Playing for shirts at Old Trafford?

[The_Green_Man]

Is it just me or is it also incidental that the performances have gradually improved since our cup win and most importantly since Manchester United away was pulled out of the hat?. Well actually yeah on paper they have like, but whether this contributes to the sudden improvements and to what extent who knows!

A good few of these players haven't and otherwise would have a very slim chance to ever play in a competitive game at Old Trafford. I am sure that a good few of them want a shirt for the tie and as a result are hitting the extra gear in order to try and earn one which is fair enough.

We should have been playing with the same intensity and passion since the first ball was kicked this season and I hope that we have simply turned a corner as opposed to just playing to earn a shirt for a particular game. Equally I hope that we continue to improve week on week after the cup game. After all it could well have come at the right time for some players and the current improvements might well save a couple of players from the door.

 

[sitwell]

Its just you

 

[Ricky]

It could well be a big factor.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

It had crossed my mind.

We will see on Sat.

 

[Slug]

I think the return of a certain bearded right back has been a much bigger factor

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

When we play badly it's because we're not trying and/or not hoofing, and when we play well it's because we're selfish and cynical.

Alternatively: we've had 'consistency of team selection' for three games in a row, with players with Division 2 experience all over the pitch, the Beard is back and has resumed a partnership with Coutts, Hammond is central to proceedings and showing why he's got those credentials, Long's confidence is growing every game, Edgar isn't carrying an injury etc etc.

So imo it's got little or nothing to do with Old Trafford - and there's still plenty of room for improvement.

UTMB

 

[mattbianco1]

I think the return of a certain bearded right back has been a much bigger factor

Exactly. His reselection has coincided with a draw (last minute equaliser) and 4 straight wins

 

[Trigger Blade]

Exactly. His reselection has coincided with a draw (last minute equaliser) and 4 straight wins

I don't think The Beard is fully fit yet, which is understandable. There were several times yesterday where he didn't try and chase after a lost cause type ball, where last season or the season before, he would have done (eg last minute of extra time at Fulham in the FA Cup).

 

[sitwell]

It has also coincided with the absence of a certain Jose Baxter. We are now playing as a team and not trying to shoehorn him into a position that doesn't exist.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

The selection of 11 players who all see the benefit in grafting is what's done it.

 

[raul]

Are they half and half shirts?

 

[Woodwardfan]

At Old Trafford I'd rest Brayford, Edgar, Hammond, Coutts, Sharp. Let's get our priorities right.

 

[mattbianco1]

At Old Trafford I'd rest Brayford, Edgar, Hammond, Coutts, Sharp. Let's get our priorities right.

I like your idea but think of the 8k that make the trip at £50 a pop. Not fair on the fans to even contemplate that.

 

[him behind you]

When we play badly it's because we're not trying and/or not hoofing, and when we play well it's because we're selfish and cynical.

Alternatively: we've had 'consistency of team selection' for three games in a row, with players with Division 2 experience all over the pitch, the Beard is back and has resumed a partnership with Coutts, Hammond is central to proceedings and showing why he's got those credentials, Long's confidence is growing every game, Edgar isn't carrying an injury etc etc.

So imo it's got little or nothing to do with Old Trafford - and there's still plenty of room for improvement.

UTMB

I agree totally with you mate. My view is (and can be seen in some of my other posts) that there are a number of our players who don't give a shit and are big game / cup tarts BUT I don't think the upturn in form is because of the MU game. I think it's just a case of getting some players back (Beard / Edgar for example) who are building partnerships and providing support to those around them which wasn't there before, in addition to the upturn in form and confidence of some of the others. Also, getting these players back (and Hammond improving and becoming match fit) has enabled Adkins to play a more settled side and employ tactics and a game plan that the players can deliver. These tactics may not be how he (or we) would like to see us playing but I, for one, am more than happy that he's shown that he is willing and able to work with what he has - it's just taken a bit longer than I would have liked

 

[him behind you]

I like your idea but think of the 8k that make the trip at £50 a pop. Not fair on the fans to even contemplate that.

See and agree with your point Matt but I would LMAO if we turned out at Old Trafford and played an under strength side like the prem sides do when playing "smaller" clubs. The result to me matters not a jot and I'm more concerned about injuries and suspensions to the side which we need to get us out of this soddin' division.

 

[Deleted member 875]

It has also coincided with the absence of a certain Jose Baxter. We are now playing as a team and not trying to shoehorn him into a position that doesn't exist.

To be fair I think it is now up to Jose Baxter to win a shirt, and adapt to fit in to the side we have now, rather than having to shift the side around to accommodate him.

