We can turn this around

[Grappler]

Brayford getting injured didn't help after a decent start, bringing on Scougall when we already had Holt on was a serious mistake, neither did anything of note. Too small, too lightweight, we can all see this. The only difference is that Holt can score, but he offers very little else (for me at least), Nathan Byrne, their number 3, was left in huge amounts of space all night. Why didn't Clough tell someone, at half time, to mark him closely for the rest of the game. Moving Basham into the back four, big mistake. Left Coutts as our only tall midfielder, and he doesn't look match fit. Too many kicks up field, to no one, from too many of our players. Leaking a goal from a corner, too predictable.

McEveley left on his own too often, and he doesn't have the pace when really needed.

Steven Davies - good flick ons, won most things in the air. Flynny, probably man of the match.

Matt Done - massive impact, he needs to play the whole game on Monday, because it could be the last match he plays until pre-season, if he does not play on Monday, then it is the last game the rest of the team play until pre-season, without a doubt.

We can win on Monday, but need Done and Davies on the pitch, Basham in the middle and no Holt or Scougall.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Moving Bash tonight was a mistake and Clough has to take the blame for that one.

I do question what some were expecting tonight though...we were playing a side who finished comfortably above us and we were never going to roll them over to give us a comfortable lead. It was always going to be tight, they're a good side but we're still massively in this tie. Get the first goal on Monday and they'll shit it.

Probably to beat them 2-0 like we did earlier in the season and give ourselves a chance for the second leg.

 

[grafikhaus]

All this talk of 'who should play where' is, I'm afraid, merely tinkering. It really doesn't matter about minor changes as we've been left with a squad that is simply too small for this division. Throw in constant changes, bizarre tactics and (usually) a lack of the 'up and at 'em' spirit we saw for long periods last night, and it's a recipe for failure. (Oh, and forget Collins. Anybody who heard NCs interview last Tuesday would have heard the way he practically spat his name out. He has sinned. Apparently.)
That's twice in five days that we've made average teams look like world-beaters. When we were 1-0 up last night, that team was playing at the absolute limit of its abilities. It was thrilling stuff and offered some hope but it couldn't be sustained over 90 minutes let alone the weeks and months required.
Good luck to those who think we still have a chance on Monday. Once they'd got our measure, Swindon were simply better all over the park.

 

[cooperblade]

Moving Basham away from midfield was a dreadful mistake.

When Brayford first went down, Clough instantly called Alcock over from his warm up. Then at half-time, a member of backroom staff came and fetched both Alcock and Scougall from the pitch. I think they maybe over thought it.

Too often when we make a change at the back during the game, we move more than one player about when we have the option of a straight swap.

 

[super_pig]

Too often when we make a change at the back during the game, we move more than one player about when we have the option of a straight swap.

it drives me nuts

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Brayford getting injured didn't help after a decent start, bringing on Scougall when we already had Holt on was a serious mistake, neither did anything of note. Too small, too lightweight, we can all see this. The only difference is that Holt can score, but he offers very little else (for me at least), Nathan Byrne, their number 3, was left in huge amounts of space all night. Why didn't Clough tell someone, at half time, to mark him closely for the rest of the game. Moving Basham into the back four, big mistake. Left Coutts as our only tall midfielder, and he doesn't look match fit. Too many kicks up field, to no one, from too many of our players. Leaking a goal from a corner, too predictable.

McEveley left on his own too often, and he doesn't have the pace when really needed.

Steven Davies - good flick ons, won most things in the air. Flynny, probably man of the match.

Matt Done - massive impact, he needs to play the whole game on Monday, because it could be the last match he plays until pre-season, if he does not play on Monday, then it is the last game the rest of the team play until pre-season, without a doubt.

We can win on Monday, but need Done and Davies on the pitch, Basham in the middle and no Holt or Scougall.

Totally agree with you . I think we can still win this . The pressure is all on Swindon , as i feel they think they are through , as all the media and some blades do. The feeling is ,we have blown it.

Lets hope Brayford is fit . Never mind what Clough says , the players will take this next game , by the scruff of the neck , and sort themselves out , without taking much notice of the Clough rants . More confident for Monday than i was last night .

We played well , it was a tactical error which caused the defeat. When will our football management team learn about no height or power in midfield , and the likes of Scougs and Holt , is like picking Ant and Deck.

The CB issue is the major issue , but we have to live with that one.

It wont be all out attack , but with Done , Murphy , Flynn we do have a potent winning option. Also Davies will know he owes us one , and perhaps now playing for a contract.

