How do you think the current winning streak will play out?

[BenjaminBloom]

Hi everyone,

I’ve made the Blades my Boxing Day ‘team to watch’ for the piece I’ve go to write for F365 tomorrow so very interested in getting some opinions.

Is the current winning streak enough to convince you guys about a more viable push in the second half of the season or do you still carry some concerns??

PS. Thanks for the lovely thread about the reaction to Ndiaye goal, pure Partridge

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I think we'll beat Preston but I think another win against Hull, albeit at home, might be too big an ask, given the quick turn around in fixtures and likely squad rotation, especially with us meeting Wilder's Boro afterwards. I'd be happy with 4 points and at least one more clean sheet for Wes.

 

[bertieblade]

Evening Benjamin, many thanks for your support and interest in the “Blades”.

if we manage to keep a fit squad and retain MGW and Davies there is no reason why we cannot finish at least in the play offs.
many teams will lose players to COVID and we have a bigger better overall squad than most, it is however important that we wheel and deal in January to offload Freeman, Burke, mouset and replace with solid centre half and a midfield player who can dish it out and protect Us as we still miss anyone capable of putting a foot in. The luxury of another player like MGW who can go past people and create would also be wonderful but unexpected.
in short if we retain MGW and the main players stay fit we can go all the way, we have our blades back!.

have a good Christmas !

 

[Deleted member 23679]

I still think we are too far behind to make a credible tilt at the automatic spots, but the play offs are realistically in reach.

The biggest change has been the managerial chance, and Paul Heckingbottoms knows what style of football and formation suits the players we do have, and also knows what type of football United fans appreciate.

Under Jokanovic we was sleep walking through a season of lower table mediocrity, and survival purely on the basis there is some awful teams in the worst Championship for years and teams with point deductions, but under Hecky, we have woken up, refreshed and invigorated and ready to give a play off tilt a real go.

 

[Stevo]

Win the next 3 and we are right in the promotion race, and it is possible with the confidence and form we have found

 

[Blade.com]

Five weeks to early.
We have a very good chance of pulling some ground back looking at January's fixtures, some very winnable matches on the horizon but the Blades way would be to pick up a couple of injuries and a red card or two and , well , all the good work goes to pot.
But if lady lucks in the passenger seat, very capable of keeping the run up.

 

[SW12 to S12 to S18]

I think our main problem will be to keep up with the other contenders. We’ve won the last four and must keep winning simply to catch up, whereas the teams above us can afford to draw or lose one or two and still be in the mix. Having already lost eight times, the pressure is on us not to lose many more, can we do that? I don’t know, but at the moment you can see the enthusiasm is back in the players and it’s become exciting to go to the games once more so fingers crossed and let’s hope so, although that is not normally The Blades way.

 

[blade67]

Hi everyone,

I’ve made the Blades my Boxing Day ‘team to watch’ for the piece I’ve go to write for F365 tomorrow so very interested in getting some opinions.

Is the current winning streak enough to convince you guys about a more viable push in the second half of the season or do you still carry some concerns??

PS. Thanks for the lovely thread about the reaction to Ndiaye goal, pure Partridge

We are a work in progress. The squad is still unbalanced, albeit less so now we are playing to our strengths rather than the bizare approach of earlier in the season. The players are responding to a manager asking them to do things they are good at and telling them that they are good players. Success requires a good Jan transfer window or a bit of luck with injuries. Success for me is defined as getting into the play offs

 

[coolasanidiot]

I'd say Heck has got us straight back into Wilderball. Second half display was a real class defensive performance from the Blades. Well drilled and all playing for each other.

The passing wasn't great- so the positive to be gleaned is defensively we have it- improve a bit more on the all round game and no reason to suspect we won't pick up average 2 points a game in the run in.

No chance of a top 2- but deffo in with a shout of play offs as will Boro , Forest - so a cracking end to the season to look forward to..

