Brief Report.............

[alcoblade]

Rubbish.

The End

We were and are woeful. 2 positives from tonight - a win, and more solid evidence that whatever were trying to do will not work with these players, possibly at all.

It's Wilson's football of last year, minus something.

Give it time - yes, but let's not be fooled that we are slaying the beast of hoof. We've had 2 years to do that already. We aren't doing anything that different to be so difficult to grasp - we are just imposing a style of play that we are miles short of being able to implement.

I'd me amazed if Ironside ever cuts it, unsure that Taylor will, but it's not just about the strikers. We are well short. Thankfully we have the means of addressing it, but right now that feels more like staving off a relegation battle that challenging for promotion.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

Just heard the interview;

"We were really good in the first half"




UTB

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

I didn't know we were playing?

Only joking. But i couldn't care less if i tried. The worst thing about it is we now have to play another match in the pointless bloody thing. And yes, i will still say that if we reach the final. I wouldn't go, i wouldn't even watch it or care about the result. The best thing is presumably Weir got another chance to see how shit Ironside is, so he can put the squeeze on McBinCabe to find a decent striker on loan.

 

[Pinchy]

Just heard the interview;

"We were really good in the first half"




UTB

Have you heard Florent Cuvelier's interview? He has come to play proper football.

Do you think proper footballers like him and Baxter would have signed for Heroes of Hoof like SemiPro or Quickfix? Do you not think our team will look very different, indeed scarcely recognisable, by the end of January? We no longer need to try in vain to teach the likes of Montgomery to play football. The landscape just changed. The Prince has no Wimbledon videos in his collection.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Have you heard Florent Cuvelier's interview? He has come to play proper football.

Do you think proper footballers like him and Baxter would have signed for Heroes of Hoof like SemiPro or Quickfix? Do you not think our team will look very different, indeed scarcely recognisable, by the end of January? We no longer need to try in vain to teach the likes of Montgomery to play football. The landscape just changed. The Prince has no Wimbledon videos in his collection.

Will we be able to score a goal ?????

 

[Pinchy]

Will we be able to score a goal ?????

Absolutely, mate. Loads of them. We'll laugh at how silly some of us were at this narrow snapshot in time.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

It's Wilson's football of last year, minus something.

That something being Nick Blackman/Dave Kitson.

Two men who were actually capable of putting a football into the back of the net.

 

[Pinchy]

That something being Nick Blackman/Dave Kitson.

Two men who were actually capable of putting a football into the back of the net.

DW, believe it or not, is well aware of this problem. That's why he did his best to sign Clarke and Wilson yesterday. He'll sort it out in due course.

 

[Guesty]

It says something though that, doing his best, he couldn't sign two players from a club drowning in debt for a club about (apparently) to be back by a Saudi Prince's millions.

Quick fixes and the out of shape and clubless for us until January now, yippee.

 

[Pinchy]

It says something though that, doing his best, he couldn't sign two players from a club drowning in debt for a club about (apparently) to be back by a Saudi Prince's millions.

Quick fixes and the out of shape and clubless for us until January now, yippee.

Should we have paid whatever Coventry demanded, even if well beyond our valuation?

If Yes, I've got a couple of cars for sale. Please make me an offer!

 

[Guesty]

Well we need strikers to get out of the League!

No, my point is we were in a very strong bargaining position. We were backed, or potentially backed, with a huge warchest Coventry didn't know about while meanwhile they languish in Administration (or at least part of them does!). In the end we've failed to sign anyone upfront while tonight we've gone seven games from the start of this season without a striker scoring. In recent history quick fix loans and signings upfront have been disastrous (Bent, O'Halloran, Beattie Forte, Poleon) and yet we've stuck with either that or the current crop of failures and no marks at least until January.

The new signings should add far more goals from midfield than we're used to but the squad is still dozens of goals shy of what it needs to be play-off contenders.

 

[Pinchy]

Well we need strikers to get out of the League!

