A few things to be negative about but not a disaster.

[highpeakblade]

Just got through the door and sat down and had to come online to put a few things to rest after listening a few calls from Blades in the car on the way home.

We all know weren't as organised as we were against Villa, the individual performances of certain players weren't half that of what they put in at Villa and overall as a team we didn't work for eachother in the same manner as we did at villa.

We started very bright and with a neat little interplay Coady went through and tucked the ball away simply but neatly. In a sense it was very similar to Walsall because after that we had a few chances to double the lead which would have made it very hard for the opposition but once again we failed to put it away when we had them on the back foot and this cost us.

We then let the opposition back into the game, even then for me it was very open and it was a case of they will level things or we will break and grab a second. They had a couple of obvious dangers in the team and the biggest one Campbell rice rang rings round Matt Hill and put a very dangerous ball in that was fumbled in by Showumni, the finish wasn't attractive but the ball was in the right area of thepitch and our back four who I thought as a whole weren't totally brilliant today should have dealt with it but got bossed by the towering monster that is Showumni. The middle of the pitch got a bit crowded and for me they edge it in there again today but still it was open and could have gone either way.

They then got a second goal and again it was down to bad closing down and allowing time to play the ball. The back four weren't on form today and for me they shouldn't have had enough to cause us any real problems so it takes the biscuit really.

At 2-1 down it was still open but this was mainly down to both teams carrying casualties and by this I mean a few players from both teams weren't sharp, weren't alert and didn't look on it. We did have a few chances in the second half but again didn't put them away.

To sum it up we weren't terrible for me but we definitely weren't close to how we have been playing recently. We made chances and didn't put them away and we allowed them to get back into the game and play a little. I think they bossed us allover the pitch physical wise as our players at times didn't like the nitty, gritty, physical side of football that County like to play. You have to come away from that without any excuses, we created our own downfall today and weren't overall good enough, we showed potential in areas but it wasn't enough.

 

[sitwell]

We should swap left backs with Notts Co.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

We were playing a side 2nd from bottom of League 1. We lost and only had one attempt on target. Totally unacceptable.

 

[Guesty]

I thought we were terrible to be honest, opening 10 minutes aside. The midfield completely evaporated in the second half, the defence was torn to shreds repeatedly by such footballing leading lights as Showumni and Campbell-Rice and I don't think their 'Keeper made a save second half.

I've been hearing all week how good Doyle and McGinn were at Villa, were either they were impostors today or they were last Saturday. Doyle contributed nothing except a series of fouls and misjudgements. Twice at the end (one from a free kick) he had the chance to launch the ball into the box and it didn't even reach. McGinn, almost impossibly, was even worse. After a terrible bit of indecision by Matt Hill allowed County to break, McGinn dawdled back meaning Maguire had to attempt to close down a cross, so when the ball came over we were woefully short in the middle and predictably County scored. He also missed an absolute sitter near the end, instead of rolling the ball beyond the prone 'Keeper he went for a smashed Hollywood finish and missed by miles.

Porter set up one goal and could have laid on another near identical one which Coady missed but overall he was dominated by the Centre Halves (legally or otherwise) and merely had to look 50 yards down the pitch to see how the Centre Forward's role should be played.

Every player from 1-11 (as it were) had a poor game today. I've said it before I know, but I see absolutely no evidence that this team can pull away from a relegation scrap. None whatsoever.

 

[highpeakblade]

We were playing a side 2nd from bottom of League 1. We lost and only had one attempt on target. Totally unacceptable.

Whilst I agree with you 100% it is unacceptable but I am also realistic as to who Sheffield United F.C are at the minute, why we are in this position in the first place and what we need to do to get out of it and overall the quality of playing staff that we have within the club. It's all totally unacceptable but we it's got that deep now that it's far from an overnight job to put it right.

I still think that since Clough's arrival we are growing as games pass by. I think for the most the basics have been much better and overall we have improved in all areas of the pitch, what you need to remember though is that we still lack a great deal of quality and depth to remain consistently good week in, week out.

This isn't directed at you deano but United fans in general. A few good results and the excellent one last week and the expectations of fans has again shot up which for me is still very premature. For me we are still at the stage where every 3 points picked up are huge and every single place that we finish above the relegation zone should be considered an achievement.

