Jim Phipps Tweets

[sheffielder]

The Villa win gave some belief and hope back to the team and fans, so If we can follow up with a win at County on Saturday I see no reason why we can't let them to go for it.

I don't think you should play looking over your shoulder as it sets a negative tone and although I don't think we will get to the plays offs now it is essential we try. This will give us a springboard for next season.

 

[SwissBlade]

LOL....after Walsall anyone who mentioned the "P" word was branded clinically insane in the membrane

Yeah but since then we've got 3 vital points in the cup

 

[Bladesway]

I like your work, going for the cliche bingo clean-sweep there.

I think Swiss still holds that record to be fair.

 

[Guesty]

LOL....after Walsall anyone who mentioned the "P" word was branded clinically insane in the membrane

And with good reason. The play-offs this season are a madman's pipe dream, relegation remains a much stronger possibility.

 

[SwissBlade]

And with good reason. The play-offs this season are a madman's pipe dream, relegation remains a much stronger possibility.

Not on the form shown since Clough arrived it doesnt. That's not to say we're out of danger and heading toward promotion, but carry on with the good form, tweaks to the squad to turn draws into wins and improve that goal difference and who knows where we will end up...

 

[Guesty]

Not on the form shown since Clough arrived it doesnt. That's not to say we're out of danger and heading toward promotion, but carry on with the good form, tweaks to the squad to turn draws into wins and improve that goal difference and who knows where we will end up...

On the other hand, say we fail to beat a poor side yet again on Saturday and say, Maguire or Baxter pick up an injury. We could be back in the drop zone and woefully short in several areas.

 

[SwissBlade]

On the other hand, say we fail to beat a poor side yet again on Saturday and say, Maguire or Baxter pick up an injury. We could be back in the drop zone and woefully short in several areas.

But you're speculating on what ifs and maybes. Of course if those things happen then you're right we COULD be in the shit again.

However, as i said - current form doesnt suggest that will happen. plus squad set up and as we are in the JTW you would hope we could cope with a few unfortunate situations.

 

[Guesty]

But you're speculating on what ifs and maybes. Of course if those things happen then you're right we COULD be in the shit again.

However, as i said - current form doesnt suggest that will happen. plus squad set up and as we are in the JTW you would hope we could cope with a few unfortunate situations.

Yes I recognise it's all hypothetical but I think it's far more likely that events conspire to put us back in trouble (we're not really out of trouble, just outside of the bottom four) than for some almost unprecedented run of form to see us snatch a play-off place. After all, our league form isn't that good, relatively few defeats aside. The points haul over the Christmas period was poor given the standard of opposition. We only beat hapless teams (Villa jokes welcome) and we don't even always beat them.

 

[SwissBlade]

Yes I recognise it's all hypothetical but I think it's far more likely that events conspire to put us back in trouble (we're not really out of trouble, just outside of the bottom four) than for some almost unprecedented run of form to see us snatch a play-off place. After all, our league form isn't that good, relatively few defeats aside. The points haul over the Christmas period was poor given the standard of opposition. We only beat hapless teams (Villa jokes welcome) and we don't even always beat them.

I disagree, we maintained a fairly good run, Walsall apart. Excellent result v Tranmere and over a busy few weeks we've maintained a position. With money available and with players starting to gel, get fitter and hit form we are in a better position than most around us.

You're right about play offs at the moment. But based on the form under Clough were heading upwards not down.

 

[Selly]

I disagree, we maintained a fairly good run, Walsall apart. Excellent result v Tranmere and over a busy few weeks we've maintained a position. With money available and with players starting to gel, get fitter and hit form we are in a better position than most around us.

You're right about play offs at the moment. But based on the form under Clough were heading upwards not down.

Thats what really impressed me on Saturday. Under Weir we were blowing out of our arsesafter 70 mins. Against Villa we didn`t fade at all.

And kudos to Clough for pushing Coady (nominally) up front after he brought Porter of. Young, fit and fresh, there was a passage of play where Coady chased down 3 of their men forcing them backwards into their own half.

 

[BushBlade]

I think the difference between the Walsall game and the Villa game was the tactics go to Walsall and dont lose because there are League points at stake go to Villa give it a proper go as we are not expected to win there and we havent lost anything if we do go out of the cup
Hopefully will Clough will take some notice of how the players played being allowed the freedom to actually attack teams away from home

Exactly. Is that the only difference between Walsall away? Amazing support? I think there were a total of 5000 fans at Walsall, from both sides. 6000 blades yesterday.

Ok I'm being tongue in cheek about it, but you've got to wonder why these players can't put in such a level week in week out. It sounded like we were even passing to our own team yesterday and more than once!

I personally think that this will create a buzz around the club, a distraction in someways but I think Clough has it in him to manage this.

Again, I go back to Cloughs post match interview. He really is a proper football man and knows what success means to the club and its fans.

So Phipps' comments may show a lack of experience of football and the Blades, but he has a manager that seems so perfectly suited to this club that with the right backing (not splashing the cash) who knows where we could end up.

We need more goals though...

The main difference between Villa and Walsall was that Walsall aren't in an injury crisis, bereft of confidence and with a striker who at present couldn't hit the side of a Renault Espace.

