BladesPod - latest episodes

[Carlton Blade]

I don't have the stats, but Berge and Ndiaye must have constituted about 60% of our progressive carries between them last year (with McAtee making up another chunk).

Yards per 90 includes any positive yards at all. A 'progressive carry' is one that moves the ball towards the opponent's goal line at least 10 yards from its furthest point in the last six passes, or any carry into the penalty area. It excludes any carries that end in your own half. RND is a huge loss here too. Bogle is at 1.09 progressive carries and 39 yards per 90 this season

Players either injured or who have left the club make up 60% of all progressive carries from last season. Berge and Ndiaye made up 26% between them

Player	90s	PrgDist	PrgC	Carries per 90	Yards per 90
James Mcatee	21.1​	2169​	82​	3.9​	102.8​
Rhys Norrington-Davies	14​	1942​	52​	3.7​	138.7​
Jayden Bogle	15.4​	1587​	48​	3.1​	103.1​
Sander Berge	34.5​	3319​	106​	3.1​	96.2​
Reda Khadra	4.3​	366​	11​	2.6​	85.1​
Iliman Ndiaye	41.1​	2691​	93​	2.3​	65.5​
Anel Ahmedhodžić	31.8​	3132​	70​	2.2​	98.5​
George Baldock	32​	2024​	64​	2.0​	63.3​
Chris Basham	19.3​	2083​	38​	2.0​	107.9​
Ben Osborn	11.9​	712​	22​	1.8​	59.8​
Enda Stevens	8.8​	548​	16​	1.8​	62.3​
Daniel Jebbison	5.5​	148​	7​	1.3​	26.9​
Rhian Brewster	6.3​	161​	8​	1.3​	25.6​
Max Lowe	22.3​	1053​	25​	1.1​	47.2​
Tommy Doyle	20.6​	1413​	23​	1.1​	68.6​
Jack Robinson	23.7​	1711​	25​	1.1​	72.2​
John Fleck	12.3​	549​	12​	1.0​	44.6​
Billy Sharp	16.4​	360​	15​	0.9​	22.0​
Ciaran Clark	7.4​	354​	5​	0.7​	47.8​
Oliver McBurnie	24.7​	504​	13​	0.5​	20.4​
Oliver Norwood	39.2​	2095​	12​	0.3​	53.4​
John Egan	43.9​	3862​	12​	0.3​	88.0​

 

[Geordie Blade]

Yards per 90 includes any positive yards at all. A 'progressive carry' is one that moves the ball towards the opponent's goal line at least 10 yards from its furthest point in the last six passes, or any carry into the penalty area. It excludes any carries that end in your own half. RND is a huge loss here too. Bogle is at 1.09 progressive carries and 39 yards per 90 this season

Players either injured or who have left the club make up 60% of all progressive carries from last season. Berge and Ndiaye made up 26% between them

Player	90s	PrgDist	PrgC	Carries per 90	Yards per 90
James Mcatee	21.1​	2169​	82​	3.9​	102.8​
Rhys Norrington-Davies	14​	1942​	52​	3.7​	138.7​
Jayden Bogle	15.4​	1587​	48​	3.1​	103.1​
Sander Berge	34.5​	3319​	106​	3.1​	96.2​
Reda Khadra	4.3​	366​	11​	2.6​	85.1​
Iliman Ndiaye	41.1​	2691​	93​	2.3​	65.5​
Anel Ahmedhodžić	31.8​	3132​	70​	2.2​	98.5​
George Baldock	32​	2024​	64​	2.0​	63.3​
Chris Basham	19.3​	2083​	38​	2.0​	107.9​
Ben Osborn	11.9​	712​	22​	1.8​	59.8​
Enda Stevens	8.8​	548​	16​	1.8​	62.3​
Daniel Jebbison	5.5​	148​	7​	1.3​	26.9​
Rhian Brewster	6.3​	161​	8​	1.3​	25.6​
Max Lowe	22.3​	1053​	25​	1.1​	47.2​
Tommy Doyle	20.6​	1413​	23​	1.1​	68.6​
Jack Robinson	23.7​	1711​	25​	1.1​	72.2​
John Fleck	12.3​	549​	12​	1.0​	44.6​
Billy Sharp	16.4​	360​	15​	0.9​	22.0​
Ciaran Clark	7.4​	354​	5​	0.7​	47.8​
Oliver McBurnie	24.7​	504​	13​	0.5​	20.4​
Oliver Norwood	39.2​	2095​	12​	0.3​	53.4​
John Egan	43.9​	3862​	12​	0.3​	88.0​