 

[SouthportBlade]

Not sure how the rest of the season will pan out.. But on paper there's no reason why we couldn't make the playoffs, autos are gone mind you. The league feels a very low standard this year.

Under Jokanovic, whilst largely ineffective, we dominated most games and poor results mostly stemmed from being poor in both boxes rather than other teams strengths.

Heckingbottoms had a very encouraging start, and perhaps a few ins and outs in January could freshen us up a bit.

We've also the enigma of Sander Berge getting back to fitness and hopefully slotting into a team playing well and full of confidence. A big if but, If Berge plays to his potential, he's comfortably one of the best players in this league.

 

[Tarqs]

Hi everyone,

I’ve made the Blades my Boxing Day ‘team to watch’ for the piece I’ve go to write for F365 tomorrow so very interested in getting some opinions.

Is the current winning streak enough to convince you guys about a more viable push in the second half of the season or do you still carry some concerns??

PS. Thanks for the lovely thread about the reaction to Ndiaye goal, pure Partridge

You hold a somewhat god like status on here for your coverage of us during our 2 seasons in the championship last time

Still plenty to be concerned about, however, changing to 3 at the back, which is all this side knows from a defensive perspective seems to have strengthened us and is bringing out the best in Egan (who isn't a defender in a flat back 4). Additionally it's made is necessary to bring back Basham, which has coincided with our upturn in form. The fact he was dropped is utterly scandalous.

 

[Ranmoorblade]

If you're going to the match on Boxing Day is a certain away win as you have some sort of winning spell on us Ben. I think we'll make the playoffs btw and McBurnie will score the winning goal in the playoff final.

 

[Frank the tank]

The fact we are even within touching distance after our awful start gives me great optimism that an above average second half to the season should be more than enough to grab a top six spot

So it's not exactly getting carried away to think we will be in the chase for the play off spots even if our form levels off a bit

 

[McGoaldrick]

Hi everyone,

I’ve made the Blades my Boxing Day ‘team to watch’ for the piece I’ve go to write for F365 tomorrow so very interested in getting some opinions.

Is the current winning streak enough to convince you guys about a more viable push in the second half of the season or do you still carry some concerns??

PS. Thanks for the lovely thread about the reaction to Ndiaye goal, pure Partridge

Think a lot of the players threw jokanovic under the bus & are simply trying harder for heckingbottom. I do honestly expect the effort levels to massively dip again & we’ll be back looking at many of the same issues.

Irrespective of that, we need more cover/competition for centre mid & centre back. We got promoted last time because we could rely on backup players like cranie, dowell, stearman etc in important games. Not sure we have that this time around when injuries and suspensions start piling up

 

[Eyeball]

Think a lot of the players threw jokanovic under the bus & are simply trying harder for heckingbottom. I do honestly expect the effort levels to massively dip again & we’ll be back looking at many of the same issues.

Irrespective of that, we need more cover/competition for centre mid & centre back. We got promoted last time because we could rely on backup players like cranie, dowell, stearman etc in important games. Not sure we have that this time around when injuries and suspensions start piling up

Why the hell do you expect effort levels to “massively dip”????
Some just can’t resist having a dig,even backhanded ones!!

 

[Argentinemanager]

We will keep the winning run going until drunkeness takes its toll against Fulham, after our champions party, with Robinson taking over Stearman duties

 

[Micky Narker]

The lads are becoming defensively solid again, four clean sheets in five. With it being such a tight league stuff like that is vital. The pessimistic side of me says lack of transfer activity and injuries could halt the momentum, but fuck it, might as well look on the bright side and say playoffs or automatic promotion are possible.

United never bounce back, I hope this is the year the lads actually do!

 

[Newbury Blade]

I don’t know why people are saying “auto has gone”. If we do in the second half of the season what Fulham or Bournemouth have done in the first half, which is a tall order but by no means impossible, then I would say that auto would be very much on.

