10 goals in 4 games...

[Robbie]

It's bemusing for me that a defence that we believe to be so good, can ship so many goals.

Yes I know we missed killa for a few of them, but there is something wrong and it needs sorting.

Not by bringing in loan players, the back 5 ARE good enough. There seems to be a lack of harmony between them though.

Monty seems to be playing less and less in front of the back 4 lately, perhaps this is a reason why.

Blackwell needs to get on top of it though.

 

[matth]

It bemuses me how Bunn can look so commanding from crosses and powerful shots and then let pathetically tapped balls trickle past him while he looks on.

 

[the magic man]

to be fair to Bunn though, Leadbitter really should have been closed down much much sooner, and shouldn't have been allowed to even shoot. I'm not trying to excuse Bunn for what should have been a bread and butter save, but the amount of space afforded was criminal

 

[DazBlade88]

The goals we are conceding at the moment are embarrassing.

Just looking at last night's goals, not seen them on TV since but this was my take...

1st goal - Edwards has it on the right, Quinn goes across and makes the most outrageous attempt to slide in and take the ball instead of just standing him up and making sure if the cross was going to be delivered it wasn't going to be easy. Absolute schoolboy defending. The marking wasn't fantastic either in the box but Walters took it well.

2nd goal - Why does nobody close him down? Were the players shown a tape of Saturday's game? The build up was pretty much a carbon copy of Butler's goal at Swansea. He ran into space, and NOBODY out of 5 players went to close him down and make it more difficult.

3rd goal - Slack marking with what appeared to be a free header about 8 yards out from a corner.

The problem surely can't be the personnel because it's pretty much the same as last year, we're just not getting the basics right at the back. It's so frustrating to watch us gift goals to the opposition. Ipswich had scored 5 goals away from home before tonight, and they come to a side with the strongest defence in the league last season and bag 3.

Something's changed, whether it's on the training ground, the manager's instructions pitchside, the players falling out, whatever it is it needs to be sorted immediately.

 

[Ted Danson]

its not exactly the same defence though is it? No Naughton and no Naysmith and we had Sun last season and when he played the Blades played the best football I've seen from them

 

[Bladesman]

It bemuses me how Bunn can look so commanding from crosses and powerful shots and then let pathetically tapped balls trickle past him while he looks on.

I know a gust of wind could get the other team a few goals against Bunn.

 

[SwissBlade]

Shhh... don't say this too loud but we've scored 10 in 5 games .... and conceded the same.

Seeing as though Robbie described us as a team that "ships so many goals"

Then we're also a team that scores so many goals....

And to think, in the last week so many people have slated both Ched and Henderson in equal measure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stat Attack...Looking back to last season, we got 7/15 points in Sept (6 goals scored 5 conceded)... this season we've got... 7/15 points in Sept

 

[keenzy]

Shhh... don't say this too loud but we've scored 10 in 5 games .... and conceded the same.

Seeing as though Robbie described us as a team that "ships so many goals"

Then we're also a team that scores so many goals....

And to think, in the last week so many people have slated both Ched and Henderson in equal measure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stat Attack...Looking back to last season, we got 7/15 points in Sept (6 goals scored 5 conceded)... this season we've got... 7/15 points in Sept

10 goals let in in 4 games is different than scoring in 5 as it's an extra game for a start. The last 4 games we have gained 4 points which is simply not good enough.

Since haper has come into the squad we seem to be letting more and more goals in. Quinn back in the middle with monty??

 

[SwissBlade]

10 goals let in in 4 games is different than scoring in 5 as it's an extra game for a start. The last 4 games we have gained 4 points which is simply not good enough.

Since haper has come into the squad we seem to be letting more and more goals in. Quinn back in the middle with monty??

correct - hence including the goals scored and conceded in 5 not just 4 games

Shall we just sit here manipulating the stats to our arguement or shall we try and give a balanced view?

So its not Blackies, Radio Sheffield, the Star's, Hendo's, Bunns, Cotterill, Quinny, Monty or Ched's fault now... its Harper!

Kin el thats a whole herd of scape goats for 2 defeats!

 

[keenzy]

correct - hence including the goals scored and conceded in 5 not just 4 games

Shall we just sit here manipulating the stats to our arguement or shall we try and give a balanced view?

So its not Blackies, Radio Sheffield, the Star's, Hendo's, Bunns, Cotterill, Quinny, Monty or Ched's fault now... its Harper!

Kin el thats a whole herd of scape goats for 2 defeats!

Stats show the truth though, not what me or you think.

