Match Thread Sheffield United v. VfB Stuttgart - 5th August 2023

[Eric_Brooks]

It doesn't sounds great, but it's half a first team out there. The most worrying thing is next week maybe more like 9 from the team playing now will be playing and we need more players now. I wish the season wasn't starting next week, more to the point that the window could close earlier than it does.

As it stands, the team that played today is our strongest 11 next week.

 

[Frank the tank]

Playing out from the back with wes unable to pass the ball 5 yards is going to be interesting

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

He looks better than the new lad to be fair

He's a good player, just not Premier League quality. Not sure about Benni, didn't get much to work with. Nor did Will though. Strikers will be judged on the chances they make and take. So far this preseason Will has not taken his chances. Maybe one goal will lead to many. That is where Hecky and staff have to earn their money

 

[HarryHaslam]

Have to credit Osula some of his hold up play has been impressive just lacking a bit of composure. No doubting there is a player there. If we were in the Championship I'd be ok him starting unfortunately we ain't .. UTB

He’s played well today, one of the few plus marks in the team.

 

[Esteban Cambiasso]

He's a good player, just not Premier League quality. Not sure about Benni, didn't get much to work with. Nor did Will though. Strikers will be judged on the chances they make and take. So far this preseason Will has not taken his chances. Maybe one goal will lead to many. That is where Hecky and staff have to earn their money

Agreed, the supply was dreadful, osula is at least making chances for himself but doesn't look like a natural goalscorer at all.

Early days but neither look anywhere near ready to be playing in the prem

 

[Esteban Cambiasso]

He’s played well today, one of the few plus marks in the team.

Only player in the side with any sort of threat to the opposition

 

[BigBed]

Basically, Ndiaye gone = were completely fucked.

 

[Shawy24]

Please make it stop.

 

[SUFCinks]

We are not ready for the prem in anyway shape or form. I’m getting twitchy about Derbys 11 point record. Struggling to see how we will score 11 goals at the moment.

Praying that we can sign 2/3 prem quality players ASAP

 

[Booker4]

As it stands, the team that played today is our strongest 11 next week.

Is Lowe injured then? You've got Trusty to come in possibly too, he can play left back too so if Laurouchi isn't good enough there is Trusty. Jebbo may come in if fit also.

The problem is we've got 6/7 injured and not enough of the new players in yet.

 

[Eric_Brooks]

Is Lowe injured then? You've got Trusty to come in possibly too, he can play left back too so if Laurouchi isn't good enough there is Trusty. Jebbo may come in if fit also.

The problem is we've got 6/7 injured and not enough of the new players in yet.

You could change any of those 3 and it makes no difference to today's or next weeks game

Apart from Norwood, which injured player comes back, maybe McBurnie. Again makes no difference to either game.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Two men over the ball for every free kick it doesn’t fool the defenders at all and we have that extra played over the ball doing nowt useful

 

[Eric_Brooks]

Two men over the ball for every free kick it doesn’t fool the defenders at all and we have that extra played over the ball doing nowt useful

and then let Osborn take it.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

Preseason eh....

 

[Sheffsteel]

And we were taking piss about pigs getting schooled last night.....

One difference which is massively important.

There's was a proper league match.....ours was a friendly.
Friendlies are pretty much irrelevant.
It's a positive that we've lost and been poor because Hecky will have learnt so much.

However as expected, without N'Diaye, where is our creativity?
We need some new players but I understand a few good players are lined up to join us soon.

 

[SUFCinks]

Positives

Berge: excellent
Ousala: great hold up, running & positive play.
Ozzy: very busy, active, positive on the ball.

 

[BritishSteel]

If nothing else that performance will provide enough angry wank energy and vitriol to power the entire world for the next week.

 

[ReeceofBDTBL]

We lost 3-1 in the last friendly before the 9th place season, with Calum Robinson scoring an absolute worldy.

Still, that was absolutely awful, we look like a mid table championship team right now and that’s being kind

 

[Pedro's Winger]

As the desperation rises so will the price other clubs put on their players.
Chronic mismanagement of contracts as well as shambolic summer recruitment could well spell worse than relegation longer term.
Club's utterly adrift with no sense of direction.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Basically, Ndiaye gone = were completely fucked.

Agree....but we've several more players coming in.
Wait until the window shuts then I think you'll be surprised.
The best signings are always done at the last minute.

 

[Booker4]

One difference which is massively important.

There's was a proper league match.....ours was a friendly.
Friendlies are pretty much irrelevant.
It's a positive that we've lost and been poor because Hecky will have learnt so much.

Hecky knows, as we do, that we're 4/5 players light of where we need to be but as the season starts next week my concern is we'll losr every one of our early matches and then it's much harder to stay up if you don't start well.

 

[ATL Recs]

..a bit like Macatee in his first match ?

Not his first match

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

One difference which is massively important.

There's was a proper league match.....ours was a friendly.
Friendlies are pretty much irrelevant.
It's a positive that we've lost and been poor because Hecky will have learnt so much.

However as expected, without N'Diaye, where is our creativity?
We need some new players but I understand a few good players are lined up to join us soon.

Like who and what positions?

 

[Boothy762]

If Ozzy is starting a premier league match, you know you're in a bad situation.

 

[BigBed]

Agree....but we've several more players coming in.
Wait until the window shuts then I think you'll be surprised.
The best signings are always done at the last minute.

I said this in Shitbox earlier, hoping for 3/4 game changes this week.
Well praying for them is more accurate!!

 

[FriethBlade]

Agree....but we've several more players coming in.
Wait until the window shuts then I think you'll be surprised.
The best signings are always done at the last minute.

Well thats reassuring given 3 of our first 4 games are versus relegation rivals! Recruitment has been a shit show so far and not what should be expected of a premier league club, even one with no money !

 

[Yogi]

Well that was a sobering experience and no mistake

 

[Addison]

Second half thoughts;

No improvement they could have had 2 or 3 more.
Egan had a mare with the ball at his feet and pulled all over the place by their centre forward.
Didn't get to grips in the middle of the park and they continued to walk through us like a red hot knife through butter.
Left hand side of Larouchi, Robinson and Osborn poor defensively too much space allowed for opposition.
The flat 3 failed again and looked more like the invisible 3 when in possession. We are at our best when we play with 10's. If we continue with this formation dark times ahead imo.
The difference in class was evident and they were in a relegation battle last season.
Osula and Traore worked hard for little return.
Anel got better as the game went on.
Without Berge we have nothing in the middle. Time and again he had to turn back with the ball because of the formation we were playing.
Not sure who is playing in the behind doors game this afternoon but we need Trusty, Mcb and Norwood to be playing just to get some bodies back.

 

[DeanLearner'sCat]

We were absolutely shite last year in pre-season too. Who was it who humped us then? Scunny?

 

[BigBed]

Cant believe I'm saying this out loud, and I promise to wash my mouth out, but, we missed Norwood today!, there, I said it!