Are we still allowed to be negative after a 3-0 win?

[highpeakblade]

The win was overall a convincing one after a few shakey moments but all things said and done I personally thought our opposition today were shocking and had we been on consistent throughout 90 minutes and more clinical in the final third then this should have be a trumping.

Of course you could point out a few individual performances that were impressive however still it was blatantly obvious that should we want to replicate the same sorts of scorelines and convincing wins in this league then a great deal more work needs to be done.

I am hoping that O'Grady is the answer and offers the work rate and clinical finishing that we are desperately looking for. In the meantime the midfield need to be as lively as they were today and continue to make bright attacking moves and play those killer passes.

Great win and a place in the hat however against League One opposition I don't think the game would have been as convincing.

 

[Bladesman]

Good win in the end and I agree it could and should have been more.

I thought the first half was rather poor despite all possession we had. Then when they got a penalty it seemed like it was going to be another typical home match. That decision brought us to life and every player wanted to get forward.

I would like to see McNuts and Flo start the next match.

 

[wizadry]

The win was overall a convincing one after a few shakey moments but all things said and done I personally thought our opposition today were shocking and had we been on consistent throughout 90 minutes and more clinical in the final third then this should have be a trumping.

Of course you could point out a few individual performances that were impressive however still it was blatantly obvious that should we want to replicate the same sorts of scorelines and convincing wins in this league then a great deal more work needs to be done.

I am hoping that O'Grady is the answer and offers the work rate and clinical finishing that we are desperately looking for. In the meantime the midfield need to be as lively as they were today and continue to make bright attacking moves and play those killer passes.

Great win and a place in the hat however against League One opposition I don't think the game would have been as convincing.

Yes you can be negative,aslong as it's constructive like you've done.Good post and very correct in a lot of things.

 

[zablade]

I think in the grand scheme of this season it's a full stop to the poor home run.

The next 8 weeks to the end of January defines our season. We can afford to lose maybe one and we need to win the vast majority of the rest.

Big ask I know but we are supposed to be the big fish in this League.

Time to step the fuck up lads.

 

[Dec]

I would like to see McNuts and Flo start the next match.

He's had almost a year out of the game! I'd like to see him gradually introduced into the team myself.

 

[boo radley]

The gulf between this our league and theirs was massive. So we've lost to the top 3 teams in our league drawn with the next above us and the 2 below and beat the 3 below that. We're at serious risk of - er - it depends which side of the fence you sit on.

 

[Bladesman]

He's had almost a year out of the game! I'd like to see him gradually introduced into the team myself.

Fair point.

Maybe a few more sub appearances then we can sell him in January.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

It really was a game of two halves with a big improvement in the second, albeit with the let off of a poor penalty miss!
I'm losing patience with Baxter; penalties aside, it's as though time stands still when he gets the ball. He just seems to slow play down giving the opposition time to get behind the ball!
Doyle does some things well but is very sloppy with his distribution.
Higdon; oh dear. .....
JCR just kept running into the full back!
Basham is a good solid player.
Flynn is making a good full back.
But for me the best player is young Reed; a natural talent, great little player. Not on long enough. And Cuvelier finally getting back was great to see and could be like a new signing!

 

[Fulwood Blade]

All this "negative Nigel" is a complete load of bollocks and probably started by a manic depressive on here or Blades Mad.

We play possession football - at times it is frustrating but needs time for development. Is any "football team" ever complete? It isn't unless you are Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Chelsea.

Considering the last 4 matches - Oldham were quite decent, Notts C played so deep it was embarrassing to watch and we out played a very cynical and dirty MK Dons. We despatched Plymouth in a very professional manner.

The whole team is Work in Progress, and if truth be known - it always will be.

Some of you need to get a life and allow Clough, the management team time to develop things.

We had 1 foot in the 4th Tier 12 months ago and although it is generally accepted Wier did a poor job, he actually signed Coady, Baxter, Cuvellier who all seem decent footballers. Clough is probably carrying on Wier brand of football with subtle tweaks. HAs it been lost of everyone that Derby presently sit top of the Championship - that is Cloughs team, 1 year after the sack and although Mcclaren may have "tweaked" things there, they are still nearly all "negatve Nigels" players.

Just wondering where the next "moan" is coming from.......it surely won't be far away - it never is.

