Do we have the team to win?

[Come from away]

I lined up last year's starting players, plus the new two, and this is what I get. Looks solid for a starting team, but imagine November with four starting players and two subs injured. Would we still be in the race? I think the gaps are still obvious - a wide man, centre-midfield and centre-back. (Hope the spacing holds up so this makes sense)


Beattie Sharp
Hulse Webber
Stead Shelton

Quinn Tonge Speed Halford
Hendrie Montgomery Jihai Gillespie
(Carney) (Carney)

Naysmith Morgan Kilgallon Geary
Armstrong Ehiogu (Halford?) (Jihai?)

Kenny
Bennett

 

[The One]

Ehiogu already gone hasn't he?

 

[butchaboy]

Do we have the team to win?

Add cotterill
and yes
nuff said

 

[dutchblade]

When Robson came in last year the first thought i had was that we could be glad to finish on place 10-15.
For this season i feel optimistic. Blackwell seems to know what he wants, and he wants what we all want. A real team, with real blades, an over my dead body, never say day mentallity etc etc. A team that will play for us so we will play our game to the team, what means support them from the first till the last minute. If that combination is there we certainly finish the season with promotion!

 

[beightonblade]

Do we have the team to win?

Without adding QUALITY to the team
a game yes, promotion or win the league no.

BUT McCABE WILL ADD QUALITY THIS TIME !

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

The last dozen games of last season suggest we have a team capable of winning. Added a couple of players to that, which have upped the quality a bit. So the answer given the evidence is 'probably'.

 

[dingledog]

True SEB, but an wise old sage like yourself will have seen 'probably' turn into not good enough far too many times at DTBL. That said I am optomisitc about the coming season, with a fair wind and a good dollop of luck we should be OK. I am that confidant I am even daring to miss the first home game and go on holiday.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

True SEB, but an wise old sage like yourself will have seen 'probably' turn into not good enough far too many times at DTBL. That said I am optomisitc about the coming season, with a fair wind and a good dollop of luck we should be OK. I am that confidant I am even daring to miss the first home game and go on holiday.

..of course DD, we know from experience that if it can be cocked-up it probably will be and even if it can't, they'll still find a way.

That's why it's only a 'probably' and not a 'definitely'. I think most long-standing Blades like ourselves are pessimists by default!

 

[beightonblade]

The last dozen games of last season suggest we have a team capable of winning. Added a couple of players to that, which have upped the quality a bit. So the answer given the evidence is 'probably'.

mmmmm........ we did end the season well but when we had something to play for at Southampton we blew it. That concerns me.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

mmmmm........ we did end the season well but when we had something to play for at Southampton we blew it. That concerns me.

I think Southampton had far more to play for! Ours was a very unrealistic possibility, whereas they were in very real danger of dropping! Made a big difference, I think!!

 

[DazBlade88]

I don't think we've got enough to go up at the moment. We're not far off but we need a little bit more. Especially at centre half.

 

[jodman]

I don't think we've got enough to go up at the moment. We're not far off but we need a little bit more. Especially at centre half.

What he said.

The teams that have come down look very strong to me at the moment; i know that they may be sufferring from the 'hangover' but it didn't effect the blues last time they were relegated and they have made some good signings.

Birmingham, Wolves and Reading all look very strong in my opinion but it's all speculation at this point; i'm sure everyone was saying the same about us, Charlton and Watford last season.

 

[Come from away]

I think Southampton had far more to play for! Ours was a very unrealistic possibility, whereas they were in very real danger of dropping! Made a big difference, I think!!

By the time we hit Southampton we had collected a bunch of injuries, and we lost. Hence, my worry unless we add Cotterill, another center half and discover someone to play in midfield.

 

[Sensiblade]

Still working on the Cotterill deal

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7504812.stm

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell has said he is hopeful of agreeing a deal to sign Wigan winger David Cotterill.

 

[stinkyblade]

mmmmm........ we did end the season well but when we had something to play for at Southampton we blew it. That concerns me.

Anything will concern you, Southampton had much more to play for. Maybe if we didn't have to rely so much elsewhere who knows.

As for the thread, i believe with the addition of a Cotterill type player and a quality CM and definitely a leader at the back, i think we will have a good chance. But it is a really strong league this season, consistency is key.

 

[beightonblade]

Anything will concern you, Southampton had much more to play for.

I don't agree, ok the Blades had to rely on other results but so what !, should have grabbed 3 points.

The concern is it was a pressure game and the Blades blew it just like the one against Wigwam.

Mind yer McCabe is going to add some real QUALITY this time round so no worries soon.

 

[stinkyblade]

I don't agree, ok the Blades had to rely on other results but so what !, should have grabbed 3 points.

The concern is it was a pressure game and the Blades blew it just like the one against Wigwam.

Mind yer McCabe is going to add some real QUALITY this time round so no worries soon.

How do you know that then?

He told you?

Yeah maybe we should have grabbed the three points but the other team on the day wanted it more which is a shame and all in the past. Onwards and upwards we hope.