Sorry Nigel, but it can't wait

[Roygbiv]

The reason why Adams has been poor before he got injured is teams have sussed him out - always double marked now.

UTB

This happened to Murphy too. In theory it should free up others but we only have JCR who can cause any sort of problems. The fact we are currently relying on JCR to such a degree prove the issues go deeper than the appalling defence

 

[Guesty]

The reason why Adams has been poor before he got injured is teams have sussed him out - always double marked now.

UTB

Adams always looks to me like a player better at running onto things rather than with the ball at his feet, looking to beat his man. If we have threats all over the pitch, this will create space for Adams to get into good positions, but if he's the only player worth bothering with he can be snuffed out easily.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

This happened to Murphy too. In theory it should free up others but we only have JCR who can cause any sort of problems. The fact we are currently relying on JCR to such a degree prove the issues go deeper than the appalling defence

Indeed - and THAT is the problem - we don't have the craft in midfield to do it.
People keep going on about Baxter in midfield - he IS part of the problem and Basham (in his new role) is now also part of the problem. Neither of them and I include Woolford too are busy enough - too slow, too pedestrian - hardly any full time energy.

We upped the tempo in the 2nd half, got to 2-2 then fucking dropped off again. Now that means we are not fit enough ior not good enough. ANY good team would have gone on to win that match 4-2, but no - we let Colchester off the hook by dropping deep after equalising.

Pissed off good and proper now.

UTB

 

[coaxingstar71]

Truly truly awful - the worst 45 minutes I can ever remember seeing from a Blades side and only marginally better in the 2nd half. We were clueless, couldn't pass, couldn't head, tackle or do anything right - I think the word is "inept". Even worse, it didn't look like any of our players wanted the ball, they looked scared, nervous and played with fear. Second half for 20 minutes or so we showed some spirit albeit still not playing well, it looked forced.

On an incredibly poor night, I thought Freeman had a half decent game.

We look a million miles away from top two challengers, a few more games like that and we'll be looking down rather than up.

Why is Sharp taking penalties? I get it, Billy, you're a striker and you want to score all the goals but if you miss them (and he's effectively missed 2 out of 3 pens tonight) then give the job to someone who doesn't miss (I don't remember Baxter missing one last season, though I'm sure someone will correct me).

So we drag ourselves somehow back into the game and then the winner just sums it up, I think I counted 4 ricochets BEFORE Sordell got the ball and then a massive deflection and it's in. Should still be defending it better than that.

Once again, the movement from our front players, as others have mentioned, was none existent. There were no intelligent runs. In fact the only time it happened was when Baxter played JCR in behind the full back in the 2nd half and he over-hit the pass and the keeper got it first. That was it.

The most irritating thing is that even if we'd only played half decent, we'd have won that game, if it wasn't for the penalty miss, we draw the game after a dreadful and I mean DREADFUL display.

What I want to know is, what's happened to the team (apart from Reed, the same line up) that beat Swindon with a solid performance and restricted them to a couple of shots?

 

[sheepbridge]

That was dreadful. From that starting line up only sharp and maybe basham should have a future at the club, and basham was very poor in midfield. Too slow, not enough movement, and appalling defending. Players were hiding. McNulty did more in 5 minutes and showed more desire and skill then the whole team did. If he'd had Billy's chances and 3 penalties I think he'd have more than one goal tonight. We do have four or five players out injured who would walk into that team, but still, we have way too many similar players. We could have played a different 11 and wouldn't have been any worse.
I do trust Nigel to change it, but it has to be soon, and he has to be ruthless. My one slight concern is signings like sammon and woolforde who are no better than players already here from what I have seen so far. We need a smaller squad with quality. And pace. Teams know they can press us and we will lose possession, and don't have the players to recover quickly so a quick break can leave badly exposed, which is what happened on numerous occasions tonight.

 

[super_pig]

amen sheepbridge

 

[sitwell]

Truly truly awful - the worst 45 minutes I can ever remember seeing from a Blades side and only marginally better in the 2nd half. We were clueless, couldn't pass, couldn't head, tackle or do anything right - I think the word is "inept". Even worse, it didn't look like any of our players wanted the ball, they looked scared, nervous and played with fear. Second half for 20 minutes or so we showed some spirit albeit still not playing well, it looked forced.

On an incredibly poor night, I thought Freeman had a half decent game.

We look a million miles away from top two challengers, a few more games like that and we'll be looking down rather than up.

Why is Sharp taking penalties? I get it, Billy, you're a striker and you want to score all the goals but if you miss them (and he's effectively missed 2 out of 3 pens tonight) then give the job to someone who doesn't miss (I don't remember Baxter missing one last season, though I'm sure someone will correct me).

So we drag ourselves somehow back into the game and then the winner just sums it up, I think I counted 4 ricochets BEFORE Sordell got the ball and then a massive deflection and it's in. Should still be defending it better than that.

