Have we got enough

[bongleblade]

I don't want people to get me wrong about RND. He's alright. But if we're talking about getting promoted, I think he's one where I look at him, and I look at some of the players we've had in that position, and him at his best isn't a patch on the others at their best. And I'm trying to be fair, the job we're asking him to do for us is a job that very few players can do. He's the type of player where if I rated him 6/10 in advance for every game this season then I probably wouldn't be far wrong, but I doubt he's going to have many 8's or 9's.

He was shocking vs Boro imo, didn’t do basic like tracking down and jogging when he needed to run

 

[PokerBlade]

He was shocking vs Boro imo, didn’t do basic like tracking down and jogging when he needed to run

Here's the way I'd put it, good and bad games all considered. If he left us tomorrow could you see him getting into another Championship team? I reckon yes. Would it be one challenging for the top half dozen? I reckon no.

 

[bongleblade]

Here's the way I'd put it, good and bad games all considered. If he left us tomorrow could you see him getting into another Championship team? I reckon yes. Would it be one challenging for the top half dozen? I reckon no.

I could see him getting in at LWB, but LCB no chance, but it’s not his position so that makes sense really. Can’t wait for Clark to return, i think we’re going to look great with him back and fit

 

[Bladey_blade]

Here's the way I'd put it, good and bad games all considered. If he left us tomorrow could you see him getting into another Championship team? I reckon yes. Would it be one challenging for the top half dozen? I reckon no.

You're overrating the champ if you don't think he can get into a playoff team, Colback was forests left back remember

 

[Smirth]

If Sharp doesn't stay fit then we lack a reliable first choice striker who you bank on starting 80-90% of our games which I feel is important. McBurnie & Brewster have proven inconsistent and injury prone, and Jebbison & Osula are too young and inexperienced.

That said, I can't see us signing a striker now so I expect we'll go with what we have and hope we find a reliable first choice between McBurnie & Brewster if Sharp isn't fit and firing. If they don't do that then I can see us being in the market for someone in January to take up that mantle just as Forest did last season with Keinan Davis.

I'm not too concerned by the midfield. Norwood has started the season well and is still a very good performer at this level and there a few better in this position despite the criticism he always receives. Doyle is here to compete for Fleck's shirt if he's not performing as is McAtee who I was impressed by last night. It wasn't an outstanding debut but he pressed well and got more stuck in than I thought he would do for a player of his size and experience to date. The more he trains with the rest of the team, learns from other players in this system like Fleck (who he namechecked as giving him advice following the game last night) and plays for us the better he'll become.

The defence I remain unconvinced by. I don't think any of our first choice LCBs are good enough which combined with not having a nailed on first choice LWB does concern me. That has looked our weakness so far this season, albeit on very few games to date and with us suffering injuries there. I assume our first choice when fit will be Clark & Lowe, so they will need time to settle together as they get used to each others game, but I do have some concerns.

 

[Stevo]

After the first few games do we have enough to mount a serious challenge.
Personally I think we’re close but the lack of goals from the strikers is a big concern, we need a 15+ goals a season striker, apart from Billy ( he’s another year older & just coming back from injury then injured again) we just don’t have one.
Defensive wise we seem to have a good selection to choose from even when we have injuries.
Midfield is strong if we play the right combination, last night showed this, if Hecky is brave enough.
If we did need player/players where would you like to see strengthened ?

Absolutely, the question is will will be luckier with injuries , and will hecky be brave enough in certain games , also I feel with anel and Clark we will eradicate the shitty injury time goals that blighted is last season

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Ndiaye is our 15 goal striker

N'Diaye isn't an out and out striker, he's a link up player not a fox in the box.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I think we're looking to rotate that forward line, with several combinations of several skilled players. In modern football terms, we'll be looking to share the goals around, rather than one striker as the designated goal threat. McAtee, N'Diaye, Berge, Khadra etc etc...

A reliable, impactful, consistent goalscorer costs serious money. We won't spend that.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

I think we're looking to rotate that forward line, with several combinations of several skilled players. In modern football terms, we'll be looking to share the goals around, rather than one striker as the designated goal threat. McAtee, N'Diaye, Berge, Khadra etc etc...

A reliable, impactful, consistent goalscorer costs serious money. We won't spend that.

Brewster and McBurnie cost 40m, find me anyone else that stupid in the division that's spent more?

