Chesterfield 1 United 4 - View from my sofa

[Woodwardfan]

Agree with almost every word Deadbat but agree you are just a bit harsh on Duffy.

As for Coutts I remember Wilder saying in early season, maybe after our first away win, " I told Coutts not to be a passenger as usual in the second half"; man management, simple and effective and has maybe saved Coutts' career.

From what Sharp said in the Guardian we had a good few players coasting last season and this season they have to"be at it" every day in training, again basic stuff but essential.

 

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

Presently he seems to get things right about 50-60% of the time but playing in the hole or in a free role are amongst the trickiest things to do on a football field because you are literally a marked man from minute one.

Nail on the head for me this. If 90% of what he tried came off for him, there's not a chance he'd be playing in league 1.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Just another word for Freeman and for Coutts, who were both fantastic yesterday I thought - Freeman with his energy and positivity, and Coutts (who'd have thought it?) mainly for his aggression.

Everyone's playing his part.

Just need a big game from poor Matt Done now, for whom nothing's going right (but who puts in immense shifts regardless).

 

[Boxer Blade]

A bit harsh on Moore for the goal, it was hit hard and seemed to be going passed him before he could react but a good read.cheers.

 

[Champagneblade]

For me

Moore 7/10: Not at fault for the goal. Their bloke smacked clean through the arse of the ball and at that range it could have gone anywhere, so reacting to get yourself into a position to save is a lottery of getting your limbs in the way. He did get a hand to it, but it was travelling. Dealt fairly well with everything else banged at him or crossed over.

Freeman 8/10: A bit of a renaissance man. He used to be (fairly) shite and I feared for his future with us, but he seems to like the wingback role and today not only saw him pop up to score again, but create enough menace to peg them back a bit. He also tracked back to cover off our 18 yd box at times too

Lafferty 6/10: Not the best game for him. Quite what he was doing at centre forward for Sharp's pass was anyone's guess and at times I didn't quite think he was in touch with the team enough in the first half to warrant much credibility

Basham 6/10: (this was gusting 6.5/10 in the second half) first half he was like bambi on ice and Evans shrugged him off too many times - one of which led to the goal. I was half expecting him to roll the dice and do a tackle on Evans which would lead to a penalty and us being 0-2 down. Second half he was allowed to move up and even overlap (not sure he should be doing that) and was more in the game

Ebanks-Landell 7.5/10: Towering performance and very dominating. He shows not only how much we need him to finally fill the gap Maguire (and Morgan) left, but how much a skilled, above-this-level central defender means to the performance of the team. If we don't break the bank to acquire him, we will suffer. Lets not forget that 12 months ago we were relying on McEverley and Collins to both do what he does almost single handedly.

Wright 6.5/10: Thought he was a liability and was found wanting by their winger during the first half. He drifted in and out of the game and I am not sure he is comfy as part of a back three.

Fleck 7/10: I was under the impression this guy was the cat's twat, but today he flattered a bit to deceive at times. His passing was well astray in the first half and although he did graft a bit in the centre of the park, I think he didn't show the creative input at times which say, Michael Brown - his direct comparator, would have done. We had a formula between Duffy, Coutts and Fleck which two or three times led to nowt in front of the Chessy 18 yard box. It went back, forth and back again and found no real penetration unless it went wide. Only a few times did it get to the feet of Sharp, and I think they need to work on that a bit. Well taken goal, but keeper should have had that one.

Duffy 6.5/10: Worked hard (and I was struggling at times to work out just where he was actually playing) but prior to the ball to Billy for his goal his crossing and his final ball is a bit shit at times.

Coutts 7.5/10: The best of the midfield three IMH). Made the difference in the middle and battled well.

Done 7/10: Typical Done performance scrapping it out for a half chance and getting nothing.

Sharp 8.5/10: Great game. Got the goal he deserved after all the digging in and doing what he does so well.

