Style of play

[Blade58]

In the aftermath, just wondering? Have we changed our style of play? Anyone noticed?

Watching them, it;s like we've gone from a proper footballing side to a bit hoof ball?

Even the brother in law who's a Millers supporter said it last night having watched the match, said that's how they used to play under Warne, but since Matt Taylor has come in they are playing more football. He said that Blades style last night reminded him of how the Millers were playing previously.

I'm not sure? It was ok against Burnley because they were a small side. But have we changed and are doing it more as a matter of course rather than different horses for different courses? Is it because we have McBurnie as a target man now? Could it be we don't have the same personnel on the pitch to play proper football? Is it the opposition don't let us play football? I don't know?


Soz, it's just the frustration coming out of me.

 

[BettingBlade]

We’ve played similar to that the majority of the time he’s been manager tbh.

I’ve been to countless away games in 2022 where United have bored the tits off me quite frankly. Its our home form thats got us to where we are under this manager. The fact these performances are now creeping in at home as well is worrying.

We just dont get after teams like a promotion side should do. Its odd because in terms of the raw data we are one of the favourites for promotion, however, if you actually look at some of our performances we look like a mid-table side.

My biggest concern is that we’ve already started to drop points in home games that we should be picking up wins in and have looked poor in the process. Burnley aside, you couldnt realistically say that we’ve done enough to win a game at home since the Reading game in August. Blackpool you could maybe argue that we should have but jesus christ lads we were 2-0 up after half an hour.

I’ve mentioned elsewhere that we need something to kick off before we up the intensity in games. Teams dont win promotion doing that. This is the best chance we will ever have to win promotion convincingly and we are showing very serious signs that we’re about to let it pass by.

 

[Carlton Blade]

In the aftermath, just wondering? Have we changed our style of play? Anyone noticed?

Watching them, it;s like we've gone from a proper footballing side to a bit hoof ball?

Even the brother in law who's a Millers supporter said it last night having watched the match, said that's how they used to play under Warne, but since Matt Taylor has come in they are playing more football. He said that Blades style last night reminded him of how the Millers were playing previously.

I'm not sure? It was ok against Burnley because they were a small side. But have we changed and are doing it more as a matter of course rather than different horses for different courses? Is it because we have McBurnie as a target man now? Could it be we don't have the same personnel on the pitch to play proper football? Is it the opposition don't let us play football? I don't know?


Soz, it's just the frustration coming out of me.

We went long too much, very hoof.

But they did not play football on the floor. They launched it at every opportunity

 

[robbiez666]

We've definitely gone longer over the last half dozen games. I think it's down to having no midfield so trying to be more direct and get the ball forward quicker. The longer the ball is in our defence, the more likely someone is to drop a bollock. . It works when we get the wingbacks high up. Doesn't tend to when we don't. It also works when we have forwards who can run the channels.

 

[bakeblade]

We've definitely gone longer over the last half dozen games. I think it's down to having no midfield so trying to be more direct and get the ball forward quicker. The longer the ball is in our defence, the more likely someone is to drop a bollock. . It works when we get the wingbacks high up. Doesn't tend to when we don't. It also works when we have forwards who can run the channels.

That's how I see it, our midfield is good with Berge, Norwood and Doyle in it, but we've nothing to cover injuries and suspensions.
Hecky is persevering with McAtee and Osborn who are clearly not up to it. Why he hasn't given Arblaster a go is beyond me.
The problem needs addressing in January with at least one decent midfielder(preferably left sided) and 2 or 3 if Berge goes.
McAtee can go back, unless City are paying his wages, then I'd keep him as a squad player

 

[TopBoy]

We did go long far too many times, normally from the back but often it was because the midfield bar Norwood, was non-existent. In the 10 minutes Khadra had on the pitch he tried to do something other than go long.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

We went long too much, very hoof.

But they did not play football on the floor. They launched it at every opportunity

By "they" do you mean Rotherham?
They had some nice spells of possession along the deck. I expected them to be route one but was left surprised. I'm not saying it was tiki taka, but they were comfortable in possession even high up in our half.

