13/02/10 - Sheffield United v. Bristol City

[Linz]

Your match thread for Saturday's game...

• Predictions
• Line ups
• In-match chatter
• Reaction

 

[LouTheBlade]

This will be a trickier encounter than City’s current league form suggests. I know a lot about Saturday’s opponents as I lived in Bris for two years and went to watch them a few times while I was there. They will make it difficult for us and get in our faces. They’re not so much physically imposing as they are dogged and awkward. They will also try as much as they can to pass the ball and if we allow them too much time on the ball we will find it tough going. They thrive on hesitant opposition so we need to get amongst them early doors. Speaking to my City fan mate quite often has led me to believe that this is their likely line-up;

5-3-2: Gerken; Orr; Carey; Nyatanga; Fontaine; McAllister; Skuse; Elliott; Johnson; Agyemang; Maynard

Subs: Collis; Wilson; Edwards; Williams; Hartley; Sno; Saborio

They have struggled for organisation defensively of late so we have to put our good foot forward and heap pressure on them, particularly down the flanks as they normally play with wing backs a little higher up the pitch. They will most likely go with the defensive midfield three of Skuse, Elliott and Johnson because they are away from home. Their main threat comes from Nicky Maynard who has improved a lot this season and has a decent goal scoring record. He will try and play with his back to goal and turn defenders at close quarter so he needs to be denied service where possible.

Bearing all this in mind I feel United should line up as follows;

GK: Bennett
RB: Geary
CB: Bartley
CB: Nosworthy
LB: Kallio
RW: Ward
CM: Montgomery
CM: Williamson
LW: Yeates
ST: Camara
ST: Cresswell

Subs: Aksalu; France; Fortune; Quinn; Stewart; Henderson; Evans

4-4-2 is the only way in this one but we need to keep the ball out wide as much as possible. Their swamped midfield might be a lot for Monty and Willo to keep occupied but the key is getting to their wing backs – having Ward and Yeates in the wide positions will require Orr and McAllister to drop deeper and so not giving them as much licence to get forward. I’ve gone for Camara and Cresswell because they provide the best movement of our four strikers. The 3 centre backs (Carey, Nyatanga, Fontaine) are all fairly sluggish so the suggested front two would probably cause them problems.

My prediction despite a disappointing week;

2-0 Blades – but we must start as we mean to go on (positively)

 

[DazBlade88]

Every single Bristol City fan on another forum I use has predicted us to win by 3 clear goals, so it shows how confident they are.

I think it'll be 1-1, possibly a late winner for us depending on the line-up.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Every single Bristol City fan on another forum I use has predicted us to win by 3 clear goals, so it shows how confident they are.

I think it'll be 1-1, possibly a late winner for us depending on the line-up.

They cant have seen us lately then

But seriously I think United will win this - only because we are at home and they are in poor form.

Wont be a walk in the park though, as I alluded to earlier.

 

[Ollessendro]

I actually think that we'll win this one. Not that I really give much of a toss. Blackwell uses his get out of jail card every once in a while.

I think it will be 1-0 to United. The back 4 of Geary, Nosworthy, Kyle B and Kalio is not actually a bad one and with a bit of luck and Bristols shit attack I think they'll shut them out.

I reckon we'll grind a result out and take the pressure of KB as it will put us right back in the mixer for the play offs. Camara to come off the bench and score the winner.

 

[Ollessendro]

My team would be:

------- Bennet

Geary Nos Bartlett Kalio

Ward Williamson Quinn Yeates

----- Camara Evans

but there is not a fucking cat in hells chance KB will play that.

 

[S64 Blade]

I'm going to go for 1-0 to United. Us to score fairly late on.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I'm going for a narrow win, but I can't say I'm looking forward to it.

Benno

Del
Nyron
Kyle IV
Kallio

Ward
Monty
Williamson
Yeates

Evans
Camara

 

[LouTheBlade]

I'm going for a narrow win, but I can't say I'm looking forward to it.