Subs:

Clarke 8/10: What a beast. Great goal, showing his pedigree. Made every difference when he came on and Wilder's plan worked a treat.

O'Connell and Lavery - not enough seen to mark

Loved the game. Positives for me: good to see United actually playing it on the deck, stringing passes together, playing the possession game and not panicking at all at 1-0 down. It was patient, persistent stuff and no 'oh fuck, lets launch it and see if Billy can dig out half a chance and nick a goal.' Negatives: Nothing. We possibly need to work on crosses and what to do in the final third outside the box. Second half, we were totally on top which is a change from shipping another killer goal and allowing the result to drift away from us, like we used to.

pommpey

I thought Fleck was an inspirational figure to be honest. At the end of the first half he was about the only one I would have absolved of any criticism. Even Billy, who I thought had a very good game overall, screwed one horribly wide when he could have done better.

Fleck was always looking for the ball, seldom lost possession and was always looking to drive forward and the team were looking to him to provide that spark. He was always on for a pass be it long or short and he never stops competing or looking for the right option.

He is such a clever player. Probably why he's got 7 assists after a third of the season and when he's only just become a regular. Top last year was Dack with 14.

His cross for the equaliser was on a sixpence, it was his driving run and viscous finish that got us in front.

He was always involved. If Coutts can add a few goals too we have two very cute players who respect possession so well. Can't recall having such a pairing.

All about opinions and don't doubt he is better than Long but I though Moore should have swallowed the opener though it was initially Basham's fault, who had a poor first half. Moore did well to get out of the way. It's not so much the near post thing but that it was straight at him. He should have been braver than he was. He's an improvement but he's not the Messiah. He's been at fault for a few goals now, Scunny another example. He needs to keep his focus. It could go either way with him. Needs to cut out the number of goals with question marks to him over the next few weeks.

 

[JohnDenver]

Pure Pinchy bait.

I prefer to think of it as Pinchy catnip.

 

[Iceybabey]

Players like Duffy will always be frustrating. He tries things...constantly. Doesn't hide because he's confident he'll do something. I reckon we'll see more from him feeding off Clarke. Midfield will have a field day with Clarke winning and flicking balls for them to run on to. Clarke can create situations where runners can get beyond defences...this is a midfielders dream because they can always think about being on the front foot.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

Basham won't have to play against many in this league with the combination of ability, strength and determination that Evans showed. I thought he did as well as could be expected and that few elsewhere will do much better in holding him back if he's still in this division after January.

Coutts and Sharp did best from my sofa view. Fleck had a great second half, Clarke looked very good in his short spell.

Chesterfield lost it when they went deep and allowed us to play our game in midfield - when Evans went off I felt that the writing was on the wall.

btw - who thinks Evans tried to knobble Fleck (not a euphemism)

 

[coaxingstar71]

Without wishing to complain after a tremendous 4-1 win, I just don't see how Basham can be viewed as a better CB option than O'Connell. For me, we looked better with EEL on the right side of the 3, O'Connell on the left and Wright organising and picking up the pieces in the middle. As it was, Arriyibe(?) had far too much pace for Wright on our left and Basham struggled with Evans and made the mistake that cost the goal. EEL had to go to the man (Evans) and in doing so lost his man.

Great report from the armchair Deadbat , I think someone else mentioned it, but it was Duffy that robbed Humphreys in the middle of the park and played a great ball to Fleck who scored, so perhaps deserves a slightly better mark, but fully agree that his distribution had been gash in the first hour. Fair play to him to keep his head up and keep going.

 

[I should coco]

Imagine what Blackwell would have made of him...

He'd have put him out on the same wing as Billy.

Or he would have told him to stand near Leon Brittan and watch the ball sail over his head a lot.

 

[Pinchy]

I thought Fleck was an inspirational figure to be honest. At the end of the first half he was about the only one I would have absolved of any criticism. Even Billy, who I thought had a very good game overall, screwed one horribly wide when he could have done better.

