Last neet

[Putney Blade]

Rode our luck, did we threaten? Good defensive play, loads of commitment and grit. Thought Maguire & Collins were excellent, so were our various full-backs, Hill apart. Gave the ball away too easily however, the pressure kept building. Nothing up front, Baxter was lost and out-muscled, also lacked their 'power', central defenders apart. Be interesting to see how we play against the other 'better' teams in the league, on this show our defensive play remains our strong point, offensively, as our goalscoring record shows is our weakness. Hope NC can find a loan player to give us more bite up-front for the run-in...

UTB

 

[Wapping Blade]

Think you're right about being "out powered", we looked like midgets compared to them and only had a few instances of good football that negated that advantage.

 

[WeareBlades]

Baring in mind if we don't get play offs we know what types of players to buy for next season! Defence can stay as it is, fast and strong striker up top. Very decent point last night tho.

 

[Rustyblade]

Oh, come on, Wapping! Even that lovely chap, Grayson could see we are a "strong, powerful team".

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Thought Maguire & Collins were excellent, so were our various full-backs, Hill apart. Gave the ball away too easily
UTB

Hill was on for precisely 4 minutes and spent half of that time hobbling - bit harsh, Putney!

 

[blade too long]

we have conceded 1 goal , forests consolation , in our last 1020 minutes of football , you dont do that if your knackered

the preston full back got his timings wrong was 3 minutes early trying to swap shirts with Maguire in their penalty box

 

[Rossb123]

They was a different type of team than we are used to coming up against, good point away from home though. A lot of our skilful players got out muscled but Freeman and Davies played really well.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Think you're right about being "out powered", we looked like midgets compared to them and only had a few instances of good football that negated that advantage.

Thought the only problem last night was that Flynn didn't believe he could get past his full back thus taking out our threat on the right.
Murphy didn't feel the same and we were a lot stronger on the left.

Come on Ryan, you can do it.

 

[mattbianco1]

Thought we rode our luck loads, however - we would've set up differently and won at BDTBL.

We played to not lose and that's what we did.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Last night was a dogged display by a tiring team. Baxter could do with some help up front, he's doing a great job for someone played out of position, but I think he could do with someone playing ahead of him (Murphy?) down the middle.

We would have lost that game a month or so ago.

Great point.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Last night was a dogged display by a tiring team. Baxter could do with some help up front, he's doing a great job for someone played out of position, but I think he could do with someone playing ahead of him (Murphy?) down the middle.

We would have lost that game a month or so ago.

Great point.

Baxter is doing great.

Watch

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

when does the loan window shut?

 

[blade too long]

March 2014

League One
Sheff Utd V Wolves
Sat 22 Mar 13:25
League One
Crawley V Sheff Utd
Tue 25 Mar 19:45
League One
Swindon V Sheff Utd
Sat 29 Mar 15:00
April 2014

League One
Sheff Utd V Brentford
Tue 1 Apr 19:45
League One
Sheff Utd V Leyton Orient
Sat 5 Apr 15:00
League One
Sheff Utd V Rotherham
Tue 8 Apr 19:45
FA Cup - Semi-Final
Hull V Sheff Utd
Sun 13 Apr 16:00 League One
Sheff Utd V Stevenage
Sat 19 Apr 15:00 League One
Tranmere V Sheff Utd
Mon 21 Apr 15:00
League One
Port Vale V Sheff Utd
Sat 26 Apr 15:00
Show League One
Oldham V Sheff Utd
Tue 29 Apr 19:45
May 2014
League One
Sheff Utd V Coventry
Sat 3 May 15:00

 

[BerksBlade]

Thought the only problem last night was that Flynn didn't believe he could get past his full back thus taking out our threat on the right.
Murphy didn't feel the same and we were a lot stronger on the left.

Come on Ryan, you can do it.

