Halifax report.....

[sitwell]

We still don't have a dominating centre back or a dominating central midfielder and our centre forwards are midgets. Despite Wilders signings our spine is still our weakness .

Maybe Fleck and Oconnell will step up ,its very early days for these new guys they are still finding their feet in the club ,I was looking during the warm up to see who was palling up with who ,and their seemed a lot of lost souls trying to do so. McNulty looked good for moral ,although he is probably mis-guided and a bit daft I reckon his hearts in the right place ,he seemed to be the one trying to get a buzz going. Must admit Im warming to him ,playing well and scoring will help ,he did well when he came on and was unlucky.

 

[Treeton Blade]

Thought DCL showed good touches when he came on.
McNulty was `at it`, and put in a shift.

Jake Wright senior struggled, looked lightweight, and way off the pace.

 

[bertieblade]

Just heard Wilders interview, says it as it is, speaks from the heart, just what we need, the more I hear the more I like; thank god no more reference to geese

 

[Northyorksblade]

Some were at it tonight ,Billy sharp got a 'put some effort in you wanker' which he will have heard and Mcnulty also got some despite being our best forward on the night. Some obviously thought it was a champions league game ,not a chance to look at players and will have been baffled by the 20 odd substitutions.
low points were Reed and Wallace
good points Fleck and Basham ,and McNulty looked like he might have a part to play. Brooks also showed a lot of hunger when he came on.
Quick mention for the ref ,she did really well ,I reckon its the first time our first team have been reffed by a female.

Really? Really? Is it any wonder our players lack confidence when fans have a go in a friendly against Halifax ffs. At least wait till the first proper game. Groan. GET BEHIND THE TEAM. Support them, don't slag them off.
I remember when our fans encouraged not slagged off at the first opportunity.

 

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

Some were at it tonight ,Billy sharp got a 'put some effort in you wanker' which he will have heard and Mcnulty also got some despite being our best forward on the night.

Shit like this does my head in. I just don't understand the logic behind it. You want the team to win and do well, so you hurl abuse at them until they magically turn into Barcelona? Yeah that should work.

I can understand having a pop after the final whistle if they've not turned up, but is it really too much to ask that you actually SUPPORT them during the game.

I honestly do think a large proportion of our fan base would love nothing more than for us to get relegated this season. Just so they can turn up on a Saturday, vent all of their frustration and anger from their sad little lives, then at the end of the season they'll have a big smile on their face telling everyone "I told you so"

Maybe I've just not got enough years under my belt, maybe 20 or 30 years from now I'll be just as miserable and cynical as they are, but I hope not. I'd also like to think that if I did become that aggressive and abusive while watching the Blades, that I'd have the common decency to stop going games and spreading my vitriol!

Rant over

As ever UTB!

 

[robbiez666]

The result is irrelevant at this time of the season, although the lack of graft is a bit worrying. If Wilder wants us to change playing style and play a much more energetic high tempo football you would expect to see some evidence of it in the friendlies.

Still, it was ridiculously warm so not overly surprising it didn't happen.

Interview below. No excuses but I'd like to hear more answers.

 

[blade too long]

In many ways losing here helps Wilder more than a strolling win
A far more combative opposition , highlights certain weaknesses that still need addressing
last season we only got that at Gillingham
this season far better its in a training exercise
conceding 2 after 9 changes is not acceptable, as it shows there is work on systems for the squad to sort out
But I wont lose sleep over it

 

[Booker4]

Where would you say we needed strengthening? Didn't go tonight so intrigued to know where we were lacking. I know you mention Clarke in your post so that's one.

To be fair I didn't go mate either. I'll not bore you with the excuses but generally I've seen enough pre season friendlies over the years to know that they're generally a disappointment! Blackburn at home when Deano came back and scored after 30 seconds was definitely the exception! I think we definitely need a left winger. If we get a decent winger on the left as well as Duffy on the right then we'll cause teams many problems this season. Also centre mid is the other position I'm desperate to see us sign a box to box type that runs his socks off, gets stuck in and then allows Fleck to run the midfield. Basham isn't that man for me, even though he has many attributes I just feel he's not got the legs to get up and down and in peoples faces like someone like Mark Patterson did back in the day or Monty, but I always thought he did far more running than he did actual tackling!

I think we also need a target man like Clarke, who we know will guarantee us goals and let the likes of Billy, Done and McNulty play off him. The problem is we've three excellent smaller guys but can only get one of them on the pitch at any given time due to their similarity. I don't see the Done and Sharp partnership working.

Ideally I'd like a top notch centre back, but I think the Wilson O'Connell partnership has balance to it and those two will develop as a partnership.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

As others have said, pre-season doesn't really affect anything in the great scheme of things, but there were a number of issues from last season that I noticed are still lingering.

We still struggle with the final ball, particularly when we reach the by line where we wasted 3 or 4 really good opportunities to pick out a man with the cross.

We also carried on the frustrating tendency to try and create a perfect goal and take 2 or 3 extra touches in the box or look for an extra pass when really someone just needs to have a dig and see what happens. The tempo was also a bit slow at times, but obviously in 30 degree heat you'd expect that in any game.

