Speedo a chip of the old (Blackwell block)

[SteelCity Blade]

Am I to gather from this that you didn't see the game, read the reports, see how we lined up and played, the game stats etc etc, you just looked at the result ?

Sorry DP, but this is just moaning for the sake of it, the football in the last few games is streets ahead of anything served up by Blackwell in the last 12 months and you also fail to acknowledge that Speed is doing it with Blackwell's team, not his own.

Example of what I was talking about earlier Jim. "I want it now, now, now, now!!!!"

The word "patience" doesn't feature in the football supporters dictionary.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Am I to gather from this that you didn't see the game, read the reports, see how we lined up and played, the game stats etc etc, you just looked at the result ?

Sorry DP, but this is just moaning for the sake of it, the football in the last few games is streets ahead of anything served up by Blackwell in the last 12 months and you also fail to acknowledge that Speed is doing it with Blackwell's team, not his own.

If you think about it, wondering whether Speed is just Blackwell Mk2 is pretty insulting to a footballer (and I mean a proper footballer) who played at the highest level, in good passing sides, and for his country, for the thick end of 20 years.

If you add that to the suggested view that McCabe saw the need for a change in style, it's hardly credible that Speed would carry on Blackwell's work. A couple of identical scores to last season's prove nothing.

OK, you could say the same about Robson wanting to play the right way, he just wasn't very good at it. The real question about Speed is can he carry it through?

Everything we've seen since he's been in charge, even on Saturday, suggest he wants to play football, he just has some inadequate tools (fnarr, fnarr) at his disposal.

 

[raul]

Sorry, but in no w, s or f could you describe last Saturday as "streets ahead" of anything.

 

[davidpinder]

Am I to gather from this that you didn't see the game, read the reports, see how we lined up and played, the game stats etc etc, you just looked at the result ?

Sorry DP, but this is just moaning for the sake of it, the football in the last few games is streets ahead of anything served up by Blackwell in the last 12 months and you also fail to acknowledge that Speed is doing it with Blackwell's team, not his own.

No i didn't go your right however i listen from start to finish, i didn't in any way suggest we didn't play well i was just saying how the result and performance was the same as 09/10. We are play slightly better granted but are the results better? When blackwell was in charge he could do no wrong in your eyes now your referring that blackie's squad he left is poor? hmmmmm i am guessing speed will do no wrong either in your eyes. Not having a moan until saturday when we play our usual negative tactics, any team can pass the ball around with 3 defensive midfielders in the side. Lets remember who is picking the team jim

 

[Houso]

Do you really think that Britton is a 'defensive midfielder'?

And I'm sure Fleety did actually criticise Blackwell. It's just that some people try to ignore that when the poster they arguing with is trying to be rational.

 

[boo radley]

Sorry, but in no w, s or f could you describe last Saturday as "streets ahead" of anything.

Not g an i a what y a tabout

 

[SteelCity Blade]

No i didn't go your right however i listen from start to finish, i didn't in any way suggest we didn't play well i was just saying how the result and performance was the same as 09/10. We are play slightly better granted but are the results better? When blackwell was in charge he could do no wrong in your eyes now your referring that blackie's squad he left is poor? hmmmmm i am guessing speed will do no wrong either in your eyes. Not having a moan until saturday when we play our usual negative tactics, any team can pass the ball around with 3 defensive midfielders in the side. Lets remember who is picking the team jim

I'm sorry david but I dont see how you can criticise tactics etc. when you didnt go to the game. I'm not saying you're not entitled your opinion as you make some good points but you need to be more open minded if you weren't there. Radio commentary is never a fair reflection and doesn't represent the full picture in comparison to actually being there.

As regards the three defensive midfielders.....please suggest alternatives. I would love us to have another option in there but we dont have one. Monty, Ertl, Quinn and Britton is all we have I'm afraid. Speed is attempting to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear because he has no other choice.

The results will get better when our style becomes more settled and our consistency improves with it. You have to remember that in Speed's 5 games in charge, we have kept three clean sheets. The four goals conceded against Scunthorpe (and 3 against QPR) suggest that whilst we have a good back four that can keep clean sheets.....we lack consistency there and lose our shape defensively when we go behind. That is down to concentration and discipline which is easy to improve upon.

A lot of positives for me at the moment, but areas of concern that can be resolved with a bit of work on the training ground.

 

[davidpinder]

Do you really think that Britton is a 'defensive midfielder'?

And I'm sure Fleety did actually criticise Blackwell. It's just that some people try to ignore that when the poster they arguing with is trying to be rational.

Yes he is and 10 goals in 270 games for swansea would suggest this is true.

