Incoming? Dan Burn

[Pinchy]

Yes, never settle for second best. Only take your first choice. Worked so well with Chris O'Grady.

I agree. Just sign any fucker; good, bad or indifferent. Cast aside the two players you really want, even if you're pretty sure they will be available within weeks. Just gotta make that deadline day signing....

DDD Madness....

 

[Ricky]

I'm sorry. How can one defeat convert a "division on a plate" to reliance on others? A quantum leap, that, I think. Doubtless it will be back on a plate in 48 hours?

Nothing to do with that defeat, I meant that if we signed the key spine players we needed before the start of the season - goalkeeper, centre half and midfielder, we would've been the Champions elect.

If we would've beaten Bury I'd be saying the same thing because what we currently have isn't good enough to dominate the division, regardless of stringing a few wins together at this early stage.

 

[Pinchy]

Nothing to do with that defeat, I meant that if we signed the key spine players we needed before the start of the season - goalkeeper, centre half and midfielder, we would've been the Champions elect.

If we would've beaten Bury I'd be saying the same thing because what we currently have isn't good enough to dominate the division, regardless of stringing a few wins together at this early stage.

I'm inclined to agree with your final paragraph. A midfield general (and captain) in the mould of Hammond (well, Hammond actually) would make an enormous difference. Reed is nowhere near ready and Basham doesn't have the ability to dictate a game. For all our quantity, we lack an outstanding (at this level) central midfielder.

As for signing the players before the start of the season, it's clear Nigel has decided he wants Hammond and Burn. He will have decided that long ago; not in deadline week. He still thinks he can get them. I really would prefer the manager (especially this manager) to get the players he really thinks can make a difference, even if it means waiting a couple of months. It's a long season and there's plenty of time. Whilst right now I'm with you that we are not good enough to dominate, there sure as hell ain't any other team that is.

 

[Revolution]

I agree. Just sign any fucker; good, bad or indifferent. Cast aside the two players you really want, even if you're pretty sure they will be available within weeks. Just gotta make that deadline day signing....

DDD Madness....

That's not what I said, but keep perpetuating the stereotypes.

We really wanted Chris O'Grady. How did that work out for us? A 3 week spell, was it?

And Jim Phipps was pretty sure we'd have them by the transfer window. How did that work out?

 

[Ricky]

Waiting until deadline day is a very risky game, as is waiting well into the loan window. With what's at stake and the opportunity we've got we really should have had the squad much more complete than it was at the start of the season. It seems so careless from United and suggests a lack of real intent and drive. We've not had the sort of squad we should have since our first season at this level and that really pisses me off, doing the bare minimum instead of getting the quality required to ensure promotion - which really shouldn't be a big ask for us at this level. I thought it was set to change this summer but once again we've failed. But we do at last have a manager worthy of the club, and I suppose long term that's more beneficial than anything.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Waiting until deadline day is a very risky game, as is waiting well into the loan window. With what's at stake and the opportunity we've got we really should have had the squad much more complete than it was at the start of the season. It seems so careless from United and suggests a lack of real intent and drive. We've not had the sort of squad we should have since our first season at this level and that really pisses me off, doing the bare minimum instead of getting the quality required to ensure promotion - which really shouldn't be a big ask for us at this level. I thought it was set to change this summer but once again we've failed. But we do at last have a manager worthy of the club, and I suppose long term that's more beneficial than anything.

I agree with you Ricky, and reading into it I can only assume we must be right at our limit with the FFP regulations. Given the number of players on our books, i'm not surprised. We obviously need to offload, but until Clough gets another management post, that's going to be a problem

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Yes, never settle for second best. Only take your first choice. Worked so well with Chris O'Grady.

Waiting half a season is obviously lunacy – I think if it means we've had to wait under a month, it'll be worth the wait. The difference with COG and this situation is that our target a year ago signed for someone else. They went from available to not available, which only changed when he dropped out the side several months later. Our original targets appear to still be viable signings.

