CURRENT first eleven

[The Other Foot]

Just curious...being a fresh-faced, innocent, yet-to-be-jaded Blades fan (!), I haven't followed most of these guys first hand. How do some folks on here justify playing Done on his own up front instead of Higdon? I've seen the big man play many games for Motherwell (and he tore SPL defences apart at times), but when Done played for Hibs I remember him being a complete waste of a jersey. Have the roles reversed?

 

[metalblade]

4-5-1 or 4-3-3 or maybe a 4-4-1-1 or even a 4-4-2 which some say is dead
Howard
Freeman Kennedy Collins Harris
Wallace Basham
Done Adams Murphy
Higdon

Subs:- Long, Alcock, McEveley, Scougall, Coutts, Reed, McNulty........... De Girolama or any of the youngsters as and when.

 

[Revolution]

And play Collins then (gaps not allowed on this thread! )? Hard to predict what will happen with Kennedy.

I think Adkins will expect the wide men to be goal threats, so Flynn will have to improve on that to become first choice. His goal contributions from his seasons with us are 3, 3, 7 and 3. I think Done will also be playing in a wide role at times if the 4-2-3-1 system is chosen.

This is not only true, but it actually overrates Flynn on the goalscoring front. 5 of those goals were in Cup games - he tends to play well in the Cups.

He's scored 11 league goals in 94 starts and 32 sub appearances. That's a really poor return for someone who's played 90% of those games in midfield.

The big question mark for me is Wallace. From what little I have seen I would like nothing better than to see him in the first XI every week - but is this feasible? My fear (and I hope I am wrong) is that he will get another knock in a friendly, miss the start of the season, and it'll be like last year again for him.

 

[super_pig]

Also, please don't obsess over 4-4-2, it's a dead formation for good sides who play passing football now.

depends on the context.. top team often switch to 4 4 2 for a while during a game to try to make the other team come 'out'

 

[Guesty]

Just curious...being a fresh-faced, innocent, yet-to-be-jaded Blades fan (!), I haven't followed most of these guys first hand. How do some folks on here justify playing Done on his own up front instead of Higdon? I've seen the big man play many games for Motherwell (and he tore SPL defences apart at times), but when Done played for Hibs I remember him being a complete waste of a jersey. Have the roles reversed?

Mate, the only way Michael Higdon could tear a defence apart is if that defence were a bucket of chicken wings.

Very occasionally he can look a handful (as opposed to merely a shirtful) but he's woefully short on fitness and games largely passed him by.

I understand Done has had a couple of position conversions since his days north of the border. These days he's a constant menace, pacey, eager to close down and with great movement. A couple of his goals were great, more impression was the frequency with which he scored 'tap-ins', picking up pieces around the box. My only problem with Done is that like Andy Gray before him, he joined the side and instantly started scoring goals without making the team appreciably better! Not really his fault of course but that's the way it panned out.

 

[IOM Blade]

How do some folks on here justify playing Done on his own up front instead of Higdon? I've seen the big man play many games for Motherwell (and he tore SPL defences apart at times)

That must have been about 3 stone ago.

 

[Revolution]

Mate, the only way Michael Higdon could tear a defence apart is if that defence were a bucket of chicken wings.

Very occasionally he can look a handful (as opposed to merely a shirtful) but he's woefully short on fitness and games largely passed him by.

I understand Done has had a couple of position conversions since his days north of the border. These days he's a constant menace, pacey, eager to close down and with great movement. A couple of his goals were great, more impression was the frequency with which he scored 'tap-ins', picking up pieces around the box. My only problem with Done is that like Andy Gray before him, he joined the side and instantly started scoring goals without making the team appreciably better! Not really his fault of course but that's the way it panned out.

Done's early run coincided with a good run for us (he scored in the wins at Rochdale, Notts County and Bristol City and home to Scunny).

 

[Tray]

Interesting that not many have picked McNulty in the first 11. I mean I agree he's not ready to be a regular but thought he might make one or two first teams!

