"He was running around !"

[Woodwardfan]

Classic quote from Clough after the game the other night when asked to comment on McNulty's improved performance. " He was running around!.... he's watched Matty Done and learned from him that's what you have to do to get in the first team"

The captures of Done and Brayford have raised the bar at Bramall Lane and Clough also pointed out that Holt is a midfielder who " runs beyond" from midfield to support the striker and complement the width we have.

Clough has started to look happier. He explained that there are only two or three Matty Done's around and you have to be patient to capture them at the right time.

 

[stringjunior]

I love how Matey Done flew in under the radar, was criticised by some, unknown by most, and is now becoming a legend.

 

[SwissBlade]

I think we need reminding of the phase 'in Clough we trust'

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

4 new players started on Tuesday plus El Tel. Half of outfield making the difference plus keeper. Settled team where possible now plse, with Flynn when fit.

Keep looking at fixture list and got my hopes back up ... Should know better by now !!

 

[FTPE]

Classic quote from Clough after the game the other night when asked to comment on McNulty's improved performance. " He was running around!.... he's watched Matty Done and learned from him that's what you have to do to get in the first team"

The captures of Done and Brayford have raised the bar at Bramall Lane and Clough also pointed out that Holt is a midfielder who " runs beyond" from midfield to support the striker and complement the width we have.

Clough has started to look happier. He explained that there are only two or three Matty Done's around and you have to be patient to capture them at the right time.

He's fekin harsh with mcnulty!
He's a young lad, he's a lot to learn.
I don't know the kids personality but I hope he responds well to tough love, because other than diego none of our other youngsters get criticized the way he does

 

[Bladesway]

He's fekin harsh with mcnulty!
He's a young lad, he's a lot to learn.
I don't know the kids personality but I hope he responds well to tough love, because other than diego none of our other youngsters get criticized the way he does

Well sewing what Clough has done with the development of other players through the ranks, the way Murphy is coming on under his stewardship etc, you have to assume he knows what he is doing.

 

[SwissBlade]

He's fekin harsh with mcnulty!
He's a young lad, he's a lot to learn.
I don't know the kids personality but I hope he responds well to tough love, because other than diego none of our other youngsters get criticized the way he does

It's a position he knows the most about, so he probably also gives him the most instruction and coaching himself. I don't have a problem with how Clough handles McNulty as it clearly works. Look back to August he was ok, but now he's looking much better and doing things like holding the ball better and 'running around'. Baxter gets a fair bit of stick for looking fat, but McNulty isn't skinny, he's quite solid but doesn't use his strength enough, but is improving in that respect

Playing that lone role requires lots of discipline and a very high, intelligent work rate.

Seeing Murphy, McNulty and Done up top together really is an exciting look of things to come, especially at home or when we're chasing the game like on Tuesday.

 

[Woodwardfan]

McNulty is a "development player" and Clough is trying to develop him. Actually I don't remember Clough himself being a busy player, does anybody else?! Fascinating.

All players are different, it is up to their manager at the time to get the most out of them.

Amid all the current euphoria my only regret is that Clough didn't bring in a busy, pacey striker ages ago. I don't think it was about budget but the simple principle that Clough will not go for short term fixes and is determined to put all his building blocks in place as and when the right blocks are available.

Saying that, the signing of Higdon is still way out of context, both in quality and in type of player to fit our style. I still reckon we have a lot to come from him, otherwise he was a ridiculous signing, maybe desperate even, but that would have been out of character for our manager.

The other option was to sign a young loan player but we didn't and we have lost ground.

Considering the mood only 5 matches ago, the spending and the recruits have restored "the faith". Let's hope there is still plenty of time to do the job. Whatever the outcome, our manager and board have proved they are on the right track. If we go up next season we will be very strong indeed by the time we play in the Championship and McNulty for example will no longer be a "development player"; he will either have made it with us or not, maybe it's in the balance at present. He's got to "run around more", dead right too.

 

[mattbianco1]

I love how Matey Done flew in under the radar, was criticised by some, unknown by most, and is now becoming a legend.

Quick to judge on here

 

[mattbianco1]

Quick to judge on here

Without looking at the Matt Done thread. I would guess somebody mentioned "no ambition" and "where's the investment"

 

[DazBlade88]

Funnily enough, at Bristol City on Saturday after Done had chased down their keeper trying to make a clearance in the second half I noticed Clough turn to McNulty, pointed at what had just happened before saying something. I presumed at the time it must have been "That's what we need more of from you", and it looks like that's the case.

 

[pommpey]

I love how Matey Done flew in under the radar, was criticised by some, unknown by most, and is now becoming a legend.

