Cresswell out now!

[Darthblade]

Its a worrying problem really. Yes, we do seem to have picked up more than average number of injuries which cannot be "blamed" on Blackwell, however, we started the season knowing we would be without several players (Paddy, Williamson, Geary, Naysmith) for the long term.
It was also obvious that there would be significant numbers of players "moving on" to reduce the wage bill in the case of some and to prune a bit of "dead wood". We do not seem to have begun the season with a balanced squad with sufficient strength in depth and this responsibility must fall to the manager.
It seems to me that a club which would be seriously expected to finish in the top 6 of the Championship should have begun the season with better preparation and planning. Most United supporters had identified this problem before the season began, but it seems that the management began the season with fingers crossed.
We are now faced with a situation where we may be forced to sign out of contract players to cover for injuries and hope that we can stay in touch until the January transfer window opens. I don't believe that this represents good management.
COYRAWW

 

[Robbie]

I don't see how. At the start of the season we were without Paddy, Naysmith, Geary, and Williamson yet we started well. Only once we then also lost Treacy, Killa, Morgan, Monty, Harper, Ward have the results really been disappointing (2 draws and a defeat). It is also worth mentioning that despite these 3 results which happened at the same time as these injuries we are still in the playoff positions.
.

When we were without Geary, Williamson, Paddy and Naysmith we did well yes. But these were injuries/suspensions that were taken into account before the closure of any transfer window. So effectively we were pretty much at full strength for what we considered good enough till January.

Once we started getting injuries/suspensions that weren't anticipated - then we have started dropping points.

 

[Bladesman]

You know lads, I just don't think this season is going to be our season

I guessed that before it started.

Our early form was more good luck really as I didn't think the football itself was that much better than in recent games.

Injuries are expected although that's usually what the loan system is there for. Its not there for building most of your squad as it means your left in the shit if anyone is injured.

Blackwell should already know this though.

 

[Micalijo]

I guessed that before it started.

Our early form was more good luck really as I didn't think the football itself was that much better than in recent games.

Injuries are expected although that's usually what the loan system is there for. Its not there for building most of your squad as it means your left in the shit if anyone is injured.

Blackwell should already know this though.

Stop talking sense Bladesman - ridiculous.

Swiss - I know you are trying to be positive or whatever it is but your arguments are ruined when, after having a pop, you say something like 'I must stress KB isn't my cup of tea'. This isn't about being balanced - it's about perfectly valid criticsim of a IMO a very poor manager. You are not a politician as far as I am aware.

Why sign Taylor? He aint good enough - we waste a loan on Stewart. Why not sign Stewart in first place? When Gaz is fit we suddenly have 3 left-backs.

It is going to be very amusing in many respects listening to KB over the coming weeks

 

[Bladesway]

Perhaps not a great situation to find ourselves in but wasn't this what happened in the past and we dropped some kids in from the Acadamy?

I understand what McCabe and Blackwell are trying to do and I for one can wait until players come back. Football seasons are not shot up the wall in a month, they are about what happens over 46+ games.

What I don't understand is how the usual suspects all jump on the "I told you so" bandwagon that rolls into town every time the local media put out any negative story. I guess that in a couple of weeks time the injury crisis will have been solved and we will all move along. Some will find something new to blame Blackwell for (Wasn't he linked to the attack on the Twin towers 09/11?) and the rest of us will just get on with life.

 

[Bladesway]

It is going to be very amusing in many respects listening to KB over the coming weeks

Do you do amusing? I would have thought you might pop an eye or split a lung in anger every time you hear Blackwells voice, or read an article by him in the paper.

Here, have a fish it might take your mind of things. :fishbowl:

P.S I call him Kevin.

 

[Micalijo]

I wouldn't go that far - hopefully - but the man does get under my skin, yes, sometimes too much I admit.

Out of interest, I sense that you see me as some kind of depressive individual. Fair enough - think what you like - but tell me more about the line at the bottom of your posts about ticking the days off til you die? What is all that about? I don't do humour so at the moment I assume it is serious?

 

[Asaba/Djaffo]

Did i imagine Keith Treacy coming on as a 2nd half sub on Saturday?

Its just he seems to be listed as injured on the OS!

 

[SBSP]

Did i imagine Keith Treacy coming on as a 2nd half sub on Saturday?

Its just he seems to be listed as injured on the OS!

I thought the original thought was that it was quite serious aswell?

Glad he is back though - he has been minto so far. Should be lining something permanent up for Jan.

 

[SwissBlade]

He's complaining at having to leave out certain loan players because of restrictions......

