Scoreline journalism??

[Ollessendro]

Fook me, there's some reit scoreline journalism guin off t-neet.

It is always disappointing to lose and especially to bottom of the league. Today's result was poor and a big chance blown. However some of the comments on here are quite simply ridiculous. What a fickle bunch of fans support SUFC.

Did Hartlepool dominate today? Did they bollocks. United were probably guilty of underestimating their opponents and Hartlepool really came out of the blocks quickly. They took a deserved lead and could have added another. However United rode out the storm and got a foothold in the game. The equaliser came after a period of sustained pressure. United were battering Hartlepool and had plenty of chances to take the lead. However they were not clinical enough and were a bit unlucky. The theme of the game was the ball would just not drop. A goal was disallowed, chances missed and shots saved.

SUFC continued to dominate after the break. More chances, more goalline scrambles and more bad luck came (things just not quite going United's way). The amount of times it would not drop. Hartlepool broke and scored thoroughly against the run of play. It might have been poor defending or whatver, but it was a surprise. SUFC continied to dominate and the theme of it would not drop continue. United were well on top and pushed for an equaliser. However Hartlepool broke and put in a third.

After the third United fell apart a little. Yet still they mananged to score, get kicked off the park, control possession and create chances. But again things would not drop.

It was a really frustrating day and a below par performance. We fucked up. However all this talk of Hartlepool being the better team is just bollocks. Scoreline journalism. Completely forgetting what happened in the match and focusing on the score. Throw in a bit of big time Charlieness, fickleness and disappointment and it is the end of the world. United dominated possession, created more chances and had more shots on goal. United were a bit unlucky and Hartlepool struck oil. I realise that SUFC defended really badly, but saying that we deserved nowt is simply ridiculous. On another day we would have won 6-3 and everyone would have been saying we were careless, but fuck it.

The wheels may well have fallen off. I am really disappointed we lost and will be going to Donny without Maguire and Collins. However let's see. SUFC still sit in 2nd and there are 22 games left to play.

 

[super_pig]

quality post olle .. totally agree with this position
the one i 'meant' to post 20 posts ago but got dragged into a shit storm as usual

 

[Micalijo]

The problem is Ollie we have a huge advantages over vast majority of sides re wage bill yet we very rarely seem to deserve to win a game. Nearly every side look more lively and mobile than us and but for a few pens we'd be 8th or so. Yes good defence is a great asset but forwards amd creativity get you promotion. Totally agree we could have won it today with a bit of luck but remember they chucked one in and have a hapless record.

 

[fishpie]

Fook me, there's some reit scoreline journalism guin off t-neet.

It is always disappointing to lose and especially to bottom of the league. Today's result was poor and a big chance blown. However some of the comments on here are quite simply ridiculous. What a fickle bunch of fans support SUFC.

Did Hartlepool dominate today? Did they bollocks. United were probably guilty of underestimating their opponents and Hartlepool really came out of the blocks quickly. They took a deserved lead and could have added another. However United rode out the storm and got a foothold in the game. The equaliser came after a period of sustained pressure. United were battering Hartlepool and had plenty of chances to take the lead. However they were not clinical enough and were a bit unlucky. The theme of the game was the ball would just not drop. A goal was disallowed, chances missed and shots saved.

SUFC continued to dominate after the break. More chances, more goalline scrambles and more bad luck came (things just not quite going United's way). The amount of times it would not drop. Hartlepool broke and scored thoroughly against the run of play. It might have been poor defending or whatver, but it was a surprise. SUFC continied to dominate and the theme of it would not drop continue. United were well on top and pushed for an equaliser. However Hartlepool broke and put in a third.

After the third United fell apart a little. Yet still they mananged to score, get kicked off the park, control possession and create chances. But again things would not drop.

