Pros and Cons - Blackburn away

[Maurice Maurice]

After an incredibly disappointing week that saw the transfer window get a brick thrown through it, only for Jordan Ayew to crawl through it in a Blades shirt I feared the worst today. We did our usual start on the front foot then give them the ball and get everybody behind it for the rest of the half. It's not a good watch and we always look like we have a mistake in us so it was no great surprise when they scored.

CONS
Their goal, as clean a strike as it was, was a gift. Poor pass by Hamza, weak from Sydie and poor from the referee who had given Blackburn three free kicks already for the same soft foul that he didn't give us for the one on Sydie.
Hamza, despite his fabulous goal line clearance doesn't look anything like a full back. His positioning and decision making are nowhere near this level and seriously, you'd see better in a pub league.
Rothwell was treading water again. He doesn't really do anything and we look so much better when he doesn't play.
Campbell was so slow it was painful to watch. There was one through ball late on that was about 50/50 but as soon as he set off he slowed way down then development a phony limp and if he was a donkey, he'd have been put down after the game.
General fitness is still an issue, we have to get stronger.
Tony Mowbrays face, it's fucking hideous and looks like someone was breaking concrete slabs on it.

PROS
The goals. First one was well worked and a lovely finish by Cannon. Second was pure class by Sydie, slightly reminiscent of that Gazza goal against Scotland.
Cannon, by his standards had a decent game tonight. He won his headers, scored a good goal and actually looked a threat when he was pointed in the right direction.
Coops again, enough said.
A lot in Shoutbox are saying it was a crap performance, I disagree. I thought once we scored the second we controlled the game. They got desperate, started shooting from anywhere but we rode our luck when we needed to and could have scored more on the counter.
Blaster actually contributed, had a couple of deft touches so hopefully he's on the way back to something like a player.
Three points after the week from hell and after the shit show of Norwich is very welcome. We really were better than a lot are giving us credit for.

UTBFTP

 

[TCsLoveChild]

2nd half performance was as professional as it gets. UTB

 

[dc_blade]

Second half they had one cleared off the line, a couple of decent saves (one actually better than decent) by Cooper, and they missed a one-on-one when clean through. After 22 minutes of the second half we'd made 19 successful passes. We were far too deep and far too reliant on aimless long balls. We can play so much better this and we need to start doing it.

Positives: We have our Michael Cooper back and he's the best keeper in the division. Peck showed how good he can be when played higher up the pitch. When he came on, Arblaster looked like he did before the injury. Cannon might actually be ok-ish if we give him the right service.

I think there's a decent little team in there somewhere. A bit more confidence in themselves and it may emerge into the light of day.

 

[Maurice Maurice]

Second half they had one cleared off the line, a couple of decent saves (one actually better than decent) by Cooper, and they missed a one-on-one when clean through. After 22 minutes of the second half we'd made 19 successful passes. We were far too deep and far too reliant on aimless long balls. We can play so much better this and we need to start doing it.

This is the problem for me. We drop so deep we don't have a single player within 10 yards of the half way line, we don't have an outball and if we try to play it out we lose it but if we lump it, it comes straight back. I get that there's times you're under the cosh but to deliberately invite teams on when you have the dodgy defenders that we have, it seems a strange tactic.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Be nice to start a game strongly - we’ve had to try and come back from behind pretty much every game recently

I guess it’s a testament to the resilience of the side that they aren’t just sinking. But it would be nice to be in the front foot and not clawing our way back into games.

Glad Cannon has another goal. 3 in 6 now and slightly improved all round game is a positive for sure.

Cooper back to being the best keeper in the league. Which we will need as we can’t stop giving shots away.

Hopefully we figure out the formation. I’m sure there’s an 11 we can field which could have a decent season. Just need to find it.

 

[dc_blade]

This is the problem for me. We drop so deep we don't have a single player within 10 yards of the half way line, we don't have an outball and if we try to play it out we lose it but if we lump it, it comes straight back. I get that there's times you're under the cosh but to deliberately invite teams on when you have the dodgy defenders that we have, it seems a strange tactic.

100%. These players and this manager are capable of better. I do wonder if their collective confidence has been hit by all the bullshit behind the scenes this summer. I just want them to believe in themselves because there are some very decent footballers among them.