Robbie,

Again, I'll reiterate. We don't know what restrictions were placed on Blackie so arguements here are being based on mere assumptions. We also don't know how much the club is being restricted by the balance sheet, it could be seen as over prudent or sensible, but then again your view on that would be dependant upon your overall standing on the spending v success arguement.

You can go so far with planning for injuries. Its a calculated risk, but the loan market means that we have options, but yes there are also restrictions. As usual when Blackie speaks his meaning can be taken several ways. The negative, Blackwell haters will always find fault's. Again i'm not saying what he's done with the squad is the right thing, but maybe its through necessity rather than choice or bad management. He's using the loan system as it was intended. Its just a problem that we're having to get more loanee's in to cover injured players.

Maybe Blackies comments were to highlight the predicament and also demonstrate to those of us who aren't involved in the game that we're doing things and he's explaining why he can't use all his loanees at once. Like of foresight or juggling with one hand. If we go on an unbeaten run he'll be praised for it, if we don't he'll be the villain.

Perhaps it wasn't rectified, but perhaps it was a calculated risk? Is it normal to get so many medium term injuries (Ward, Monty and Cresswell all from different causes) in a period of 3 weeks?

Why is 33 players ridiculous? You're effectively saying in your arguement that Blacky should have the foresight to see injuries coming and as we've had the 1st and 2nd choices injured in many positions do we then need 3 teams of cover, because who knows where the injuries will occur?

A matchday squad is only actual 14 players as you can only use 3 subs even if you get more players injured, but i'm not one to split hairs! .

Kenny's ban duration was not certain. It was speculated by the media and the sources such as the PFA have expressed dismay at the length.

By middle I meant spine of the team, apologies.

My point about Cresswell was that he collided with the post and is not a normal injury that can be (partially) prevented. I'd be more peed off if it was a strain from poor preparation. It was a fluke injury that was only caused by his desire to put the ball in the back of the net.

 

[SwissBlade]

I thought the original thought was that it was quite serious aswell?

Glad he is back though - he has been minto so far. Should be lining something permanent up for Jan.

Yes it was stated as possibly being more serious, again the media jumped on cruciate = 6 months out.

My experience of knee injuries is that you can only get so much info initially, this is based on the injured players own recollection of how the injury occurred. Until a scan can be performed (once swelling has reduced) its difficult to get accurate assessment of an injury.

Treacle's own comments were that he felt it lock and "go back" as he jarred it so the team medical staff will have initially used this.

The "going back" part perhaps suggested that a cruciate ligament had torn/ ruptured.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

It was clear to everybody that we weren't going to get through to January with only three strikers and two centre backs in the squad. With only 5 loanees allowed in a squad and Bunn, Walker and Treacey all first choices it was apparent that using the loan system to cover these positions, would leave us no room for maneouvre in other areas.

Apart from the obvious solution of bringing in extra permanent players, which presumably Blackwell tried but failed to do (e.g. Lita). There were other less expensive options available to him:-

1) Don't sell Bromby. Ok, he wasn't the greatest but he was OUR player and could do a competent job at centre back, right back and even left back if required. At very least we could have loaned him to Leeds instead of selling him and retained a recall option for emergencies. This would have avoided the need to use on of our loans on Davies.

2) Buy Harper, rather than loaning him. Why couldn't we? Would it have broken the bank? Aren't we planning to buy him in January anyway? Or will we be waiting to June which means he'll remain on the loan players list?

3) If Reading wouldn't sell us Harper, don't sell them Howard. Only loan him out instead and that way we could have recalled him to cover our central midfield injury crisis.

4) Keep the option of recalling Hendrie and Sharp. Maybe this is an option but if so, why is Blackwell saying he will have to bring in a seventh (McSheffrey) or eighth loan player (Central midfielder) when he knows it could possibly mean dropping one of his first choices (Bunn, Treacey or Walker?) from the squad completely?

 

[Guesty]

On point 2, can we not buy any of the loanees outside of the window, as Ipswich did with Stead, for instance?

 

[alcoblade]

Deep down KB loves the fiscal troubles and this injury crisis because it gives him an excuse. Trust me, I am right on that one - human nature.

.

Wow, that's ok then. I trust you.

UTB

 

[GainsboroBlade]

Gutting news!!!

 

[SwissBlade]

It was clear to everybody that we weren't going to get through to January with only three strikers and two centre backs in the squad. With only 5 loanees allowed in a squad and Bunn, Walker and Treacey all first choices it was apparent that using the loan system to cover these positions, would leave us no room for maneouvre in other areas.

