I have a few comments...

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blader

blader

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Well, we are now 15 games into the season and the table is beginning to take shape, showing that the blades will be, at least, playoff contenders come May.

However, I have several observations I would like to offer on the season so far, and would like to know other people's opinions to see if my opinions reflect the masses!

1. How good is Nick Blackman as a striker? His chance conversion rate seems to be very poor and although you can quote "7 goals in 15 games" that does include 4(?) penalties, and a hatful of chances. Still to be convinced, but the jury is by no means out, just would like to see a bit more.

2. Bringing me onto my second point, which has already been widely discussed, why is Shaun Miller not even being given an opportunity to prove his worth? 3 starts, 2 goals is it? and his general play just seems to be much livelier than Blackman, but he hasn't been given a run in the team for everyone to see this! He must be worth a try, even if it's on the left, a position where everyone else seems completely incapable of playing.

3. Substitutions - Can't fault Wilson so far, I suppose considering we're joint top and unbeaten! However, his lack of substitutions worry me somewhat. You can see the players becoming fatigued towards the end of the game and we need fresher legs on earlier. Also, there is no competition for places, how are Cresswell/Miller/Cofie etc supposed to try and earn a starting place if they get 3 or 4 minutes at the end of each game? Seems a bit strange, and we have conceded a few too many late goals this year. There may be a correlation.

4. Kevin McDonald - Say what you want about this guy "not as good as last year" "game passes him by" he is our ONLY, and I mean ONLY source of creativity. Even tonight, the penalty was won a few seconds after a superbly executed ball from McDonald to Porter. He may appear layed back in his play, but god help us if he gets injured again.

5. Flynn - Please beat your man for once. that is all.

I know, I know, it's pathetic to be having a go at any team who is sitting in second and unbeaten, but it is very frustrating knowing that we can be better. We really should be walking this league, but instead of people enjoying the ride, most fans are becoming bored and tired, even when we win. Some slight tweeks would be helpful just to get us really firing this season.

UTB
 



1. How good is Nick Blackman as a striker?
At this level Blackman is fine, and whether his goals come from the spot or not it doesn't matter, they're winning matches so no complaints from me.

2. Bringing me onto my second point, which has already been widely discussed, why is Shaun Miller not even being given an opportunity to prove his worth? 3 starts, 2 goals is it? and his general play just seems to be much livelier than Blackman, but he hasn't been given a run in the team for everyone to see this! He must be worth a try, even if it's on the left, a position where everyone else seems completely incapable of playing.
Don't know, it's one only the manager can answer. They all have their favourites, they all seem to ignore players that some of us like the look of so yes wwe may think he's worth a go but I'm sure the gaffer can brainwash us into thinking otherwise.

3. Substitutions - Can't fault Wilson so far, I suppose considering we're joint top and unbeaten! However, his lack of substitutions worry me somewhat. You can see the players becoming fatigued towards the end of the game and we need fresher legs on earlier.
Professional athletes should not become fatigued this far into the season. They train all week to reach a level of fitness. OK if they get a knock but sorry, for me simply running out of gas is inexcusable.

4. Kevin McDonald - Say what you want about this guy "not as good as last year" "game passes him by" he is our ONLY, and I mean ONLY source of creativity. Even tonight, the penalty was won a few seconds after a superbly executed ball from McDonald to Porter. He may appear layed back in his play, but god help us if he gets injured again.
Agree. He's one of the few talented players we have and we'd be a lot worse without him.

5. Flynn - Please beat your man for once. that is all.
Flynn's an enigma. I'm sure he has it in him, he just needs something or someone to convince him of that. He's not the worst player, not the best but he does need a kick up the arse to get him going this season.

I know, I know, it's pathetic to be having a go at any team who is sitting in second and unbeaten, but it is very frustrating knowing that we can be better. We really should be walking this league, but instead of people enjoying the ride, most fans are becoming bored and tired, even when we win. Some slight tweeks would be helpful just to get us really firing this season.

Not pathetic at all, we should always be looking to be better. Being unbeaten is fine but in this crappy division we've had opportunities to be way ahead by now and not taken them so by all means enjoy it but let's not think that we're going to walk the league whilever we're making it as difficult as we do on occasion.
 
Wilson is doing just fine with his player use and tactics. It's working as we are steadily compiling points and consolidating our position at the top. His job depends on winning promotion. It's also a long season and all the fringe players you mention will eventually get their chance. Just relax and enjoy it folks.
Most fans bored and restless? Give me a break.
 
5. Flynn - Please stay on your feet, just once, go on, you know you want to....
 
Agree on Blackman from a goalscoring point but his overall play is very good. He pulls defenders about all over the place leaving a lot of space that is just begging to be exploited.

We desparately need a pacey left sided player, then get Flynn to try and beat his man rather than cutting in all the time. Give Miller a chance alongside Blackman and I think he will shine.....
 