The yards per 90 from RND is phenomenal!

It also highlights that Jack Robinson as a LCB doesn't progress the ball anywhere near as much as the RCBs (Basham and Ahmedhodzic), which was always one of our biggest downfalls since JOC got injured; teams find it quite predictable playing against us when they know the overloads will only come from one side. When we did it from the right and left, the opposition simply couldn't cope.

 

[Carlton Blade]

The yards per 90 from RND is phenomenal!

It also highlights that Jack Robinson as a LCB doesn't progress the ball anywhere near as much as the RCBs (Basham and Ahmedhodzic), which was always one of our biggest downfalls since JOC got injured; teams find it quite predictable playing against us when they know the overloads will only come from one side. When we did it from the right and left, the opposition simply couldn't cope.

My abiding image of RND is him getting the ball out of his feet and sprinting as fast as he can forward. Makes it extremely galling to see Thomas stroll around

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

My abiding image of RND is him getting the ball out of his feet and sprinting as fast as he can forward. Makes it extremely galling to see Thomas stroll around

The most galling thing, for me, is how much progress RND seemed to have made in the games before he was injured. At the point we lost him, he appeared on the cusp of fulfilling the promise that lots of people felt he‘d shown.

Losing JOC at the height of his powers was awful. If RND’s future turns out to have been compromised or cut short, when he seemed on the verge of really making it, it would be even sadder.

GLTTL. Everything crossed for him.

 

[Bergen Blade]

There's lots of reasons. We are usually really deep facing an opponent utilising a high press so there's not much space (often 18-20 players in our half) and losing the ball is likely to lead to a shot. We don't have enough dynamic players; Norwood is incapable of running with the ball. Souza isn't sure how to play his current role so is minimising risk by passing as soon as he receives the ball. Hamer is a little overawed. Our team is really, really slow. We don't have traditional wingers who are the most likely to carry the ball. Our strikers aren't great with the ball.

We're currently tactically set up to minimise risk. The team instructions are also about minimising risk but in a way our approach increases the risk.

I think the main thing is that we don't have many players who are good at it.

Under Wilder it was a big feature of our style that we had many players who could drive forward with the ball. We had quick wing backs, the wide centre halves were bombing forward on and off the ball, Lundstram and Fleck were very mobile. Norwood had lots of passing options, lots of movement around him and his ability to playmake, make himself available and find a forward moving teammate was what we needed from him.

Now, we don't have the same blend. Our wingbacks aren't faster than their opponents; our wide centre halves don't go forward as much and in midfield we're clinging on to combinations that lack pace and mobility. It's a struggle for us to get good moves going. Norwood still does good things, but his weaknesses, what he can't offer, is a much bigger problem now.

 

[Beans]

Hello S2,

The intention very much was to record a ~20 minute episode previewing the Bournemouth game but then Roygbiv ended up ranting about the reaction to Everton's points deduction, so we went on a bit longer. We also covered how our international Blades went on, United somehow getting dragged into more media disrepute over this affiliate club loans thingy, and the return of David Brooks to Bramall Lane (I believe this is the first time he's played against United home or away since he moved to AFCB).

Cheers for listening!

