Chris Basham in centre mid

[Slim Man]

It's gonna be a long four months...

Not judging what we HAVE signed, but what we HAVEN'T signed leaves a very sour taste. No top class proven leader at the back, no athletic goalscoring midfielder and only 2 wingers in the team.

We're ALWAYS about 3 players short after every window and that's why we are still here. Shame.

 

[DronnieBlade]

We do look a bit thin in CM.

But Coutts has surprised CW. If they all stay fit (big if) we might just about have enough in Coutts, Bash, Fleck.

But I really do feel we lack a Victor Wanyama type. Brick shithouse of a CM.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

It's gonna be a long four months...

Not judging what we HAVE signed, but what we HAVEN'T signed leaves a very sour taste. No top class proven leader at the back, no athletic goalscoring midfielder and only 2 wingers in the team.

We're ALWAYS about 3 players short after every window and that's why we are still here. Shame.

I don't think anyone is under any illusion that the Central midfield is a finished article, but i think we've prioritised properly this summer
1. Clear the decks and reduce squad size
2. Bring in Centre Backs
3. Bring in Target Man
4. Bring in Pace
5. Bring in Wingers/ Widemen
6. Bring in Goal Keeper
7. Bring in Full backs

It no coincidence that whilst we've cleared out every other position, central midfield has a huge variety of midfielders - Wilder obviously sees something there and i would say that in Midfield, we would need just ONE player, not THREE.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Completely agree. I'm pleased with every signing we've made but much more disappointed with those that we've failed to make. IMO we still desperately lack in the spine of the side. We have the GK and CF but neither of the CMs or CBs. We could well struggle here.

I've said all along, that the players we do have are good players and a good supporting cast to the spine of the side, but they aren't the leaders and then spine themselves. And that hasn't been addressed.

Look at Bolton's signings:
Bolton have signed Peterborough keeper Ben Alnwick, wingers Sammy Ameobi and James Henry on loan until January, plus striker Keshi Anderson and defender Tom Thorpe on season-long loan deals.

Add that, to what they already had and do we even match up?! Henry and Ameobi show that there were good CMs and wide players out there.

 

[Kev Gee]

We still dont have an box to box mid that can tackle and score.

Very poor.

 

[Sheffsteel]

1. Danny,

Glad you're no where near the SU team or staff. We may as well give up now and accept relegation.

Agree there's a potential weakness in centre midfield but I suppose Wilder could be gambling on Coutts.

If the Coutts- Fleck partnership doesn't work then expect a loanee midfielder.

Morsey won't want to be out of favour at Wigan for much longer. Never know maybe get Morsey on a season long loan? Just seen he may have gone to Barnsley.

Hey isn't Hammond a free agent, great pedigree. Maybe he could be the answer to centre mid ha ha.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I know this won't go down well with some but if we are left with what we have - and no loans what do we do?

Who are the best 2 ball players?

Coutts and Fleck IMO. Coutts has issues, but he can pass a ball. He now seems established in the past few games - perhaps that is CW's plan?

Scoogs can't be a realistic option - runs about, creates little.

The next few games may define our whole season - 2 away games..........

UTB

 

[Kev Gee]

Danny,

Glad you're no where near the SU team or staff. We may as well give up now and accept relegation.

Agree there's a potential weakness in centre midfield but I suppose Wilder could be gambling on Coutts.

If the Coutts- Fleck partnership doesn't work then expect a loanee midfielder.

Morsey won't want to be out of favour at Wigan for much longer. Never know maybe get Morsey on a season long loan?

We cant sign anyone on loan. There are no more emergency loans.

 

[The Crab]

If Coutts becomes the player he can be, and the early signs under CW are that it is a possibility, then it would almost be like a new signing.

 

[FleaPitBlade]

Not sure what Bash has done to deserve all the critisism.

Yes, we should be aiming for better - whether thats from Bash himself or replacement x - but even so, the constant berating is harsh when the lad clearly gives everything he's got whilst being shifted from pillar to post, never playing in a settled team or even a settled style, formation, plan or manager.

 

[TJB.]

Bash had a decent game last weekend but we know now that he only has one of those about once a month. He's inconsistent, and if he gets an injury then we're massively exposed in the middle of the park.

I don't think Basham is shit, but for me it was crucial that we got someone in to either take his place or push him for it. Courts has indeed improved, but he's not an athletic box-to-box type.

Fingers crossed for a magic free agent signing. Can't see it though.

 

[Frecheville Blade]

We could pick up a free agent for that last midfield position. It wouldn't surprise me - no need to rush that through yesterday, and there was talk of one more signing late on once all the other business was finished.

