Clough's reasons behind his starting XI.

[Chezzy_Blade]

Today's team sheet was a shock to most, none of us expected to see Higson start. The back four puzzled us all as it wouldn't have been what we must have fielded therefore instantly we all wondered if Collins and Butler had got an injuries.

Clough was quick to defend his starting XI today saying that he had chosen the best team from who had performed well in pre season. Whilst a admire Clough's "earn your shirt" stance I just wondered whether he got it right today. It didn't work at the back for me, Alcock put in a shift in all fairness and made some important tackles and blocks but he shouldn't have been in there in the first place. If a relatively novice McGahey has impressed Clough in pre season enough to earn a shirt then you have to partner him with a bit of experience at Centre Back as in Collins or Butler. Fair enough the others have played well pre season and he wants to reward them however to sacrifice players and play players out of position in order to reward players for me isn't the right way to go about things.

I don't want to turn this into a "knock" thread what so ever because Clough in my eyes is still a very capable manager who I think will deliver the goods however today I personally think he got it wrong. At the back we weren't right and didn't handle things. The gaffer has said himself he is disappointed with the goals we conceded, I agree with him however it was down to bad marking which I feel wouldn't have happened had he put a proper Central defender in there.

 

[JohnDenver]

One thing we lacked today was leadership at the back. Nothing against HM2 who is a great prospect, but two kids in the spine of your team is a real gamble.

 

[Bladesman]

He got it completely wrong.

That's pretty much it.

 

[cahill]

Just heard him on Radio Sheffield. Agreed that Alcock was our best player. Thought the two centre backs were fantastic and "coped with everything". Said that a lot of our crosses were wasted and suggested Higden should look for tap ins at the near post instead of hanging at the back for crosses.

Overall disappointing for me. Alcock got some vital touches and blocks in. The two fullbacks didn't impress and Alcock has played better at fullback when I've seen him in pre-season games.

Surprised Higden even played I thought we were led to believe he's several weeks behind in level of fitness. Once fit and used to the team he'll be banging them in. He had some nice touches first half and has presence which Porter doesn't. Needs service as well.

I agree with others who say it was a strange team selection, Collins played well last season and has done ok pre-season, should have played. I didn't think that McGahey looked comfortable and probably needs an older head to reassure him. Didn't notice much of Basham. Davies was frustrating.

A poor second best today, disappointing in front of a good crowd.

 

[raul]

Pre-season went really well too didn't it Nige?

There is a ton of work to do before we can even begin to judge the new squad, get busy.

 

[davidpinder]

Why not play higdon? Sorry who scored? He put himself about well IMO he is there to score goals and he did what was asked, the fact is we let 2 in that's why we lost a clean sheet today and we win. No one also mentioning that scougall missed 2 easy chances he needs to be contributing goals not just nice touches and lots of running. The big question I need to ask about higdon is why he has been made captain after 5 days at the football club? .

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

He got it completely wrong.

That's pretty much it.

Completely agree sadly. In a nutshell.

 

[Chezzy_Blade]

Higdon did a job and scored a goal, his first half run wasn't a bad one and for those reasons I think he warranted his selection. The only negative I have regarding Higdon is that in the second half you could see his legs were going and fresh legs were needed yet he didn't make the change. Of course a positive of this is that the player got a full run out.

It is the defensive selection that puzzles me. I understand his thinking in the respect that he has given the players a shirt as a reward for hard work. Fair play to him for that, it shows what he expects from his players. I am just wondering whether in this case his decision to do so has cost us something out of the game because it was poor marking at the back that has cost us simple as. Had collins or Butler been on the pitch would they have still scored? Impossible to say but I feel the marking would have been tighter from a natural CB.

 

[Going up]

No matter who we play at the back, we will need a few weeks to gel. It is impossible to replace a 2 million pound player over night. HM will be missed for the first five games or so.

Personally, I believe his philosophy of whoever fights to earn the shirt should play is, in the long run, the right one.

With a fully fit Higdon and the crosses from Davies and JCR, I'm very hopeful of the future.

 

[JOEYDEE]

For his first game with the blades,Higdon did great,don't forget hes not fit,and I think if we'd been in front,he'd have come off,plus the responsibility of being captain(how,why?).
Alcock was really good for me,but think he's no centre half .Ben Davies put a proper shift in,but tried too hard,he'll be ok'
Lewis Reed,what a prospect at 17,!
Its not all doom n gloom !

