Autos definitely not gone after today!

[SB_90]

as I said on the wigan match thread, that festive period is this kind of spell from a team. that can start a seed of optimism. that maybe this could be our season. because ill admit I haven't really believed we can get auto, ive thought we have a great shout of 6th. but this is 1st time ive thought we could potentially be in premier league next season. & can you imagine Guardiola at the lane what a day that would be. anyway I digress we have a chance because looking at the form table on bbc sport the top 7 look in bad form, as Middlesborough 2 wins in 8, Norwich 1 win in 6, derby 1 win in 5, forest 1 win in 6​

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Great to see the belief coming back and credit to you lads who’ve had a change of mind about our prospects. None of us know how this is going to turn out of course but we should stay positive and keep believing because a lot can change in a very short space of time. We’re a good team. A very good team in fact. We won’t put on a 5 star performance every week but we’ve just clawed back 6 points on the leaders in two weeks so it’s still all up for grabs.

Happy New Year to all Blades and let’s hope this is going to be a momentous one for our club! I really think it will be!

 

[Fanny magnet]

I agree with this.



I also agree with this.


We are difficult to read at the moment, partly because we are still playing patchily—while winning again by decent margins. Despite taking 9 points in the 3 games over Christmas, and scoring 9 goals, I’d say we have played just 2 convincing halves of football out of 6. So, yeah, I agree with both bladesince64 and Fanny magnet

The obvious upside of this contradiction is that we appear, currently, to have progressed beyond the “We need to be at 100% to win games” line that some have used to describe (and slate) us this season. Alternative cliches might be, “We can now win ugly / play poorly and win”—an absolutely vital quality for promotable teams, whereas up til now we’ve been notable for dominating teams, at times, but still not winning.

1) This is hugely encouraging, as we move into the back end of the season.

2) A lot may depend on ins and outs during the transfer window, not just at Utd but at other clubs as well (e.g, Harvey Barnes about to be recalled from WBA by Leicester?).

3) At the end of today’s game, with the players celebrating in front of us, the deja vu shit from two seasons ago was spookily palpable. Momentum!

4) Despite the current gap to 7th, injuries, form, the performances of other teams, the vagaries of the JTW, and bad luck, could still see us finish, errr, 8th.

Me, I’m loving this season, me.

I think the derby game was a huge psychological turning point for the team and fans ,at one nil we should gave had a penalty then within a minute they go up the other end and score a worldy

I think the players last season ( and half of this ) Would have crumbled like against West Brom but there seem to be an evoloution at the lane and the players didn't let their heads drop and fought for the three points and mentally crossed a bridge that to be top players you have to cross

Promotion winning teams do this and I thought we are lacking it up until that derby match

 

[blade.i.am]

Like us, the team in 3rd after 26 games last year had 47 points and a worse goal difference. That team was Cardiff City. Derby were in 2nd with 49, like Norwich and faded away. The team that won the play-off final, Fulham, were 12th with 36.
Yes it's still on , even more open this year. Btw Wolves were top with 58 (25 games), Leeds only have 51.

 

[Robby Blade]

I think the derby game was a huge psychological turning point for the team and fans ,at one nil we should gave had a penalty then within a minute they go up the other end and score a worldy

I think the players last season ( and half of this ) Would have crumbled like against West Brom but there seem to be an evoloution at the lane and the players didn't let their heads drop and fought for the three points and mentally crossed a bridge that to be top players you have to cross

Promotion winning teams do this and I thought we are lacking it up until that derby match

I was going to post almost word for word your post. After Derby scored the whole game changed. The determination not to get beat was palpable. How the crowd responded to the setback spurred the team on and no way were we going to lose. The same against Blackburn, they might have edged the first half, but after that there was only going to be one winner. Those two games could be the making of our season.

 

[BettingBlade]

I think the play offs is the most realistic target given the games we have coming up but I agree that we should never write off automatics while we are so close to them.

However to really cement our place as challengers for autos we are going to have to go to at least a couple of the following places and win; Villa, Leeds, Norwich, WBA, Birmingham, Wednesday (I include them because it’s a big game and thems the ones we need to win). Even to cement a play off place we certainly can’t afford to lose many of those either.

If we can do that I think we can really start to believe. The last few games, the home games in particular, just show how important a role we have as fans in making the Lane a difficult place to come. We have to keep picking up wins at home and against the sides lower down the division and if we pick up a few decent results away at the teams in and around us then it could get interesting.

 

[Blade56]

From Wilders comments the Ipswich game was a wake up call to play quicker and more direct without overplaying every move.
Think the change seen in manures game since the defensive Jose to the more direct Ole demonstrates how a tactic can change a teams fortunes.