Fleck was always looking for the ball, seldom lost possession and was always looking to drive forward and the team were looking to him to provide that spark. He was always on for a pass be it long or short and he never stops competing or looking for the right option.

He is such a clever player. Probably why he's got 7 assists after a third of the season and when he's only just become a regular. Top last year was Dack with 14.

His cross for the equaliser was on a sixpence, it was his driving run and viscous finish that got us in front.

He was always involved. If Coutts can add a few goals too we have two very cute players who respect possession so well. Can't recall having such a pairing.

All about opinions and don't doubt he is better than Long but I though Moore should have swallowed the opener though it was initially Basham's fault, who had a poor first half. Moore did well to get out of the way. It's not so much the near post thing but that it was straight at him. He should have been braver than he was. He's an improvement but he's not the Messiah. He's been at fault for a few goals now, Scunny another example. He needs to keep his focus. It could go either way with him. Needs to cut out the number of goals with question marks to him over the next few weeks.

Moore has to be seen in context:

1. There are no Peter Shiltons in League One.
2. There are no Peter Shiltons even in the Premiership. At least one "England's number one" may have nice hair but is a wholly unreliable buffoon.
3. He is infinitely better than Calamity George.
4. I've seen nobody better in our league. Certainly not Krusty in goal for Chez...

 

[BushBlade]

Players like Duffy will always be frustrating. He tries things...constantly. Doesn't hide because he's confident he'll do something. I reckon we'll see more from him feeding off Clarke. Midfield will have a field day with Clarke winning and flicking balls for them to run on to. Clarke can create situations where runners can get beyond defences...this is a midfielders dream because they can always think about being on the front foot.

Yes, I would have subbed Duffy but then he went on to play a major part in the goals. Which is why CW is managing the Blades and I'm chatting shit on a message board.

Clarke has a bit more to his game than flicks on too. The third goal, where he controlled it and laid it off reminded me a little of Sir Brian.

 

[BushBlade]

I thought Fleck was an inspirational figure to be honest. At the end of the first half he was about the only one I would have absolved of any criticism. Even Billy, who I thought had a very good game overall, screwed one horribly wide when he could have done better.

Fleck was always looking for the ball, seldom lost possession and was always looking to drive forward and the team were looking to him to provide that spark. He was always on for a pass be it long or short and he never stops competing or looking for the right option.

He is such a clever player. Probably why he's got 7 assists after a third of the season and when he's only just become a regular. Top last year was Dack with 14.

His cross for the equaliser was on a sixpence, it was his driving run and viscous finish that got us in front.

He was always involved. If Coutts can add a few goals too we have two very cute players who respect possession so well. Can't recall having such a pairing.

All about opinions and don't doubt he is better than Long but I though Moore should have swallowed the opener though it was initially Basham's fault, who had a poor first half. Moore did well to get out of the way. It's not so much the near post thing but that it was straight at him. He should have been braver than he was. He's an improvement but he's not the Messiah. He's been at fault for a few goals now, Scunny another example. He needs to keep his focus. It could go either way with him. Needs to cut out the number of goals with question marks to him over the next few weeks.

You criticise Billy for missing a chance when he'd spent all the half working his tits off dragging their defence all over the place and setting up chances for others but praise Fleck for a performance in the first half that was below his usual standard. He lost possession several times with unforced passing errors and struggled to impose himself in the game. He did some good work too and looked like Fleck in the second half.

And overall, they both did well.

Blaming a keeper when players hit very fast and hard shots at them is just harsh and unnecessary IMO.

We won, we twatted them, is it really that beneficial to try to find mistakes in players' game? Because they'll always make them, at every level.

And it was clear that Wilson was trying to get down our flanks so CW had Basham on one side for his mobility and Wright on the other for his nouse. EEL in the middle because he's got the turning circle of an oil tanker and could have got badly exposed in the wider areas.

