Last Season

[robbiez666]

Clough came in. He tried to tighten it up but quickly realised that wouldn't work. Having nothing to lose he flooded midfield an just went for it. It worked.

This season he's too scared. He has something to lose so wont be bold. The same players who went on an incredible run look barely fit to play in this division at times. This, for me, is Clough's problem. He's destroyed all the confidence going forward whilst putting the defense under huge presume.

The only way I can see us getting automatic at this point would be to slip down the league until we're 15-20 points off and then he'll go for it again.

 

[beatific blade]

The only way I can see us getting automatic at this point would be to slip down the league until we're 15-20 points off

Eh?

 

[robbiez666]

Eh?

The only way I can see us playing like the back end of last season would be to be so far off that we'd have nothing to lose.

 

[beatific blade]

The only way I can see us playing like the back end of last season would be to be so far off that we'd have nothing to lose.

And with a worse squad than last year - which is what we have - we'd do well to finish 10th. Ridiculous logic...

 

[robbiez666]

And with a worse squad than last year - which is what we have - we'd do well to finish 10th. Ridiculous logic...

I'm not saying it's logical. I'm saying it's the only way he'll not be so negative all the time and actually try and win games.

 

[beatific blade]

I'm not saying it's logical. I'm saying it's the only way he'll not be so negative all the time and actually try and win games.

I see. Fair enough then!

 

[Gavlar]

Clough came in. He tried to tighten it up but quickly realised that wouldn't work. Having nothing to lose he flooded midfield an just went for it. It worked.

This season he's too scared. He has something to lose so wont be bold. The same players who went on an incredible run look barely fit to play in this division at times. This, for me, is Clough's problem. He's destroyed all the confidence going forward whilst putting the defense under huge presume.

The only way I can see us getting automatic at this point would be to slip down the league until we're 15-20 points off and then he'll go for it again.

I hear you mate. Then again I think we had some better players last yr than this. The beard, Coady, Harry etc. Maybe he overachieved last yr and now we expect too much?

 

[robbiez666]

I hear you mate. Then again I think we had some better players last yr than this. The beard, Coady, Harry etc. Maybe he overachieved last yr and now we expect too much?

Definitely. Coady and Brayford both in hect some pace and drive into the team, and when you're playing for quick breaks, that's really important.

 

[JohnDenver]

Definitely. Coady and Brayford both in hect some pace and drive into the team, and when you're playing for quick breaks, that's really important.

The lack of a like for like replacement for Coady has hit us far more than people realise. Clough's preferred 451 approach worked beautifully with Scougall and Coady being relentless in getting past the lone striker. We'd win the midfield battle and still get numbers forward.

Also, I'm convinced a promotion team needs at least 3 players who are clearly above their division. Maguire and Brayford were two of those last season. This season we have a large number of players who have the potential to be that, but they're not quite there yet (for various reasons).

If we're to go up we need individuals to step up, and a couple of catalyst signings to make make Clough's preferred system work as intended.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

League matches in which we've scored more than one goal since Clough took over.

26 Oct 2013 Sheffield United 3-1 Crewe
29 Dec 2013 Sheffield United 3-1 Tranmere
18 Jan 2014 Sheffield United 2-2 Bradford
08 Feb 2014 Sheffield United 2-0 Shrewsbury
22 Feb 2014 Sheffield United 3-0 Bristol City
04 Mar 2014 Sheffield United 2-0 Peterborough
25 Mar 2014 Crawley 0-2 Sheffield United
25 Apr 2014 Port Vale 1-2 Sheffield United
03 May 2014 Sheffield United 2-1 Coventry
19 Aug 2014 Peterborough 1-2 Sheffield United
16 Sep 2014 Colchester 2-3 Sheffield United
20 Sep 2014 Swindon 5-2 Sheffield United
27 Sep 2014 Sheffield United 2-1 Gillingham
04 Oct 2014 Chesterfield 3-2 Sheffield United
11 Oct 2014 Sheffield United 2-2 Leyton Orient
18 Oct 2014 Bradford 0-2 Sheffield United
21 Oct 2014 Sheffield United 2-0 Yeovil

That's 17 out of 52 matches. Pathetic.

 

[Gavlar]

League matches in which we've scored more than one goal since Clough took over.

