Watching Brighton tonight, how could they not want O'Grady back?

[sitwell]

McNulty is clearly uncomfortable with the mask on ,certainly for 90 minutes and he is needed on Tuesday when OGrady is out.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

McNulty is clearly uncomfortable with the mask on ,certainly for 90 minutes and he is needed on Tuesday when OGrady is out.

Don't you think NC will start with 4-6-0? or even with Higdon up top?

Reckon Clough will go back to FA Cup type from last season - keep it tight up to HT, stay in the game, hopefully 0-0, bring Mcnuts on and try and nick it.

For sake "sake" of our season, would prefer a very "negative " Nigel in this game, even if it means a chance in penalties - a win on Tuesday could really kick start the season, galvanise the crowd a tad and hopefully kick on in January - we need a SPARK !

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I have to admit that Cloughy is sending me bonkers not starting McNulty more often,we all know it's bonkers as it is being a blade without Cloughy making it worse

I too feel uncomfortable with Mcnuts not starting as he has obvious talents the rest do not possess, or come anywhere near to having.

My main worry is still CH - from what I heard on RS, we conceded yet ANOTHER goal from a cross into the box today - we are just shit at defending crosses and would go for one very experience CH in January and accept that Basham moves to RH Centre back.

UTB

 

[blader]

I too feel uncomfortable with Mcnuts not starting as he has obvious talents the rest do not possess, or come anywhere near to having.

My main worry is still CH - from what I heard on RS, we conceded yet ANOTHER goal from a cross into the box today - we are just shit at defending crosses and would go for one very experience CH in January and accept that Basham moves to RH Centre back.

UTB

I actually don't think we have a problem at CB at all, we jus never play the right people there. Hopefully it's unanimous, but I think it's extremely clear that Basham and Mceveley are our 2 best centre halves, whilst Collins we know is more than ample back up.

I can only assume we have guaranteed McCarthy a start in his loan deal, because he is a waste of a wahe and a squad number in my opinion.

 

[metty]

No i haven't heard it mate.He has a funny way of showing how highly he rates him though wouldn't you say?

Basically he says that he is the best finisher at the club and that he has to nurture him. right or wrong I don't know but Clough is in a better position than me to judge.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I actually don't think we have a problem at CB at all, we jus never play the right people there. Hopefully it's unanimous, but I think it's extremely clear that Basham and Mceveley are our 2 best centre halves, whilst Collins we know is more than ample back up.

I can only assume we have guaranteed McCarthy a start in his loan deal, because he is a waste of a wahe and a squad number in my opinion.

I wouldn't give Mceverly a permanent start tbh - think he is there by default with both Collins and Butler being a major disappointment all round to Clough - think he is naïve centre half, penalty v Plymouth and Forte v Oldham. He looks very skilful and calm against weak opposition, but this league is crap and when faced with experience up front just think he is a tad short. Basham is similar (but better at reading the game) and as a pair would quite possibly struggle - this is no time to experiment with Basham and mceverly - we need at least one very experienced CH if we are to progress in the 2nd half of the season. If Mccarthy goes back, then Clough will probably have to bring someone in - hence the reason for McCarty in the first place, but he is sadly not the solution.

Just find in weird that we cant stop the goals from crosses - yet another one today - it has to point to our CH's just not being commanding enough.

Agreed that they are our best available pair - just that they are not good enough to play permanently for the remained of the season. It is a hole we must plug.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I have to admit that Cloughy is sending me bonkers not starting McNulty more often,we all know it's bonkers as it is being a blade without Cloughy making it worse

Perhaps we are all just looking at this too deep - Clough sees him every day in training - perhaps WE just don't see the obvious.

Not as reason, just a guess - am still in the "In Nigel we trust" brigade.

UTB

 

[ThatJa]

That's a case of misinformation and I'll tell you why. Saints had Oxlade-C and Lallana as youf and spent £1m on Lambert in that division. They didn't sell their best players and not replace them. They scored bags of goals (Barnard scored a hatful that season too) and won the JPT on the way.

In contrast we've spent £150k on Higdon - perhaps we can get Liverpool to buy him for £4m when we get into the Prem in a couple of years

Thats my exact point. They spent 1mill on a player from a league below, they went for youth, they held their own on the price they wanted for Oxlade.. they then got that price. We could be in that exact position. had we done the same.