He's becoming a legend because he is doing what we expect of a striker. As with most other strikers we have signed since say, Beattie, we have all had to Google them in the Barry Oddnob stylee and wonder (like Higdon) if what Clough wanted, and what he was facilitated for, was one of the same thing. It seems now the natives are becoming restless again and many of us are questioning the intent of the board, more resources are made available for Clough to stalk and capture players whjo are worthy of the shirt, rather than placeholders.

I don't recall anyone on here in the first half of this seaosn suggesting we make a bid for Rochdale's attacking midfielder. If he was such a legend, surely we would have heard of him before?

Notwithstanding that, four goals in three games in less than a month is what I expect from a striker, and hopefully now we can start playing that attacking game that gets as much play into the box for this nippy little goalscorer to keep opposition defences tied up. Certainly with the midfield we have and have back up in, the signs are a damn sight more positive than six months ago. The rate Done is going, if he doesn't score in a game he will be doing his best to employ two defenders to keep him out of the game, which is just the opportunity people like Murphy exploit.

pommpey

 

[grafikhaus]

Considering the mood only 5 matches ago, the spending and the recruits have restored "the faith". Let's hope there is still plenty of time to do the job. Whatever the outcome, our manager and board have proved they are on the right track. If we go up next season we will be very strong indeed by the time we play in the Championship and McNulty for example will no longer be a "development player".

Meanwhile, at post-takeover Hillsborough

 

[Lane Ender]

In this division they'll have to have two marking Done

One on one and the defenders in trouble

 

[FTPE]

It's a position he knows the most about, so he probably also gives him the most instruction and coaching himself. I don't have a problem with how Clough handles McNulty as it clearly works. Look back to August he was ok, but now he's looking much better and doing things like holding the ball better and 'running around'. Baxter gets a fair bit of stick for looking fat, but McNulty isn't skinny, he's quite solid but doesn't use his strength enough, but is improving in that respect

Playing that lone role requires lots of discipline and a very high, intelligent work rate.

Seeing Murphy, McNulty and Done up top together really is an exciting look of things to come, especially at home or when we're chasing the game like on Tuesday.

Completely agree, but when we played with Baxter upfront on his own(albeit a false 9) or higdon,he never publicly criticized them.
Higdon certainly didn't run the channels. I know different things are expected of different players but he definitely gets different treatment in my opinion.
That said, he rips into JCR on the radio too sometimes

 

[Fulwood Blade]

He's fekin harsh with mcnulty!
He's a young lad, he's a lot to learn.
I don't know the kids personality but I hope he responds well to tough love, because other than diego none of our other youngsters get criticized the way he does

Mcnulty can be whoever he wants to be - his different finishes this season has proved that.
All our players are probably well paid and as such if any employer thinks there is an issue then he is only doing what his bosses and us, the paying public want.
We want 11 players, any 11 players playing at their best and for most of the time - consistency is the word. Mcnulty is class - it just needs bringing out and we have to hope Clough is doing it the right way.
Agreed he has appeared to be harsh and I am sure Clough knows he can get away with the public criticism with Mcnulty, where as with others he probably can't.
Mcnulty has it in him to be a sort of legend down here too - Murphy is on his way too - again after a mixed start to his Blades career.

UTB

 

[bertieblade]

McNulty also received praise, as Clough singled him out to say how well he played when he came on. Could it ge that clough sees so much potential with mccnulty if He could just get some of his nuances sorted.
In my opinion, he does not work hard enough, he switches off and loses concentration, but when he is on I.e Southampton he offers so much, clough sees this and that is what infuriates him

 

[SwissBlade]

Completely agree, but when we played with Baxter upfront on his own(albeit a false 9) or higdon,he never publicly criticized them.
Higdon certainly didn't run the channels. I know different things are expected of different players but he definitely gets different treatment in my opinion.
That said, he rips into JCR on the radio too sometimes

With Baxter he always accepted that it wasn't his position and he was just doing a job for the team, Higdon I think is handled differently as he cant do that level of running so we play a different way when he plays.

He doesn't rip into certain players, perhaps murphy and flynn as they probably can't take it the same way that McNulty can.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Mcnulty can be whoever he wants to be - his different finishes this season has proved that.
All our players are probably well paid and as such if any employer thinks there is an issue then he is only doing what his bosses and us, the paying public want.
We want 11 players, any 11 players playing at their best and for most of the time - consistency is the word. Mcnulty is class - it just needs bringing out and we have to hope Clough is doing it the right way.
Agreed he has appeared to be harsh and I am sure Clough knows he can get away with the public criticism with Mcnulty, where as with others he probably can't.
Mcnulty has it in him to be a sort of legend down here too - Murphy is on his way too - again after a mixed start to his Blades career.

UTB

Agree McNulty has certain special quality, i.e. an eye for a scoring chance which he calmly puts away. His general work up front, outside the penalty area, lacks presence and workrate.