 

[Maurice Maurice]

100%. These players and this manager are capable of better. I do wonder if their collective confidence has been hit by all the bullshit behind the scenes this summer. I just want them to believe in themselves because there are some very decent footballers among them.

I agree, we have a good squad but we also have issues with fitness and we have to address that. Diaz was blowing out of his arse again, Rothwell is like a human slug and don't get me started on Campbell.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Tin hat on here but though I've only seen him over two games Kitching looks far worse than McGuiness. I'll give him time but I was expecting a big strong bloke who won things in the air, but so far not seen any sign of it.

 

[BazWainwright]

Decent, if confounding game Maurice. First 35 we were appalling, and I mean, real bad. We looked so weak and unconfident. Backline was the Alamo and the midfield with Rothwell basically ploughing a furrow wherever he ran and Peck not able to even do the basics, then suddenly out of nowhere, we are level and a different team emerges. Even more so when Peck stunned all his critics - me included - and bagged a superb goal on the end of some astounding build up play. We then did what I have never seen us do for years. We did 'game management'. We patiently kept Blackburn away from our goal as much as we could, and when they got close, we defended or Coops made some great saves. Bottom line is ... we actually ... fucking ... won! We didn't cough up the lead (on 65 I thought, here we go, daft subs and down the pan goes the advantage) and we hung on, desperately at times, but Blackburn couldn't break us.

 

[BrianTheBlade]

Another honking performance. I honestly don’t think Wilder has a clue what he’s doing at the minute and is just going 4-4-2 for the sake of it because he’s been found out.


I’d go 4-3-3 with Blaster, Peck and Phillips. These last six league games have been really, really poor. You’d struggle to say we’ve deserved to win a game, bar the cup games.


Take the win, obviously, but we aren’t going anywhere fast playing like this

 

[Tarqs]

Tin hat on here but though I've only seen him over two games Kitching looks far worse than McGuiness. I'll give him time but I was expecting a big strong bloke who won things in the air, but so far not seen any sign of it.

Ive said same. Any pass forward is to opposition.

 

[Flakey]

Can't help thinking we are going to be better suited to away games, defend 70% of the game and nick the odd goal,.
Whereas at home we will have to take the game forward which is where we will come unstuck.

 

[thehet]

Watch the first goal back and slow it right down...

1) Donavon - does ok but I'm not a fan of dribbling in or around the edge of our box - could have been him that was robbed.
2) Hamza - chooses to put his foot on the ball in our box, then stud-rolls it wide (poorly) to presumably knock it down the line but changes his mind to play inside.
3) Peck - jogging to receive the pass then does his trademark drop-shoulder "spin" which everyone can see coming, in this case the Rovers player who aggressively pressed.
4) Rothwell - jogged away from play the entire time. Does not offer an option. Never wants the ball. Left Hamza and Peck to make a mess of it.

The decision making and execution from start to finish was woeful. It was slow. It was indecisive. It was p*ss poor.

We cannot keep gifting chances like this and not expect to be punished.

 

[Green7361]

For a team that's slow we're playing too deep, even at corners we leave no one up. On one of the corners in the first half Donovan was not far from us just marking a space. Why don't we leave him up, in fact when Seriki and Chong are fit let's have some balls and leave all three up at corners. It would give us an outlet. We have no outball because Campbell isn't capable of chasing a ball anymore if its more than two-yards in front of him. We need to utilise our pace on the counter, not plonk everyone in the penalty area.

 

[Nick Jansky]

For a team that's slow we're playing too deep, even at corners we leave no one up. On one of the corners in the first half Donovan was not far from us just marking a space. Why don't we leave him up, in fact when Seriki and Chong are fit let's have some balls and leave all three up at corners. It would give us an outlet. We have no outball because Campbell isn't capable of chasing a ball anymore if its more than two-yards in front of him. We need to utilise our pace on the counter, not plonk everyone in the penalty area.

Chelsea were leaving four up at times against Arsenal corners the other day. And that’s against probably the best team in the world at taking corners. They didn’t concede from any of them. I agree, we need to be far braver.

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

I think we need a midfield 3 of Arblaster and Philips deeper, with Peck more advanced.

Then the Decision is whether you go 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 (or 4-5-1 when defending).

 

[Green7361]

Chelsea were leaving four up at times against Arsenal corners the other day. And that’s against probably the best team in the world at taking corners. They didn’t concede from any of them. I agree, we need to be far braver.