And yes I just used Manchester United to make a point about the mighty Blades, why not?

 

[Hamburg Blade]

I think an important thing is that no one is pulling away. There are several teams with big budgets and squads that on paper should be ripping the division up, but they aren't. Perhaps that'll change in the next few months, but maybe it won't, football can be very unpredictable. As long as the teams in the top 6 keep dropping points unexpectedly, it's always possible for us to put a run together and nick it.

 

[SUFC Guy]

April is mega for us with all the 6 games being very winnable. Would be nice to stretch our 8 point gap to 7th a bit more. Would give us a decent buffer if we wobble a bit.

Got a feeling top 6 is a very sustainable position this year.

UTMB

 

[Sheffsteel]

There seems to have definitely been a change.

Now we start the 1st half in 2nd or 3rd gear,
Where as previously we’d start at full pelt and try to blow teams out of the water.
Take the WBA game, we hammered them 1st half but only went in at 1-1.
In the 2nd half we ran out of steam and were 2nd best, seemingly lacking belief.

For the last 3 games we seem to have paced ourselves, stay in the game with a more cautious/ sensible approach in the 1st half. Then we up the tempo and move up the gears in the 2nd half.

 

[Pinchy]

I'm actually worried about QPR

Are they poorly?

 

[TTMeysh]

From Wilders comments the Ipswich game was a wake up call to play quicker and more direct without overplaying every move.
Think the change seen in manures game since the defensive Jose to the more direct Ole demonstrates how a tactic can change a teams fortunes.

In an odd way I took the most pleasure from the second goal yesterday, long ball counter-attack, two touches and in the back of the net.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Surely the only approach is to win the next game? All it will take for naysayers to launch their doom and gloom is to lose whilst playing below par.

It wasn't that long ago that certain established posters were berating Wilder and suggesting his time had come and gone. All it took for said posters to cry for the manager's head was what they referred to as, 'predictable...we've been tumbled...etc, etc'. Fortunately, dissenting voices seem few these days. We've found our mojo, we look competent and our focus is that of a squad capable to mounting a promotion challenge. Lots to look forward to, all support welcome and encouraged UTMB!

 

[sheffielder]

Has the feeling of 88/89 to me. Now how many can we take to Stoke on the last day?

 

[Sheffsteel]

Just listening to Talksport now where they did an interview with the Norwich manager Farke. The presenters Jim White, Simon Jordan and Bob Mills all agreed that Norwich play great football and have had a great season so far.

However Bob Mills said he really doubts Norwich can finish top 2, said their best hope is play-offs. Simon Jordan agreed.

Then Bob Mills actually said very confidently that it will be Leeds and Sheffield United finishing in the top 2.
He then apologised to any listening Derby, West Brom and Middlesbrough fans but said they all have a great chance of play-offs.

Bob Mills is a big Leyton Orient fan and prides himself on his football knowledge outside the Premier League. He watches loads of championship football so it’s interesting that he thinks we’ll finish top 2. Mills is a massive fan of Chris Wilder and being a Leyton Orient supporter knows him well from his time managing Oxford and Northampton..

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

The key thing for me is that CW has improved the squad gradually without throwing big bucks at it. Him and the coaching staff have been
able to coach some existing/cheap/free transfers into a group that has gone from strength to strength. An amazing achievement in itself.

I also think that he's developed a playing system which he's had to tweak a few times as the players have come and gone and he now has the balance right between attacking as a group, playing on the counter attack and going hung ho and leaving ourselves wide open to get punished by the more quality sides.

I know he's had a lot of experience as a manager but I honestly think he's learnt as he's gone along. Not a criticism in any way but I just think that's what's happened.

When you look at our squad then we have plenty of cover and options should players be rested, suspended or injured.
Starting with Moore in goal. Cranie, Stearman, Freeman in defence.
Coutts, Lunny in midfield
McG for Duffy
Washington, Clarke and the new lad up front.

Maybe not creating a team that starts every week but all can come in and do a job for a couple of games. The main area of worry is the left side of defence.
The beauty of Wilder is that we have a system and players are bought to fit the system, so when reserve players come in they know what is expected and they have trained for it

 

[Maidenhead]

Has the feeling of 88/89 to me. Now how many can we take to Stoke on the last day?

Similar type of kit too, although obviously not AS good.

Was like an army of 5,000 stewards walking down to the ground that day.

 

[Pinchy]

Just listening to Talksport now where they did an interview with the Norwich manager Farke.

Silly Farke.