No, my point is we were in a very strong bargaining position. We were backed, or potentially backed, with a huge warchest Coventry didn't know about while meanwhile they languish in Administration (or at least part of them does!). In the end we've failed to sign anyone upfront while tonight we've gone seven games from the start of this season without a striker scoring. In recent history quick fix loans and signings upfront have been disastrous (Bent, O'Halloran, Beattie Forte, Poleon) and yet we've stuck with either that or the current crop of failures and no marks at least until January.

The new signings should add far more goals from midfield than we're used to but the squad is still dozens of goals shy of what it needs to be play-off contenders.

We agree! I just think you're being pessimistic about what can be achieved in the loan market with the extra clout we've now got. We shall see. Can I go to sleep now?

 

[Gavlar]

positives from last night. we won, clean sheet, Taylor scored, albeit from the spot, we're through to the next round of a competition we could win, a trip to Wembley will be great for the new owner to see. plus no injuries that i'm aware of. all of this a welcome distraction from our terrible league form.

negatives, we cant hit a barn door with a tank and struggled to impose ourselves on 4th div scunny. why are we so bad upfront?

something has to change before we start scoring goals and climbing the league, looks like the loan market or a return of shaun miller could be our only hope.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Half full / half empty aside, what's the early verdict on Cuvelier ?

 

[alcoblade]

Have you heard Florent Cuvelier's interview? He has come to play proper football.

Do you think proper footballers like him and Baxter would have signed for Heroes of Hoof like SemiPro or Quickfix? Do you not think our team will look very different, indeed scarcely recognisable, by the end of January? We no longer need to try in vain to teach the likes of Montgomery to play football. The landscape just changed. The Prince has no Wimbledon videos in his collection.

The only alternative to they way we currently play is hoof? Really? Is that really the full scope alternatives you se in the game? I thought it was just because you'd dug a hole so deep you couldn't see out of it. Im beginning to believe you really believe such tripe.

I can't believe you have any followers still liking your guff Pinchy. It's you stuck in the past, not me.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

The only alternative to they way we currently play is hoof? Really? Is that really the full scope alternatives you se in the game? I thought it was just because you'd dug a hole so deep you couldn't see out of it. Im beginning to believe you really believe such tripe.

I can't believe you have any followers still liking your guff Pinchy. It's you stuck in the past, not me.

UTB

It wasn't a hole; it was a trench. I dug it during SemiPro's reign, to avoid being trampled underfoot by stampeding herds of non-footballers, running wild.

Can you specify the tripe in the post to which you have replied? Our latest signing agrees with me. Jose Baxter said something very similar when he signed. Players and Managers, day in, day out, speak of playing the game 'the right way'. They are referring to proper football, not Neo-Hoof. I think everyone's out of step but you, mate!

 

[Dog Blade]

He's not going to come out and slag the players when he's trying to build some confidence into a new team with a lot of young players.

I think it's far better than Wilson as he does actually squeeze the play and our defence plays far higher. With Wilson it was so far stretched that even Barcelona would have struggled to play, never mind the crap we've got / had in many areas.

I think Ironside will end up making a living at an even lower level. Not sure at all about Taylor.

Replace those two and I think we're slowly getting there.

Keep in mind he thought we didn't have a pot to piss in and has lost the player he was building the system around.

And yes, give it plenty of time. We've 6 years of shite to turnaround.

 

[alcoblade]

Can you specify the tripe in the post to which you have replied?

Because any questioning of the way we currently play is returned with reference to Kevin Blackwell, a man whos football I probably liked less than yourself.

If you follow through the logic of your argument, we have to have David Weir's currewnt way, or Blackwell's. It makes you wonder why managers are paid so much if they only have 2 ideas.

Jose Baxter said something very similar when he signed. Players and Managers, day in, day out, speak of playing the game 'the right way'.

So they's all play (for example) with one up front, period, no matter what playing squad they had at their disposal? Really?

Can you not see that your argument, not mine, is just way too simplistic?

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

Because any questioning of the way we currently play is returned with reference to Kevin Blackwell, a man whos football I probably liked less than yourself.