 

[wizadry]

Higdon did some good stuff in the first half,and i'm happy with what he's going to give us this season,but the thing that worried me most was in the second half,after 55 minutes when Higdon couldn't even jump for a header because he was that knackered,everyone in the ground could see he needed to come off apart from the man that counts,now its this what worried me,not the result,don't get me wrong,we were shit in the second half but i'm going to try and take the positives performance wise out of the first half where we could have easily scored 3 and more or less wraped the game up,but no,we are the blades,and we hate doing things the easy way

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I thought the team was brave and attacking. It gave plenty of the new blood their chance, and I hope he sticks with it.
The likes of Doyle/Collins are the past and while I don't doubt they have a role to play that side has real promise once it beds down.

 

[Chezzy_Blade]

I thought the team was brave and attacking. It gave plenty of the new blood their chance, and I hope he sticks with it.
The likes of Doyle/Collins are the past and while I don't doubt they have a role to play that side has real promise once it beds down.

Fair enough Collins and Doyle for you are the past, personally I think they both still have a role at the club in whatever capacity, I agree with the need for change after all we've been a nearly team for too long now we need to press on and go for those automatic spots this year therefore change was required. I do still think however looking at the back four that we got it wrong. McGahey needed that experienced central defender alongside him to keep him well drilled and on his toes. Alcock to be fair didn't have a terrible game did he, I think he is one of those players who just gives 100% week in week out and is happy to play anywhere. But he isn't a Central defender, he won a few balls in there but he hasn't got the build for it.

It's a tough un because once you have thrown that experience Central defender in you then have Alcock and Davies battling it out for a full back spot and it's a toughy. Alcock looks a top player who is reliable, gives everything and wins a good few challenges where as Davies gives you similar but maybe isn't as quick and agile as Alcock however his deliveries into the box from open play and most importantly set pieces are quality.

Just watched the highlights again for the humpteenth time on The Football League Show and my opinions haven't changed. Harris couldn't handle the wide man and looked off the pace today he was beaten for pace for the first which led to an easy opportunity to put the ball into the danger zone, our lightweight make shift central defence were caught out of position leaving players unmarked. The second goal again Harris didn't get tight enough as he knew the man had him beat on the turn for pace, a bit of a lucky flick but for me the communication wasn't evident between our two makeshift central defenders. Knowing Collins strengths as well as having watched Butler a good bit over the years I am confident that either of these two as experience as they are would have marked up better and put in a serious effort to at least put them off if not win the ball and clear it.

 

[Kev Gee]

Collins usually has been shocking without HM alongside.

Having him in at CB would not have made any difference today.

 

[SwissBlade]

The key was leadership today, there wasn't a leader on the pitch. At least Doyle would've been giving the bollockings out.

Their first goal was a shambles, can't deny the run from the full back was a good one and yes whilst you have to try and stop the cross, sometimes they do get past and put a decent ball in. But the defending was diabolical from the cross, everyone seemed to expect the other to attack it, but nobody did. Compare that with their Centre half and he attacked most balls with a big shout. It lacked experience.

Second half though the back four partnership seemed to grow in confidence, both centre halves looked strong and alert, but get they still got pulled out of position. Alcock looks a decent centre half as does McGahey, but I agree they need some experience there. So unless butler is the answer I think we need to bring in an experienced centre half before sept. This is something that Clough has said since losing Harry, that we haven't replaced him yet. I don't doubt that the young lads will gain experience though.

We did looked tired, we didn't look composed except when Reed was on the ball, he did a very good job spreading play but I thought Basham wasn't organised or strong enough to support him.

We rushed a lot in our attacks and in possession. First half we needed their goal to kick us into life, Scoogs, Flynn and Murphy all finally bringing the spark and they were running at defenders again. We created a lot in the first half. It was noticeable though that the team wanted to bring Higdon into the game, saw his threat and the number of high balls into the box whilst slightly worrying at times, was effective. Our goal came from some shocking zonal defending, as they were lining up holding hands the sky commentators thought they were the business, right up until Higdon got a cracking header in and split them apart. Their defending was as bad on our goal as ours was for theirs. The sky co commentator then declared "I've never liked zonal"

Second half it seemed the message was to get organised, don't concede early and keep possession. We defended well at times and we were organised, but as we started to get control of the game possession wise, we weren't able to attack freely and keep organised, something which was a trademark of ours last season.

Their second goal was well worked, long diagonal ball, knocked down into the runner and bang. Scoogs didn't follow his man properly and there was a huge gaping hole from centre half to Harris at fullback.

