Just got back

[Bergen Blade]

Couldn't agree more. Monty has his knockers (oo err, fnarrr) but he's got that steel and determination to be an excellent mentor. So what if he couldn't pass wind. In the premiership season, he made world-class players look average (Fabregas and Viera spring immediately to mind) by his immense energy and closing players down.
I hope Morgs stays. We really missed him this season.

When we played some neat little triangles though, I couldn't help thinking that those moves would have broken down if Monty was part of the chain... I accept that his experience and work rate would be influential and helpful, but if we again make it a priority to keep overpaid players like him (and worryingly McCabe gave the impression that he was personally going to try persuade him), then it won't be long before the youngsters are sold, make no mistake.

 

[BuryStEdmundsBlade]

23k according to the guardian

34k according to Radio Manc apparently.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

There was never 34k there.

 

[BuryStEdmundsBlade]

There was never 34k there.

Nope, definitely not.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

For one, you'd have probably heard about the 'amazing support' by the man yoo fans if there had been

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

When we played some neat little triangles though, I couldn't help thinking that those moves would have broken down if Monty was part of the chain... I accept that his experience and work rate would be influential and helpful, but if we again make it a priority to keep overpaid players like him (and worryingly McCabe gave the impression that he was personally going to try persuade him), then it won't be long before the youngsters are sold, make no mistake.

This is part of the reason why I don't think Pembo would necessarily be a good bet for manager. It's easy (relatively speaking) to mould a team when everyone's been brought up the same way but as Pembo himself has said, unless the 1st team plays that way it's not going to work. Although I've mentioned integrating the kids with the senior pros, can anyone see Morgs, Monty, Hendo playing the way we played last night ?

As I've said elsewhere, if we do really have a clear out and the new man gets a chance to completely re-build then I would have no problem with Pembo being manager but if, say, the likes of Monty, Hendo remain then it's a completely different task.

 

[FleaPitBlade]

One, two or even three 'cloggers' through the spine of a team of 11 would be a good blend of protection versus those who can/will play nice football.

The secret to getting right to the very top is, of coarse, to have players who can do both - but they all tend to play for Barcelona.

We dont have that luxury, so whilst we are where we are then we have to accept that sometimes, with the best will in the world, its just not possible to be without the Montys/Morgans/Henderson's and that occasionally, you will have to put up with misplaced passes and/or a boot up the pitch.

If we are to be succsesful at passing football, you need the better footballers to do a fetching and carrying job from the feet of the other players.

Either way, without a happy blend of both styles and regardless of whether they're told to pass short or long, we'll fail.

 

[Bergen Blade]

We dont have that luxury, so whilst we are where we are then we have to accept that sometimes, with the best will in the world, its just not possible to be without the Montys/Morgans/Henderson's and that occasionally, you will have to put up with misplaced passes and/or a boot up the pitch.

If we are to be succsesful at passing football, you need the better footballers to do a fetching and carrying job from the feet of the other players.

Either way, without a happy blend of both styles and regardless of whether they're told to pass short or long, we'll fail.

Fully agree with that Presty, but if we don't do something we will continue to sell the skilful youngsters to afford paying the average and ageing cloggers.

 

[BladeHearts]

Fully agree with that Presty, but if we don't do something we will continue to sell the skilful youngsters to afford paying the average and ageing cloggers.

I thought Harriot did a great job fetching and carrying.

 

[SwissBlade]

Its 23k then

FA Website states

The two legs were watched by more than 52,000.

 

[raul]

I see it still as a work in progress and we would probably benefit if we waited until season after next to introduce them in greater numbers into the team as consistent starters. The mediocrities will need flushing through over time as we'll struggle to give them away. Happy with everything I've seen from the Lads and Pembo but I think we're looking for evolution not revolution.

Definatley going to make the effort to watch them a few times next season too.

 

[Houso]

I see it still as a work in progress and we would probably benefit if we waited until season after next to introduce them in greater numbers into the team as consistent starters. The mediocrities will need flushing through over time as we'll struggle to give them away. Happy with everything I've seen from the Lads and Pembo but I think we're looking for evolution not revolution.

Definatley going to make the effort to watch them a few times next season too.

The club will be missing a trick if they don't market the arse off the kids next season and have one or two matches at the Lane.

I think a mix of experience, dev squad and youth will work out quite nicely next season.

 

[Kendal]

From the Grauniad

the explosive speed of McGuinness's side countered by the composed short-range passing combinations of their opponents.

A national paper talking about Sheffield United and using the phrase 'composed short range passing' somehow doesn't seem right!

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

The club will be missing a trick if they don't market the arse off the kids next season and have one or two matches at the Lane.

I think a mix of experience, dev squad and youth will work out quite nicely next season.

It will make a change to have a squad of 20-25 Sheffield United players for starters

The likes of McAllister and Philliskirk are further forward and more likely to feature but as it stands, and before the sales start, we're still probably going to need 6 or 7 1st team regulars from somewhere.

---------- Post added at 12:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 PM ----------

From the Grauniad

A national paper talking about Sheffield United and using the phrase 'composed short range passing' somehow doesn't seem right!

Can't argue with that.

Never thought I'd say it but we did overdo it at times and reminded me of Arsenal a bit. Would love to see our pass completion rate over the two games.

 

[raul]

Depends what the experience can teach them. If, for example, the released Robbie Blake could be picked up they could do some of his running, he could teach them some pass-picking. And whilst I'm being fanciful, how much more could Jordan learn from Kevin Phillips than Chedward?

