Today - Brief observations

[Patrick Suffaux]

First game I've been able to get to, so here's my take:-

- Need a centre forward that can play with their back to goal and bring others into play. Priority no.1.

- Full back positions are still a problem.

- I like McFadzean but he looks lost in the role vacated by McDonald. He's a winger.

- Weir has an impossible job. The team isn't good enough and without a bit of money to spend we will struggle for goals.

If the directors leave the manager to work with what he's got, we'll be looking over our shoulder rather than ahead of us come the end of the season.

 

[dingledog]

I went, and trying to be objective my thoughts were

1 we simply aren't good enough
2 the Scottish new boys are out of their depth
3 I really do believe it's actually quite desperate
4 we are so predictable it must be very easy to defend against us
5 there appears to be no 'spark' in the side
6 we can pass forever but are clueless going forward
7
8
Etc

Very worried

 

[SwissBlade]

Patrick Suffaux I disagree that we need a striker to play with his back to goal, we need the team to play to our No 10's strengths, which isn't with his back to goal.

 

[Reedy1889]

No.1 i agree with providing we go with 2 up top. Taylor cannot play the lone role, we need to bring in a big target man someone in the mould of Hanson to provide knock downs and such for Taylor. Then we'll see if Taylor is the man to get us the goals we need.

 

[UnitedBlade]

It was better than Brentford.

We don't look like scoring. We rarely beat people and put an effective cross in. We don't run at defences and create space to have a shot.

Taylor is hopeless in the air and I'm guessing his strength is running at players from a deeper position. We desperately need a new effective striker but god knows who would come.

Wells was the difference between the two sides, produced something from nothing and poached a second, we have no one like him.

I'm not Flynn's biggest fan but he did quite well when he came on.

I would persevere with McGinty, I think he'll improve.

Can't see where the next goal and points will come from.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Patrick Suffaux I disagree that we need a striker to play with his back to goal, we need the team to play to our No 10's strengths, which isn't with his back to goal.

Do we have a no.10? I take it by no.10 you mean the player in the advanced midfield role.....if so we don't have one. This is why we need someone that can hold it up and bring others into player. We essentially have a line of three at the top who all want to turn and run at goal when we are in possession and we haven't got enough quality to feed and support them.

To be honest it all comes down to a lack of quality either way.

 

[SwissBlade]

Do we have a no.10? I take it by no.10 you mean the player in the advanced midfield role.....if so we don't have one. This is why we need someone that can hold it up and bring others into player. We essentially have a line of three at the top who all want to turn and run at goal when we are in possession and we haven't got enough quality to feed and support them.

To be honest it all comes down to a lack of quality either way.

Ha ha for the sake of clarity I meant Taylor

But yes we can argue on how we should play up front, but ultimately we have a distinct lack of quality for what we tried to play today.

Either we bring in the players for the system or we change the system for the players. Danny Wilson got results with Ched because he played to his strengths. Other players can adapt to a system... Some can't. Right now it seems that the players we have haven't mastered this system of Weirs

 

[highpeakblade]

The thing that pissed me off more than anything today was the poor quality of the crossing. We can harp on all we want about needing a striker but with balls like that going in the box we won't get much regardless of who we have up there!

Man of the match for me was Harry Maguire who I thought handled wells pretty well regardless of the FTR. I put my head on the line here but regardless of how mediocre Taylor has been I do think he will come good but as said we need a target man up there with him to bring stuff down for him to latch on to. Porter knockers whinge all you want but he could have been quite adequately doing this for us so far had Weir opted for 2 up front!

Lost 2-0 and we weren't crap to be fair, we had our fair share of the play and again put it around well in spells but in the final third we offered nothing! Clock is ticking and at least one signing required!

 

[SwissBlade]

highpeakblade can't disagree with much there, I'd say that the combination of less than perfect crosses, Bradford defending well and our strikers seeming to run around like headless chickens to get the ball resulted in shite attacks.

I think Taylor will come good if we play to his strengths. miller looked decent alongside porter, so perhaps Taylor and porter could work. Ironside, ahem, needs a lot of work.

