Clough knows what he's doing, have some faith.

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Some good posts on this thread . For someone who is very pro Mr Clough and appreciating that the ethos of the whole club is being changed in a very short period of time , my view is the issue is not the formation we play ( we do need 5 in midfield at the moment ) , it is the mental side of the players ( which is as important as physical ) , that is the problem

Mr Clough has a philosophy and attitude "to get a result " , which is working , but the 3 points for a win , can make you loose track on the pace of the teams above you , when not losing but drawing games . ( especially at home)

Confidence is contagious and we appear to lack it , in certain parts of the game

We do not yet have the knack of the general ability to perform well as a unit / team and win important home games.

We seem to lack the task of having a specific belief on passing , tackling , decision making , running a game.

Lack of confidence breeds negativity , that is why we have played poor in a number of games.

Hearing is believing and this is the side of the game , where Mr Clough has to work his magic and instil a inner belief in to the playing staff.

Patience is a form of confidence , and unfortunately us fans lack it at times , with our reaction to the players , due to desperately wanting promotion out of this league , we are stuck in.

Not much that is really wrong at the lane , as we do have the right manager , at the right time , but a little psychology could work

I still believe the above . Mr Clough will get the job done even if by the play offs . We would go backwards in sacking the manager . The Blades need stability , which we are getting under Mr Clough .

Mr Clough has got to get in to the players heads and make them start believing in themselves , and toughen them up mentally.

Mr Clough has to review tactics , but the players in my opinion look shit scared , and cannot make on field decisions . Mr Clough has to look in the mirror and go for lessons learnt this season , and be a little more flexible in his approach to games , and tactical changes within a game. Also have some trust in his players .

Still can get promotion , but Mr Clough has got to review how we play , We are getting there , but i doubt us being in the top two.

Mr Clough will be there for may years to come . We better get used to it.

UTB

 

[Revolution]

He won't be here this time next year if we don't go up this year. Someone will carry the can, and it won't be the board.

 

[botoble]

Derby look to have struggled with life after Clough... They appear to attack teams play entertaining football score lots of goals and appear favorites for promotion...

Maybe stick with Clough for stability in the league you are in...which we needed...but if you have the money and the squad to dominate a league don't expect fireworks, as Clough will make a good squad look consistently average and make the team grind out narrow results instead of comfortably beating crap teams and going for it and risking it against the better teams.

 

[Balham]

Can anyone who's calling for two up front (which I'm taking by definition to mean 4-4-2) please let me know what their midfield would be?

We saw under Wilson that Doyle is no longer capable of playing in a midfield two as he's not got the legs. Scougall and Reed are too small to play together as we're not Barcelona. Basham is probably better at centre half (certainly better than the non-training possession-stat-ruining McCarthy IMHO) and Wallace is forever injured. Baxter can't (won't?) defend; McGinn is out of favour and Cuvelier is only just starting to play again after a year out. Dimaio is inexperienced and seemingly out of favour and Coady didn't sign in the summer.

If we play 4-4-2 we'll stop losing games 1-0 or drawing them 1-1 because we'll be conceding 2 or 3 instead.

EDIT: in answer to the original question, does Clough know what he's doing? I'm not sure. I think he's pretty clear about what he wants the team to do but at the moment he's not giving me much hope that he knows how to make this squad get there.

 

[botoble]

Can anyone who's calling for two up front (which I'm taking by definition to mean 4-4-2) please let me know what their midfield would be?

I wouldn't disagree with playing his tactics against the better teams in this league and sometimes you may nick a result against a good side away from home. However Basham in front of back 4 Baxter behind front 2 Murphy and JCR against poorer sides would do just fine. I thought we should have started with Baxter behind O'Grady if we were going to continue with 1 up front but I would have much preferred to see Murphy along side striker like 2nd half of notts county match.

 

[Wards]

He may know what he's doing but it's not making it any more watchable! Haven't been as genuinely bored watching a Utd team for a while.

 

[blade too long]

early days yet was fuming last night but long way to go january will be the key

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

Can anyone who's calling for two up front (which I'm taking by definition to mean 4-4-2) please let me know what their midfield would be?

We saw under Wilson that Doyle is no longer capable of playing in a midfield two as he's not got the legs. Scougall and Reed are too small to play together as we're not Barcelona. Basham is probably better at centre half (certainly better than the non-training possession-stat-ruining McCarthy IMHO) and Wallace is forever injured. Baxter can't (won't?) defend; McGinn is out of favour and Cuvelier is only just starting to play again after a year out. Dimaio is inexperienced and seemingly out of favour and Coady didn't sign in the summer.