 

[Bladesman]

I agree with you Ricky, and reading into it I can only assume we must be right at our limit with the FFP regulations. Given the number of players on our books, i'm not surprised. We obviously need to offload, but until Clough gets another management post, that's going to be a problem

I think it would help if we could offload a couple of players.

Say we got rid of Higdon and Flo it would be a start and help with regards to FFP. Although we ideally want a club to loan a player off us with a view to buying them in January. That said we don't really want to loan anyone to our rivals in this division.

 

[Large Mendonca]

That said we don't really want to loan anyone to our rivals in this division.

I'll let someone else do the "tap in"

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I think it would help if we could offload a couple of players.

Say we got rid of Higdon and Flo it would be a start and help with regards to FFP. Although we ideally want a club to loan a player off us with a view to buying them in January. That said we don't really want to loan anyone to our rivals in this division.

But if almost all our players are complete shite and bobbins (I'm only reading on here since Saturday) then we should be trying to get every team in the division to take at least one to totally fuck up whatever chance of promotion they have.

 

[Bladesman]

But if almost all our players are complete shite and bobbins (I'm only reading on here since Saturday) then we should be trying to get every team in the division to take at least one to totally fuck up whatever chance of promotion they have.

We are fighting for promotion and this is us remember. Knowing our luck the shit players we have will suddenly becoming world beaters when we loan them out.

 

[Pinchy]

That's not what I said, but keep perpetuating the stereotypes.

We really wanted Chris O'Grady. How did that work out for us? A 3 week spell, was it?

And Jim Phipps was pretty sure we'd have them by the transfer window. How did that work out?

It went wrong on the day. We fully expected to get Hammond and Burn. Fulham and Leicester changed their minds for reasons at their end. That's their right; that's football. An "emergency" loan with immediate recall in their favour may very well be much more viable...

 

[Blade56]

N#2 inherited a big average squad. For him to sort it out it's like one of those sliding puzzles where you've got to move things about in an apparent disorganised way to get to the final picture.

He knows what he's doing!

 

[FriethBlade]

We tried to #spendthefuckingmurphymoneybutfulhamandleicesterwouldntsellshouldwegoforsecondbestjusttoappeasethedeadlinedaydevotees?

#asusualweleftittothelastminuteandfailedtosignwhatweneeded....and talking of loans my team play in red and white not blue and white so I don't give a flying how well it worked for pigsday, what I do know is historically it hasn't worked for us
Anyway lets not worry we've got Collins and Mceverly at the back and se won't miss Murphy anyway

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

N#2 inherited a big average squad. For him to sort it out it's like one of those sliding puzzles where you've got to move things about in an apparent disorganised way to get to the final picture.

He knows what he's doing!

View attachment 13346

No he doesn't if he thinks she's a third division CH.

 

[Pinchy]

#asusualweleftittothelastminuteandfailedtosignwhatweneeded....and talking of loans my team play in red and white not blue and white so I don't give a flying how well it worked for pigsday, what I do know is historically it hasn't worked for us
Anyway lets not worry we've got Collins and Mceverly at the back and se won't miss Murphy anyway

At the risk of repetition, should we have kidnapped Hammond and Burn? They are the players Nigel wants. They were not available within the Summer transfer window but might be now (although, quite rightly, we won't sign anyone until we can get the loan seamlessly converted into a permanent in January) Should he go for his "second choices" whilst his preferred choices still seem available in the reasonably foreseeable future?

I know which I'd prefer. Doesn't even merit a second thought. Happily NA agrees.

Altogether now: "Jimmy White's deadline day army..."

 

[FriethBlade]

So Pinchy lad how long should positive Nige wait for the likes of Burn to say yes when the mighty Bury and Colchester are tearing our defence a new one at home?

At the risk of repetition we needed 3 new defenders all summer and all Atkins did was bring one in on loan and now we are shipping goals left right and centre. Its no use having number one choices if they wont come...even his number f in six choice must be better than the likes of McCeveley and Collins. Now that merits more than a second thought!!

Doing it on the cheap with a Saudi Prince at the helm...only at Bramall Lane

 

[Caseh]

The defence isn't the problem here. They are being given bugger all protection from anyone in front, apart from maybe Jam, and Colchester having a very quick attacking unit.