The luxury / stand out players who played a part in league one in the past eg Blackman, Evans, Williamson, Kitson etc are all no longer at the club and whilst the players we do have are caoable of achieving things to an extent I don't believe we have enough in the team to be consistently win game after game.

The team are starting to knit but we are also seeing the same players starting most games of late and it has been a busy time so even though they are trained pros it is bound to take it's toll.

Let's take advantage of this window to add the missing ingredients and quality and then take it match by match this season and I am confident we have enough in there to finish eventually mid table and better, we won't win every game but we will pick up points along the way and we can build on it next year.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Let's take advantage of this window to add the missing ingredients and quality and then take it match by match this season and I am confident we have enough in there to finish eventually mid table and better, we won't win every game but we will pick up points along the way and we can build on it next year.

^^^what he said^^^

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

We have known for quite a while now that players like Doyle,Collins, Hill etc are not good enough and one decent performance against Villa won't change that. Sadly others that have come in of late Mcginn et al are also proving that they are not good enough. Notts County have improved of late under Derry but still wouldn't have expected us to get overrun by them, still we can always claw the points back against Brentford, Wolves, Millers.......

 

[sheffielder]

Losing to 2nd bottom after taking the lead is disappointing but not a disaster?

Someone let me know when the club wakes up because we are still in free fall with attitudes like this. Every disappointment we have between now and the end of the season could end up being the end.

 

[metalblade]

Not a disaster ...................... REALLY ?

We are once again one result from the bottom of the league, yeah most fans need to wake up, the club needs to wake up even faster.

 

[true99blade]

I'll add another negative, the JTW is more or less useless for us. I'm amazed that so many thought we would strengthen in all or most areas. This transfer window is of no use to us and many, many clubs in the same situation struggling in a shite league with hardly any money. I would not be surprised if we go down and I still believe we will struggle to stay up and haven't changed my mind over this for a while. Anyone still thinking that we'll sign new fullbacks, a decent midfield or a proven goalscorer needs a reality check.

 

[Swanseablade]

Notts County have improved of late under Derry but still wouldn't have expected us to get overrun by them

What?
Muck n nettles, up n at em Derry?
Sssssh
You'll wake the tippy tappy brigade.......

 

[puppet]

sadly theres absolutely no guarantee we are going to sign anyone capable of making a difference this window. did my eyes deceive me or did long just drop the ball right at the strikers feet there for the second? (they may have its been a heavy night)

 

[BladeFisher]

sadly theres absolutely no guarantee we are going to sign anyone capable of making a difference this window. did my eyes deceive me or did long just drop the ball right at the strikers feet there for the second? (they may have its been a heavy night)

I thought that too Pup but there again there was no action replay.

 

[Bulletnut]

What a ridiculous title to a thread. Seriously, not a disaster? That was more than a disaster, it was on a par with 3 disasters welded together to make a fucking mega tsunami earthquake landslide of a disaster. We were fucking abysmal today against a bunch of no hopers. We're desperate for points and got none against a shower of shit so just for once in your life, get a hold of yourself, take a deep breath and admit it, today was without a doubt, a mammoth fucking DISASTER.

Defending the club is good, talking out of your arse isn't so for goodness sake be big enough to tell the truth, as hard as that might be even the most blinkered would get a lot more respect by saying nothing rather than trying to defend the indefensible.

 

[highpeakblade]

What a ridiculous title to a thread. Seriously, not a disaster? That was more than a disaster, it was on a par with 3 disasters welded together to make a fucking mega tsunami earthquake landslide of a disaster. We were fucking abysmal today against a bunch of no hopers. We're desperate for points and got none against a shower of shit so just for once in your life, get a hold of yourself, take a deep breath and admit it, today was without a doubt, a mammoth fucking DISASTER.

Defending the club is good, talking out of your arse isn't so for goodness sake be big enough to tell the truth, as hard as that might be even the most blinkered would get a lot more respect by saying nothing rather than trying to defend the indefensible.

It's called the bigger picture. Some people need to sort themselves out, last week we were world beaters to some, we beat Villa than means we were to win every single game remaining in league one this season, romp the league and gain promotion.....happily ever after and all that.

