We can turn this around

[Bladesman]

 

[The Bohemian]

But only if we get things spot on, tactically, also when we suffer a blow like losing Brayford. I liked the starting eleven tonight, but....

Clough, standing up against their midfield, winning that battle is THE key against Swindon. Moving Basham away from midfield was a dreadful mistake. Up front is not Swindon's strongest position and we should have put Alcock back there, kept Basham in midfield and put on Scougall for Holt. Holt, sorry, his goals have been nice, but we can't afford a passenger in midfield, he does not do enough. I was also disappointed in Coutts tonight, especially first half, but I think we have little choice but to keep him.

Consider Collins. We conceded from a header again and struggled with Smith's height all game.

Done must start, what a superb appearance and great to see him back. We may have to play 4-4-2, as with Scougall out, we're running out of midfield options. Let's give it a real go.

Good summary, I agree with all your key points, except 4-4-2.

Losing Basham from midfield changed the balance and allowed Swindon much more possession in our half, which was denied them prior to Brayford getting injured. This in turn meant Harris and Freeman were pinned back, allowing Byrne - who caused us problems all night - to stay up and create more 1 v 1s with Harris (who was already on a soft booking and consequently kept backing off when Byrne ran at him).

To be fair to Clough, at 1-1, he kept urging the team to be positive and told Murphy to stay high rather than doubling up on Byrne. This ultimately cost us, but for me was the right approach.

Given their very average front two, I agree, Alcock for Brayford would have been a better option then Scoogs and with hindsight this looks like a costly, tactical error.

Despite all the above, we have shipped two very poor goals and I'm not having it that Collins would have avoided the Ricketts goal - mainly because he wouldn't have been marking him (look where he ran from: ). Freeman deserves his backside kicking for switching off, as does Howard for undoing a great penalty save with a(nother) soft goal for their winner.

I'm not one, generally, for using match officials as an excuse, but I'll make an exception for last night's clown: The handball incident was an absolute stone-waller - and the ref was looking straight at it. I've also watched Done's disallowed goal several times and remain perplexed.

We are still in this! Cloughie should select Collins, but he won't because it's a lose-lose decision for him to make at this juncture, even if we win! With or without Collins, his midfield 3 has to be Coutts, Basham and Doyle or we'll be over-run. If he's fit enough, Done must surely start, simply because we have to score, and he's more likely to score than Davies. Finally, we need a plan to negate Byrne, which means we test his temperament and double up on him for at least an hour, unless we concede first.

We're all disappointed with the score, but last night was a strong performance with plenty of good chances created and this tie remains very winnable.

 

[Kenilworth]

Good summary, I agree with all your key points, except 4-4-2.

Losing Basham from midfield changed the balance and allowed Swindon much more possession in our half, which was denied them prior to Brayford getting injured. This in turn meant Harris and Freeman were pinned back, allowing Byrne - who caused us problems all night - to stay up and create more 1 v 1s with Harris (who was already on a soft booking and consequently kept backing off when Byrne ran at him).

To be fair to Clough, at 1-1, he kept urging the team to be positive and told Murphy to stay high rather than doubling up on Byrne. This ultimately cost us, but for me was the right approach.

Given their very average front two, I agree, Alcock for Brayford would have been a better option then Scoogs and with hindsight this looks like a costly, tactical error.

Despite all the above, we have shipped two very poor goals and I'm not having it that Collins would have avoided the Ricketts goal - mainly because he wouldn't have been marking him (look where he ran from: ). Freeman deserves his backside kicking for switching off, as does Howard for undoing a great penalty save with a(nother) soft goal for their winner.

I'm not one, generally, for using match officials as an excuse, but I'll make an exception for last night's clown: The handball incident was an absolute stone-waller - and the ref was looking straight at it. I've also watched Done's disallowed goal several times and remain perplexed.

We are still in this! Cloughie should select Collins, but he won't because it's a lose-lose decision for him to make at this juncture, even if we win! With or without Collins, his midfield 3 has to be Coutts, Basham and Doyle or we'll be over-run. If he's fit enough, Done must surely start, simply because we have to score, and he's more likely to score than Davies. Finally, we need a plan to negate Byrne, which means we test his temperament and double up on him for at least an hour, unless we concede first.

We're all disappointed with the score, but last night was a strong performance with plenty of good chances created and this tie remains very winnable.

Good points made but we won't compete with their five man midfield when we are so short of quality and height in that area. They will always out-football us and retain a greater proportion of possession because they are far more comfortable on the ball and have a settled side that works for each other - the forward movement from their midfield/forwards/wing backs put our movement to shame. They always had players in front of the player in possession so there was always two or three options - In our standard formation we only have Davies ahead of play and the two out wide so its always so predictable ...... and that also means we have few targets to aim for in the box or to pick up the pieces.

Our only hope on Monday is to have Done in the side - get the channels working and eliminate their midfield (we just will not pass through it). If we work the channels, their wing backs will have to cover deeper and will then be less of a threat.