Outthought, outfought and outplayed.

 

[Grappler]

The defence isn't the problem here. They are being given bugger all protection from anyone in front, apart from maybe Jam, and Colchester having a very quick attacking unit.

Outthought, outfought and outplayed.

I can see what you are saying mate, but the next thing would be to say that you can't blame midfield as they are getting no protection from Sammon and Sharp.

To my way of thinking, the defenders should be big enough and tough enough to get stuck in and protect the keeper. What I would give for Terry Kennedy to be fit!

 

[Blade56]

Doing it on the cheap ...........

Here's the point, Clough got lots of players in quickly because they were 'on the cheap' clubs were happy to dump their unwanted, injury prone and cash cows on us.
Adkins is bringing quality in and that will take a little longer, convincing the likes of Burn, Hammond, Sharpe et al and their agents to drop to this level must be difficult and expensive whilst trying to maintain a large broken unbalanced squad.
It's not going to be pleasant but ffs let's not start questioning Adkins credentials. In our lowly disfunctional current situation he is the light at the end of the tunnel so I'm shoulder to shoulder with Adkins and any other Blade who wants success.

 

[Caseh]

I can see what you are saying mate, but the next thing would be to say that you can't blame midfield as they are getting no protection from Sammon and Sharp.

To my way of thinking, the defenders should be big enough and tough enough to get stuck in and protect the keeper. What I would give for Terry Kennedy to be fit!

Thing is though, the midfield do get protection from Sammon and Sharp. Sometimes it's probably too much. Our midfield just arent good enough. Basham is overrated and Baxter isn't suited to a 2 man midfield. To see how a top class defender copes when his midfield aren't giving enough protection, check out how much Terry is struggling at Chelsea. He didn't go from being the best CB in the PL, to not good enough over the summer.

 

[SUFC Guy]

Collins was easily the mom albeit in a poor performance by the squad. Collins and Edgar will be good enough, We need Harris back or another option at left back.
Replace the middle 2 and please hurry back Matty Done and Ryan Flynn!

 

[Stretch]

Basham will be fine as part of a proper CM pairing. At the minute his options for a partner all have consistency or fitness issues.

Hammond (or a similar player) would fix the problem immediately

 

[Bladesman]

Collins was easily the mom albeit in a poor performance by the squad. Collins and Edgar will be good enough, We need Harris back or another option at left back.
Replace the middle 2 and please hurry back Matty Done and Ryan Flynn!

I don't know I still think Collins is no more than cover.

Ideally we would want a back four of Brayford, Burn, Edgar, Harris

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Collins was easily the mom albeit in a poor performance by the squad. Collins and Edgar will be good enough, We need Harris back or another option at left back.
Replace the middle 2 and please hurry back Matty Done and Ryan Flynn!

I thought everyone, bar Freeman, were terrible. Collins isnt good enough, he's awful.

 

[cooperblade]

Adkins is bringing quality in

Is he? I've only seen 3 games granted but I haven't seen much quality from Woolford, Sammon, Sharp or Edgar yet.

 

[SUFC Guy]

I thought everyone, bar Freeman, were terrible. Collins isnt good enough, he's awful.

Freeman did ok but just ok. He will not overlap when needed and so just about nullifies our threat down the right. I lost count of the times when him JCR and bash just tippy tapped to each other instead of freeman passing to either bash or JCR and then bombing off down the wing to stretch them. Brayford has no problem doing this.

Oh and second half Collins was OUTSTANDING

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Freeman did ok but just ok. He will not overlap when needed and so just about nullifies our threat down the right. I lost count of the times when him JCR and bash just tippy tapped to each other instead of freeman passing to either bash or JCR and then bombing off down the wing to stretch them. Brayford has no problem doing this.

Oh and second half Collins was OUTSTANDING

You genuinely think there was an 'outstanding' performance from someone in a United shirt last night?

 

[Liaminho9]

Watching the first 2 goals back, Collins is stood still and not following the runner for both.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Any back 4 hung out to dry like ours was last night would struggle they got no cover at all from our midfielld