It was a really frustrating day and a below par performance. We fucked up. However all this talk of Hartlepool being the better team is just bollocks. Scoreline journalism. Completely forgetting what happened in the match and focusing on the score. Throw in a bit of big time Charlieness, fickleness and disappointment and it is the end of the world. United dominated possession, created more chances and had more shots on goal. United were a bit unlucky and Hartlepool struck oil. I realise that SUFC defended really badly, but saying that we deserved nowt is simply ridiculous. On another day we would have won 6-3 and everyone would have been saying we were careless, but fuck it.

The wheels may well have fallen off. I am really disappointed we lost and will be going to Donny without Maguire and Collins. However let's see. SUFC still sit in 2nd and there are 22 games left to play.

.
Bad day, poor performances just about all round. Hartlepool worthy winners.

 

[Northyorksblade]

I really think teams up their games against United as we are perceived as the 'big' team in the league. If we were going to lose, better to lose to someone at the bottom than the top. Though New Year's Day, that may happen as our squad gets even more depleted.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Fook me, there's some reit scoreline journalism guin off t-neet.

It is always disappointing to lose and especially to bottom of the league. Today's result was poor and a big chance blown. However some of the comments on here are quite simply ridiculous. What a fickle bunch of fans support SUFC.

Did Hartlepool dominate today? Did they bollocks. United were probably guilty of underestimating their opponents and Hartlepool really came out of the blocks quickly. They took a deserved lead and could have added another. However United rode out the storm and got a foothold in the game. The equaliser came after a period of sustained pressure. United were battering Hartlepool and had plenty of chances to take the lead. However they were not clinical enough and were a bit unlucky. The theme of the game was the ball would just not drop. A goal was disallowed, chances missed and shots saved.

SUFC continued to dominate after the break. More chances, more goalline scrambles and more bad luck came (things just not quite going United's way). The amount of times it would not drop. Hartlepool broke and scored thoroughly against the run of play. It might have been poor defending or whatver, but it was a surprise. SUFC continied to dominate and the theme of it would not drop continue. United were well on top and pushed for an equaliser. However Hartlepool broke and put in a third.

After the third United fell apart a little. Yet still they mananged to score, get kicked off the park, control possession and create chances. But again things would not drop.

It was a really frustrating day and a below par performance. We fucked up. However all this talk of Hartlepool being the better team is just bollocks. Scoreline journalism. Completely forgetting what happened in the match and focusing on the score. Throw in a bit of big time Charlieness, fickleness and disappointment and it is the end of the world. United dominated possession, created more chances and had more shots on goal. United were a bit unlucky and Hartlepool struck oil. I realise that SUFC defended really badly, but saying that we deserved nowt is simply ridiculous. On another day we would have won 6-3 and everyone would have been saying we were careless, but fuck it.

The wheels may well have fallen off. I am really disappointed we lost and will be going to Donny without Maguire and Collins. However let's see. SUFC still sit in 2nd and there are 22 games left to play.

Good post ollie bit a balance does'nt go amiss .

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

if we had miller and collins, we'd have won the game. we didnt, and wont have for a long while, and we lost. no matter how you look at it, were in the shit. not sure how we dominated. we were at home to easily the worst team in the league, and lost. and they had as many good scoring chances as we did. if thats us dominating, i'd hate to see us when we arent.

 

[bartman]

were in the shit. .

It what way are we in the shit?

2nd place,22 games to go is not a bad place to be in (admittedly we have thrown away 3 points today)

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

It what way are we in the shit?

2nd place,22 games to go is not a bad place to be in (admittedly we have thrown away 3 points today)

mainly cos weve lost 2 key players and currently have no good replacements. we already had gaping holes before that. were like a creaky old boat. we were going along ok ignoring the one tiny leak, now suddenly leaks are popping up all over the place.

that 2nd place could (to be honest, will) easily vanish very quickly. were effectively 4th going on points per game, having played more games. bournemouth, brentford, donny, coventry are all flying just to make it even worse. weve become a lot worse due to injuries and suspensions, just when the rest of the league is getting better.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Well, at least the part-timers who turned up for their one game of the year won't bother coming back until the big end-of-season clincher-equivalent of last season's Stevenage game. I was sitting in the Westfield Upper Tier Corner today, and whilst the view was great, the atmosphere was awful, but at least me and my brother managed to belt out the GCB.