We played pretty triangles in places that didnt hurt a Bradford.

 

[Maidenhead]

I would persevere with McGinty, I think he'll improve.

You're having a laugh.

He was complete and utter shite

 

[Maidenhead]

Lost 2-0 and we weren't crap to be fair, we had our fair share of the play and again put it around well in spells but in the final third we offered nothing! Clock is ticking and at least one signing required!

You're having a laugh we were total garbage

 

[highpeakblade]

You're having a laugh we were total garbage

What a load of bull! We weren't prolific let's be said but we gave as much as we got and to again we were undone by a combination of our inability to do much in the final third of the pitch whilst the opponents strikers were more clinical which is what loses games at the end of the day.

We put the ball around well enough again and at times did get the ball forward into dangerous positions. We had a bit of luck out wide however every time we beat the man out wide it was either nobody to put the ball in to due to our formation or when we did go to put the ball in we rarely beat the first man and lacked quality but overall we matched them.

Bradford aren't prolific but play to the strengths of having a front 2 who are capable of holding their own and hitting the back of the net. They have a good target man and a tricky, pacey striker alongside him who is brimming with confidence.

We weren't good enough and need massive improvements in a few areas but we weren't total garbage and to quite frank if you went today and was one of the ones around me who spent 90 minutes slagging every blades player off I wish you would stay at home at let your ticket go to a fan who will get behind the team.

Realization needed! League One club, League One squad, Limited Resources, Asset stripped, new manager working with the limited resources he has!

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

You're having a laugh.

He was complete and utter shite

Harsh that. He's clearly a centre back being asked to play at left back and I thought he did some things well, despite some attacking limitations. Will improve with experience I think.

 

[SwissBlade]

Harsh that. He's clearly a centre back being asked to play at left back and I thought he did some things well, despite some attacking limitations. Will improve with experience I think.

I thought McGinty himself said he was a full back that likes to get forward...like Evra and Raphael

 

[Bladesway]

Why do you think we are playing one up top? Because in my mind the manager doesn't think we have the quality up there to make it work.

We are clearly lacking quality but whatever we bring in we have to give it time. Not easy for a fan I know but this isn't the managers fault. If we want long term success then we have to give it time. The owner isn't going to spend so don't expect anything new.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I thought McGinty himself said he was a full back that likes to get forward...like Evra and Raphael

Not sure, perhaps he did but looks far more suited to playing centre back to me. In terms of both stature and style. I still think the lad did ok at left back, just not sure as an attacking force. Perhaps he will prove me wrong.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Why do you think we are playing one up top? Because in my mind the manager doesn't think we have the quality up there to make it work.

We are clearly lacking quality but whatever we bring in we have to give it time. Not easy for a fan I know but this isn't the managers fault. If we want long term success then we have to give it time. The owner isn't going to spend so don't expect anything new.

I don't think anyone with a remotely realistic outlook would blame Weir anyway. I'm not expecting miracles and I'm certainly not expecting him to get any financial backing. Just calling it how I see it and sadly I see nothing but struggle if the manager can't bring at least three players in. Our current league position is where I would expect to find us by the end of the season.

Weir can have as much time as he needs as far as I'm concerned. He's got my backing because I think he has good ideas and an impossible job. He needs help from somewhere though.

 

[SwissBlade]

Not sure, perhaps he did but looks far more suited to playing centre back to me. In terms of both stature and style. I still think the lad did ok at left back, just not sure as an attacking force. Perhaps he will prove me wrong.

I'm willing to give him another go, perhaps stepping into the shoes of past lane full back legends as Hill, Williams, Guus Uhlenbeek and Jordan Stewart phased him a little you're right though he looks more of a centre half.

Others have said this before, but If we're looking for a fullback that can get forward and has decent feet, why not try MacFadzean?

Another point though, I thought Bradford were terrible down the wings, they would really have frustrated me by trying to get the ball down their left. Mark Yeates has clearly found his level, but he's obviously improved his free kick technique since playing for us!