---------- Post added at 04:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:15 PM ----------

I'm sorry david but I dont see how you can criticise tactics etc. when you didnt go to the game. I'm not saying you're not entitled your opinion as you make some good points but you need to be more open minded if you weren't there. Radio commentary is never a fair reflection and doesn't represent the full picture in comparison to actually being there.

As regards the three defensive midfielders.....please suggest alternatives. I would love us to have another option in there but we dont have one. Monty, Ertl, Quinn and Britton is all we have I'm afraid. Speed is attempting to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear because he has no other choice.

The results will get better when our style becomes more settled and our consistency improves with it. You have to remember that in Speed's 5 games in charge, we have kept three clean sheets. The four goals conceded against Scunthorpe (and 3 against QPR) suggest that whilst we have a good back four that can keep clean sheets.....we lack consistency there and lose our shape defensively when we go behind. That is down to concentration and discipline which is easy to improve upon.

A lot of positives for me at the moment, but areas of concern that can be resolved with a bit of work on the training ground.

So what is wrong with 4-4-2 including yeates??? The 4 you quoted are not all we have we will not succeed at home playing with those 3

 

[Houso]

Yes he is and 10 goals in 270 games for swansea would suggest this is true.

That doesn't make him a defensive midfielder though. Especially seeing as he's at a new club and in a new role.

Tom Huddlestone has the same goal to game ratio and I wouldn't class him as defensive. Both sit in front of a defence and conduct the play through passing.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I would say he's more of a deep lying playmaker in the Pirlo mold than a Makalele breaking-up play type of player.

But that's just my opinion based on < than 10 times i've seen him play.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

So what is wrong with 4-4-2 including yeates??? The 4 you quoted are not all we have we will not succeed at home playing with those 3

Nothing. I'm constantly advocating a return to 4-4-2. Those four aren't all we have in the middle?! Who else then david? You've lost me now sorry.

 

[Ollessendro]

Am I to gather from this that you didn't see the game, read the reports, see how we lined up and played, the game stats etc etc, you just looked at the result ?

Sorry DP, but this is just moaning for the sake of it, the football in the last few games is streets ahead of anything served up by Blackwell in the last 12 months and you also fail to acknowledge that Speed is doing it with Blackwell's team, not his own.

Jim, have any of the follwoing concerned you:

- 4-5-1 formation being played at home
- refusal to change team despite it not working
- not making the use of attacking resources (Quinn, Yeates and Bogdanovic)
- playing 3 defensive midfielders at home
- sticking with poor performing players (monty and Evans) despite them showing very little
- getting stuffed when we tried to play football
- grinding out results
- relying on the defence and goal keeper and nicking a 1-0 from a set piece of piece of luck

Personally they are all things that happened under Blackwell and are now under Speed. I can understand the whole needs more time thing, but the early indications are there. To dismiss it because McCabe wanted a change in style, Speed was a good player (although these were not your suggeestions but Trigs) etc etc is (in my mind) naive.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Jim, have any of the follwoing concerned you:

- 4-5-1 formation being played at home
- refusal to change team despite it not working
- not making the use of attacking resources (Quinn, Yeates and Bogdanovic)
- playing 3 defensive midfielders at home
- sticking with poor performing players (monty and Evans) despite them showing very little
- getting stuffed when we tried to play football
- grinding out results
- relying on the defence and goal keeper and nicking a 1-0 from a set piece of piece of luck

Personally they are all things that happened under Blackwell and are now under Speed. I can understand the whole needs more time thing, but the early indications are there. To dismiss it because McCabe wanted a change in style, Speed was a good player (although these were not your suggeestions but Trigs) etc etc is (in my mind) naive.

Speed said when he took over that results mattered above anything else. He's getting points on the board, with a poor squad.

Chill out.

 

[Ollessendro]

Speed said when he took over that results mattered above anything else. He's getting points on the board, with a poor squad.

aha, so Speed IS a chip of the old Blackwell block then. Thanks Highbury.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

he's working with what he's a got with a view to changing the style gradually. Eminently sensible in my book.

If we'd switched to a lovely attacking style and scored 3 every game, but let in five you'd be the first complaining.

First priority for any manager is make sure you don't lose, and then build on that. Speed is not doing anything major wrong at the moment in my opinion.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

When blackwell was in charge he could do no wrong in your eyes now your referring that blackie's squad he left is poor? hmmmmm i am guessing speed will do no wrong either in your eyes. Not having a moan until saturday when we play our usual negative tactics, any team can pass the ball around with 3 defensive midfielders in the side. Lets remember who is picking the team jim

Could do no wrong in my eyes ?????????