I think what Nigel Adkins has done with him has been clever. The disciplinary issue has given Adkins the excuse to drop him for a few games to try and build a side without him, and also given him a massive kick up the backside. The questions now that Adkins seems to be asking of Baxter is, that are you good enough to get in to my team?, and has the penny finally dropped that if you carry on the way you are, you are finished.

As a footballer Jose Baxter is a top quality footballer, and if he got his head right he could realistically play in the top flight, it is just Jose Baxter doesn't seem to have the intelligence to do it. Mind you, you can safely assume a 23 year old footballer who has earned thousands of pounds and yet still can't drive a car, isn't going to be the sharpest tool in the box.

 

[The_Green_Man]

At Old Trafford I'd rest Brayford, Edgar, Hammond, Coutts, Sharp. Let's get our priorities right.

That wouldn't be fair on the players though would it. After all it is a game that every one of those players will be desperate to play in, to suddenly drop our better performers wouldn't be fair on them in the slightest!

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

See and agree with your point Matt but I would LMAO if we turned out at Old Trafford and played an under strength side like the prem sides do when playing "smaller" clubs. The result to me matters not a jot and I'm more concerned about injuries and suspensions to the side which we need to get us out of this soddin' division.

Brilliant.

Adkins: Man United at Old Trafford is not really a big game for us.

I think we'll go full strength to keep up momentum but I can appreciate the brass neck of the alternative

UTMB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Is it just me or is it also incidental that the performances have gradually improved since our cup win and most importantly since Manchester United away was pulled out of the hat?. Well actually yeah on paper they have like, but whether this contributes to the sudden improvements and to what extent who knows!

A good few of these players haven't and otherwise would have a very slim chance to ever play in a competitive game at Old Trafford. I am sure that a good few of them want a shirt for the tie and as a result are hitting the extra gear in order to try and earn one which is fair enough.

We should have been playing with the same intensity and passion since the first ball was kicked this season and I hope that we have simply turned a corner as opposed to just playing to earn a shirt for a particular game. Equally I hope that we continue to improve week on week after the cup game. After all it could well have come at the right time for some players and the current improvements might well save a couple of players from the door.

Nowt to do with Man Utd - Shrewsbury was a turning point and the chant of "You're not fit to wear the shirt", IMHO had a dramatic effect of how Adkins saw the problem. He said he would solve the problem from within the club, which he has done.

There was a different mentality from the next game and it continues to this day - long may it continue.

UTB

 

[The_Green_Man]

Nowt to do with Man Utd - Shrewsbury was a turning point and the chant of "You're not fit to wear the shirt", IMHO had a dramatic effect of how Adkins saw the problem. He said he would solve the problem from within the club, which he has done.

There was a different mentality from the next game and it continues to this day - long may it continue.

UTB

Of course neither of us will be proven correct until after the Manchester united match....

 

[blade too long]

we might play a reserve team v man utd , the cup tarts XI

WE DO HAVE A MORE PRESSING TARGET

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Of course neither of us will be proven correct until after the Manchester united match....

Neither of us are correct - it is Adkins who is correct and has only done what he said he would do since walking through the door.

He looked at the squad, said it wasn't good enough and gave virtually everyone a good run to see what they were like. Sadly, some of the choices were seen to be misguided, but at least he did what he said he would do.

He also said what he would do after the Shrewsbury debacle - and he has done it, by abandoning the nice tippy tappy style and gone strong and solid and has apparently solved our problem.

A good manager has made a decisive decision based on what he had at his disposal given a most horrendous match v Shrewsbury.

I would like to think it was an Alex Ferguson hairdryer treatment for the entire squad, and from what we have seen since has had a great player reaction.

Credit to the players for stepping up to the plate, call it professional pride, call it "playing for the shirt" - but as before, it's nowt to do with playing Man Utd - IMHO

UTB

 

[judge]

Is it just me or is it also incidental that the performances have gradually improved since our cup win and most importantly since Manchester United away was pulled out of the hat?. Well actually yeah on paper they have like, but whether this contributes to the sudden improvements and to what extent who knows!

A good few of these players haven't and otherwise would have a very slim chance to ever play in a competitive game at Old Trafford. I am sure that a good few of them want a shirt for the tie and as a result are hitting the extra gear in order to try and earn one which is fair enough.

We should have been playing with the same intensity and passion since the first ball was kicked this season and I hope that we have simply turned a corner as opposed to just playing to earn a shirt for a particular game. Equally I hope that we continue to improve week on week after the cup game. After all it could well have come at the right time for some players and the current improvements might well save a couple of players from the door.

Lets hope not because this kind of attitude is why weve spent 5 years in this wankhole of a division