Bolton report

[Micalijo]

Taylor is out of his depth. He is weak, slow, crap.

Bunn was pathetic for the first goal. Does he ever save a shot? (Don't give me the pen save - I'd have saved it falling the right way)?

Blackwell has no idea how to win a big (for me with 5K Blades there) game.

we have agains failed to score in a game when we have huge support

We had no shots on target in second half and the long range efforts were shite

Willo on right wing is a joke

Bolton are a joke club with joke support

I was very proud to be Blade today.

Fortune is the slowest player I have ever seen.

First half I have to say we looked a very solid unit and for the odd spell we kept the ball well. Enjoyable stuff. Some dangerous crosses and I thought Henri should have notched early on. Defending was decent and Bunn untroubled. WOuld have preferred Wardy on right but can't argue.

Taylor badly at fault positionally for goal and Bunn pathetic but the response to the goal, even allowing for fact we were away to a Prem side was v disappointing for me. we never mounted any spell of pressure and Bolton were very flat and not really bothered for me. We never launced it, never got near the front men and never tried to get it wide. Must stress I knwo it aint easy to press against a Prem side but I thought today suimmed Blackwell up. His sides play sterile, shite, dull football and there is no chance of winning big games with that clown in charge.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Taylor is out of his depth. He is weak, slow, crap.

Bunn was pathetic for the first goal. Does he ever save a shot? (Don't give me the pen save - I'd have saved it falling the right way)?

Does he ever save a shot? Not including the one I'm going to mention.

Genius!!




FAIL

 

[boo radley]

Can you tell me were the play off games against PNE classed as big games?(yes i know we drew away).

 

[beightonblade]

he's reight we don't win big matches .................. when the pressures on we fook up !

cheap as chips tactics today were woefull ....... unless he wanted out the FA Cup to concentrate on promotion !

 

[Foxy]

Tactically, what would you have done differently?

 

[beightonblade]

Tactically, what would you have done differently?

Left Taylor in the dressing room.

 

[Micalijo]

Can you tell me were the play off games against PNE classed as big games?(yes i know we drew away).

Stop wasting your time Boo. Yes we played very well that night, but I'm pretty sure even you could manage a CCC club with a huge budget to the odd victory over PNE. Don't try and kid yer sen that KB can win when it matters. The bloke is inept, a pathetic joke of a manager. Did you go today and if so were you pleased with how we played?

 

[Foxy]

Left Taylor in the dressing room.

So would we have played with 10 men, or played Stewart, Geary or France left back?

Would this have won us the game?

 

[Micalijo]

Tactically, what would you have done differently?

Not played Willo on right wing? Stretched it in 2nd half?

were you honestly pleased with what you saw today?

 

[bartman]

Stop wasting your time Boo. Yes we played very well that night, but I'm pretty sure even you could manage a CCC club with a huge budget to the odd victory over PNE. Don't try and kid yer sen that KB can win when it matters. The bloke is inept, a pathetic joke of a manager. Did you go today and if so were you pleased with how we played?

and your solution is ?(based on our current cost cutting strategy)
Who, in your opinion, will take us up if we sacked KB now?

 

[Foxy]

Not played Willo on right wing? Stretched in 2nd half?

Who would you have played on the right wing? Ward?

were you honestly pleased with what you saw today?

I never said I was. Just asking the people saying he was tactically woeful what they'd have done differently.

So far, it would be leave out two players who have made assists or scored within the last few weeks and "stretched" in the second half.

 

[Micalijo]

Does he ever save a shot? Not including the one I'm going to mention.

Genius!!




FAIL

So you think guessing the right way is a sign of a good keeper?

Let's ignore the pen. He never makes a difference to the result, other than contributing to a defeat. You seen the first goal today? Pathetic.

 

[beightonblade]

So would we have played with 10 men, or played Stewart, Geary or France left back?

Would this have won us the game?

Were short on players Foxy ....... an cheap as chips seems short on ideas.
Perhaps the subs shud have been used to better effect today ?

 

[Micalijo]

Who would you have played on the right wing? Ward?




I never said I was. Just asking the people saying he was tactically woeful what they'd have done differently.

So far, it would be leave out two players who have made assists or scored within the last few weeks and "stretched" in the second half.

Yes, ward. Our only dangerous pkayer who can make a difference.

Leave it out Foxy.

Willo in middle. drop Monty or Harper.

I said play one up front - that's the way I've had gone today.