So yes, Olle, you've pretty much got it spot on, but I would add a bit; we were brainless in every department - the ball wouldn't drop, no, it stuck. A lot, in the sticky toffee pudding of a pitch, but we seemed incapable of working that out, so every decision we made was wrong - when we should have put a low ball in we thumped it hard, high and out for a throw-in, and when we should've thumped it hard and high, we passed it daintily and it got stuck in the pudding. Daft.

But we DID create chances, we were unlucky at times, and Hartlepool worked hard, but they did score on the break. At half-time you really couldn't see United losing. So yes, Hartlepool raised their game against us, and a lot of teams seem to do this. And you know what I blame? All this utter BOLLOX like the Crawley manager saying, "Well, we lost 2-0 to the best team in the division, so that's quite good," and Ronnie Moore saying, "If we finish above Sheffield United we'll go up." I'm sick of all this SHITE - we are not that good, so stop bigging us up!

We lost to a terrible side, but come on, we all know United are capable of such a thing, especially at Christmas. We mustn't panic, but it might be interesting watching us play with a back four made up entirely of full-backs against Donny.

 

[true99blade]

Does anybody think if we manage to land that Murphy (which presumably will fall through at the final hurdle) could do a good job for us? With Miller missing surely he could pop a few goals in... scored again yesterday!

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

Does anybody think if we manage to land that Murphy (which presumably will fall through at the final hurdle) could do a good job for us? With Miller missing surely he could pop a few goals in... scored again yesterday!

he sounds too good for us to sign. we only sign duffers. id be amazed if we sign him. why he would sign for us when he turned down blackpool, and rangers are supposedly after him is beyond me. maybe he's a masochist. lets just hope we can get him drunk and signed up before he realises how crap we are.

mind you, if he is any good then no doubt we'll sell him for a pittance at the end of the season anyway. if he turns out to be crap, we'll give him a new 3 year contract instead.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Well, at least the part-timers who turned up for their one game of the year won't bother coming back until the big end-of-season clincher-equivalent of last season's Stevenage game. I was sitting in the Westfield Upper Tier Corner today, and whilst the view was great, the atmosphere was awful, but at least me and my brother managed to belt out the GCB.

So yes, Olle, you've pretty much got it spot on, but I would add a bit; we were brainless in every department - the ball wouldn't drop, no, it stuck. A lot, in the sticky toffee pudding of a pitch, but we seemed incapable of working that out, so every decision we made was wrong - when we should have put a low ball in we thumped it hard, high and out for a throw-in, and when we should've thumped it hard and high, we passed it daintily and it got stuck in the pudding. Daft.

But we DID create chances, we were unlucky at times, and Hartlepool worked hard, but they did score on the break. At half-time you really couldn't see United losing. So yes, Hartlepool raised their game against us, and a lot of teams seem to do this. And you know what I blame? All this utter BOLLOX like the Crawley manager saying, "Well, we lost 2-0 to the best team in the division, so that's quite good," and Ronnie Moore saying, "If we finish above Sheffield United we'll go up." I'm sick of all this SHITE - we are not that good, so stop bigging us up!

We lost to a terrible side, but come on, we all know United are capable of such a thing, especially at Christmas. We mustn't panic, but it might be interesting watching us play with a back four made up entirely of full-backs against Donny.

Nail on head, Greenwich!



Talking about the pitch, the condition of which you could properly see from the televisions inside the stand, do we not use our undersoil heating at all, even if to dry it out a little?

Or can't we afford the leccy bill?

 

[stannyblade]

I said boxing day I would take 7 points from nine as long as we could beat Donny. 6 will do.
Biggest disappointment for me was Harry getting booked when we really need him

 

[mattbianco1]

Fook me, there's some reit scoreline journalism guin off t-neet.

The wheels may well have fallen off. I am really disappointed we lost and will be going to Donny without Maguire and Collins. However let's see. SUFC still sit in 2nd and there are 22 games left to play.

