Mikele Leigertwood

[Northern Rivers Blade]

How was he today? It doesn't seem that long ago that we were glad to see the back of him cos we thought he wasn't good enough for us. Would we have him back today?

 

[secretchief]

I was thrilled when he went. Never seen a more ponderous player who dwelt on the ball so much.

 

[mattbianco1]

Shoulda defo had a tenner on anytime scorer

 

[Bladesman]

It has to be argued that we let some decent midfielders pass us by.

Although despite playing well for Reading I don't think he is a decent midfielder that passed us by. As even Palace fans were happy to see us take him off their hands. He has found form at Reading well done to him but he wasted his time here more than us wasting his time.

 

[Trigger Blade]

How was he today? It doesn't seem that long ago that we were glad to see the back of him cos we thought he wasn't good enough for us. Would we have him back today?

Blimey, I should think we'd have anyobdy back from that PL season!

Apart from Calamity Claude maybe

 

[Northern Rivers Blade]

Even Luton Shelton???

 

[judge]

Like most players deemed not good enough by the most miserable fans in the country the hilariously named "legs of wood " was actually a very good footballer at top level and the one below , lucky for him he knew it and took his skill set elsewhere

 

[Rodders]

Like most players deemed not good enough by the most miserable fans in the country the hilariously named "legs of wood " was actually a very good footballer at top level and the one below , lucky for him he knew it and took his skill set elsewhere

He loves a Mexican wave though

 

[metalblade]

Strange how many decent footballers have been shite at the lane but then are ok once they move elsewhere ........................... must have some reyt coaches us.

 

[Bladesman]

Strange how many decent footballers have been shite at the lane but then are ok once they move elsewhere ........................... must have some reyt coaches us.

Its more down to the lump it anywhere managers we had in charge at the time. The main requirement of the midfield was to chase the ball down like a headless chicken which is why a certain Nick Montgomery found it rather easy to hold down a place in the team. Anyone doing something as reckless as holding on to the ball and looking for a pass was frowned upon.

Midfielders that should have done well with us Britton, Harper and Howard.

Under Warnock and Blackwell someone like Kevin McDonald would have been released after one season or never signed in the first place.

 

[Revolution]

Like most players deemed not good enough by the most miserable fans in the country the hilariously named "legs of wood " was actually a very good footballer at top level and the one below , lucky for him he knew it and took his skill set elsewhere

He may be better now, but He was shocking for us in his only full season.

 

[Kenilworth]

Under Warnock and Blackwell someone like Kevin McDonald would have been released after one season or never signed in the first place.

I think that you will find the name Stuart McCall throws that theory down the pan. None of those players you mentioned were a patch on Macca - even at the twilight of his career. He dictated the play and allowed Brownie to have his best ever season. He didn't run around like a headless chicken. He was just classy as well as being very tough, mentally.

 

[Zlatan]

Strange how many decent footballers have been shite at the lane but then are ok once they move elsewhere ........................... must have some reyt coaches us.

There's only so much input you can have when the ball is continuously flying over you head.

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

some things just dont work out. happens in all walks of life. ever had a total pleb working with you?? chances are, theyve got a degree. chances are they quit, then go on to do better than you do in their career. just the way it is. if you dont fit in, you get nervous and/or apathetic and try less hard than if you feel you belong.

 

[sitwell]

Strange how many decent footballers have been shite at the lane but then are ok once they move elsewhere ........................... must have some reyt coaches us.

Why do you try and turn every discussion debate and thread into an anti sheffield united rant ?besides being fucking boring and killing discussions dead ,a real Blade wouldnt write them.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Leigertwood is better than Messi and every player we currently have is worse than non-league.

This isn't how I really feel but I'm just trying to fit in with the zeitgeist of this forum at the moment.

 

[metalblade]

Why do you try and turn every discussion debate and thread into an anti sheffield united rant ?besides being fucking boring and killing discussions dead ,a real Blade wouldnt write them.

Where is it a anti Sheffield United rant ? Just take a look at some of the games in the Premiership or Championship plenty of players doing a good job for other teams, don't you find it strange how we could never get the best out of some of them ?

Leigertwood is better than Messi and every player we currently have is worse than non-league.

This isn't how I really feel but I'm just trying to fit in with the zeitgeist of this forum at the moment.

