Match Thread Blades v Preston

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Who will win?

  • Blades

    Votes: 30 60.0%

  • Draw

    Votes: 13 26.0%

  • Preston

    Votes: 7 14.0%
  • Total voters
    50
  • Poll closed .
Kazarre13

Kazarre13

Turkish Blade
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Blades v Preston
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Date: 10/01/2014 - 15:00

What do you think about match?
 



wizadry said:
Just to follow on from that, play Reed aswell.He has had a week without a game and should be as fresh as a daisy.We miss his creativity when he doesn't play and we can ill afford to fuck about now.
Click to expand...

I would agree with that sentiment Wiz - think it was sitwell that wrote earlier that the temptation to play Reed is great, NC appears to be looking after the players better interests as against United's.

It is hard not to go overboard about Reed, but I keep doing so and for anyone who hasn't studied our first goal v QPR, you should go and have a closer look.

When Baxter played the original ball to Mcnulty, the video shows Reed a couple of yards to Baxters left - Reed immediately "saw" what was on and ran into the space past Mcnulty (sort of inside left of old). Baxter played a super quick ball into Reeds path and you can hear the summariser (in the background) from the BBC/SKY say "They're in here........" - how right he was, Reed confidently took a few strides and some excellent touches, Mcnulty pulls away right and "asks" Reed for the ball, who puts it on a plate for him. Now that was as good a goal as you are likely to see anywhere - made well, great vision by Baxter and Reed and finished well.

To quote Kev Keegan - "I would love it, just love it" to see Reed play but I reckon he will be saved for the 2 x Spurs game in 1.5 and 2.5 weeks time.

We can but hope.

UTB
 
Fulwood Blade said:
I would agree with that sentiment Wiz - think it was sitwell that wrote earlier that the temptation to play Reed is great, NC appears to be looking after the players better interests as against United's.

It is hard not to go overboard about Reed, but I keep doing so and for anyone who hasn't studied our first goal v QPR, you should go and have a closer look.

When Baxter played the original ball to Mcnulty, the video shows Reed a couple of yards to Baxters left - Reed immediately "saw" what was on and ran into the space past Mcnulty (sort of inside left of old). Baxter played a super quick ball into Reeds path and you can hear the summariser (in the background) from the BBC/SKY say "They're in here........" - how right he was, Reed confidently took a few strides and some excellent touches, Mcnulty pulls away right and "asks" Reed for the ball, who puts it on a plate for him. Now that was as good a goal as you are likely to see anywhere - made well, great vision by Baxter and Reed and finished well.

To quote Kev Keegan - "I would love it, just love it" to see Reed play but I reckon he will be saved for the 2 x Spurs game in 1.5 and 2.5 weeks time.

We can but hope.

UTB
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Fair play to Baxter too Fulwood, he did exactly what you said he doesn't do, because he picked it up on the edge of his own area, played it to McNults and carried on running to get the return and in full flow played a peach of a ball into the stride of Reed, who in turn played the perfectly paced ball to McNults. Good play by three highly skilled and energetic players I agree with you.;)
 
As for the game, probably the most important league game this season. We have slipped badly and automatic promotion looks out of reach unless we get two wins against Preston and MKD.

I am surprised and disappointed that we have not signed a new striker, even allowing for the O'grady situation complicating things because I think we need C O'G plus one other. Nevertheless it does give McNulty a big chance to prove he can start and play against a massed defence in the league. Truth be known, he has not had a lot of presence against heavy league 1 defences when he has started games so I hope he does well, we need him to.

Personally I have not given up on Higdon and I just wonder whether Clough might play him against this strong Preston defence, though he would know that would upset the home crowd right from the off and that makes it hard for Higdon.
 
Woodwardfan said:
Fair play to Baxter too Fulwood, he did exactly what you said he doesn't do, because he picked it up on the edge of his own area, played it to McNults and carried on running to get the return and in full flow played a peach of a ball into the stride of Reed, who in turn played the perfectly paced ball to McNults. Good play by three highly skilled and energetic players I agree with you.;)
Click to expand...