We are heading in the right direction but as I said above it might be worth looking at the bigger picture. Look at the current squad, look at the financial restrictions and what it required to turn it around. A new gaffer has come in and has turned it around to an extent without any purse strings and I am more than confident he will bring a couple in to see this season through comfortably.

I go home and away, week in, week out. I have seen the mass improvement allover the park since the new manager came in. I'm not deluded we are far from perfect however I am realistic. This is not a quick fix job! We've achieved the first step which was installing some missing and much needed confidence back into the team, we have achieved the second step of doing most of the basics right starting at the back and making us more organised and hard to beat. We now need to address the third step in attacking teams, controlling games and overall just playing good, consistent football and to be fair of late in cluding in a spell today well have achieved this however not consistently enough.

We shouldn't even be looking at going up. We should be looking at putting things right in order to pick up enough points to finish this season in a position where we don't need to look down. No United fan wants to do that, I more than certainly don't but I will because I know that is where we are right now. The Financial rules will prevent us from bringing in loads of top class players so the recruitment has to be right.

I am behind Clough and the team.

 

[Bulletnut]

Cloughs' s doing a great job but your statement that we are growing as games go by makes no sense. We have to win games like today, time is running out and make no mistake, however happy you seem to be with our slow progress, if we don't start winning soon we'll get relegated.

I don't care if you go home and away, if you're blind you're blind and unfortunately results don't match your optimism.

 

[Sirius]

We have known for quite a while now that players like Doyle,Collins, Hill etc are not good enough and one decent performance against Villa won't change that. Sadly others that have come in of late Mcginn et al are also proving that they are not good enough. Notts County have improved of late under Derry but still wouldn't have expected us to get overrun by them, still we can always claw the points back against Brentford, Wolves, Millers.......

It is unfortunate that Doyle,Collins and to some degree Harry, are unable or unwilling to put themselves about to the same degree that the opposing brick shithouses who seem tobully our players at will.
It's about time we gave teams something to think about in the challenges. it may open the door for our dwarves to-perform. It appears that we are being outmuscled.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

In principle I agree with the OP. Yesterday was a game which could have gone either way, and we shouldn't over react every time we lose or play poorly. We're in a relegation fight, and in a relegation fight you lose some games, but it's about scraping together enough points from the other games to survive. Most importantly, there has been a genuine improvement in most areas of the pitch since Clough came in, which should give us cause for optimism.

I am, however, still nervous. It's a scenario we've all seen before. A team starts the season poorly. They replace their manager, and quickly performances pick up. Everyone says how much things have improved, what a change the new manager has made, there are some positive results - albeit mostly draws at first - and everyone says that things are going in the right direction and they should draw clear. But the draws don't quite turn to wins. There's some bad luck - everybody says so - and some of those early signs of growing confidence start to seep away. The fans start to get impatient and nervous. The team are too. Other teams at the bottom pick up as well, and they can't quite build a gap between themselves and the relegation zone. Before you know it, it's the final run in, and they haven't got clear. Other teams around them are experienced in relegation battles in the division, and play to their strengths and grab points in key games. The steady improvement ethos is waining as it all becomes a bit panicky. The team is relegated on the last day and nobody can understand quite where it all went wrong....

We shouldn't panic and declare the sky is falling in every time we have a bad result, but equally any hint of complacency in the team that we're too good to go down and that these improved performances will surely draw us clear, will be our undoing. We're in a relegation scrap - good and proper - and it's going to need one hell of an effort to get us safe.

Let's get behind Clough and the team, because we'll only do it if we're united.

 

[grafikhaus]

A few good results and the excellent one last week and the expectations of fans has again shot up which for me is still very premature. For me we are still at the stage where every 3 points picked up are huge and every single place that we finish above the relegation zone should be considered an achievement.

So expecting not to get rolled over by the second-bottom team is 'expectations shooting up' and yet you think 'every single place...above relegation...zone should be considered an achievement.' How low are you setting the bar?

The team are starting to knit but we are also seeing the same players starting most games of late and it has been a busy time so even though they are trained pros it is bound to take it's toll.

Yes, it's called the Christmas and New Year fixture list and, unless Notts County were away in Lapland visiting Santa, I believe all teams must go through it.