I thought you were one of the more sensible posters on here ...................................... I got that one wrong didn't I ?

 

[secretchief]

Be fair metal, we have produced some quality players. They just don't play for us.

 

[cooperblade]

I think that you will find the name Stuart McCall throws that theory down the pan. None of those players you mentioned were a patch on Macca - even at the twilight of his career. He dictated the play and allowed Brownie to have his best ever season. He didn't run around like a headless chicken. He was just classy as well as being very tough, mentally.

He also played on for far too long and in 03/04 was an absolute liability.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I think that you will find the name Stuart McCall throws that theory down the pan. None of those players you mentioned were a patch on Macca - even at the twilight of his career. He dictated the play and allowed Brownie to have his best ever season. He didn't run around like a headless chicken. He was just classy as well as being very tough, mentally.

He also had the benefit of being in a side that had movement ahead of and alongside him - Chief was a huge help in that formation in 2002-3 as well as he was able to absorb balls hammered at any part of his frame, hold on to it and play in the likes of Pesch, Tonge, Nuddy, Brown. McCall also had additional mobility out wide with Harley and Jags for large parts of the season.

The reason midfield was so much of a problem in seasons after that was we didn't have mobility. I remember a passage of play against Portsmouth in the Prem when they were reeling - we had the ball on the floor and we were able to overlap. The only problem was that we were static in midfield, Hulse had run his legs to water and it was almost laughable watching players in time and space having to think about where to put it. Blackwell's teams were even worse.

Really enjoyed passages of Brentford's play yesterday where they played at an incredibly high tempo but there was always a man available in the middle of the park for a pass and they moved it around quickly - meaning that when they did launch it into the channels Chelsea were stretched and there was space for their quick men.

Passing play's much easier when there's a ball to play to someone in space - it's incredibly hard when there's noone (or one, but the only person left in space when you play it to them is you).

 

[Jehovah]

He looked ok. One thing he has always been able to do is hit a decent long range strike. With that in mind, the space we gave him for his goal was criminal.

 

[Balham]

He looked ok. One thing he has always been able to do is hit a decent long range strike. With that in mind, the space we gave him for his goal was criminal.

Which is precisely why Long had a go at McDonald after the goal.

 

[JohnDenver]

He looked ok. One thing he has always been able to do is hit a decent long range strike.

I remember plenty good strikes when he played for us, but he had a knack of missing the target.

 

[Kenilworth]

Which is precisely why Long had a go at McDonald after the goal.

I'll bet you it was a key thing to watch out for from team briefing based on the scouting that took place. The fact that Long had a go at him and the substitution of McD later on all goes to point out that it went in one ear and out the other.

One other thing I am constantly concerned about is the ease in which the opposition can launch a cross in. Take Reading's first goal - no pressure on the man crossing the ball at all. This happens frequently in league games and exposes the back four and the goalkeeper to situations that could be avoided. Why don't the players prevent the crosses coming in in the first place?

 

[Balham]

Kenners that's exactly what I said to Ollessendro at the time. McMahon was on the edge of the D when the ball got switched over his head to the United right, leaving Blackman to pick up Shorey and Robson-Kanu. A quick one-two later and Robson-Kanu had an age to pick out a cross. Hunt then set the tone for the rest of the afternoon by out-jumping a Blades defender for an easy header. On that - he was taking a running jump and beating our static jumping defenders all afternoon, despite them being up to 6" taller.

Reading had done their homework and knew we'd be strong but immobile in the centre of defence as well as slow down the flanks. Westlake in particular had an absolute nightmare - it wasn't pretty - but none of the defence played well.

In answer to your question as to why it happens; I think McMahon is aware that he's not blessed with pace and so stands off his man to prevent getting the ball knocked past him down the line. The flipside is that it gives the wingers time to measure a cross.

At left-back we've got a glaring weakness despite having several players who can fill in there. Higginbotham is not the answer as he's even slower than McMahon.

 

[Fiery Blade]

We have a weakness at left back yet Wilson has signed LJF (injury prone and not very good), Williams (not very good - in truth Rubbish) , Hill (not consistant at LB - better centre half), Westlake (not very good at either Right or Left Back - Walsall released him because he couldn't get into their side)
Higginbotham would probably be the best of a bad bunch although he is very very slow and has a turning circle similar to the QE2 - Speaks volumes of Wilsons judgement of a player!!