Surely This Has Got To Spark Change...

[Lution Mckenzie]

10 Defenders.. 8 Midfielders.. 3 Strikers.. Ill refer back to a post I made towards the end of last season.. How long are we going to play the same drip, drab football.. Telling the boys to track back with players rather than tackle.. Playing the ball back to defence when there's no one directly infront of a player with the ball etc etc..

Take a look at the opening game against Bristol City.. Some will argue the fact that Bristol, who are the other team tipped for the Championship next season, were a good stern test. I, myself feel we played the same drib drab football we've played week in, week out. So many chances infront of goal and one or two players actually in the box to take a cross on the head.
Then todays performance.. 4 shots to Coventry's 16.. Laughable.. Already were in real trouble in regards to team morale. We NEED that striker now.. Someone whos not afraid to run into to the box and not worry about the team counter charging his run.. A striker has 8 to 9 men behind him so let them do there job, but when we see the likes of Porter & Mcnulty tracking back doing abit of defending, that screams somethings not right to me.

So basically what im saying is, as a current 'Blades History Maker' with my just under £400 season ticket, im fairly worried come October we will be YET AGAIN chanting for our manager out again!!

 

[taylorsblades]

10 Defenders.. 8 Midfielders.. 3 Strikers.. Ill refer back to a post I made towards the end of last season.. How long are we going to play the same drip, drab football.. Telling the boys to track back with players rather than tackle.. Playing the ball back to defence when there's no one directly infront of a player with the ball etc etc..

Take a look at the opening game against Bristol City.. Some will argue the fact that Bristol, who are the other team tipped for the Championship next season, were a good stern test. I, myself feel we played the same drib drab football we've played week in, week out. So many chances infront of goal and one or two players actually in the box to take a cross on the head.
Then todays performance.. 4 shots to Coventry's 16.. Laughable.. Already were in real trouble in regards to team morale. We NEED that striker now.. Someone whos not afraid to run into to the box and not worry about the team counter charging his run.. A striker has 8 to 9 men behind him so let them do there job, but when we see the likes of Porter & Mcnulty tracking back doing abit of defending, that screams somethings not right to me.

So basically what im saying is, as a current 'Blades History Maker' with my just under £400 season ticket, im fairly worried come October we will be YET AGAIN chanting for our manager out again!!

Is there money to spend?or can we only go for free transfers or nominal fees?

 

[Bladesman]

Is there money to spend?or can we only go for free transfers or nominal fees?

We just need to see what spare change we can find down the back of the sofa.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Early bar in town for me toneet

Might post tomoz afternoon after hangover died down !!

Be interesting to catch up and see what general mood has been overnight !!!

UTB

 

[WeareBlades]

Is there money to spend?or can we only go for free transfers or nominal fees?

I fully believe there is money to spend, especially the Maguire money. Hope Clough isn't just being naive thinking he doesn't need anymore players.

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

Yet more negativity from the brainless pillocks i see.

I've emailed Jim Phipps and i'm now completely satisfied we have signed some brilliant players, we have £50m quid to spend if "the right players become available" and will have the league sewn up by Christmas. Lalalalalalala clappy clappy clap clap.

WHEN WILL YOU FUCKING MORONS LEARN? GOING UP GOING UP GOING UP

 

[Bergen Blade]

It all clicked for us last season regarding the team's balance, passing rhythm and attacking movement. Good players, some with real class, gave others a lift. At the moment the platform of our team selection is just gone. It starts with us having to find a place for Davies, for his set pieces, forcing us to move Alcock and ending up with a small and inexperienced back four with no real leader. In midfield we're also struggling to find the right mix and several players aren't close to their best form, which also goes for Higdon (physically).

I think we should go back to basics a bit and try a more standard-looking line up:

Howard
Alcock Collins McGahey Harris
JCR Baxter Basham Scougall Murphy
Higdon​

Basham in the defensive role, trying to protect the back four. The other midfielders are the most mobile and creative we have. Out and out full backs with good stamina and overlapping ability. Strong centre halves.

 

[Zanzibar]

It all clicked for us last season regarding the team's balance, passing rhythm and attacking movement. Good players, some with real class, gave others a lift. At the moment the platform of our team selection is just gone. It starts with us having to find a place for Davies, for his set pieces, forcing us to move Alcock and ending up with a small and inexperienced back four with no real leader. In midfield we're also struggling to find the right mix and several players aren't close to their best form, which also goes for Higdon (physically).

I think we should go back to basics a bit and try a more standard-looking line up:

Howard
Alcock Collins McGahey Harris
JCR Baxter Basham Scougall Murphy
Higdon​

Basham in the defensive role, trying to protect the back four. The other midfielders are the most mobile and creative we have. Out and out full backs with good stamina and overlapping ability. Strong centre halves.

Scougal and Murphy are pale shadows set against last year.
Basham is just a shadow compared to a shadow.

