Lavery Yesterday

[ucandomagic]

After the disappointment had eased a bit and the alcohol had worn off I sat quietly and looked at yesterday's highlights.

The worst thing about the game was that we gave away 2 bad goals with very uncommitted defending. EEL's slow brain and slower feet for the first, and I think the third last week, have made me think that getting him on loan was the best position for us at this stage. We definitely need a thinking leader at the back though - and he is there on the bench.

The best thing about the game was Lavery and his developing links with Billy. Early on Billy put him through beautifully. Soon after that, after a nice move, he took it from Billy, slipped it back and Billy scored.

Second half, his low cross across for Billy's disallowed goal was perfect. It was his shot that was blocked for Kieran's goal. So he was involved in almost all of our best chances.

Overall, then, I am now a lot happier. Wright back in the centre and we will defend much better. Billy and Caolan getting better together up front. Lafferty back for Matty and young Joe coming on to mirror Kieran's drive and energy.

And if we need to change things there seems to be a light (or is it a lighthouse!) on the horizon!

UTB

 

[boo radley]

He was too influential yesterday to be the one to be brought off.
Bad decision by CW.

 

[Bladesman]

He was shit and we needed someone like James Hanson on the pitch.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

He was too influential yesterday to be the one to be brought off.
Bad decision by CW.

This from Boo. This was the best I've seen him play and he was very unlucky to be taken off.

 

[Antonb]

I agree, should have took sharp off really, because he was knackered!

 

[Stretch]

I really enjoyed watching him. Works his arse off, has a few tricks and a burst of pace. I can see him getting 5 or 6 more goals this season and several assists, think he is on a few already?

 

[Dkc]

He was too influential yesterday to be the one to be brought off.
Bad decision by CW.

A lot of people seem to be questioning Wilder's tactics, substitutions and team selection.

Fair enough, we can debate. But a lot of other factors will be at play. Lavery could have been knackered, taken a knock, whatever. To suggest we know better than Wilder, who has been involved in professional football for 30-odd years, eats drinks and sleeps United, and whose primary aim in life right now is getting the Blades promotion, is a bit of a stretch.

Saying that, it was good to see Ranieri come on after the Southampton game and say "I made a mistake with my tactics" - not often you hear a manager say that

 

[FriethBlade]

Unfortunately his goal scoring record isn't good enough for a centre forward so far and his substitution was a forerunner to Wilder post match comments about forwards being paid to score goals.

Duffy, Fleck, Coutts and Freeman are creating enough chances as it is we need the centre forwards to take them not make more chances. Billy does this but none of the others have so far. Freeman must have as many as Clarke and Lavery combined which says a lot.

I'm not sure Hanson is that prolific but he averages something like one goal in three games for Bradford and obviously brings some height and strength to the front line. It's going to be interesting to see if he goes straight into the starting eleven but it sounds like he's been carrying a calf injury !

 

[wizadry]

Lavery looked shocked and gutted when taken off but he still had the strength of character to run off the pitch to get McNulty on.

I couldn't believe CW made that decision, unless of course he was injured but evidence of his demeanour would say that he wasn't injured of knackered, Billy on the other hand certainly was and that's why Billy miss placed two simple passes not long after the sub, he was shattered.

Still, when all said and done, we still had enough chances to win the game when Lavery went off.

 

[boo radley]

A lot of people seem to be questioning Wilder's tactics, substitutions and team selection.

Fair enough, we can debate. But a lot of other factors will be at play. Lavery could have been knackered, taken a knock, whatever. To suggest we know better than Wilder, who has been involved in professional football for 30-odd years, eats drinks and sleeps United, and whose primary aim in life right now is getting the Blades promotion, is a bit of a stretch.

Saying that, it was good to see Ranieri come on after the Southampton game and say "I made a mistake with my tactics" - not often you hear a manager say that

Who is questioning his tactics?
You may be right about taking a knock or other? and yes it is easy after the event.
CW and AK are trying to make some players realise they have more to give. It is working with some and other to a lesser degree.
Lavery is forming partnerships with many different players and creatING loads in and around the box.
I'm sure this will not be lost on CW and his staff.

 

[Dnblade]

Agree with UCDM,him and Sharp linked up well...It looks like the lay off for Billy's goal nutmegs the Gills player and takes him out of the game..great finish from Sharp,as he still had a bit to do.
I see these 2 as the regular pairing,with the likes of Hanson,Clarke,McNulty on the bench for when it's not happening or cover...I'm a bit underwhelmed by the Hanson signing,but I can see him giving us something different with his hold up play and threat in the air,and we do need different ways of breaking these teams down.

 

[carthesis]

Personally, I agree. Sparky coming on was a waste as he did very little after that early run and shot - I forgot he was even on the pitch!

I'd have had Done off for Riley after their second goal - he works hard up front and is a decent foil for Sharp with his running, but he isn't scoring as regularly as he once was; Lavary can do his job as well as find the back of the net; and Done makes a piss-poor wing-back. Between him and O'Connell their first goal was a joke. Done just wouldn't put in a tackle. If he isn't playing up front with Sharp, he needs to be on the bench as an option to run at teams when they've tired 2nd half. Shouldn't be starting.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

He was shit and we needed someone like James Hanson on the pitch.

We would have won had we had someone like Hanson to throw on.

The lack of physical presence in the box restricts the options of our wide men, there were numerous occassions when someone out wide could have swung a ball into the box, but had to check back inside because it would have been pointless with only Sharp to aim at.

 

[Geordie Blade]

Lavery was excellent, but I thought that he looked completely knackered and burned out about five minutes before he was brought off.

 

[nicksufc]

He's a really shocking finisher and needs to improve that side of his game - even the 2 goals he's got so far were scuffs into the bottom corner. Did he miss the chance from 6 yards that led to our equaliser?

 

[him behind you]

After the disappointment had eased a bit and the alcohol had worn off I sat quietly and looked at yesterday's highlights.

The worst thing about the game was that we gave away 2 bad goals with very uncommitted defending. EEL's slow brain and slower feet for the first, and I think the third last week, have made me think that getting him on loan was the best position for us at this stage. We definitely need a thinking leader at the back though - and he is there on the bench.

The best thing about the game was Lavery and his developing links with Billy. Early on Billy put him through beautifully. Soon after that, after a nice move, he took it from Billy, slipped it back and Billy scored.

Second half, his low cross across for Billy's disallowed goal was perfect. It was his shot that was blocked for Kieran's goal. So he was involved in almost all of our best chances.

Overall, then, I am now a lot happier. Wright back in the centre and we will defend much better. Billy and Caolan getting better together up front. Lafferty back for Matty and young Joe coming on to mirror Kieran's drive and energy.

And if we need to change things there seems to be a light (or is it a lighthouse!) on the horizon!

UTB

Agree totally about Lavery & Sharp. At halftime a group of us were talking and generally agreed that their first half performance was the first time this season we'd actually seen 2 strikers look like they were developing an understanding / partnership. I'd like to see us stick with this for a while to see how it develops. I thought we looked disjointed up top once Lavery was replaced by McNulty.