Didn't help Flynn's energy levels being kicked up in the air at every opportunity! Same for Scougall to a lesser extent. On another day Garner could easily have walked for persistent fouling. Nasty side looking to bully their way to the Championship - typical Grayson.
Agree with the comments re. Baxter but playing Porter/Paynter changes the tactics that have worked so well recently.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

March 2014

League One
Sheff Utd V Wolves
Sat 22 Mar 13:25
League One
Crawley V Sheff Utd
Tue 25 Mar 19:45
League One
Swindon V Sheff Utd
Sat 29 Mar 15:00
April 2014

League One
Sheff Utd V Brentford
Tue 1 Apr 19:45
League One
Sheff Utd V Leyton Orient
Sat 5 Apr 15:00
League One
Sheff Utd V Rotherham
Tue 8 Apr 19:45
FA Cup - Semi-Final
Hull V Sheff Utd
Sun 13 Apr 16:00 League One
Sheff Utd V Stevenage
Sat 19 Apr 15:00 League One
Tranmere V Sheff Utd
Mon 21 Apr 15:00
League One
Port Vale V Sheff Utd
Sat 26 Apr 15:00
Show League One
Oldham V Sheff Utd
Tue 29 Apr 19:45
May 2014
League One
Sheff Utd V Coventry
Sat 3 May 15:00

At least when we beat hull we won't need to reschedule any games

 

[blade too long]

WIN 9 OF THE 11 LEFT WELL GET IN PLAY OFFS , SIMPLES

 

[siblade]

Didn't help Flynn's energy levels being kicked up in the air at every opportunity! Same for Scougall to a lesser extent. On another day Garner could easily have walked for persistent fouling. Nasty side looking to bully their way to the Championship - typical Grayson.
Agree with the comments re. Baxter but playing Porter/Paynter changes the tactics that have worked so well recently.

Agreed. whilst last night didn't work from an attacking point of view why would we change a system that has taken us on this fantastic run, if it aint broke I don't really want NC to change too much. Preston were very physical but we stood up to it and came away with a fantastic point due to heroic defending. It's a tough set of games coming up but I'm sure they are all up for it.

 

[sitwell]

We lost 2 defenders to injury by half time ,we had 2 on loan defenders playing out of position (one making his debut) against one of the best teams in the league and we kept a clean sheet again. Some people need to get some perspective.

 

[Pinchy]

Agreed. whilst last night didn't work from an attacking point of view why would we change a system that has taken us on this fantastic run, if it aint broke I don't really want NC to change too much. Preston were very physical but we stood up to it and came away with a fantastic point due to heroic defending. It's a tough set of games coming up but I'm sure they are all up for it.

It will be fascinating to see how Nigel changes it next season. From the little I know (or care) about his Pre-Blades years, he is very much a 4-4-2 man, is he not?

I'm pretty sure we'll see a couple of exciting new strikers arrive in the Summer (if he was going to bring in a mediocrity like Davies or Beavon he'd have done so by now - he's waiting for the right one).

That will mean two in central midfield. I dearly hope it's Coady and Scoogs but we shall see.

Interesting times and happy days ahead!

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

I don't understand how anyone can be negative about a point away to 5th place team.

If we were flying at the top of the table I'd settle for a point away to 5th place.

 

[pommpey]

I agree with the positives on here.

I don't think there were many criticisms of last night's game at all in fact. We played a stronger, more physical team who have had a greater level of success than us this season with - at this level - some dangerous players like Garner. We went away and played a system (deep 4-1-4-1) - okay negative and short of attacking options - which stopped them from scoring and limited them to a preictable method of getting the ball forward. And we stopped them from scoring and came away with a point. Six months ago Preston would had shat in our pockets and thrown our bag on the bus-stop roof.

Last night consolidated the fact that we have become very difficult to get the better of recently and it is only lack of concentration and a far superior playing style that will succceed against what Cluff is creating.

pommpey

 

[davidpinder]

I am more than happy with last nights point and performance they are 5th in the league we are 10th and we took a point. Yes they created chances but hardly forced howard into a shed load of saves, they hit the post from a miss hit effort and had the expected 60% possession. Bring on Wolves and BDTBL.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Despite the backs-against-the-wall reality of last night, we very nearly could have won it in the 2nd half. Maguire being hauled down in the area would have seen Perfect Penalty Porter add to his tally, and had Baxter been slightly less sloppy his return to Scougs would have seen him one-on-one in a perfect position. Before that, it seemed to open up for Coady, who rather than shoot drilled it across the box. Yes, we were up against it, but we got a decent draw given the circumstances and did have opportunities ourselves.