Picture this... we get promoted, Diego being a first team regular at the time we are promoted, we get into the Championship, and Diego is wanted by Manchester United, we stand firm and say we want 10mill for him, eventually they'll look elsewhere or pay, just like Arsenal did for Oxlade, but both me and you know, we'd sell any "youf" for a couple of hundred G's.

The Sheffield United way.

If we did things properly for once, we would succeed, thats not in our nature, though.

 

[blade.i.am]

Perhaps we are all just looking at this too deep - Clough sees him every day in training - perhaps WE just don't see the obvious.

Not as reason, just a guess - am still in the "In Nigel we trust" brigade.

UTB

Clough or far Farage?

 

[bartman]

No need to bollock them,footballers are fragile with confidence as it is without Cloughy berating them in public.

This is not aimed at you but some fans think it is ok to constantly give Higdon stick in public even when he is playing ok as happened yesterday. Even when Baxter ' s number went up to be subbed yesterday there was sarcastic cheers from some morons.
Some fans complain about Clough ' s public criticism of some players but then do the same themselves.

 

[Woodwardfan]

McNulty is a prime example.He gets a lot of goals for a Blades striker,never gets a sustained run of games,gets told to work harder,yet i remember quite a few occasions where he has worked back to help the team out and one of them occasions were against Bradford,where i was sat no less than 10 yards away,he'd chased all the way back,gave a free kick away and got a right bollocking off Clough.There was no need to bollock him as we won and it can't be good for the lads confidence.

Now Higdon,who doesn't do any chasing back,who certainly needs to work harder never gets a bad word said against him of Cloughy.Do you not think it's strange that Clough only bollocks certain players,and they always seem to be the ones who are doing something to help the team,i.e JCR and McNulty,i'd love to see the yards covered by JCR on a pitch,not all good ones i may add but he's one of the few players we have who will actually run at players and try to make things happen.

No need to bollock them,footballers are fragile with confidence as it is without Cloughy berating them in public.

I was unfortunate enough to be sat right behind Clough at Fleetwood, in the home supporters section.

Believe me Clough bollocks nearly all the players and the officials throughout the game. He was red in the face, never stood still, animated , incensed and irate, threw tantrum after tantrum and looked and acted let down by everybody and everything. My wife said after 30 minutes "our manager isn't going to live very long if he carries on like this".

I also sit behind him at home games and I have commented before that I really do not think this is the way to get the best out of your players during games. Bollock them afterwards and during the week if that is necessary, but isn't leadership about encouragement and building strengths, not an earful straight after a mistake which most players know themselves? By the way O'Grady got more than his share of bollockings yesterday.

I honestly think Clough is showing extreme signs of stress and remember his calmness at games in the months after he joined us. I think he should step back and have a good look at himself and the way he and Garner openly fume at their players time and again. Morgan looks the calming influence.

I suggest Clough should sit in the stands for a while and regain his composure and decorum, for the benefit of the team.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

I was unfortunate enough to be sat right behind Clough at Fleetwood, in the home supporters section.

Believe me Clough bollocks nearly all the players and the officials throughout the game. He was red in the face, never stood still, animated , incensed and irate, threw tantrum after tantrum and looked and acted let down by everybody and everything. My wife said after 30 minutes "our manager isn't going to live very long if he carries on like this".

I also sit behind him at home games and I have commented before that I really do not think this is the way to get the best out of your players during games. Bollock them afterwards and during the week if that is necessary, but isn't leadership about encouragement and building strengths, not an earful straight after a mistake which most players know themselves? By the way O'Grady got more than his share of bollockings yesterday.

I honestly think Clough is showing extreme signs of stress and remember his calmness at games in the months after he joined us. I think he should step back and have a good look at himself and the way he and Garner openly fume at their players time and again. Morgan looks the calming influence.

I suggest Clough should sit in the stands for a while and regain his composure and decorum, for the benefit of the team.

Good observation , and this creates the situation of poor mental and psychological strengths that i feel has been missing all season

.With the run of results we have had , and the teams above us , being in form , and creating a bigger points gap , i can only see the pressure getting worst for Mr Clough , playing staff , and us fans .