Crikey Olle, have you stolen my tinted glasses?!?! Haha.

I agree with you. Bad day at the office. It happens

 

[mattbianco1]

Nearly every side look more lively and mobile than us and but for a few pens we'd be 8th or so.

Do you go to many away games Mic?

Every team raises their game when they come to the lane (God I sound like Gary Megson). It is their cup final. Portsmouth - Best team to visit Bramall Lane this season IMO, why are they where they are?

Crewe - 2nd best team, again not really pulling up trees.

Hartlepool, Bury, Oldham. Even Shrewsbury & Bournemouth all raised their games significantly. I don't know if it's complacency at home or what?

Charlton won the league last season and dropped points at home to Bury, Oldham, Rochdale etc. it happens.

Away from home it's different, we have a relaxed attitude. This is what will get us promoted. Win at home, draw away is the formula for promotion. We're winning more away games than drawing or losing so i'm not worried by yesterdays result. Yes it hurts but we move on

 

[stannyblade]

Take away the foul that the penalty was scored from and we would have probably scored anyway Mic.
Did anyone hear that Donny fan on p&g? Said they are great away but crap at home due to the expectation of the fans. Just like us

 

[Ollessendro]

Had Flynn's goal stood then Hartlepool would have crumbled. Their own manager even said they had zero confidence and did not believe they can come back from behind. No one would have bet on Hartelpool at 1-1, not even their own players who were scrapping. But then they broke away and scored. Football matches are often won and lost on fine margins.

SUFC's relatively poor home form suggests that one of a few things are happening: expectation and pressure are making us play worse and/or prospect of playing in front of big crowd/at the Lane/cup final la de da motivates their players. You can probably throw in away tactics as most teams have come not only pumped up, but to frustrate us. They have parked the bus on most parts, but also aimed to hit us on the counter.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Perhaps Olle we should boycott the Lane - let the players feel what its like to play in front of 5,000 crowd in an empty stadium - that's what other teams have to do in this division!
The players are supposed to be Professional Footballers - playing in front of an expectant audience / crowd who are paying to watch them because they are supposed to be good at what they do!
The management and coaching staff are well paid to direct the well paid players ways of getting around parked buses!!

 

[Deadbat]

Must admit did see game kind of differently yesterday and maybe more concenred then some and dont quite see it as a bad day at office.

This is maybe the 3rd game out of 4 at home (Crewe, Tranmere, Hartlepool and then Scunthorpe the excepption) where teams that maybe have less ability have simply worked harder, showed more desire and thus got decent results. We need to up our workrate at home considerably. Win the battle and our better players will take ovvrt

Sure we had a lot of the ball and yes at times ball did not drop but Hartlepool could and should have been 3-0 up after 10 minutes. This notion they just scored on the break is nonsense I am afraid. We did have a good spell around our goal and as you say you felt we would go on and win easily. However, as half time approached they had 2 corners and actually finished the half stronger. In the second of course we started better but how many clear chances did we have? We hardly were camped in their half. They scored a well worked goal and then of coourse they woould hang onto what they had gone but even before it went 2-1 how many chances did we actually have (Flynn incident not withstanding)? After this when they made it 3-1; we were all over the place and they as much liked scoring as we did.

I cant remember us having all these chances on goal or shots saved? We had a lot of the ball but kept plodding it across the pitch and getting it continally stuck on the pitch. Sure the Flynn offside moment (really hard to tell in real time but obviously he was onside) could have changed it but you could say say if Scunny had scored in the week.

They fought harder, scored 3 good goals and played the conditions well. Think we have to give credit to them but United thought they would just turn up. A team fought llike trojans, got 3 goals at the leaders and in my opinion for effort/desire and taking their chances/defending well, deserved their win.

We have had quite a few games where we have won 1-0 (Pompey, Shrewsbury, Walsall) where we easily could have drawn or lost. Today we did not get away with it.