 

[Sheffsteel]

No one needs to be perfect in the Championship. Every single team has flaws and gets away with murder at times in a game. You need to be good enough and i think we are good enough. The guaranteed automatic promotion record is 3 points at home, and 1 point away average.

We haven’t lost at home since October 2021, and i believe this team can draw or win away vs most teams except maybe the other top 6 culprits

We’ve got this!

Agree. This season we seem to be a better side than last season, with more quality players
Last season we finished in the play-offs so should do as well if not better this season.

Also what's helping us is that there's no Fulham or Bournmouth this season. I believe we have a genuine chance of top 2.
In fact the "ultimate champions" sponsorship on the back of our shirt could be an omen.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Brewster and McBurnie cost 40m, find me anyone else that stupid in the division that's spent more?

Can't. Impossible.

 

[Yogi]

Ndiaye will get 10-15 and Brewster is doing a lot of the hard work to start the season but hasn’t been rewarded with a goal but if he keeps plugging away he’ll get there and once he does he could go on a run.

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

Let's be objective folks (difficult for many Blades pessimists I know) - Hecky has averaged 2 points per game. 92 points gets you promoted. Hecky's squad is stronger now for certain. Just as long as Hecky doesn't read a lot of the shite spouted on this forum, and injuries don't derail us again, then we'll go up.

 

[jt64]

Personally I think we’re close but the lack of goals from the strikers is a big concern

Does it matter who scores the goals, as long as someone does?

 

[mattbianco1]

After the first few games do we have enough to mount a serious challenge.
Personally I think we’re close but the lack of goals from the strikers is a big concern,

See I see this from a different angle. We're playing well and scoring goals without a single goal from our strikers... wait till they start chipping in

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Let's be objective folks (difficult for many Blades pessimists I know) - Hecky has averaged 2 points per game. 92 points gets you promoted. Hecky's squad is stronger now for certain. Just as long as Hecky doesn't read a lot of the shite spouted on this forum, and injuries don't derail us again, then we'll go up.

Yes if we can find the goals and assists mgw gave us I think we will average around 2 points a game. I worry about rwb with zero depth until Bogle is fit again.

If we keep Berge I think we will be at least top 4.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

After the first few games do we have enough to mount a serious challenge.
Personally I think we’re close but the lack of goals from the strikers is a big concern, we need a 15+ goals a season striker, apart from Billy ( he’s another year older & just coming back from injury then injured again) we just don’t have one.
Defensive wise we seem to have a good selection to choose from even when we have injuries.
Midfield is strong if we play the right combination, last night showed this, if Hecky is brave enough.
If we did need player/players where would you like to see strengthened ?

We made the playoffs last time and although we lost a real gem in MGW we do seem to have recruited well in key positions this time so I certainly consider we can mount a serious challenge again.

A reliable goalscorer is worth his weight in gold and is what we need the most.

 

[SUFCScorecard]

Biggest opportunity for improvement would be wing backs. Right now they are not providing any service to the strikers. All 3 that are currently playing (Baldock, Lowe, RND) are very similar, good athletes with defensive attributes, but very limited going forward. Bogle will fix RWB, but maybe we can get a loan to January (Drameh?) to add an attacking alternative to Baldock.

We've needed a new LWB for 3 years and it needs to be a priority if we end up selling one of our players for good money. RND can stay at LCB for me, and Lowe is a serviceable back-up LWB, but we need a starter who can offer the attacking threat Enda had in his prime.

 

[Proper Blade]

We've only kept one clean sheet so far but I'm not overly worried about the defence - we've made a lot of individual errors which you would think we will cut out.

I think the success of our season all depends on whether McBurnie and/or Brewster start scoring. We can't rely on Sharp anymore given his age and recent injury record.

Both of them need a run of games at the very least. I would start with Brewster come what may for the next 4/5 matches. It would be a show of confidence in him that he might thrive off.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

In short, I do think we have enough.

IF we can cut down on the ludicrously large injury list and key players find / maintain form.

To have a perfect squad at this level I think we'd need to add cover for Egan and Baldock and competition for Fleck. An injury to any of these three players would badly upset the balance of the team.
I also think we're light one centre forward given the form, fitness (Sharp, Brewster, McBurnie) and inexperience (Jebbison, Osula) of our options.