UTB

 

[Esablade]

Everyone is desperate to get out of this league. I can see what Nigel is trying to do, and support it, but are these L1 players able to deliver his game plan?

Nigel looks more frustrated than most when pass after pass goes astray in the final third, players pick the wrong option and we struggle to get the ball in the box...let's hope it's 'confidence' and not a lack of ability/application.

 

[Woodwardfan]

All this "negative Nigel" is a complete load of bollocks and probably started by a manic depressive on here or Blades Mad.

We play possession football - at times it is frustrating but needs time for development. Is any "football team" ever complete? It isn't unless you are Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Chelsea.

Considering the last 4 matches - Oldham were quite decent, Notts C played so deep it was embarrassing to watch and we out played a very cynical and dirty MK Dons. We despatched Plymouth in a very professional manner.

The whole team is Work in Progress, and if truth be known - it always will be.

Some of you need to get a life and allow Clough, the management team time to develop things.

We had 1 foot in the 4th Tier 12 months ago and although it is generally accepted Wier did a poor job, he actually signed Coady, Baxter, Cuvellier who all seem decent footballers. Clough is probably carrying on Wier brand of football with subtle tweaks. HAs it been lost of everyone that Derby presently sit top of the Championship - that is Cloughs team, 1 year after the sack and although Mcclaren may have "tweaked" things there, they are still nearly all "negatve Nigels" players.

Just wondering where the next "moan" is coming from.......it surely won't be far away - it never is.

UTB

Well said Fulwood. I think the truth lies somewhere between the "manic depressive" and what you say.

The depressives have watched 13 or so new players join us and have seen enough to know they are not that good. They also see a team that never pushes up enough players and rarely gets numbers in the box. They also have serious doubts whether the manager will alter or even "tweak" his tactics and will play the same way and expect O'Grady to make a massive difference.

The positive supporters like yourself hope and expect the main players to "come to the party", get any sort of win like yesterday and then build on that and play with confidence and produce what we all know is there, then get on a run of results and finish the season like last year.

We have 5 "easier" fixtures next in the league and it is absolutely essential that the team picks up that confidence in that time, because the games get harder thereafter.

I hope we do. In earlier weeks I called Deadbat a pessimist and "great reporter but a poor pundit", I was sure our season would take off. To date it hasn't done but there is time, but personally I had hoped we would be in better shape and better placed at this stage. We desperately need a big points haul from the next 5 games but confidence is fragile at the moment.

Yes we can do it, I agree, but there is nothing wrong in complaining on here about negative tactics, those can be changed, but not the signings I'm afraid. Possession football is fine as long as it is progressive and not in front of the opposition players all the time. We need to get them turning and get behind them and also to get enough men in the box to challenge for crosses and pick any loose balls that drop.

 

[Pinchy]

All this "negative Nigel" is a complete load of bollocks and probably started by a manic depressive on here or Blades Mad.

We play possession football - at times it is frustrating but needs time for development. Is any "football team" ever complete? It isn't unless you are Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Chelsea.

Considering the last 4 matches - Oldham were quite decent, Notts C played so deep it was embarrassing to watch and we out played a very cynical and dirty MK Dons. We despatched Plymouth in a very professional manner.

The whole team is Work in Progress, and if truth be known - it always will be.

Some of you need to get a life and allow Clough, the management team time to develop things.

We had 1 foot in the 4th Tier 12 months ago and although it is generally accepted Wier did a poor job, he actually signed Coady, Baxter, Cuvellier who all seem decent footballers. Clough is probably carrying on Wier brand of football with subtle tweaks. HAs it been lost of everyone that Derby presently sit top of the Championship - that is Cloughs team, 1 year after the sack and although Mcclaren may have "tweaked" things there, they are still nearly all "negatve Nigels" players.

Just wondering where the next "moan" is coming from.......it surely won't be far away - it never is.

UTB

Rubbish. Such common sense observations have no place in the backwoods of S2 where the Hoof still reigns supreme.

Upanatem.

 

[Bladesway]

I hope we do.

So does everyone else, to a man or woman.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Good for our confidence but we have to observe that PA are dire. Unlike recent L1 sides they gave us lots of time and space on the ball. Apart from a penalty they never looked like scoring.

We did next to nothing with this advantage first half but were much better second half. A fit O'Grady will definitely improve us so we've just got to keep working at it. Hopefully we'll get more breaks like we did yesterday as well.

UTB

 

[Bladesway]

allow Clough, the management team time to develop things.