In terms of positives, thought Fleck looked tidy and something we've not had in CM for a long time. Could hear him demanding the ball all the time, and he was also always moving around looking for space when others were on the ball. Hussey's corners were excellent we just needed someone to get on the end of them.

I'm glad Wilder's come out and blasted the performance this morning, it means he can see what the issues are and will hopefully now start working on them. Much rather that than be told that a 3-1 defeat at Southend is a good performance from our point of view..

 

[elgoog44]

In many ways losing here helps Wilder more than a strolling win
A far more combative opposition , highlights certain weaknesses that still need addressing
last season we only got that at Gillingham
this season far better its in a training exercise
conceding 2 after 9 changes is not acceptable, as it shows there is work on systems for the squad to sort out
But I wont lose sleep over it

exactly right, now Wilder and the board can see the weakness in the team an the areas we need to strengthen, the little creative magic that Murphy supplied is still a missing piece of the puzzle and another starting CB to play along side O'Connell, I am sure CW is aware and maybe needed this more than a win to show the board he still needs further backing to get the team working in the right direction ready for the start of the season, worryingly only 18 days away.

 

[blade too long]

he didnt offer excuses in the video , looked disappointed and didnt serve up any flannel a la Adkins
was honest and not mealy mouthed
wasnt acceptable and more to be done, ,shows his determination to get the squad having the right mind set, in any game
no future slacking of standards

 

[Pollingtonblade]

As others have said, pre-season doesn't really affect anything in the great scheme of things, but there were a number of issues from last season that I noticed are still lingering.

We still struggle with the final ball, particularly when we reach the by line where we wasted 3 or 4 really good opportunities to pick out a man with the cross.

We also carried on the frustrating tendency to try and create a perfect goal and take 2 or 3 extra touches in the box or look for an extra pass when really someone just needs to have a dig and see what happens. The tempo was also a bit slow at times, but obviously in 30 degree heat you'd expect that in any game.

In terms of positives, thought Fleck looked tidy and something we've not had in CM for a long time. Could hear him demanding the ball all the time, and he was also always moving around looking for space when others were on the ball. Hussey's corners were excellent we just needed someone to get on the end of them.

I'm glad Wilder's come out and blasted the performance this morning, it means he can see what the issues are and will hopefully now start working on them. Much rather that than be told that a 3-1 defeat at Southend is a good performance from our point of view..

Agree with your assessment - just don't get this trying to score the perfect goal fucking about with it - similarly when we get to byline but this is cos there's no big man in the box?

I'd still like another defender -

 

[blade too long]

I think there's plenty of time to address our needs , and I expect one or two will recieve some much needed motivation , regards places in the team
I think we may see 3 or 4 more come in yet , and a couple more on their bikes

 

[BushBlade]

Shit like this does my head in. I just don't understand the logic behind it. You want the team to win and do well, so you hurl abuse at them until they magically turn into Barcelona? Yeah that should work.

I can understand having a pop after the final whistle if they've not turned up, but is it really too much to ask that you actually SUPPORT them during the game.

I honestly do think a large proportion of our fan base would love nothing more than for us to get relegated this season. Just so they can turn up on a Saturday, vent all of their frustration and anger from their sad little lives, then at the end of the season they'll have a big smile on their face telling everyone "I told you so"

Maybe I've just not got enough years under my belt, maybe 20 or 30 years from now I'll be just as miserable and cynical as they are, but I hope not. I'd also like to think that if I did become that aggressive and abusive while watching the Blades, that I'd have the common decency to stop going games and spreading my vitriol!

Rant over

As ever UTB!

It seems to be the same at every club now though. It's not just us. In fact, we're not special one way or the other, despite what a lot like to believe. We get good attendances for L1 because we're based in a big city, one of the biggest.

We're just like the supporters of most clubs. Cheer when we win and boo when we lose.
It's been the same as long as I've been going.

Supporters don't identify with players any more. They don't go to the Lane on the bus, or live near supporters; they drive flash cars and live in gated communities. When I first started going, only top footballers were rich. The rest were just comfortable and had to get a job when they retired. Ask Keith.

Now they earn serious money playing in the third division and people resent it. They resent having to pay their hard earned to 'shit footballers' and resent it even more when the players don't appear to put sufficient effort in, when the players don't seem to care about the club as much as they do, when we don't win.

In modern times supporters are rarely happy. Take Spurs. I've got Spurs mates who'd have snatched your hand off if offered a CL place before the start of last season but by the end, even though they achieved it, 'it felt like failure'.

It's the emporer's new clothes. One day supporters will start to think 'why the fuck do I invest so much time and emotion in this shit?' Football is overhyped and overrated. So people will always be disappointed.

 

[blade too long]

In modern times supporters are rarely happy. Take Spurs. I've got Spurs mates who'd have snatched your hand off if offered a CL place before the start of last season but by the end, even though they achieved it, 'it felt like failure'.