Although pro Clough , i get the feeling the board may be as split as us lot , in what to do , if we fail.

UTB

 

[IOM Blade]

We need Basham in midfield on Monday and, with Brayford a doubt, we need Collins in defense. Clough cannot be allowed to put a personal spat ahead of our club.

Swindon away is where the rift began and Swindon away is where it should end.

 

[bornablade]

Yes we can turn this around.

I've said before that the home leg was the one that concerned me the most. Listening to the Swindon fans on Bramall Lane after the game singing 'Wembley Wembley' makes me think they don't think we can turn it around.

It's a cliche but it's only half time. There's at least another 90 minutes to play.

In 2003 against Forest we were 3-1 down on aggregate with just 30 minutes left. Matty Done can be our modern day Pesch.

Don't let's all give up yet.

 

[Lt. J Dangle]

Wow, Holt was playing?

Yes, I think he was out-jumped by Ricketts for the equaliser.

 

[BladeFisher]

Yes we can turn this around.

I've said before that the home leg was the one that concerned me the most. Listening to the Swindon fans on Bramall Lane after the game singing 'Wembley Wembley' makes me think they don't think we can turn it around.

It's a cliche but it's only half time. There's at least another 90 minutes to play.

In 2003 against Forest we were 3-1 down on aggregate with just 30 minutes left. Matty Done can be our modern day Pesch.

Don't let's all give up yet.

Fact:

We've never won the play offs.
We've never won a play off match away from Bramall Lane
Until last night we'd never lost a home tie.

Given last night's result things can change!

I predict a Blades win at Swindon!

COYRAWW

 

[Rudders]

Yes, I think he was out-jumped by Ricketts for the equaliser.

No that was Freeman

 

[RedandWhite]

No chance, concede one goal and it's over.

 

[Kenilworth]

Isn't that the first time we have lost a home leg in a play off semi?

We've never won an away leg either so it all bodes well eh?

We need to go 4-4-2 in the return with Done and Davies and use the channels. Their 5 in midfield will try to dominate possession and we cannot compete there or out football them in that area of the pitch.
Needs Flynn and Murph to work their knackers off and maybe introduce Che later when one of them has tired.
Bash has to play in midfield & he'll probably select Coutts there as well.
Can't see Bray being fit for Monday.
Will have to use Alcock there.

It's the only way we stand a chance.

Swindon will be comfortable unless we pin their wing backs back and that will mean playing it wide and in the channels - not playing through midfield where we will get dicked.

 

[bornablade]

Fact:

We've never won the play offs.
We've never won a play off match away from Bramall Lane
Until last night we'd never lost a home tie.

Given last night's result things can change!

I predict a Blades win at Swindon!

COYRAWW

On the way to the match last night I heard a RS presenter say that Swindon hadn't won at BDTBL since 1970. I thought 'well that's put a jinx on tonight then.' They did the same a few weeks ago when we played Peterborough (never won at the Lane)

So let's hoping BF your theory proves to be correct

 

[grafikhaus]

Totally agree with you . I think we can still win this . The pressure is all on Swindon , as i feel they think they are through , as all the media and some blades do. The feeling is ,we have blown it.

While I admire your, er, optimism I seem to recall much the same was said about Preston. Yes, that Preston who won at Chesterfield last night.

Never mind what Clough says , the players will take this next game , by the scruff of the neck , and sort themselves out , without taking much notice of the Clough rants . More confident for Monday than i was last night .

Again, this flies in the face of all evidence seen over the last few months. Last night, for once, the players did take the game by the scruff etc. Clough's tactical ineptness put paid to that. As for 'taking no notice of Clough', there's an ever-growing list of players banished to the wilderness for trying to defy Clough's 'wisdom'. He's a bully.

It wont be all out attack , but with Done , Murphy , Flynn we do have a potent winning option. Also Davies will know he owes us one , and perhaps now playing for a contract.

I don't expect Flynn to figure. Likewise Done but, if he does, it won't be for 90 minutes. Both are injured/fucked. Ditto Brayford and we won't see Reed again till August. If only we had a large squad to tide us over these pesky injuries.

Also Davies will know he owes us one , and perhaps now playing for a contract.

After this season, they all fucking 'owe us one'. Whether playing for a contract, a game at Wembley or to continue playing at the highest level/biggest crowds in their career, Clough's total lack of motivational acumen makes the thought they'll suddenly - finally - start busting a gut for this club is laughable.

 

[Thaddeus]

Oh, and forget Collins. Anybody who heard NCs interview last Tuesday would have heard the way he practically spat his name out.

