No Excuses........

[davidpinder]

To not get 3 points tuesday, with a better squad to now to pick from and 10 days rest we should be ready to take on Leicester and win. Yes i know Leicester have had the same 10 days off but being at home should be a big advantage mid week. Marcus Bent, Michael Doyle, Joe Mattock and Shane Lowry all still looking to impress our squad is not only looking strong but key players are fit. Ched has now found his scoring boots and looking more confident so i really think anything less than 3 points will be a big disappointment especially when we got a point at there gaff that should have been all 3.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

The thing is David, their fans will be saying that a trip to a lowly team (21st) who haven't won in 2011 should be three points too.

Some good news tomorrow would give the United fans a lift heading into Tuesday night. 3 points would be very welcome though.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

They really need that first win under Adams to get some believe going to start moving away from the relegation scrap. We've not had that new manager boost so three points on Tuesday would be very welcome.

Got to say if we haven't got that decent, experienced centre-half in place by the end of the transfer window I fear for the rest of the season and will definitely be getting a few quid on us getting relegated.

 

[blader]

DP - i see where you're coming from, however, bear in mind leicester are a team going in the right direction and have made as many signings as us, and of a much better quality. a draw would not be a terrible result.

Handsworth - a centre back is not a priority for us. We played with a back four with an average age of 20 against coventry and that was our first clean sheet in 6 games. A centre mid with passing ability is much more of a priority to me!

Scunthorpe, Millwall and palace all coming up, they are the must wins for the coming weeks.

 

[alcoblade]

We were promoted with a midfield of (mainly) Monty and Jags. As good a center half as he turned out, Jags was no midfield maestro. If the wide players can do the business, play-makers in the middle aren't necessarily a must. Our lack of width (or the form of Ward and Yeates) are my main concern now, presuming Mattocks display against Norwich was a one off.

UTB

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Defence has been letting us down all season and while Lowry and Mattocks seem like promising signings, for me, we need, as number one priority, an experienced centre half to hold the back line together. Get the back line and spine of the team right and we'll not go too far wrong.

For my money (and I'll be putting it on us to go down if centre half isn't sorted), there's a big gaping hole at centre half and the goalkeeping situation is hit and miss, so we're pretty much weak at the bottom of the spine. Everything in front of the back four is good enough at Championship level, plenty of different options in mdfield and up front.

I think Adams knows it's centre half that needs sorting so I'm hoping he'll pull someone in before Leicester on Tuesday.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

I wouldnt take Leicester to lightly dp, they have a lot of quality. This will be a very difficult game for us and it will need a very good Blades display, with few mistakes to win it. I maintain that we need an experienced centre half and a decent left sided midfielder to give us some width. Without that its going to be a struggle to stay up.

 

[SwissBlade]

There is no reason why we can't get 3 pts out of this game. I would fully expect us to go for all 3 pts.

But, Leicester are no slouches, so it won't be easy.

For me it depends on, quite simply, 4 things

Back 4 (5) - Being organised and Bartley leading them.
Midfield - Despite bringing in Doyle, we need to be more creative, especially out wide, fair enough Ward is out of form and Yeates is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder, but we need both lads to perform and use their pace to get in behind Leicester
Bent Fitness - He won't be fully fit, but if we can get as near to 90 mins out of him as possible we'll have some well needed strength up front and Bent offers something which can make Ched click
Set Pieces - Defend them well, make the attacking set pieces pay. Simple

 

[ListerBlade]

I don't have Leicester down as a team that we will take three points from, but that won't stop me hoping. 3 points would be a massive result in my opinion v Leicester. Our defense v Yakubu worries me a little though...

 

[davidpinder]

I am not taking them lightly i just think we should be looking at dominating them and with new players, players finding form and players back form injury it is about time we took a game to someone and got a good win.

 

[Jehovah]

Someone is gonna get it at the lane eventually. We have been raped so many times at home in games we did not deserve to lose, Scunny, Ipswich, Watford, Coventry and Norwich spring to mind. Leicester have some decent players but they are not madrid. 3-1 blades and a bit of breahing space with ottom 3 all having tough away games.

 

[gavtheblade]

I think leicster are the team to watch at the moment.
wouldnt suprise me to see them in the play`offs,a hard game to come on tuesday,id be amazed with a clean sheet.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

We are fast running out of excuses. It makes yer blood boil to look at our pitiful position in the league table.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Look lets be realistic. Leicester have better players than us and they are in better form. That isnt to say we cant win the game and win it convincingly, but we're not going to do it by playing them off the park with scintilating football (its not going to happen). We have to make things as ugly as possible and get in their faces. No we dont have to fear them, they have weaknesses like everyone else in the division but we have to be aware of their strengths which far outweigh ours at the moment.