.

well , we made the championship play offs under blackwell , who was tasked with trimming the wage bill and then 8th and we had fans baying for him to go
In hindsight, BIT HASTY

 

[Chezzy Blades]

Agree with your assessment - just don't get this trying to score the perfect goal fucking about with it - similarly when we get to byline but this is cos there's no big man in the box?

I'd still like another defender -

I agree, never cared how they go in as long as they do. You only get one goal for it at the end of the day.

Could be the lack of big man, but there was twice last night Brayford was at the byline cutting in with men free, and instead he chose to dink it to the back post. Maybe it'd be easier for them if we did have a target man on the back post to aim at.

I didn't think we needed a centre half until last night, but they really struggled to deal with their big forward. I'd like us to go out and get a box to box midfielder to play the role Coady used to, as although Basham makes it into the box he rarely looks like scoring. Along with a big striker and centre half, I still think we need 3 more signings at least before the start of the season.

 

[BushBlade]

well , we made the championship play offs under blackwell , who was tasked with trimming the wage bill and then 8th and we had fans baying for him to go
In hindsight, BIT HASTY

In hindsight he should have gone when he lost the POF. Had it been my decision he wouldn't have been anywhere near our club. That isn't hindsight. I posted exactly that on BM when we appointed him. He's a loser. Got loser written all over his chubby face. That's why he's done nowt since we got rid.

If you think the shambles of the season where we came 8th didn't warrant immediate sacking, after the shit like Nosworthy and the huge amounts of money wasted then we won't agree on this.

Allowing him another close season to waste even more money and then sacking him after he'd spent it was probably a worse decision than appointing Robson, certainly on par.

 

[blade too long]

In hindsight he should have gone when he lost the POF. Had it been my decision he wouldn't have been anywhere near our club. That isn't hindsight. I posted exactly that on BM when we appointed him. He's a loser. Got loser written all over his chubby face. That's why he's done nowt since we got rid.

If you think the shambles of the season where we came 8th didn't warrant immediate sacking, after the shit like Nosworthy and the huge amounts of money wasted then we won't agree on this.

Allowing him another close season to waste even more money and then sacking him after he'd spent it was probably a worse decision than appointing Robson, certainly on par.

but it was to show by comparison

what we thought was a shambles then,compared to the last 5 years, is something we only dream of, top 8 championship

 

[BushBlade]

but it was to show by comparison

what we thought was a shambles then,compared to the last 5 years, is something we only dream of, top 8 championship

True but with the budget we had at the time 8th was an underachievement. The equivalent would have been if Clough had been given last season instead of being sacked and we'd finished 8th. Remember 8th flattered us. We went on a late season, nothing to play for, run after we'd blown the playoffs.
I think we were justified in being pissed off on that occasion.

 

[ghandi]

So the match highlighted weaknesses but in true Blades fashion we address this by selling our best young player in Che Adams.

 

[him behind you]

Really? Really? Is it any wonder our players lack confidence when fans have a go in a friendly against Halifax ffs. At least wait till the first proper game. Groan. GET BEHIND THE TEAM. Support them, don't slag them off.
I remember when our fans encouraged not slagged off at the first opportunity.

I remember being threatened at Gillingham for daring to suggest something like this.

 

[Lmaobob]

I think we need Dean Hammond back.

 

[BushBlade]

I remember being threatened at Gillingham for daring to suggest something like this.

Presumably by someone in front of you?

 

[Blade56]

Repeating myself but I'm not impressed on paper with the squad he's put together so far so it's up to him to make them play to their full ability

 

[BushBlade]

Repeating myself but I'm not impressed on paper with the squad he's put together so far so it's up to him to make them play to their full ability

I thought you'd got your mojo back. You've lost it quicker than Katie Price lost her virginity.

 

[Blade56]

I thought you'd got your mojo back. You've lost it quicker than Katie Price lost her virginity.

Inversely proportional BB as the season gets closer the confidence lessens. I am a blade of grass in a gale when it comes to us getting a half decent squad together and getting out of this piss poor league that is fast becoming our home.

 

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

I think we need Dean Hammond back.

 

[Lmaobob]

And Sammon

 

[I should coco]

In hindsight he should have gone when he lost the POF. Had it been my decision he wouldn't have been anywhere near our club. That isn't hindsight. I posted exactly that on BM when we appointed him. He's a loser. Got loser written all over his chubby face. That's why he's done nowt since we got rid.

Bush

I agree with much of what you say but we were only going in one direction under Robson. Blackwell turned around the headlong rush for relegation and we finished the season with a great run and an unlikely play off chase. He deserved another go after that, surely?

Allowing him another close season to waste even more money and then sacking him after he'd spent it was probably a worse decision than appointing Robson, certainly on par.

We were abysmal in that first half against QPR and it was up there with Oldham (87) and Port Vale (00) at home. It only stayed at 3-0 because Warnock stopped them attacking in the second half. He had to go even after just 3 games, as the performance was THAT bad.

 

[Treeton Blade]

I think we need Dean Hammond back.