To be fair woodward fan - and I reckon Sitwell and I are Baxters biggest critics, is Baxter DOES NOT do it in L1 on a regular basis, because he is closed down so much and so quickly and it is up to Baxter and the management team to teach him how to play at L1 level consistently. I went to QPR and they let us play football, because that is what 'arrys teams do. Baxter played well in the space he had on that particular day. He still needs to step up to the plate when L1 teams start kicking his ankles. Even though Baxter did well in that move and all players played well the whole game, he was still way off top spot at QPR - For me Mceverly was MOM, Mcnulty not far behind (purely because he was up top on his own) and Reed was simply outstanding for a 17 year old. Mcnuts does it every time he plays - Reed does it every time he plays - Baxter has to be more consistent. It isn't too much to ask - surely?

As someone eluded to earlier - we are too good for this division, but not good enough to get out - Baxter and Scoogs for me seem better suited to the Championship and again, in my opinion it is partly why we struggle in L1 games. It is not a dislike of Baxter it is how the management view us getting out and how we play - it just doesn't seem to work.

Whether Baxter plays tomorrow is another matter - reckon Wallace will come straight in, and Baxter maybe left out.

UTB
 
Fulwood Blade said:
To be fair woodward fan - and I reckon Sitwell and I are Baxters biggest critics, is Baxter DOES NOT do it in L1 on a regular basis, because he is closed down so much and so quickly and it is up to Baxter and the management team to teach him how to play at L1 level consistently. I went to QPR and they let us play football, because that is what 'arrys teams do. Baxter played well in the space he had on that particular day. He still needs to step up to the plate when L1 teams start kicking his ankles. Even though Baxter did well in that move and all players played well the whole game, he was still way off top spot at QPR - For me Mceverly was MOM, Mcnulty not far behind (purely because he was up top on his own) and Reed was simply outstanding for a 17 year old. Mcnuts does it every time he plays - Reed does it every time he plays - Baxter has to be more consistent. It isn't too much to ask - surely?

As someone eluded to earlier - we are too good for this division, but not good enough to get out - Baxter and Scoogs for me seem better suited to the Championship and again, in my opinion it is partly why we struggle in L1 games. It is not a dislike of Baxter it is how the management view us getting out and how we play - it just doesn't seem to work.

Whether Baxter plays tomorrow is another matter - reckon Wallace will come straight in, and Baxter maybe left out.

UTB
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46 fans voted Baxter 8.72 at QPR and that seems to have been fair. Our team more than most needs game-changers whether they are big, small, slow or fast. Really skillful players often get called lazy, in fact two of our best Edwards and Currie often stood accused, but their managers knew their value. Baxter has an unfortunate demeanor and is only human like most others when his confidence is low and the team are playing badly. Thing is he is singled out because of his shape and the fact that more is expected from a player of his ability. He's only a young lad (22?) on league 1 wages in fact.

I do hope Wallace gets fit and if he is that much better than Baxter to force him out all well and good, but surely Scougall is the one who makes way, surely.

Get men up in support and around the box, give Baxter the ball and watch the lad play. I honestly believe he was our best player before Reed arrived and we should build a side round him. Clough has given him every chance and I would expect the lad to repay his manager's faith in time.
 
2-0 Blades tomoz
McNuts and Flynn to score

Some very hairy moments to weather as that rapid lad from Preston burst down Bob's flank but ultimately Preston to draw a blank on the goals for column.
 
Fulwood Blade said:
As someone eluded to earlier - we are too good for this division, but not good enough to get out - Baxter and Scoogs for me seem better suited to the Championship and again, in my opinion it is partly why we struggle in L1 games.
Click to expand...

I have heard this a number of times recently and I don't believe it. Scougs is usually a non scoring non assisting lightweight in league 1 and would be the same a league up. The players are just as good, but fitter and faster, and more consistent. The idea we'd be better one tier up is laughable.

As for tomorrow, we aren't consistent enough to win 2 on the bounce. Draw.
 
