Our new Rolls-Royce

[Blade56]

.....I'd like to see him making driving runs on a more regular basis though.....

The whole team needs this Koz. At times we almost play walking football up the pitch. Yesterday there was one instance where we must have made 15 passes and lost it on the wing. We need driving runs and fast counter attacks in the toolbox.

 

[super_pig]

and to think there was a time when people thought Coutts was shite as well?

 

[Slim Man]

Way way over the top.

He's not nearly on Coutts level. But he has been impressive since settling in no doubt.
Very good yesterday and against Sunderland (apart from a dodgy 10 min spell) and Villa away. The pass for Donaldson's goal was sublime and even against Bolton he put a fantastic swazzed through ball to Clarke (who was offside) which would've left him 1 on 1. Albeit just before this he nearly lost it on the edge of our box... he's got a lot to learn but he is a prospect.

Best of luck to him

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

and to think there was a time when people thought Coutts was shite as well?

That's cos he was! Most improved player under Wilder.

 

[super_pig]

That's cos he was! Most improved player under Wilder.

so by that metric Lundstram should improve even further

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

so by that metric Lundstram should improve even further

And thus, back to my original comment we go...

He is improving but he's got a way to go yet IMO. He's a good asset though and has shown some real promise. I'd like to see him making driving runs on a more regular basis though, if he has that in his locker.

 

[super_pig]

And thus, back to my original comment we go...

i was agreeing with you!

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

i was agreeing with you!

No you ****ing werent!

 

[super_pig]

No you ****ing werent!

i suppose it’s panto season

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Does that make Mark Duffy an Aston Martin?

 

[Grappler]

Does that make Mark Duffy an Aston Martin?

Probably a Bentley, not as much talked about, but people in the know, "know"............

 

[stringer]

It’s probably sacrilege to say, but Coutts wasn’t an 8/10 performer every week and had shockers too (QPR away springs to mind). It also took him two years to get going, so the hate for Lundstram always did baffle me after he’d played about two minutes.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I agree with sitwell , different kind of player.

The thing we miss most from Coutts is his constant availability to receive the ball even in tight situations. For me this is highlighted when we get throw-ins and the lack of players showing for them. I've noticed Lundstram rarely shows for them but perhaps is playing to instructions.

I've no problem with Lundstram and think he's done well, he's got a good range of passing and has played some great balls, notably the one for Donaldson at Villa, however he's inconsistent and there were a few times in the Bolton game where he had loads of time to control it and have a look, but instead opted to just aimlessly knock it on. Maybe he's not getting a shout from his team mates... who knows.

Another thing I've noticed with Lundstram is that when he plays the ball on the deck, he seems to hit it in an odd way so that the ball bounces or bobbles to a team mate rather than smoothly along the turf, meaning the receiving player is having to take an extra touch to get it under control.

 

[JohnDenver]

The thing we miss most from Coutts is his constant availability to receive the ball even in tight situations. For me this is highlighted when we get throw-ins and the lack of players showing for them. I've noticed Lundstram rarely shows for them but perhaps is playing to instructions.

It's really glaring when teams like Bolton press high up the pitch and shut down our passing. Coutts is able to get the ball off the defence under real pressure, hold off an opponent and still thread a pass forward. This ability to break the press can completely open up the game for us.

Lundstram has the potential but we cannot expect him to do the same. Yet....

 

[sitwell]

I agree with sitwell , different kind of player.

The thing we miss most from Coutts is his constant availability to receive the ball even in tight situations. For me this is highlighted when we get throw-ins and the lack of players showing for them. I've noticed Lundstram rarely shows for them but perhaps is playing to instructions.

I've no problem with Lundstram and think he's done well, he's got a good range of passing and has played some great balls, notably the one for Donaldson at Villa, however he's inconsistent and there were a few times in the Bolton game where he had loads of time to control it and have a look, but instead opted to just aimlessly knock it on. Maybe he's not getting a shout from his team mates... who knows.

Another thing I've noticed with Lundstram is that when he plays the ball on the deck, he seems to hit it in an odd way so that the ball bounces or bobbles to a team mate rather than smoothly along the turf, meaning the receiving player is having to take an extra touch to get it under control.

Spot on ,that outlet has been missing and that is the main change in our play ,we have had to just alter slightly as Lundstram brings different abilities to our game. It will take time to adjust especially with Fleck missing but all the signs of it coming together were there at Derby. Coutts and Lundstram are both very good players both have strengths over each other and we have to adapt accordingly.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Spot on ,that outlet has been missing and that is the main change in our play ,we have had to just alter slightly as Lundstram brings different abilities to our game. It will take time to adjust especially with Fleck missing but all the signs of it coming together were there at Derby. Coutts and Lundstram are both very good players both have strengths over each other and we have to adapt accordingly.

I might be wrong, but I suspected that Fleck's role had been adjusted to suit Lundstram's game after Coutts' injury.

 

[Pinchy]

Spot on ,that outlet has been missing and that is the main change in our play ,we have had to just alter slightly as Lundstram brings different abilities to our game. It will take time to adjust especially with Fleck missing but all the signs of it coming together were there at Derby. Coutts and Lundstram are both very good players both have strengths over each other and we have to adapt accordingly.

There will be times when Couttsy is back (Godspeed to that) where the two will play together and do very well. They are, self-evidently, different players with different qualities. Of course, there will very likely be recruitment in that department as well.

 

[Pinchy]

It’s probably sacrilege to say, but Coutts wasn’t an 8/10 performer every week

Agreed mate. 9/10 at least.

 

[stringer]

Agreed mate. 9/10 at least.

