Anonymous Fleck

[Igor]

we’re constantly attempting to attack a well-set defence.

We’ve done that for the last 30/40 years, or thereabouts.

 

[JJBlade]

Utter shite again

It's not though is it
Flair and creativity cost as much as strikers that consistently score goals

That's why we do without them and sign 10 players to bolster the squad but provide nothing creatively.

£100 million spent so far and the team made up mostly of our Championship team is still our best team

The weakest links are those brought in who are just not good enough in the Prem

We might as well have gone through £60 million and added three quality players to our Championship team instead of £100 million on squad fillers who will all end up like Freeman and Robinson eventually (for a loss of course)

 

[A Storm of Blades]

We’re not in division 3 or 2 anymore in case you haven’t noticed? We’re now in the best league in the world with by far the worst budget. We can’t just willy nilly sacrifice organisation, graft and determination for flair till we get a billionaire owner. Then when we do everybody will be on CWAK back for being too cavalier! We finished 9th last season with this system, now we have fans wanting to rip up what got us here? We’d be relegation fodder if we did.

You attributing a lot to me that I never said. I think a static, deep-lying, immobile midfield makes us more vulnerable. Particularly when our system isn’t novel anymore. Much like teams that push 3 attackers onto us to nullify our threat a No 10 can be an effective deterrent against teams pushing us back.

 

[Keen Blade]

It’s become increasingly obvious that we need a different kind of midfield player. Since our EPL return, I’ve noticed that teams squeeze us because we have a midfield that don’t look to take a man on. Plan A is pass/switch/hoof/check-back 99% of the time. This kills our ability to manipulate teams out of position, meaning we’re constantly attempting to attack a well-set defence.

Couple this with the majority of our attacks being slow-as-fuck, predictably down the flanks AND defenders being asked to provide the final ball, it’s little wonder we’re struggling a bit.

We desperately need someone willing to burst into space from a central position, break through the lines and have a team back peddling. Traore did it half a dozen times in the second half and it had us touching cloth.

I know I bang on about #bringbackthe10 but having a deep-lying, flat 3 has made us one-dimensional and (whisper it) a bit hoofy.

I thought Swift & possibly Cash might be such a MF , but they're gone , so how about Burke assuming the role of taking on defenders + running with the ball ? He's the only one in our squad who could do it , or possibly Bogle.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Fleck needs to get hold of the ball and run at defenders like he can do. He doesnt do it enough these days. It doesnt help that there has been a bit too much hoof to McBurnie at times.

 

[bonnet de douche]

* tin hat on *

Anyone else thinks there's something not quite right with him? He's not influencing games as he used to, has got a new contract (not suggesting loss of form is down to that) should be in the prime of his career, we know he can do it.... is he not fully fit or something?

We really could do with him stepping it up sometime soon and he seems to avoid scrutiny more than most players on here (not scapegoating here to be clear)

He did ok, second half mainly ,think we have more pressing issues than Fleck

 

[blade67]

* tin hat on *

Anyone else thinks there's something not quite right with him? He's not influencing games as he used to, has got a new contract (not suggesting loss of form is down to that) should be in the prime of his career, we know he can do it.... is he not fully fit or something?

We really could do with him stepping it up sometime soon and he seems to avoid scrutiny more than most players on here (not scapegoating here to be clear)

He was anonymous versus Southend United, but better than JOC. Never forgiven either of them

 

[FMBlade1]

He did ok, second half mainly ,think we have more pressing issues than Fleck

I agree, though he's not playing as well as we know he can and if we're honest hasn't for a while really, trying to see what people think the reason is

 

[adebo]

Sounds like Mrs Stringjunior

Is Mrs string junior a he? Not judging, just asking for clarity?

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

It's not though is it
Flair and creativity cost as much as strikers that consistently score goals

That's why we do without them and sign 10 players to bolster the squad but provide nothing creatively.

£100 million spent so far and the team made up mostly of our Championship team is still our best team

The weakest links are those brought in who are just not good enough in the Prem

We might as well have gone through £60 million and added three quality players to our Championship team instead of £100 million on squad fillers who will all end up like Freeman and Robinson eventually (for a loss of course)

You're absolutely right.

 

[KiwiBlabe]

Grealish or Fleck? I would take Fleck every day.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Grealish or Fleck? I would take Fleck every day.

Grealish was brilliant today. Pulled Villa through a tricky tie singlehandedly.