Agree but why all this divide to conquer from our own fans? Manic depressives? Bloody hell we all want the same thing but go about it in different ways. No one way is better or worse than the other.

There seems to be a fresh thrust on dividing our own fans to slashers and clappers once more. I don't know if its yet another fall out of the Evans thing but its not helping anyone.

As for negative Nigel, I would ignore it in the same way I have ignored rantings of impatience in the past. However, there is some correct and constructive critisism and that is only right. To condem it to the rantings of madmen would be wrong.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Good for our confidence but we have to observe that PA are dire. Unlike recent L1 sides they gave us lots of time and space on the ball. Apart from a penalty they never looked like scoring.

We did next to nothing with this advantage first half but were much better second half. A fit O'Grady will definitely improve us so we've just got to keep working at it. Hopefully we'll get more breaks like we did yesterday as well.

UTB

Blizzard had two long shots inches wide, Kellett was almost clean through when Flynn caught up with him and they had a two against one when Reid's poor touch ruined it for them, and the free kick just before half time + the penalty. At times we did look a bit stretched and vulnerable to breaks. Better teams may have punished us and people should be aware that if Clough does not stick to 4-4-2 there will be valid reasons for it.

Having said that our last 15 minutes was very good, and it's one of the first times this season that we've attacked well after taking the lead.

 

[Bladesway]

we have to observe that PA are dire.

I have been saying for years that we need to change out Garyoke for someone else, and a better system would add to the atmosphere.

 

[Kenilworth]

So does everyone else, to a man - or woman.

"So why do you want to be a woman, Stan?"

 

[Kenilworth]

I personally thought our opposition today were shocking and had we been on consistent throughout 90 minutes and more clinical in the final third then this should have be a trumping.

Did we stink the place out that much

 

[sitwell]

Did we stink the place out that much

Far too much trumpage around g block in the JSS already on matchdays.

 

[alcoblade]

Having said that our last 15 minutes was very good.

I have a sense of Dejavu!

Negative Nigel is too insulting, but we are too catious. To give credit, it was less evident yesterday against Plymouth and in the week against MK Plastic, but week after week we continue to fail in the early stages and conquer in the latter stages.

If we are to seriously progress, it's this we've got to tackle.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Agree but why all this divide to conquer from our own fans? Manic depressives? Bloody hell we all want the same thing but go about it in different ways. No one way is better or worse than the other.

There seems to be a fresh thrust on dividing our own fans to slashers and clappers once more. I don't know if its yet another fall out of the Evans thing but its not helping anyone.

As for negative Nigel, I would ignore it in the same way I have ignored rantings of impatience in the past. However, there is some correct and constructive critisism and that is only right. To condem it to the rantings of madmen would be wrong.

The phrase " bedroom tax" has stuck when it was nothing of the sort. The phrase "negative nigel" is so unbelievable crass it deserves to be killed off straight away, otherwise it will stick.

There is no intention to divide fans - some useless pathetic individual has started it and it is the sort of thing that will stick. It is completely and utterly unfounded criticism for an individual who happens to manage our football club. For all we know it could have been started by a very clever pig fan, but it seems to have been adopted by people who just WANT to divide and conquer.

Without question, Clough has his foibles and peculiarities - he is a little over 12 months in his tenure at BDTBL and after the great 2nd half to last season there seems to be this requirement that we should be 10 points clear by Xmas.

Reality needs to be accepted with Clough and absolutely nothing will be accomplished by maintaining the "negative nigel" approach. Both West Ham and Newcastle appear to have benefited from sticking with their own incumbents - he needs to be given time and to implement what is needed.

As for yesterdays game (for the ones who didn't go), it was noticeable how we actually changed our game slightly as we had a target man in Higdon. We hit him with a fair number of well flighted balls - some were over hit, some were poor control, some succeeded but in the 2nd half he played a tad better and actually brought other players into the game. It was also noticeable how Mcnulty can also play with his back to goal and it seemed to work pretty well. This is exactly the point of how our "game" is developing when we play a proper holding player(s) up top.

Interesting also the cameo from Florent - his play on the right, quick feet and speed of thought probably gave us the BEST goal we have seen at BDTBL this season.

The team and style of play is evolving - slowly, but it is evolving and NC needs that time without being labelled with the word negative.

