17/11/17

[wavy-blade]

The day our dream ended , I was watching the match on tv , and when Coutts went down I instantly knew he was in trouble , I got a sick feeling in my stomach and despite winning the match the fans and players were not celebrating at all. It was a strange feeling winning but feeling down , we all knew we had lost a major player in our team . We will be alright though won't we ?? We have loads of quality players was the hope we clinged on to . We're not a one man team ?
It turns out we were a one man team , it took us till Bristol city match until we started to look good again and what happens , fleck gets sent off ffs .
I do believe we will get back on track but it won't happen for a few more matches .

My prediction is that IF we beat Wendy at home (and players like ched are coming Back plus if we get a couple of good signings) this will be the match when we can turn it around, I just hope it won't be to late and we can hold on for a play off place .

 

[zablade]

I just hope it won't be to late and we can hold on for a play off place .

First and foremost 55 points. That’s six more wins. Once that’s achieved then look at anything else.

 

[Tyler Durden]

 

[DronnieBlade]

The influence of Coutts, apparent to me and a few others since day one, is much more obviously apparent at this moment in time.

Even I would have to hold my hands up and say that I have underestimated the effect of his absence.

I know he’s a big fucker, but so am I. If I ever bump in to Marvin fucking Sordell..........

UTB

 

[8lade]

17 Dec 17
We're drawing a line under what's gone before reassessing what the squad can and cannot do and come out disciplined, tight and punching against Villa

 

[Carlton Blade]

One man team is a bit dramatic. We arent as good as we were but its not like we are getting battered every game. Away performances are way down but weve been unlucky at home. Screams mid table to me

 

[bladesmanluke]

One man team isn’t a bit dramatic. It’s become apparent that Coutts was carrying the rest of them. It’s in the interest of the rest of the group to show that isn’t true, but so far they’ve flattered to deceive.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

The day our dream ended , I was watching the match on tv , and when Coutts went down I instantly knew he was in trouble , I got a sick feeling in my stomach and despite winning the match the fans and players were not celebrating at all. It was a strange feeling winning but feeling down , we all knew we had lost a major player in our team . We will be alright though won't we ?? We have loads of quality players was the hope we clinged on to . We're not a one man team ?
It turns out we were a one man team , it took us till Bristol city match until we started to look good again and what happens , fleck gets sent off ffs .
I do believe we will get back on track but it won't happen for a few more matches .

My prediction is that IF we beat Wendy at home (and players like ched are coming Back plus if we get a couple of good signings) this will be the match when we can turn it around, I just hope it won't be to late and we can hold on for a play off place .

I said at the time that the fabulous season and results we were having ended at Burton with Coutts breaking his leg..............12 wins and 5 losses with Coutts.

A new season without him started and we are struggling for results with hit and miss performances.............4 losses and 1 draw without Coutts.

 

[stringjunior]

My wife's birthday.

A palandromic number (almost)


Oh sorry, wrong section

 

[Carlton Blade]

One man team isn’t a bit dramatic. It’s become apparent that Coutts was carrying the rest of them. It’s in the interest of the rest of the group to show that isn’t true, but so far they’ve flattered to deceive.

It's still a very small sample size. The drop off from Coutts is steep but no Fleck, Duffy, Brooks, Freeman, Lavery etc can't be ignored.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Coutts out and a minor rebuilding/readjustment needed.
Adjustment succeeds (by succeed I mean play as good as with Coutts in the team regardless of the result) against a 3rd in the table team on a 9 unbeaten on the road run.
Then Fleck AND Duffy are taken out of the readjustment and we're crap for a game.
Kinell, chill out, we'll come good again, probably even better once CW waves his magic wand in January.
The Blades are going up!!

 

[Ricky]

As soon as it became apparent how bad his injury was at Burton I thought deep down that was the end of our top 2 hopes, and that looks to be the case unfortunately.

He was the last player we could afford this to happen to.

 

[Tezza1889]

When he got injured I wasn’t so concerned because the whole team were performing, the logic of “it didn’t matter who broke a leg, we’d miss any of them” applied...