 

[jqzblade]

Wish I had of been in your stand. Could only get tickets for the Kop. What a load of bitter barstewards their so called fans are!
Ex piggy Allen won't be getting many xmas cards I fear. Hated more than McSue!

 

[Champagneblade]

You criticise Billy for missing a chance when he'd spent all the half working his tits off dragging their defence all over the place and setting up chances for others but praise Fleck for a performance in the first half that was below his usual standard. He lost possession several times with unforced passing errors and struggled to impose himself in the game. He did some good work too and looked like Fleck in the second half.

And overall, they both did well.

Blaming a keeper when players hit very fast and hard shots at them is just harsh and unnecessary IMO.

We won, we twatted them, is it really that beneficial to try to find mistakes in players' game? Because they'll always make them, at every level.

And it was clear that Wilson was trying to get down our flanks so CW had Basham on one side for his mobility and Wright on the other for his nouse. EEL in the middle because he's got the turning circle of an oil tanker and could have got badly exposed in the wider areas.

Why so defensive?

I said above Billy had a very good game. Not even he looked like he'd brought his (accurate) shooting boots first half.

Fleck made the team of the week so he must have been seen by others to have had a good game. I would say he was MOTM and not 7/10. That was my initial opinion.

As for Moore he is going to have to save well struck shots. He's got gloves and he's a grown man. Wilder referred to 'a couple of mistakes' on the goal. I'm sure he meant Bash and Moore.

We were losing 1-0 at half time. Don't see an issue with pointing out first half wasn't too good.

Overall it was an excellent display.

 

[grafikhaus]

We were losing 1-0 at half time. Don't see an issue with pointing out first half wasn't too good.

Overall it was an excellent display.

Sunday summed up our progress - and deficiencies - very well. Not only has CW recruited wisely and got players like Coutts performing in a way that the clown Adkins couldn't, he's upped our fitness levels. We now (to use boxing parlance), 'rope the dope'. We let the opposition blow themselves out, drag them across the pitch and hit them when they're tiring. It's possibly our version of gegenpressing.

I'm quite fond of stats (oh, you noticed ?) and this chart shows when we are conceding and scoring. Only a third of the season gone, but we must address our tendency to concede too many in the first 15 mins. Sunday was a good example. At 0-1 down and half-time approaching, I thought 'next goal winner'. If Chezzie's attempt that hit the bar had gone in and we'd have gone in to the break at 0-2, the final result could have very been different.

However, we are 'ahead' in every phase of play after HT with over a third of our goals (37%) scored in the 61-75 mins. period when our superior fitness and our efforts to drain the opposition really pay off.

​

 

[Grizzly blade]

Not a huge fan of stats, far too many factors that aren't taken into account for them to mean a lot.

But the above is very simple and makes a good point. That being that we still start most games slowly and grow into it. But I expect that to change for the second half of the season if we continue to get results at the rate we are presently.

 

[Jan Age]

The thing with Duffy is that if things aren't going our way he looks below the standard expected but as soon as we get on top he looks way above anyone else. I thought the game was a perfect example of this... first half he frustrated the life out of me and second half looked like one of our best players.

Fleck also did a lot of 'ground work' breaking up play etc.

I think the key for me is; they all have weaknesses but seem to compliment each other well (key to a promotion winning side)

 

[Sothall_Blade]

He'd have put him out on the same wing as Billy.

Or he would have told him to stand near Leon Brittan and watch the ball sail over his head a lot.

Blades myths debunked No 274:- Blackwell only managed Leon Britton in 3 matches.

 

[Woodwardfan]

The thing with Duffy is that if things aren't going our way he looks below the standard expected but as soon as we get on top he looks way above anyone else. I thought the game was a perfect example of this... first half he frustrated the life out of me and second half looked like one of our best players.

Fleck also did a lot of 'ground work' breaking up play etc.

