Matt Done.

[metalblade]

Having to bring on a half-fit Done and risk him missing the second leg illustrates the utter failure of NCs squad-building. He's brought in quantity rather than quality and has a huge (by Div. 3 standards) squad and still 'doesn't know my best eleven'. We, unlike any other team, seem to get constant injuries which require a different eleven starting every single game. The chickens have come home to roost.

Tell you what I'd do with Done. Wrap him, Murphy and Basham in cotton wool until August, make sure they're signed up on long contracts and build the team around them next season. The rest can either be squad players or shipped out.

Spot on, in all my years watching United I have never seen a team so un-fit if they are not injured they are tired either physically or mentally if you believe Clough. On the other hand it could be Clough is still looking for a winning formula even at this late stage of the season. Can SUFC really afford to waste another year in league one? Can we afford to let Clough waste yet another huge (for this level) transfer budget ? Time to give the other Nigel (the one with multiple promotions on his CV) a call.

 

[Woodwardfan]

OK let me tackle this subject from a different angle as I've been called "pissed", "mad" and "drunk" in this thread.

I'll illustrate the statistics of contributions from Done since before and after Davies arrived and made his debut on 7th March.

Prior to then Done had played every game apart from subbing against his old club Rochdale. That was 6 starts and he scored 5 goals.

Since Davies arrived the new signing has played all but one game when he was sub. In that time Done has made 5 starts and has been sub 6 times and has missed just the two recent games when he was rested prior to the play-offs along with others.. That's 13 games and Done has scored just the 2 goals.

Done has shin problems but only for the two games leading up to last night was he rested, he was sub a number of times without ever missing a game before that. A strange shin condition indeed.

I've no doubt he has a shin condition but he played regularly for Rochdale, 30 times in fact. He played every game for us until Davies arrived and has since lost his scoring touch, maybe because only once has he played up front, more out wide instead, we play 4-5-1 by choice.

I raise all this to defend my sobriety and my sanity!!! The above circumstances lead me to believe there is an element of team selection choice actually. I must be wrong.

 

[super_pig]

He's been injured and in recent weeks he's been wrapped in cotton wool and nursed through. Absolutely no reason not to believe that.

i don't buy it Swiss mate.. every time he comes on he runs around like bloody Sebastian Coe. .if he had a hint of an injury he couldn't do this.. he looks fitter than the rest of the team .. carrying an injury?? what does that say about the rest of the team?
edit: just realised. he never played for Derby :/

 

[Woodwardfan]

i don't buy it Swiss mate.. every time he comes on he runs around like bloody Sebastian Coe. .if he had a hint of an injury he couldn't do this.. he looks fitter than the rest of the team .. carrying an injury?? what does that say about the rest of the team?
edit: just realised. he never played for Derby :/

...he never played for Derby.....and we just have to play 4-5-1.

 

[super_pig]

...he never played for Derby.....and we just have to play 4-5-1.

someone should tell Clough everyone ditched 4-5-1. .it won't work in division three either. the refs aren't good enough

 

[robbiez666]

It makes no sense. If he is injured, what kind of injury lasts 10 weeks? If he has shin splints he should have just been rested but that's the quickest I've ever seen anyone run with that condition.

He needs to start in a front two on Monday. If we have any chance of winning we really need to go for this.

 

[SwissBlade]

i don't buy it Swiss mate.. every time he comes on he runs around like bloody Sebastian Coe. .if he had a hint of an injury he couldn't do this.. he looks fitter than the rest of the team .. carrying an injury?? what does that say about the rest of the team?
edit: just realised. he never played for Derby :/

Don't quote me on this but I think he's getting tight hamstrings after games and if he's playing too long. It was said after notts co or around that time that his recovery is then slow.

This conspiracy that Clough doesn't like him is completely nonsense. When he plays he's all out. His levels of general fitness seem superb but if there is something holding him back then it makes sense to keep him to short bursts rather than not at all.

 

[SwissBlade]

He needs to start in a front two on Monday. If we have any chance of winning we really need to go for this.

Disagree. Done and the side work better with a 4-5-1/4-3-3 set up as it's more flexible to counter and defend. First half yesterday and late in the game it's the best we've played since Southampton and qpr (didn't see Bristol c and dingles).

Swindon couldn't handle the wingers and Davis at times. When done came on and murphy sat in behind Davis with Flynn out right we looked great.

