and tonights scapegoat is

[Bergen Blade]

In general I think fans are too critical of individual players, but I must confess I don't really rate the current team. What is supposed to be our strength? Will anyone in last night's eleven be a long term first choice?

I researched Colchester a lilttle bit yesterday, and became quite surprised to see that they looked decent on paper. Quite physical in defence, not a bad mix in midfield and pace in the forward positions.

Things may improve for us when certain players return from injury, but let's keep in mind that we said that for large parts of last season and Clough was very rarely able to put out the side he wanted.

I'm not convinced our choice of formation is ideal for us. Adkins spoke about being flexible with formations, but we've not seen much variation so far.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Come on, Blades, I was seriously pissed off at last night's result, regret some of the things I said in the heat of the moment. I was fuming on the drive back to Leicester. But we're 5th, we've got some top players coming back from injury. Look at the much-fancied Wigan, they're below us, long way to go yet, things change so quickly. Got to stay positive (keep telling myself), put faith in Adkins. It's Day 1 again at Bradford on Sunday. A couple of good results and we'll have that feel-good factor again. Who's with me? Anyone?
View attachment 13369

I'm with you brother.

Time to give McNulty a start up top with Sharp on Sunday and give Connor a rest.

UTB

 

[AlienBlade]

As awful as Baxter was tonight, I was hoping he was going to take that pen.

to be honest so was I.... if there is one thing Baxter is reliable at... its when he only has to run 3 yards unopposed to smash in a penalty...

 

[AlienBlade]

I don't know why everyone is blaming sharp. He has been a great player so far and yes he should have scored the 3rd penalty, but the first the keeper came well of the line. He scored 1 pen and created our 2nd goal so I don't blame billy at all. Howard and mceverly did shite tho.

so we are forgetting all the other ones his scuffed... (the first half one on one with keeper) the second half also only keeper to beat and scewed his shot wide after trying to take too many touches to take it round the keeper...

he also missed 2 pens...

you are blaming McEveley... (who was also involved in the build up to the second goal... and ermmm won the penalty for the first! he made a great pass which McNulty should have done better with (down the line Mcnulty tried to walk it in, all the time reducing his angle and in the end put it wide..) he also put in a great ball for Basham (commented on by S24SU twitter feed) which Basham failed to do anything with.

and you wonder why people think McEveley is being made a scapegoat... I give You exhibit a....

 

[bladesmanluke]

Billy Sharp was the ONLY player that even looked like he'd ever seen a football last night. And he didn't miss 2 out of 3 penalties did he...

 

[Bladesince59]

Sharp's 3rd failed spell at the Lane anyone ?

Yes he's a small, fat shit.

 

[Bladesince59]

I was never overwhelmed by the return of Sharp.

He is meant to be a standard above this division and so is Sammon. They are both proving why they have ended up in League 1 because they don't take their chances often enough.

Totally agree. They never look fit to me.

 

[super_pig]

Post 1st World War period ?

unlucky 20th century onwards

 

[super_pig]

Tonight's scapegoats are
Edgar
Collins
McEvely
Baxter
Basham
Woolford
Sharpe
Sammons

JCR, Howard and Freeman did ok

just no .. i usually agree with you but Jcr is a show pony with no end result.. you've beaten him Jamal.. just cross the bastard!!
could be a great player actually.. but then big Kev would sell him anyway so we can't win either way

 

[Silent Blade]

Looked like some kind of discussion going on between Billy and Baxter prior to missed pen. Didn't Billy miss one for Leeds just before joining us. Was it part of the deal when he joined us that he had to take all the penalties. Baxter is a decent penalty taker anyway, lack of professionalism cost us.

Billy is Adkins' son

 

[Silent Blade]

Time to give McNulty a start up top with Sharp on Sunday and give Connor a rest.

UTB

That will make life easy for Bradford defenders because we would have to play on the floor all the time

 

[Whiston Blade]

Scapegoat should be the man whose not sorted the defense.

Eh Mr Adkins?

Give over, he's tried to bring players in and still has time for loan signings. Half the squad he has to work with is all down to the muppet which goes by the name of Nigel Clough. He can only work with what he's got (which is not much). It's September ffs, give him a chance let's see who we get on loan and where we can improve come the JTW and if Nigel Adkins can't get us promoted then there is no hope for us. Until then, get behind the manager and lads because no fucker else is going to cheer and get behind us are they ?!!!

UTB.

 

[super_pig]

Give over, he's tried to bring players in and still has time for loan signings. Half the squad he has to work with is all down to the muppet which goes by the name of Nigel Clough. He can only work with what he's got (which is not much). It's September ffs, give him a chance let's see who we get on loan and where we can improve come the JTW and if Nigel Adkins can't get us promoted then there is no hope for us. Until then, get behind the manager and lads because no fucker else is going to cheer and get behind us are they ?!!!

UTB.

i'm more worried about Adkins thinking 'fuck this' and i suspect so are many others.. if he can't get us out of this shit division then we have no hope frankly

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I don't know why everyone is blaming sharp. He has been a great player so far and yes he should have scored the 3rd penalty, but the first the keeper came well of the line. He scored 1 pen and created our 2nd goal so I don't blame billy at all. Howard and mceverly did shite tho.

Not so much blaming Billy. Just thought that having had two attempts, one missed, but as you say the keeper was well off his line, having Baxter take the third would have given the keeper something more to think about, Baxter is a decent penalty taker so couldn't see the problem. May be wrong but from where I was sat Billy looked like he put all three in roughly the same place.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

No scapegoating from me. It was a collectively dire effort. Sharp has apologised for his part in it but in my opinion, he is one of the few who doesn't really owen an apology. He is one of the few who put a genuine shift in and tried to make things happen and didn't hide. Yes he missed chances and should really have had a hat trick but he was the source of nearly everything we did that was good. Our central midfield and defence were atrocious. Sammon was also dire.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I agree though that Baxter and not Sharp should have taken the last penalty. Everybody in the fucking stadium knew where Billy was gonna put that pen.