I have not seen that many teams park the bus; Crewe, Bournemouth, Hartlepool have scored 3 goals and could have had more. Many that have had a go at us have normally prospered (Bournemouth the one exception). Indeed this season despite our home form being pretty good, I feel many teams have had a go and not just accepted they are goin to defend.

One thing I agree with is we do seem better away generallly as there is less pressure/expectation but christ to see likes of McDonald and Doyle haranguing referee after decisions did not got their way and Blackman slouching about when we played a team that has won ONE game all season.

The players attitude generally was poor and I felt they showed ill discipline and unprofessionalism in their approach and performance. It reminded me of the capitulation against Oldham last year when we similarly lost players to injury/suspension.

I do hope we can regroup and get back on track. Fortunately it is only one game but it is the sort of game you look back at the end of the season and think aboout.

 

[Micalijo]

Top stuff Deadbat. Totally agree. Ollie, surprised you ain't seen this coming, we've been average to awful in most home games this term.

 

[super_pig]

we've 'all' seen this coming Mic.. which is why i can't understand what all the fuss is about.. actually i do on reflection .. it is because the bottom club beat us everyone's ego is bruised.. if it had been Swindon it would have been 'bad day at the office'

 

[metalblade]

we've 'all' seen this coming Mic.. which is why i can't understand what all the fuss is about.. actually i do on reflection .. it is because the bottom club beat us everyone's ego is bruised.. if it had been Swindon it would have been 'bad day at the office'

It came first day of the season when Burton beat us but that was quickly forgot about and covered up to suit claims to being unbeaten. We nearly had another Port Vale moment too a few weeks back, add to that all the shit performances against teams at the wrong end of this division and it really shouldn't be a surprise to any one. The only surprise to me is such a dreadful scoreline didn't come much sooner.

 

[stannyblade]

How do you know they were that Shit? Were you there?
Or was it because were not beating teams 6.0 each week

 

[Balham]

Ollessendro yes there was some scoreline journalism going off. That shouldn't take away from the fact that it was a well deserved victory for the bottom side (1 win in 24 before the game) away from home against the top side (2 defeats in 24, both away from home).

They set up to hit us down the flanks where the ball was running relatively free. We insisted, as Deadbat has pointed out in his report, in trying to play 10 yard passes across the midfield where players were sinking to their ankles.

It's all very well trying to play short, passing football - and as I really hate kick'n'rush it's something I applaud - but on that pitch it wasn't an option. We should have been trying to hit the channels for the wingers and Cofie to get in behind but we didn't do that.

Williams, Westlake, Hill, Doyle and Kitson all had shockers. These things happen: let's go to Doncaster where there will be 4,200 Unitedites and (if their season so far is anything to go by) at most 7,500 Donny fans. We really should be looking to beat them and beat them convincingly to send a message to the rest of the league that Saturday was just a blip.

 

[Ollessendro]

Our home record is a bit disappointing in that we have drawn many games that we should have won. However it still stands as 3rd best in the league. Not great, but not terrible. Until yesterday we have not looked like losing a home game all season (other than the cup game). Whether or not we have ground results out is a different matter. People will always say it has been coming when it happens. I suppose it has been coming in that we have not lost a home game for 9 months and therefore at some point it was bound to happen.

I am not surprised you take the cynical, negative and depressing view Deadbat. It is just your way. You generally see things as they are, but your criticism of United is bound in cynicism and pessimism. You were over the moon when we beat Crawley and then dispatch Crawley. Yet you've proved yourself to be just as fickle s the rest. I like your reports usually and you see the game often in the way that I do. But often your reports about United are way too harsh. I can remember you slagging off the team when we were 2nd and running away with it last season. I guess it is just your lifetime of being a Blade and us always being crap and fucking things up.

As for the Hartlepool game, well Cofie, Blackman x 2 and Maguire all missed good chances. Kitson could have scored and Flynn had a good shooting chance. There was also Flynn's goal which would have changed the game. Had that gone in we would probably have been saying 'we got a bit lucky there. They dominated the first 20 and could have been 2 or 3 up. But after the 2nd they crumbled. We were not convicing but got the job done'. I have not argued for one minute that we were not poor nor the result extremely disappointing, just that it was not as bad as many are making out.

