Anyone else...

[CopenhagenBlade]

I would be more positive if he:

• Put more emphasis on zonal marking
• Varied our attacking play more
• Used more width
• Got more pace in the team
• Improved our counter attacking
• Made our players use more energy on attacking
• Made more long term signings
• Looked abroad more
• Actively tried to sell players at a time when we could get more from them.*

* (In Killa's situation this would have been last summer. In Walker's case, we should have held on to him for at least one more season. Players earning more than our wage budget allows (Naysmith, Beattie) should have been sold (if possible) as soon as possible.This money should then have been used on young, long term signings, rather than expensive loan signings and high earning 30 year olds.)

Not a big fan of total zonal marking but a mixture of the 2 is OK.
All the next points come down to pace. Our only regular starter with pace is Walker and he isn't ours anymore. Ward when he plays gives an option but unless Walker has the energy to get up and support the attack it will constantly slow down. It is rare to see us break out and have 4 or 5 players streaming forward to counter attack.
Blackie has looked abroad twice when he bought Cotts and Evans and maybe the experience has scared him off

 

[Grecian2000]

* (In Killa's situation this would have been last summer. In Walker's case, we should have held on to him for at least one more season. Players earning more than our wage budget allows (Naysmith, Beattie) should have been sold (if possible) as soon as possible.This money should then have been used on young, long term signings, rather than expensive loan signings and high earning 30 year olds.)

To be fair injuries have played a part in us hanging on to both Beattie and Naysmith.

Beattie wouldn't have started last season with us if he hadn't been injured all summer and I think the same could possibly be said of Naysmith this season.

 

[Ollessendro]

... starting to warm to Blackwell?

Actually talked a lot of sense after the match about us not playing at our best and resorting to more direct football after the first goal, although it's easy to do so when you've won 3-0. And yes, I know he's had a good win ratio and took us to Wembley etc etc, but our performances this season have been very poor far too often... and he does talk bollocks most of the time.

That said, he's really starting to remind me of the way Warnock started poorly and gradually improved. Don't get me wrong, there are a number of managers who I'd take in his place tomorrow, but I'm slowly ridding myself of the urge to self harm whenever I hear his voice or see his face.

The simple answer is no House. And this is not just because I am a so called 'knocker' and am too stubborn to change my mind. He is doing now (and Tuesday is a perfect example of this) what he has always done at Sheff Utd: grinding out results. I'll start to warm to him when he start to get some of the following things right:

- one dimensional tactics
- linked to the above is our terribke record of not coming back from games when we go 1 down
- extremely negative tactics 9e.g taking a point when 3 is there for the taking, only play defensive players etc)
- substitutions
- winning 'big games'
- getting the best out of our players
- (seemingly) giving players a fair chance

Blackwell has a very good win ratio record. No one can take that away. I accept that we are stuck with him now and hence I'll get behind the team. Also he deserves some praise (although I give it begrudglingly) as we are still in with promotion contention and out form has dramatically increased. Ultimately I'll warm to him in May if we are a premier league team. Simple as that.

 

[Darthblade]

... starting to warm to Blackwell?

Actually talked a lot of sense after the match about us not playing at our best and resorting to more direct football after the first goal, although it's easy to do so when you've won 3-0. And yes, I know he's had a good win ratio and took us to Wembley etc etc, but our performances this season have been very poor far too often... and he does talk bollocks most of the time.

That said, he's really starting to remind me of the way Warnock started poorly and gradually improved. Don't get me wrong, there are a number of managers who I'd take in his place tomorrow, but I'm slowly ridding myself of the urge to self harm whenever I hear his voice or see his face.

Whilst I'm pleasantly surprised at the position we are in, I'm not warming to Blackwell at all.
I don't believe he's the man to take us into the Prem and keep us there, he would be completely outwitted by most Prem managers. (no plan B)
I still believe he's only in the job because he's the cheap option AND he does the boards bidding to the letter without complaint. He's grateful for the job.
His team selections, lack of tactics, unusual/baffling substitutions, highlight that he is a lower division manager.
UTB