Calm down, thats a good result

[Vistoma]

Before we destroy any individual player over the Middlesbrough result can I just say that it really isn't a bad result. I don't think there will be many teams who go there and take a point and restrict them to 1 shot on target. A good team performance (I know we would have liked to win).

Also, before anyone rips into me, I wasn't there but watched it on sky and saw the whole team working for each other and good signs that we will be difficult to beat away. Now if we can make DDTBL a place where we win lots we really won't be far away this season.

Howard made a few last ditch tackles to break up attacks which is not his game but he did it, a la Monty, for the team.

Well done lads, Boro were tipped by all of the sky experts as champions and we made them look ordinary.

 

[Kev Gee]

Agreed.

Its a good point. We were one of the best sides away from home last season & last nights game typified why.

Its the HOME games that we need to be more positive & drive for a result. hopefully we will make Bramall lane a fortress this season & then i think we will have a good season!

 

[1973_Blade]

Yes, it was a good solid performance and the new players seemed to be up for the fight, especially Bunn who was firing the fans up before the game. France seemed to be less attack minded than Cotts would have been and maybe we will see him more away from home. Treacy showed some good touches in the first half but lost his way in the second and Taylor looked solid enough - he won't come up against too many wingers like Johnson this season.
Overall a point away from the Riverside is good enough for me...if we had done the same last season at Birmingham...

 

[The One]

If it wasn't for having very few fit strikers then we definately should have played 4-4-2 and gone for the win instead of being happy with a draw.

I didn't see the point in flooding the midfield with wingers who are meant to be supporting the striker but don't.

On several occasions you found Monty at the back, pushing forward through the middle and on the wings. Not all his job but he does it because no one else seemed to.

But, I suppose a draw is good enough.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

Absolutely Vistoma - Boro are a strong side who had an unlucky season last year, and even with their injuries could field highly rated players like Wheater, Johnson, Aliadiere, Huth and Yeats.

As Vistoma says - we looked good as a unit. No bad achievement given 5 debuts (inc Evans) - other new faces on the bench - and a rushed pre-season.

Signs of hope for a good season -

Main area of concern for me was the full backs - hope that's cos Yeats and Johnson were so good, but Walker was lucky on 3 or 4 occasions and Taylor was pressurised too- as he seemed to be at Lincoln as well - (and both were being supported by our wingers playing very deep). Good job Morgs, Killa and Monty had their ususal rock solid games.

Bring on the Mighty Vale

 

[Mad Mick]

Agree totally, but don't forget it is a forum, if we didn't praise or criticise players it would be a little quite.
Thought Monty was MOM.
Midfield still needs some tweaking, just wonder who is gonna score goals for us.
After saying that I'm delighted with a point. Onwards Upwards.

 

[Paulus]

Hey Vistoma - I like the typo on DDTBL - what do you reckon 'Delightful' would work so long as it's not 'depressing' or 'dull' eh?

I too was happy with that starter, plenty of positives to build on - bring on Watford.

 

[Vistoma]

Hey Vistoma - I like the typo on DDTBL - what do you reckon 'Delightful' would work so long as it's not 'depressing' or 'dull' eh?

I too was happy with that starter, plenty of positives to build on - bring on Watford.

Whoops.....

 

[Jon Bon]

Yep agreed. Point up there good enough for me. I saw enough last night to convince me that we we are moving forward and building on last season. Like most though, I'm not convinced by Quinn or Howard. Maybe Williamson will be the answer.

 

[S64 Blade]

I'm pleased with the result. We wont get many more tougher away games then that!

 

[James360]

i was thinking should have won the game b4 we started as thought they would still be hungover from going down. but boro put out a decent side, still got some good quality players there like johnson, yeates, bates, huth, wheater, o'neil, who have yh ok got relegated last season but they are good experianced prem players and youthful at the same time.

but i thought we looked promising good play in some areas, and was pleased to see hendo last the full 90mins, and was pleased monty picked up from where he left last season and same with killa and morgs. was disappointed again in frances proformance, never seen much of a good player in him even when he was at hull. Bunn looked good in goal, cracking save from their one shot on target, and looked quick off his line and good distribution.

overall pleased with result and pleased that we look like we are looking to play football rather than hoof ball.