 

[Deadbat]

Sadly it isnt about being cynical, negative or depressing just realistic. If United fans have been happy with most of the 'performances' this season then so be it; I have been happy we have been winning and are in the top 2. Results are most important but I have called the performances as I have seen them and for the most part we have been ordinary to average and many who sit near me are shocked we are somehow top 2. However that says more about an awful division I feel than that we have such a terrific side that are blowing teams awat.

To say we have not looked like losing a home game is someway wide of the mark in my opinion; Bury missed an absolute sitter at 1-1 in the last minute (easier to score). Crewe led 3-2 and could have made it 4-2 straight after and many other games have gone 1-0 to us when easily could have gone the other way (Shrewsbury, Pompey, Walsall etc).

It has been coming because other than maybe 2 or 3 games at home; Stevenage, Scunny and Bournemouth we have been poor and cannot say we definitely deserved to win any of the other games in my opinion on performances. We could have won; the opposition could have won but most games at the Lane have been relatively even. The away games I have been to we have been better but with less pressure, can defend and nick a goal but even many of these have been even really. I have to be honest overall United have been quite ordinary this season. Dont get me wrong I would take ordinary if we can get up and then get some new players in but sadly I fear as others have said we have been papering over the cracks and whislt done well feel with players now injured/suspended etc we are probably going to fall away. I hope I am wrong, I really do. I hoped I was wrong last season when I said we would just miss out as our players did not turn up in big games. Sadly I was proved right.

I would hardly saw I was over the moon when we beat Crawley. We did ok and desered to win for scorting two good goals and defending well but you are kidding yourself if you thought we dominated that game. It was another that could have gone either way really.

Finally as for not as bad as making it out. We lost to the bottom team who have won one game all season and not won any away. Nearly every players were awful - other than flynn anyone actually come out of the game with any credit? We lost battles all over the field and were outworked. We had a few half chances and a lot of the ball but christ we are top at home and playing the worst side in the league by some distance. I would say it was as bad as I potrayed in both the result and the performance and I actually felt I was quite generous on some players marks thinking back (Cofie, Westlake, Kitson etc).

As for the Hartlepool game; I remember Maguire hitting one over from range from outside the box, Cofie miskicking and not even getting it near the goal and Blackman having two long range-ish strikes; saved and over. I certainly cant remember many guilt edged misses or save after save? For long spells we could not even get it from left to right such was the football brain of out players trying to pass it along the floor through mud. When we got it wide we barely beat the first man all game.

Maybe I am negative or critical but we are in the lowest division in my lifetime of supporting (too young for Div 4); blew promotion to our closest rivals last season; got kicked in the teeth again at Wembley and now have one of the poorest sides I have ever seen down at the Lane bereft of pace and creativity. We are massively in debt; cant bring many; if any players in; and know that if we fail to go up this year we lose Maguire, Long, McDonald and Blackman and probably will be stuck in this division for many years to come. Yes we are second but does anyone really think we have the players (and manager this season) to stay in top 2? Seriously? I think top 6 is about as good as we will get and then we have the playoffs to look forward to.

Still as you say its the life of being a Blade. I may grumble privately and on such forums but you keep going and keep supporting them in the hope maybe one day they will do the unexpected and actually prove me wrong.

 

[BladeFisher]

Our home record is a bit disappointing in that we have drawn many games that we should have won. However it still stands as 3rd best in the league. Not great, but not terrible. Until yesterday we have not looked like losing a home game all season (other than the cup game). Whether or not we have ground results out is a different matter. People will always say it has been coming when it happens. I suppose it has been coming in that we have not lost a home game for 9 months and therefore at some point it was bound to happen.