Totally agree with this, at our level we aren't playing Arsenal, which is my point, we have no way from corners and the ball ends up coming back. Would like to see a much more attack minded approach once our pacier players return from injury. We should certainly be starting with leaving Donovan up, he's quick and can keep the ball.

 

[HIBGIA]

The main positive from last night is that we are now practically 2 wins away from 3rd bottom, with the gap hopefully growing over the next 4-6 games.

The team and management performance was shocking at times again though, another lucky win, but take them right now.

 

[Champagneblade]

After an incredibly disappointing week that saw the transfer window get a brick thrown through it, only for Jordan Ayew to crawl through it in a Blades shirt I feared the worst today. We did our usual start on the front foot then give them the ball and get everybody behind it for the rest of the half. It's not a good watch and we always look like we have a mistake in us so it was no great surprise when they scored.

CONS
Their goal, as clean a strike as it was, was a gift. Poor pass by Hamza, weak from Sydie and poor from the referee who had given Blackburn three free kicks already for the same soft foul that he didn't give us for the one on Sydie.
Hamza, despite his fabulous goal line clearance doesn't look anything like a full back. His positioning and decision making are nowhere near this level and seriously, you'd see better in a pub league.
Rothwell was treading water again. He doesn't really do anything and we look so much better when he doesn't play.
Campbell was so slow it was painful to watch. There was one through ball late on that was about 50/50 but as soon as he set off he slowed way down then development a phony limp and if he was a donkey, he'd have been put down after the game.
General fitness is still an issue, we have to get stronger.
Tony Mowbrays face, it's fucking hideous and looks like someone was breaking concrete slabs on it.

PROS
The goals. First one was well worked and a lovely finish by Cannon. Second was pure class by Sydie, slightly reminiscent of that Gazza goal against Scotland.
Cannon, by his standards had a decent game tonight. He won his headers, scored a good goal and actually looked a threat when he was pointed in the right direction.
Coops again, enough said.
A lot in Shoutbox are saying it was a crap performance, I disagree. I thought once we scored the second we controlled the game. They got desperate, started shooting from anywhere but we rode our luck when we needed to and could have scored more on the counter.
Blaster actually contributed, had a couple of deft touches so hopefully he's on the way back to something like a player.
Three points after the week from hell and after the shit show of Norwich is very welcome. We really were better than a lot are giving us credit for.

UTBFTP

There are some reasons to be cheerful. But it’s more things to build on rather than something that came together. It was scrappy and disjointed at best.

We still seemed to set up 4-4-2 but with McCallum wide left. At some point it felt like it became a 5 at the back. Second half we move at one point to 4-3-3 though Campbell wide left was a surprisingly attacking move.

We then moved to 5 at the back with Bapstiste coming on. Good to see him trusted and us being flexible enough to move to another formation when needed. Maybe that will be part of our identity; an ability to switch systems?

I’d rather focus on the positives:

Cooper - excellent once more. His double save was great. He’s really earning us points.

Defence - Doherty was fine when he came on. In Seriki’s absence I hope he can take over from Choudhury. Both Norrington-Davies and McCallum are doing fine at left back. Central defence looked better.

Midfield - in a two, when we don’t have the right combo we don’t look good defensively. That being said Peck looks far better as more of an 8 and could get some goals. We should cultivate him there rather than being a Norwood type. Midfield 3 is far better for us. Eventually when fully firing I’d like to thing we arrive at Phillips as a 6 and Arblaster and Peck as two 8s. In the meantime we can play two 6s and one 8 (Peck) and we have Choudhury and Riedewald who can play the 6 role alongside more of a baller in Rothwell or Phillips. That’s how I see it, especially against some tougher teams.

Forwards - pressing needs to improve at times but I don’t dislike ending up with BBD, Cannon or Bamford and Donovan. Good to see Campbell play a bit of the game wide. He can be an option there and not just up top. For not him and Ayew could be wide alternatives.

I can see a bit of evolution for this team. I just hope we arrive at 4-3-3 that switches to 5-3-2 when needed.

That’s what I’d like to see happen build towards. We have the depth for that IMHO.

 

[Geordie Blade]

I’m going to say it:

I quite like Tom Cannon. I like his attitude.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Pros … 3 points & decent performance from back end of the first half & second half ..