Last edited:
Woodwardfan said:
46 fans voted Baxter 8.72 at QPR and that seems to have been fair. Our team more than most needs game-changers whether they are big, small, slow or fast. Really skillful players often get called lazy, in fact two of our best Edwards and Currie often stood accused, but their managers knew their value. Baxter has an unfortunate demeanor and is only human like most others when his confidence is low and the team are playing badly. Thing is he is singled out because of his shape and the fact that more is expected from a player of his ability. He's only a young lad (22?) on league 1 wages in fact.

I do hope Wallace gets fit and if he is that much better than Baxter to force him out all well and good, but surely Scougall is the one who makes way, surely.

Get men up in support and around the box, give Baxter the ball and watch the lad play. I honestly believe he was our best player before Reed arrived and we should build a side round him. Clough has given him every chance and I would expect the lad to repay his manager's faith in time.
Click to expand...

Woodwardfan and Fulwood Blade . good posts and is exactly my thoughts . Hope Wallace does play tomorrow and even giving Higdon a start , would be a positive move.

Higdon has got to come good and with the right service , could prove us all wrong , that he his a bit of a lame duck and dud signing.

We still have time it all to click together , but less and less room for manoeuvre . I am sure the players confidence is now a lot higher than the fans , and will start to show in our play and finishing.

Also if they realise new players may be coming in , it should give that additional incentive , to go that extra mile. Every game is as important as the next , but i think we will be surprised with the result tomorrow , if everything comes together . We have a definite case of championship quality players and system , now required to hack it in league 1 , which i am sure Mr Clough will have drilled into the playing staff. Time is actually still on our side . Look were Bournemouth were this time last year , never mind our great run.

UTB
 
Woodwardfan said:
46 fans voted Baxter 8.72 at QPR and that seems to have been fair. Our team more than most needs game-changers whether they are big, small, slow or fast. Really skillful players often get called lazy, in fact two of our best Edwards and Currie often stood accused, but their managers knew their value. Baxter has an unfortunate demeanor and is only human like most others when his confidence is low and the team are playing badly. Thing is he is singled out because of his shape and the fact that more is expected from a player of his ability. He's only a young lad (22?) on league 1 wages in fact.

I do hope Wallace gets fit and if he is that much better than Baxter to force him out all well and good, but surely Scougall is the one who makes way, surely.

Get men up in support and around the box, give Baxter the ball and watch the lad play. I honestly believe he was our best player before Reed arrived and we should build a side round him. Clough has given him every chance and I would expect the lad to repay his manager's faith in time.
Click to expand...

Very strange that you picked Baxter out and said his average score was 8.72. I hadn't actually looked until you mentioned it so decided to have a look.

8.72 on the day was only 6th equal best - 5 better players even on a good day for Baxter.

JCR 9.28, Mceverly 9.25, Mcnulty 9.21, Reed 8.89, Kennedy 8.87, Harris 8.72, Baxter 8.72.

Baxter needs to realise, and the management need to help him to get more consistency in his performances.

UTB
 
Baxter, JCR, Flynn, Mcnulty. They are the best players. Fast and skilled players... They should start in the first 11.
 
Revolution said:
I have heard this a number of times recently and I don't believe it. Scougs is usually a non scoring non assisting lightweight in league 1 and would be the same a league up. The players are just as good, but fitter and faster, and more consistent. The idea we'd be better one tier up is laughable.

As for tomorrow, we aren't consistent enough to win 2 on the bounce. Draw.
Click to expand...

Don't have a problem you thinking it's laughable - you don't seem to have offered an opinion as to why Utd seem to play better against apparently more skilful teams in higher divisions - once or twice might have been a fluke - the number of times the team has done this, and comfortably done it, suggests you are in fact wrong.

UTB
 



Fulwood Blade said:
Very strange that you picked Baxter out and said his average score was 8.72. I hadn't actually looked until you mentioned it so decided to have a look.

8.72 on the day was only 6th equal best - 5 better players even on a good day for Baxter.

JCR 9.28, Mceverly 9.25, Mcnulty 9.21, Reed 8.89, Kennedy 8.87, Harris 8.72, Baxter 8.72.