 

[Keen Blade]

Bash is a nice lad but will never have the gumption to be a midfielder in a promotion team.
Symptomatic of the Club as a whole.
A nice Club but lacking the gumption to get higher than League 1.
Which is frustrating , to put it kindly.

 

[Kabba Kabba Doo]

As much as I'd have liked us to sign another centre mid, maybe Whiteman could step up to fill a void if Basham's ever unavailable. That's my one hope from maybe not getting a winger or centre mid in, it might provide more of an opportunity for the likes of Whiteman, Reed, Brooks, maybe even Gilmour or Kimarni Smith if they impress enough!

 

[Rodley]

Hoping Ben Whiteman can step up. He's box to box and big enough.

 

[coolhandluke]

I don't think anyone is under any illusion that the Central midfield is a finished article, but i think we've prioritised properly this summer
1. Clear the decks and reduce squad size
2. Bring in Centre Backs
3. Bring in Target Man
4. Bring in Pace
5. Bring in Wingers/ Widemen
6. Bring in Goal Keeper
7. Bring in Full backs

It no coincidence that whilst we've cleared out every other position, central midfield has a huge variety of midfielders - Wilder obviously sees something there and i would say that in Midfield, we would need just ONE player, not THREE.

Pretty much how I see things too .

You've just wasted your time with a well thought out and reasoned analysis though .... There simply aren't enough " fuckin shit " references to placate Danny and his ilk .

Oh well .

 

[coolhandluke]

Completely agree. I'm pleased with every signing we've made but much more disappointed with those that we've failed to make. IMO we still desperately lack in the spine of the side. We have the GK and CF but neither of the CMs or CBs. We could well struggle here.

I've said all along, that the players we do have are good players and a good supporting cast to the spine of the side, but they aren't the leaders and then spine themselves. And that hasn't been addressed.

Look at Bolton's signings:
Bolton have signed Peterborough keeper Ben Alnwick, wingers Sammy Ameobi and James Henry on loan until January, plus striker Keshi Anderson and defender Tom Thorpe on season-long loan deals.

Add that, to what they already had and do we even match up?! Henry and Ameobi show that there were good CMs and wide players out there.

All loans at Bolton ..... ambition ? My arse !!

Substitute Bolton for us and I'm sure you'll get mi drift

 

[Slim Man]

Bolton's business over the summer has been exemplary. Especially considering they were on the brink of folding at one point.

Puts ours to shame to be honest.

Anyone who's happy with Chris Basham in central midfield has developed, like the club, a league one mentality. Sorry but it's true.

I won't pretend Wilder hasn't done some good business - he has! He's cleared the decks very well, but we still needed so much more. And the club have the money burning a hole in their pockets now... Like always.

 

[SwissBlade]

Pretty much how I see things too .

You've just wasted your time with a well thought out and reasoned analysis though .... There simply aren't enough " fuckin shit " references to placate Danny and his ilk .

Oh well .

Cheers! Yeah i now pick and choose the posts that i respond to as we do seem to be losing the art of discussion in amongst the countless threads informing us that we haven't bought the right players...

 

[Rodley]

Cheers! Yeah i now pick and choose the posts that i respond to as we do seem to be losing the art of discussion in amongst the countless threads informing us that we haven't bought the right players...

Clapper / McCabe's cousin.

 

[Drunk blade]

Basham is a 5 or 6 out of 10 every game, a player that's filling a gap rather the a natural midfielder

 

[SwissBlade]

Clapper / McCabe's cousin.

Funnily enough, i've thought about this recently. When it comes to United Off the pitch i think i'm quite positive

Prior to Adkins, i was a despairing, but positive poster. Under Adkins, I found nothing to be positive about. However, this season, yes I have been sceptically positive. The positivity has grown with Wilder's off the pitch activities, not just what he says, but seen that he has taken actions to make the changes.

The big point for me though, despite selling Che and DCL, is that Wilder does seem to be getting backed by the Owners.

Its the onfield side where i'm a little negative....

 

[coolhandluke]

Bolton's business over the summer has been exemplary. Especially considering they were on the brink of folding at one point.

Puts ours to shame to be honest.

Anyone who's happy with Chris Basham in central midfield has developed, like the club, a league one mentality. Sorry but it's true.

I won't pretend Wilder hasn't done some good business - he has! He's cleared the decks very well, but we still needed so much more. And the club have the money burning a hole in their pockets now... Like always.

Here's a really big surprise Danny ..... We ARE league 1 .

Keep trying to tell yourself that we aren't and ill fully concur with your original assertion ..... The next 4 months are going to be long and painful .... well , they certainly are for you anyway .