Apart from the obvious solution of bringing in extra permanent players, which presumably Blackwell tried but failed to do (e.g. Lita). There were other less expensive options available to him:-

1) Don't sell Bromby.
2) Buy Harper, rather than loaning him.
3) If Reading wouldn't sell us Harper, don't sell them Howard.
4) Keep the option of recalling Hendrie and Sharp.

I agree with your opening statement.

However,

1) Bromby wanted to leave for 1st team football. Should we have kept him and had him being unhappy? When commenting on the Lescott situation, I'd have seen Lescott rot in the reserves for the 4 years of his contract, but that was cash reasons. Bromby was football reasons. I would've thought that it would been better to keep him, but we've replaced him with Fortune, so not an issue.
2) The deal went through right at the last minute, so perhaps the transfer was no longer an option and rather than risk losing the deal completely we loaned until we could get the deal finalised. Its still unclear if the Harper/ Howard deal were sales or loans with change to a transfer in Jan. Perhaps someone can clarify this.
3) Is that the right way to behave? Should we spit the dummy or shall we try and work a solution?
4) Sharp has an emergency recall as part of the season loan. Hendrie's contract was terminated so that he could join Derby permanently. He's no longer a Blades player.

If i'm wrong on any of the loan/ sale details please correct me, but these are my understandings of the situations.

 

[HoodedClaw]

As far as I know there was an agreement made with Bromby as he wasnt going to be a regular first choice that they would let him talk to clubs that approached us for him, it was made doubly hard to keep him as it was the scummers that came in for him, the team he supports.

I also believe the thinking was that Fortune would be fit enough to offer a contract to, and that Walker could be used as CB, and on that basis the agreement was made with Bromby.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing though.

 

[Robbie]

Again, I'll reiterate. We don't know what restrictions were placed on Blackie so arguements here are being based on mere assumptions. .

The restrictions being referred to is the amount of loan players in match squad/team

You can go so far with planning for injuries. Its a calculated risk, but the loan market means that we have options,

But when you're exhausting the loan market for 4 first choice players players, then it doesn't give you any leeway.

Perhaps it wasn't rectified, but perhaps it was a calculated risk? Is it normal to get so many medium term injuries (Ward, Monty and Cresswell all from different causes) in a period of 3 weeks?

It's not unusual.

Why is 33 players ridiculous? You're effectively saying in your arguement that Blacky should have the foresight to see injuries coming and as we've had the 1st and 2nd choices injured in many positions do we then need 3 teams of cover, because who knows where the injuries will occur? .

Blackwell should expect injuries and suspensions and be prepared for it. We are far from prepared.

A matchday squad is only actual 14 players as you can only use 3 subs even if you get more players injured, but i'm not one to split hairs!.

But you can name 18.

Kenny's ban duration was not certain. It was speculated by the media and the sources such as the PFA have expressed dismay at the length

The least we should have been expecting was 6 months. If we didn't then that's very naive.

On point 2, can we not buy any of the loanees outside of the window, as Ipswich did with Stead, for instance?

Yes we can, however they remain loans until the transfer window opens.

 

[theblade1957]

robbie your a arse same as all the other knockers

 

[shorehamview]

robbie your a arse same as all the other knockers

Well, that's a really mature response. Well done.

 

[Robbie]

robbie your a arse same as all the other knockers

Sort your spelling and try again.

 

[Mary Christmas]

Ode to Richard Cresswell

There once was an ugly piggy
With trotters all grubby and brown
And the other piggies said in so many words
Get out of town
Get out, get out, get out of town
And he went with an oink and with Waddle who’s a twat
And in a hurry to ditch that clown

That poor little ugly piggy
Went wandering far and near
But at every place they said to his face
Now get out, get out, get out of here
And he went with a oink and still with Waddle who’s a twat
And a very unhappy tear

All through the wintertimes he hid himself away
Ashamed to show his face, afraid of what others might say
All through the winter in that shit hole Stoke City
Till a bloke in a frock spied him there and very soon agreed
You’ll be a very fine Blade indeed!

A Blade? Me a Blade? Ah, go on!
And he said yes, you’re a Blade
Take a look at yourself at the Lane and you’ll see
And he looked, and he saw, and he said
I am a Blade! Wheeeeeeee!

I’m not such an ugly piggy
No trotters all grubby and brown
For in fact these Blades in so many words said
The best in town, the best, the best
The best in town

Not an oink, not an oink, not a Waddle who’s a twat
But a red and a white with 17 on his back
And a head so noble and high
Say who’s an ugly piggy?
Not I!
Not I!