Are we "getting there" ?

[davidpinder]

Just wondered if everyone agrees with NC who thinks we are better every game and getting there when it comes to performances.

 

[stannyblade]

Depends on where there is. If it's league one then yes we are there. Shit today but we won

 

[Latters]

An unconvincing win today from a deflected goal. It could have been very different had their screamer that hit the bar gone in. But, it didn't and that's what matters. I'll take another few scruffy wins if it builds confidence, but the performances definitely need to improve.

I thought Basham, Murphy, Alcock and Davies gave poor individual performances today and Magahey made a couple of mistakes where he looked to have won the ball well, then inexplicably lost it straight away. However, we played some nice football as a team in spells, which we can hopefully build on.

I'm not sure if "getting there" is the right phrase. More "just setting off", I hope.

 

[cahill]

Basham, frustrating today, Worst game I've seen Alcock have, although he was marking an awkward looking number 7. Seemed to be communication problems all game with Baxter and Alcock not seeming to be on the same wavelength, Mceverley seemed to be at sixes and sevens at times although he played well and its nice to see somebody willing to hold and keep the ball. Collins was sound at the back. Keith Hill seemed to have gone for the quick closing down game against our defence who kept their cool and played their way out of trouble. Howard was his usual cool safe self.

Murphy was ineffective at centre forward. The young Magahey (spelling) looked secure at the back but did make the occasional error.

Wallace looks a good player

Baxter played well

MOM. Jamal Campbell-Rice


Good crowd today with a few hundred from Rochdale



Ps. Can we have tannoy announcer problems every week as it was great not to have to listen to his interminable bable.

 

[JohnDenver]

Jose and JCR were fabulous today. The central defence did fine, but the rest were pretty ordinary.

Playing Murphy on his own against those big defenders was something he didn't enjoy, but there was no way either Davies or JCR could be dropped to make way for him out wide. That might have changed with Davies' strangely anonymous display.

It's crystal clear we still need a striker, but the rest of the squad looks strong to me. So yes, we are getting there…..

 

[grafikhaus]

No way was that convincing, however Rochdale were extremely well-drilled and mobile. Never gave our lads a second of peace. They obviously targetted Alcock's lack of height. The shot that hit the bar deserved to win any game. Plus points - Jamal & Jose. Minus points? Too many! Regardless of his display, Basham was blowing at the end and so was Jose. After a 'free' couple of weeks, fitness for some is obviously a problem.

As I've said before, until we address the striker problem, every game can go any of 3 ways.

 

[Darren]

I went for the first time this season and thought we were shit.

I also thought the joy at the end, celebrating a struggled 1-0 win over Rochdale, a bit overdone.

How we have fallen :-(

 

[Maidenhead]

Rochdale were a big side, played to their strengths, and did it well.

We played some good stuff at times.

20 fouls in our favour tells a tale.

I agree their shot that hit the bar was a real screamer but it was also the only time they ever seriously threatened us. That to me equals a very good defensive performance against a team that scored 12 (twelve!) in their last 3 away games.

JCR was immense.

Overall I enjoyed the game. I thought we controlled most of it.

Onwards and upwards

UTB

 

[Maidenhead]

I went for the first time this season and thought we were shit.

I also thought the joy at the end, celebrating a struggled 1-0 win over Rochdale, a bit overdone.

How we have fallen :-(

Come on Darren, it's not like you to sit on the fence.

 

[JohnDenver]

I went for the first time this season and thought we were shit.

I also thought the joy at the end, celebrating a struggled 1-0 win over Rochdale, a bit overdone.

How we have fallen :-(

If you went more you'd have seen much worse.

 

[Darren]

If you went more you'd have seen much worse.

Indeed, that was my thought. I kept thinking "this is Rochdale for fuck's sake, average crowds, what 3000, and players on wages probably 25% of ours and here we are with the game on a knife edge throughout"

I appreciate that we are playing teams like Rochdale on merit and that their manager has got them punching well above their weight, but I just found it intensley depressing where we are now :-(

 

[Wards]

Thought we were ok today. Some encouraging signs and a performance that was often let down by the final ball (which was woeful). On another day we might have had a couple more whereas everything seemed to be straight at the keeper. In what was a fairly even first 45 which Rochdale probably edged we didn't give them anything second half bar the shot that hit the bar.

Felt we were carrying one or two players, namely Murphy and Basham, and I feel that once the side is fully settled then we'll be difficult to stop. Baxter, Mceveley and JCR all very good.

Wallace looks a realy player and I can't wait to see him once he's fit.

 

[Darthblade]

Just wondered if everyone agrees with NC who thinks we are better every game and getting there when it comes to performances.

I have to say I don't agree with NC on this occasion. What he has learned ( please god I hope that he's learned ) is that at the moment, we couldn't score in a brothel !!!! We do not have a striker who has pace, strength and an eye for goal and we haven't had one for 3 years.

Please Nigel, tell us you have this in hand !!??!!