 

[Varkanoid]

I think for the first time in a long time we will get maximum points at Christmas. Need to be positive we seem to have turned a corner. Both PNE and Hull are lower than us in the league and I think the latter are really struggling. The players look and play differently to the start of the season almost to the point where it looks like a different team altogether. Not all there yet but going in the right direction. Boro will be a different matter but still predicting a win. Onwards and upwards.

Oh forgot add we have a game in hand. If we had won at QPR we would be knocking on the door of the playoffs, have won 5-0 we would be in the playoffs.

 

[I should coco]

I don’t know why people are saying “auto has gone”. If we do in the second half of the season what Fulham or Bournemouth have done in the first half, which is a tall order but by no means impossible, then I would say that auto would be very much on.

Normally you'd expect the top 2 to be pulling away, but after great starts, the wheels seem to be coming off a bit at Bournemouth and Fulham.

Automatic is definitely a long shot, but not completely unrealistic. That said, this is United, so make yourselves ready for the impending kick in the nuts.

 

[Cheesebored]

I think we'll make the playoffs btw and McBurnie will score the winning goal in the playoff final.

 

[mattbianco1]

Hi everyone,

I’ve made the Blades my Boxing Day ‘team to watch’ for the piece I’ve go to write for F365 tomorrow so very interested in getting some opinions.

Is the current winning streak enough to convince you guys about a more viable push in the second half of the season or do you still carry some concerns??

PS. Thanks for the lovely thread about the reaction to Ndiaye goal, pure Partridge

I think I we can remain unbeaten from the next 3 - PNE (a), Hull & Boro (h) it should fill us with bags of confidence for the games to follow:

Derby (a)
Luton (h)
Peterborough (a)
Birmingham (a)

Then it's WBA (h) - could be a lot closer to WBA by that game, but for me the PNE and Boro games are crucial

 

[Addison]

Much will depend on whether the current run of 5 games unbeaten wakes the owner, the Prince, from his self imposed slumber. A pro active owner not distracted by vanity projects would twist, recognise the potential of the momentum being built and support the manager in the JTW for a promotion push. The rewards reaped would be a significant increase in the value of SUFC back in the EPL. A reactive owner will stick and let matters drift whilst being distracted on other projects hoping that the team can scrape through on current resources after off loading Berge in January.

Without reinforcements in the JTW we run the risk of being weakened by injuries and suspensions and are more likely to achieve what my original pre season prediction was of an 8th placed finish. Its the SUFC way not grasping an opportunity when it stares you in the face. Over to you Prince.

 

[knowsnowt]

Bet you make some reyt money from views!
Lend us a tenner while next Tuesday.

 

[McGoaldrick]

Why the hell do you expect effort levels to “massively dip”????
Some just can’t resist having a dig,even backhanded ones!!

Something has been off with the players for nearly 2 years, heckingbottom has got them enthusiastic again and fighting for places, but I think they’ll slip back into complacent old habits. Don’t think that’s a dig whatsoever. Would love to be proven wrong

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

It’s almost as if Heckingbottom has just walked in from training the U23’s next door and looked at the squad, looked at the players, looked at the system that brought them a bit of success and thought…

WTF are we trying to play a system alien to this squad, let’s do what we’re good at…

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Is the current winning streak enough to convince you guys about a more viable push in the second half of the season or do you still carry some concerns??

There's mild anxiety about Ben Davies and Morgan Gibbs-White being recalled by their clubs, especially MGW. Losing Rhian Brewster after scoring his first league goal at home was also a bit of a kick in the nads because the fans, coaching staff and squad are desperate to see him kick on and fulfill his potential.

A concern for me is the upcoming JTW. Heck has a, errrr, heck of a job** moving players on and will have precious little time to effectively plan a recruitment strategy. January transfer windows have not been good to us in recent years (Gary Madine on loan 2019 withstanding, everything else has been on a scale of 'meh' to a carcrash).