I am not surprised you take the cynical, negative and depressing view Deadbat. It is just your way. You generally see things as they are, but your criticism of United is bound in cynicism and pessimism. You were over the moon when we beat Crawley and then dispatch Crawley. Yet you've proved yourself to be just as fickle s the rest. I like your reports usually and you see the game often in the way that I do. But often your reports about United are way too harsh. I can remember you slagging off the team when we were 2nd and running away with it last season. I guess it is just your lifetime of being a Blade and us always being crap and fucking things up.

As for the Hartlepool game, well Cofie, Blackman x 2 and Maguire all missed good chances. Kitson could have scored and Flynn had a good shooting chance. There was also Flynn's goal which would have changed the game. Had that gone in we would probably have been saying 'we got a bit lucky there. They dominated the first 20 and could have been 2 or 3 up. But after the 2nd they crumbled. We were not convicing but got the job done'. I have not argued for one minute that we were not poor nor the result extremely disappointing, just that it was not as bad as many are making out.

No mate it was worse absolutely dire. I paid £48 came down from Scotland so another £80 in fuel and £30 in food and it was shite!

DB is totally correct. Where I feel he was wrong is crediting that the ball got stuck in the mud. No no, it was Blades' terrible passing. Gifting the ball more times than not to them. It was so frequent I wondered if we got bonus points for it.

Saturday it was Hartlepool that played like the top of the table side and us as complete wankers. True, had Flynn's goal stood I think we might have won it but the way to beat United is to have a go (which they did) and in the end I had no complaints about Hartlepool winning.

We play ticky tacky football usually bloody sideways when we needed a Bassett approach. Up and at them. They wanted to win our lot expected to win. We were garbage.

I expect United to finish just in or outside the play offs unless a rocket is placed up the collective arses. Other teams are currently better than us. Sadly until the pitch at home getts betteer we need more Bassett/Warnock less square ball Wilkins type football and definitely some passion, which was lacking from the red and white barbers poles today. Shocking result. No excuses. We were crap.

 

[metalblade]

Can't argue with the last two posters really, although no doubt they will not endear themselves to the happy brigade who read this forum.

 

[Ollessendro]

You contradict yourself at almost every turn Deadbat. One minute you tell it is at is, the next you may be negative and cynial. Go back and readyour comments after Crawley/ 'solid performance, impressive victory etc'. I actually agree with you on a lot of things (it is a shite time to be a Blade) but think that you are often very harsh and you view United through some grey tinted spectacles.

I am not saying United have been wonderful at home, far from it. We have been very average I agree, but we have rarely looked like losing. The games you mentioned (Pompey, Walsall and Shrewsbury) we rarely looked like conceding and whilst it was dire stuff we ground results out. Only Crewe lead at the Lane and for less than 5 minutes. Bury shoudl have scored, but Carson made a string of saves before that. I am actually a bit disappointed that we are not more emphatic at home and we have had a bit of luck at times, but we have not been outplayed (before the other day).

We'll never agree on the match the other day, so let's leave it at that.

Last season was a freak occurence. United were on fire until their star striker went to prison. The things that contrived against us where incredible (SWFC playing almost every game before us, Evans going down, Hoskins being sent back, SWFC riding their luck in oh so many games). The Pigs got lucky big style. We did blow it, as we did not win the crucial games at the end, but on any other season in the last 30 years 90 points would have been enough.

Do I think Wilson will keep us in the top 2? I am not sure. I have said before I think he is underachieving and too negative and conservative with tactics and substitutions. However, as he delivered us to the top at the halway mark I do not see why he should not keep us up there (or thereabouts). Personally I think it is a little too close to call. I cannot see much difference between us, Tranmere, Brentford, Bournemouth, Donny, Swindon and probably Coventry and MK Dons. We are not worse than these and to suggest we will not even get in the play offs is just silly. I can understand you being a little cynical and negative, but to suggest we will fall away in this god awful division is over the top. We will definately stay in the top 6, though I fear we could fall short of the top 2. But the question as to whether the mananger and players are good enough for a top 2 finish: the anser is yes. There are big question marks over whether Tranmere, Brentford and Bournemouth can continue their form so it will be interesting to see how it pans out.