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

It's not though is it
Flair and creativity cost as much as strikers that consistently score goals

That's why we do without them and sign 10 players to bolster the squad but provide nothing creatively.

£100 million spent so far and the team made up mostly of our Championship team is still our best team

The weakest links are those brought in who are just not good enough in the Prem

We might as well have gone through £60 million and added three quality players to our Championship team instead of £100 million on squad fillers who will all end up like Freeman and Robinson eventually (for a loss of course)

Lost count of the amount of managers that have said quality over quantity yet ended up buying all sorts of dross.

 

[Blade56]

For me he starts slow most seasons since he's been with us.

He'll be ok in a couple of games.

Needs to because Osbourne has a good 90 minute engine and was a better player for me when he filled flecks boots.

 

[Nick Jansky]

We don't do technical quality, never have,

Complete nonsense. I'm guessing you're quite young and don't know your Blades history.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

Personally, I thought he was our best player Monday night. Poor first half - as they all were - but he drove us forward second half. Can do much better, of course, but harsh to single him out for criticism above others.

 

[Blade56]

Needs benching and give osbourn a run if we can’t get Buendia or Cantwell.

 

[Argentinemanager]

Agree with that 56

 

[nopigfansintown]

Just started to come into the game when he was subbed. Two poor first halfs from him this season however.

 

[SouthportBlade]

Grealish or Fleck? I would take Fleck every day.

I mean I'm all for loyalty to our players, but that is demonstrable horse shit.

 

[KiwiBlabe]

Cheers for the kind words Jonny. I don't really care what you think though.

 

[The Vicar]

Grealish any day of any week, there is blinkered and there is downright blindness.

Fleck is nowhere near JG, never has been & never will.

 

[Nah den]

Cheers for the kind words Jonny. I don't really care what you think though.

Tbf to Jonny you did ask the question. I would imagine any impartial fan and probably most reasonable Blades would pick Grealish over Fleck. As annoying as the theatrics are he's simply a better footballer. Particularly in the current climate of not creating very much.

 

[FMBlade1]

What's up with him?

Yes it might be harsh to single him out, but compared to last season his form contrast is the most stark

 

[Balham]

What's up with him?

Yes it might be harsh to single him out, but compared to last season his form contrast is the most stark

He's struggling more than most because the 5 yard triangle he had with O'Connell and Stevens is currently not there. The left wing back is at best 20 yards away and the left centre half isn't getting involved.

As Bergen Blade so eloquently put on the other thread, the midfield is the symptom. The cause is the opposition targeting the wingbacks.

 

[blades14]

He's finished nothing more you can say.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Fleck has been muck this season but he’s been injured and in and out of the side. And he always starts the season slowly.

I’ve some faith that once he gets a little run in the side we will see the fleck of old.

 

[Houston_Blade]

What's up with him?

Yes it might be harsh to single him out, but compared to last season his form contrast is the most stark

When (Sorry, If) he picks the ball up and looks ahead of him he's probably got nothing to aim for. The whole team isn't functioning and he's a casualty as well as a cause of that.

What the fuck were the short corners about yesterday though?!

 

[Balham]

When (Sorry, If) he picks the ball up and looks ahead of him he's probably got nothing to aim for. The whole team isn't functioning and he's a casualty as well as a cause of that.

What the fuck were the short corners about yesterday though?!

Short corners make sense if you're using them to alter the angle of the cross. McCarthy, Vestergaard and Bednerak would have been clear favourites for any 'standard' crossed corners so it probably seemed a good idea to work an angle for a curving cross to the far post from level with the penalty spot. The issue was twofold: firstly, Southampton's press countered the threat really well and cut off the crossing angle and secondly, Fleck's confidence in his ability is clearly not there. Case in point: that shanked cross which set them off on a counter attack.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Short corners make sense if you're using them to alter the angle of the cross. McCarthy, Vestergaard and Bednerak would have been clear favourites for any 'standard' crossed corners so it probably seemed a good idea to work an angle for a curving cross to the far post from level with the penalty spot. The issue was twofold: firstly, Southampton's press countered the threat really well and cut off the crossing angle and secondly, Fleck's confidence in his ability is clearly not there. Case in point: that shanked cross which set them off on a counter attack.

I understood why we were attempting not just to put the ball on Vestergaard's head, but the fact that we did it twice in quick succession, the first of which set them off on a counter and the 2nd of which was also poor didn't make sense!