I just said that we seem to be a different team defence wise since harper has come in. It's Blackwell at the end of the day it comes down too and he's not good enough. I have been saying this for a long time now, so it's not just a recent thing.
Take the specs off for the moment, are you really happy with the way we are playing? and with the manager?

 

[SwissBlade]

Stats show the truth though, not what me or you think.

I just said that we seem to be a different team defence wise since harper has come in. It's Blackwell at the end of the day it comes down too and he's not good enough. I have been saying this for a long time now, so it's not just a recent thing.
Take the specs off for the moment, are you really happy with the way we are playing? and with the manager?

Stats are the truth. Totally agree, but you or I could find stats and comparisons to any arguement that we choose - Positive or negative. Like I said its about how you manipulate them. 10 games played not just 4. 5 games played in Sept, not just 4. Why choose just 4 games? Why not go further and use 1 point in 2 games? Its simple, get the stats to back the arguement of "I don't like Blackie, so i'll find a stat that shows that he's shiite and post about it"

Look at form over 8 games, we're 9th, but over 10 games... oooh were 6th and thats the stat of fact

The current form isn't great, no. But is it so poor that I want Blackie out. Absolutely not.

I guess its all about perception. I've said a few times before my preseason prediction was 6th, so i'm not unhappy. I'd love us to be 1st, but can't see it happening.

As for Blackie. Not always convinced by the direct game, but it generally gets results. Proved last season by a 3rd place finish. For me he's the best man for the job when all things are considered.

I'm dissappointed with certain things at the club, like player sales so late in the summer, like conceding from set pieces, like the team not being settled.

I have faith that the current management and players will kick on again.

 

[keenzy]

Stats are the truth. Totally agree, but you or I could find stats and comparisons to any arguement that we choose - Positive or negative. Like I said its about how you manipulate them. 10 games played not just 4. 5 games played in Sept, not just 4. Why choose just 4 games? Why not go further and use 1 point in 2 games? Its simple, get the stats to back the arguement of "I don't like Blackie, so i'll find a stat that shows that he's shiite and post about it"

Look at form over 8 games, we're 9th, but over 10 games... oooh were 6th and thats the stat of fact

The current form isn't great, no. But is it so poor that I want Blackie out. Absolutely not.

I guess its all about perception. I've said a few times before my preseason prediction was 6th, so i'm not unhappy. I'd love us to be 1st, but can't see it happening.

As for Blackie. Not always convinced by the direct game, but it generally gets results. Proved last season by a 3rd place finish. For me he's the best man for the job when all things are considered.

I'm dissappointed with certain things at the club, like player sales so late in the summer, like conceding from set pieces, like the team not being settled.

I have faith that the current management and players will kick on again.

i chose the last 4 as it was wehn the goals started leaking, nah, pouring in. It wasn't like it was a one off game, we have been letting silly goals in and lots of them.

Going further afiled, stats show that blackwell isn't good enough to get promotion out of the championship.

I'd love us to walk the league or even play passing football, which we can. but it all seems too much to ask at the moment.

 

[SwissBlade]

i chose the last 4 as it was wehn the goals started leaking, nah, pouring in. It wasn't like it was a one off game, we have been letting silly goals in and lots of them.

Going further afiled, stats show that blackwell isn't good enough to get promotion out of the championship.

I'd love us to walk the league or even play passing football, which we can. but it all seems too much to ask at the moment.

Last 4, yep fair enough we've leaked goals, but 4 games in 14 days could perhaps be a factor. Look around the league results, lots of goals have gone in around us. Not an excuse, just a fact.

I agree we've let in daft goals, but its not a reason to call for Blackie out on its own.

Ha ha I love your Blackie "stat". Stats show that he hasn't been promoted as a manager (yet), true but theres no stat to say that he himself isn't good enough.

Stats showed that we were the 3rd best team last season, stats showed that we couldn't win a one off game at Wembley

 

[Muttley]

Third best team.......but didn't get promotion.

We wont this year either, I predict 6th....worse than last year, and that is why we as fans are getting aggrieved. We should be trying to better last season but all I see is "streamlining the squad", players brought in who are not upto the task ahead, and better ones sold on. Play offs at best, and we all know what that means!

 

[oldblade]

Stats show the truth though, not what me or you think.

I just said that we seem to be a different team defence wise since harper has come in. It's Blackwell at the end of the day it comes down too and he's not good enough. I have been saying this for a long time now, so it's not just a recent thing.
Take the specs off for the moment, are you really happy with the way we are playing? and with the manager?

It is not since Harper came in that we have become poorer in defence. His first appearance was against Derby and we won that match with a clean sheet.

It is since Kilgallon's illness that we have started leaking goals badly.

 

[silverfox]

Third best team.......but didn't get promotion.