I’ve misjudged the hole he’s left, it’s comparable to losing ched that time, what’s required is an old fashioned sort out in the dressing room, wake them up wilder, he’s the man that’ll sort this out and heads will roll if they don’t sort it... great season lads, we never expected this did we ? So I’m remaining calm, until pigs come in January...

 

[LS16Blade]

Felt exactly the same, Wavy, and predicted that night that I could see us going on a horrible run of 1 point from the next 5 games. To then lose Fleck as well, was the crowning turd.

I'm pig sick that it's panned out so predictably. That said, the performance for an hour against Bristol City was far more than could have been hoped for, and offers some encouragement that we can re-group and have something better than a grim second-half of the season.

Coutts is simply the one player we couldn't afford to lose. Firstly, when he is on the pitch, it means that, at this level, we have the best footballer on the park on our side. For anyone that has played at any level, you will know just how much belief that gives to the rest of a team.

Coutts invariably manages the pace and the direction of the play. Without him, though, we simply don't have that control. It's all a touch less assured, and this is particularly evident in the defenders. We've tried to carry on playing the same way but it was as plain as day straight away in the Fulham game, that the defenders weren't playing with the conviction that they had previously.

We now have players passing to the centre-halves purely because that is the pass that they can see ; because it's the one in their eye-line, rather than because it's the right pass. It's putting the defenders on edge and leading to errors or hurried passes that give possession away. When they got it from Coutts, they knew they'd got it because it was the right pass. They also knew that, come what may, Coutts would be available to take it back from them if necessary, regardless of how tight a spot he might be in.

It's a huge problem because, whilst I'm not saying that Coutts is a £5m player, the reality is that for us to find a player who can perform the role and direct our play the way he has done this season, it would cost us £5m or more. Those sort of players are just not ten-a-penny.

 

[Sean Thornton]

So from being a great unit when at the top we are now a one man team and always have been.

Okay......

 

[Baaaaaaa Blades]

Coutts was a vital cog in the machine , both defence wise and attacking

He seemed to be in possession or next to player with the ball virtually all the time we had possession !

He was there in front of the back 3 , to receive a pass from anyone at the back , could slow things down if needed or move with purpose and build a move quickly

The whole team looked for him and he was always available for the return ball , he is missed badly

I don't think we are a one man team however he was the essential cog that made it all run smoothly and click together and probably the hardest one to replace in the whole team and it will take time to get used to his absence , obviously yesterday with fleck Duffy and to a lesser extent brooks out that made the game a real struggle even before kick off

I agree also about the atmosphere in the changing room being different and not as vibrant etc as Coutts is a big , well liked character in there

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

We need Jimmy Hagan back.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Deal with adversity, don't dwell on what has happened ffs!

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

We were always going to miss one third of the holy trinity in midfield. I think our promotion dream may die IF we dont look to replace Coutts in January, plus the addition of players we need in other positions.

After January I think we will have more of an idea how pivotal the Burton game was.

 

[ThatJa]

Not won since then.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Football works on very fine margins, and it is always tempting to look for simple explanations for results. Coutts is an extremely good player, and his absence has clearly been an important factor in recent results. But how to interpret how crucial his absence has been? There have been strange happenings recently. Several talented Fulham players decided to put in a shift at the Lane. Birmingham, who hardly ever score, decided to score a world-class goal against us. Against Bristol City we hit the woodwork 4 times - the tiniest shift in the flight of the ball, and we could have been 5-1 up, and Fleck would perhaps not have felt the need to make that tackle. Then the rest of the midfield seem to have picked up a bug before the Preston match. The loss of Coutts really is bad news, but what matters now is how everyone else reacts and adapts. One thing we know is that in the eyes of some, he will improve with every week he does not play. I finish with an observation for which I know I will need to get the tin hat out - shortly before his injury, he did not make a proper job of tracking back when the Burton player advanced to score their equaliser; if that had been Lundstram or Carruthers failing to track back, it would have attracted much criticism.