The key problem, as it has been all season, is scoring enough goals. The fact that we concede soft ones is a function of our inability to convert enough of the chances that we create to be in a dominant position as opposed to a fearful one - our goals are so infrequent that the tendency is to look to hold onto the one because of the lack of confidence in getting another. This is evident from the number of times we have scored first and been pegged back to draw or to lose.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

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

Besides the nasty late tackle on Flynn, I didn't like the look of the hit on Brayford either. Byrne knew what he was doing there.

 

[Kenilworth]

Besides the nasty late tackle on Flynn, I didn't like the look of the hit on Brayford either. Byrne knew what he was doing there.

It was Hylton and I am not sure about the intent - looked a lazy leg out from an inexperienced forward player to me - that's why knees clashed not shins.

The tackle on Flynn was a shocker and a straight red - you take that outside the box and out of a crowd of players and that's a sending off all day long - regardless of the fact that the Player got the shot off.
To me the worst decisions, in no particular order, were:

• the hand ball that wasn't given as a Pen in the first few minutes
• the two footed tackle on Flynn - no punishment - Pen and a red card should have resulted
• the non advantage when Done was away just to book their player for the deliberate block on Davies
• the double standards shown for the Done disallowed goal and the pull back on Murphy in the penalty area in the first half - there was more contact on Murphy yet one was deemed a foul and the other not.
• the decision to put Bash in CB when Alcock could have dealt with Hylton (then Williams) and McEveley with Smith - it was that point we lost the midfield and then the game.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

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.

Although we lost the game i enjoyed it last night and remember, we are only at half time losing 2-1. If we are all that down we might as well not turn up on Monday and give the result to Swindon . Down yes but not despondent . We showed enough character last night , that we still could do it . Proud of the lads who gave it all , and we certainly didn't go down with a whimper , as i have witnessed on may occasion this season.

The crux of the matter is the CB situation which has become past a joke , and Clough only getting the players he wanted in the JTW. This is poor management.

Is Clough the right man for the job in hand , i am starting to wonder . The squad will definitely require a nucleus of around 5 new players for next season , and what division we are , in will depend who they are and who we get.

I am sure the board and advisors are as perplexed as us , but i doubt whether he will get the sack.

Managers for some reason don't do miracles at BDTBL , so who could we get to replace Clough , for instant success - Know-one IMO.

I did hear a couple of months ago , that the blades had got the feelers out for a new manager , but speculation in football is rife.

My view last night was not a embarrassment in football terms , but the reorganisation of the team , did create a loss of momentum , hence the result.

I am keeping my powder dry on all things Clough until after Monday night , and so will the board.

UTB

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Great stuff. How many of them went in?

1. I thought everyone knew that. Ok 2 but one was disallowed.

Anyway back to the 20 shots, the point being we have plenty of reason to believe we'll create good chances on Monday.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

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.

Can you please refrain from speaking for all 10 000+ renewals. I know two who do not share that opinion. I imagine there are others.

I thought last night was for the most part a great game and throughout a passionate performance. The half time score is against us.

 

[bladesman3]

I was proud of the way we played, unfortunately the ref spoiled the show.

i think thats overlooking the fact that Swindon are a very good team....

 

[bladesman3]

That was bollocks. You give anyone that much space then they will have a shot.

No proper defenders left now Clough, what are you going to do?

I expect them to fuck us over like last time at their ground.

i do too i am afraid

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

1. I thought everyone knew that. Ok 2 but one was disallowed.

Anyway back to the 20 shots, the point being we have plenty of reason to believe we'll create good chances on Monday.

WHF , the truth is we have created chances , in a number of games this season , but the goals ratio against chances is abysmal . We could have created 40 chances last night , but logic and experience say , we would have still scored 1.

We have not got a recognised CB pairing or a recognised strike force . The number of goals conceded and scored point this out.

We will create a boat load of chances on Monday , whether or not we capitalise on this ,is another matter , and open to debate.

In saying that we will win , but changes have to be made preseason.

UTB

 

[bladesman3]

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.

i dont agree....they wont shit it....they handle the pressure well....

 

[bladesman3]

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

it was Freeman

 

[bladesman3]

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

hahahaha an optimist or what !

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

WHF , the truth is we have created chances , in a number of games this season , but the goals ratio against chances is abysmal . We could have created 40 chances last night , but logic and experience say , we would have still scored 1.

We have not got a recognised CB pairing or a recognised strike force . The number of goals conceded and scored point this out.

We will create a boat load of chances on Monday , whether or not we capitalise on this ,is another matter , and open to debate.

In saying that we will win , but changes have to be made preseason.

UTB

Yes and No. We scored two last might. And the pressure meant we had at least two penalties. We did miss sitters though.

 

[Guesty]

Yes and No. We scored two last night. And the pressure meant we had at least two penalties. We did miss sitters though.

To be fair the whistle had gone well before Done put it in so I think the best you can say is 'probably would have' scored two.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

To be fair the whistle had gone well before Done put it in so I think the best you can say is 'probably would have' scored two.