We wont this year either, I predict 6th....worse than last year, and that is why we as fans are getting aggrieved. We should be trying to better last season but all I see is "streamlining the squad", players brought in who are not upto the task ahead, and better ones sold on. Play offs at best, and we all know what that means!

I think this post sums up quite a few things really.

"all I see is "streamlining the squad", players brought in who are not up to the task ahead, and better ones sold on."

We have a lot less to spend on the squad and wage bill now we have lost the parachute payments.

Surely that means we have to sell a few on and adapt to our budget??

The board know their budget and it may frustrate us and Blackwell too.

The recession will have made a massive dent in McCabe's abilty to release cash to help United.....unless you know different?

Unless we get the investment from elsewhere what you describe is true and a realistic way forward.

Most fans see a football club in an idealistic sort of way.....in reality only one team finishes top.....the rest are also rans!

Reality is hard to take and deal with at times.

Football fans aren't that good at it in my opinion!

 

[happyhippy]

Stats show the truth though, not what me or you think.

I just said that we seem to be a different team defence wise since harper has come in. It's Blackwell at the end of the day it comes down too and he's not good enough. I have been saying this for a long time now, so it's not just a recent thing.
Take the specs off for the moment, are you really happy with the way we are playing? and with the manager?

Lies, damned lies, and ..... ?????? Guess what?

 

[Robbie]

Can I just clear one thing up.....

Yes I'd rather Blackwell not be in charge, but this thread wasn't an aim at giving sly digs towards him.

It was in reference to being concerned at shipping so many goals in such a little time.

Irrelevant of whether we have scored the same or, or even tripled the scoring, it is a concern that a normally tight defence is shipping so many.

I think it is personally because Monty isn't sitting directly in front of the defence sweeping up all the time. But the goals started leaking when Killa went out injured. Perhaps he is still not fit, and the replacement brought in not good enough.

But as I say, it is something Blackwell needs to address as soon as possible.

 

[SwissBlade]

Can I just clear one thing up.....

Yes I'd rather Blackwell not be in charge, but this thread wasn't an aim at giving sly digs towards him.

It was in reference to being concerned at shipping so many goals in such a little time.

Irrelevant of whether we have scored the same or, or even tripled the scoring, it is a concern that a normally tight defence is shipping so many.

I think it is personally because Monty isn't sitting directly in front of the defence sweeping up all the time. But the goals started leaking when Killa went out injured. Perhaps he is still not fit, and the replacement brought in not good enough.

But as I say, it is something Blackwell needs to address as soon as possible.

I understand what your saying Robbie, it just seemed that targetting the last 4 games was just designed to make the stats fit the arguement.

But as I said we've also scored a fair few, so perhaps we're being a little more gungho

I don't think its as simple as highlighting a player here or there and saying thats the reason, theres a lot going on all over the team at the moment, but its really only the last 2 games that are concerning. No excuses, we should and are more than capable of beating Ipswich and Swansea.

 

[DazBlade88]

I understand what your saying Robbie, it just seemed that targetting the last 4 games was just designed to make the stats fit the arguement.

But as I said we've also scored a fair few, so perhaps we're being a little more gungho

I don't think its as simple as highlighting a player here or there and saying thats the reason, theres a lot going on all over the team at the moment, but its really only the last 2 games that are concerning. No excuses, we should and are more than capable of beating Ipswich and Swansea.

I wouldn't say we've been going more gung ho from what I've seen, which is why I'm surprised at the recent inability to defend.

The 2 goals conceded against Wednesday were as a result of us sitting back and inviting pressure onto us, which is what we do away from home. It was the same the other night after we went 1-0 up, and that's why I'm concerned about it at the moment.

Last season we could invite pressure and keep the ball out of the net, but recently it's not working. As a result we're being a bit more attacking and getting goals and causing problems. Ipswich and Swansea being prime examples.

It could be an argument for being a bit more attacking from the outset, but it could be me reading into things a bit too much. It worked against Wednesday, so who's to say it won't work against other sides?

 

[Ollessendro]

Robbie makes a good point that with the players who we have at our disposal we should not be conceding goals like we are.

Regardless of whether we had a better defence last year the back 4 is good enough. Killa's injury threw things out and not having a replacement was a major problem. The main issue for me is silly msitakes. Idividual errors by Quinn (Ipswich), Bunn (Wednesday), Walker (Wednesday), Bunn (Swansea), Monty (Swansea), Monty and Taylor (Coventry) and Walker/Taylor (Coventry) have cost us dearly. Also players being too pedestrian and not working hard for their team mates is a major conritbutor, such as Harper, Monty and Killa (Ipswich 2nd), Walker (Swansea 2nd).