 

[Mad Mick]

I agree with most people it was an excellent result. How many would have taken a draw before kick off?
I would have. We weren't at our best by any means but the we had some luck and the defence played really well under the circumstances. I bet this morning PNE fans are disappointed.

 

[DronnieBlade]

It will be fascinating to see how Nigel changes it next season. From the little I know (or care) about his Pre-Blades years, he is very much a 4-4-2 man, is he not?

I'm pretty sure we'll see a couple of exciting new strikers arrive in the Summer (if he was going to bring in a mediocrity like Davies or Beavon he'd have done so by now - he's waiting for the right one).

That will mean two in central midfield. I dearly hope it's Coady and Scoogs but we shall see.

Interesting times and happy days ahead!

Pinchy. As you know, our views on the game are somewhat similar.

I have to take you to task on this post though dear boy.

1. Craig Davies, while not having his very best game last night, is exactly the type of strong, mobile goalscoring CF we are in desperate need of, and would have made a great addition 2 months ago.

2. In line with the general Scoogs merriment, I have bitten my tongue for long enough.... I don't get it. I really do not see what the fuss is / was all about. Other than being small, powder puff but with a bit of pace, what else is there ? Harsh maybe just what I have seen.

But it was a good point last night against a very robust and well organised team.

UTB.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I bet this morning PNE fans are disappointed.

Bet some Blades are disappointed as well which shows the progress we've made.

 

[Bladesman]

We always seem to draw away at Preston regardless of what sort of team we have.

Seems like a cold and boring place.

Maguire's shirt looked more like a tent after that match though.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Pinchy. As you know, our views on the game are somewhat similar.

I have to take you to task on this post though dear boy.

1. Craig Davies, while not having his very best game last night, is exactly the type of strong, mobile goalscoring CF we are in desperate need of, and would have made a great addition 2 months ago.

2. In line with the general Scoogs merriment, I have bitten my tongue for long enough.... I don't get it. I really do not see what the fuss is / was all about. Other than being small, powder puff but with a bit of pace, what else is there ? Harsh maybe just what I have seen.

But it was a good point last night against a very robust and well organised team.

UTB.

Hi DronnieBlade, you've obviously seen more of Craig Davies than I have so your opinion deserves consideration. All any of us can do is judge a player on what's presented to us. Based on last night's game what I saw in Davies was a willing lump of a player, with little idea, who's possessed of insufficient imagination to cause the Blades any trouble. All things considered we've done remarkably well this season, but I do think we're unfinished work. I can only guess at what Clough might do come the summer, but he's impressed me hugely since taking over from the mistake known as Weir. NC ticks so many boxes, and we're one lucky club to have him as manager.

As for your thoughts about young Scougall, I guess we just have to agree to disagree. What I see in this young 'un is a player who does far more than offer a bit of pace. What he brings to the team will become more and more obvious when we have the type of dedicated, pacey, and skilful players who can benefit from his ability to make things happen. Up until now he's been asked to play off a Baxter, a player who'd be the first to admit that the role of forward isn't what he's best suited for. I'm not knocking Baxter, but given the demands of playing with his back to defenders, he's done well, up until now, to play so effectively. It's just not his best position is what I'm saying.

Unless I'm wrong I think you're suggesting that Scougall is like a bee in a jam jar, all hurry and scurry but not much else to show for it. Well the player I see is someone who thinks much farther ahead than many of his team mates, and with this comes an explanation as to why he might appear as if he's somehow adrift. I don't happen to share your description of the lad. We've got a good 'un in Scoogs, make no mistake.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Scougall is the type of players that is a nightmare for defenders, but last night he was isolated up front because Baxter had a bad game.

I see Scougall fitting into an Arsenal-like style of formation with a CF in front of him who can bring him into play but also find space and runs for Scougs to exploit. I still think Paynter is that CF.

Once we've guaranteed L1 survival, i'd like to see us experiment with:

HOWARD
BRAYFORD COLLINS MAGUIRE HARRIS
DOYLE COADY
FLYNN SCOUGALL MURPHY
PAYNTER

 

[Pinchy]

Craig Davies - 28 years - 79 goals in 11 lower league seasons - The Predator.

I Scoogs!