 

[oldblade]

George Long
Harry Maguire
Terry Kennedy
Matty Harriot
Elliot Whitehouse
Jordan Slew

Of those, I would say that Mguire and Slew are ready. The others are getting close, but not really ready yet.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I was particularly impressed by slews ability to seemingly pop up anywhere across the front, and his willingness to shoot from distance.

 

[CG Blade]

Have to agree thart Slew and MacQuire cn be used in the first team now. Terry Kennedy what player he could be, maybe slightly small for a centre Back but read's a game so well., maybe not yet but lets hope we can keep hold of him. George Long, I have only seen him in the two games, but I am not sure whether on those performances how good he could be. Goes down for the Balll very early, and committs himself to early. The others I don't think near ready as yet.

 

[SwissBlade]

I was particularly impressed by slews ability to seemingly pop up anywhere across the front, and his willingness to shoot from distance.

This was something which I noted from Slew in the two games. I paid a fair bit of attention to him because in the 1st team games he played he tended to go missing in the middle and then popped up on the wing, where he seemed less effective.

In the two games in the final, he became effective when he moved out, or drifted back in late. Not sure if this strength in the Youth Team will be then adapted into a strength in the 1st team or if he will just have these spells where he goes missing.

The other question I have on Slew is physically. He needs bulk, the likes of Whitehouse, Kennedy and McGuire all have a physical presence about them, but Slew needs to develop that side.

Hopefully though, Slew's technique, pace and vision will outweigh these question marks until he develops more.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

George Long
Harry Maguire
Terry Kennedy
Matty Harriot
Elliot Whitehouse
Jordan Slew

Of those, I would say that Maguire and Slew are ready. The others are getting close, but not really ready yet.

Would we as fans be willing to accept that promotion isn't a realistic goal next season?
Play these six lads regularly along with Morgan, Lowton, Quinn and the best of the Reserves (McAllister, Tonne, Philliskirk).
Allow Pemberton to try and get them playing attractive, attacking football with the only pressure being to avoid relegation?
A full team of proper "Blades" developing together with a view to finishing mid-table next season and having a real push at promotion in 2012/2013?
The more I think about the alternatives, the more I'd be happy to go along with that as a vision.

 

[SwissBlade]

Would we as fans be willing to accept that promotion isn't a realistic goal next season?

Promotion should not be the only goal, but it should be a goal. A lot of the above will be dependent upon the new manager, player sales and recruitment.

I'm prepared for a season of consolidation during the clear out, anything else is a bonus

 

[Barney Rubble]

Would we as fans be willing to accept that promotion isn't a realistic goal next season?
Play these six lads regularly along with Morgan, Lowton, Quinn and the best of the Reserves (McAllister, Tonne, Philliskirk).
Allow Pemberton to try and get them playing attractive, attacking football with the only pressure being to avoid relegation?
A full team of proper "Blades" developing together with a view to finishing mid-table next season and having a real push at promotion in 2012/2013?
The more I think about the alternatives, the more I'd be happy to go along with that as a vision.

I think that if we played that team next season we might end up struggling to survive and could destroy the confidence of some of those youngsters. For me only Slew and Maguire should be playing the majority of first team games but we should be looking for a back up of 11 other academy/development players who we are commited to playing whenever any first teamers are injured.

Of the current squad I'd also like to see Williamson retained in midfield and one striker to partner Slew. Ideally this would be Henderson, but given his wages, Cresswell might be a cheaper option and he does possess the most experience.

The rest of the first teamers should be shipped out for whatever fees we can get, free transfers given to the ones we can't flog, and part wages paid up for those we can't give away because they're so overpaid. Then we have to go out and find about 4 or 5 players with League 1 or 2 experience and that we believe are capable of playing at a higher level.

Finally, we need to get the first team playing with the same system that the lads played with last night and I'd quite happily watch us spend a year or two turning into a promotion winning team.

 

[Zlatan]

Would we as fans be willing to accept that promotion isn't a realistic goal next season?
Play these six lads regularly along with Morgan, Lowton, Quinn and the best of the Reserves (McAllister, Tonne, Philliskirk).
Allow Pemberton to try and get them playing attractive, attacking football with the only pressure being to avoid relegation?
A full team of proper "Blades" developing together with a view to finishing mid-table next season and having a real push at promotion in 2012/2013?
The more I think about the alternatives, the more I'd be happy to go along with that as a vision.

I'd take a mid-table finish next season if it meant bringing some of the kids through and playing football as good as the U18s.

 

[Bladeforlife]

It was a handball but where the fuck was the referee when Vidic blatantly handballed it vs Aresnal! What was the bloody linesman doing when he missed that the ball had not crossed the line for Manures first leg goal! FFS!! Couldn't make it to OT tonight so watched it on MUTV! All you could hear was the Blades fans in a massive 23,000 crowd! Shit supporters! Just a load of glory hunters! I only know one true Man Utd fan that goes to the games! ONE

 

[Zlatan]

I only know one true Man Utd fan that goes to the games! ONE

One more than me then!

 

[Nedski]

Unless I spotted something I was particularly looking for, I thought Maguire and Slew looked stronger and 1 step ahead of the rest of our players. Whether that's because they are that bit further forward or whether being involved with the 1st team has brought them on is open to debate. ManU in general were that bit bigger and stronger than us so you can imagine what it would be like for most of them coming up against journeymen 3rd division bruisers next season.

I'd like to think every game would be like when arsenal did us in the cup a few years back (but with us being arsenal of course). I'd forgotten Ramsay (then 17) and Wilshere (then 16) played in that game