Luxury Players

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Has anyone else observed that since Baxter, Cuvelier and Brandy haven't featured much since the beginning of the month, we have improved?

I see these as luxury players who you don't particularly build a squad around. So whilst Clough picks up the task of steadying the ship from Morgan (which was previously sinking under Weir) I cannot see how any of them will force their way back into the squad soon. Without any of these 3 against Crewe we played well right up until the lack of fitness kicked in the 10/15 mins; We earned the right to play, defended from the front and kept possession which are features of the game that Baxter, Cuvelier and to a lesser extent Brandy haven't shown much of since coming here.

I'd like to see us start against Shrewsbury (with Miller & Brandy getting at least 20 mins) with:

Long
McMahon Maguire Collins Hill
Flynn McGinn Doyle White
Taylor King

SUBS: Miller, Brandy, Baxter, Cuvelier, Coady, Westlake, Howard.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Perhaps, rather than be tagged 'Luxury Players' they should take a long hard look at themselves and ask the reason 'why' - Baxter wasn't considered a 'luxury player' at Oldham, a main cog I was led to believe, Brandy was one of the prime reasons that Walsall gave such a good showing in the league last year and Cuvelier must have wondered why he dropped two divisions and still can't get a game!

 

[billyblademan]

Did DW2 recruit talented individuals rather than hard working ones?

Of the spine of the pre-summer team, you had Collins, Maguire, McMahon, Hill, Doyle, Porter who you know would never shirk a challenge, even if it meant they were going to get hurt. Extreme here, but think Steady's goal against Wigan. Or more recently, that fantastic challenge by Doyle against Preston flooring the man, but equally winning the ball (a skill Jamie Carragher nailed in particular during his career).

Do you see Brandy/Baxter/Cuvelier going for those balls? Those tackles? Those headers where you know you're going to get crunched, but do it anyway? Bit harsh maybe - they are new, and every team needs a sprinkling of real quality and hopefully they can do well for us, but they don't seem to fit the 'Blades mould' do they?

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Not far off DD, but with the new boy coming in I would be tempted to jig the defence a bit

Long
McMahon Maguire Hill White
Flynn McGinn Doyle Brandy
Taylor King

 

[billyblademan]

Not far off DD, but with the new boy coming in I would be tempted to jig the defence a bit

Long
McMahon Maguire Hill White
Flynn McGinn Doyle Brandy
Taylor King

Was the last time Hill played CB against Oldham where we conceded a 94th minute equaliser, Hill slipping flat on his face to let his man in?

Not a beef on Hill, I seem to remember him and Harry having a really good game together, and found it strange that pairing was never tried again.

 

[Darthblade]

Has anyone else observed that since Baxter, Cuvelier and Brandy haven't featured much since the beginning of the month, we have improved?

I see these as luxury players who you don't particularly build a squad around. So whilst Clough picks up the task of steadying the ship from Morgan (which was previously sinking under Weir) I cannot see how any of them will force their way back into the squad soon. Without any of these 3 against Crewe we played well right up until the lack of fitness kicked in the 10/15 mins; We earned the right to play, defended from the front and kept possession which are features of the game that Baxter, Cuvelier and to a lesser extent Brandy haven't shown much of since coming here.

I'd like to see us start against Shrewsbury (with Miller & Brandy getting at least 20 mins) with:

Long
McMahon Maguire Collins Hill
Flynn McGinn Doyle White
Taylor King

SUBS: Miller, Brandy, Baxter, Cuvelier, Coady, Westlake, Howard.

I would be much happier with:

Long
McMahon Maguire Collins White
Flynn McGinn Coady Brandy
Taylor King

And I agree I would like to see Miller get 20 / 30 mins to build match fitness.

Longer term, ie Jan transfer window, would like to see new RB, a pacey strong winger, solid holding CM with some pace and a strong CF woth some pace to replace King.
Then challenge for promotion next season when side is settled.

UTB & FTP

 

[mattbianco1]

Has anyone else observed that since Baxter, Cuvelier and Brandy haven't featured much since the beginning of the month, we have improved?

Didn't Brandy get man of the match against Port Vale? And play against Peterborough?

The formation that we are now playing means that Cuvelier or Baxter needs to miss out and due to McGinn playing that means the other has to miss out.