If we play 4-4-2 we'll stop losing games 1-0 or drawing them 1-1 because we'll be conceding 2 or 3 instead.

EDIT: in answer to the original question, does Clough know what he's doing? I'm not sure. I think he's pretty clear about what he wants the team to do but at the moment he's not giving me much hope that he knows how to make this squad get there.

It's an issue that's of his own making by not sorting the spine of the team out in the summer.

 

[OllyBlade]

early days yet

I don't think it is. We're going to have to on a spectacular run to catch up with a number of teams that look far better equipped than us, despite an embarrassing gulf in resources. 19 games into a season isn't early days in my opinion.

 

[brownie4583]

We are as good as anyone in this division but it is our lack of goals/strikers that is holding us back.
Goals win games and average sides will win games if they have good strikers on the pitch.
We need to sort this out or we will be struggling to finish in the top 6 this season!

 

[blade too long]

as I said early days , we are 5th 17 places higher than 12 months ago , we need 3 playes to go up
January can be key

Its been flat this last few weeks , but things can cha nge , need to change #

but its not all cos of clough

 

[wizadry]

We saw under Wilson that Doyle is no longer capable of playing in a midfield two as he's not got the legs.

The problem is we should have prepared better by replacing Doyle with a better player,who can pass,tackle and run forward.Wallace has always been injured,he's a cracking talent but hardly ever fit and we've had plenty of time to sign someone else,either permanently or on loan after Wallace came in.

We shouldn't be playing five midfielders to make up for Doyle's inefficiencies,we should be attacking most if not all teams from the start and getting players into the box.Please don't say that's not Doyles' job,he's a midfielder for crying out louds sake,he's more or less playing as a centre back,sat on both their knees,it's a waste of a position if you ask me.He's collecting the ball off the CB's and passing it sideways or even backwards to another defender,or sometimes to nobody at all because he isn't far enough up the pitch to recieve it,he only needs to be another 5 or 10 yards further up the pitch to be able to do something better with it.Never mind,life goes on

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

This thread needs to get with it.....it's customary to acknowledge the real issues, don't align any responsibility to them and blame the manager. I thought everyone knew that!

 

[Yewsman]

It is very frustrating but I think back to Wilson's last season in charge. Teams came to BL and parked 10 men behind the ball and worked hard to close us down. It worked most of the time and instead of trying to play football we resorted to hitting hopeful long balls which of course were meat and drink to defenders. The difference now is that we do not resort to just "lumping it forward" but play football. The number of crosses that were put into the box against MK was very significant and a good percentage were good quality. We made enough chances to have won. Our failure is to turn possession and crosses into goals. I still feel that we will get this right and that Clough has put the right foundations in place for us to come on strong in the second half of the season and win promotion.

 

[grafikhaus]

but PNE I'm not convinced about especially as Garner is now out.

...and was immediately replaced by Beckford. We're still in need of a decent striker 3 years on.

 

[botoble]

We play 5 midfielders, get lots of crosses into the box but oppositions always have 3 defenders in the box against our 1 striker. Even a very very good striker will struggle on his own up there. Clough will have to change his system which will result in fewer crosses but a higher conversion rate. I personally would like to see us at least try 2 up front against poorer sides, get our confidence up and get scoring goals. Confidence is the key to more goals so playing 2 upfront and getting higdon/mcnulty/ogrady/adams a couple of league goals against poorer sides at home will make them more likely to pop up when they get fewer chances against better sides.

 

[Jonboy60]

I still believe the above . Mr Clough will get the job done even if by the play offs . We would go backwards in sacking the manager . The Blades need stability , which we are getting under Mr Clough .

Mr Clough has got to get in to the players heads and make them start believing in themselves , and toughen them up mentally.

Mr Clough has to review tactics , but the players in my opinion look shit scared , and cannot make on field decisions . Mr Clough has to look in the mirror and go for lessons learnt this season , and be a little more flexible in his approach to games , and tactical changes within a game. Also have some trust in his players .

Still can get promotion , but Mr Clough has got to review how we play , We are getting there , but i doubt us being in the top two.

Mr Clough will be there for may years to come . We better get used to it.

UTB

If "stability" means staying in this league Bos, you can shove it. I want out. UTB.