We didn't really threaten too much second half, we didn't appear to have another gear. I didn't really see that 4-4-2 improved things.

Many positives though and debuts for McGahey, Alcock, JCR, Basham, Higdon, plus Reed is only a youngster. I can see the majority of this side being first choice as the season goes on and with some tweaks.

Still very early to even assess players and the side properly, but the fitness was telling with too many yesterday

 

[lawlessdan]

I'm not going to pretend to be in the know or pretend that I know anybody that is in the know. However, today two separate people that have involvement in the club behind the scene have both told me that the reason Collins and Doyle didn't play today was because there was "an incident" after the York game. This may well be nonsense, but I'm only passing on what others have told me this evening

 

[grafikhaus]

The key was leadership today, there wasn't a leader on the pitch. At least Doyle would've been giving the bollockings out.

Still very early to even assess players and the side properly, but the fitness was telling with too many yesterday

Agree and agree. Handing Higdon the captaincy was baffling on a number of levels. If you need a captain, surely somebody at the back/midfield is the best option - somebody who has a clearer view of proceedings. A lone forward has enough to think about and, when an attack breaks down, is isolated and in no position to 'marshall his troops'.

Also, fitness. I suggested yesterday that, with so many new faces, we could not be expected to 'gel' immediately. I was wrong. Watching TFLS last night, most teams are in that situation. Fulham, for example, are unrecognisable from last season. Charlton fielded seven debutantes, but both looked extremely organised.

So. Are we fit enough to 'hit the ground running'? Yesterday would suggest not. And I think a large part of this is the poor selection of pre-season friendlies. This has been going on for years. The standard fare is teams like Alfreton, Dundee etc. who are hardly going to 'stretch' or 'test' us. If that's the best we can get, I think friendlies behind closed doors against local teams such as Rotherham, Barnsley etc. would be welcomed by both parties.

 

[SwissBlade]

grafikhaus I don't think the fitness issue is so much down to the preseason fixtures, but because we've picked up injuries - Baxter, Collins, Wallace to name just three have reportedly picked up niggles in the preseason games. Could they have been prevented with different opposition? Difficult to say, but it's unlikely. We just need to get those players back fully fit and challenging

Plus Harris, Basham, Flynn and Higdon all looked off the pace at various times yesterday. I would've still played all except Basham yesterday though. Higdon was a threat and will be fitter for playing yesterday.

Whatever the reasons, we looked a yard behind Bristol C for most of the game. Second half we should've come out flying, but we didn't. I think the quality is there, but for our counter attacking game we need 100% of the players 100% fit.

And we needed Doyle to captain. The one change I would've made to the starting line up would've been Doyle for for Basham.

One other thing. Jose looked tidy in his Cameo in the centre of midfield alongside Reed. Perhaps Reed-Baxter and Scoogs could work in there?

 

[grafikhaus]

grafikhaus I don't think the fitness issue is so much down to the preseason fixtures, but because we've picked up injuries - Baxter, Collins, Wallace to name just three have reportedly picked up niggles in the preseason games. Could they have been prevented with different opposition? Difficult to say, but it's unlikely. We just need to get those players back fully fit and challenging

And again, just like other teams seem to be able to assimilate new layers into their team/system with immediate effect, are we the only team that picks up injuries pre-season? I rather doubt it.

 

[Torrix1889]

The problem was Clough wanted Davies to start, ( I haven't got a problem with that as I like Davies) but he also could't leave out Alcock who has impressed pre-season and was MOTM from our perspective. Harris was always going to start at LB so it was a case of who would partner Alcock and Magahey got the nod.

What may have worked better would be to have played Davie RM instead of Flynn who was poor, move Alcock to RB and bring in Butler or Collins alongside the young lad.

I certainly can't see Alcock and Magahey being our long-term centre back pairing.

 

[SwissBlade]

And again, just like other teams seem to be able to assimilate new layers into their team/system with immediate effect, are we the only team that picks up injuries pre-season? I rather doubt it.

I'm sure others have suffered too, of that I've no doubt. I think normally you'd not come up against a promotion contender in the first match and you'd not normally have a brand new/ inexperienced spine - McGahey, Alcock, Reed, Bash, Higdon. Only Scoogs and Howard played last season.

It's not excuses, but probably a combination of factors which resulted in a generally under par performance from what we've come to expect from Cloughs side.

 

[SwissBlade]

The problem was Clough wanted Davies to start, ( I haven't got a problem with that as I like Davies) but he also could't leave out Alcock who has impressed pre-season and was MOTM from our perspective. Harris was always going to start at LB so it was a case of who would partner Alcock and Magahey got the nod.

