Players who were tried in new positions without success

[Bergen Blade]

A lot of players seem more rounded and versatile nowadays, so maybe more candidates to be found going back a few years when formations and tactics were more rigid.

I remember a lot of people wanting to see Kyle Naughton in central midfield, as he seemed to have a lot of the required attributes. In the end he was tried there, but I don't think it worked out as hoped and I don't think he played there for us again. He later played quite a bit at centre half for other clubs though.

I also remember Steve Bruce saying "I may have found myself a new target man" after trying Trianos Dellas there. Dellas had some good games in midfield, but he didn't play a lot up front.

More like these?

 

[Snowflake]

A lot of players seem more rounded and versatile nowadays, so maybe more candidates to be found going back a few years when formations and tactics were more rigid.

I remember a lot of people wanting to see Kyle Naughton in central midfield, as he seemed to have a lot of the required attributes. In the end he was tried there, but I don't think it worked out as hoped and I don't think he played there for us again. He later played quite a bit at centre half for other clubs though.

I also remember Steve Bruce saying "I may have found myself a new target man" after trying Trianos Dellas there. Dellas had some good games in midfield, but he didn't play a lot up front.

More like these?

Jags in goal ?

 

[woody_7]

Lee Baxter ???

 

[Chief_Froley]

I remember us buying Nathan Thomas with the idea of converting him into a left wing back.

Seeing as he only played one league game for us I'd say it wasn't successful.

 

[Cappy]

Cov fans incoming...

 

[Tarqs]

Right sided Centre Half and Right back Panos Retsos hadn't played any games in midfield, until Wilder brought him on once to play there. A bizarre decision.

 

[Addison]

McEveley and Alcock as a centre back pairing. Both were full backs and Alcock was just too small for CB. The fact Clough tried it for the first time in a second leg semi final play off beggars belief. The 1 goal deficit we started the game with was -4 after only 15 minutes. Rather than go with Collins a recognised CB who had been consigned to the u21's Clough let his obstinance get in the way of logical thinking. Incredibly the team managed to get the game back to 5-5 only losing on aggregate 6-5. It wasn't the time or the place to experiment. That result hastened Clough's departure and rightly so.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

We used to frequently play Nick Montgomery in midfield and he wasn't even a football player.

 

[mattbianco1]

Dean Hammond on a football pitch

 

[GrunkyPeep]

We used to frequently play Nick Montgomery in midfield and he wasn't even a football player.

I remember his debut at Norwich away, ripping it up as a right winger.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Didn't Blackwell play Greg Halford up front & Billy Sharpe out wide in his wonderful tenure Seem to remember
Think Bassett once tried Pembo up top as an experiment after pigs had some success with Warhurst converting him from a centre half ?
Marvin Johnson as a left wing back during 18/19 season , cost us points against Bristol City at The Lane & Rothm away off the top of my head

 

[s20Blade]

Didn't Tonge start out as a left winger lost soke form then got it back in the centre of midfield?

Don't know what way around you'd put that as though.

 

[Nedski]

I seem to remember Ryan Flynn being moved to centre midfield for some unknown reason.

 

[CrookesBlade]

I remember a number of particularly turgid games under Blackwell with Richard Creswell being played on the left wing.

 

[John Cutsbushes]

Blackwell brought Kyle Bartley on up front at Hartlepool
I also remember Danny Batth playing a game up front, probably as a sub
His only Utd appearance

 

[Melbourne Blade]

Grbic as a goalkeeper

 

[LondonBlade89]

I remember us buying Nathan Thomas with the idea of converting him into a left wing back.

Seeing as he only played one league game for us I'd say it wasn't successful.

Interesting career that lad. Now aged 30 playing for Whitby Town. Enough departures by “mutual consent” or words to that effect that it makes you think there must be something else going on there.

 

[Tuns25]

Stan, Stan, Stan the Man. Played as a sweeper away at Crystal Palace from memory. Not sure he played for us again.

 

[SuperSonicBlade89]

Chris Morgan played as a CF late into one particular game. I cannot remember for the life of me what game it was. It's possible it was some sort of friendly.

Mind you I remember Paddy Kenny playing up front against Yorkshire CCC and scoring. Looked very strange seeing him in a red and white shirt

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Chris Morgan played as a CF late into one particular game. I cannot remember for the life of me what game it was. It's possible it was some sort of friendly.

Mind you I remember Paddy Kenny playing up front against Yorkshire CCC and scoring. Looked very strange seeing him in a red and white shirt

Millwall last home game 04/05

 

[SuperSonicBlade89]

Millwall last home game 04/05

That's the one!
Thought it might have been a league game because I remember sitting on the kop.

I think he came on for Steve Kabba!
It was very strange, that's why it sticks in my memory.

 

[Gin&Juice]

Blackwell sticking Naughton in centre midfield. Daft bastard. Don’t think he was terrible, but was wasted.

 

[Gin&Juice]

There’s a patten here around Kevin Blackwell sticking players in odd positions. Probably he thought he was some tactical genius, maverick of the game. But in reality…

 

[Silent Blade]

Little Alan Wright played centre back at times and got loud cheers when he won headers!

 

[Silent Blade]

Alan Woodward's 5 stints as an emergency keeper totalled 156 minutes but he conceded just only one goal which was an unlucky own goal by Bill Dearden.

 

[Revolution]

Bassett tried Brian Smith in midfield at Middlesbrough in 1987-8.

Final score: Middlesbrough 6 Sheffield United 0

Another Kevin Blackwell tactical triumph: putting Jordan Stewart on the wing v Newcastle in 2009-10 with David Cotterill sat on the bench, with Cotterill instantly creating 3 good chances, the easiest missed by Henderson of course, when he was finally brought on.

the thread on here after that game, which also covers Seth Bennett's defence of Blackwell on Radio Sheffield afterwards, is priceless. It's entitled Bennett/Walker/Giddins if someone with more skills than me can link to it. It's rare you see such unanimity.

 

[Revolution]

That's the one!
Thought it might have been a league game because I remember sitting on the kop.

I think he came on for Steve Kabba!
It was very strange, that's why it sticks in my memory.

Warnock in 2004-5 gave a masterclass in how not to run a forward line.

 

[Revolution]

Stan, Stan, Stan the Man. Played as a sweeper away at Crystal Palace from memory. Not sure he played for us again.

He didn't. He and Bassett were rumoured to have had an argument about our defensive formation at HT. We lost 1-0 and he was soon off on loan to Rotherham, and then we let him go to Wolves.

It was a sad end to an excellent United career, but he was out of his depth in the top flight.

 

[Champagneblade]

Blackwell sticking Naughton in centre midfield. Daft bastard. Don’t think he was terrible, but was wasted.

I think he only did it in a league cup game
didn’t he, just to see if that experiment might work.

Having Naughton and Walker was a blessing and a curse. They should both have been right back.

Looking back if we’d have had the overlapping centre backs that would have been a helluva right side!

 

[Shawy24]

Alan Woodward's 5 stints as an emergency keeper totalled 156 minutes but he conceded just only one goal which was an unlucky own goal by Bill Dearden.

You may know or remember this, but I seem to recall CH John Flynn starting up front in a desperate attempt to end a goal drought?