View attachment 34994

Maybe this is one (more) thing we won’t agree on

 

[Pinchy]

Maybe this is one (more) thing we won’t agree on

Were we not top of the league after the Roller’s last game before injury? Coincidence that we’ve dipped badly without him? I think not. He was the heartbeat of the team. Everything good about us had him as it’s fulcrum. Your boy, excellent though he is, would not be missed anything like as much.

No, I don’t want a continuing debate about which of two quality players are the better, but you do have a little dig at Coutts-Royce now and then...

 

[stringer]

Were we not top of the league after the Roller’s last game before injury? Coincidence that we’ve dipped badly without him? I think not. He was the heartbeat of the team. Everything good about us had him as it’s fulcrum. Your boy, excellent though he is, would not be missed anything like as much.

No, I don’t want a continuing debate about which of two quality players are the better, but you do have a little dig at Coutts-Royce now and then...

No digs at all. He’s an excellent player but suffers/benefits from the Blades trait of being (even) better once he’s out of the team, for whatever reason. He is/was vital to how United play and arguably the biggest loss that they could suffer (apart from Tufty!)
But when I hear people criticise Lundstram for misplacing a pass or having a poor game, I do chuckle at comparisons to Coutts who, believe it or not, did misplace passes and have poor games
The stats, in terms of completed passes and virtually everything else, are very similar between both.
Is my boy Fleck? Believing he’s by far the best United midfielder I’ve ever seen play isn’t a slight on Coutts. Both are excellent but, like you, I believe one is better

 

[Tyler Durden]

No digs at all. He’s an excellent player but suffers/benefits from the Blades trait of being (even) better once he’s out of the team, for whatever reason. He is/was vital to how United play and arguably the biggest loss that they could suffer (apart from Tufty!)
But when I hear people criticise Lundstram for misplacing a pass or having a poor game, I do chuckle at comparisons to Coutts who, believe it or not, did misplace passes and have poor games
The stats, in terms of completed passes and virtually everything else, are very similar between both.
Is my boy Fleck? Believing he’s by far the best United midfielder I’ve ever seen play isn’t a slight on Coutts. Both are excellent but, like you, I believe one is better

Maureen despises John Fleck...

It's a big no from me to the little flecker. One good season and he's a must have. He hasn't the height or presence and his goal scoring record of 10 league goals in 9 years as a pro would put Montgomery to shame.

I hope he goes to be small and not score elsewhere, at which point, of course, we'll have 'missed out again'....

 

[Pinchy]

No digs at all. He’s an excellent player but suffers/benefits from the Blades trait of being (even) better once he’s out of the team, for whatever reason. He is/was vital to how United play and arguably the biggest loss that they could suffer (apart from Tufty!)
But when I hear people criticise Lundstram for misplacing a pass or having a poor game, I do chuckle at comparisons to Coutts who, believe it or not, did misplace passes and have poor games
The stats, in terms of completed passes and virtually everything else, are very similar between both.
Is my boy Fleck? Believing he’s by far the best United midfielder I’ve ever seen play isn’t a slight on Coutts. Both are excellent but, like you, I believe one is better

You haven’t, of course, heard me criticise Lundstram. Just as I did with Coutts a while back I can spot quality as well as current form.

I have a certain flexibility of mind rarely encountered on here. I can even admire and appreciate Jake Wright with one hand whilst being quite sure Stearman is a better player on the other. I even manage to acknowledge Sharp’s goal poaching at the same time as noticing he does nowt else and might wish, if he doesn’t mind too much, to join in the game when he’s not scoring.

Astonishing, though I say so myself. I fear I may be too good for this place.

 

[stringer]

You haven’t, of course, heard me criticise Lundstram. Just as I did with Coutts a while back I can spot quality as well as current form.

I have a certain flexibility of mind rarely encountered on here. I can even admire and appreciate Jake Wright with one hand whilst being quite sure Stearman is a better player on the other. I even manage to acknowledge Sharp’s goal poaching at the same time as noticing he does nowt else and might wish, if he doesn’t mind too much, to join in the game when he’s not scoring.

Astonishing, though I say so myself. I fear I may be too good for this place.

Nope, not you. Others.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

You haven’t, of course, heard me criticise Lundstram. Just as I did with Coutts a while back I can spot quality as well as current form.

I have a certain flexibility of mind rarely encountered on here. I can even admire and appreciate Jake Wright with one hand whilst being quite sure Stearman is a better player on the other. I even manage to acknowledge Sharp’s goal poaching at the same time as noticing he does nowt else and might wish, if he doesn’t mind too much, to join in the game when he’s not scoring.

Astonishing, though I say so myself. I fear I may be too good for this place.

Though it is only January 2nd, I already feel that this is going to be the Post of the Year. You have raised the art of self-parody to levels that others can only dream of. Donald Trump recently stated that he was the most humble man in the world. He is your only rival. Long may you continue to grace this forum with your artistry.

 

[blade too long]

Think its fair to say weve not been blessed with good fortune since Coutts got injured
totally tonked bristol city , didnt get any luck at all losing fleck and the woodwork taking a battering
out played derby
appalling villa penalty cost us 2 points there
only been not so good v millwall and bolton

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

So, who's The Lawnmower?

 

[Pinchy]

Nope, not you. Others.

I knew. I was emphasising, not challenging...

 

[snootyfenooty]

I'm not convinced about Lundstram yet. I've given my reasons on other threads so I won't bore you again. But this "hate Lundstram" thing if you're not a fan, ffs give it a rest.

 

[stringer]

The stats, in terms of completed passes and virtually everything else, are very similar between both.