I think its more down to the formation than these players not featuring. I feel if Baxter gets back in he will be upfront or just behind Taylor

 

[Jehovah]

I have said it before, I have not been impressed with Baxter at all. My primamry gripe being his poor deliveries from set pieces.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

I might start sounding like a broken record but I am a firm believer in earning the right to play.

Cases in point; Messi, Ronaldo, Bale, Fabregas and pretty much all of the Bayern Munich outfield players work very hard off the ball to get into positions in both halves of the pitch to show for it. Then you have people like Berbatov, who can match up with anyone when it comes to natural ability but simply hasn't done/doesn't do enough to show his true potential.

Baxter for me has been guilty of this. We could chalk it up to lack of fitness because he does look quite overweight, but against Rotherham his link up play was good when he just so happened to be in the right positions. Perhaps we could inject some Montgomery DNA into him?

 

[billyblademan]

Baxter was literally the only positive (for us) against Hartlepool.

 

[diplomat]

I have said it before, I have not been impressed with Baxter at all. My primamry gripe being his poor deliveries from set pieces.

Mine is that he plays like he's got a raging hangover

 

[Pinchy]

Did DW2 recruit talented individuals rather than hard working ones?

Of the spine of the pre-summer team, you had Collins, Maguire, McMahon, Hill, Doyle, Porter who you know would never shirk a challenge, even if it meant they were going to get hurt. Extreme here, but think Steady's goal against Wigan. Or more recently, that fantastic challenge by Doyle against Preston flooring the man, but equally winning the ball (a skill Jamie Carragher nailed in particular during his career).

Do you see Brandy/Baxter/Cuvelier going for those balls? Those tackles? Those headers where you know you're going to get crunched, but do it anyway? Bit harsh maybe - they are new, and every team needs a sprinkling of real quality and hopefully they can do well for us, but they don't seem to fit the 'Blades mould' do they?

The very mould that the new ethos seeks to break, quite rightly and long overdue. Do we want quality or do we still cling to our safety net of mediocrity?

I might start sounding like a broken record but I am a firm believer in earning the right to play.

Cases in point; Messi, Ronaldo, Bale, Fabregas and pretty much all of the Bayern Munich outfield players work very hard off the ball to get into positions in both halves of the pitch to show for it. Then you have people like Berbatov, who can match up with anyone when it comes to natural ability but simply hasn't done/doesn't do enough to show his true potential.

Baxter for me has been guilty of this. We could chalk it up to lack of fitness because he does look quite overweight, but against Rotherham his link up play was good when he just so happened to be in the right positions. Perhaps we could inject some Montgomery DNA into him?

Good Lord No! No, No, No! He would instantly lose any trace of footballing ability.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Perhaps, rather than be tagged 'Luxury Players' they should take a long hard look at themselves and ask the reason 'why' - Baxter wasn't considered a 'luxury player' at Oldham, a main cog I was led to believe, Brandy was one of the prime reasons that Walsall gave such a good showing in the league last year and Cuvelier must have wondered why he dropped two divisions and still can't get a game!

It's nothing new for Cuvelier. He couldn't get in Peterborough's team when they were on their way to relegation last season. Very over-rated from what I've seen.

At least Baxter and Brandy have shown flashes of skill and contributed with the odd goal and assist. I'd like to see Baxter tried as an orthodox striker instead of this "in the hole, like the best teams in the Premiership do" nonsense.

 

[Pinchy]

It's nothing new for Cuvelier. He couldn't get in Peterborough's team when they were on their way to relegation last season. Very over-rated from what I've seen.

At least Baxter and Brandy have shown flashes of skill and contributed with the odd goal and assist. I'd like to see Baxter tried as an orthodox striker instead of this "in the hole, like the best teams in the Premiership do" nonsense.

