Blades 1 Swindon 1 - report

[Deadbat]

First game at home since my trip the the states Can't say I missed it.

We scored a pen. We sat back. They scored. We were negative and defended most of the game. We were shite. Another 10 minutes and we would have lost.

Ratings - Coutts was decent. Sharp tried. Rest avearge-garbage

It's guff at the moment. Little to be excited about. Need a new team from scratch. This side is going nowhere.

Succinct enough? Sorry little motivation to write a long match report after such a lame, negative performance.

 

[LA Blade]

I was looking forward to a regular one to read during me bathroom seesioin here

 

[Deadbat]

Sorry cannot be arsed. Just read a previous report and pretend it is today.

Sadly losing motivation to even pen the words

 

[pommpey]

I was looking forward to a regular one to read during me bathroom seesioin here

I saw DB had posted it up and I said to my missus, "I've been waiting for this ... Deadbat's report."

Imagine my surprise (as Steve Tyler once said)

No, I'm not surprised, DB. Welcome back. I'd say 'Welcome to the Wilderness Years' too, but we are already there.

pommpey

 

[LA Blade]

He is thinking of moving over here now he has visited it

 

[Worksop II]

I think Deadbat has got off the Blade-a-coaster

 

[LA Blade]

The L.A. Rams are looking to hire him here

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

First game at home since my trip the the states Can't say I missed it.

We scored a pen. We sat back. They scored. We were negative and defended most of the game. We were shite. Another 10 minutes and we would have lost.

Ratings - Coutts was decent. Sharp tried. Rest avearge-garbage

It's guff at the moment. Little to be excited about. Need a new team from scratch. This side is going nowhere.

Succinct enough? Sorry little motivation to write a long match report after such a lame, negative performance.

Reducing Deadbat to that shut be rammed down Coco's throat.

 

[dingledog]

I have to say after 57 years I have never been so bored by a blades team. What a waste of an afternoon. Clueless. Rudderless retirement home for pensionable footballers. Garbage.

 

[Bartleby]

First game at home since my trip the the states Can't say I missed it.

We scored a pen. We sat back. They scored. We were negative and defended most of the game. We were shite. Another 10 minutes and we would have lost.

Ratings - Coutts was decent. Sharp tried. Rest avearge-garbage

It's guff at the moment. Little to be excited about. Need a new team from scratch. This side is going nowhere.

Succinct enough? Sorry little motivation to write a long match report after such a lame, negative performance.

Yes succinct enough, that performance doesn't warrant any more effort on your part.

 

[wardonia_blade]

First game at home since my trip the the states Can't say I missed it.

We scored a pen. We sat back. They scored. We were negative and defended most of the game. We were shite. Another 10 minutes and we would have lost.

Ratings - Coutts was decent. Sharp tried. Rest avearge-garbage

It's guff at the moment. Little to be excited about. Need a new team from scratch. This side is going nowhere.

Succinct enough? Sorry little motivation to write a long match report after such a lame, negative performance.

A good point against vastly superior opposition.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

I have to say after 57 years I have never been so bored by a blades team. What a waste of an afternoon. Clueless. Rudderless retirement home for pensionable footballers. Garbage.

Spot on.

 

[shrubbery]

Today was a watershed day for me regarding Adkins. I was originally pleased with his appointment as I thought that it was pretty much as good as it could get at this level. We have made absolutely no progress at all since he has arrived and in fact you could rightly argue that we have gone backwards.

His substitutions today were suicidal and I just cannot understand how anybody who plies their trade as a football manager would ever think that that making those changes today with 10 minutes to go would ever result in anything other that either a defeat or at best a draw.

When was the last time the Reed contributed anything positive towards a performance? when was the last time that Baxter contributed anything positive? when was the last time Flynn... lets just throw them all on at the same time with 10 minutes to go when we are desperately trying to hang on to a 1-0 lead as we all now that light weight midgets are exactly what we need when we are trying to shut up shop.

This team is going nowhere and looking at the systematic dismantling of anything positive within the playing squad over the past 8 or 9 years then I just don't see any positives going forward.

Thanks Blades. Another pile of shite.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Today was a watershed day for me regarding Adkins. I was originally pleased with his appointment as I thought that it was pretty much as good as it could get at this level. We have made absolutely no progress at all since he has arrived and in fact you could rightly argue that we have gone backwards.

His substitutions today were suicidal and I just cannot understand how anybody who plies their trade as a football manager would ever think that that making those changes today with 10 minutes to go would ever result in anything other that either a defeat or at best a draw.