Shame

 

[Blade56]

Hoping Ben Whiteman can step up. He's box to box and big enough.

An if he gets a run in the team and shows promise we can sell him in January or the summer.

 

[Slim Man]

Here's a really big surprise Danny ..... We ARE league 1 .

Keep trying to tell yourself that we aren't and ill fully concur with your original assertion ..... The next 4 months are going to be long and painful .... well , they certainly are for you anyway .

Shame

Mid table league one at best, and we act like it. Thats the complete opposite of the mentality we need to get out of this division.

Well if Chris Basham attempting to play football isn't painful to watch for you and doesn't offend your eyes I can see why it wouldn't bother you. You're clearly not bothered whether United are in league one or the Meadowhall league.

Shame.

 

[Rodley]

Funnily enough, i've thought about this recently. When it comes to United Off the pitch i think i'm quite positive

Prior to Adkins, i was a despairing, but positive poster. Under Adkins, I found nothing to be positive about. However, this season, yes I have been sceptically positive. The positivity has grown with Wilder's off the pitch activities, not just what he says, but seen that he has taken actions to make the changes.

The big point for me though, despite selling Che and DCL, is that Wilder does seem to be getting backed by the Owners.

Its the onfield side where i'm a little negative....

A bit of skeptiscism is healthy. Off the field I finally think we've got some decent operators in and we've got some good incoming business done. Nothing's perfect and not everything comes off, but we've targeted the areas that desperately needed addressing the last few seasons, but for some reason were ignored. I think DCL's fee could be light, but depends on whether he truly has the potential to get there. He's not set the world alight like Walker, Naughton, Jags and to a lesser extent Lawton.

I hope we've bottomed out and think we've got enough to get into the top 6. I'm just hoping we all get behind Wilder enough and start building a bit of momentum & atmosphere at Bramall Lane. The attitude and energy seems to be coming back into the team and that will help massively. I'm just a bit weary of the same owd jokes, same owd moans. In reality we just have to crack on and see where it takes us.

UTB

 

[Dnblade]

There were 2 incidents that summed up his deficiencies for me on Saturday..The first halfway through the second half when the ball rebounded out to him on the edge of our box..there was a massive chasm of space in front of him to run into and run us up the pitch,but he passes it off to Scougall who looked surprised to receive the pass and was already doubled up on,and lost possession.
The other one was also 2nd half when he got the ball towards their box,and just looped it to the far post when he could have quite easily drove on into the box.
I agree he had a decent game Saturday without the ball,and I do like his attitude,but he does nothing with the ball for me..he then becomes a passenger and lacks a Footballing brain,often takes the wrong option,gives away possession..and when he does get in the opposition box,well,you know it won't result in a goal.

 

[coolhandluke]

Mid table league one at best, and we act like it. Thats the complete opposite of the mentality we need to get out of this division.

Well if Chris Basham attempting to play football isn't painful to watch for you and doesn't offend your eyes I can see why it wouldn't bother you. You're clearly not bothered whether United are in league one or the Meadowhall league.

Shame.

Ah , I see the crux of you angst. ... because I don't say we are fucking shit in every post I make , I'm not a Blade .

I'm glad we've sorted that out . It's like a weight off my shoulders .

 

[Slim Man]

Ah , I see the crux of you angst. ... because I don't say we are fucking shit in every post I make , I'm not a Blade .

I'm glad we've sorted that out . It's like a weight off my shoulders .

Where did I say 'we're' fucking shit. Basham is. The rest of the team, barring the fact we don't have a leader at centre half, doesn't actually seem too bad. It's not promotion material though.

But you just keep pushing that made up agenda, if it makes you feel better.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Basham has some attributes that complements the other midfielders, i.e. aerial ability, work rate, tackling, aggression, determination. Obviously he has weaknesses as well, but I wouldn't rule out him doing well as we gradually improve.

I will be disappointed if our problems in scoring goals continue. With Done, Lavery, Chapman and Scougall we do have movement and quick feet in the forward positions. Duffy will be vital for creativity, and Brooks may become an alternative to him as the season progresses. In Sharp and Clarke we have the experience and strength, although those two have to improve, and realise that our attacking rhythm has improved with a different, quicker type spearheading the attack. I'm not very impressed with their performances in the withdrawn central role either.

In midfield I'm glad that Coutts has improved his fitness and work rate, enough to be a real option, and I still think Fleck will be a good signing. With one of them playmaking, full backs pushing on and the front four gelling, maybe Basham's attributes will be part of making it all work? As we struggled for attacking rhythm early on it's natural to look for who's not great on the ball, but in my opinion there were other things that was wrong with our first few line ups. Fortunately Wilder seems to be addressing that.