Poor finishing and bad refereeing decisions were huge problems last night. Bad defending obviously gave two goals but we had enough to score 4-5.

 

[robbiez666]

Disagree. Done and the side work better with a 4-5-1/4-3-3 set up as it's more flexible to counter and defend. First half yesterday and late in the game it's the best we've played since Southampton and qpr (didn't see Bristol c and dingles).

Swindon couldn't handle the wingers and Davis at times. When done came on and murphy sat in behind Davis with Flynn out right we looked great.

Poor finishing and bad refereeing decisions were huge problems last night. Bad defending obviously gave two goals but we had enough to score 4-5.

Problem is, there will be little chance to counter as they don't need to win. We have to force their hand, and I can see them counter-attacking at least one goal out of us. They could have had 4 or 5 as well.

 

[SwissBlade]

Problem is, there will be little chance to counter as they don't need to win. We have to force their hand, and I can see them counter-attacking at least one goal out of us. They could have had 4 or 5 as well.

Yeah it was an open game last night and perhaps not the best way approach it as it left us both open at the back.

I agree we have left ourselves with it all to do but putting two up front when we've not done that all season is a little bit like bringing scougs on last night...

 

[Esablade]

I've never come across this type of condition in 59 years watching the game. As far as I am concerned if a player is on the bench he is fit and if not he should be rested or treated until he is fit. Of course that does not apply for a game or two on return from injury but this situation is not that at all. Maybe he should never have been on the bench then. How odd.

Morning Woody,

The symptoms are not bullshit.

I was told Done has shin-splints, which can be incredibly painful...and its a condition you can't 'run through' as it will just get worse.

I've known a few players ( semi-pro) hampered by this condition and it's crippling.

Still, if he's able to I expect Done to start Monday and play through it...if he can walk that is!

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/shin-splints/Pages/Introduction.aspx

 

[coaxingstar71]

Not going to comment further on the conjecture as to Done's fitness as I think that's been covered but just wanted to say that I think he is easily Clough's best signing without doubt, in fact if we had 11 Matt Done's, we'd do a whole lot better - he could probably do a job at centre half, Clough might as well try it, he's tried loads of other non-centre halves.
The goal he scored against Peterboro at the Lane epitomised the type of player he is.

 

[super_pig]

This conspiracy that Clough doesn't like him is completely nonsense. When he plays he's all out. His levels of general fitness seem superb but if there is something holding him back then it makes sense to keep him to short bursts rather than not at all.

i dunno mate.. he's got previous with this kind of thing.. brandy.. collins .. butler.. jcr.. deG.. sparky
this is why people are adding 2 + 2 and getting 5.. you may be right about the injury but it seems a bit weird.. basically i've never seen a manager on tv say 'yeah so and so is injured .. hamstring. so he can only play for the last 20 minutes'

 

[Woodwardfan]

Morning Woody,

The symptoms are not bullshit.

I was told Done has shin-splints, which can be incredibly painful...and its a condition you can't 'run through' as it will just get worse.

I've known a few players ( semi-pro) hampered by this condition and it's crippling.

Still, if he's able to I expect Done to start Monday and play through it...if he can walk that is!

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/shin-splints/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Turns out he's been out with a groin injury, there we go, no wonder we are confused.

 

[Esablade]

Turns out he's been out with a groin injury, there we go, no wonder we are confused.

..,probably just a bit knackered in..'it's the Blades way'

Good player mind!

 

[JasonEllis]

I'd prefer he started and was subsequently substituted than coming on as a substitute at the end of a game.

That way he could begin on a level playing field, rather than coming on when we are possibly behind.

 

[Woodwardfan]

..,probably just a bit knackered in..'it's the Blades way'

Good player mind!

Good player and boy didn't he look fit when he came on!!

 

[Woodwardfan]

Matt Done is selected from the start tonight. My suspicions in the OP are still there. He surely could have played from the start last Thursday. Groin problems suddenly OK in three days?? Clough prefers Davies to Done in his beloved 4-5-1 and might even be playing 4-5-1 tonight with McNulty up front.

I suspect Davies is carrying that knock from Thursday.

I'd be amazed if we are playing 4-4-2 from the start and breaking the mold/ amazement is exactly what is needed tonight to get us out of our rut.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Well the lad played the full 99 minutes and looked fit to me. Fancy that.

 

[robbiez666]

Yes, and he was easily the most mobile player on the pitch.