We, on the other hand, launched it time and time again.

They did a job on us. Stayed compact through the middle, forced us wide and backed themselves to defend the box when the crosses came in. They had the middle of the park sewn up with some good, athletic players. Whilst the likes of Fleck, Osborn and McAtee all toiled and lost every second ball.

If the Prince did decide to roll the dice and give us a few quid to spend in January (unlikely, though I think that is) an athletic, physical midfielder to play with Norwood would be really handy.

 

[Carlton Blade]

By "they" do you mean Rotherham?
They had some nice spells of possession along the deck. I expected them to be route one but was left surprised. I'm not saying it was tiki taka, but they were comfortable in possession even high up in our half.

We, on the other hand, launched it time and time again.

They did a job on us. Stayed compact through the middle, forced us wide and backed themselves to defend the box when the crosses came in. They had the middle of the park sewn up with some good, athletic players. Whilst the likes of Fleck, Osborn and McAtee all toiled and lost every second ball.

If the Prince did decide to roll the dice and give us a few quid to spend in January (unlikely, though I think that is) an athletic, physical midfielder to play with Norwood would be really handy.

We completed 240 more passes than they did. They did well at the things they are good at but that wasn't keeping possession. They're a long ball team, nothing wrong with that.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

We completed 240 more passes than they did. They did well at the things they are good at but that wasn't keeping possession. They're a long ball team, nothing wrong with that.

Just because we had more possession doesn't mean they were a direct team?
When they had it they used it well.
When they didn't, they held their shape, watched us go side-to-side, backwards, then long.

There was only one long ball team last night and it wasn't them.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Just because we had more possession doesn't mean they were a direct team?
When they had it they used it well.
When they didn't, they held their shape, watched us go side-to-side, backwards, then long.

There was only one long ball team last night and it wasn't them.

They played long ball football better than United did. Their keeper launched every kick as far as he could

They just did it better than we did

 

[Houston_Blade]

Going long worked against Burnley, it didn’t last night. We were trying to play football but the naughty Rotherham players had the temerity to mark our players so we played shit balls into bad areas instead.

 

[coolasanidiot]

I thought they were bang average to poor. But unfortunately we just couldn't get on it last night. We started too slow and ponderous but then we huffed and puffed with very little end product. Wes/ Norwood/ Khadra played OK everyone else 4/10. We were still the best team. Move onwards and pray Dole and Berge get fit in next few weeks.

 

[Greystones Blade]

We completed 240 more passes than they did. They did well at the things they are good at but that wasn't keeping possession. They're a long ball team, nothing wrong with that.

And how many of our passes were pointless passes between the defenders themselves and our midfielders? For most of the time no one was prepared to run at the Rotherham defence and make things happe, Grrr.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Our style of play can at times be much worse that the conventional hoof ball that most people are familiar with. We generally asked our slow, very limited defenders to pass it around amongst themselves first…then they hoof it.
So, not only do we sometimes throw lazy long balls over the top, we also give pacy strikers an easy chance to take the ball off us, before playing the aforementioned long ball.

 

[Carlton Blade]

And how many of our passes were pointless passes between the defenders themselves and our midfielders? For most of the time no one was prepared to run at the Rotherham defence and make things happe, Grrr.

Yep. We were terrible

 

[derfblade.3]

I’ve been to countless away games in 2022 where United have bored the tits off me quite frankly. Its our home form thats got us to where we are under this manager. The fact these performances are now creeping in at home as well is worrying.

Our away form is second best in the division after Preston. We have picked up 1 point more at home than away.
Yes performances have been sketchy but somehow your argument doesn't stand up.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

I wonder if maybe we just have too many of the old regular first teamers who know they will be out of their depth and a job if we did get promotion?

 

[BettingBlade]

Our away form is second best in the division after Preston. We have picked up 1 point more at home than away.
Yes performances have been sketchy but somehow your argument doesn't stand up.

We’ve played 21 away league games in 2022, we’ve won 8 of them. We made the play offs last season based largely on our home form. Theres no denying that our away form and performances at the back end of last season were extremely poor.