Once again, the movement from our front players, as others have mentioned, was none existent. There were no intelligent runs. In fact the only time it happened was when Baxter played JCR in behind the full back in the 2nd half and he over-hit the pass and the keeper got it first. That was it.

The most irritating thing is that even if we'd only played half decent, we'd have won that game, if it wasn't for the penalty miss, we draw the game after a dreadful and I mean DREADFUL display.

What I want to know is, what's happened to the team (apart from Reed, the same line up) that beat Swindon with a solid performance and restricted them to a couple of shots?

Why is Sharp taking penalties? I get it, Billy, you're a striker and you want to score all the goals but if you miss them (and he's effectively missed 2 out of 3 pens tonight) then give the job to someone who doesn't miss (I don't remember Baxter missing one last season, though I'm sure someone will correct me).

Crewe away.

 

[Revolution]

I agree we don't have the players to play 4-4-2 (which is incredible considering we are at League One level and have about 38 players) but that is solely down to Clough. His stubbornness meant he had one way to play in mind and there was no thought for anything else

No it isn't. Adkins has seen our midfield and has had a chance to improve it. He's chasing a player whose club wouldn't sell him. There is no other target on the horizon it seems.

Disappointing to say the least.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

This is my worry too. Adkins is probably the best manager in the league. We are lucky to have him but I do wonder if he's underestimated just how poor this squad of players are.

Making McEverly captain and sticking with Collins suggests he's not the best manager in the league.

Perhaps the tea lady may be?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Adams always looks to me like a player better at running onto things rather than with the ball at his feet, looking to beat his man. If we have threats all over the pitch, this will create space for Adams to get into good positions, but if he's the only player worth bothering with he can be snuffed out easily.

And be more difficult to keep him in January if he can't see a promising future for SUFC.

 

[Blade56]

Clough has got us into a mess but the amount of time Adkins has wasted in sorting it out is surprising to say the least.

Tbh in his defence 14 weeks or so is hardly dragging his heels. Clough left him with a ball and chain of a squad and it takes time to turn an oil tanker.
The one positive in this mess is we still have Adkins

 

[Punk Blade]

Any team like Swindons or Peterborough that want to match football with football we will be ok.

Colchester completely out-footballed us in the first half.

As bad as we were, I can't remember many better performances at this level than ColU's first half and they could easily have gone in 5-0 up. Slick, incisive, accurate passing, good movement, pace and two clinical finishes from Moncur. A million times better than the anti-football MK brought to the Lane last season. A billion times better than our performance last night.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Colchester completely out-footballed us in the first half.

As bad as we were, I can't remember many better performances at this level than ColU's first half and they could easily have gone in 5-0 up. Slick, incisive, accurate passing, good movement, pace and two clinical finishes from Moncur. A million times better than the anti-football MK brought to the Lane last season. A billion times better than our performance last night.

Still early in the season but looked to be the best side I've seen at Lane so far.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Tbh in his defence 14 weeks or so is hardly dragging his heels. Clough left him with a ball and chain of a squad and it takes time to turn an oil tanker.
The one positive in this mess is we still have Adkins

14 weeks too late now, wish he had called me as he left his final interview.

Get it sorted Adkins, his comment that he learned at lot last night worries me, what's he been doing for 14 weeks?

 

[Blade56]

14 weeks too late now, wish he had called me as he left his final interview.

Get it sorted Adkins, his comment that he learned at lot last night worries me, what's he been doing for 14 weeks?

At least his post match comments weren't it's Sparky and the Fans fault I did everything right and your lucky to have me.

 

[PeteBlade]

Nigel Adkins is an excellent manager with a fantastic track record and if he is given the right tools by our board to succeed I have no doubt that he'll be the man to take us up.

 

[AlienBlade]

why not 4:3:3 though and have two sitting midfielders. Not that we have any sitting midfielders. Sammon Sharp and Adams in the front 3 (with Done replacing Sammon.)

becuase we would get overrun down the wings... (which is what happened for the second goal vs Bury)

 

[AlienBlade]

At least his post match comments weren't it's Sparky and the Fans fault I did everything right and your lucky to have me.

nor was cloughs during his first season....

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Adkins is known for being a fantastic man manager and coach who can develop players and get the best out of them. Look at how he progressed the likes of Lallana, Lambert, Fonte, Cork, Hammond, Schneiderlein etc.

So when he arrived, he probably took the view that the team was a playoff side last year and he probably backed himself to improve the individual performances this season to get us competing for top 2 and to be able to add to that as and when he saw fit. I don’t think that’s particularly unreasonable on his part.

He wanted a couple of players he knew and trusted in Sharp and Woolford (not sold on Woolford at all yet though) and looked to redress the balance in terms of height by bringing in Edgar and Sammon and reinstating Collins.