When was the last time the Reed contributed anything positive towards a performance? when was the last time that Baxter contributed anything positive? when was the last time Flynn... lets just throw them all on at the same time with 10 minutes to go when we are desperately trying to hang on to a 1-0 lead as we all now that light weight midgets are exactly what we need when we are trying to shut up shop.

This team is going nowhere and looking at the systematic dismantling of anything positive within the playing squad over the past 8 or 9 years then I just don't see any positives going forward.

Thanks Blades. Another pile of shite.

If there's one thing I detest about our plight vis a vis the state of the pigs, is the gloating by piglets, few though they are at work. I am reaching the very limit of endurance with one colleague at present. Fucking shit on the bottom of a tramp's shoe is more welcome to me than listening to him droning on about Carvalhal and the tuna,salesman.
All thanks to the shit inflicted on us by united, we have nothing to silence these tossers with.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I was also interested in seeing Deadbats report because there isn't much to say.

In many ways today's match is the worse I've felt watching United for a long time.
The result was OK but it was the manner of the performance.

We went 1-0 up with a clear cut penalty then we just settled for a 1-0
And played the rest of the match in 2nd gear defending in numbers.
Yes I agree Swindon didn't create anything up to the goal

But when it became 1-1 I looked for some urgency and a reaction.
I was confident we'd attack and at least try to regain the lead.

But no.....amazingly it was Swindon going for the winner and we were still sitting back holding on to the draw.

Hand on heart Swindon looked a better side than us and knocked the ball about well (around the centre circle) Where as we only have Coutts in midfield who is comfortable on the ball and keeps possession.

We always seem to give up midfield as Basham and Hammond almost go into defence.
It's worrying that we seen to play a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Today reminded me of the Man Utd game away at Old Trafford.
Our defending was pretty good but for Gods sake we seemed to have 7 in defence and 1 in midfield.
Our only hope of scoring was hitting it long (with Sharp not having any pace) or a set piece (where we've always struggled). So we didn't look like scoring and we could have lost if the match had gone on another 5 minutes.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Today was a watershed day for me regarding Adkins. I was originally pleased with his appointment as I thought that it was pretty much as good as it could get at this level. We have made absolutely no progress at all since he has arrived and in fact you could rightly argue that we have gone backwards.

His substitutions today were suicidal and I just cannot understand how anybody who plies their trade as a football manager would ever think that that making those changes today with 10 minutes to go would ever result in anything other that either a defeat or at best a draw.

When was the last time the Reed contributed anything positive towards a performance? when was the last time that Baxter contributed anything positive? when was the last time Flynn... lets just throw them all on at the same time with 10 minutes to go when we are desperately trying to hang on to a 1-0 lead as we all now that light weight midgets are exactly what we need when we are trying to shut up shop.

This team is going nowhere and looking at the systematic dismantling of anything positive within the playing squad over the past 8 or 9 years then I just don't see any positives going forward.

Thanks Blades. Another pile of shite.

Just for the record the subs were at 57 mins, 68 and 74.

Come on Deadbat us Blades away on holiday need your reports.

We are spending this stage of our holiday with Wednesdayites so last night the only sliight consolation was that they gave up a lead too.

From afar it seems perfectly reasonable for the manager to want to try and win the game; 1-0 leads are always fragile. As I've said before this first choice midfield is devoid of supporting the strikers and every game will be in the balance if we can't create chances. 5 shots at goal yesterday and we have two proper strikers up front, it's there in the stats. Every team needs creativity in midfield and players who do not need oxygen if they go into the final third.

 

[Dkc]

Adkins knows more about the game than fans on a message board. I'm sure he didn't just randomly throw three subs on in a formation we're not used to. He saw that Swindon were dominating and wanted to stop their momentum. OK it failed but If we'd hung on or scored another it would have been seen as a "bold gamble", and we'd all be praising the Blades for winning ugly again.

I'd have taken five points from Colchester and Wigan away and Swindon home, but the mannner we won v Colchester, conceding 3 v Wigan and letting a lead slip v Swindon makes it seem worse.

 

[spongebobblade]

The facts are this new compact style with little or no creativity that is supposed to protect the defence better has seen us narrowly scrape 1 win in the last 5 games and still we can't keep a clean sheet.

 

[Dkc]

With the players we have, what's the alternative? The free-flowing, attacking style didn't work - we weren't good enough. Our brightest prospect (Adams) is off the boil and benched and fitting in our other "flair" player (Baxter) is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. If we found some way of getting our best team playing to their full potential we'd be dominating more games. A team of new players isn't necessarily the answer - we need to get the ones we have playing much better. In a way I applaud the subs, at least Adkins was trying something different. He might have thought the switch would unsettle Swindon. It was a gamble that didn't pay off.