If you read the rest of my post, you will also notice that I raised the fact that statistically our form tells a different story to our performances based on this seasons results. You cant keep turning out below par performances and expect to be in the automatic promotion hunt over a 46 game season.

 

[robbiez666]

That's how I see it, our midfield is good with Berge, Norwood and Doyle in it, but we've nothing to cover injuries and suspensions.
Hecky is persevering with McAtee and Osborn who are clearly not up to it. Why he hasn't given Arblaster a go is beyond me.
The problem needs addressing in January with at least one decent midfielder(preferably left sided) and 2 or 3 if Berge goes.
McAtee can go back, unless City are paying his wages, then I'd keep him as a squad player

I think his worry with Arblaster is off the ball. If the rumours are true about him going to Chessie next week, it's probably a good indication about how far off he is. I think the problem, in many ways, is strength and size. We have short arses in midfield without Berge. Playing men's football will likely benefit him more than an odd cameo for us.

I agree. I'd send one of McAtee or Khadra back and get a CM on loan. We need someone with height though as well as energy.

 

[Valleyblade]

We sent a message, apparently, to the rest of the league last Saturday. "This is how you beat Burnley"...lob loads of balls into the keeper/centre backs/penalty spot danger zone and attack them with big physical players (mcburnie/anel/robinson) to get the rewards.


Rotherham sent a message to the rest of the league last night "this is how you beat sheffield united"

Sit in, defend well and frustrate. Take the customery chance they'll give you infront of the kop.

We've been throwing in performances like this at home since reading at Easter.

 

[Jan Age]

It was getting right on my tits when we insisted on passing it to Egan (5 yards away) from a goal kick who then passed to Robinson who then smashed it long. Just let Wes take a normal Gk.

 

[Roygbiv]

We went long too much, very hoof.

But they did not play football on the floor. They launched it at every opportunity

It was a shocking game of football. Hardly any quality and two teams booting it randomly up the field. Difference was they wanted to play like that and won most second balls whilst we did it out of having no plan on how to get forward.

It was arguably Heckys worst night as United manager so far in terms of coming up with an answer to break down a hard working but basic team. We just kept doing the same thing.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

We’ve definitely upped the hoof. Might be a cultured hoof, but we’re notably going longer earlier

 

[Roygbiv]

We’ve definitely upped the hoof. Might be a cultured hoof, but we’re notably going longer earlier

I'd like to know if this is planned or whether it's just the players passing responsibility by smashing it up to McBurnie

 

[breeny]

We ended up trying to play them at their game, which didn’t work. We’re best playing on the ground and at pace. Saw very little of that.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

I'd like to know if this is planned or whether it's just the players passing responsibility by smashing it up to McBurnie

Yeah could be. McBurnie wins pretty much everything.

 

[bakeblade]

We sent a message, apparently, to the rest of the league last Saturday. "This is how you beat Burnley"...lob loads of balls into the keeper/centre backs/penalty spot danger zone and attack them with big physical players (mcburnie/anel/robinson) to get the rewards.


Rotherham sent a message to the rest of the league last night "this is how you beat sheffield united"

Sit in, defend well and frustrate. Take the customery chance they'll give you infront of the kop.

We've been throwing in performances like this at home since reading at Easter.

I think that message was already load and clear

 

[A Storm of Blades]

We ended up trying to play them at their game, which didn’t work. We’re best playing on the ground and at pace. Saw very little of that.

Worryingly, seeing less and less of it. We have great players for this level so our version of long ball will always look better. However, the aimless percentage punts are becoming too frequent. We start every half it towards the corner flag. Annoying.

 

[SUFCinks]

We are very hoofy. Can’t stand it and we’ve been doing it for too long. We have a rogue footballing performance but about 80% of our game is egan lumping it long to know one or panicked clearances. The old ‘anywhere will do mentality’ instead of taking care of the ball and having pride in your play and ability.

 

[robbiez666]

We sometimes use long balls well down the flanks to move upfield. We need to be doing more of it.