It seemed to be working until the last 2 games and the same old frailties from certain players are reappearing. The lack of motivation in the team last night was also very concerning. Colchester looked so much more up for it. When we got the equaliser, the players were patting themselves on the back thinking they’d done great and celebrating in front of the kop. Only JCR had the presence of mind and urgency to collect the ball and get it back on the centre circle. From then on, too many thought it was job done and didn’t have the energy and determination to go for a winner whilst Colchester did.

Colchester were much like I’d heard they were. A good footballing side who were vulnerable at the back. The only thing that surprised me was the performance of their keeper as he seemed to come in for a lot of stick at the weekend. The problem is that we didn’t impose ourselves on them enough to make the most of their suspect defence. They had the initiative for most of the game and our defence was shit-scared of their pace. Also, when we did trouble their defence, we were wasteful in front of goal. Sharp should have had a hat trick and McNulty missed a decent chance after a great run with the ball.

In hindsight, perhaps we should have played the game when it was originally scheduled. Edgar was the only player of the international call ups to play anyway and had a poor game. They would have had Porter up front instead of Sordell which might have made all the difference.

I think last night showed we’re missing a proper defensive midfielder to protect the back 4. I thought it was right to release Doyle but we’ve not replaced him and for me, Hammond can’t come soon enough. That would give Basham a bit more freedom to go box to box as well as well as stopping us getting so overrun.

 

[CG Blade]

Could you please tell me, while our defenders were backing off Sordell.. Just where the fuck were our Midfield?

100% agree we have no midfield at the moment, Basham for me is not a midfield, Baxter has some skill
But is a luxury. We need a box to box midfielder who can bring the ball out and drive it forward. Blame the defence as much as you like but sort midfield out first

 

[DiggerBlade]

Apart from JCR there is no pace anywhere in the squad until Done gets fit.

Need two defenders and two midfielders... And unless Sammon and Sharp start improving we need a striker as well.

Is there any news on Matty Done`s return?

 

[Smirth]

Adkins will have learnt a hell of a lot about his players in these last two home games.

He will see how when the panic sets in it spreads through the whole team like wildfire and there isn't a single player out there who steadies things and demands the team focus. If we were to get Dean Hammond in I think he'd help us with this immeasurably.

I have every faith Adkins will turn us around provided he's given sufficient backing by the board.

 

[Mickey Jupp]

Mr Adkins said in an interview this week that we wouldn't be bringing in reinforcements 'for the next few game'.

Sorry Nigel, but as much as I like you, this gaping weakness in our defence can no longer be ignored.

You said in your post Bury match interview (where we conceded 3 goals) that you learn from your mistakes. Well, it's one game on, and we've conceded 3 goals again, so please learn from the huge mistake of not strengthening the defence in the window by sorting it out urgently.

10 goals in 3 losses.

No meltdown here. No histrionics. Just an ever growing concern that our shambolic defence will undermine our chances of finishing in the top two.

Another long range effort too, mainly because we backed off and let Sordell run at us.

I'm sure this post will attract a bit of abuse from those who probably argued that the world was still flat up until last month.

But who cares.

If this defensive problem isn't sorted, we won't go up. Simple as that.

Baxter was at fault for the first two letting Moncur run away from him.

 

[robbiez666]

becuase we would get overrun down the wings... (which is what happened for the second goal vs Bury)

That's why you have 2 sitting CMs, to cover the fullbacks.

 

[AlienBlade]

That's why you have 2 sitting CMs, to cover the fullbacks.

but the two sitting CM are then pulled out wide to cover the full back leaving the gaping hole in the middle... and we are back to square 1...

its interesting as the fans dont want negative football... and say they prefer to "go at teams" playing 4-4-2... but when we play it we are left wide open hence why we have conceded 10 goals in those 3 games we lost... the whole "we'll score one more than you" approach is very flawed... and this is what happens...

if we dont want to concede and restrict teams we need 5 across the middle... and play on the counter... but fans think thats too negative...

 

[robbiez666]

but the two sitting CM are then pulled out wide to cover the full back leaving the gaping hole in the middle... and we are back to square 1...

its interesting as the fans dont want negative football... and say they prefer to "go at teams" playing 4-4-2... but when we play it we are left wide open hence why we have conceded 10 goals in those 3 games we lost... the whole "we'll score one more than you" approach is very flawed... and this is what happens...

if we dont want to concede and restrict teams we need 5 across the middle... and play on the counter... but fans think thats too negative...

You would only have one pulled out to cover at any time. Brazil used this successfully with Dunga and another playing the role in a 4:4:2

5 across the middle doesn't work as teams just park the bus and we can't break them down. We've just not got the midfielders in the squad to play any formation well. We did well when Clough first came because we were rubbish so teams went at us and we could hit them on the counter.

 

[Bladesman]

But what does Nigel have to say:

 

[PeteBlade]

But what does Nigel have to say:

Bladecoaster?

I actually want him sacked now.

 

[BushBlade]

Bladecoaster?

I actually want him sacked now.

That's the equivalent of five days into your honeymoon your new wife gets so pissed she shits the bed.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

But what does Nigel have to say:

No fucking apology.