 

[Swannyblade]

Hello S2,

The intention very much was to record a ~20 minute episode previewing the Bournemouth game but then Roygbiv ended up ranting about the reaction to Everton's points deduction, so we went on a bit longer. We also covered how our international Blades went on, United somehow getting dragged into more media disrepute over this affiliate club loans thingy, and the return of David Brooks to Bramall Lane (I believe this is the first time he's played against United home or away since he moved to AFCB).

Cheers for listening!

Surprising, but nice to hear Andrew giving an impassioned speech calling out the harsh treatment of Sheffield W*dnesday and their points deduction.

 

[Beans]

Surprising, but nice to hear Andrew giving an impassioned speech calling out the harsh treatment of Sheffield W*dnesday and their points deduction.

Roy is a friend to all. Real man of the people

 

[I should coco]

but then @Roygbiv ended up ranting about the reaction to Everton's points

Really?

I wouldn't have noticed unless you'd pointed it out....

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Rant was a great listen and bang on the money!

 

[Charlieblade]

I agree that it is pointless putting Norwood and Sousa in the same position at CDM. Not productive at all, despite their tackle stats.
It is where Hamer should be playing in a more box to box role because that’s his best position.

It does leave the problem of who supports him with attacking intent. McAtee is the obvious link on the left, but Bogle, if fit, is less than perfect at the job on the right.

Osborn is probably sufficiently versatile to fill gaps, but he is a left footer? It does highlight our lack of quality at this level, but Ahmedhodzic and Baldock both fit again could be the bonus.

It also highlights Hecky’s lack of options and his insistence on playing favourites any where he can.

Foderingham.
Baldock
Ahmedhodzic
Robinson
Thomas (AN Other)
Hamer
Bogle (AN Other)
McAtee
McBurnie
Archer

 

[Harry's Game]

Thoughts?

 

[Roygbiv]

Thoughts?

View attachment 175102

Not far off at all to be fair

 

[CrookesBlade]

Roy is a friend to all. Real man of the people

I would like “Roy’s Rant” to become a regular feature.

Every week he can pick a topic from the world of football that irks him and deliver a GB news style diatribe on the matter.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I listened today with the (dis)benefit of having watched the Bournemouth debacle.
Should be easy to have a rant about that!

 

[Roygbiv]

I listened today with the (dis)benefit of having watched the Bournemouth debacle.
Should be easy to have a rant about that!

That can't have been a nice listen

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

That can't have been a nice listen

Was quite entertaining, retrospectively, listening to Beans say he wasn’t worried that Bournemouth would provide much of a challenge .

You could def get yourself a regular entertaining Question Time panellist slot, with your “and another thing” schtick, Roygbiv

 

[Beans]

Apparently some people are into these episodes when we lose and play like a bag of shit? Anyway, here's Roygbiv and me with an episode that covers exactly that, as United stink out the place against Bournemouth:

 

[Gimli]

Spotify is telling me to say thanks, and at nearly 2,500 minutes spent listening to Beans and Roygbiv (and occasionally YorkBlade of course) it’s probably well overdue to say cheers to the lads for another excellent year of podcasts!

 

[Harry's Game]

I haven’t heard it yet I’m just finishing a true crime podcast about Josef Fritzl, not sure if that or this week’s Bladespod will be the more horrific.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Just finished listening. Great effort, which is more than I can say for the team.

 

[jim2007]

Just finished listening. Great effort, which is more than I can say for the team.

Agreed. And I agreed with every word Ben and Andrew said.

 

[I should coco]

Apparently some people are into these episodes when we lose and play like a bag of shit? Anyway, here's Roygbiv and me with an episode that covers exactly that, as United stink out the place against Bournemouth:

I didn't make the match, nor watch it but your pod was a depressing listen and tallies with what my mates said.

Thanks again lads, for hanging in there and covering us through the downs and the downs.

 

[fleckagainagainagain…]

Good pod guys. I guess they are hard to get up for at the moment but I find them most needed when times are hard like this!