 

[FTPE]

It all clicked for us last season regarding the team's balance, passing rhythm and attacking movement. Good players, some with real class, gave others a lift. At the moment the platform of our team selection is just gone. It starts with us having to find a place for Davies, for his set pieces, forcing us to move Alcock and ending up with a small and inexperienced back four with no real leader. In midfield we're also struggling to find the right mix and several players aren't close to their best form, which also goes for Higdon (physically).

I think we should go back to basics a bit and try a more standard-looking line up:

Howard
Alcock Collins McGahey Harris
JCR Baxter Basham Scougall Murphy
Higdon​

Basham in the defensive role, trying to protect the back four. The other midfielders are the most mobile and creative we have. Out and out full backs with good stamina and overlapping ability. Strong centre halves.

Got to start Baxter!
And if hidgon doesn't start getting some support up top his confidence is going to go to shit too.

 

[FTPE]

Scougal and Murphy are pale shadows set against last year.
Basham is just a shadow compared to a shadow.

No flying wingbacks to give them an option anymore. Same goes for Flynn

 

[alcoblade]

It all clicked for us last season regarding the team's balance, passing rhythm and attacking movement. Good players, some with real class, gave others a lift. At the moment the platform of our team selection is just gone. It starts with us having to find a place for Davies, for his set pieces, forcing us to move Alcock and ending up with a small and inexperienced back four with no real leader. In midfield we're also struggling to find the right mix and several players aren't close to their best form, which also goes for Higdon (physically).

I think we should go back to basics a bit and try a more standard-looking line up:

Howard
Alcock Collins McGahey Harris
JCR Baxter Basham Scougall Murphy
Higdon​

Basham in the defensive role, trying to protect the back four. The other midfielders are the most mobile and creative we have. Out and out full backs with good stamina and overlapping ability. Strong centre halves.

Agreed, and I don't quite see that Davies's set pieces are all that. He's a bit too proud of his crossing ability, often leading to him crossing from too deep and wasting the ball.

UTB

 

[Roygbiv]

It does seem a total mish mash of players being thrown together in the hope that something sticks at the moment. Some will say Alcock has been our best player so playing him at Centre Half is justified but I think having him at right back alongside Collins/Butler and McGahey looks a far tighter unit overall. Davies has done ok but defending isn't and never will be his strong point. It's no wonder that with Harris playing below par and Davies, a winger playing right back, that we haven't yet kept a clean sheet.


Murphy, Flynn and Scougall all not being near their best is something that you cant blame Clough for. All three players were great last season and I expect them to deliver again throughout the season. Basham and Reed on paper should complement each other but it seems that we are lacking a true defensive midfielder with these two in the side. Basham doesn't play like Doyle or at least isn't being asked to play the same role as Doyle and whilst I don't think we are missing Doyle the player I think we are missing that protection of the back 4.

I'd be tempted to go 4-4-2. Baxter's best spell last season came when he played just off Porter around November/December. There seems to be nobody close enough to Higdon with the tactics we are playing and I think using Baxter there could work.

 

[mattbianco1]

Agreed, and I don't quite see that Davies's set pieces are all that. He's a bit too proud of his crossing ability, often leading to him crossing from too deep and wasting the ball.

UTB

Clough clearly wants to play Davies and in doing so is forcing players into unnatural positions.

He obviously can't drop Murphy or Flynn for him so is shoehorning him in at RB.

I think by putting Collins in for Davies and Alcock at RB we would find we are much more stable straight away...

I'm not knocking Davies but he shouldn't be at RB.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Agreed, and I don't quite see that Davies's set pieces are all that. He's a bit too proud of his crossing ability, often leading to him crossing from too deep and wasting the ball.

UTB

He does a decent job, but going forward he sort of just joins up with the right midfielder and then they try to find some space to get a cross in. Brayford just bombed forward on and off the ball and often flew past Flynn, which gave Flynn a lot more space and thus made defences uncomfortable and often standing off. I hope Alcock at least has more energy to overlap and run into space.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Scougal and Murphy are pale shadows set against last year.
Basham is just a shadow compared to a shadow.

We need to try and tweak their roles before we write them off.

 

[Roygbiv]

He does a decent job, but going forward he sort of just joins up with the right midfielder and then they try to find some space to get a cross in. Brayford just bombed forward on and off the ball and often flew past Flynn, which gave Flynn a lot more space and thus made defences uncomfortable and often standing off. I hope Alcock at least has more energy to overlap and run into space.

That's an excellent point. Davies has got in the way of his winger if anything in the two games I have seen so far. He isn't adding extra width he just seems to be a needless body in an unwanted area. Davies has actually done ok this season in his general play and maybe he should be given a chance ahead of Flynn on the wing

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Clough clearly wants to play Davies and in doing so is forcing players into unnatural positions.

He obviously can't drop Murphy or Flynn for him so is shoehorning him in at RB.

I think by putting Collins in for Davies and Alcock at RB we would find we are much more stable straight away...

I'm not knocking Davies but he shouldn't be at RB.

Why can't he drop Flynn? - everything so far this season suggests Flynn is worse than he as ever been? Whether he is actually fit is another question, but he just looks way off everything. Murphy seems not much better?

Last season has gone.

Flynn seems lost with Brayford - Harris is a shadow of last season, so perhaps Murphy is struggling too?

