Not good enough Nigel

[davidpinder]

This can't continue as it is, 2 very winnable away games and no points to show for it. Hardly any action in the JTW but quite happy to leave the squad very bare. You keep playing Mr Porter upfront as pretty much a loan striker and trust me we will not win games with him up top by himself, yes Baxter plays behind but not side by side this will not win us games. You put out a side who wins at villa then you go all out defensive against notts county and a lad who played well and got us a goal gets benched. If this carry's on we will go down trust me we are not to big and from division 4 its a long way back. If you are not being backed by the new owners tell us and at least we will sympathise with you. I believe you are the man to take us forward get us to mid table this season and next year try and get out this league next season.

12 games and 16 points isn't great but is acceptable but you will need to better that over the next 12 games and you have some very difficult games to come.

 

[JJ Sefton]

NGE

 

[South London Blade]

DavidPinder = the new Curtis

 

[Highbury_Blade]

DavidPinder = the new Curtis

A poor relation. Not come across anyone on any forum ever that was quite as delusional as Curtis.

 

[South London Blade]

Similarities:

Little or no punctuation... Check
Bad spelling... Check
Little grasp of reality... Check
Demanding change... Check
Alloy rage... Time will tell

 

[Latters]

Similarities:

Little or no punctuation... Check
Bad spelling... Check
Little grasp of reality... Check
Demanding change... Check
Alloy rage... Time will tell

Was he the one that said he was "mad with rage"? That was my favourite.

 

[moDtheGod]

Was he the one that said he was "mad with rage"? That was my favourite.

Also one of my favourite ever phrases.

 

[blader]

Already said on another thread that it's ridiculous that people dare to blame Clough. He was the chuffin messiah after the villa game and so many knee-jerk reactions are coming out. We know the players aren't good enough, 16 from 12 is perfectly acceptable considering where we were. This issue lies with the application (or lack of) from the players.

Playing Porter up front? Not ideal agreed, but there are currently no alternatives. We have absolutely no idea why there has been no action in the JTW, so he can't be blamed for that. In a way, winning at villa was detrimental I him and the players, as it papered over a lot of the obvious cracks in our team. He's been here a few weeks, he is the best man for us right now. Let's have patience please!

 

[Jon Bon]

Does Nige read this forum? If not, I'm sure Jimbo will pass it on.

 

[Bergen Blade]

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Demanding change... Check
Alloy rage... Time will tell

Regarding the football points, what do you disagree with?

 

[bartman]

. then you go all out defensive against notts county .

One change,the player who came in scored and should have had one, possibly two more in the first 20 minutes. I agreed with some of your post but this bit is off the mark. Coady actually got in the box more that what Murphy does. Trouble was it meant we were a little narrow at times.

We were bullied at the Weekend. We needed a physical centre half to help Maguire and and a physical central midfield player to replace McGinn on Saturday.

 

[sheffielder]

One change,the player who came in scored and should have had one, possibly two more in the first 20 minutes. I agreed with some of your post but this bit is off the mark. Coady actually got in the box more that what Murphy does. Trouble was it meant we were a little narrow at times.

We were bullied at the Weekend. We needed a physical centre half to help Maguire and and a physical central midfield player to replace Doyle on Saturday.

Changed that for you

 

[bartman]

Changed that for you

LOL...to be fair on Saturday's performance you could pick either of them

 

[OllyBlade]

Already said on another thread that it's ridiculous that people dare to blame Clough. He was the chuffin messiah after the villa game and so many knee-jerk reactions are coming out. We know the players aren't good enough, 16 from 12 is perfectly acceptable considering where we were. This issue lies with the application (or lack of) from the players.

There have been overreactions both ways.

Only time will tell but I am slightly concerned about Clough's team selections (Shrewsbury and Notts County away, for example) and his transfer comments so far, which seem to amount to 'grab anyone in on loan from the championship who says yes.' I know he says they have to improve the team, but what attributes/qualities is he looking for in particular? It's all very vague. Paynter may be a good signing, but will he drop Porter for him? If he doesn't it will be a pointless and arguably detrimental signing.

Why did he drop one of our form players for the last fixture, after hitting on a formula that brought a cup win at Villa?

However the deeper problems might not be his fault, I think we have just cause to 'dare to blame' Clough for decisions that given our situation could have a massive impact on the club's future... Too many wrong/duff decisions will see us in Div 4 and from there who knows?

 

[JohnDenver]

Why did he drop one of our form players for the last fixture, after hitting on a formula that brought a cup win at Villa?

