Hull 5 Blades 3 - match report

[Darthblade]

Great effort but Bruce won the game for them with his 3 substitutions and tactical changes; he turned to Plan B and we didn't respond. Of course he had more resources but I was disappointed we just carried on playing the same formation right until the 80th minute. We had choices at half-time and changed nothing. We had choices when they made the double substitution but did nothing. Time and again they were pouring through us in that spell after half time, not least for the 3 goals, but we did nothing. Central midfield and central defence were not coping. When Mourinho senses any momentum from the opposition he closes the game down for as long as necessary, even at 0-0, and even against inferior teams. Our substitutions in the 80th minute were far too late as we were 2 goals behind not just the one, nor did we really change the formation that much.

I love Nigel to bits but in such a class thread as this we should be objective, even on such a positive day, and say what we think, even at the expense of criticising the best manager at United for many a year. Even the Messiah can make mistakes; there has to be a Plan B. Yes Bruce got the first period totally wrong but it's usually the second half that matters the most.

Good point and I agree to a certain extent, however, you can only implement plan B if you have the resources on the bench to do so. This is why we need 4 / 5 players added for next season so that we CAN have a plan B ( and maybe even a plan c ).
Over to you Prince ........ give Cloughie the backing he deserves and he WILL lead us to the promised land !!
UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

Felt we should've pushed Scougs or Coady onto Huddlestone once he'd dropped deeper to limit their options but it's easier said than done. We'd have only left a big gap elsewhere. I've little to moan about, just got to see things in perspective.

Felt Harris was our best man on the day, shortly followed by Scougall and Doyle.

Agree with the first bit, Huddlestone was the best player on the pitch, very classy and a pity he didn't have an off day.

Thought that whilst its difficult to criticise a third division side taking the game to a mid table prem side, if we're being hyper critical Coady had an off day, didn't seem to have his usual box to box energy. Doyle was certainly out weak link, as somebody else pointed out. They targeted his lack of pace / mobility and played through the middle of us. A MUST to replace him next season if we are to progress up the Division.

But for the day, hold your heads up Blades, much to be proud of !!!

UTB & FTP

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Our striker pressing Huddlestone and letting the rest defend deep, yet aggressive to deal with the runners and denying space for the first ten minutes may have sucked up the pressure they put on us after the break. We couldn't really predict their half time changes though. I wasn't as impressed with Doyle yesterday as most.

Did anyone feel Davies fouled Maguire as he outjumped him for their 2-2 goal? Thought he had his hands on his shoulders, so both prevented Harry from jumping as well as gaining more height himself.

As I said elsewhere, Bergs, the substitutions did us in several areas and paid dividends before we had a chance to sort out. In the first half they played one up front with Huddlestone backing up much like Scougall does for us. However, Huddlestone that far forward wasn't getting the ball and when he did he had his back to goal and was being pressed. Thus he did very little in that half. The changes allowed him to go deeper and then be facing the play coming onto the ball which is much more suited to his style of playing, but we were also occupied with an extra man up top in Fryatt and also Livermore changing position from the 1st half as well.