For me:

Howard
Freeman Kennedy Basham Harris
Wallace Reed
Flynn Scougall Murphy
Done

Subs: Long, Collins, McEveley, Coutts, Adams, McNulty, Higdon
​

Tempted to add Adams for Flynn, or push Flynn to right back, but we'd be playing players out of position again. You could argue that Bash is out of position but I think he's looked solid at the back. Adams is a great impact sub, seen him look a little lost when he starts, but he's still developing, hopefully he'll be a regular in time. Team still very lightweight, would like to say I'd have Higdon upfront but he's shown nothing in most games he's played. Had one or two good games, but not enough to warrant a start for me.

Just to state the obvious: at least 2 CBs needed as Kennedy will probably not play half the season, and it would allow Basham to make a more physical midfield.

 

[The Other Foot]

Mate, the only way Michael Higdon could tear a defence apart is if that defence were a bucket of chicken wings.

Very occasionally he can look a handful (as opposed to merely a shirtful) but he's woefully short on fitness and games largely passed him by.

I understand Done has had a couple of position conversions since his days north of the border. These days he's a constant menace, pacey, eager to close down and with great movement. A couple of his goals were great, more impression was the frequency with which he scored 'tap-ins', picking up pieces around the box. My only problem with Done is that like Andy Gray before him, he joined the side and instantly started scoring goals without making the team appreciably better! Not really his fault of course but that's the way it panned out.

That must have been about 3 stone ago.

No, no....he was equally as gigantic when he played for the Well. Maybe 'tear' was the wrong word...'steamroller' fits better. It's just that Done was a complete waste of space. Higdon could always hold the ball up well and could turn mostly any defender in the league.

Glad to hear that Done is doing reasonably well though, he came to Hibs at a very unfortunate time.

 

[pdincubus]

I would go with something like this:

Howard

Flynn Collins Kennedy Harris

Basham Coutts

Done Wallace Murphy

McNulty Higdon


Bench: Long, Adams, Scougall, McEvely, De Girolamo, Other youngsters


Alternatively (assuming Kennedy can't play more than one game every week or two:

Howard

Freeman Collins Basham Harris

Reed Coutts

Flynn Scougall Murphy

McNulty Done

That team looks a little too short in the middle though.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

4-3-3
___________Howard
Freeman Basham Kennedy Harris
_____Flynn Coutts J.Wallace____
Done______McNulty_____Murphy

Plenty of goals in that team. Should be able to breakdown defensive teams at home.
Done and Murphy to drop deeper into a 4-5-1 if required against stronger teams.
I would be looking to replace McNulty with a strong, pacey target man.

 

[DaniBBlade]

I CAN NOT believe nobody has even mentioned Campbell Ryce or Cuvelier for their teams. Joining in on picking a team from whats currently at the BDTBL i would go with...... Howard
Flynn Basham Tel Freeman
Wallace
JCR Cuvelier Scougall Murphy
Done

Bench- Willis, Mcgahey, Reid, Adams, Diego, Mcnulty, Higdon. Would obviously want 2 centre halfs, a new left back, winger maybe and a goalscorer. UTB

 

[I should coco]

I CAN NOT believe nobody has even mentioned Campbell Ryce or Cuvelier for their teams.

Campbell Ryce and Cuvelier it is then.

BTW, would Cuvelier be a better candidate than Wallace in this year's 'Made of chocolate' awards?

 

[DaniBBlade]

Maybe that should go to you "coco" haha. Anyone aware of our sale of Matty Lowton a few years back?? Are we in line for £££ when his deal to Burnley goes through??

 

[I should coco]

Anyone aware of our sale of Matty Lowton a few years back?? Are we in line for £££ when his deal to Burnley goes through??

Knowing SUFC, we probably owe Villa!

IIRC we sold him for circa £3m and the rumour is that he's going to the town where they still point at aeroplanes, for about £1m.

 

[Grecian2000]

Alternatively (assuming Kennedy can't play more than one game every week or two:

Howard

Freeman Collins Basham Harris

Reed Coutts

Flynn Scougall Murphy

McNulty Done

That team looks a little too short in the middle though.

Height would be the least of your worries with this team!

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I would go with something like this:

Howard

Flynn Collins Kennedy Harris

Basham Coutts

Done Wallace Murphy

McNulty Higdon

You make a valid point. 12 players would give us a much better chance

 

[pdincubus]

You make a valid point. 12 players would give us a much better chance

Probably should have been a / between McNulty and Higdon! My bad.