Let's take advantage of this window to add the missing ingredients and quality and then take it match by match this season and I am confident we have enough in there to finish eventually mid table and better, we won't win every game but we will pick up points along the way and we can build on it next year.

Obviously, and with three weeks of the JTW left, yesterday (and Walsall) should act as a massive wake-up call, and NC had better get it right. No wore wailing and gnashing of teeth when players turn us down for behemoths such as Brentford.

Finally, all this talk of 'build on it next year' is frightening. 50 points is absolutely no guarantee of survival and anyone who has watched the Blades this season will wonder where the hell even 50 points is coming from. NOW is the time to be bold, discard the majority of this team (who most of us won't remember in a years time) and absolutely ensure we don't start August in Divison Four.

Which will, of course be under yet another manager because disastrous as Weir left us, NC will have had ample time to save us.

 

[bartman]

I thought that too Pup but there again there was no action replay.

not seen it back on TV yet but I also thought the first was an own goal by Long - I thought he aprried the cross into the goal

 

[Bladesman]

We are totally inconsistent but what do you expect with ageing average players and younger players who struggle depending on opposition.

 

[Foxy]

not seen it back on TV yet but I also thought the first was an own goal by Long - I thought he aprried the cross into the goal

Nah, my view (again in real-time, so apologies if wrong) was it essentially just hit Showumni and in a delayed attempt to react to that he ended up punching it in (it was already heading in the right direction).

 

[Deadbat]

Showumni did chest it as cross was fired in but did move his body to the ball. It was a good reaction from a driven cross he could not do much else with. The defending was sloppy from McGinn allowing the ball to be carried without a challenge and then Hill allowing the cross and no one getting close to the cross. Think it was Collins who allowed free shot (chest) on goal. Long still should have done better it was straight at him and he sort of parried it into the net.

The second there were two mistakes from Hill but a lot happened after it. Maguire gets done for pace and does not stop the cross and McGinn did not track his man at all and he had a free header. He then got the rebound easily after Long again should have done better (it was a weak header).

So many mistakes from a lot of players. Any one of the above does their job and we probably do not concede.

Just seen that McGinn miss and it is even worse than I remember. He did well to create space but it is appalling finish. I have barely seen him hit the target yet this season and often wildly shoots over. Not sure what his scoring record but he never looks like scoring which is unacceptable for a midfielder.

The penalty appeal looked a good claim as he raised his hands but it was hit hard. Seen them given mind.

More worrying is the fact that keeper did not have a save to make all game outside of the goal.

 

[Foxy]

Showumni did chest it as cross was fired in but did move his body to the ball. It was a good reaction from a driven cross he could not do much else with. The defending was sloppy from McGinn allowing the ball to be carried without a challenge and then Hill allowing the cross and no one getting close to the cross. Think it was Collins who allowed free shot (chest) on goal. Long still should have done better it was straight at him and he sort of parried it into the net.

As I say, I've not watched the replay yet, so it was just as I saw it at the game . Was a little too far away to see much movement in terms of trying to control it goal-wards. My initial reaction was one of annoyance that there was little in the way of an attempt to stop the cross.

 

[Lowen]

Clough needs to change his mentality over the coming games. He's always like don't lose but we need more than that now. Every game is a must win and every result win or lose is going to mean much more.

 

[breeny]

being positive is the only answer...

 

[alcoblade]

Not a disaster ...................... REALLY ?

We are once again one result from the bottom of the league, yeah most fans need to wake up, the club needs to wake up even faster.

Yep, that's the sad reality. Our forward line is, quite simply, fucking useless. We need Paynter to get goals, because we're in trouble if someone doesn't start delivering.

UTB

 

[blade too long]

In the JTW , we were warned we had to see some leave before we could recruit , so week 1 was going to be more of fond farewells than fan fares for the incoming , lets not panic over a defeat , that was hard to take considering we were worth a point at least.

 

[Bulletnut]

We're not panicking over a defeat, we're scared shitless that the squad is crap and we aren't going to do anything about it.........again.

 

[Bergen Blade]

As I say, I've not watched the replay yet, so it was just as I saw it at the game . Was a little too far away to see much movement in terms of trying to control it goal-wards. My initial reaction was one of annoyance that there was little in the way of an attempt to stop the cross.

Highlights here:



There are also extended highlights (19 minutes) on Notts County's Player.