 

[HermitageBlade]

Just listening to Talksport now where they did an interview with the Norwich manager Farke. The presenters Jim White, Simon Jordan and Bob Mills all agreed that Norwich play great football and have had a great season so far.

However Bob Mills said he really doubts Norwich can finish top 2, said their best hope is play-offs. Simon Jordan agreed.

Then Bob Mills actually said very confidently that it will be Leeds and Sheffield United finishing in the top 2.
He then apologised to any listening Derby, West Brom and Middlesbrough fans but said they all have a great chance of play-offs.

Bob Mills is a big Leyton Orient fan and prides himself on his football knowledge outside the Premier League. He watches loads of championship football so it’s interesting that he thinks we’ll finish top 2. Mills is a massive fan of Chris Wilder and being a Leyton Orient supporter knows him well from his time managing Oxford and Northampton..

I’m almost certain a few years ago Bob mills tipped us to be the next club to do a Leicester or Man City. He did put a rider of within 10 years on it though. He’s definitely got a lot of admiration for the mighty Blades.

 

[Grecian2000]

I think the derby game was a huge psychological turning point for the team and fans ,at one nil we should gave had a penalty then within a minute they go up the other end and score a worldy

I think the players last season ( and half of this ) Would have crumbled like against West Brom but there seem to be an evoloution at the lane and the players didn't let their heads drop and fought for the three points and mentally crossed a bridge that to be top players you have to cross

Promotion winning teams do this and I thought we are lacking it up until that derby match

I think that what happened in the back of our net after they scored had a lot to do with it. Cunt Keogh and his mate shoving Henderson about (before the cavalry arrived) was a real "bonder" for the team I reckon. First time I can really remember this team bullying the opposition, rather than outplaying them, for the remainder of the game.

 

[mancunianblade]

Not saying the team/CW has listened to the fans because Wilder has been bemoaning the final ball all season (much like us) but I feel the penny has finally dropped now and in the past 3 games the early delivery has not only been good but very effective.

Two of the biggest tests in the Championship is keeping pace which we have and utilising squad depth. the latter caused us to fail the first last year but we have addressed that. its going to be interesting to see what happens to those around us in the market. if its true that Abraham is leaving Villa then thats a bonus of course as I did see them making a play for the title but they seem to be struggling a little, West Brom are going to throw some money about although whispers today of Barnes being recalled. Derby sound to have their hands tied as do Norwich. loads of whispers about Leeds both spending but also being in trouble financially(think they will be fine) Middlesbrough concern me a little as they have a decent squad, they've have kept pace and I can see them sacking Pulis at some point and a new manager getting a run together, surely Forest cant keep spending too?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Are they poorly?

quite boyant after not forking out for the £60M fine

 

[lakedistblade]

These tough away games may not turn out so bad since with home advantage the likes of swansea, villa, norwich will want to play attacking football which suits our style better than the parked bus approach. we have already shown we can match them - now its time to take our chances and avoid mistakes like v Leeds. I am going to believe we can do it and shout my lungs out when I can. Its our time.

 

[Pinchy]

Not saying the team/CW has listened to the fans because Wilder has been bemoaning the final ball all season (much like us) but I feel the penny has finally dropped now and in the past 3 games the early delivery has not only been good but very effective.

Can we just stop there before another Lampard/Monty type myth takes hold in S2?

Wilder has I’m sure, said we need to be better with the final ball. Better in the ‘big moments’ as he often puts it. He has categorically not said that we need earlier delivery. Quite the contrary.

Both Alan Knill (after the Ipswich game) and Tufty have vehemently refuted the ‘early delivery’ point. Wilder called it ‘noise and nonsense’.

There may have been improved delivery but it’s nothing to do with ‘early’ or ‘late’.

Wilder has frequently made it clear that we haven’t changed our style of play and won’t be doing so. Thank Pele for that.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

Can we just stop there before another Lampard/Monty type myth takes hold in S2?

Wilder has I’m sure, said we need to be better with the final ball. Better in the ‘big moments’ as he often puts it. He has categorically not said that we need earlier delivery. Quite the contrary.

Both Alan Knill (after the Ipswich game) and Tufty have vehemently refuted the ‘early delivery’ point. Wilder called it ‘noise and nonsense’.

There may have been improved delivery but it’s nothing to do with ‘early’ or ‘late’.

Wilder has frequently made it clear that we haven’t changed our style of play and won’t be doing so. Thank Pele for that.

I distinctly remember an interview where Wilder said, "this tippy tappy shite is doin me bloody head in. We need to bang it int box as quick as we can - I'm after some big lads in the January window who can get in the mix and head in the high balls. Then the only thing I'll need is a hatchet man in defence - who'll be captain cos fat lads legs have gone."