Not a good sign , and do hope the Mr Clough doubters on this forum , have not been right all along , with there assessment of him as a manager.

Changing managers , yet again , in my opinion , would do us no good , but as a strong advocate of all things Mr Clough , i am starting to have my own doubts and reservations.

Does he know this division back to front , and the strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams . I have a feeling of , i don't think so.

UTB

 

[judge]

Probably just angry at how shit his signings have been

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I was unfortunate enough to be sat right behind Clough at Fleetwood, in the home supporters section.

Believe me Clough bollocks nearly all the players and the officials throughout the game. He was red in the face, never stood still, animated , incensed and irate, threw tantrum after tantrum and looked and acted let down by everybody and everything. My wife said after 30 minutes "our manager isn't going to live very long if he carries on like this".

I also sit behind him at home games and I have commented before that I really do not think this is the way to get the best out of your players during games. Bollock them afterwards and during the week if that is necessary, but isn't leadership about encouragement and building strengths, not an earful straight after a mistake which most players know themselves? By the way O'Grady got more than his share of bollockings yesterday.

I honestly think Clough is showing extreme signs of stress and remember his calmness at games in the months after he joined us. I think he should step back and have a good look at himself and the way he and Garner openly fume at their players time and again. Morgan looks the calming influence.

I suggest Clough should sit in the stands for a while and regain his composure and decorum, for the benefit of the team.

Sheffield United Manager = Stress.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Sheffield United Manager = Stress.

There are another 91 jobs with the same status.

 

[Woodwardfan]

There are another 91 jobs with the same status.

I agree there are, just like many jobs, but it's how you handle stress that often determines anyone's success in a job.

The difference in the behaviour of the two managers last Saturday could not have contrasted more. Throughout the first half it was the experienced manager who was having the tantrums, bollocking one player after another, throwing his hands in the air and shaking his head to his assistant and his bench. What the subs think of it all I don't know.

The Fleetwood manager was studious and in conversation with his assistant, they were both calmness itself. He tweeked his team shape quietly and made calm comments to his players. I do acknowledge in the second half he was a lot more animated as the tempo quickened and the stakes increased but that fitted the circumstances more.

Thing is the Fleetwood manager is the rookie out of the two. Another thing is the rookie won the tactical battle because Fleetwood gained the ascendancy and were the more likely of the two sides to go on and win it. After being under the cosh early in the game they changed players and the formation and created a number of chances. Our formation became ragged and by the time the subs were made we were all over the place.

 

[raul]

Woodwardfan . I note the huge transformation in your posts over the last few weeks, from telling everyone to believe and questioning both the wisdom and "Bladeness" of those who refused to follow your message - and thread management- to a balanced, rational and more measured critique of where we are at right now. I assume this is a result of watching games rather than not watching them whilst on holiday and you have wisely tailored your rhetoric based upon what you see, rather than what you hope to see and I have to say I'm impressed.


Any chance you can have a word with Pinch?

 

[Grecian2000]

Morgan looks the calming influence.

Hell's bells!

 

[raul]

Hell's bells!

Blokes arse - FACT.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Woodwardfan . I note the huge transformation in your posts over the last few weeks, from telling everyone to believe and questioning both the wisdom and "Bladeness" of those who refused to follow your message - and thread management- to a balanced, rational and more measured critique of where we are at right now. I assume this is a result of watching games rather than not watching them whilst on holiday and you have wisely tailored your rhetoric based upon what you see, rather than what you hope to see and I have to say I'm impressed.


Any chance you can have a word with Pinch?

I know what you mean and why you think that.

In actual fact my "rhetoric" that found such a backlash was my insistence that the manger has a very good budget for the division we are in and it is nothing to do with the board whether we succeed or fail, it's down purely to the manager.

More "rhetoric" was that the new players had to be given time to settle in the club and gel together and it was not fair to judge them in the first couple of months.

More "rhetoric" was that Clough had plenty of credit in our "bank" as he had done so well last season.

I was optimistic and never imagined our new signings would be making such a small impact by now.

I was away for 2 months but closely followed our progress. Obviously I didn't comment on our performances in that time.

Since I returned I have watched 5 games and you could not imagine the difference in Clough's manner and equilibrium compared to when we went away. Added to that the players look thoroughly miserable and scared. Our fans are sour too. In those two months a lot has changed.