Reasonableness. So difficult to argue against.

 

[Bladebri]

I agree the ref was terrible - the decision to pull it back for our free kick on half way when Done got in down the channel might be the worst I've ever seen - but he can't take all the blame. He didn't tell us to shit it as usual once we went ahead and surrender all the initiative. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the ref's fault we gave their number 3 the freedom of the park all bloody night despite the ample warnings.

I agree to your point about us letting them come at us, the penalty not given was a dire decision that was game changing to me and I am sure

i think thats overlooking the fact that Swindon are a very good team....

It was evident that Swindon are a good team, but IMO the ref did us no favours.

 

[Toronto 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.

The team fitness has never been the same since Daley left with his players you knew they could run until the final whistle and get those vital late goals this squad is just the opposite.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

What's the problem?

Simply win our next 2 games and we are up.

Simple

UTB

 

[Worksop_Blade]

Can you please refrain from speaking for all 10 000+ renewals. I know two who do not share that opinion. I imagine there are others.

I thought last night was for the most part a great game and throughout a passionate performance. The half time score is against us.

You carry on thinking that was a passionate performance and I'll keep remembering what a real passionate, dedicated United side looked like.

I'm beginning to think you are Nigel Clough or at least his agent.

 

[Trigger Blade]

I'm not one, generally, for using match officials as an excuse, but I'll make an exception for last night's clown: The handball incident was an absolute stone-waller - and the ref was looking straight at it. I've also watched Done's disallowed goal several times and remain perplexed.

On the handball, looking at the TV pictures, the ref demonstrates quite clearly to protesting players that the defender's arms were down by his side, that's why he didn't give it. However, that simply isn't true, the left arm was at least horizontal and the TV pundits were all agreed it was a pen.

On the foul against Done when he scored, he raised a hand and pushed the fully grown man defender about hard enough to knock over a disoriented drunken sailor. It was very soft, but I can see why the ref gave it, from his position, he could see Done's hand in the defender's back.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

You carry on thinking that was a passionate performance and I'll keep remembering what a real passionate, dedicated United side looked like.

I'm beginning to think you are Nigel Clough or at least his agent.

You have a different opinion, fine but it's not more real than mine, and it doesn't represent the views of 10 000+ season ticket holders.

In my opinion it's just plain wrong to question the effort, dedication, commitment, and passion of the team last night.

The way I saw it they did everything they could.

This was encapsulated in microcosm at the end: Doyle, seeing the clear danger, doing everything he could to intercept their player, but comes up short.

UTB

 

[Worksop_Blade]

You have a different opinion, fine but it's not more real than mine, and it doesn't represent the views of 10 000+ season ticket holders.

In my opinion it's just plain wrong to question the effort, dedication, commitment, and passion of the team last night.

The way I saw it they did everything they could.

This was encapsulated in microcosm at the end: Doyle, seeing the clear danger, doing everything he could to intercept their player, but comes up short.

UTB

If that's everything they have, then that is a true indication of how far we have fallen as a club.

and for you to be happy with how this season and play off HOME leg has gone, then that shows the level of apathy that exists amongst the fanbase that will slowly kill it.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

the level of apathy that exists amongst the fanbase that will slowly kill it.

Really?

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Jims cheered me up after listening to him on FH, spirit in locker room still good and only one point behind Swindon after first leg. Thanks Jim.

 

[oldblade]

So do I.

I can see them running at us early on, scoring and that's goodnight vienna.

Even decent sides we've had previously have never won an away game in the playoffs (I think).

I just can't see us having enough given the injuries, defensive mistakes and our repeated giving the ball away.
.

Think you are right that we have never won an away play off match. But until last night we had never lost a home play off match. Records get broken.

We lost 2-1 at home to Bristol City, and we all know what we did to them at Ashton Gate.

We are well and truly up against it, but it's not quite fat lady time yet.

 

[bladesman3]

You have a different opinion, fine but it's not more real than mine, and it doesn't represent the views of 10 000+ season ticket holders.

In my opinion it's just plain wrong to question the effort, dedication, commitment, and passion of the team last night.

The way I saw it they did everything they could.

This was encapsulated in microcosm at the end: Doyle, seeing the clear danger, doing everything he could to intercept their player, but comes up short.

UTB

Not good enough ....basically

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Not good enough ....basically

The ref does his job, and it wasn't even difficult - especially the penalty and sending off for the Flynn challenge - and we're not having this conversation.

Suddenly moving Basham back is wise. Bringing Done on as an impact sub is cautious deployment of limited resources etc.

 

[wizadry]

The team fitness has never been the same since Daley left with his players you knew they could run until the final whistle and get those vital late goals this squad is just the opposite.

I have it on good authority that in the footballing world they call our side Sheffield Harriers because Cloughy runs the lads into the ground, it seems to not be doing us any favours and if anything we seem to be getting a lot of injuries through it. I think Clough needs a rethink on his training regime and many many other things Sufc. We need all the luck we can possibly get on Monday to turn it around, we've got to be due some surely.