 

[Fiery Blade]

With the players we have, what's the alternative? The free-flowing, attacking style didn't work - we weren't good enough. Our brightest prospect (Adams) is off the boil and benched and fitting in our other "flair" player (Baxter) is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. If we found some way of getting our best team playing to their full potential we'd be dominating more games. A team of new players isn't necessarily the answer - we need to get the ones we have playing much better. In a way I applaud the subs, at least Adkins was trying something different. He might have thought the switch would unsettle Swindon. It was a gamble that didn't pay off.

The training ground is the place to try something different not when you're holding a slender lead at home with twenty minutes left !
He has been picking that midfield for the last few matches and he has been bleating on about consistant team selection,so to change it wholesale was suicidal - I could understand the 'injury ' to Basham (although he had been playing out wide right for about 10 mins before he was withdrawn) but despite his shortcomings Hammond should have had the experience to see out the rest of the game without getting another booking but Coutts withdrawel was totally baffling - I thought he was taking off Woolford which would have made much more sense !
Poor Substitutions !!!

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

With the players we have, what's the alternative? The free-flowing, attacking style didn't work - we weren't good enough. Our brightest prospect (Adams) is off the boil and benched and fitting in our other "flair" player (Baxter) is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. If we found some way of getting our best team playing to their full potential we'd be dominating more games. A team of new players isn't necessarily the answer - we need to get the ones we have playing much better. In a way I applaud the subs, at least Adkins was trying something different. He might have thought the switch would unsettle Swindon. It was a gamble that didn't pay off.

Agree with this.

Seeing Coutts central again at a key time of a game was grounds for optimism but for whatever reason it didn't work, and then he was subbed.

Are Hammond and Coutts a viable central pairing?

 

[JohnDenver]

Are Hammond and Coutts a viable central pairing?

Only given pace and movement on either flank.

 

[spongebobblade]

With the players we have, what's the alternative? The free-flowing, attacking style didn't work - we weren't good enough. Our brightest prospect (Adams) is off the boil and benched and fitting in our other "flair" player (Baxter) is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. If we found some way of getting our best team playing to their full potential we'd be dominating more games. A team of new players isn't necessarily the answer - we need to get the ones we have playing much better. In a way I applaud the subs, at least Adkins was trying something different. He might have thought the switch would unsettle Swindon. It was a gamble that didn't pay off.

When you are winning 1-0 and despite the opposition having more possession rarely threaten your goal you don't jeopardise it by putting on three subs and not one of them in there natural position. That's not a gamble, it's suicidal.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Only given pace and movement on either flank.

Out of interest - is that the Coutts who outpaced 2 Swindon players easily down the flank (south stand side) ?

He is not slow and has shown recently a good turn of pace down the John Street side of the ground on a number of occasions.

UTB

 

[spongebobblade]

Agree with this.

Seeing Coutts central again at a key time of a game was grounds for optimism but for whatever reason it didn't work, and then he was subbed.

Are Hammond and Coutts a viable central pairing?

To be fair in all for seeing Coutts in a central role to provide a creative side as long as he looks to drive us forward. However not at the expense of Baxter being the defensive mid, or Flynn in the middle or Reedy on the wing. It was just an unbelievable cock up by NA

 

[Roygbiv]

Can't fault you Deadbat. Its getting harder and harder to gather the motivation to watch this pile of crap let alone write about it

 

[blader]

Nice to know the board recognise this too and are going out to correct the problem with all this investment. Been another good transfer window.

 

[Worksop II]

That's not a gamble, it's suicidal.

I think with Basham injured, and Hammond on the Yellow, Adkins focus turned to Coutts.

I think Adkins was preparing for Tuesday night, he may have ended up with only Coutts to play holding midfield

And if Hammond does get a card on Tuesday, probably only has Coutts from then on, Bash being injured

Adkins was playing Tuesday nights game, before he had finished Saturdays game

 

[spongebobblade]

I think with Basham injured, and Hammond on the Yellow, Adkins focus turned to Coutts.

I think Adkins was preparing for Tuesday night, he may have ended up with only Coutts to play holding midfield

And if Hammond does get a card on Tuesday, probably only has Coutts from then on, Bash being injured

Adkins was playing Tuesday nights game, before he had finished Saturdays game

Who knows what he was thinking mate, but why not put Reedy in the middle with Flynny out wide as is there natural positions?
Just found it totally bizarre.

 

[Worksop II]

Who knows what he was thinking mate, but why not put Reedy in the middle with Flynny out wide as is there natural positions?
Just found it totally bizarre.

I think that may we be what we see next week sometime

Flynn in front of Brayford, Woolford in front of the Captain

The middle may start with Hammond and Coutts, but it will change to Coutts and Reed