You've moaned pretty much 100% since Speed took over. 'Should we expect the same old' was one of your 1st posts and it's pretty much continued in that vein. If you listened to the Derby commentary as you say then you cannot possibly say we approached the game in the same way nor played as Blackwell did last season. Sir Keith, who is as pessimistic as most said he could not fault the team in any shape or form and it was the best we'd played in many years.

Of course it's Blackwell's team and I really don't know who you want Speed to pick at this stage but what is plainly apparent is the same players passing and moving in a way they rarely did under Blackwell. The players may be the same, the formation may appear the same but how we got to the 1-0 at Derby was a million miles away.

---------- Post added at 07:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:08 PM ----------

Jim, have any of the follwoing concerned you:

- 4-5-1 formation being played at home
- refusal to change team despite it not working
- not making the use of attacking resources (Quinn, Yeates and Bogdanovic)
- playing 3 defensive midfielders at home
- sticking with poor performing players (monty and Evans) despite them showing very little
- getting stuffed when we tried to play football
- grinding out results
- relying on the defence and goal keeper and nicking a 1-0 from a set piece of piece of luck

Personally they are all things that happened under Blackwell and are now under Speed. I can understand the whole needs more time thing, but the early indications are there. To dismiss it because McCabe wanted a change in style, Speed was a good player (although these were not your suggeestions but Trigs) etc etc is (in my mind) naive.

His managerial career is 5 games in Olly and he has a squad of 19 to pick from !!

It's noticeable that he's withdrawn Monty on the hour mark for the last 2 games which to me suggests he's the one that's going to miss out as and when he brings another midfielder in. We've discussed formations to death and whilst Blackwell used to say his 4-5-1 was far more fluid than fans gave him credit for, from what I've seen, Speed's version is far closer to a 4-3-3 and particularly more attacking since Calve and Jordan have come in.

It's going to take time and given a couple of loan signings, like Bannan or Halmosi, the return of Williamson and we could see a completely different attacking team. As I say, 5 games in and he's not got his players yet.

 

[Nick Jansky]

aha, so Speed IS a chip of the old Blackwell block then. Thanks Highbury.

Are you desperate for Speed to turn out to be a clone of Blackwell? Because you really sound as if you are.

Jeez, he's had 5 games in the job, with a squad that he didn't put together. I think he's made it very clear that he intends to change the style, and has already started to do that. But he has also said that it can't be done overnight at the expense of results. Fair enough, he's doing it properly.

Anybody who is casting doubt on him after 5 games is worse trhan naive, they are downright stupid.

 

[davidpinder]

Nothing. I'm constantly advocating a return to 4-4-2. Those four aren't all we have in the middle?! Who else then david? You've lost me now sorry.

Mark Yeates, Monty, quinn, ertl and britton are 5. Drop one of the 3 defensive midfielders and i think we have cracked it at home Cresswell up top not on the left. Agree?

 

[boo radley]

Are you desperate for Speed to turn out to be a clone of Blackwell? Because you really sound as if you are.

Well noticed Nick. I really do find it so funny that people question his formation /tactics or whatever before or after the recent games.

Still I'm sure some will claim Devils advocate/tongue in cheek when (if)they get to be proved wrong.
Im really enjoying going to the games with little or no expectation but massive hope.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Im really enjoying going to the games with little or no expectation but massive hope.

It may be that this is the most significant change of all. Instead of 'chasing promotion' and the obvious frustrations of not quite making it, as we've experienced in the last three seasons, most Blades I know have settled in for the long haul...

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

It may be that this is the most significant change of all. Instead of 'chasing promotion' and the obvious frustrations of not quite making it, as we've experienced in the last three seasons, most Blades I know have settled in for the long haul...

Maybe this is worthy of a poll but it would be interesting to see what fans are expecting (or maybe hoping is a better word) for the remainder of this season. Promotion is still a possibility as the league is wide open but I sense a lot of fans would be happy if we showed signs of the change in direction bedding in giving Speed a chance to add players of his own in the next 12 months.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Mark Yeates, Monty, quinn, ertl and britton are 5. Drop one of the 3 defensive midfielders and i think we have cracked it at home Cresswell up top not on the left. Agree?

I thought we were talking about central midfielders.....of which Yeates isnt one but if you're talking from right to left then yes we have 5 rather than 4.

4-4-2 seems more sensible to me with Yeates and Quinn on the flanks. Ive never been convinced of Quinny on the left but I certainly dont see him as a centre mid so he has to play left if he plays at all IMO. Until we sign someone else anyway. Yeates and Quinn wide.....Britton and Monty in the middle at the moment.

I like the idea of the 4-3-3 but we either look too rigid or too open when we play that way. That suggests we dont have the players for it IMO.