All that said, the only bit that matters is the performances on the pitch and that has been much improved. They've been spirited, organised and if there was any proof needed that the players are invested in the new coaching team then look at Ndiaye's celebration and the content after the game.

All in all - quietly optimistic right now...hope it gets noisy

** Idea for F365 article headline

 

[DaleHillBlade]

Can’t see us losing another game this season.

 

[Scarebus]

Can’t see us losing another game this season.

I'm down with that.

 

[pommpey]

Hi everyone,

I’ve made the Blades my Boxing Day ‘team to watch’ for the piece I’ve go to write for F365 tomorrow so very interested in getting some opinions.

Is the current winning streak enough to convince you guys about a more viable push in the second half of the season or do you still carry some concerns??

PS. Thanks for the lovely thread about the reaction to Ndiaye goal, pure Partridge

Hi Ben, and welcome to S24SU. Great internet content BTW, and thanks for your comments on United

We now have some wind in our sails, after being mysteriously becalmed during the Slav period. Given this squad was clearly built to play in one formation, I think most were worried Heckingbottom would simply ask the team to revert to the beatable Wilderball methods with a flat midfield three and Norwood spraying it pointlessly out to the wingbacks. Teams have had this figured out for ages and being as we have lost one of our best assets in Jack O'Connell, the notion of us capitalising on him and Basham marauding up the flanks meant that that style was effectively dead. The midfield as well seemed to be suffering elsewhere within consistent and lacklustre performances which meant that our expensive and misfiring attack array have been ineffective. Slav tried to change this, mistakenly sacrificing one of our most dedicated and consistently reliable players in Chris Basham to radicalise the onfield delivery with 4-1-3-2, which clearly, the players were unhappy to play in.

Hecky has surprisingly reverted to 5-3-2 but instead of the order to simply give the ball to Norwood to find a way forward, he has strengthened the midfield and stopped him 'pinging' it needlessly. We are also now more reliant on dusting it up in the middle of the park to actually gain possession, running at defences with meaning with Gibbs-White and Ndaiye and holding onto well-earned leads and advantages. We seem less vulnerable and more purposed and this is evident in the results. Although many were surprised at Slavs exit and moreso then with Hecky's appointment it seems to be a complete masterstroke. Will it work in the long term? Obviously we'd like to think so. Certainly the performances on the green stuff show real promise and it's no fluke at all we put Fulham to the sword and made them work hard to try to unsuccessfully claw back a result. We need to not get complacent and take every result on it's individual merit. We are not in the playoffs already and nowhere near where possibly our squad value should suggest and shouldn't expect teams like Preston and Hull City to simply crap themselves and roll over, just because we have secured a run of results. Each win has to be earned and we need to clear our heads for kickoff and go out there and play in the way we expect for a team of supposed value.

Player wise, the loaning in of Gibbs-White has been a tipping point, even if he is a bit wasteful and overplays at times. Ndaiye is someone with Gibbs-White who can put defences and midfields on immediate standby and our evergreen but ageing pairing of Sharp and McGoldrick have more goals in them simply because they see what is happening fifteen seconds ahead and are in the right place to make it count. If we could get the rest of the strikeforce to do the same we might have competition and strength in depth, but so far they seem like expensive failures. The mercurial but so-far ineffective Sander Berge could be the difference in 2022 if we can keep him off the treatment table and the finishing touches, possibly a left footed version of Jayden Bogle and a modern-day Michael Brown would complete the revival and at least put us in the playoff final where we may, for a change, just win it.

But then we have to buy and buy good if promoted. This will mean taking a hit on some current misfiring players and not allowing the smell of cash to blind sensibilities as it did with Wilder. A replacement for O'Connell would be good and although Chris Basham is currently our best player, both he and Billy Sharp (and McGoldrick) won't have 'Premiership legs' beyond the end of this season. That's a long way off, but three straight wins between now and January 2nd will certainly start tongues wagging about us again.

Keep up the sterling work mate and BTW, love your Korg Kronos

pommpey