Beans
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2017
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I'm looking forward to being able to talk about a win again...
In this podcast, I trying to get my head around the Blades somehow losing despite hitting the woodwork four times, and other reflections on Sheffield United 1-2 Bristol City. Including: grumpy live reaction (01:15), match report (03.35), the Sheffield Wednesday factor (08:31), Fleck's red card (10.45), were we really unlucky in this game - spoiler alert: yes - (12:18), predicting a couple more losses (14:46), and balancing all-out attack vs holding what you've got (15:30).
iTunes / Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/bladespod/id1309198119?mt=2
SoundCloud:
Just to expand on that last point a bit for anyone who prefers to read rather than listen...
I do get the mentality of going all-out with ten men as we did here, but it's also hard to argue that it cost us a point. I remember when Mourinho was at Inter, his team had a man sent off but he kept 2 strikers on the pitch (or may even have brought another one on) with the idea being that those two would press the opposition defenders/midfielders and stop them having all day on the ball, and being able to constantly recycle possession.
For all that... this still felt a bit of a naive tactic for us on Friday. Presumably at some point you have to say: this is a good point, what we have we hold. And down to ten men (and up against it) when playing a decent side from above you in the league, feels like the right time to do it.
That said (and I appreciate this is reductive): let's say we'd had that attitude against Wednesday, Leeds, Fulham and Bristol City - four games where we either got level or were pegged back - and decided to play it tighter and hold on for a point in all four. Would we be happier with that than the reality, which is two fantastic, exciting wins, and two frustrating defeats? I know I would be. And I know this is simplistic, but thought it was an interesting thought experiment all the same
Plus, 6 points is better than 4...
Thanks for reading / listening!
In this podcast, I trying to get my head around the Blades somehow losing despite hitting the woodwork four times, and other reflections on Sheffield United 1-2 Bristol City. Including: grumpy live reaction (01:15), match report (03.35), the Sheffield Wednesday factor (08:31), Fleck's red card (10.45), were we really unlucky in this game - spoiler alert: yes - (12:18), predicting a couple more losses (14:46), and balancing all-out attack vs holding what you've got (15:30).
iTunes / Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/bladespod/id1309198119?mt=2
SoundCloud:
Just to expand on that last point a bit for anyone who prefers to read rather than listen...
I do get the mentality of going all-out with ten men as we did here, but it's also hard to argue that it cost us a point. I remember when Mourinho was at Inter, his team had a man sent off but he kept 2 strikers on the pitch (or may even have brought another one on) with the idea being that those two would press the opposition defenders/midfielders and stop them having all day on the ball, and being able to constantly recycle possession.
For all that... this still felt a bit of a naive tactic for us on Friday. Presumably at some point you have to say: this is a good point, what we have we hold. And down to ten men (and up against it) when playing a decent side from above you in the league, feels like the right time to do it.
That said (and I appreciate this is reductive): let's say we'd had that attitude against Wednesday, Leeds, Fulham and Bristol City - four games where we either got level or were pegged back - and decided to play it tighter and hold on for a point in all four. Would we be happier with that than the reality, which is two fantastic, exciting wins, and two frustrating defeats? I know I would be. And I know this is simplistic, but thought it was an interesting thought experiment all the same
Plus, 6 points is better than 4...
Thanks for reading / listening!