Football isn't just about how good your team plays, it's also about the quality of the opposition.

Don't get me wrong though, loads of positives from the win. Great teamwork, good gameplan and an obvious improvement in fitness levels since Weir left. Plus the confidence that comes from having a manager who is proving to the players he knows what he's doing.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I honestly believe we have some players who would perform much better at higher levels. Playing against most Premiership teams for example, midfield players and attacking full backs have more time and space on the ball and Baxter, Coady, Flynn, Murphy, Cuvelier, certainly McGinn , would all benefit from playing away from the hurly burly of League 1, particularly in home games when the midfield is swarmed.

Playing against Villa was in some ways easier than playing at Walsall. The difference should be that Prem players punish teams when the chances come. Villa did not do that last Saturday.

 

[BushBlade]

Brian, I've heard a lot of players saying you get closed down much quicker in the lower leagues and that if you're in the PL, if your first touch is good, they stand off.

I've also heard several managers say that a lot of PL academy players can't cope with the physicality of the lower leagues.

It's much more of a scrap in L1 but I think we're learning to impose ourselves a bit.

I think there was a point to this post but I seem to have forgot what it was.

 

[JohnDenver]

Brian, I've heard a lot of players saying you get closed down much quicker in the lower leagues and that if you're in the PL, if your first touch is good, they stand off.

It's pretty much a fact. Premiership teams don't always chase opponents down in the same way as lower league teams, simply because a good team will pick them off. There's also the likelihood that Villa players probably didn't have the motivation to pressure us as they should have. If they'd matched us for effort, surely they'd have done a whole lot better…

 

[Silent Blade]

I've also heard several managers say that a lot of PL academy players can't cope with the physicality of the lower leagues.

I have noticed that there is less aggression in Academy matches than in division A of the Junior Sunday League. There are no league tables for Academy from u9s to u16s and the scores are not published and I was told that the idea is to avoid too much competitiveness and encourage the players to show more skill

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

Aggression is more a state of mind than physical. Loads of smaller players have made a living from getting stuck in. It's something that the coaches should be able to instill into the players. Weir didn't seem to be suited to the hussle and bussle of lower leagues. The style was too slow and precise. Clough is much more used to it having managed non-league before he went to Derby. Obviously speed is a different problem, if you have got it then there's not a lot you can do. Getting Rockys trainer in to make them chase chickens probably isn't a viable option. Speed at this level is crucial. Not just pace, but speed of mind. You just don't get the time to fanny about on the ball, especially in defence.

 

[super_pig]

They were 7th last year with 42 points. We have 25. Big, big difference.

yeah but they ended up top.. not in the playoffs.. big big difference.. i have a funny feeling we will win at wembley this year.. i don't know why. i think i might see what the odds are
ps i also said we'd beat villa

 

[Kenilworth]

yeah but they ended up top.. not in the playoffs.. big big difference.. i have a funny feeling we will win at wembley this year.. i don't know why. i think i might see what the odds are
ps i also said we'd beat villa

Strange that as I also think that we would actually win a play off final with Clough at the helm.
Problem is that I think we will fall well short of the points total required to get into the top 6.

 

[super_pig]

i dunno.. we seem to have a bit of momentum.. i'm tempted to put a bet on this

 

[Kenilworth]

i dunno.. we seem to have a bit of momentum.. i'm tempted to put a bet on this

Good on yer SP - keep the faith, mate

 

[Guesty]

I keep thinking back to this thread when the more positive among us accuse the knockers of being unrealistically gloomy...

Play-offs more likely than relegation indeed.

 

[BladeFisher]

Not on the form shown since Clough arrived it doesnt. That's not to say we're out of danger and heading toward promotion, but carry on with the good form, tweaks to the squad to turn draws into wins and improve that goal difference and who knows where we will end up...

Oh dear Swiss. Get those hedge bets in now.

 

[SwissBlade]

Oh dear Swiss. Get those hedge bets in now.

Ha ha yep we've been shocking since I said that !

 

[super_pig]

I keep thinking back to this thread when the more positive among us accuse the knockers of being unrealistically gloomy...

Play-offs more likely than relegation indeed.

yeah you're dead right.. i incorrectly assumed that if we could beat villa away then it would be obvious that we could beat Crewe away.. not with this shower. there is something definitely wrong if you can do well against two premier outfits and then play like this with the same team.. the club is rotten

 

[Bedrock Blade]

yeah you're dead right.. i incorrectly assumed that if we could beat villa away then it would be obvious that we could beat Crewe away.. not with this shower. there is something definitely wrong if you can do well against two premier outfits and then play like this with the same team.. the club is rotten

It's not that the club is rotten. it's just all of a sudden, because they might be on TV next Tuesday, our players have decided that they're now big time charlies. When in reality they're nowt but a shower of shite!

 

[super_pig]

It's not that the club is rotten. it's just all of a sudden, because they might be on TV next Tuesday, our players have decided that they're now big time charlies. When in reality they're nowt but a shower of shite!

i agree. the club is rotten in that that attitude can prevail.. get rid of the fucking lot of them