 

[JJBlade]

Most teams could play possession football if they wanted to.
Playing possession football is fine, but having the tactical awareness, energy and the will to get into goal scoring positions is the whole point of doing it.
We have physically weak, mentally weak, slow players who don't read the game very well.
They look ok on the ball and if they started every game 4-0 up where they didn't have to actually do anything they'd look fantastic.
But from the start of a game at 0-0 they do have to do something and unfortunately it's beyond most of them.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Most teams could play possession football if they wanted to.
Playing possession football is fine, but having the tactical awareness, energy and the will to get into goal scoring positions is the whole point of doing it.
We have physically weak, mentally weak, slow players who don't read the game very well.
They look ok on the ball and if they started every game 4-0 up where they didn't have to actually do anything they'd look fantastic.
But from the start of a game at 0-0 they do have to do something and unfortunately it's beyond most of them.

You cannot move forward without stability and good leadership . Like it or like it not , we are a league 1 club , but with championship aspirations and set up , ( although i do question the scouting methods at times )

Tactical awareness and confidence is being worked on.

A midfield leader being brought in , will cure a multitude of sins , and January transfer window is the key . Mr Clough may have been very canny , by seeing how the squad pans out until christmas , and plenty of money left in the coffers for bringing in number of players , for the final push for promotion. Lets hope there is method in his madness and logical thinking.

jonboy60 . Mr Clough knows what he is doing . I do question Mr Clough brother.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

The problem is we should have prepared better by replacing Doyle with a better player,who can pass,tackle and run forward.Wallace has always been injured,he's a cracking talent but hardly ever fit and we've had plenty of time to sign someone else,either permanently or on loan after Wallace came in.

We shouldn't be playing five midfielders to make up for Doyle's inefficiencies,we should be attacking most if not all teams from the start and getting players into the box.Please don't say that's not Doyles' job,he's a midfielder for crying out louds sake,he's more or less playing as a centre back,sat on both their knees,it's a waste of a position if you ask me.He's collecting the ball off the CB's and passing it sideways or even backwards to another defender,or sometimes to nobody at all because he isn't far enough up the pitch to recieve it,he only needs to be another 5 or 10 yards further up the pitch to be able to do something better with it.Never mind,life goes on

Replacing Doyle? Think you will find that his replacement may well be at the club and is called Reed. Doyle is apparently helping Reed to develop in training. As for replacing Doyle before, agree with that, but now we have a kid coming through from the academy into the first team squad, the thought of buying a replacement has probably gone. You may well see Reed as the permanent holding player next season (and playing that extra 5-10 yards up) with Doyle being retained to offer Reed a rest throughout the season.

The thought of a fit (ha ha) Wallace and Reed in centre mid should excite all Blades fans and would be nice to see it develop this season if possible a bit. The killer is Wallace, perhaps we just have to write him off and the club should not be tempted as in the past to bring him back too soon.

UTB

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Replacing Doyle? Think you will find that his replacement may well be at the club and is called Reed. Doyle is apparently helping Reed to develop in training. As for replacing Doyle before, agree with that, but now we have a kid coming through from the academy into the first team squad, the thought of buying a replacement has probably gone. You may well see Reed as the permanent holding player next season (and playing that extra 5-10 yards up) with Doyle being retained to offer Reed a rest throughout the season.

The thought of a fit (ha ha) Wallace and Reed in centre mid should excite all Blades fans and would be nice to see it develop this season if possible a bit. The killer is Wallace, perhaps we just have to write him off and the club should not be tempted as in the past to bring him back too soon.

UTB

Trouble is Reed is hell of a prospect, further on at 17? Than Jags and either of the
Kyles were at that age.

To speak of him as our midfield leader when he would be 18 (19 at most) reflects this and the reality is he will be another Harry, gone in the summer.

 

[wizadry]

Replacing Doyle? Think you will find that his replacement may well be at the club and is called Reed. Doyle is apparently helping Reed to develop in training. As for replacing Doyle before, agree with that, but now we have a kid coming through from the academy into the first team squad, the thought of buying a replacement has probably gone. You may well see Reed as the permanent holding player next season (and playing that extra 5-10 yards up) with Doyle being retained to offer Reed a rest throughout the season.

The thought of a fit (ha ha) Wallace and Reed in centre mid should excite all Blades fans and would be nice to see it develop this season if possible a bit. The killer is Wallace, perhaps we just have to write him off and the club should not be tempted as in the past to bring him back too soon.

UTB

I love Reed,but unfortunately the man that matters doesn't like him as much.I don't buy into this theory of Reed being too young to play every week,if good enough he should be playing,and he's certainly good enough.Get him in every weak starting from now!Good post!

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Trouble is Reed is hell of a prospect, further on at 17? Than Jags and either of the
Kyles were at that age.

To speak of him as our midfield leader when he would be 18 (19 at most) reflects this and the reality is he will be another Harry, gone in the summer.