It was always going to be a testing period for everybody after all the essential changes in the squad, but the fact is we are devoid of quality and those players who have quality seem frightened to express themselves. I see little quality in the newcomers.. I can't recall watching three consecutive home games when we have hardly troubled the opposition keeper so little. At Fleetwood we were a ragbag outfit after the first 20 minutes.

I'm afraid I am worried for this season and have doubts about Clough's capability to achieve our longer term objectives. The Derby fan's thread written last October has real resonance now we have seen Clough operate for over a year and that rattles me too. We have a good budget for this division and we have imported a lacklustre set of signings without any key gamechangers.

Clough deserves time, there should be no doubt about that. I'd even suggest he deserves another year even at this level. Form and fortunes can change quickly and we know we have more ability than we are seeing at present. I just wish it was so much more encouraging that's all.

 

[wizadry]

Clough deserves time, there should be no doubt about that. I'd even suggest he deserves another year even at this level. Form and fortunes can change quickly and we know we have more ability than we are seeing at present. I just wish it was so much more encouraging that's all.

Good post mate,but i'm not sure we should be at this level next year and not expect serious questions as to why we're still here if that is the case.I'm not saying we can't go up,all i'm saying is Cloughy would have to answer some serious questions because there should have been no excuses,everything should have been put in place and it still might be,but as for another season at this level,please no

 

[finlaytheblade]

I know what you mean and why you think that.

In actual fact my "rhetoric" that found such a backlash was my insistence that the manger has a very good budget for the division we are in and it is nothing to do with the board whether we succeed or fail, it's down purely to the manager.

More "rhetoric" was that the new players had to be given time to settle in the club and gel together and it was not fair to judge them in the first couple of months.

More "rhetoric" was that Clough had plenty of credit in our "bank" as he had done so well last season.

I was optimistic and never imagined our new signings would be making such a small impact by now.

I was away for 2 months but closely followed our progress. Obviously I didn't comment on our performances in that time.

Since I returned I have watched 5 games and you could not imagine the difference in Clough's manner and equilibrium compared to when we went away. Added to that the players look thoroughly miserable and scared. Our fans are sour too. In those two months a lot has changed.

It was always going to be a testing period for everybody after all the essential changes in the squad, but the fact is we are devoid of quality and those players who have quality seem frightened to express themselves. I see little quality in the newcomers.. I can't recall watching three consecutive home games when we have hardly troubled the opposition keeper so little. At Fleetwood we were a ragbag outfit after the first 20 minutes.

I'm afraid I am worried for this season and have doubts about Clough's capability to achieve our longer term objectives. The Derby fan's thread written last October has real resonance now we have seen Clough operate for over a year and that rattles me too. We have a good budget for this division and we have imported a lacklustre set of signings without any key gamechangers.

Clough deserves time, there should be no doubt about that. I'd even suggest he deserves another year even at this level. Form and fortunes can change quickly and we know we have more ability than we are seeing at present. I just wish it was so much more encouraging that's all.

clough i imagine gets frustrated watching us at present just like we do, he gets his ranting out of the way during matches
and is calmness personified in interviews after the match.He seems to get angry at the decision making of players during
the games as that has been poor at times this season and something thats difficult to not show some reaction.Between games this is something im sure they work on but once players cross that white line its up to them.I would think if players dont respond to advise from the coaches they will be offloaded but you have to give players(some) time to absorbe this .
I remember what Dave bassett said on more than one occasion!! if players didnt respond to his tactics and advice and kept making wrong decisions mainly in the two penalty boxs they were no good to him and he would get rid.Every manager
will have a point of no return for players but the lower down the leagues you go the more patience i assume will be needed
and clough like us does get frustrated.He has made some mistakes in his recruitment this season but all managers do its recognising this and moving on that good managers do.Im sure if you talked to clough one to one he would agree one or two havnt worked out.I for one beleave he is building something but more patience is required and fans slating him at this stage dont help. NOW LETS ENJOY TOMORROWS MATCH AND SEE OFF SOTON "come on you blades"

 

[Woodwardfan]

Great post. I was in fact Bassett's No.1 fan and his greatest attributes were his knowledge of players and their characters and therefore his signings were exceptional on our budgets.