 

[dan brown]

Football works on very fine margins, and it is always tempting to look for simple explanations for results. Coutts is an extremely good player, and his absence has clearly been an important factor in recent results. But how to interpret how crucial his absence has been? There have been strange happenings recently. Several talented Fulham players decided to put in a shift at the Lane. Birmingham, who hardly ever score, decided to score a world-class goal against us. Against Bristol City we hit the woodwork 4 times - the tiniest shift in the flight of the ball, and we could have been 5-1 up, and Fleck would perhaps not have felt the need to make that tackle. Then the rest of the midfield seem to have picked up a bug before the Preston match. The loss of Coutts really is bad news, but what matters now is how everyone else reacts and adapts. One thing we know is that in the eyes of some, he will improve with every week he does not play. I finish with an observation for which I know I will need to get the tin hat out - shortly before his injury, he did not make a proper job of tracking back when the Burton player advanced to score their equaliser; if that had been Lundstram or Carruthers failing to track back, it would have attracted much criticism.

good post, mate. no tin hat needed, ive always said Coutts is great with the ball, but tackling and tracking back is not his forte, in the past he`s failed to track a midfield runner or failed to but a meaningful tackle in is countless. that said, we miss him badly

 

[Harvey Robinson-Smythe]

Don't get this self flagellation. Coutts is out for the season. He'll be back next. I don't believe the recent run is solely down to the loss of one player.

 

[LJBlade]

The influence of Coutts, apparent to me and a few others since day one, is much more obviously apparent at this moment in time.

Even I would have to hold my hands up and say that I have underestimated the effect of his absence.

I know he’s a big fucker, but so am I. If I ever bump in to Marvin fucking Sordell..........

UTB

By ‘a few others’ do you mean everyone who’s watched us this season?

 

[LJBlade]

Personally I think the line of thinking in the OP is currently the cause of our problems. Coutts was very influential in how we play but why should that stop the rest of the team performing to the level they were before. Has Coutts being out injured suddenly meant that Jack O’Connell can no longer mark his man at the back post when the opposition put a cross in (just one example, not picking on O’Connell). Personally I think we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves.

 

[derfblade.3]

I think the real turning point was the Fulham game. 1-0 up then we break away and we looked sure to score but Duffs (i think) made the wrong decision in not passing to one of our unmarked forwards. The move broke down Fulham came away with the ball and Cam fucked up to let them back in. If we had won that first game after the Coutts injury then we would have still been confident in the team carrying on their winning ways.

 

[sitwell]

Coutts was the catalyst for our team and his injury has had an effect on at least 6 players in the team who he plays with. If we are to carry on playing the way we were then we need a certain kind of player like Coutts in the window. Someone like Coutts ,Huddlestone ,Murphy who can galvanise the other players and be an option for them. The prince must back Wilder in January as a couple of others are needed too but with Coutts back in the summer a top class premier league loan would be our best option. Charlie Adam has been mentioned ,hopefully he wont get many other offers and we can afford him on a season long loan ,we need someone of his calibre in the short term. He could be our Stuart McCall/Gordan Cowans. Up to you Prince ,lets see what your made of.

 

[mattbianco1]

One man team isn’t a bit dramatic. It’s become apparent that Coutts was carrying the rest of them. It’s in the interest of the rest of the group to show that isn’t true, but so far they’ve flattered to deceive.

It's not that. I think it's hit the dressing room that's all. It's similar to when Ched got sent down. He's a big figure and a very important cog in how SUFC operate. Losing him has hit the dressing room hard. Lundstram has stepped in and has done well, unfortunately, he doesn't offer the same as Coutts does.

 

[mattbianco1]

Coutts was the catalyst for our team and his injury has had an effect on at least 6 players in the team who he plays with. If we are to carry on playing the way we were then we need a certain kind of player like Coutts in the window. Someone like Coutts ,Huddlestone ,Murphy who can galvanise the other players and be an option for them. The prince must back Wilder in January as a couple of others are needed too but with Coutts back in the summer a top class premier league loan would be our best option. Charlie Adam has been mentioned ,hopefully he wont get many other offers and we can afford him on a season long loan ,we need someone of his calibre in the short term. He could be our Stuart McCall/Gordan Cowans. Up to you Prince ,lets see what your made of.

I like Charlie Adam and he would certainly offer the killer passing etc. required. I'm not sure if he would put in the work rate though?

 

[Sean Thornton]

I like Charlie Adam and he would certainly offer the killer passing etc. required. I'm not sure if he would put in the work rate though?

Be suspended too often.