Add the latter to the former equals "legend".

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Agree McNulty has certain special quality, i.e. an eye for a scoring chance which he calmly puts away. His general work up front, outside the penalty area, lacks presence and workrate.

Add the latter to the former equals "legend".

and so did a certain Mr Edwards at times - workrate was never top of his agenda, but he could at least finish which I suppose allowed him a bit of leeway.

Edwards would never have made it with Clough as manager - a fact that our Keith probably doesn't want to discuss.

UTB

 

[itsinyerblood]

and so did a certain Mr Edwards at times - workrate was never top of his agenda, but he could at least finish which I suppose allowed him a bit of leeway.

Edwards would never have made it with Clough as manager - a fact that our Keith probably doesn't want to discuss.

UTB

Think it's more to do with how the game has changed Fulwood. There'll always be exceptions, but players are expected to contribute far more than they used to.
Whether Edwards would have responded to these requirements, we'll never know.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

and so did a certain Mr Edwards at times - workrate was never top of his agenda, but he could at least finish which I suppose allowed him a bit of leeway.

Edwards would never have made it with Clough as manager - a fact that our Keith probably doesn't want to discuss.

UTB

Fulwood , i think Keith Edwards would fit nicely into the team , and how we play imo . Mr Clough wouldn't have a go at his work rate , because he would be scoring goals on a regular basis. He may have a go at his lip.

UTB

 

[bertieblade]

I had a round of golf with Keith and the conversation got round to me comparing him to jan age, a similar type of player who did bugger all, but came alive in front if goal.
Keith said That he felt insulted, as he worked really hard for the team and Jan age did not.......

In my opinion bith lazy players who could gave achieved so much more if they had worked harder..
Jan Age was sold as spaceman thought that the teamm scored more goals without him than with him and was also more difficult to break down as jan Age never worked for the team

 

[alcoblade]

I think we need reminding of the phase 'in Clough we trust'

No, it's still sickly.



UTB

 

[Woodwardfan]

and so did a certain Mr Edwards at times - workrate was never top of his agenda, but he could at least finish which I suppose allowed him a bit of leeway.

Edwards would never have made it with Clough as manager - a fact that our Keith probably doesn't want to discuss.

UTB

True enough but Edwards never won anything important with us.

I'm not sure Edwards would get away with "conserving his energy for the chances when they arise" in the modern game where everybody puts in a shift. I always justified Edward's approach by the way but my wife for example found it hard to watch him.

 

[FTPE]

With Baxter he always accepted that it wasn't his position and he was just doing a job for the team, Higdon I think is handled differently as he cant do that level of running so we play a different way when he plays.

He doesn't rip into certain players, perhaps murphy and flynn as they probably can't take it the same way that McNulty can.

http://m.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-...parky-gets-nigel-s-seal-of-approval-1-7116423
Good to see he praises him too when he does well

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

With McNulty I do hope it's good player management and not frustration. Some people need positive reinforcement and others need a challenge, a confrontation, or a kick up the arse.

I hope Clough's got this one right.

 

[Notts Blade]

I have always thought clough tailors his approach depending on the player. With players like mcnulty nc clearly thinks he will respond to criticism where it is due and praise where it is due. With other players he seems to be more careful to avoid criticism (in public anyway) and play up their positives.

Speaking personally I know that for me the praise I get from the head of my firm who has very high standards and who isn't afraid to let you know when you haven't met them means more to me than praise from another member of management who rarely criticises anyone efforts.

 

[JohnDenver]

I had a round of golf with Keith and the conversation got round to me comparing him to jan age, a similar type of player who did bugger all, but came alive in front if goal.
Keith said That he felt insulted, as he worked really hard for the team and Jan age did not.......

In my opinion bith lazy players who could gave achieved so much more if they had worked harder..
Jan Age was sold as spaceman thought that the teamm scored more goals without him than with him and was also more difficult to break down as jan Age never worked for the team

I loved Jan Age, but if I was a manger I'd not have played him away from home. He was often a passenger when the team needed him to do the ugly work.

Still, at home he was bloody marvellous.

 

[JohnDenver]

I have always thought clough tailors his approach depending on the player. With players like mcnulty nc clearly thinks he will respond to criticism where it is due and praise where it is due. With other players he seems to be more careful to avoid criticism (in public anyway) and play up their positives.

Speaking personally I know that for me the praise I get from the head of my firm who has very high standards and who isn't afraid to let you know when you haven't met them means more to me than praise from another member of management who rarely criticises anyone efforts.

I'm sure that's true. Murphy seems to be a quiet lad who lacks a bit of self belief. Have we ever heard Clough criticise him in the media? And how is Murphy's form under Clough compared to Wilson or Weir?

If we ever see a proven play deteriorate under Clough then I'll start to worry.