His man management was also exceptional and do you know, he sat in the Directors' Box for most games and only went to the touchline second half if need be. In the stand he never showed emotion, not even when we scored and then he simply sat and thought through the impact of the goal on the game at hand, and then gave his instructions if needed. Bassett would never bollock a player in public. Presumably his coaching and motivational work was done during the week, before games and at half time.

I cannot recall any manager treating players like Clough has started to do. It has come as a shock. I noticed Garner doing it earlier in the season and thought just how counter-productive that is, and indeed basic non-man-management.

It is fundamentally wrong.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Great post. I was in fact Bassett's No.1 fan and his greatest attributes were his knowledge of players and their characters and therefore his signings were exceptional on our budgets.

His man management was also exceptional and do you know, he sat in the Directors' Box for most games and only went to the touchline second half if need be. In the stand he never showed emotion, not even when we scored and then he simply sat and thought through the impact of the goal on the game at hand, and then gave his instructions if needed. Bassett would never bollock a player in public. Presumably his coaching and motivational work was done during the week, before games and at half time.

I cannot recall any manager treating players like Clough has started to do. It has come as a shock. I noticed Garner doing it earlier in the season and thought just how counter-productive that is, and indeed basic non-man-management.

It is fundamentally wrong.

I am going to offer you a possible reason for Cloughs agitated ways this season - we don't have a captain on the field. Since Morgan stopped playing we have not had that dominating player who's immediate presence gains respect from all the other players. Whilst Doyle might be the most experienced of our players and therefore qualifies as "default" for the armband, he is not now and never will be a real leader of men on the field. Don't have a doubt the players respect Doyle, but he just doesn't command or have the same aura as a Morganesqe type of player. Think of Martin Johnson who led us to the Rugby World Cup.

Also got a feeling that Butler was brought in for that role, but fucked it up by opening his mouth in the wrong way, which is a shame.

Also with the Butler thing as (possible) captain, rumours had it that Wallace and Basham were originally earmarked for central midfield, so again no space for Doyle and therefore Butler as captain.

Whichever way we look at how the season has unfolded, Cloughs best laid plans could have been scuppered before they even got off the ground.

UTB

 

[wizadry]

Also got a feeling that Butler was brought in for that role, but fucked it up by opening his mouth in the wrong way, which is a shame.

What's this you talk about mate,you're not allowed to come out with any rumours,they're automatically quashed as bullshit on here

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

I know what you mean and why you think that.

In actual fact my "rhetoric" that found such a backlash was my insistence that the manger has a very good budget for the division we are in and it is nothing to do with the board whether we succeed or fail, it's down purely to the manager.

More "rhetoric" was that the new players had to be given time to settle in the club and gel together and it was not fair to judge them in the first couple of months.

More "rhetoric" was that Clough had plenty of credit in our "bank" as he had done so well last season.

I was optimistic and never imagined our new signings would be making such a small impact by now.

I was away for 2 months but closely followed our progress. Obviously I didn't comment on our performances in that time.

Since I returned I have watched 5 games and you could not imagine the difference in Clough's manner and equilibrium compared to when we went away. Added to that the players look thoroughly miserable and scared. Our fans are sour too. In those two months a lot has changed.

It was always going to be a testing period for everybody after all the essential changes in the squad, but the fact is we are devoid of quality and those players who have quality seem frightened to express themselves. I see little quality in the newcomers.. I can't recall watching three consecutive home games when we have hardly troubled the opposition keeper so little. At Fleetwood we were a ragbag outfit after the first 20 minutes.

I'm afraid I am worried for this season and have doubts about Clough's capability to achieve our longer term objectives. The Derby fan's thread written last October has real resonance now we have seen Clough operate for over a year and that rattles me too. We have a good budget for this division and we have imported a lacklustre set of signings without any key gamechangers.

Clough deserves time, there should be no doubt about that. I'd even suggest he deserves another year even at this level. Form and fortunes can change quickly and we know we have more ability than we are seeing at present. I just wish it was so much more encouraging that's all.

Woodwardfan , Lord Bos has been supporting the Blades for over 50 years . I have witnessed good and bad sides over the years . I am a advocate of Mr Clough and the board. To sum up the Blades this season in very simple terms.-

Water finds its own level in the bath . We have found our own level of being average and ordinary in league 1.