If we pick up points at a similar rate over the next week or so then I'd love the Prince to have one last look down the back of the sofa to see if he can really equip us to go for the top 2.
This could be our best chance for several years.
The competition doesn't seem all that great and we have some serious talent in our ranks.

 

[El Volví]

I predicted, a little sarcastically, at the start of the season that it looked like we were going into this season without a striker and that goals would come from elsewhere and so far that almost seems to be right.

To be honest I don't care where the goals come from so long as we win!

I still don't see McBurnie as this mythical 20 goal striker that some think he'll magically become and worryingly Billy is already looking like injuries could finally be catching up with his poor old body. As we've all kept on saying, if Brewster scores he'll go on a run of scoring. Well we're still waiting for that to happen.
Osula and Jebbison need a run in the team, or loaning out. More likely the latter will happen, or they'll be sold, which will be a shame as they're both talented!

To be honest I'd be happy with Wes sticking half a dozen goals away this season if it means winning games, but the reality is we've an exciting attacking midfield now with Berge and Khadra, the latter will score for sure and the former has already shown what he can do and then there's McAtee and Doyle.
Jimmy or John could always add a couple and you never know even Norwood could finally score from one of his speculative shots!
Add to that goals from defence it gives opposing teams a lot to think about when it comes to where the Blades goal threat is and I for one like that because it means exciting attacking football.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

If Brewster can't hit 15 in this team then there's no helping him

But I think he will if he stays fit

Berge and Ndiaye will also be double figures

Realistically need to aim for about 75 goals. Its doable

We'll reliably concede about 1 a game

That should have us on the edge of the top 2

The squad is good enough. Is the manager? Will the injuries stop? That'll decide matters

 

[Broomhall Blade]

I know someone will screenshot this and ram it down my throat in a few months but for me Billy is done as far as starting is concerned, although I'm not saying he is finished by any means. Even before his injury at Boro he looked so far off the pace. Ndaiye was doing all his running for him and as a result neither influenced the game. Leave Billy for the last 10-15 minutes, when we are pushing for a goal, stick him in the box and let him do what he does.

We need a big awkward fucker up front in this division, someone who gives the opposition something to worry about. Their no9 last night was a handfull and created lots of space for them with some very unselfish play, same for Keinan Davies for Florist last year.

Sharp tends too need a run of games before he finds his scoring boots. The worrying thing is he's now picked up another injury that is going to keep him sidelined for god only knows how long.
Going back to the original question there are three things I can see that will stop us from being a top six side, injuries to key players, the sale of Berge and the lack of a Striker that will get you 15+ goals.
I am clinging onto the hope Brewster could be that person and I really want the guy to do well but after each game that goes by that hope seems to diminish a bit more.
McBurnie will never be that Striker, although he looked better on Wednesday night, was that because he was playing more facing the goal rather than being used has a target man with his back to goal most of the time. He is not and never will be a target man.
Ndiaye will never get 15 good player that he is he's not clinical enough, more a creator.
Jebbison not there yet.
Osula needs a loan.

 

[Seth Rollins]

No one needs to be perfect in the Championship. Every single team has flaws and gets away with murder at times in a game. You need to be good enough and i think we are good enough. The guaranteed automatic promotion record is 3 points at home, and 1 point away average.

We haven’t lost at home since October 2021, and i believe this team can draw or win away vs most teams except maybe the other top 6 culprits

We’ve got this!

We lost 2-1 at home to Reading in April and 2-1 at home to Forest in the play off semi final first leg. But I get your point. Under Hecky we've been mostly good at home. Our away form needs improvement though.

 

[El Volví]

If Brewster can't hit 15 in this team then there's no helping him

But I think he will if he stays fit

Berge and Ndiaye will also be double figures

Realistically need to aim for about 75 goals. Its doable

We'll reliably concede about 1 a game

That should have us on the edge of the top 2

The squad is good enough. Is the manager? Will the injuries stop? That'll decide matters

I'd be very surprised if any of our strikers got anywhere near double figures this season!

 

[Melbourne Blade]

I've watched every game this season (on TV) and after the Sunderland game it was a real sign that things are starting to click and can only get better.

We'll give some teams a real pasting this season and wouldn't surprise me at all if we're consistently in the top 2 until May. If we keep Berge and develop Mcatee we're up. UTB