Cooper now back at his best , Cannon lead the line well & thought Docherty played well after his introduction , Donovan lively & Peck took his goal well

Cons - RND , Tanganga , Rothwell & Choudhury

All this if they had a striker & keeper bollocks yeh yeh .. they didn’t & these margins determine football matches sometimes .. good 3 points after Saturdays performance

 

[bakeblade]

Decent, if confounding game Maurice. First 35 we were appalling, and I mean, real bad. We looked so weak and unconfident. Backline was the Alamo and the midfield with Rothwell basically ploughing a furrow wherever he ran and Peck not able to even do the basics, then suddenly out of nowhere, we are level and a different team emerges. Even more so when Peck stunned all his critics - me included - and bagged a superb goal on the end of some astounding build up play. We then did what I have never seen us do for years. We did 'game management'. We patiently kept Blackburn away from our goal as much as we could, and when they got close, we defended or Coops made some great saves. Bottom line is ... we actually ... fucking ... won! We didn't cough up the lead (on 65 I thought, here we go, daft subs and down the pan goes the advantage) and we hung on, desperately at times, but Blackburn couldn't break us.

The only reason we didn't cough up the lead was them missing chances and their best striker.
The one where it hit Choudhury on the line was unbelievable

 

[bakeblade]

Chelsea were leaving four up at times against Arsenal corners the other day. And that’s against probably the best team in the world at taking corners. They didn’t concede from any of them. I agree, we need to be far braver.

That was probably more of an attempt to counter Arsenal's tactic of crowding the keeper, which they were exceptional at last season.
Generally the more players in the box leads to less chances

 

[Nick Jansky]

Totally agree with this, at our level we aren't playing Arsenal, which is my point, we have no way from corners and the ball ends up coming back. Would like to see a much more attack minded approach once our pacier players return from injury. We should certainly be starting with leaving Donovan up, he's quick and can keep the ball.

Yep, I haven’t forgotten Louis Reed’s two goals last season which we beautifully presented to him.

 

[Dkc]

We are really missing the energy of O' Hare. He was always running, creating options for a pass and pressuring the opposition. Without him (and Hamer's ability to pick out a pass) we simply pass it about a bit, get pressured, go backwards then hit aimless long balls down the channels that normally just concede possession. We are rarely capable of creating chances unless we get lucky with a long punt. Only when Blackburn tired did we manage to play through their midfield. Yes, there were some positives last night and you hope it will improve but in reality we could have easily lost all of our six games so far. I fear the loss of O'Hare and Hamer means we are destined to struggle.

Well done to all the team for their efforts last night. They kept their heads up and battled to the end.

 

[Green7361]

Yeah we showed real character last night as it would have been so easy just to go under. I'd just like our starting point to be another 10-yards further up, maybe its our own lack of pace that's stopping that unfortunately.

 

[loyalblade95]

I’m going to say it:

I quite like Tom Cannon. I like his attitude.

Granted 6 goals wasn't a great return last season, especially for a ST, but not even 10 games in (in all comps) and he's already got half that.

If he can keep this up he should hit double figures this season.

 

[Irv]

Main positive for me is that we can actually get points this season from losing positions. Last season, if we went 1-down you knew we were getting nothing from the game. Signs there is some fight in this team at the very least.

 

[Swannyblade]

I think we need a midfield 3 of Arblaster and Philips deeper, with Peck more advanced.

Then the Decision is whether you go 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 (or 4-5-1 when defending).

I can only see 4-3-3 working for us at the moment for the following reasons:

• I don't see where Donovan fits in a 5-3-2 and he's been arguably our best player so far this season (certainly our only player capable of injecting a bit of energy).
• Unless Seriki and Burrows are available options at wingback, I can see the back 5 sitting too deep and leaving the forwards isolated.
• 5-3-2 doesn't would mean moving BBD out of his best position as a left forward.

The problem with the 4-3-3 is only having one up top, which is fine if it's Bamford, but I don't think Cannon or Campbell are capable of leading the line on their own at present for fitness (Campbell) and playing style (Cannon) reasons.

 

[BazWainwright]

I did like the idea of having BBD in an advanced striker position last night instead of a winger. I don't think he has the dynamism to be a winger as such, more a partner for Bamford.

Campbell last night was embarrassingly crap.

3-5-2 on the when in possession and 5-3-2 out of possession is the way.