Triallists released

[Gibbo89]

United will not be pursuing any of the triallist defenders from mainland Europe that have spent the last few days training at Shirecliffe.

All four played some part in Saturday's first friendly at Mansfield and afterwards Kevin Blackwell confirmed the decision:

"We shall not be continuing with them and they will not be joining us in Malta next week. They trained well and didn't let themselves down in the game but we don't really think they are better than what we already have."

The squad will fly to the Mediterranean island on Monday evening, returning on Saturday, and the United manager revealed that a Polish full-back will join them there on trial.

Question is do we ever watch these triallists before we invite them over (presumably at our expense). We seem to have a remarkably unsuccessful record in recent years.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

don't really think they are better than what we already have."

Yes the first of the summer.

 

[bladesman1889]

We have no defenders, they must be better than what we've already got!

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

No mention of releasing Kozzy then

 

[DuncDisorderly]

It was good to see that the four youngsters we had on show, Lowton, Chappell, Foster and James were all performing better than the trialists were. I know only Lowton is a defender).

Ertl looked the part, and perhaps surprisingly the much maligned Andy Taylor played well at centre half, carried the ball well and was looking for a pass. Maybe we're not quite as bare at the back as we think. Still need a couple though...

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

If we get a settled back four in early I have no doubt that we can get them organised. That is one argument you can't lay at Blackwell, he can organise a defence when it's a settled side.

I fully expect defenders coming in but I wouldn't have a problem with us starting with Lowton at right back with a bit more experience along side him.

 

[sitwell]

Andy Taylor will be recognised as a good player by the turn of the year.

 

[Foxy]

I thought the greek lad looked okay too, the other trialists were a mixed bag and all had inconsistant performances... which is to be expected really.

As for Taylor, it depends on his start to the season and where Blackwell sees him fitting, but I've always thought that people are incredibly harsh with him and he's got potential to be a good 'un.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I thought the greek lad looked okay too, the other trialists were a mixed bag and all had inconsistant performances... which is to be expected really.

As for Taylor, it depends on his start to the season and where Blackwell sees him fitting, but I've always thought that people are incredibly harsh with him and he's got potential to be a good 'un.

Has the Greek lad been sent back? He hasn't had the same length of time as the others, and I'd heard really good things about him.

I agree with Sitwell about Taylor, he has been very harshly treated. He had to step up in class while not playing in a settled back four, didn't always have Morgan organising, and didn't have a regular keeper behind him, considering all that I think he did very well in his first season .

 

[Foxy]

Has the Greek lad been sent back? He hasn't had the same length of time as the others, and I'd heard really good things about him.

Not heard for sure, but the news story on OS says "all 4" from mainland Europe have gone back.

I'm assuming by this they mean Murillo, Berios, Edjenguele and Vandelannoite.

 

[alcoblade]

It was good to see that the four youngsters we had on show, Lowton, Chappell, Foster and James were all performing better than the trialists were. I know only Lowton is a defender).

Ertl looked the part, and perhaps surprisingly the much maligned Andy Taylor played well at centre half, carried the ball well and was looking for a pass. Maybe we're not quite as bare at the back as we think. Still need a couple though...

To be fair Dunc, this was against non league oposition. Surely there should only have been one outcome (performane wise)?

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

Andy Taylor will be recognised as a good player by the turn of the year.

I think he's technically ok, but as an athelete he's well short. No power or pace which is needed to overcome technical shortcomings. He's been too heavily criticised, but he looks short of the type of player we need if we are serious about pushing for promotion from this league.

UTB

 

[DuncDisorderly]

To be fair Dunc, this was against non league oposition. Surely there should only have been one outcome (performane wise)?

UTB

Not at all. It was a loosener with no more than five of our first teamers on the pitch at any-time along with the kids and a mixed bag of trailists. then we changed the entire side at half time. It would have been nice to find a win or even a goal (we did hit the post and their keeper made three or four decent saves), but in the end it doesn't matter a flying one. it was more about seeing some individual performances for me at least. All the established first teamers did well. Ertl and Britton looked good. Kyle Ried looked very sharp. The four academy kids looked good. Not going to worry that two trialists messed up a Mansfield attack and they scored past our reserve keeper...

 

[alcoblade]

Not at all. It was a loosener with no more than five of our first teamers on the pitch at any-time along with the kids and a mixed bag of trailists. then we changed the entire side at half time. It would have been nice to find a win or even a goal (we did hit the post and their keeper made three or four decent saves), but in the end it doesn't matter a flying one. it was more about seeing some individual performances for me at least. All the established first teamers did well. Ertl and Britton looked good. Kyle Ried looked very sharp. The four academy kids looked good. Not going to worry that two trialists messed up a Mansfield attack and they scored past our reserve keeper...