Flynn seems to have taken over from Monty as the whipping boy.
 
Torrix1889 said:
Agree on Blackman from a goalscoring point but his overall play is very good. He pulls defenders about all over the place leaving a lot of space that is just begging to be exploited.

We desparately need a pacey left sided player, then get Flynn to try and beat his man rather than cutting in all the time. Give Miller a chance alongside Blackman and I think he will shine.....
Click to expand...
I would say miller alongside porter myself. Porter was great last night won just about everything and never stopped
 
blackman won't get dropped as long as we keep winning.. at least we have someone with the bottle to take penalties when we get them.. as for flynn, i'd put him on the right
 
Some pertinent points Blader. From discussions so far I think a lot of Blades are feeling the same way. As a gerneral point, I do not think we should look a gift horse in the mouth. If you had told me we would be joint top going into November I would have laughed at you. The footbal is not pretty, but it is effective. We are far from spectacular, but are winning games. Wilson was spot on in his interview last night. After admitting it was an even game (and we did no deserve to win) he stated he was doing the best with what he had. When asked if he consciously changed the style, he has you work with what you have and ply to your strengths. Thus far he has convinced me that this is the right way to play. We are really tough to score against, never mind beat. The back four are very good and we are rock solid. Charlton did it this way and perhaps we can.

In relation to your first 2 points. Blackman is a good forward at this level. Goals are goals, as fans of Beattie will tell you. It helps having a very good penalty taker too. Blackman works hard up top and puts defenders under a lot of pressure. He has a decent touch and is an intelligent striker. However he tends to pull out wide a little and his finishing is not the best. My opinion is that he is actually too similar to Porter/Kitson. Miller is a different type of player. He is more direct, quick qnd dangerous. He's a classic poacher, wheareas Blackman is more of target man. Miller will start on Saturday in the cup and it is up to him to keep the pressure on. In current form Blackman should continue to start, however I would like to see Miller on earlier. He can really stretch defences. He did against Walsall and I would have liked to have seen him on with 20 minutes plus to go yesterday.

Agree on the substitutions. It is a valid criticism of Wilson. I think that most of the fringe players will get their chance, but would like to see Wilson making subs earlier. I would really like to see attacking substitutions when we are won goal ahead. By this I mean get people with pace on. We can counter attack and finish tams off. Saturday will be another good chance to test some fringe players and see if they are up for a first team start.

Kevin McDonald is one of the best players in the division. No doubt about that. He is not playing as well as last season, but has exceptional talent. I think ther are a few reasons why he is not playing so well: lack of form, no one to pass to (lack of movement from strikers and lack of width) and opposition playing him well (teams have worked out how to play us and stick a man tight on K Mac). He often has no one to pass to and either forces it or goes backwards. However, as the gme goes on hand he gets space (like last night) he shines. Him and Doyle have a good understanding and work well together. We are lucky to have a partnership like this, which is one of the best in the division.

Flynn is ok, but he is young and a bit lightweight. I think we are putting a little too much expectation on him. He could not get in the team last year. He has had a few games where ha has done well tis season, but has also struggled some times. Wilson should be putting his arm around hm though and telling him to attack his man. I think it would help him if he had another winger playing and not the innefective McAllister or Williams.

Like I said earlier, we should be pleased that we are where we are. We have not played particularly well, yet we are joint top. I think Wilson and the team deserve credit for that. They are not as good as last season, but were much more robust. We have a very good back 4 (defensively) a good keeper and a very good defensive midfielder. That back 6 will be key if we are to go up. I can understand why Wilson has set us up tis way. It is not pretty to watch, but wre going to have to grin and bear it. If it works then bugger it. You are right about looking to do better. There are a few obvious and immediate things we could do. For example getting a winger and making subs earlier. We know have a very tricky run of games and it will be interesting to see if we can sustain ouf form. If we grind out results against the top 6 teams then I will be chuffed. We are definately a top 6 team, but the run up to Christmas will tell us if we are top 2 material or not.
 
Good post Blader.

1. How good is Nick Blackman as a striker?

Watched him off the ball lots last night. For me jury is out too. Swtiches off / is on the back foot when should be on the front and vice versa. Needs to help his full backs play into his feet more, and needs to take more care of the ball. Gets away with a lot as he's faster than most of the donkeys at centre half in this league.

2. Bringing me onto my second point, which has already been widely discussed, why is Shaun Miller not even being given an opportunity to prove his worth?

I think he'll get a run eventually but i think it needs to be up top or in behind the front two rather than playing him out of position.

3. Substitutions - Can't fault Wilson so far, I suppose considering we're joint top and unbeaten!

Hard one to assess. Could've won more, could've lost more. We're unbeaten so i'll stick with his current thinking.