I think the key for me is; they all have weaknesses but seem to compliment each other well (key to a promotion winning side)

Playmakers need colleagues to be finding space and making runs and there are times in games when the other side doesn't let you play and there's no space or time, it's about sticking in there and seeing it through. In poor teams lacking confidence nobody looks worse than the playmaker who has nobody to pass to and we've had plenty of that in recent years.

 

[WestwoodBlade]

No doubt that Duffy can be frustrating on and off the ball. First half Sunday he was far too wasteful and a little careless, but he has a canny knack of seemingly being able to switch on and at times look unplayable. The role he's in suits him to a tee, floats around, sucks players out of position and creates space for others. On the ball I always feel like somethings going to happen with him
Not sure if anyone else picks up on this but when it comes to defending he's definitely a liability, gets caught ball-watching or out of position and often half heartedly tracks back. This isn't every game but there are going to be times we need to see a lead out and Duffy does concern me in this aspect.
Thankfully at the minute we're way too dominant for this to be an issue and we've got replacements like Scougs who offers more of a defensive work rate

 

[Woodwardfan]

Moore has to be seen in context:

1. There are no Peter Shiltons in League One.
2. There are no Peter Shiltons even in the Premiership. At least one "England's number one" may have nice hair but is a wholly unreliable buffoon.
3. He is infinitely better than Calamity George.
4. I've seen nobody better in our league. Certainly not Krusty in goal for Chez...

Chezzy's keeper turned 20 a few weeks ago and will reach his peak in about 6 to 8 years, that's just how it is and yes he had a really poor second half but Wilson and Liverpool will have that in context I'm sure. George Long is further down the road but nowhere near his ultimate destination, wherever that might be. Let's wish the lad well.

Moore looks very good value if he cost just £500k, what do you get for half a million these days, agree that's the context.

 

[BushBlade]

Why so defensive?

I said above Billy had a very good game. Not even he looked like he'd brought his (accurate) shooting boots first half.

Fleck made the team of the week so he must have been seen by others to have had a good game. I would say he was MOTM and not 7/10. That was my initial opinion.

As for Moore he is going to have to save well struck shots. He's got gloves and he's a grown man. Wilder referred to 'a couple of mistakes' on the goal. I'm sure he meant Bash and Moore.

We were losing 1-0 at half time. Don't see an issue with pointing out first half wasn't too good.

Overall it was an excellent display.

I wasn't being defensive, unless you mean defending the team I support against nit-picking criticism. I just don't get how you can absolve Fleck from any criticism but have a go at Sharp? It just seems illogical to me.

Sorry, but I think you've borne the brunt of my frustration over the number of posts pointing out minor mistakes players made in a game we comprehensively won. And, to be fair, there were other posts that were equally or more frustrating than yours but many had been made immediately after the match, when I try to avoid posting, which others had already responded to.

I just don't get the idea that a player is going to play every game and never make mistakes, especially at this level and don't really see the point of poring over little errors in an otherwise decent performance. It's small minded and churlish IMO.

 

[Kenilworth]

Favourite chants of the day. In no particular order

1. At 4-1 up and passing it around them, like in a training session

"We're taking the piss, we're taking the piss.
We're Sheffield United and we're taking the piss"

2. 5 mins after number 1.

"We're coming for you, we're coming for you.
Sheffield Wednesday, we're coming for you."

I like a bit of terrace bantz, me

 

[sitwell]

Basham won't have to play against many in this league with the combination of ability, strength and determination that Evans showed. I thought he did as well as could be expected and that few elsewhere will do much better in holding him back if he's still in this division after January.

Coutts and Sharp did best from my sofa view. Fleck had a great second half, Clarke looked very good in his short spell.

Chesterfield lost it when they went deep and allowed us to play our game in midfield - when Evans went off I felt that the writing was on the wall.

btw - who thinks Evans tried to knobble Fleck (not a euphemism)

Don't tell the CPS for fuck sake.