I agree we shouldn't read much at all in to the performance, but....

Ertl looked the part, and perhaps surprisingly the much maligned Andy Taylor played well at centre half, carried the ball well and was looking for a pass. Maybe we're not quite as bare at the back as we think. Still need a couple though...

....surely we can't have it both ways. Some of our defenders coped against a Sunday league outfit. Taylor looked well short last season (to most fans) against players at his level. Just as we shouldn't be concerned that we failed to win, one half of football against amateurs shouldn't convince us otherwise about players abilities, surely?

UTB

 

[lenners]

Taylor looked woefully short of Championship class last season.
Let's hope he's undergone a summer infusion of footballing ability as he appears to be the only left back we have.

 

[Worksop II]

I agree we shouldn't read much at all in to the performance, but....



....surely we can't have it both ways. Some of our defenders coped against a Sunday league outfit. Taylor looked well short last season (to most fans) against players at his level. Just as we shouldn't be concerned that we failed to win, one half of football against amateurs shouldn't convince us otherwise about players abilities, surely?

UTB

Its only Pre-Season Happy Clapping, once the Real Season gets underway, Duncs Logic will be as Translucent as ever

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Steady on Worksop!

You're right though, i'm just easing myself into the season. Don't want to do a hamstring, do I...?

 

[Worksop II]

Not blaming injuries already are we Dunc ?

Its also nice to see Sitters getting back on the Happy Wagon, Andy Taylor indeed, we will see, that one has been copied, pasted and saved for future reference

 

[ListerBlade]

does blackwell mean the trialists are better than france?

 

[CM14blade]

It does make you wonder who picks these players or decides they're even worth trialling.......the second half triallists yesterday were barely pub standard - truly awful.

It was interesting to note that Mansfield included their own set of triallists in the 2nd half yesterday, and it was extremely difficult to spot who was trying out for the Championship side (and supposedly £3-5k a week) and who was aiming for Non League (and £400 a week).

Even one of the Blades squad pointed out, the Mansfield triallists were a darned sight more impressive than the Blades ones...

 

[alcoblade]

does blackwell mean the trialists are better than france?

I'm better than France.

UTB

 

[JohnDenver]

Andy Taylor will be recognised as a good player by the turn of the year.

Good work Sitters. I love the balls-out nature of this prediction.

I reckon that he's a decent footballer who will improve, but I can't see him being more than a steady Championship player at best. After last season that'd be an achievement for him.

 

[JohnDenver]

I'm better than France.

UTB

So am I. I'm a Virgo.

 

[alcoblade]

So am I. I'm a Virgo.

Really? I bust my cherry about 25 years ago.




But seriously, you do have to wonder how players like France and Stewart have made a living from football. I'm told France is on £7K per week - £350,000 every year just to piss of Wednesday and only made less laughable when you think Stewart was (apparently) on nearer £20K per week.

The mind boggles how our management valued them at this level. Hopefully Birch will get such nonsense signings under control.

UTB

 

[JohnDenver]

Really? I bust my cherry about 25 years ago.




But seriously, you do have to wonder how players like France and Stewart have made a living from football. I'm told France is on £7K per week - £350,000 every year just to piss of Wednesday and only made less laughable when you think Stewart was (apparently) on nearer £20K per week.

The mind boggles how our management valued them at this level. Hopefully Birch will get such nonsense signings under control.

UTB

Totally agree.

I should also point out that my previous post makes no sense whatsoever unless you've spent all afternoon in the sunshine drinking happy juice.

 

[raul]

Andy Taylor will be recognised as a good player by the turn of the year.

To be fair to Sitters, he hasn't specified by which year. Or indeed which Planet.

 

[sitwell]

or which Andy Taylor
I was right about Geary when no-one wanted him.

 

[Iceblade]

Didn't he say something similar when Camara was on trial; not better than we got, and then he ended up signing him. Don't rule out one or two of these trialists to sign after tomorrow morning or when returning from Malta.

 

[Oreyt]

Didn't he say something similar when Camara was on trial; not better than we got, and then he ended up signing him. Don't rule out one or two of these trialists to sign after tomorrow morning or when returning from Malta.

That's what I was thinking. All part of Kev's neverending web of subversion and doublethink

 

[JJ Sefton]

So am I. I'm a Virgo.