IMO the only way we're going to win on Tuesday night is to make sure we're first to every ball and close down quickly in midfield. Leicester like to play on the counter and will be hoping we press high up the pitch. If we're going to do that, we have to make sure we're going to win the 50/50's. If we lose that battle, Leicester will roll us over.

In short....fast, furious, aggressive, decisive is the key to winning this one.

 

[JohnDenver]

We are fast running out of excuses. It makes yer blood boil to look at our pitiful position in the league table.

No excuses, just one reason... We're a bit pants.

 

[Rustyblade]

our squad is not only looking strong but key players are fit.

A strong squad? Have I missed something?

 

[Ollessendro]

To not get 3 points tuesday, with a better squad to now to pick from and 10 days rest we should be ready to take on Leicester and win. Yes i know Leicester have had the same 10 days off but being at home should be a big advantage mid week. Marcus Bent, Michael Doyle, Joe Mattock and Shane Lowry all still looking to impress our squad is not only looking strong but key players are fit. Ched has now found his scoring boots and looking more confident so i really think anything less than 3 points will be a big disappointment especially when we got a point at there gaff that should have been all 3.

A bit over the top I think Dave. I am also disappointed by Adams start, but to say he has no excuses not to win tomorrow is ludicrous. We are playing a better team who are in better from. Yes he has had time to bring in players and stamp his authority, but he is up against it. We may win, but it is certainyl not guaranteed (nor should we assume so).

If you want to say no excuses for a shocking start as Blades manager then fair enough. Adams not winning in his first 6 games in charge is very poor. Blackwell, Robson and Speed all won 1 of their first 3 games (never mind 6). I like Adams and think he has making the right noises, but his team has to pull its finger out. I think you would have to go back some time (anyone know this? Where is Darren these days??) to find a Blades manager that has made a worse start. Personally I will hold him to account for the games against Ipswich, Milwall, Palace and Scunny rather than Leicester.

Look lets be realistic. Leicester have better players than us and they are in better form. That isnt to say we cant win the game and win it convincingly, but we're not going to do it by playing them off the park with scintilating football (its not going to happen). We have to make things as ugly as possible and get in their faces. No we dont have to fear them, they have weaknesses like everyone else in the division but we have to be aware of their strengths which far outweigh ours at the moment.

IMO the only way we're going to win on Tuesday night is to make sure we're first to every ball and close down quickly in midfield. Leicester like to play on the counter and will be hoping we press high up the pitch. If we're going to do that, we have to make sure we're going to win the 50/50's. If we lose that battle, Leicester will roll us over.

In short....fast, furious, aggressive, decisive is the key to winning this one.

Good post. I'd like to see us get up and at em. I'd take a few yellows early on. I would have us getting stuck in, playing phyiscal and denying them anything. They are a decent footballing side andwe shoud give them aboslutely no time and space. As SC states, we should give them little time and space and make sure they don't score. Then we can hope for a little bit of magic from Ward/Yeates/Bent/Evans and/or something from a set piece.

I'd take a draw at the moment (thought I'd love a win). I could see this ending 1-1, or Liecester shading it.

 

[Guesty]

Yep, no excuses other than we're playing a team that is superior in every department.

 

[davidpinder]

A bit over the top I think Dave. I am also disappointed by Adams start, but to say he has no excuses not to win tomorrow is ludicrous. We are playing a better team who are in better from. Yes he has had time to bring in players and stamp his authority, but he is up against it. We may win, but it is certainyl not guaranteed (nor should we assume so).

If you want to say no excuses for a shocking start as Blades manager then fair enough. Adams not winning in his first 6 games in charge is very poor. Blackwell, Robson and Speed all won 1 of their first 3 games (never mind 6). I like Adams and think he has making the right noises, but his team has to pull its finger out. I think you would have to go back some time (anyone know this? Where is Darren these days??) to find a Blades manager that has made a worse start. Personally I will hold him to account for the games against Ipswich, Milwall, Palace and Scunny rather than Leicester.



Good post. I'd like to see us get up and at em. I'd take a few yellows early on. I would have us getting stuck in, playing phyiscal and denying them anything. They are a decent footballing side andwe shoud give them aboslutely no time and space. As SC states, we should give them little time and space and make sure they don't score. Then we can hope for a little bit of magic from Ward/Yeates/Bent/Evans and/or something from a set piece.