He said both Flynn and Murphy were knackered after Chrimbo. So he rested one and took the other off after an hour. He also said Coady had had a great week, and sure enough he scored after 2 minutes. Moreover, our whole approach post-Weir has been to solidify, especially away from home. That method got us out the relegation zone.

So I'm baffled as to why this was such a controversial selection. Sure we lost, but until we rebuild this woeful squad it will continue to happen, but thankfully less so than under Weir.

Clough isn't the messiah, nor is he a vary naughty boy. He's just a good solid manager with the poorest SUFC squad I've ever seen at his disposal.

 

[alcoblade]

Already said on another thread that it's ridiculous that people dare to blame Clough. He was the chuffin messiah after the villa game and so many knee-jerk reactions are coming out.

Yes, but where the knee jerk reactions after Villa or Notts county? It's a 5 / 10 so far. I maintain my belief that a monkey would have performed better than Weir. Clough has done as expected but nothing more so far.

Of course, it's way too early. He can't possibly believe Porter is any good, so the fact that he has to play him says everything about where we're at. And no doubt FFP is playing its' part. Grind it out until the summer, stay up hopefully, then get rid of anything with a pulse.

UTB

 

[JohnDenver]

Yes, but where the knee jerk reactions after Villa or Notts county?

Both.

 

[corneto]

cloughs biggest failing so far is in not replacing doyle and collins.three managers before clough have persevered with these two woeful footballers and look where it ended.the pair of them are losers and until he gets shut we will struggle.

 

[blader]

Yes, but where the knee jerk reactions after Villa or Notts county? It's a 5 / 10 so far. I maintain my belief that a monkey would have performed better than Weir. Clough has done as expected but nothing more so far.

Of course, it's way too early. He can't possibly believe Porter is any good, so the fact that he has to play him says everything about where we're at. And no doubt FFP is playing its' part. Grind it out until the summer, stay up hopefully, then get rid of anything with a pulse.

UTB

Then I believe your expectations, along with the vast majority were too high when Weir was sacked. I have maintained from about October, that staying up would be an achievement from that position. However, even in December people were still doing the maths to see if we could make the playoffs. What?? DO you think Tranmere, Crewe, Gillingham, Stevenage et al fans were doing that? No chance! It is a case of managing expectations with Clough, and I think finishing 20th will be acceptable, not a success, but not a failure at all. Also, at the end of the day, what does it matter if we finish 20th or 7th in the scheme of things? We're looking to next season anyway now.

 

[blader]

cloughs biggest failing so far is in not replacing doyle and collins.three managers before clough have persevered with these two woeful footballers and look where it ended.the pair of them are losers and until he gets shut we will struggle.

We're 2 weeks into his first transfer window, give him time. Also, Collins is certainly not a priority that needs replacing, most should go before him IMO

 

[alcoblade]

Then I believe your expectations, along with the vast majority were too high when Weir was sacked. I have maintained from about October, that staying up would be an achievement from that position. However, even in December people were still doing the maths to see if we could make the playoffs. What?? DO you think Tranmere, Crewe, Gillingham, Stevenage et al fans were doing that? No chance! It is a case of managing expectations with Clough, and I think finishing 20th will be acceptable, not a success, but not a failure at all. Also, at the end of the day, what does it matter if we finish 20th or 7th in the scheme of things? We're looking to next season anyway now.

No expectations of the play-offs for me - BUT - at little over a point a game for Sheffield United in the 3rd tier - impossible to really rate at higher that 5 / 10.

Our players are poor, but Weir was woeful. Staying in England's third division is still a minimum expectation.

UTB

 

[corneto]

collins is as culpable in our downfall as doyle.maguire needs someone along side him who can help him not somebody he is always trying to bail out.the whole team team is weak but most of it stems from the spine of the team,long is too young at present and needs a rest.collins and maguire are too easily bullied.and up front porter is not strong enough.we have now got paynter so he can replace porter but we now need competition for the goalkeeper centre half and centre midfield.oldham came to the lane on boxing day with three players better down their spine than ours.oxley the goalkeeper,tarkowski and rooney.we need to be looking at these type of players to build a future as at the moment we keep getting managers trying to make do with second rate.

 

[Wards]

Not one for panicking but I largely agree with the main gist of the OP. His setup in the last two away games in the league has been disappointingly negative. His reluctance to give Brandy and Cuvelier an opportunity has also left me scratching my head especially when we've been lacking pace, width and creativity. The dropping of Murphy is nothing but inexcusable given his recent form.

