’re currently playing.

 

[MoSF94]

I think the lack of an AM is a problem, but when McGoldrick plays it's far less of one than when he doesn't. Really want to see McG and Mousse start together soon

 

[snootyfenooty]

Watford were there for the taking, we played at least half a dozen teams better than that last season. We need to stop giving teams like that too much respect and get our midfield mojo back. We again demonstrated our inability to string more than a couple of passes together so it has to be an attacking midfielder who avails himself for the ball in a forward position instead of passing to the nearest team-mate and hoping for the best. I'd go for Freeman rather than McGoldrick over Lundstram as that was what he was bought here to do.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

Watford were there for the taking, we played at least half a dozen teams better than that last season. We need to stop giving teams like that too much respect and get our midfield mojo back. We again demonstrated our inability to string more than a couple of passes together so it has to be an attacking midfielder who avails himself for the ball in a forward position instead of passing to the nearest team-mate and hoping for the best. I'd go for Freeman rather than McGoldrick over Lundstram as that was what he was bought here to do.

How could they be there for the taking if we didn't create a single chance but had 63. % possession ,?
They set up defensively and played on the counter

The way some of our fans underestimate established premiership teams like Watford and Southampton astounds me

 

[DronnieBlade]

Dids in the 10.

Sharp n Moose up top.

When we are on the front foot that is !

UTB

 

[LondonBlade89]

I am surprised Wilder and Knill haven’t tweaked the system a bit for the games like the one today and the one at home against Southampton. When we expect to have less of the ball, I’m fully behind the flat three in central midfield with Lundstram’s extra ballast. When we’re up against lesser times, I think we should go with the system that’s worked so well for us, with Freeman coming in for JL.

Ps. I cringed a bit when I saw an old thread of mine at the top, then I saw it wasn’t actually too bad! Turned out Dowell wasn’t that player. And he’s still not that player this year for Derby when they wanted a Mason Mount replacement.

 

[snootyfenooty]

How could they be there for the taking if we didn't create a single chance but had 63. % possession ,?
They set up defensively and played on the counter

The way some of our fans underestimate established premiership teams like Watford and Southampton astounds me

Where did Southampton come from, we were talking about Watford? The way some of our fans are in awe of shitty teams like Watford astounds me in equal measures. They were there for the taking but we didn't capitalise due to giving them too much respect. If our target this year is to scrap for a draw against rubbish like this and be plucky losers to the rest then our prospects have suddenly been reduced to zero. However I doubt Wilder and co share your opinion and we can look forward to a bit better than that performance.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Was we really "gung ho" last season?

Several times we setup safety in mind by putting Bash into the middle which on occasion backfired (e.g. Leeds away 1st half lucky to keep it 0-0, Villa away last 20 mins threw away 3-0).

I don't think, or ever thought, playing an AM who retains possession higher up the pitch is reckless.

Plus that system resulted in the best defensive record in the league.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

With nothing but absolute admiration for Lunny, I'd sacrifice him to get our AM role back. We've proven we can compete with the elite, so I'd be tempted to give Didsy that position and drop Robinson for Sharp.

I understand what you're saying. But Lunny & the flat 3 is part of the reason we have been able to "compete with the elite." I still fear we'd leave Norwood too exposed at this level without a better athlete next to him. I've seen Norwood be easily dribbled by on too many occasions. We definitely need McGoldrick back in the XI. Can't make my mind up on whether we should abandon the flat 3.

 

[Stretch]

One thing we know about Wilder and Knill is that they won't sit on their hands if things aren't working, and they are certainly not afraid to change things. They have tried to change it up this season, and whilst we are doing ok, we can all see where it is falling down at the moment. I have no doubt it will change again if it needs to.

It's hard to believe that they once had us playing a back 4, we all know what happened when the new formation came along. Don't be surprised if they surprise us again.