Thought JCR was MOM by a country mile and he must have been thinking, " f**k me, I'm doing all this work and nobody is converting it into goals "

I thought McEvely had a good steady game, Alcock did ok against a guy a foot taller than him who the crap referee let him get away with murder. Howard was untroubled, he could have got his deckchair and paper out. The rest of the starting 11 were very ordinary !! Wallace looked decent for the short time he was on and McNulty put himself about and caused them more trouble in 10 mins than Murphy did for 75.

Overall, we were fairly poor, failed to unlock them with any regularity and when we did create a rare chance we failed to capitalise. ( Baxter 1st half, Davies with the worst free kick of his career 2nd half )

On another note; what a CRAP referee AGAIN !!!! Absolutely garbage performance.

If we are to seriously consider promotion, we must have a strong pacey striker who CAN actually score goals or we will remain bang average.
UTB & FTP

 

[Northyorksblade]

I thought I'd gone to Bramall Lane today, but obviously I was transported elsewhere on the way. I enjoyed the game, thought they played some nice football. Jose is a clever player but gives the ball away too much Jamal CR had a stormer. Doyle broke up play in the middle of the park well. End to end stuff and we won. That'll do for me. (Sigh, yes I'm a clapper). Rochdale big, niggly, dirty team who actually can play a bit of football if they left out the constant fouling.

 

[Pinchy]

A few thoughts.

Well. some of you have, as usual, been to a different game. We were OK. Fantastic? Certainly not, but to suggest we were "shit" or other such expert analytical terms is plain silly.

A shot that hits the bar is not only self-evidently not worthy of winning any game; it quite literally cannot win any game. You hit the bar, that's a miss. Close but no cigar. Let's not start the 'lucky' rubbish again.

JCR was unplayable today. One of his markers was subbed before half-time and is now in the NGH having his legs surgically untangled. The other fared no better but they'd nobody else, by then.

The other player who produced quality over and above this league was the excellent Jose Baxter.

McEveley gave an outstanding display. If that's 'sixes and sevens' then give me 'eights' as well. Michael Doyle was vital in the middle of the park, particularly as he had the near anonymous and hapless Basham alongside him. James Wallace showed in five minutes how much more he could contribute. He needs to play as soon as fitness permits. Until then play Jose alongside Doyle and adjust elsewhere.

The unbeaten run goes on. We've even moved above global titans PNE!

Well done Blades.

 

[secretchief]

At present is unclear whether there is a better side trying to get out of our team or a worse side trying to get in.

I agree with much that has been said on this thread.

Rochdale had one tactic, which was to launch it towards our right back area and dominate Alcock in the air. They got quite a few attacks out of this.

Campbell-Ryce, Baxter and Doyle were the best players for me today, J C-R in particular. We looked good in spells when things were going through JCR and Baxter in particular. When it didn't, Rochdale thrived, particularly a passage of play in the middle of the first half. JCR was electric at times. Baxter brings people into the game superbly. He seemed more effective in advanced positions today, but was impressive throughout.

Basham is a terrible player, laconic, dwells on the ball when he has it, can't win the ball when he doesn't, positionally poor. Hope we don't see too much more of him although I doubt we will after today. I don't want to overpraise Wallace after seeing so little of him, but he is streets ahead of Basham. I don't see that Basham offers anything at all even defensively or offensively.

Like Darren, this was the first game I have managed to get to see this season (saw Ferenc pre-season). On that basis Mcgahey appears to be improving. I like Murphy but he had a stinker today.

 

[cahill]

I thought I'd gone to Bramall Lane today, but obviously I was transported elsewhere on the way. I enjoyed the game, thought they played some nice football. Jose is a clever player but gives the ball away too much Jamal CR had a stormer. Doyle broke up play in the middle of the park well. End to end stuff and we won. That'll do for me. (Sigh, yes I'm a clapper). Rochdale big, niggly, dirty team who actually can play a bit of football if they left out the constant fouling.

Agree mate. I enjoyed it today, we must be easily pleased

 

[Silent Blade]

JCR was unplayable today. One of his markers was subbed before half-time and is now in the NGH having his legs surgically untangled. The other fared no better but they'd nobody else, by then.

.

"having his legs surgically untangled" made me laugh!. Jamal was immense and McEveley is another good signing. Credit to Rochdale for making it tough for us.

 

[cahill]

Indeed, that was my thought. I kept thinking "this is Rochdale for fuck's sake, average crowds, what 3000, and players on wages probably 25% of ours and here we are with the game on a knife edge throughout"

I appreciate that we are playing teams like Rochdale on merit and that their manager has got them punching well above their weight, but I just found it intensley depressing where we are now :-(

We are where we are mate. You seem to be stuck somewhere in the 1960's. Get yer sen over to Manchester to watch millionaire football it's only an hours drive

 

[davidpinder]

We are where we are mate. You seem to be stuck somewhere in the 1960's. Get yer sen over to Manchester to watch millionaire football it's only an hours drive

I think that's a bit harsh, I can see where Darren is coming from we have a 30,000+ all seater stadium which is well over half full nearly every home game in the league playing a side that struggles to get 3000 and when we travel over there we will take more away fans then there is home and we are scrapping a 1-0 win. Only a few years ago we thumped them 3-0 at home and 5-2 away I think that shows how far we have fallen. Results and performances like today strangely enough worries me about what the future holds.