If you follow through the logic of your argument, we have to have David Weir's currewnt way, or Blackwell's. It makes you wonder why managers are paid so much if they only have 2 ideas.



So they's all play (for example) with one up front, period, no matter what playing squad they had at their disposal? Really?

Can you not see that your argument, not mine, is just way too simplistic?

UTB

I don't like the lone striker either. I do like good footballers though. If you recruit enough of them, the formation matrix becomes less and less important, the better you get. DW has shown he has an eye for a player. Baxter and Cuvelier are outstanding players at this level and will serve us very well indeed, especially (and it's a big especially) when they get other good players around them. I'm pleased to say that the vast majority of their present team-mates are on borrowed time!

 

[Pinchy]

positives from last night. we won, clean sheet, Taylor scored, albeit from the spot, we're through to the next round of a competition we could win, a trip to Wembley will be great for the new owner to see. plus no injuries that i'm aware of. all of this a welcome distraction from our terrible league form.

negatives, we cant hit a barn door with a tank and struggled to impose ourselves on 4th div scunny. why are we so bad upfront?

something has to change before we start scoring goals and climbing the league, looks like the loan market or a return of shaun miller could be our only hope.

That's two hopes! Just need to add Bob and we're full of Hope.

 

[HoodedClaw]

We've got a lot of new and young players in, the pre-season we had is out of the windows with KM jumping ship. I don't think we're that far away from it working to be honest, it seems we lack a bit of positivity and confidence at the moment, a bit frightened of making a mistake. Jose and Flo will help change this when they've settled in.

I dont subscribe to the theory that all we need is a goal scoring striker and all will be sorted, I believe that once the confidence and positivity is there and we are creating chances the forwards we have will score. We're in greater need of some positive attacking fullbacks than a striker.

 

[highpeakblade]

Same story different day. I'm unbelievably fed up of watching this United team set up as it is at the minute because it isn't meeting it's potential despite the addition of attacking midfielders.

I left the ground early last night to get on the earlier train home, I couldn't be arsed to watch the penalties and if i'm pretty honest I was bored stiffless and could have told you after half hour where that match was going.

Cuvelier again looks like he could be useful just as Baxter did. In those two played in the right manner in the right formation then I think they could be a class act and that area would be sorted but we still have the same old problem in desperately needing another striker and I don't just mean bringing another striker into the club but another striker on the pitch.

The honeymoon period is now over Mr Weir. That formation doesn't and won't work with the squad that we have! We need to play a formation that works for Sheffield United and works in league one and that is the traditional 4-4-2! We need that man up there for the knock downs!

Please, please, please get that Striker into the club on a 90 day loan and please, please, please revert to our usual 4-4-2 and utilize the actual potential of the players that you have brought into the club!

 

[Wards]

Alluding to an earlier point in the thread but haven't Cov's playing staff essentially been underwritten by a backer for the season, thus meaning they can withstand some approaches for them. Not sure how that ties in with how they are able to repay their debts or get out of admin but that's the general jist of what I'd read. I think.

Aside from that I've no problem with us playing 1 up. We have, however, got to make sure he's supported properly. No good having 1, 2 or even 3 up there if they aren't getting service. The formation isn't the problem IMO, just the way we operate in the final third.

 

[stannyblade]

The honeymoon period is now over Mr Weir. That formation doesn't and won't work with the squad that we have! We need to play a formation that works for Sheffield United and works in league one and that is the traditional 4-4-2! We need that man up there for the knock downs!

Please, please, please get that Striker into the club on a 90 day loan and please, please, please revert to our usual 4-4-2 and utilize the actual potential of the players that you have brought into the club!

Agree that given what we have this formation wont work.
To make it work we need at the very least

1. Attacking minded right back (think Walker / Lowton type) but of course a lower league version
2. Attacking minded left back (SEE ABOVE)
3. A striker that can hold the ball up to bring others in to play but also be able to score goals (Leon Clarke?)