Skill? Skill? We're not having that at Jurassic Lane. It doesn't fit the "Blades Mould(y)"

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

Did anyone hear 606 on Saturday I think, (it might have just been a podcast thing) but they announed a team that the sports reporters had chosen about 8 years ago as to who would be in the England team for the 2014 World Cup and Baxter was there! Only 1 player, Walcott, was in teh team that has a chance of actually being there.
Was really interesting and highlights how hard it is to develop young talent, even the best and also relates to the experience we have of young players that just stop developing and never fulfill that early promise/potential

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Did anyone hear 606 on Saturday I think, (it might have just been a podcast thing) but they announed a team that the sports reporters had chosen about 8 years ago as to who would be in the England team for the 2014 World Cup and Baxter was there! Only 1 player, Walcott, was in teh team that has a chance of actually being there.
Was really interesting and highlights how hard it is to develop young talent, even the best and also relates to the experience we have of young players that just stop developing and never fulfill that early promise/potential

For the reasons please see the Gary Lineker thread elsewhere.

 

[Jehovah]

Baxter was literally the only positive (for us) against Hartlepool.

Gave the ball away about 29 times. Granted that was less than most.

 

[Paulus]

I would be much happier with:

Long
McMahon Maguire Collins White
Flynn McGinn Coady Brandy
Taylor King

And I agree I would like to see Miller get 20 / 30 mins to build match fitness.

Longer term, ie Jan transfer window, would like to see new RB, a pacey strong winger, solid holding CM with some pace and a strong CF woth some pace to replace King.
Then challenge for promotion next season when side is settled.

UTB & FTP

I would swap the wide players over, I think Flynn in particular is a much better player on the left and Brandy looks better on the right. Given the desperate lack of pace in the centre of defence I think it would be worth trying Hill in there again and I would like to see how Murphy did in a 442 alongside Taylor. King's lack of fitness and mobility at the moment is a real weakness.

Long
McMahon Maguire Hill White
Brandy McGinn Coady Flynn
Taylor Murphy

 

[blade too long]

do luxury players have leather underpants

 

[OllyBlade]

Correlation doesn't necessarily mean causation

Brandy will likely be back in the team at some point, and Baxter has clearly suffered for fitness with a few injuries. Cuvelier is the one who really hasn't impressed, and whose role doesn't seem clear to me. This isn't about him being a 'luxury' player or not, but instead that he neither provides natural width nor creativity or presence in central areas. Even if you have Doyle pegged as a workhorse, one aspect of his game is still trying to set the tempo of attacks with his passing, and he isn't afraid to have a shot. Cuvelier has yet to show any aspect to his game which suggests there is a space for him in a struggling side.

I think our upturn in form is down to players being more comfortable in their roles within the team, a smidgeon of luck, a kinder fixture list, and the building of confidence from the ultimately unsuccessful but spirited comeback in Northampton.

 

[Sirius]

Did DW2 recruit talented individuals rather than hard working ones?

Of the spine of the pre-summer team, you had Collins, Maguire, McMahon, Hill, Doyle, Porter who you know would never shirk a challenge, even if it meant they were going to get hurt. Extreme here, but think Steady's goal against Wigan. Or more recently, that fantastic challenge by Doyle against Preston flooring the man, but equally winning the ball (a skill Jamie Carragher nailed in particular during his career).

Do you see Brandy/Baxter/Cuvelier going for those balls? Those tackles? Those headers where you know you're going to get crunched, but do it anyway? Bit harsh maybe - they are new, and every team needs a sprinkling of real quality and hopefully they can do well for us, but they don't seem to fit the 'Blades mould' do they?

Quality is good. Especially allied to commitment and fitness, being able to put in a full shift, which is what some of the lads are unable to do . IMO few players have the sublime skills to change a game without putting themselves about too much, so that I would say that a luxury player is an unfit player who is carried by team mates before being dragged off, blowing through his arse.

 

[billyblademan]

Quality is good. Especially allied to commitment and fitness, being able to put in a full shift, which is what some of the lads are unable to do . IMO few players have the sublime skills to change a game without putting themselves about too much, so that I would say that a luxury player is an unfit player who is carried by team mates before being dragged off, blowing through his arse.

So pretty much all of us this season so far then!

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

Cuvelier was basically the new Cantona when we signed him. Even though he's never done shit and Stoke couldn't get him out the door quick enough. The prince had bankrolled his signing and we couldn't have afforded him otherwise. Presumably cost about £20m.

 

[Sirius]

So pretty much all of us this season so far then!

From the reports I've read Billy, that seems to be the case. I understand that we have appointed a fitness coach?