What may have worked better would be to have played Davie RM instead of Flynn who was poor, move Alcock to RB and bring in Butler or Collins alongside the young lad.

I certainly can't see Alcock and Magahey being our long-term centre back pairing.

I thought Davies played well at right back, took a little time to settle, but was generally composed (miskick on the 6 yard box apart)

Can we assume that Butler wasn't fully fit? I'm surprised Collins wasn't picked, but again, like Baxter I think I read that he'd got a niggle during preseason so perhaps Clough wanted a side who were fit. Perhaps Clough had worked all week with the McGahey and Alcock pairing and it worked.

Personally I can see these two playing together again, they need a stronger midfield in front of them though but more importantly one of them needs to lead.

 

[metalblade]

I thought Davies played well at right back, took a little time to settle, but was generally composed (miskick on the 6 yard box apart)

Can we assume that Butler wasn't fully fit? I'm surprised Collins wasn't picked, but again, like Baxter I think I read that he'd got a niggle during preseason so perhaps Clough wanted a side who were fit. Perhaps Clough had worked all week with the McGahey and Alcock pairing and it worked.

Personally I can see these two playing together again, they need a stronger midfield in front of them though but more importantly one of them needs to lead.

I thought both our full backs were shocking Alcock should be nailed on for the right back spot he is not quite big enough for centre back, I think this made life hard for an unfit Flynn. The less we say about Harris the better so little wonder Murphy was hardly in the game. Fair enough Davies put in a few good crosses one finding Higdon for the goal but we never really got behind the Bristol defence most of our efforts first half were shots from outside the box, second half all the team were bobbins.

 

[sheffielder]

Not sure where to start after yesterday. I have tried not to read as many threads as possible, as to not influence my severely hungover thoughts.

For me, this defeat is all on Nigel. I don't understand why we are not fit. I thought these guys were going to move up another level after a Nigel pre-season, yet they struggled to come out in the 2nd half. Worse was that even with the writing on the wall, we never did anything to change it until we went behind.

We started our pre-season friendlies a week behind everyone else and then stuffed 5 games into just under 2 weeks and we looked under cooked in the 2nd half yesterday.

I think I was as shocked as anyone by the team selection yesterday. I was looking at twatter wondering who the hell was playing alongside McGahey. Surely an 18 year old needs someone to talk him through games. I thought maybe Davies name had mistakenly put on instead of Butler. One thing is for sure, we need a new CB if Nigel doesn't think Collins is good enough to beat out Alcock (who looks like he is one of those fullbacks who covers around the back well).

In midfield, I can only hope that Basham was nervous on his debut and will get better because if not, we have another James Harper on our hands (without the arm waving). No energy and passing players on to others. I am sure the fact he got pushed off the ball so easily just before they scored the 1st has been covered many times already. We really need Wallace fit, because a midfield including Scougall and Reed and a fit Wallace will be outstanding. All I could think yesterday is how I bet Reed would have loved to have Coady infront of him giving him some options. Instead, he had a passenger. For us to utilise Reed in that position properly he needs the other 2 guys in midfield to give him options. Also, that cross field pass to Murphy in the 1st half was fantastic.

Upfront, if that is unfit Higdon with no pre-season games under his belt, I can't wait to see him by the end of August. When we get players like Murphy, Scougs and Wallace around him then we can fly.

I am still positive about the season and it looks like a brave new future for United. It may take a bit of time to bed in, however it will be worth it. My major gripe is that we are not fit, which is strange as it was Nigel;s buzz word all summer. Also Basham, the worst debut since Lee Baxter. He looks big, strong and athletic but doesn't play with those attributes.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Like many others I am a bit befuddled at the team selection. We played a right back (alcock) at centre back with an (albeit talented) inexperienced youngster as his partner ( to accomodate Davies at r/b I presume), an unfit Flynn when JCR was on the bench, didn't give Baxter time to have an impact on the game and played an unfit striker for the whole ninety minutes when, at most, he only had 60 minutes in him (and made him captain when he has barely been at the club for a week - I think someone doctored Nigel's tea when he came up with that one).