 

[davidpinder]

I thought we were talking about central midfielders.....of which Yeates isnt one but if you're talking from right to left then yes we have 5 rather than 4.

4-4-2 seems more sensible to me with Yeates and Quinn on the flanks. Ive never been convinced of Quinny on the left but I certainly dont see him as a centre mid so he has to play left if he plays at all IMO. Until we sign someone else anyway. Yeates and Quinn wide.....Britton and Monty in the middle at the moment.

I like the idea of the 4-3-3 but we either look too rigid or too open when we play that way. That suggests we dont have the players for it IMO.

Yeah i would go 4-3-3 agreed but wouldn't have monty, britton and etrl as the 3.

 

[Ollessendro]

His managerial career is 5 games in Olly and he has a squad of 19 to pick from !!

It's noticeable that he's withdrawn Monty on the hour mark for the last 2 games which to me suggests he's the one that's going to miss out as and when he brings another midfielder in. We've discussed formations to death and whilst Blackwell used to say his 4-5-1 was far more fluid than fans gave him credit for, from what I've seen, Speed's version is far closer to a 4-3-3 and particularly more attacking since Calve and Jordan have come in.

It's going to take time and given a couple of loan signings, like Bannan or Halmosi, the return of Williamson and we could see a completely different attacking team. As I say, 5 games in and he's not got his players yet.

Dropping Monty and playing either Yeates or Quinn (as an attcking midfielder) would go some way to telling me he was not a chop of the old block. Playing Monty, Ertl and Britton in the same team is not working and Speed needs to realise his mistakes (something Blackwell never did).

Yes he has a small squad, but he still has options. He's barely used Bogdanovic, Quinn and Yeates despite us struggling to break teams down. Yes he hasn't had much time either. I fully accept that. This is not a thread aimed as slaggiung Speed off, it's a specific question as to whether people are worried that he is another Blackwell. Hopefully time will show him not to be ..... but for now he is looking like a chip of the old block (imo).

Are you desperate for Speed to turn out to be a clone of Blackwell? Because you really sound as if you are.

Jeez, he's had 5 games in the job, with a squad that he didn't put together. I think he's made it very clear that he intends to change the style, and has already started to do that. But he has also said that it can't be done overnight at the expense of results. Fair enough, he's doing it properly.

Anybody who is casting doubt on him after 5 games is worse trhan naive, they are downright stupid.

Not at all, look at the thread properly. I expect better from you Nick.

Judgements can't be made about Speed as a manger until he has had more time (that's true). But I don't see why questioning whether he is like Blackwell or not after a few games is out of order.

The last thing that I want is another Blackwell. I am merely expressing my concerns that Speed is showing some (in fact many) of Blackwell's attributes.

Well noticed Nick. I really do find it so funny that people question his formation /tactics or whatever before or after the recent games.

Still I'm sure some will claim Devils advocate/tongue in cheek when (if)they get to be proved wrong.
Im really enjoying going to the games with little or no expectation but massive hope.

If Speed gets SUFC playing attacking football, passing the ball around nicely, creating chances and scoring goals (something like under Kendall - who ny thr eway Nick/Jim stamped his authority immediately) then I will bow down on my knees and admit that he is the messiah. In fact Boo, if Speed's gets us promoted within his current contract then I'll hunt you down and give you a big sloppy kiss!!!

 

[Robbie]

In fact Boo, if Speed's gets us promoted within his current contract then I'll hunt you down and give you a big sloppy kiss!!!

Can I get some of this action too ?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Yes he has a small squad, yes he hasn't had much time either. I fully accept that. Hopefully time will show him not to be

There you go

 

[Ollessendro]

Can I get some of this action too ?

Yeah no worries. In fact no one is safe. I'll catch the flying pigs, pink elephants and kiss them if we get promoted in the next 2 seasons. I'll hunt down Dunc, SV, Lenners, Matt B, Trigger, Houso, Cool Clint, Fiery and Micalijo and kiss them if Speed can turn Blackwell's talentless bunch into a slick, attacking, creative, passing, goal scoring outfit.

 

[super_pig]

>Speed can turn Blackwell's talentless bunch into a slick, attacking, creative, passing, goal scoring outfit.
the revolution has started

 

[Robbie]

Yeah no worries. In fact no one is safe. I'll catch the flying pigs, pink elephants and kiss them if we get promoted in the next 2 seasons. .

I thought he had signed a 3 year contract?

 

[Ollessendro]

I thought he had signed a 3 year contract?

yep, my mistake. 3 years should realy determine if he is a chip of the old block. My previous statement applies (but within 3 years instead of 2).