 

[GRENO]

I know its frustrating at the moment but nobody will know more than Weir and Carsley
what areas need strengthening the most. At the start of the season Weir commented that the
team that starts the season will be completely different from the one that finish's it.
So guys patience, after all we've not won anything for donkey's years so what's another year.

 

[Bergen Blade]

, just the way we operate in the final third.

I hear that all the time, but could our problems with attacking effectively in the final third be linked to what we do in the first two thirds?

 

[highpeakblade]

Agree with the majority of the above.

The only way this is going to work is by allowing Baxter to be more of a make shift striker as well as an attacking midfielder but even then it is all down to the service and out wide we haven't delivered the goods as I thought we would. The amount of times a cross hasn't beat the first man (forgive me for sounding Keith Edwards like) but he is right, professional football players should be beating the first man with crosses and set pieces. It makes me wonder if this is due to our lack of height in the box therefore the instructions have been to drill the ball into the danger zone a bit lower but it's not working and it's not good enough!

As said above we need the overlapping full backs but we also need the wide men to be pulling out wide and rather than turning backwards or going back inside with the ball we need players with the confidence to hit the by line and get a ball into a dangerous area, this is where we need Baxter / Cuvelier etc hitting the 18 / 6 yard box to make up the numbers in the box as they should do to make this formation effective.

The simple fact is for me however, although we have a decent enough quality of player within midfield, so far this set up / formation / style of play has been beyond them when it comes to making stuff happen in the final third. We can't go on like we are because draws won't get us out of this league. If we need to switch back to a 4-4-2 formation and put up with a tiny bit of long ball and more direct play then so be it, it wouldn't hurt to mix things around a bit and play with a bit of variation and it would win us games.

1 thing remains the same. A proven goal scoring striker required please Mr Weir / Mr McCabe / Prince Abdullah.

 

[HoodedClaw]

How will a "Proven" goalscorer make a difference? We're not crating enough chances for any kind of goalscorer. RVP's conversion rate is just under 20%, thats every 5 chances created he scores 1. We aren't even creating 5 chances.

If we start creating 15 - 20 chances a game and we still aren't scoring then I'll start to agree the we need a goalscorer, but let's start creating the chances first.

 

[Jehovah]

How will a "Proven" goalscorer make a difference? We're not crating enough chances for any kind of goalscorer. RVP's conversion rate is just under 20%, thats every 5 chances created he scores 1. We aren't even creating 5 chances.

If we start creating 15 - 20 chances a game and we still aren't scoring then I'll start to agree the we need a goalscorer, but let's start creating the chances first.

Pretty much how RS commentary team saw it last night too.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Pretty much how RS commentary team saw it last night too.

The football style we play at the moment is ineffective and will only work with players who are far superior to the opposition. Given time, and another transfer window, that may become the case, but we should be making tweaks now, and this message board has offered a number of constructive advice on how to improve things.

The lack of forward passing was ridiculous vs Scunthorpe. We played like we mainly wanted to make the possession stat look good.

Again our full backs failed to play a part going forward, as did the holding central midfielders, who were more than happy when they managed to find Maguire or Collins with a backwards pass.

Flynn, McFadzean and Ironside were poor, hardly created anything, although it doesn't help them when our build up is so slow. They must wonder what's the point in making a run in behind when our back six are only interested in keeping the ball among themselves. Cuvelier clearly has more to offer, but didn't really impress in McDonald's role. There were a good touch here and there from him.

Baxter was more positive when he came on. He has the ability to receive the ball, turn his marker and run at the opposition defence. He will also be looking to thread balls through and he's the one player who can actually manage to make us play with more tempo, and I have hopes he'll help Murphy and Taylor improve.

After failing to score from open play the last ten hours, I think we must make our attacking play our priority and this would probably help us create more:

Long​

Westlake Maguire Collins McFadzean​

Cuvelier McGinn​

Brandy - - - - Baxter - - - - - Murphy​

Taylor​

I know many would want to see McMahon or Hill, but I can't see us creating enough if we keep a holding back four and a holding central midfield duo, i.e. seven players who will rarely cross the halfway line.