What would you have done? rather than ask questiosn why not say what KB got right. Until you do, I can only assume you think he got it right. we were shite and totally ineffective going forward against Boro with Willo on the right so you can't claim he stuck with a mind blowing line-up/

 

[Foxy]

Yes, ward. Our only dangerous pkayer who can make a difference.

Ward who is still recovering from a hamstring injury? Depending on the availability of Yeates, he may now be our sole option on Tuesday, given that Willo may have also done his hamstring.

Leave it out Foxy.

Leave what out? what is the point in having an opinion, if you aren't willing to discuss it? If people think that the manager is tactically woeful, then why not suggest a proper alternative? Why is that so controversial?

What would you have done? rather than ask questiosn why not say what KB got right. Until you do, I can only assume you think he got it right. we were shite and totally ineffective going forward against Boro with Willo on the right so you can't claim he stuck with a mind blowing line-up/

That's the key, I wasn't claiming anything! I simply asked a question based on someone's opinion, as I was interested in the answer. Judging by the lack of ideas even in hindsight, I thought it was a perfectly reasonable thing to ask!

I wasn't claiming anything, I hadn't yet given an opinion. Simply asked for the opinion of someone else.

You once again assume I'm defending Kevin Blackwell, I'm not!

 

[boo radley]

Stop wasting your time Boo. Yes we played very well that night, but I'm pretty sure even you could manage a CCC club with a huge budget to the odd victory over PNE. Don't try and kid yer sen that KB can win when it matters. The bloke is inept, a pathetic joke of a manager. Did you go today and if so were you pleased with how we played?

I am sure you've scanned this forum since wednesday and i couldnt get tickets.
So no i didn't go. Didn't critisise your report, it seems it was in keeping with what i heard on RS. I am not trying to kid myself or anyone else. Just answer the question. Do you class the play off semis as big games?
I understand your frustaration at today by the way.

 

[ciento%hoja]

one thing that baffold me today...... quinn couldnt pass... cross.... or run.... he left the left so far open and was all over the shot that no one knew what he was doing....
a neutral said to me.... has he got a new contract... cos he is playing like he aint bothered about something.... and yes... he has just signed again.... and so sat back....
usually i like the lad.... but today was shocking....

 

[puppet]

Left Taylor in the dressing room.

"Taylor shouldve been Left Back... left back in the dressing room" wouldve been well funny. Tha' scroid tharrun up dint tha (to converse with you in your own language...)?

 

[Micalijo]

Ward who is still recovering from a hamstring injury? Depending on the availability of Yeates, he may now be our sole option on Tuesday, given that Willo may have also done his hamstring.



Leave what out? what is the point in having an opinion, if you aren't willing to discuss it? If people think that the manager is tactically woeful, then why not suggest a proper alternative? Why is that so controversial?





That's the key, I wasn't claiming anything! I simply asked a question based on someone's opinion, as I was interested in the answer. Judging by the lack of ideas even in hindsight, I thought it was a perfectly reasonable thing to ask!

I wasn't claiming anything, I hadn't yet given an opinion. Simply asked for the opinion of someone else.

You once again assume I'm defending Kevin Blackwell, I'm not!

Apologies for the leave it out reference. I tried to argue for a 451 before the game so I have offered alternatives and if Blackwell had some proper widemen we could have stretched it. We never turned it into an open game, OK we might have got hammered but let's try something different in the Cup at 1-0 down - he aint going to get crucified if he's tried something (even by me!) for losing away to a Prem side but KB makes life so difficult for himself. I know Bolton won't just let us do what we want, and it's not easy away at a Prem side to dictate matters but there were no scrambles, no moments of worry at all for their defence in second half and it was very very disappointing for the huge travelling support. What I'm trying to say is that playing Blackwell's way which for me is pretty direct but with no pace, we did nothing to worry a poor Prem side.

 

[boo radley]

So tell me are you counting Blackwell for united or Blackwell anywhere when it comes to big games? Sorry to push it, Just want a straight answer which you seem to avoid.

 

[Micalijo]

I never try to avoid an answer.

I'm talking about Blackwell's overall career and yes PNE at home was a big game in my book.

Therefore I am wrong to say he never wins big games.

But there are big games and really big games!!