Benno

Del
Nyron
Kyle IV
Kallio

Ward
Monty
Williamson
Yeates

Evans
Camara

Good side Bob, though I would pick Cressy ahead of Ched at the moment. Ive got more confidence in this one. Blades will score 2 or 3 if they go out with a positive lineup. Briz are very unorganised at the back at the moment - the Cardiff thumping was just the tip of the iceberg. KB should use this as an opportunity to get some attacking players out there as we could give them a good hiding.

 

[Ollessendro]

Good side Bob, though I would pick Cressy ahead of Ched at the moment. Ive got more confidence in this one. Blades will score 2 or 3 IF they go out with a positive lineup. Briz are very unorganised at the back at the moment - the Cardiff thumping was just the tip of the iceberg. KB SHOULD use this as an opportunity to get some attacking players out there as we could give them a good hiding.

I've highlighted the problems of the above in bold and capitals!?

 

[86Blade]

Got my ticket today and for next three homes game today, However crap we have been playing lately I cant wait and hopefully our more stable home form will get us the result we need, I will go for 2-0 Blades.

 

[Greg]

Hmm, tricky one that I can't quite call... yet.

I'll go with a narrow victory to us. 2-1, I'll say. COYRAWW.

 

[Stockholm syndrom]

Info for any Blades out in Sweden, Scandanavia ......we are on TV4 sport v brizzle at 3:55pm

 

[judge]

Got my ticket today and for next three homes game today, However crap we have been playing lately I cant wait and hopefully our more stable home form will get us the result we need, I will go for 2-0 Blades.

top man ,good to see someone who still looks forward to the match

 

[SwissBlade]

My team would be:

------- Bennet

Geary Nos Bartlett Kalio

Ward Williamson Quinn Monty Yeates

----- Camara Evans Hendo

but there is not a fucking cat in hells chance KB will play that.

Not far off Olle, he's gone for a pretty attacking line up...

 

[James360]

finally i have been waiting fo him to start the team he has gone for today. may have picked cresswell over hendo but at least the midfield and strikers can actually cause problems, as we have seen in previous 2 games when he brings on camara and ward.

Good team blackie hope it works out.
COME ON BLADES!!

 

[brenz]

thinks we may loose again

as much as i hate to say it we coukld loose simply because thay are no leaders on our side and bristol city play with two huge centre forwards up front and we got smaller defenders.i hope i wrong and hope blacky can get it right so we can maybe get in playoffs at end of season

 

[SwissBlade]

Well done Blades!

Blackie's got it right today, its just one game, but he's almost restored my faith that he can learn from his mistakes.

It remains to be seen how we kick on from this, but for this weekend i'm a little happier

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I watched it on a not entirely legal video feed. We looked very attacking with ward and yeates on the wings.

Yeates looks like a just as good a replacement for cotts at a third of the price.

Just a shame our rivals have 2 games in hand....

 

[GoldCoast Blade]

Forrest are on a dip aswell. COYRAWW

 

[Kentblade]

I have to say the Blades looked a lot better than I had expected from recent posts.
Watched live the game from just before the second goal,and we actually passed the ball around.
I thought that Willo played well and it would be good to see him get a regular run in the side.
Playing Ward and Yeates on the wing helped to produce the width.
Unfortunately I did not see the Camara goal.
If we could continue with that type of play then there is a possibility of a play off place.
Blackwell got it right today, can he continue with it for the rest of the season?
We are always being told that we have the most expensive squad re wages outside the clubs with parachute payments
So now is the time to continue with this type of performance.
UTB

 

[Northyorksblade]

It was a lot, lot better. More of the same please Tuesday, but I don't think we will be so attacking, unfortunately and certainly won't field the same side as KB says they picked up two injuries today.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Good performance today, and Camara showed one touch of class.
I had thought he was poor for the first part of the match but then he pulled that ball out of the air. We were right in line with it in the South Stand and it looked a real piece of class. Thought he didn't do a lot after that but if he bags one of them ever game you can't grumble. Shame his age and fitness mean he can't start every match.

Seen a few comment about atmosphere, got to say there seemed to be considerably better support from the crowd around us today.

 

[S64 Blade]

Good performance today. Camara was the man of the match for me today - a constant threat. Yeates looked good too (better than Quinn IMO), as did Williamson and Ward.

Not been to many games this season, but this one was probably the best I've seen us play.