 

[grafikhaus]

Agree. We made Boro look ordinary. Got to feel sorry for Hendo up on his own but, with a weakened team away at one of the stronger Championship teams, that was a good point.

Killa, magnificent. Morgan and Montgomery, pretty anonymous in that they were utterly solid, unbreakable and professional and, in a way, we've got used to them being so good.

 

[dingledog]

I thought it was a good solid performance to build on for the rest of the season against a team who are meant to be able to walk it to automatic promotion. Same result last year and we would have been promoted automatically.

 

[BV]

I thought we looked a better team when Howard was on the pitch. Williamson in for Quinn and a tinker with the wingers seems likely for the next few games, certainly away.

 

[SwissBlade]

Cracking post Vistoma, a point away at Boro is a good start.

The Midfield was very solid and workman like, everyone did what they had to defensively, but going forward I didn't think we created enough... Quinny/ Howard, but i'll save judgement until i've seen us at home.

Thought we were too direct though and we could've made much more of our pressure. Too many long balls, I don't just mean back to front, we had no invention on throw ins, and every chance we got we lumped it into the box instead of getting around the back using the full backs and wingers.

I know the counter attack ploy works (insert 'High energy' and 'pace' as required) but sometimes we need a man to slow the play down... a Macca or a Speed.

Substitutions were ok, probably predictable, but were a sign we wanted to win the game.

We'd have been better bringing on a quick striker and a midfielder to hold the ball .... but we didn't have those players available

So no real complaints, good point, roll on Watford next Sat

 

[Linz]

We're not bottom of the table

 

[jodman]

I thought we looked a better team when Howard was on the pitch. Williamson in for Quinn and a tinker with the wingers seems likely for the next few games, certainly away.

I agree but it looks like we could be without Williamson for quite a while. Blackie did mention that he thinks we are still short in midfield so hopefully he will be looking to add the ellusive creative central midfielder we have been craving for so long!

 

[Paulus]

I didn't think that the subs were predictable, bringing on a second striker for the last quarter of an hour away from home surprised me - for the better I might add! Contrast with Birmingham away last season. Is it a sign of a more adventurous Blackwell?

 

[Toronto Blade]

Exactly S64 if they are tipped for auto we should be right there with them.They probably have someone off that team leaving before the transfer window.So we played them at their ground with thier best lineup other than Tuncay missing.
That should be one of the toughest away fixtures out of the way.If we can improve the home results on last season it looks good!

 

[travellingblade]

No away team has won is the Championship prior the West Brom v Newcastle game, so it makes it an even better result for the Blades.

 

[theblade1957]

monty top man hope we can get someone to help him out in there

 

[Northyorksblade]

I must admit, when I saw Evans was about to come on, I thought Blackwell would take off Hendo. So I was pleased at a/ the positive substitution and b/ that Hendo played the full 90 minutes.

 

[Come from away]

Bottom line - Hendo needs someone to play close to him or all his hard work comes to nothing.

 

[puppet]

Bottom line - Hendo needs someone to play close to him or all his hard work comes to nothing.

totally agree

 

[Santos]

totally agree

I think this man could well be Jamie Ward. Towards the back end of last season, Henderson & Ward really linked up well and whereas with Henderson & Sharp Hendo would flick it off and Sharp would be miles away (not really blame Sharp, it may have been Hendo's fault) Ward was always onto it.

Things never turn out that way though, I can't remember the last time we ever had a settled front two who played the majority of games together. Deane & Agana?

 

[sitwell]

I agree with Henderson and Ward ,but where would that leave Evans ?

 

[mall]

I have yet to "get" Henderson. Evans is an unknown quantity and Ward still a rookie.
On Friday's showing United still have last season's going forward problems of lack of guile and interplay.
However I am massively happy with Bunn, the back four and Montgomery.