Considering the pathetic pre-season we have had and an in-different start to the season the similarities of Wier and Clough appear to be just about on a parallel.

Lets hope it changes very very quickly and that we stop having square pegs in round holes.

UTB

 

[FTPE]

Why can't he drop Flynn? - everything so far this season suggests Flynn is worse than he as ever been? Whether he is actually fit is another question, but he just looks way off everything. Murphy seems not much better?

Last season has gone.

Flynn seems lost with Brayford - Harris is a shadow of last season, so perhaps Murphy is struggling too?

Considering the pathetic pre-season we have had and an in-different start to the season the similarities of Wier and Clough appear to be just about on a parallel.

Lets hope it changes very very quickly and that we stop having square pegs in round holes.

UTB

You've basically just wrote EVERYTHING I came on here to say, I would have swore more in it, but I completely agree with every point you make

 

[Kenilworth]

The whole team selection seems to be based on Davies for set piece delivery. What's the fucking point of doing this if there is only one fucker that has the potential of getting on the end of it - and he is not fit enough.

Not one of the back four is a threat on set pieces (well, not in the opposition penalty area, v dodgy in ours). Only Basham has the physique to be a threat from the midfield and so far, whenever I have seen him, he has been a complete lightweight.

Let's telegraph what we intend to do so the oppo manager can just mark Higdon out the game and nullify any goal threat we have.

We should be mindful that teams like Coventry have also had their best players ripped away and have had to look to their academy and free transfers to field a team and have had exactly the same time (but with significantly fewer funds to compete for better players) as we have to bed in and be ready for a full league programme. What the fuck are we doing having rookies in key positions and no experience around them to guide them through? It smacks of random hope rather than proper, balanced planning.

Got to hope that this performance today is the same as Crewe away last year.

 

[Silent Blade]

Basham Scougall ​

Didnt go to todays match.... can anyone who went to the match confirm that Basham has played well today for the first time also is Scougall coming back to the player he was when we first signed him?

 

[Foxy]

Didnt go to todays match.... can anyone who went to the match confirm that Basham has played well today for the first time also is Scougall coming back to the player he was when we first signed him?

Basham was better in the opening 30 minutes than last week. Scougall was much the same as he's been since they came back from their summer break.

 

[Wards]

Scougall didn't look last week or sound (this week) to be 'on it'. For what it's worth I'd probably drop him to the bench for either Doyle (and move Reed further forward) or a straight swap for Baxter.

JCR for Flynn would be my other change given he only looks about 60% fit.

 

[metalblade]

Clough has to start two of Butler/Collins/McGahey and move Alcock to his natural position at right back. I'm not too worried about lack of pace at centre back we had none when Maguire was with us but we can't carry on with square pegs in round holes. I do hope Nigel is not doing the old buddies act and shoe horning ex Derby players in at the cost of the correct team selection. Why bring on McCeveley for Flynn when we have JCR on the bench ? the guy has only been with us a matter of hours and has had no pre season. Not really fair on the player or the rest of the team is it just because he is a old Derby buddy ? We seem to have half the team playing out of position or in roles that don't suit them no wonder they don't know what they are doing, makes me and a lot of fans wonder if Nigel knows what he is doing too.

 

[Toronto Blade]

Scougal and Murphy are pale shadows set against last year.
Basham is just a shadow compared to a shadow.

Edwards believes Scougall is carrying a knock which is the reason for his poor play.If so why is he in the starting 11.

 

[metalblade]

Why is he at Walsall ???

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

I

Why is he at Walsall ???

I'm not one for rumour mongering, but i'd love to know what has gone off? A player being allowed to watch another team on match day clearly has no future with his current club.

Isn't his mate on this forum?

 

[Foxy]

Not being in the squad for today, he was given the weekend off.

 

[metalblade]

I would think a team player would watch his current team rather than ex team

 

[Deadbat]

All seems odd. Surely he should be watching current team to see strengths/weaknesses and where he could fit in etc. The fact he has gone to watch his old team is very strange.

The fact he has preferred McEveley to him today; even on the bench suggests his career at SUFC will be a short one.

Either Clough has made a mistake (and does not rate him - but then why sign him?) or there appears to have been some sort of falling out?

If he has no future then Clough needs to shift him on quick. Just another odd signing (as is the Porter re-singing) if we are not going to play them?

 

[metalblade]

All seems odd. Surely he should be watching current team to see strengths/weaknesses and where he could fit in etc. The fact he has gone to watch his old team is very strange.

The fact he has preferred McEveley to him today; even on the bench suggests his career at SUFC will be a short one.

Either Clough has made a mistake (and does not rate him - but then why sign him?) or there appears to have been some sort of falling out?

If he has no future then Clough needs to shift him on quick. Just another odd signing (as is the Porter re-singing) if we are not going to play them?

My thought too Deadbat, something don't seem right here. When asked why Butler was at Walsall Clough snapped "he wasn't involved last week either" when pressed he snapped "he was crap in pre season" well so were Murphy Flynn ans Scougall but they get a game.