I can only hope he knows that we're bringing some quality in because this lot will struggle to break out of that bottom 6 or so teams based on the current evidence. We are DESPERATELY short of a forward and also crying out for a physical presence in midfield in my opinion and it's slightly worrying that we've yet to address it.

 

[Hartley Hare]

A great jockey can not make a slow horse win, but a bad jockey can get a great horse beat. If you have a bad jockey, and a slow horse you may as well head for the donkey derby.

 

[Bookers Mullet]

Nigel's an above average manager with a below average squad, that has had its confidence shot, we have so many players with fragile ego's that its a monster task to get them firing, and I think he's doing an ok job with what he's got.

we desperately need new blood, and are crying out for a strong leader on the pitch (we have been since Morgs hung up his boots) sadly we don't appear to have the funds to change that, all we can do is sit and watch as our more well to do rivals such as Rotherham outspend us, while our 'Billionaire' prince, is busy playing fantasy football.

We've been down this road a thousand times, its almost sad how many times we fall for it.

But maybe I'm wrong and this wait til the transfer window, or wait until summer will actually happen

 

[metalblade]

Nigel's an above average manager with a below average squad, that has had its confidence shot, we have so many players with fragile ego's that its a monster task to get them firing, and I think he's doing an ok job with what he's got.

we desperately need new blood, and are crying out for a strong leader on the pitch (we have been since Morgs hung up his boots) sadly we don't appear to have the funds to change that, all we can do is sit and watch as our more well to do rivals such as Rotherham outspend us, while our 'Billionaire' prince, is busy playing fantasy football.

We've been down this road a thousand times, its almost sad how many times we fall for it.

But maybe I'm wrong and this wait til the transfer window, or wait until summer will actually happen

I don't think you are wrong, sadly it looks for all the world like we still don't have two ha'pennies to scratch our arses with ............................................ the majority of unitedites must be the most gullible fools in the world year after year falling for the same old lines .............................. always tomorrow, have patience etc etc
The thing is with this fucked up club tomorrow never comes.

 

[davidpinder]

Already said on another thread that it's ridiculous that people dare to blame Clough. He was the chuffin messiah after the villa game and so many knee-jerk reactions are coming out. We know the players aren't good enough, 16 from 12 is perfectly acceptable considering where we were. This issue lies with the application (or lack of) from the players.

Playing Porter up front? Not ideal agreed, but there are currently no alternatives. We have absolutely no idea why there has been no action in the JTW, so he can't be blamed for that. In a way, winning at villa was detrimental I him and the players, as it papered over a lot of the obvious cracks in our team. He's been here a few weeks, he is the best man for us right now. Let's have patience please!

I,m not exactly calling for his head in that post I was simply saying 16 points out of his 12 games isn't enough especially against the sides we have played. I would swap 6 or 4 points in the last 2 league games over the win against villa any day.

 

[davidpinder]

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[OllyBlade]

He said both Flynn and Murphy were knackered after Chrimbo. So he rested one and took the other off after an hour. He also said Coady had had a great week, and sure enough he scored after 2 minutes. Moreover, our whole approach post-Weir has been to solidify, especially away from home. That method got us out the relegation zone.

So I'm baffled as to why this was such a controversial selection. Sure we lost, but until we rebuild this woeful squad it will continue to happen, but thankfully less so than under Weir.

Clough isn't the messiah, nor is he a vary naughty boy. He's just a good solid manager with the poorest SUFC squad I've ever seen at his disposal.

Yep I take your point. We'll see what happens, but I just don't think complacency from anyone will do, and the noises from the dressing room in interviews etc have all been too self-congratulatory for my liking, that it is a foregone conclusion we will do the job and stay up etc. Eventually these players need to wake up and smell the big steaming shit they've been serving us all season and put in a consistent run of performances and results.
Clough needs to make sure they do that, hopefully he will.

 

[sheffielder]

Not sure if anyone else has the sinking feeling this week. It doesn't matter what we do as whoever comes to the club never seems to learn from previous mistakes.

We need to start forgetting what we did the previous game and take each game as it comes and Nige/Jim if you're watching, blaming the ref for every defeat is getting boring. We desperately need some signings who not only upgrade what we have but have some character or this sinking ship will end up missing a penalty in the last game of the season. You know the rest. Anyone who things we are not in this relegation battle till the last day of the season needs a reality check.

Where is our Chris Morgan, someone put your head above the parapet. The minute we go behind, we fold.