UTB

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

The phrase " bedroom tax" has stuck when it was nothing of the sort. The phrase "negative nigel" is so unbelievable crass it deserves to be killed off straight away, otherwise it will stick.

There is no intention to divide fans - some useless pathetic individual has started it and it is the sort of thing that will stick. It is completely and utterly unfounded criticism for an individual who happens to manage our football club. For all we know it could have been started by a very clever pig fan, but it seems to have been adopted by people who just WANT to divide and conquer.

Without question, Clough has his foibles and peculiarities - he is a little over 12 months in his tenure at BDTBL and after the great 2nd half to last season there seems to be this requirement that we should be 10 points clear by Xmas.

Reality needs to be accepted with Clough and absolutely nothing will be accomplished by maintaining the "negative nigel" approach. Both West Ham and Newcastle appear to have benefited from sticking with their own incumbents - he needs to be given time and to implement what is needed.

As for yesterdays game (for the ones who didn't go), it was noticeable how we actually changed our game slightly as we had a target man in Higdon. We hit him with a fair number of well flighted balls - some were over hit, some were poor control, some succeeded but in the 2nd half he played a tad better and actually brought other players into the game. It was also noticeable how Mcnulty can also play with his back to goal and it seemed to work pretty well. This is exactly the point of how our "game" is developing when we play a proper holding player(s) up top.

Interesting also the cameo from Florent - his play on the right, quick feet and speed of thought probably gave us the BEST goal we have seen at BDTBL this season.

The team and style of play is evolving - slowly, but it is evolving and NC needs that time without being labelled with the word negative.

UTB

Sheffield United Football Club WILL get promoted this season . Football fans universally have a moan , even Chelsea and Barcelona fans see things not all positive , due to the game of football being made up of individual fans opinions . The trouble is for us Blades fans , it is quite easy to see things as The Glass Being Half Empty.

Mr Clough has actually changed the way of thinking for the club and changed both the perceptive and stopped the negative spiral .
He is instilling confidence and working on the psychology side of the game with the players . Also i think he has been quite canny and there is method in his madness . There is still money in the coffers , for final player recruitment in the January window , for that final push over the line.

Some players will be sold , who are surplus to stock , and to make way for new assets . We will be surprised who we get in January , and one of them will be a major acquisition . Leadership and confidence is the key , and i would say we are very lucky to have Mr Clough at the helm to provide both.

The Blades have a way of making fans bipolar , and a tendency to catastrophes on all things blades. The team is evolving in the right direction , and the transformation for the next part of the season campaign will be positive both from a reaction from fans and players alike .

No i am not a happy clapper , but widely recognise SUFC are moving in the right direction and glad i have the opportunity to enjoy the ride.

UTB

 

[Dkc]

For more proof of what a manager can achieve given time, look at Allardyce - sacked by Blackburn and Newcastle, but currently 3rd in the prem with West Ham after three and a half years in charge

 

[alcoblade]

For more proof of what a manager can achieve given time, look at Allardyce - sacked by Blackburn and Newcastle, but currently 3rd in the prem with West Ham after three and a half years in charge

Good point. But you do have to question the noise / broken clock effect. Put a monkey in charge for long enough and the right combination of players, luck and results will come along at some point, for a certain period.

United are at a bit of a crossroads at the moment. We don't look far away on one hand, on the other we're a few points of mid table in the third division, and in a run of poor form.

We should stick with Clough into next season, but not indefinitely. Objectively, there's nothing about Clough's track record that should afford him unrealistic loyalty.

UTB

 

[wizadry]

Has it been lost of everyone that Derby presently sit top of the Championship - that is Cloughs team, 1 year after the sack and although Mcclaren may have "tweaked" things there, they are still nearly all "negatve Nigels" players.

This is the reason a few have questioned Cloughys' credentials as our manager.Now i agree we're moving in the right direction,but it is very slow indeed and i'm not the one that counts and makes all the decisions.

The thing is you talk about McClaren tweaking things,well Cloughy struggled with the same players he brought in himself whereas the wally with the brolly seems to be coping with them very well to say the least,now this leads us to question whether he can cut it when the chance arises,afterall he wasn't at Derby for 6 months or even a year,he was there for 4 years,that's a long time for a manager these days.Will our board and fans want him here for that long?This to me is a very hard but honest question.If he can cut his stubborness a bit then my answer is yes,keep the bloke.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Haven't there been less than a handful of posters who have suggested Clough be sacked, even if we don't go up this season. Isn't it true that the vast majority on here wish Clough to have three years to prove he can succeed, that's how I read it.