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I'm willing to give him another go, perhaps stepping into the shoes of past lane full back legends as Hill, Williams, Guus Uhlenbeek and Jordan Stewart phased him a little you're right though he looks more of a centre half.

Others have said this before, but If we're looking for a fullback that can get forward and has decent feet, why not try MacFadzean?

Another point though, I thought Bradford were terrible down the wings, they would really have frustrated me by trying to get the ball down their left. Mark Yeates has clearly found his level, but he's obviously improved his free kick technique since playing for us!

McFadzean at left back might not be a bad shout. One to try in the JPT first maybe? The problem I see for him at the moment is that Murphy and Brandy seem to have tied down the wide positions and he doesn't suit the role behind the striker. Agree on Bradford and I thought they weren't very good in general. Nahki Wells is their only real threat.

 

[blade too long]

observation , 4 games gone no striker has scored

wonder where we need to look

 

[Maidenhead]

We weren't good enough and need massive improvements in a few areas but we weren't total garbage and to quite frank if you went today and was one of the ones around me who spent 90 minutes slagging every blades player off I wish you would stay at home at let your ticket go to a fan who will get behind the team.

I agree with everything you say but the game is about scoring goals and we still wouldn't have scored if we were still playing now.

We had 3 serious efforts on goal.

Murphy through 1 on 1 which gave early hope but we then had to wait until late in the game for Maguire to put a header from 6 yds wide and Ironside to sky one from about the same distance.

The fact that we didn't put in a decent cross all day, even on the odd occasion we did have A body in the box is why I describe the performance as garbage.

And just for the record, I don't slag our own players off during the game and I don't boo the team at either half time or full time as I see all negativity as counter productive however there is only so much garbage a confirmed clapper can take.

I don't blame Weir, or the players. I know where we are and I am realistic about it but that doesn't mean to say that we weren't garbage yesterday!

 

[GRENO]

Last season McFadzean played left back on several occasions for the under 21s up at shirecliffe
always looked comfortable and gets forward, personally think he is the best option at the club
for this position at the moment.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Not going to happen but two players that would improve us immeasurably.....

Billy Clarke (Crawley) - would be great in the advanced mid role behind the striker imo.

Max Clayton (Crewe) - In the last year of his contract apparently and can play anywhere across the front line. Loads of potential.

 

[Bladesway]

I don't think anyone with a remotely realistic outlook would blame Weir anyway. I'm not expecting miracles and I'm certainly not expecting him to get any financial backing. Just calling it how I see it and sadly I see nothing but struggle if the manager can't bring at least three players in. Our current league position is where I would expect to find us by the end of the season.

Weir can have as much time as he needs as far as I'm concerned. He's got my backing because I think he has good ideas and an impossible job. He needs help from somewhere though.

Wasn't aimed at you by the way, it was a general point.

 

[Chapel Allerton]

Where's McGinn? Has he been injured? I thought he looked good in the 1st game.

 

[jt64]

observation , 4 games gone no striker has scored

wonder where we need to look

do goals count double if they're scored by a striker? personally i don't care who scores as long as someone does

 

[sheffielder]

Where's McGinn? Has he been injured? I thought he looked good in the 1st game.

Can't get a game with captain dynamo about

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Wasn't aimed at you by the way, it was a general point.

I know, just wanted to make my position clear

My first post sounded slightly critical of Weir but like you I'm realistic and feel he needs plenty of time to sort this mess out.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Last season McFadzean played left back on several occasions for the under 21s up at shirecliffe
always looked comfortable and gets forward, personally think he is the best option at the club
for this position at the moment.

Yes, I saw him play left back for the U21s as well but I don't think he's a great defender. It might work in our new system but for me his best position is left side of midfield and that's where we should play him.

We need some of our players to nail down midfield positions and get our movement and shooting sorted out up front.

 

[blade too long]

we are like a jig saw with some pieces missing, weve got the edges sorted , but are missing the faces , keep trying to fit bits in but they arent locking together we need to look at the big picture and fill in the spaces