 

[DaniBBlade]

How does collins get in everyones sides?? Did none of you guys go Swindon Or Chezzy away at the start of last season?? He was horrific.

 

[Guesty]

How does collins get in everyones sides?? Did none of you guys go Swindon Or Chezzy away at the start of last season?? He was horrific.

Because our previous glorious leader left us with fuck all in the way of options back there!

Most of the people who chose Collins won't expect him to start once the recruitment drive has concluded.

 

[DaniBBlade]

Fair enough but he wouldnt get in anyway. Bash and Kennedy back there much better options.

 

[super_pig]

i'm still of the opinion that a number of players were massively unsettled by Clough and that they might turn out different players this season.. higdon being one of them.. for his first 45 minutes he was awesome.. what happened to 'that' 'player?? clough probably told him (despite him being the best player on the pitch) that he should 'run the channels' more

 

[Grappler]

i'm still of the opinion that a number of players were massively unsettled by Clough and that they might turn out different players this season.. higdon being one of them.. for his first 45 minutes he was awesome.. what happened to 'that' 'player?? clough probably told him (despite him being the best player on the pitch) that he should 'run the channels' more

"that player" turned up at Preston when we played them in the cup for a 1-1 draw, Diego scoring for us. Big, nasty and agressive, the Preston defence looked increasingly worried as the game wore on, he was a real handful and showed what he could/should have been like all season.

 

[Bergen Blade]

"that player" turned up at Preston when we played them in the cup for a 1-1 draw, Diego scoring for us. Big, nasty and agressive, the Preston defence looked increasingly worried as the game wore on, he was a real handful and showed what he could/should have been like all season.

Agree, he was looking a lot more up for it in his last few games, before the injury ruled him out.

 

[derryblade]

We all hope Nigel 2 will be the one to get us out of this league, as we did with Wilson, Weir, and Nigel 1 that's a given. My hope is once he has spoken to the players, trained with them, tried different formations and watched them in friendlies, he will still come to the same conclusion as many supporters we need two CB's a striker and being greedy a central midfielder and a first choice goalie. Last season clearly identified that fact, we hope Kennedy and Wallace can keep fit and play 40+ games but they probably wont. Collins did a good job with Maguire but he played little football last year and is older. This season is all about promotion not about stability, building for the future we can do that in the championship. If Morgan has not identified the weaknesses to Nigel 2, to confirm what he must have seen on videos from last years games, what the hell is he doing as a coach.

 

[Guesty]

Fair enough but he wouldnt get in anyway. Bash and Kennedy back there much better options.

True enough, I'd tend to agree with you but given the squad as it stands it's not outlandish that Collins be in some of these teams.

 

[brownie4583]

I think a few of the existing players will perform much better under NA than they did under NC.
Better tactics,more attack minded,a more positive attitude from the manager.

 

[Grappler]

We all hope Nigel 2 will be the one to get us out of this league, as we did with Wilson, Weir, and Nigel 1 that's a given. My hope is once he has spoken to the players, trained with them, tried different formations and watched them in friendlies, he will still come to the same conclusion as many supporters we need two CB's a striker and being greedy a central midfielder and a first choice goalie. Last season clearly identified that fact, we hope Kennedy and Wallace can keep fit and play 40+ games but they probably wont. Collins did a good job with Maguire but he played little football last year and is older. This season is all about promotion not about stability, building for the future we can do that in the championship. If Morgan has not identified the weaknesses to Nigel 2, to confirm what he must have seen on videos from last years games, what the hell is he doing as a coach.

I think that is pretty much impossible. Wallace looked great when he did play, attack minded, and Tel Kennedy would run through a brickwall, head first, to make an important tackle, the kid has the heart of a lion. I think his knee injuries and war wounds are too bad, long term, I hope I am wrong, great potential.

 

[BushBlade]

Fair enough but he wouldnt get in anyway. Bash and Kennedy back there much better options.

I had Collins because he's more capable than Bash of organising the defence and I'd want Bash as CM, to put himself about a bit, because we haven't got anyone else who can.
If I could get the side I'd chosen promoted I'd be a better manager than Bassett but isn't that the point of Bergen's post?