Baxter needs to realise, and the management need to help him to get more consistency in his performances.

UTB
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I picked Baxter out because I was talking about him, nothing strange in that Fulwood. Anyway we all have our likes and dislikes of certain types of players, never mind individual players, so it's not surprising some like Baxter and some don't. The problem for Baxter is that he gets singled out while others get some latitude. That's what happens with big players, it's all about perceptions and expectations. As a 22 year old it just might be hard for him to understand why it's "always about him" as it were. Personally I know full well our team needs creativity and a supply of goals and Baxter is easily the best we've got at present. When he's not playing we miss him IMO.

Reed unites all fans at this stage of his career and looks the sort that will enjoy that for a long time hence.
 
Fulwood Blade said:
Very strange that you picked Baxter out and said his average score was 8.72. I hadn't actually looked until you mentioned it so decided to have a look.

8.72 on the day was only 6th equal best - 5 better players even on a good day for Baxter.

JCR 9.28, Mceverly 9.25, Mcnulty 9.21, Reed 8.89, Kennedy 8.87, Harris 8.72, Baxter 8.72.

Baxter needs to realise, and the management need to help him to get more consistency in his performances.

UTB
Click to expand...



An afterthought.

Clough is known to be a tough disciplinarian and highly demanding on character and commitment.

Baxter has thrived in Clough's environment with as many games played as anyone. Every time Clough mentions Baxter it is in positive terms and almost invariably mentions refers to his skills
 
Kezarre...

Your heart is in the right place, but the british are really superstitious, if we lose tomorrow cam you please hand the torch of match day post to somebody else....

Not being funny... but our luck needs to change..

Nigel, says its all ok you see!!
 
Apparently Scott Laird of PNE had his leg broken by Cruncher Jamal Campbell-Ryce once but he says he doesn't bear a grudge so there should be no Santos/Johnson-style shenanigans. It would be interesting if Higdon were to play for us and Kevin Davies for Preston. Sam Allardyce turned Davies into an old-fashioned centre forward but he was a talented attacking midfield player before then, and is a Blades fan, of course.

It's bad luck for Preston but good news for everyone else that Joe Garner is injured. That makes it about 50% less likely that they will score, so it gives us more chance of winning. As we need to do regularly PDQ.
 
Think this will end in a draw which if it was a result in isolation would be a decent point, however after the wretched Decemebr we need wins.
 
Revolution said:
I have heard this a number of times recently and I don't believe it. Scougs is usually a non scoring non assisting lightweight in league 1 and would be the same a league up. The players are just as good, but fitter and faster, and more consistent. The idea we'd be better one tier up is laughable.

As for tomorrow, we aren't consistent enough to win 2 on the bounce. Draw.
Click to expand...

I think we won't see 10 men behind the ball so a win is possible.
 
Deadbat said:
Game definitely on?

Winds are dreadful. Wondered whether referee might deem it too windy for those travelling to the game. We might get blown over. Hit by a tree or flying objects?

;)
Click to expand...

If bits of the stadium blow loose it could get postponed. Stranger things...
 
Fulwood Blade said:
Don't have a problem you thinking it's laughable - you don't seem to have offered an opinion as to why Utd seem to play better against apparently more skilful teams in higher divisions - once or twice might have been a fluke - the number of times the team has done this, and comfortably done it, suggests you are in fact wrong.

UTB
Click to expand...

Well, they have done the following:

Deservedly beat Fulham, QPR and Aston Villa, who were all dreadful on the day.

Drew with West Ham without having a shot on target - a great defensive performance.

Held Fulham to a draw in an even game

Beat Forest in an even game

Deservedly beat a Southampton side that was decent at best on the day.

We deserved all these results - it was not luck - but that's still a small sample size. We can play well, but the stars have aligned to make this happen on Cup days. We are far too inconsistent to do well week in week out in a higher league.

And if you think our players could score enough goals to stay up in the championship when they can barely manage a goal a game in this league, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn you might be interested in buying.
 
Will the miracle happen tomrw will Clough start with McNulty? I've got a feeling if he does he'll score and we win, too hopeful maybe ?
 



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