 

[BushBlade]

In general I think fans are too critical of individual players, but I must confess I don't really rate the current team. What is supposed to be our strength? Will anyone in last night's eleven be a long term first choice?

I researched Colchester a lilttle bit yesterday, and became quite surprised to see that they looked decent on paper. Quite physical in defence, not a bad mix in midfield and pace in the forward positions.

Things may improve for us when certain players return from injury, but let's keep in mind that we said that for large parts of last season and Clough was very rarely able to put out the side he wanted.

I'm not convinced our choice of formation is ideal for us. Adkins spoke about being flexible with formations, but we've not seen much variation so far.

Agree Bergen. It's a team game and Billy's miss wouldn't have mattered if we were 2-0 up, just as conceding to Bury would have mattered less if we'd taken our chances.

The only thing I'd question is the players' bottle. I'm not sure we have enough players with the metal strength to play for a team that is expected to win most of their games.

 

[Whiston Blade]

i'm more worried about Adkins thinking 'fuck this' and i suspect so are many others.. if he can't get us out of this shit division then we have no hope frankly

I agree, so let's stop getting on players back's, support them like we should and let's give them one less thing to worry about when on the pitch. Last thing we need is for players to be scared of making a mistake and the potential backlash they'll receive.

 

[AlienBlade]

Billy Sharp was the ONLY player that even looked like he'd ever seen a football last night. And he didn't miss 2 out of 3 penalties did he...

ermmmm I saw 3 penalties being taken last night.... the ball hit the back of the net in only 1 of them.... 3 minus 1.... I think that makes 2....

and he may have looked like he had seen a football before... shame he couldnt remember what to do with it... I've seen them all back on the replay and his 3rd is an exact replica of the first, a half hearted attempt. he has also openly admitted HE had enough chances to win 3 games... but failed to take them!

 

[AlienBlade]

Agree Bergen. It's a team game and Billy's miss wouldn't have mattered if we were 2-0 up, just as conceding to Bury would have mattered less if we'd taken our chances.

The only thing I'd question is the players' bottle. I'm not sure we have enough players with the metal strength to play for a team that is expected to win most of their games.

All goals matter... just look at the fine margins which got us relegated from the Premier League....

 

[AlienBlade]

Not so much blaming Billy. Just thought that having had two attempts, one missed, but as you say the keeper was well off his line, having Baxter take the third would have given the keeper something more to think about, Baxter is a decent penalty taker so couldn't see the problem. May be wrong but from where I was sat Billy looked like he put all three in roughly the same place.

the first and third was in the exact same place (extremely easy for a decent keeper to save) the middle one was to the opposite side. he also seemed to hit the middle one with power, the other two he didn't

 

[blade too long]

We lost that game in the first half mate, luck had nowt to do with that performance

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/shef...eat-as-sheffield-united-pay-penalty-1-7463265

 

[blade too long]

but we are now 5 points from top and the gap is growing... if you look at 5 pts below us... that's 20th.... so in terms of points... we are as close to 20th as we are to top.... now there is a depressing thought...

You are aware theres only 39 games left
only 117 points left to play for
and we are missing at least half our regular first choice team

Tell me are you as convinced Chelsea will get relegated this season theyve lost as many as us

 

[AlienBlade]

You are aware theres only 329 games left

329 games.... crikey... nothing to worry about... I mean if there was only 39 I might be more worried

The point I was making was this is how it started last time... we allowed the top spot to slowly ebb away whilst stating... yea but there is plenty of time... and all of a sudden April was on us... and we realised we didnt have that much time.

 

[DronnieBlade]

That will make life easy for Bradford defenders because we would have to play on the floor all the time

Cos lumping the ball as has been the case for the last 2 home games has worked a treat hasn't it ?

Wasn't lost on me last night that our best play was timed to the minute when Sammon left the field, and we played much less lumped football.

UTB.

 

[RMBlade]

ermmmm I saw 3 penalties being taken last night.... the ball hit the back of the net in only 1 of them.... 3 minus 1.... I think that makes 2....

But for one of those penalties the goal keeper essentially cheated... you wouldn't say Sharp scored if he was stood 10 yards offside and it was disallowed.

 

[blade too long]

hardly theres 7 gone gillingham will not win reguarly throughout this season a la bristol city

and after 7 games last season we had 7 points if we get 5 points more in every set of 7 we will piss it

 

[bladesmanluke]

ermmmm I saw 3 penalties being taken last night.... the ball hit the back of the net in only 1 of them.... 3 minus 1.... I think that makes 2....

and he may have looked like he had seen a football before... shame he couldnt remember what to do with it... I've seen them all back on the replay and his 3rd is an exact replica of the first, a half hearted attempt. he has also openly admitted HE had enough chances to win 3 games... but failed to take them!

The first one the goalkeeper cheated and so it was retaken. Taken fairly, he buried it. Obviously he bottled the second penalty, it was poor. So actually he missed 1 out of 2 penalties

 

[him behind you]

In fairness, there's never much sympathy for those that miss penalties because really they shouldn't be missing them – particularly a player that's billed as a big goalscorer and of a higher quality than those in this division. Crapper players have been able to consistently deliver from the spot – pinpoint Ports for one.

(But clearly he's not solely responsible for the result)

Agreed, but If a keeper guesses the right way, he has a cracking chance of saving it unless it's a great strike. :-(

 

[blade too long]

We lost that game in the first half mate, luck had nowt to do with that performance

we lost it when sharp failed from 12 yards