Overall I thought the out of position Alcock did well but he really needs to be f/b as he isn't big enough for c/b. Reed had a decent enough game but the options in front of him were limited. Davies may cross well but I was disappointed in both f/b's (Harris had a very poor game) and both wingers looked rusty ( Murphy slightly better than Flynn). Scougall looked out of touch and missed a couple of good chances.The McNulty substitution changed nothing and our tactics seemed more one dimensional than last season ( not sure if this was planned or just that we did not perform as well as we should have)

I personally do not like goalkeepers or forwards as captain - they can be too isolated from the action to inspire and lead and I thought it a massive ask of Higdon to play 90 minutes and lead a team of what must be strangers to him. Having said that the player in the ideal position, Basham, was appalling so no-one would want him as an example. We lacked leadership in key areas I am afraid - I don't want Doyle back but we missed that side of him from someone on the pitch.

There were some positives but, as ever with United, its a roller-coaster ride and there clearly is some sorting out to be done. Ah well, onwards and upwards - come on you Blades.

 

[curtisblades]

To me this side seemed quite experimental, in regards to the spine of the team e.g. McGahey, Alcock, Reed, Basham, Higdon. Personally I would have saved that for Wednesday against Mansfield. I feel Clough should have chosen a more experienced back line and a bigger midfield. Clough needs to encourage Jamie Murphy to take his man on and get to the byline as this was when he was most effective last season. However we have got some top players in Alcock, Reed and Higdon. One big positive I think we can take from yesterday's game is that physical fitness was not issue (not including Higdon) as it has been in previous years.

 

[davidpinder]

Not sure where to start after yesterday. I have tried not to read as many threads as possible, as to not influence my severely hungover thoughts.

For me, this defeat is all on Nigel. I don't understand why we are not fit. I thought these guys were going to move up another level after a Nigel pre-season, yet they struggled to come out in the 2nd half. Worse was that even with the writing on the wall, we never did anything to change it until we went behind.

We started our pre-season friendlies a week behind everyone else and then stuffed 5 games into just under 2 weeks and we looked under cooked in the 2nd half yesterday.

I think I was as shocked as anyone by the team selection yesterday. I was looking at twatter wondering who the hell was playing alongside McGahey. Surely an 18 year old needs someone to talk him through games. I thought maybe Davies name had mistakenly put on instead of Butler. One thing is for sure, we need a new CB if Nigel doesn't think Collins is good enough to beat out Alcock (who looks like he is one of those fullbacks who covers around the back well).

In midfield, I can only hope that Basham was nervous on his debut and will get better because if not, we have another James Harper on our hands (without the arm waving). No energy and passing players on to others. I am sure the fact he got pushed off the ball so easily just before they scored the 1st has been covered many times already. We really need Wallace fit, because a midfield including Scougall and Reed and a fit Wallace will be outstanding. All I could think yesterday is how I bet Reed would have loved to have Coady infront of him giving him some options. Instead, he had a passenger. For us to utilise Reed in that position properly he needs the other 2 guys in midfield to give him options. Also, that cross field pass to Murphy in the 1st half was fantastic.

Upfront, if that is unfit Higdon with no pre-season games under his belt, I can't wait to see him by the end of August. When we get players like Murphy, Scougs and Wallace around him then we can fly.

I am still positive about the season and it looks like a brave new future for United. It may take a bit of time to bed in, however it will be worth it. My major gripe is that we are not fit, which is strange as it was Nigel;s buzz word all summer. Also Basham, the worst debut since Lee Baxter. He looks big, strong and athletic but doesn't play with those attributes.

Got to agree with most of that, 2 thing that need sorting are the centre half pairing and midfield 2 if Nigel is to stick with this 4-2-3-1 formation. Personally I think Davies can do a job next to reed but I do think Wallace will be there although Doylecluld help reed out. I do wish Coady had been bought though. I thinks Collins should sit next to McMahey to do what he has done for the last few years with Maguire.

 

[raul]

Interesting last comment Curtis as even our Club-Class clappers have conceded we looked very much under done. If we are fit, then what reason can you offer on why Brizzle won most of the 50/50's and spent the last half hour of the game gambolling past wheezing men in Red and White Stripes?

If we are fit, then I'm suddenly a bit worried.

 

[alcoblade]

I thought the team was brave and attacking. It gave plenty of the new blood their chance, and I hope he sticks with it.
The likes of Doyle/Collins are the past and while I don't doubt they have a role to play that side has real promise once it beds down.

I don't think you will, and I hope you won't get your wish.

I'd always go for evolution over revolution. The back 4 was shit yesterday, Alcock aside. We cannot afford to live in hope that something comes off at the expense of another season in this division.

Nothing that happened in pre season pointed to taking that risk with that defence.

UTB

 

[BerksBlade]

Any clues on why Butler wasn't involved? Is he injured?