Worried and concerned is putting it mildly.

UTB

 

[Woodwardfan]

I am going to offer you a possible reason for Cloughs agitated ways this season - we don't have a captain on the field. Since Morgan stopped playing we have not had that dominating player who's immediate presence gains respect from all the other players. Whilst Doyle might be the most experienced of our players and therefore qualifies as "default" for the armband, he is not now and never will be a real leader of men on the field. Don't have a doubt the players respect Doyle, but he just doesn't command or have the same aura as a Morganesqe type of player. Think of Martin Johnson who led us to the Rugby World Cup.

Also got a feeling that Butler was brought in for that role, but fucked it up by opening his mouth in the wrong way, which is a shame.

Also with the Butler thing as (possible) captain, rumours had it that Wallace and Basham were originally earmarked for central midfield, so again no space for Doyle and therefore Butler as captain.

Whichever way we look at how the season has unfolded, Cloughs best laid plans could have been scuppered before they even got off the ground.

UTB

I think you are right about plans which have not been fulfilled. I still see no reason to treat players like children and humiliate them in front of the opposition, their peers and fans and family. I struggle to understand why he has changed so much.

Anyway I've flogged this to death by now and will lay off.

P.S. I actually think Doyle is a big character and knows the game well. If he can't lead the troops well then who will? If anything I think Doyle is oo hard on the players too, it just shows it's all about opinion.

 

[Woodwardfan]

One more point. Just been listening to Steve MacLaren who was talking about Mourinho and modern managers.

He said "the days of the autocratic domineering boss at the top of the group are gone, modern managers need to be in the middle of the group"

 

[Woodwardfan]

Woodwardfan , Lord Bos has been supporting the Blades for over 50 years . I have witnessed good and bad sides over the years . I am a advocate of Mr Clough and the board. To sum up the Blades this season in very simple terms.-

Water finds its own level in the bath . We have found our own level of being average and ordinary in league 1.

Worried and concerned is putting it mildly.

UTB

I'm a long sufferer over 50 years too my Lord.

How many managers have we followed in all those years? We know the score and what to look for. From my viewpoint Clough had an exceptional start. He quickly evicted certain players who did not show proper commitment and attitude and I understood each decision ( King, Taylor, Brandy), in fact I was delighted with two but had slight reservations about Taylor leaving. His team selections always made sense to me and he seemed to get Coady and Murphy playing better than they were before, Baxter too. His loan signings were excellent and added to all that there seemed to be more money from the prince to support him.

I fondly imagined we had the absolute right fit for us, he even talks like a Blade.

All summer I was delighted, at last we were doing early business and I could see reasons for signing each player as they were announced. I presumed we would be signing a talisman striker, maybe on loan or permanently it didn't matter, but the gap was never filled.

I welcomed the belated signing of Higdon but had never seen him play. McNulty seemed one for the future as he was described. To sign Porter was unbelievable but maybe 4th choice back up, with Baxter in case of need 5th choice.

I'm not sure Clough had ever seen Higdon play to be honest. In every way he just doesn't fit the profile needed with our playing style. His suspension and injuries have not helped but he costs money and still looks a hasty, desperate signing, made while other competitors have got new men up and running.

The striker problem has held us back all season and we are not in good shape to mount a big challenge. There is time but two fundamental things give me doubts about Clough for the long haul: signing new players and management style. Other worries are his caution and his late substitutions and unwillingness to change formation during games.

I'm still willing him to succeed and still have hope for this season. It is hard to imagine where it would leave us if he fails. He has been given all the tools he needs and unprecedented power and control and he just has to come good. He is feeling the pressure and obviously cares deeply. I think he needs to relax a bit more and allow all around him to relax. Clough will have learned a lot from his mistakes this year and should do better next year. I hope he gets a new Chief Scout.

 

[bartman]

What's this you talk about mate,you're not allowed to come out with any rumours,they're automatically quashed as bullshit on here

probably because some of the rumours on here (and most on on Blades Mad)are bullshit/lies and they are usually quite easy to spot.. Also note that Fulwood Blade has given an opinion ('I've got a feeling') and not passed on a rumour. ;-)