 

[I should coco]

Blades myths debunked No 274:- Blackwell only managed Leon Britton in 3 matches.

Hardly 'debunked', as Blackwell signed him, presumably because he was told he was a 'quality player'.

He then realised he had no idea how to fit in him the team, as with his successor, St Gary.

Part of the reason he only lasted 3 games in that season was the dreadful signings he made then and earlier. James Harper, Brian Howard and Darrius 'put your fists up' Henderson, spring to mind.

My earlier point was about Billy. Terry Robinson signed him and it was obvious Robson didn't know how to play him (or want him), so kept sticking him on the wing. Blackwell continued the stupidity, when it was obvious to all that Bill was a goal scorer.

 

[GrayBlade]

Favourite chants of the day. In no particular order

1. At 4-1 up and passing it around them, like in a training session

"We're taking the piss, we're taking the piss.
We're Sheffield United and we're taking the piss"

2. 5 mins after number 1.

"We're coming for you, we're coming for you.
Sheffield Wednesday, we're coming for you."

I like a bit of terrace bantz, me

Me too, but I'd have preferred Hull City's version from last season for the second. That is...

"We're coming for you, we're coming for you.
SHIT Sheffield Wednesday, we're coming for you."

 

[BushBlade]

Hardly 'debunked', as Blackwell signed him, presumably because he was told he was a 'quality player'.

He then realised he had no idea how to fit in him the team, as with his successor, St Gary.

Part of the reason he only lasted 3 games in that season was the dreadful signings he made then and earlier. James Harper, Brian Howard and Darrius 'put your fists up' Henderson, spring to mind.

My earlier point was about Billy. Terry Robinson signed him and it was obvious Robson didn't know how to play him (or want him), so kept sticking him on the wing. Blackwell continued the stupidity, when it was obvious to all that Bill was a goal scorer.

Billy was too similar to Beattie in that he operated best in the same areas. They did the same job; the fox in the box. They were never likely to form an effective partnership. That's why we shouldn't have left signing players to Robinson. I've always suspected we only signed Bill to stop him going to the pigs. Didn't want another Varadi scenario.

 

[Grappler]

It was a good day out on Sunday. Not a fan of standing behind goal, prefer the side view, so I could have been mistaken, but on a few occasions, first half, it looked to me like there was a huge gap in the middle of the park and it just needed one of our lads to get the ball and run straight forward, route one style, straight down the middle and straight at goal and have a go.

 

[Snowman]

I thought Fleck was an inspirational figure to be honest. At the end of the first half he was about the only one I would have absolved of any criticism. Even Billy, who I thought had a very good game overall, screwed one horribly wide when he could have done better.

Fleck was always looking for the ball, seldom lost possession and was always looking to drive forward and the team were looking to him to provide that spark. He was always on for a pass be it long or short and he never stops competing or looking for the right option.

He is such a clever player. Probably why he's got 7 assists after a third of the season and when he's only just become a regular. Top last year was Dack with 14.

His cross for the equaliser was on a sixpence, it was his driving run and viscous finish that got us in front.

He was always involved. If Coutts can add a few goals too we have two very cute players who respect possession so well. Can't recall having such a pairing.

All about opinions and don't doubt he is better than Long but I though Moore should have swallowed the opener though it was initially Basham's fault, who had a poor first half. Moore did well to get out of the way. It's not so much the near post thing but that it was straight at him. He should have been braver than he was. He's an improvement but he's not the Messiah. He's been at fault for a few goals now, Scunny another example. He needs to keep his focus. It could go either way with him. Needs to cut out the number of goals with question marks to him over the next few weeks.

Moore. Pray tell what he should have done which in your excellent professional opinion as a goalkeeper he could have done? Swallowed it? Got out of the way? Shows you know nothing whatsoever about the position. I will be the first to tell you when a keeper has screwed up, but if he did, at least get it right as to why he did. Had any experience of reacting to a ball struck perfectly at over 60mph from 8 yards?