26 Oct 2013 Sheffield United 3-1 Crewe
29 Dec 2013 Sheffield United 3-1 Tranmere
18 Jan 2014 Sheffield United 2-2 Bradford
08 Feb 2014 Sheffield United 2-0 Shrewsbury
22 Feb 2014 Sheffield United 3-0 Bristol City
04 Mar 2014 Sheffield United 2-0 Peterborough
25 Mar 2014 Crawley 0-2 Sheffield United
25 Apr 2014 Port Vale 1-2 Sheffield United
03 May 2014 Sheffield United 2-1 Coventry
19 Aug 2014 Peterborough 1-2 Sheffield United
16 Sep 2014 Colchester 2-3 Sheffield United
20 Sep 2014 Swindon 5-2 Sheffield United
27 Sep 2014 Sheffield United 2-1 Gillingham
04 Oct 2014 Chesterfield 3-2 Sheffield United
11 Oct 2014 Sheffield United 2-2 Leyton Orient
18 Oct 2014 Bradford 0-2 Sheffield United
21 Oct 2014 Sheffield United 2-0 Yeovil

That's 17 out of 52 matches. Pathetic.

mmm not great reading. then again, how many times have the opposition scored more than 1 against us in the same matches?
most of our game are v low scoring. I agree that we badly need to score more tho.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I hear you mate. Then again I think we had some better players last yr than this. The beard, Coady, Harry etc. Maybe he overachieved last yr and now we expect too much?

Expect too much?

Even the bookies had us down as favorites at the start of the season and they are no mugs.

 

[zablade]

The only way I can see us getting automatic at this point would be to slip down the league until we're 15-20 points off and then he'll go for it again.

The only way we will be getting automatic promotion is if eight of the top ten in the League go into administration.

 

[Gavlar]

Expect too much?

Even the bookies had us down as favorites at the start of the season and they are no mugs.

They've had us as favourites for the past 3 seasons and we've been nowhere near

 

[Jimmy23]

Guys, I've released a new Xmas single called Last Season.

To the tune of Wham!-last Christmas

Last season, we got nigel Clough
but the very next year, we've screwed it away

This year, it's better than Weir, but I can't see promotion.

Iv just thought of that while in the bath!

 

[cooperblade]

Also, I'm convinced a promotion team needs at least 3 players who are clearly above their division. Maguire and Brayford were two of those last season. This season we have a large number of players who have the potential to be that, but they're not quite there yet (for various reasons).

I haven't thought about this at all so there might be loads but which player, from all teams, would you say are clearly above the division this season?

I'm guessing no-one has 3 (and most have 0).

 

[JohnDenver]

I haven't thought about this at all so there might be loads but which player, from all teams, would you say are clearly above the division this season?

I'm guessing no-one has 3 (and most have 0).

I'd do some research but I'm on a train. For now I'll just assume I'm right.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

They've had us as favourites for the past 3 seasons and we've been nowhere near

Which just confirms how bad Wilson and Weir were.

Imagine looking to either of those two taking us forwards for the next five years instead of Clough.

 

[Gavlar]

Which just confirms how bad Wilson and Weir were.

Imagine looking to either of those two taking us forwards for the next five years instead of Clough.

Wilson had us on 90 points and the top scorers in the whole of the football league, the record no of points finishing 3rd,
we could do with being as bad as that now.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Wilson had us on 90 points and the top scorers in the whole of the football league, the record no of points finishing 3rd,
we could do with being as bad as that now.

Wilson failed to get promotion with the best 3rd division team this club has had.

I think his team was better than Bassets on paper so yes failure.

 

[Maidenhead]

The lack of a like for like replacement for Coady has hit us far more than people realise. Clough's preferred 451 approach worked beautifully with Scougall and Coady being relentless in getting past the lone striker. We'd win the midfield battle and still get numbers forward.

Also, I'm convinced a promotion team needs at least 3 players who are clearly above their division. Maguire and Brayford were two of those last season. This season we have a large number of players who have the potential to be that, but they're not quite there yet (for various reasons).

If we're to go up we need individuals to step up, and a couple of catalyst signings to make make Clough's preferred system work as intended.

The lad Basham is starting to look a lot like last seasons Coady. A slow, non descript start developing into a fine player.

It seems to me that he is doing a better and better job each week wherever he plays!