It was interesting how he went from a matey "Collo" when Clough was talking about him returning from Port Vale the week before, to a very blunt "Collins" once he was back in the fold. Almost like it was an "absence makes the heart grow fonder" moment, and all his heartbreak and disappointment resurfaced once they were reunited.

 

[Bergen Blade]

When Brayford first went down, Clough instantly called Alcock over from his warm up. Then at half-time, a member of backroom staff came and fetched both Alcock and Scougall from the pitch. I think they maybe over thought it.

Too often when we make a change at the back during the game, we move more than one player about when we have the option of a straight swap.

Yes, they may have been worrying about Smith's height against Alcock, but the importance of Basham in midfield means we can't afford not having him there at the moment.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

All this talk of 'who should play where' is, I'm afraid, merely tinkering. It really doesn't matter about minor changes as we've been left with a squad that is simply too small for this division. Throw in constant changes, bizarre tactics and (usually) a lack of the 'up and at 'em' spirit we saw for long periods last night, and it's a recipe for failure. (Oh, and forget Collins. Anybody who heard NCs interview last Tuesday would have heard the way he practically spat his name out. He has sinned. Apparently.)
That's twice in five days that we've made average teams look like world-beaters. When we were 1-0 up last night, that team was playing at the absolute limit of its abilities. It was thrilling stuff and offered some hope but it couldn't be sustained over 90 minutes let alone the weeks and months required.
Good luck to those who think we still have a chance on Monday. Once they'd got our measure, Swindon were simply better all over the park.

We had 20 shots.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

While I admire your, er, optimism I seem to recall much the same was said about Preston. Yes, that Preston who won at Chesterfield last night.



Again, this flies in the face of all evidence seen over the last few months. Last night, for once, the players did take the game by the scruff etc. Clough's tactical ineptness put paid to that. As for 'taking no notice of Clough', there's an ever-growing list of players banished to the wilderness for trying to defy Clough's 'wisdom'. He's a bully.



I don't expect Flynn to figure. Likewise Done but, if he does, it won't be for 90 minutes. Both are injured/fucked. Ditto Brayford and we won't see Reed again till August. If only we had a large squad to tide us over these pesky injuries.



After this season, they all fucking 'owe us one'. Whether playing for a contract, a game at Wembley or to continue playing at the highest level/biggest crowds in their career, Clough's total lack of motivational acumen makes the thought they'll suddenly - finally - start busting a gut for this club is laughable.

They did bust a gut.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Yes, they may have been worrying about Smith's height against Alcock, but the importance of Basham in midfield means we can't afford not having him there at the moment.

We might have to risk Alcock but we could leak 3 or 4 with him back there. Doesn't mean we can't get 4 or 5 though.

Action packed.

 

[Bergen Blade]

We might have to risk Alcock but we could leak 3 or 4 with him back there. Doesn't mean we can't get 4 or 5 though.

Action packed.

Personally I'd take a chance on Collins, I'm sick of us conceding goals from free headers.

 

[bartman]

As for 'taking no notice of Clough', there's an ever-growing list of players banished to the wilderness for trying to defy Clough's 'wisdom'. He's a bully.

.

Care to name the ever growing list of players he has banished or bullied as opposed to those he has not picked due to poor form or he doesn't rate(as all managers do)

 

[Will Brammer]

we will win on monday and it's still clough in for me.

 

[Eskimo]

I enjoyed last night. It was the season to date in a microcosm. Some very good, some bad, puzzling substitutions, conceding from a corner etc etc. I'm going on Monday with heart ruling head that we'll win. But I think the lack of Centre back cover is the thing most likely to do for us. I can see us scoring but not keeping them out.

 

[grafikhaus]

Care to name the ever growing list of players he has banished or bullied as opposed to those he has not picked due to poor form or he doesn't rate(as all managers do)

Without trawling through every name:
Butler. Not given a chance to shown any form - poor or not. And if he didn't rate him, why sign him?
J C-R. Is he really inferior to what we have now?
Collins. Ditto.
McNulty. Got in a scrap in Scotland and 'mysteriously' didn't appear for a few games. Not as if we have a glut of strikers.
de Giralamo. Could be (lots of) rumours. No smoke without fire.
Dimaio. Ditto.
Porter. Leading scorer last season. Moved on when that galactico Higdon came in.