4. Kevin McDonald - Say what you want about this guy "not as good as last year" "game passes him by" he is our ONLY, and I mean ONLY source of creativity.

Not a patch on last year but I think that's beacuse teams have sussed him out and we have no other threat at times, plus he's a bit more sloppy at the min. Send Cofie back IF it frees up some cash to bring in a real winger who can also be a threat for us. Harder for times to single him out then too.

5. Flynn - Please beat your man for once. that is all.

I don't think he's got it in him. I think he'll only do that against a very slow fullback / on a very good day. Great attitued and technique at times but easy to see why he's always going to play at this level IMO.

The players as a whole need to have a look at themselves too - got to miss the front man on set pieces, switching on at corners, Macca and McMahon playing to their ability and so on.

I'm happy. I wouldn't do the 'tinkerman' too much at the minute. Would just love us to add a winger / some pace as we're very 'samey' and one paced at times.

UTB!
 
moDtheGod said:
You mean like when he beat THREE of theirs at the same time last night, before being shoved into the turf?

I really don't understand the Flynn bashing. He's been one of our better players this season.
Click to expand...

I like him and think he has potential, thought he did well in beating those three.... but then went down like he'd been shot. Puff
 
Torrix1889 said:
Agree on Blackman from a goalscoring point but his overall play is very good. He pulls defenders about all over the place leaving a lot of space that is just begging to be exploited.

We desparately need a pacey left sided player, then get Flynn to try and beat his man rather than cutting in all the time. Give Miller a chance alongside Blackman and I think he will shine.....
Click to expand...

The point is that it should be Blackman getting into those spaces not creating it for other, slower partners.
I would argue that Blackman doesn't "create" anything - he doesn't play with his head up so any space created is generally a result of him going down a blind alley and losing out. I don't see him putting any crosses into his strike partner or flicking it on for them or playing a through ball or a give and go to get beyond the last defender. It's normally a head down ram through them and if he can't, give up style. Far too selfish and wasteful. His control is shocking as well.
 



Duplicate post - Foxy must have been tickling the servers gnads at the time so it wasn't responding. He's a sly old fox, isn't he?
 
SwissBlade said:
I like him and think he has potential, thought he did well in beating those three.... but then went down like he'd been shot. Puff
Click to expand...

He was shoved firmly in the back. I would have been knocked to the ground by that. He didn't dive. Did you watch it live or on telly? I thought it was a foul in real time and my mind didn't change after a replay.
 
moDtheGod said:
He was shoved firmly in the back. I would have been knocked to the ground by that. He didn't dive. Did you watch it live or on telly? I thought it was a foul in real time and my mind didn't change after a replay.
Click to expand...

Watched it on TV, I personally thought he went down too easily. It wasn't much contact.

I will say though that when I get shoved in the back, my legs also have this sudden urge to leap off the ground so that I land on my belly....

I think he could've made a little more of an attempt to stay on his feet, we're shite at set pieces anyway so it was a pointless fall.
 
Are we going to start counting goals as more important the more spectacular they are? I always thought they all counted the same. But now the KOC has shed doubt upon this. After all Wilson must be cock o hoop that he has convinced Ollie that "this is the right way to play".

In other news PAD has it nailed for me. Its good that we are where we are but seriously we should be seeking some improvement. We are where we are yes, but I look at what we have in our squad and I expect a little more to be honest. 15 games in and it hasn't "clicked". We look slow and ponderous almost pedestrian. DW has locked up the back 4 and that is great news. We have an excellent prospect in goal which considering our first choice got crocked a couple of weeks ago is a relief. However, surely we should be getting at teams more at home. Not necessarilly Portsmouth (how the fuck is Buzacky playing for a team with zero cash by the way?), but Walsall, Oldham and others we should be battering the door in. I'm not saying we should be hammering them because football isn't like that, but we should be attacking them and going for it surely? My only reservation is we never look assured. But we are getting the results so what the hell.
 
blader said:
3. Substitutions - Can't fault Wilson so far, I suppose considering we're joint top and unbeaten! However, his lack of substitutions worry me somewhat. You can see the players becoming fatigued towards the end of the game and we need fresher legs on earlier. Also, there is no competition for places, how are Cresswell/Miller/Cofie etc supposed to try and earn a starting place if they get 3 or 4 minutes at the end of each game? Seems a bit strange, and we have conceded a few too many late goals this year. There may be a correlation.

UTB
Click to expand...

I think Wilson's reasoning for not making substitutions were that Blackman had just scored, Porter was needed at defensive set pieces, the midfield already consisted of hard working players who are defensively solid (maybe minus McDonald, but you can't sub him from this side).
 
I'm pretty sure Miller was about to come on, then we got the penalty and he put his bib back on. Somebody who sits behind the dugout may be able to confirm that
 
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