Agree with Roy about feeling embarrassed by the performances in a way I haven't been by any other blades team. I went for a drink with some Gooner mates after the Emirates and they were almost too embarrassed on our behalf to even talk about the game. They were genuinely concerned and struggling to remember even a league 1 or 2 team in the cup that had come there and looked so bad - in terms of the panic on the ball and lack of any idea of how to keep possession, let alone start an attack or have a shot. They had never seen players doubled over and blowing after 30 mins like we were, then cramping up and not able to run from mid-second half.

I went to the Arsenal v Burnley game a couple of weeks later and it was chalk and cheese. Burnley lost but it actually looked like a bad premier league team vs a good premier league team - you could see what Burnley were trying to do, even if they couldn't carry it out and got done with moments of quality (which is what we all expected Utd to be like this season)

I honestly think we're getting away with it a bit still - because the results have flattered us and we've not had many full matches on Sky (Newcastle apart), the wider football world hasn't yet cottoned on to how bad we are. When you put the 1-3 highlights at the end of MotD it looks like a normal defeat, but it's all the stuff in between the highlights that's even more worrying. All those stats where we're bottom in all the top 4 leagues don't lie. Opposition fans in the view from are realising it one by one as they play us. Once we're on a Monday night football or a big weekend game that neutrals watch, I think it'll get even worse and that might be the tipping point.

It's clear they are sub-standard players but also being very badly coached and conditioned. It's been said endlessly elsewhere but every week feels like the first game of pre-season where the players are meeting for the first time, out of shape, and trying to make up a system as they go. It's as though there's no coaching at all going on in the week. Loads of clubs have gone up with poor squads before and struggled, but they never looked as hopeless as we do (since Derby all I can think of is Norwich when they gave up - but that was mostly at the end of the season once they were down...?).

I get the argument that we're going down anyway and there's no point wasting money paying off the staff and getting in a stop gap. But I'm also worried about the long-term damage this level of performance does to the club. Firstly financially, relegated teams need to sell a player or two for a decent price but we're making even our decent footballers (Hamer) regress and look so bad no-one will touch them - this could really kill us in terms of bouncing back. Secondly it will stain our reputation for a long time - which will make it much harder for us to sign ambitious players, keep our best youth, or get the good loans who saved us from the Championship before - Derby and Norwich have never really recovered from becoming a joke. The impact on the fanbase could also be lasting, after the enthusiasm and those who came back under Wilder - when even our podcasters can't face watching the games, you know it's bad...

For that reason I think its worth the cost of changing the staff and getting a stop gap manager who can at least raise our performance floor so we're lumped in with Burnley and Luton, rather than standing out on our own as a laughing stock - which is where we're heading.

 

[jim2007]

Have you both got your executive assistants clearing your schedules for the emergency podcast? Not had one in a while.

 

[Beans]

Hello all,

Wilder's appointment gives us a nice reason to largely avoid mentioning the Burnley game, hurray! Anyway, Roygbiv and I put some respect on Paul Heckingbottom's name and then give our initial thoughts on the return of his predecessor-turned-successor.

 

[Beans]

Afternoon all, Roygbiv and I snuck in another pod before the weekend, talking about Liverpool, Wilder's return, and looking ahead to Brentford. Cheers!

 

[Silkblade]

Any idea when the new podcast following the Brentford game will be out? UTB

 

[Roygbiv]

Any idea when the new podcast following the Brentford game will be out? UTB

Recording tomorrow all being well

 

[just ted]

Listened to the pod from after the Liverpool game today cos I was a bit behind and catching up. i found it fascinating to see how many of the positive early signs you both highlighted from the Liverpool game followed through into the performance against Brentford. I think pretty much every single ‘maybe if this happens’ or ‘if we can just improve on that…’ all aligned pretty much spot on, plus the weather on top. Well I found that interesting anyway and think it’s worth a reflection.

Top effort as ever fellas. Thank you for what you do