A lot may be rumours etc. but it seems a pattern is emerging. You state two criteria. 1) 'Due to poor form'. Is this because they were played out of position? And if 'poor form' was a reason to be dropped, we would have enough players to field eleven for a match. And 2) '...he doesn't rate'. Well as he (or his brother) brought the vast majority in, doesn't say much etc. Then we've got 'bad boyz' like Febian Brandy. Failure to discover his personailty traits hardly suggests due diligence before signing them.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Back to turning it around. Just seen the highlights which include helpful replays of two penalties not given, with the two-footed lunge on Flynn possibly a straight red. Davies missing two sitters, the non-foul by Done for the disallowed goal.

We had plenty last night even after the Beard went off. We could have plenty Monday.

The players are up for it.

UTB

 

[bartman]

Without trawling through every name:
Butler. Not given a chance to shown any form - poor or not. And if he didn't rate him, why sign him?
J C-R. Is he really inferior to what we have now?
Collins. Ditto.
McNulty. Got in a scrap in Scotland and 'mysteriously' didn't appear for a few games. Not as if we have a glut of strikers.
de Giralamo. Could be (lots of) rumours. No smoke without fire.
Dimaio. Ditto.
Porter. Leading scorer last season. Moved on when that galactico Higdon came in.

A lot may be rumours etc. but it seems a pattern is emerging. You state two criteria. 1) 'Due to poor form'. Is this because they were played out of position? And if 'poor form' was a reason to be dropped, we would have enough players to field eleven for a match. And 2) '...he doesn't rate'. Well as he (or his brother) brought the vast majority in, doesn't say much etc. Then we've got 'bad boyz' like Febian Brandy. Failure to discover his personailty traits hardly suggests due diligence before signing them.

Butler- not as good as Clough thought he was. Most managers make bad signing at some stage. Moved him o quickly (the issue is he didn't replace)
JCR- inferior to Flynn,Murphy
Collins- again Clough was wrong not to replace him but in my opinion Collins was never good enough even at this level
McNulty- got into a scrap and broke his cheek one and was out injured. A better option than Davies or Done? Not yet but will be in time I reckon but has to increase his work rate
Diego- I think the main issue is that Diego doesn't appear to be as good as Diego thinks he is. Are you saying he is ready for the first team because from what I have seen of him (like Adams) he is no where near ready
Porter- I thought it was time for him to move on as did many others

 

[bartman]

Back to turning it around. Just seen the highlights which include helpful replays of two penalties not given, with the two-footed lunge on Flynn possibly a straight red. Davies missing two sitters, the non-foul by Done for the disallowed goal.

We had plenty last night even after the Beard went off. We could have plenty Monday.

The players are up for it.

UTB

I was amazed the ref didn't see the foul on Flynn...he was just a few yards away and the disallowed goal was just bizarre as their defender just fell over. Yet when you looked at the ref he was giving the 'thumbs up' sign to the linesman implying it was the lino from about 60 yards away that made the decision.

 

[Jon Bon]

We had 20 shots.

Great stuff. How many of them went in?

 

[Worksop_Blade]

Last night was an absolute embarrassment, it was an insult to the 10k blades that have already renewed for next season.

- No centre backs in the 18 even though their is a half decent league one CB sat in the stand watching.

- He brings on 3ft Scougall to partner 3ft Holt after losing his tallest and best defensive midfielder into Centre Back even though there is a vasty experienced DM on the bench.

- Shoves Done out wide and sticks Murphy up front even though Murphy had the beating of the full back on that side all first half and Done has scored goals, goals, goals whilst playing as a striker.

- The STFC number 3 had caused us problems all night, yet no one pressures him at any point!

- If your team is made up of little quick players, don't try and float corners in and if you do at least the first man.

- Talking to a pig last week and he was saying Eddie Howe instructs 3 of his smallest quickest players to stay on half way when the oppo has a corner, which forces them to leave 3 or 4 defenders back. Clough instructs everyone to try and defend corners in a traditional "win your big headers, even though you're a midget" kind of way.

- We concede yet another late goal, this is an indication of fitness problems within the squad. Remember the NW years, when Tony Daly was the fitness coach the players ran themselves daft and always scored late on, we never scored late anymore.

- This has been such a waste of a season, we are 2 years away from the gravy train that is the big TV deal coming into the station and we are now even further away from getting to the required platform. If we miss that train, we are done, we will never play in the top 2/3rds of the Championship again, Sheffield derbies will be once decadely cup ties or things that fathers tell their sons about.

Good luck to anyone to anyone going down to Swindon on Monday, I hope you see a miracle come off but I can't see it and if it doesn't, give the players, management and board both barrels. I remember Morgan coming over to us on the terrace at Yeovil saying "stick with us, we will build a team" we did and we have been fucked over again.

CLOUGH OUT.