Certainly, he inherited a poor and demoralised squad though he was given a bigger budget to sort it out. Three years should be a minimum to prove that he has failed if he doesn't get us up next season.

Personally I think failure would be to take us up with a squad which can only struggle in the Championship. I would prefer us to go up next year with a quality and confident squad. ( with some pace).

 

[Darthblade]

Sheffield United Football Club WILL get promoted this season . Football fans universally have a moan , even Chelsea and Barcelona fans see things not all positive , due to the game of football being made up of individual fans opinions . The trouble is for us Blades fans , it is quite easy to see things as The Glass Being Half Empty.

Mr Clough has actually changed the way of thinking for the club and changed both the perceptive and stopped the negative spiral .
He is instilling confidence and working on the psychology side of the game with the players . Also i think he has been quite canny and there is method in his madness . There is still money in the coffers , for final player recruitment in the January window , for that final push over the line.

Some players will be sold , who are surplus to stock , and to make way for new assets . We will be surprised who we get in January , and one of them will be a major acquisition . Leadership and confidence is the key , and i would say we are very lucky to have Mr Clough at the helm to provide both.

The Blades have a way of making fans bipolar , and a tendency to catastrophes on all things blades. The team is evolving in the right direction , and the transformation for the next part of the season campaign will be positive both from a reaction from fans and players alike .

No i am not a happy clapper , but widely recognise SUFC are moving in the right direction and glad i have the opportunity to enjoy the ride.

UTB

I would like some of what you are drinking please ........
UTB & FTP

 

[Bladesway]

The phrase " bedroom tax" has stuck when it was nothing of the sort. The phrase "negative nigel" is so unbelievable crass it deserves to be killed off straight away, otherwise it will stick.

There is no intention to divide fans - some useless pathetic individual has started it and it is the sort of thing that will stick. It is completely and utterly unfounded criticism for an individual who happens to manage our football club. For all we know it could have been started by a very clever pig fan, but it seems to have been adopted by people who just WANT to divide and conquer.

Without question, Clough has his foibles and peculiarities - he is a little over 12 months in his tenure at BDTBL and after the great 2nd half to last season there seems to be this requirement that we should be 10 points clear by Xmas.

Reality needs to be accepted with Clough and absolutely nothing will be accomplished by maintaining the "negative nigel" approach. Both West Ham and Newcastle appear to have benefited from sticking with their own incumbents - he needs to be given time and to implement what is needed.

As for yesterdays game (for the ones who didn't go), it was noticeable how we actually changed our game slightly as we had a target man in Higdon. We hit him with a fair number of well flighted balls - some were over hit, some were poor control, some succeeded but in the 2nd half he played a tad better and actually brought other players into the game. It was also noticeable how Mcnulty can also play with his back to goal and it seemed to work pretty well. This is exactly the point of how our "game" is developing when we play a proper holding player(s) up top.

Interesting also the cameo from Florent - his play on the right, quick feet and speed of thought probably gave us the BEST goal we have seen at BDTBL this season.

The team and style of play is evolving - slowly, but it is evolving and NC needs that time without being labelled with the word negative.

UTB

It will stick until we start achieving and end result following our build up. The best way to get through this dodgy spell is to get results. Only the manager and the team can achieve that.

What would be really good is if people "in the know" stopped rabbiting on about Nigels obvious man management style. Lets be honest few to none of us are in the know, this fishwives tittle tattling serves no positive purpose but to fan flames of negativity. Its odd in all my years on forums I am yet to hear someone say "I heard insert persons name here is really positive with the players. Rumours are almost always negative. Why is that? Shit stirring at a guess.

My initial post wasn't a sling at you in particular by the way (you are more positive in view than me but usually constructive) but there is a propensity for one "faction" to label someone with a differing view as "slasher" or the other way up "clapper". Its not new grant you but wouldn't it be a start if we all realised we all actually want the same thing? If we all think other posters are all knobheads and we know it all then you might as well christen this place BladesMad 2 and let the games begin.

 

[Bladesway]

Good point. But you do have to question the noise / broken clock effect. Put a monkey in charge for long enough and the right combination of players, luck and results will come along at some point, for a certain period

Peter Reid hasn't ever had that effect that I can remember.