 

[Hodgyman]

JCR was unplayable today. One of his markers was subbed before half-time and is now in the NGH having his legs surgically untangled. The other fared no better but they'd nobody else, by then.

This must be the top comment of the day. Thanks Pinchy!

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I went for the first time this season and thought we were shit.

I also thought the joy at the end, celebrating a struggled 1-0 win over Rochdale, a bit overdone.

How we have fallen :-(

We weren't great Darren but I don't think we played that badly, in fact thought we played reasonably well but it's a struggle without a decent striker.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I have to say I don't agree with NC on this occasion. What he has learned ( please god I hope that he's learned ) is that at the moment, we couldn't score in a brothel !!!! We do not have a striker who has pace, strength and an eye for goal and we haven't had one for 3 years.

Please Nigel, tell us you have this in hand !!??!!

Thought JCR was MOM by a country mile and he must have been thinking, " f**k me, I'm doing all this work and nobody is converting it into goals "

I thought McEvely had a good steady game, Alcock did ok against a guy a foot taller than him who the crap referee let him get away with murder. Howard was untroubled, he could have got his deckchair and paper out. The rest of the starting 11 were very ordinary !! Wallace looked decent for the short time he was on and McNulty put himself about and caused them more trouble in 10 mins than Murphy did for 75.

Overall, we were fairly poor, failed to unlock them with any regularity and when we did create a rare chance we failed to capitalise. ( Baxter 1st half, Davies with the worst free kick of his career 2nd half )

On another note; what a CRAP referee AGAIN !!!! Absolutely garbage performance.

If we are to seriously consider promotion, we must have a strong pacey striker who CAN actually score goals or we will remain bang average.
UTB & FTP

Good post Darth, must say though, I was impressed with how quick Howard shot out of that deckchair to make that save near the end.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Are people watching too much premier league football? I have given up on it, perhaps that's why I often enjoy our games when others don't. My expectations are firmly fixed in league one this season, until hopefully we are promoted. I notice our attendance was more than any games in the championship yesterday. We need championship football! One last thought, do teams raise their game when they come to BDTBL? It sounds like something a Massive would say, but I'm beginning to think it may be true.

 

[DazBlade88]

One last thought, do teams raise their game when they come to BDTBL? It sounds like something a Massive would say, but I'm beginning to think it may be true.

I often think that's the case too. Rochdale's away following yesterday was around a third of their average attendance, which is fantastic. It must have given their players a massive lift.

I said before the game yesterday that I hated playing games like this because we're in a no win situation. Lose and it's classed as a catastrophe, win and it's "only Rochdale". There's no pressure on them and you can tell in how they played.

I've said it in another thread and I'll say it again now. We've got plenty to work on but Rochdale deserve credit for yesterday, both for a good performance and a tremendous away following. Good luck to them.

 

[Jehovah]

Seems a real divide in opinion this season. Many seem to think these wins are just papering over the inevtiable cracks that are soon going to make the whole wall collapse. Others think we're defending well and will be up there at the end with what we currently have. What I think is I love tits.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Seems a real divide in opinion this season. Many seem to think these wins are just papering over the inevtiable cracks that are soon going to make the whole wall collapse. Others think we're defending well and will be up there at the end with what we currently have. What I think is I love tits.

Clappers and knockers/glass half full v glass half empty 'twas always thus.

 

[cahill]

I'd stick my chest out and say I agree with this. The Bristol game was disappointing though

 

[Lightsoot]

I think we look unconvincing at present, almost reminiscent of Danny Wilson's second season in charge where we somehow made it to the top of the league after several mediocre performances, before ultimately falling away.

Several players are not on their game, for one reason or another. The majority of them are all supposed to provide us with an attacking threat.

Murphy - looks a shadow of the player who finished last season.
Scougall - a poor pre-season, indifferent start but carrying an injury so hopefully he can return to his form of old once fit again.
Harris - Very shaky and deservedly lost his place to McEveley.
Basham - Arguably Clough's poorest new signing
Higdon - not fully fit
Flynn - Lack of pre-season, working his way back to fitness (and form).

Other mentions:
Butler - been well documented. Was expected to be the lynchpin of our defence.
Wallace - Injured. Looked good in his brief cameo yesterday.


On a more positive note:
Howard - consistently good performances.
Collins - settling down after been left out of the side following an indifferent pre-season.
McGahey - showing steady promise and now has a settled partner alongside him
Campbell-Ryce - MOM yesterday, enjoying a mini purple patch
Baxter - back in the side and has shown again why he is such a key player. Badly needed with Murphy and Scougall not hitting the heights.
Doyle - Will always divide opinion but results have improved with him back in the team.
McNulty - Looked initially like a fish out of water but his workrate is excellent and he may be a rough diamond

 

[Bladesway]

Just wondered if everyone agrees with NC who thinks we are better every game and getting there when it comes to performances.

From what I can see it has taken us the better part of 2 seasons to get back to where we were when Danny Wilson had us grinding out 1-0 wins. Had we not sacked him in one of our moments of madness perhaps we would have moved forwards. Unfortunately we have only just got back to where we were then in my opinion.