With my sensible head on, KB does not win enough big games and his sides are lucky to even score in a big game. As such, I think he is a poor manager.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Whilst I didn't go yesterday - couldn't get a ticket! It appears from the commentary on Radio Sheffield that the performance was very ordinary. After watching recent performances does that surprise anyone!
It has been obvious that Williamson is not a wide midfield player and operates far better down the middle causing the team to play with little or no width, Quinn whilst playing slightly better of late still cannot retain possesion and plays one touch all the time, Taylor is simply not good enough, Bunn is extremely limited and his shot stopping qualities are poor.
Cresswell, Henderson are honest tryers that are not good enough to compete above championship level and Ward has gone off the boil and to me looks slightly unfit.
Given that we have written off Evans, got another crock in Siep there appears little going for the Blades Oh I forgot, the manager .........................................................

 

[Foxy]

...Henderson are honest tryers that are not good enough to compete above championship level...

Hendo is up with the top scorers in the division, 1 behind Chopra & Fryatt, despite having been injured and in a team that most of the season have been struggling to make chances.

Think it's hard to say he isn't good enough for this level!

 

[Fiery Blade]

Hendo is up with the top scorers in the division, 1 behind Chopra & Fryatt, despite having been injured and in a team that most of the season have been struggling to make chances.

Think it's hard to say he isn't good enough for this level!

In reply, Henderson has certainly altered my views somewhat this year as I have always regarded him as a bit of a donkey but
Over the past few seasons he misses nearly 25% of matches through injury and usually 4-5 matches through suspension. His level of fouls against are the highest in the country and his link up play does leave much to be desired.
If compared against a similar type of player say Kevin Davies there is no comparison - Davies wins almost 90% of headers and his fouls committed are much less than Hendos.
In summary good championship target man full stop!

 

[Coily]

I said play one up front - that's the way I've had gone today./

Not saying you are right or wrong on this but if he'd gone with one up front yesterday then Blackwell would have been slaughtered by plenty on here.

 

[boo radley]

I never try to avoid an answer.

I'm talking about Blackwell's overall career and yes PNE at home was a big game in my book.

Therefore I am wrong to say he never wins big games.

But there are big games and really big games!!

With my sensible head on, KB does not win enough big games and his sides are lucky to even score in a big game. As such, I think he is a poor manager.

Not bothered about rest of his career (although I know I asked) because it may come down to your definition of a 'BIG GAME' and it may be hard to judge other clubs supporters definition of this.
So yesterday you class Bolton as a big game because we took 5000 fans. Thats fair enough and I wont disagree with that (was deeply disapointed on Wednesday when we couldn't get ours) but since he has joined us he has had how many big games?

 

[Micalijo]

Fair question - these are what I consider to be the big games we haven't won since he arrived - some bigger than others but I think he's had plenty. Obviously some were unlucky, some were decent efforts and I may have missed a few. By all means list the big ones he's won. On the plus side I'll give him PNE in playoffs obviously, couple of decent wins at Barnsley, derby this term obviously and Reading away last term was a sensational win.

Boro 0-0
Boro 0-1
Soton 2-3
Wendy 2-2
Reading 0-2 (think that was the score)
Wolves 1-3
Wendy 0-1
Wendy 1-2
Hull 1-1
Hull 1-2
Forest 0-0
Burnley 0-1
Palace 0-0
PNE 1-1 (v good performance)
Burnley 0-1
Bolton 0-0

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

With my sensible head on, KB does not win enough big games and his sides are lucky to even score in a big game. As such, I think he is a poor manager.

You could argue that every time a manager leads a Sheffield United team out it's a big game given the expectations. Bearing in mind the position we were in when he took over, he had to get the team up and running so how big were the 4 or 5 wins in the month or so after he joined us ?

You'll mention the Wendy double and of course last May but his teams have won plenty of games in the last 2 years when the pressure's been on to win.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Boro 0-0
Boro 0-1
Soton 2-3

Nice of you to give him 48 hours in the job before losing his 1st 'big game'

It's also a tad unfair to include the failure to beat Soton as proof that he's crap manager despite the fact his team had lost only 2 of the previous 12 or 13 to get us into that position in the 1st place.

Blackwell may be the Tim Henman of the managerial world but you don't have an almost 50% win record by being totally crap.

 

[Micalijo]

I tried to explain that some were unlucky and some were good efforts etc. Was he here for the first Boro cup game - was that 1-1? I am trying to be reasonable Jim. I just think on balance when the heat is on he has failed more than succeeded. Totally agree that he must have some attributes, I can't realistically deny that - I just can't name any of them.