I'd take a draw at the moment (thought I'd love a win). I could see this ending 1-1, or Liecester shading it.

Don't think it is over the top at all olle this should be 3 points tuesday nothing less, with all the facts i have stated i strongly believe there should be no excuses and at 10pm tuesday we should have 3 points more. At home midweek, with new faces, players coming into form and injured players getting a good rest. Not exactly got the greatest of away records so i think micky and the lads will go all out for 3 big points and should be getting them.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Don't think it is over the top at all olle this should be 3 points tuesday nothing less, with all the facts i have stated i strongly believe there should be no excuses and at 10pm tuesday we should have 3 points more. At home midweek, with new faces, players coming into form and injured players getting a good rest. Not exactly got the greatest of away records so i think micky and the lads will go all out for 3 big points and should be getting them.

I think you're writing Leicester off far too easily and over-estimating the strength of our squad. Look at our league position and look at their recent results. That's all you need to know. I like the optimism though dp.....I want what you're drinking!

 

[SwissBlade]

Don't think it is over the top at all olle this should be 3 points tuesday nothing less, with all the facts i have stated i strongly believe there should be no excuses and at 10pm tuesday we should have 3 points more. At home midweek, with new faces, players coming into form and injured players getting a good rest. Not exactly got the greatest of away records so i think micky and the lads will go all out for 3 big points and should be getting them.

I think you're putting this one out as a preparatory "I told you so", whereby you be almost gleefully be tapping away if we lose.

True, we need to be cutting the excuses, but for me, if we do what I think (see my previous post), then we'll be extremely difficult to beat. Yes we need 3 pts, almost desperately, but if we are not organised then we'll get beat.

What we have to do is set ourselves up so that we're not a push over. If we're then able to pull a win out of this one then all the better.

Personally I think we will win, I saw enough v Norwich that would suggest that we can score goals and with some extra work at the back, concede less.

 

[Ollessendro]

I think you're putting this one out as a preparatory "I told you so", whereby you be almost gleefully be tapping away if we lose.

True, we need to be cutting the excuses, but for me, if we do what I think (see my previous post), then we'll be extremely difficult to beat. Yes we need 3 pts, almost desperately, but if we are not organised then we'll get beat.

What we have to do is set ourselves up so that we're not a push over. If we're then able to pull a win out of this one then all the better.

Personally I think we will win, I saw enough v Norwich that would suggest that we can score goals and with some extra work at the back, concede less.

I take a less cynical note that Swiss. You'll see from my February post that I think it is more than just the Leicester game. This month will be crucial, but I will not judege Adamns before that. If we are still in the same position at the end of Feb, then sure blame Adams. By then he will have had a fe months in the job, had opportunity ot bring people in, had players returning from injury and played soem very beatable teams.

Don't think it is over the top at all olle this should be 3 points tuesday nothing less, with all the facts i have stated i strongly believe there should be no excuses and at 10pm tuesday we should have 3 points more. At home midweek, with new faces, players coming into form and injured players getting a good rest. Not exactly got the greatest of away records so i think micky and the lads will go all out for 3 big points and should be getting them.

I personally would not have said that Leicester at home would be a home win before the season started. In light that we have been awful this season, we're on our 4th manager and are in a relegation scrap then I'd give even less chance to that. Couple that with the fatc Leicester are in form, are being managed by a very good manager (with a good standing in the game) and have a better team then I would say that stating 'no excuses' is nonsense.

As stated, Adams has had a very poor start (and I feel others frustration) but saying this is a 'no excuse' win is over the top (imo). Yes it is a big game, yes I'll be disappointed if we don't win, but will the sky fall down if we don't win? No (imo).

 

[oldblade]

DP - i see where you're coming from, however, bear in mind leicester are a team going in the right direction and have made as many signings as us, and of a much better quality. a draw would not be a terrible result.

Handsworth - a centre back is not a priority for us. We played with a back four with an average age of 20 against coventry and that was our first clean sheet in 6 games. A centre mid with passing ability is much more of a priority to me!

Scunthorpe, Millwall and palace all coming up, they are the must wins for the coming weeks.

If we are serious about our chances of avoiding relegation then anything other than a win against Leicester will be a bad result.

The majority of our remaining home games are against sides higher in the table than Leicester, so if we can't beat them at home I'm afraid the number of winnable fixtures looks very small and we are in very serious trouble.