The players we have isn't the problem. Nor is it any individual. It's not down solely to Harper, Bunn, Davies, Taylor, Walker or Monty. It's down to them collectively. Firstly they need to concentrate on their own job. No schoolboy defending, no rash challenges, keep it simple, do your fucking day job. Secondly they need to start working for wach other, running their bollocks off to bail their team mates out, putting themselves on the line to stop a shot, or goal, or to make up for a team mates mistake.

 

[Muttley]

I think this post sums up quite a few things really.

"all I see is "streamlining the squad", players brought in who are not up to the task ahead, and better ones sold on."

We have a lot less to spend on the squad and wage bill now we have lost the parachute payments.

Surely that means we have to sell a few on and adapt to our budget??

The board know their budget and it may frustrate us and Blackwell too.

The recession will have made a massive dent in McCabe's abilty to release cash to help United.....unless you know different?

Unless we get the investment from elsewhere what you describe is true and a realistic way forward.

Most fans see a football club in an idealistic sort of way.....in reality only one team finishes top.....the rest are also rans!

Reality is hard to take and deal with at times.

Football fans aren't that good at it in my opinion!

Ok, I accept that BUT, Why don't the club just come out and admit we are no longer in the running? Honesty, it's all we want, not bullshit and feeding us a promise that they clearly can't achieve!

 

[judge]

Ok, I accept that BUT, Why don't the club just come out and admit we are no longer in the running? Honesty, it's all we want, not bullshit and feeding us a promise that they clearly can't achieve!

so 6th place is not in the running ? you are not real

 

[Robbie]

Ok, I accept that BUT, Why don't the club just come out and admit we are no longer in the running? Honesty, it's all we want, not bullshit and feeding us a promise that they clearly can't achieve!

Why would ANY team come out with a statement so early in the season saying they believe it is not feasible to reach where we want to be?

 

[Revolution]

Regardless of whether we had a better defence last year the back 4 is good enough. Killa's injury threw things out and not having a replacement was a major problem. The main issue for me is silly msitakes. Idividual errors by Quinn (Ipswich), Bunn (Wednesday), Walker (Wednesday), Bunn (Swansea), Monty (Swansea), Monty and Taylor (Coventry) and Walker/Taylor (Coventry) have cost us dearly. Also players being too pedestrian and not working hard for their team mates is a major conritbutor, such as Harper, Monty and Killa (Ipswich 2nd), Walker (Swansea 2nd).

this is a great point. Too many unforced errors. It's a particular concern regarding Monty. We are forever hearing from his boosters how it doesn't matter how little he contributes positively because he's such a high quality defensive midfielder. He certainly hasn't done a good job at that in the last 4 games, though as highlighted above he isn't the only one

 

[Bladesway]

Another thread basically based around moaning. Joy.

Fact, we are 6th
Fact, we can play better
Fact, Its not manager sacking form
Fact, The world isn't going to end any time soon, well not this season.

I saw a post somewhere else that said perhaps we should try going to matches with the express intent of enjoying it. Might work wonders for the atmosphere at Bramall Morgue right now.

 

[Revolution]

Another thread basically based around moaning. Joy.

Have you actually read the thread? I think it's a decent discussion.

 

[Robbie]

Another thread basically based around moaning. Joy.

Read the thread and you will see it is a concern as to what is happening, not having a moan.

If you don't like it, go to another thread where they have pictures of rainbows or something.

Fact, we are 6th
Fact, we can play better
Fact, Its not manager sacking form
Fact, The world isn't going to end any time soon, well not this season.

YES - we can play better, and I am wondering why we are not. Perhaps you can elaborate on that?
Have you anything to add at all rather than crap?

 

[Ollessendro]

This thread was started by Robbie to get people opinions on why we were leaking goals. It has strayed somewhat from that, despite attempts to bring it back.

Personally Bladesway I am not moaning. We are still in a good position and I remian fairly positive. The reason why I remian positive is because we have the players. If you see in my post above I do not moan, I merley state the reason why I think we are leaking goals. And even the 'non moaners' can't depute we are conceding too many goals.

Yes we are 6th and yes we can player better. And we will. I can undertsnad the frustration of a lot of fans because, if we were not giving away silly goals from individual errors (again see above post) then we could be right up there with the relegated teams.

 

[DazBlade88]

I think this is one of the better threads on the forum at the moment.

People have said what they think is wrong, why it's causing us problems and suggesting ways to put it right. It's made interesting reading for me.

It's been some of the best constructive debate on the site at the moment, from people who are seemingly quite calm and think performances will improve over the next few weeks providing we start getting the basics of the game right.