To just profess that Reed will just go in the summer is just speculation and adds reason to your Grumpy Blades name on here.

There is no reason what so ever to "just" believe Reed will be sold like Harry was.

Harry had 1 year left and as United wouldn't pay what Harry's agent wanted then it was a no brainer. We apparently offered 6K, Hull offered 16K plus an apparent £2.5M transfer after Harry had proved himself for 3 consecutive years. He was also 21 and it probably time for him to step up the ladder.

Reed has played only a few games and is great potential and has signed a decent contract and unless someone like Spurs come along with silly money as they did with Kyles x 2 then it isn't going to happen. The Kyles had both proved themselves as well.

As for midfield leader, he won't quite be that, but he has all the ability and the world is at his feet. His cameo performance v Plymouth today was pure class - everything done with a purpose and thinking way ahead of his peers.

Just have a little more faith in what the club is trying to do and develop.

UTB

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

To just profess that Reed will just go in the summer is just speculation and adds reason to your Grumpy Blades name on here.

There is no reason what so ever to "just" believe Reed will be sold like Harry was.

Harry had 1 year left and as United wouldn't pay what Harry's agent wanted then it was a no brainer. We apparently offered 6K, Hull offered 16K plus an apparent £2.5M transfer after Harry had proved himself for 3 consecutive years. He was also 21 and it probably time for him to step up the ladder.

Reed has played only a few games and is great potential and has signed a decent contract and unless someone like Spurs come along with silly money as they did with Kyles x 2 then it isn't going to happen. The Kyles had both proved themselves as well.

As for midfield leader, he won't quite be that, but he has all the ability and the world is at his feet. His cameo performance v Plymouth today was pure class - everything done with a purpose and thinking way ahead of his peers.

Just have a little more faith in what the club is trying to do and develop.

UTB

Wish I had your faith in him staying and being our next TC, however I think it is more likely he will be someone else's next Gerard or Lampard.

As for thinking he will be 'just' sold what about


Birchenall
Jones


I'm sure you can fill in the rest, it's hell of a long fucking list.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I love Reed,but unfortunately the man that matters doesn't like him as much.I don't buy into this theory of Reed being too young to play every week,if good enough he should be playing,and he's certainly good enough.Get him in every weak starting from now!Good post!

Don't think there is much doubt in the fans minds that have seen Reed that he is good enough to play full time.
The issue with any young player, and Reed is only just out of nappies to be fair is the problem of shin splints - quite common in lots of teenagers when they make a growth spurt. United have a duty of care and it is quite possible the medical staff that is holding back the playing progress.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Wish I had your faith in him staying and being our next TC, however I think it is more likely he will be someone else's next Gerard or Lampard.

As for thinking he will be 'just' sold what about


Birchenall
Jones


I'm sure you can fill in the rest, it's hell of a long fucking list.

Well yes I can remember Harris threatening to resign over Mick Jones and actually doing so, before being persuaded back.

As I have said before - if people continue to look back at what happened then it's a sad world you live in - sorry.

By all means remind me in August 2015 if Reed has gone and I am not saying he won't be gone in lets say 3-4 years time, but the signs are that Reed is pencilled in for full time quite possibly from next season.

just as a closing comment - after seeing the 10 minutes cameo from Florent this afternoon, we might have another star in the making.

 

[Dkc]

When I saw Reed warming up on TV today I thought he was a ball boy at first

 

[zablade]

There is no way we can keep young stars like Reed whilst we remain in this division if a Premier team wants to take him as a future prospect, he will go, it's a fact of footballing life.

Another reason why Promotion is so essential this season.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

There is no way we can keep young stars like Reed whilst we remain in this division if a Premier team wants to take him as a future prospect, he will go, it's a fact of footballing life.

Another reason why Promotion is so essential this season.

I'm pretty sure the last star we didn't sell was Hagan and was only because he refused to go.

No idea why I would be so mad as to consider the idea that Reed will be gone sooner rather than later.
I mean Harry didn't go under the current regime did he.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Well yes I can remember Harris threatening to resign over Mick Jones and actually doing so, before being persuaded back.

As I have said before - if people continue to look back at what happened then it's a sad world you live in - sorry.

By all means remind me in August 2015 if Reed has gone and I am not saying he won't be gone in lets say 3-4 years time, but the signs are that Reed is pencilled in for full time quite possibly from next season.

just as a closing comment - after seeing the 10 minutes cameo from Florent this afternoon, we might have another star in the making.

Thinking about Mr Harris . Looking back , it was a great pity he had to move across the city to S6 , for continued employment , and perhaps is still not given the recognition he deserves.

UTB