Pluses an minuses

[Harry's Game]

Pluses...

Billy Sharp looking a level above this league again

Matty Done getting 90 minutes

Che's finishing and flashes of real real potential.

We won.


Minuses...

Weak one paced midfield.

Maceverly.

Giving the ball away and conceding far too much possession and territory.

 

[BeatleBlade]

I don't think McEveley was any worse than any of the other defenders I the first half.

 

[Harry's Game]

I don't think McEveley was any worse than any of the other defenders I the first half.

Debatable, but at least the others didn't look colour blind when taking throw ins.

 

[alcoblade]

Midfield is a real concern, but we didn't learn anything there. I'd say more pluses than minuses today, but we've got to address the midfield.

Even as part of a three, Coutts is miles off the workrate / pace / energy required. He's not alone, but at least with the others I see the other things they do offer.

We've got goals in us though, which is surely the hardest thing to sort.

UTB

 

[BeatleBlade]

Debatable, but at least the others didn't look colour blind when taking throw ins.

Wasn't his fault that nobody made any movement. Barely anyone was available and then they all stood still when he took it giving him no hope.

 

[Zlatan]

Weak one paced midfield.

Giving the ball away and conceding far too much possession and territory.

I think the points about a one paced midfield (slow!) and conceding territory are linked. Because just about all of our players are slow we can't press teams high up the pitch and have to defend on the edge of our own box. It's annoying to watch at times.

 

[Jehovah]

I thought mceverlceverleverly was ok

 

[metalblade]

I thought we did ok today but second half we let them into the game and it was only a matter of time before they equalized, maybe the forced substitutions disrupted midfield and defence, Collins got us out of jail and steadied the nerves but overall I think we deserved it. I was disappointed in Rochdale who are supposedly a footballing side but today seemed more interested in wrestling our forwards to the floor they really should have had more bookings for persistent fouling. Worrying that again we do seem to overplay it across the back four not helped by Howard rolling the ball out when it is not on, sometimes the right thing to do is put your foot through it.

 

[Barney]

Defence and midfield are yet again letting down the strike force. Billy, Done and Adams were the best three on the pitch today.

The tempo is set by the defence and midfield, which is why we look such a slow, lazy and un-athletic team in possession. We're just lucky we have the players at the other end of the pitch that are able to paper some of the cracks.

The problem will persist, and consequently results will remain inconsistent, until a centre back, a central midfielder and ideally a goalkeeper are brought in.

 

[Blade56]

Adkins admitted he had to patch holes in in midfield and brought reed on although jam was ready stripped off

 

[Harry's Game]

Adkins admitted he had to patch holes in in midfield and brought reed on although jam was ready stripped off

Adkins, like Warnock, I think looks at the game beforehand with a plan to use his subs as a positive attacking tactic and this is something I agree with, however there are going to be times when events conspire to scupper this, two subs at half time ended any pre arranged plans, I suspect without those injurys both Coutts and Done might have been due to be replaced within twenty minutes of half time for JCR (or maybe Sammon) and Reed.

 

[Silent Blade]

I don't think McEveley was any worse than any of the other defenders I the first half.

Did well against the tall Peter Vincenti who was playing in right wing during the 1st half and Rochdale were aiming their long kicks towards the right. Adkins and his staff know more about our opposition than anyone in here which is why I dont make posts in "My starting eleven" threads

 

[judge]

+z and -sez

 

[blade too long]

the midfield is our priority defending in front of the back four and going forward with pace , to me its our biggest need
a strong no nonsense midfielder

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Defence and midfield are yet again letting down the strike force. Billy, Done and Adams were the best three on the pitch today.

The tempo is set by the defence and midfield, which is why we look such a slow, lazy and un-athletic team in possession. We're just lucky we have the players at the other end of the pitch that are able to paper some of the cracks.

The problem will persist, and consequently results will remain inconsistent, until a centre back, a central midfielder and ideally a goalkeeper are brought in.

Add Baxter to that list who set two of our goals up and created a few more chances. We need muscle in midfield for sure - as we are a soft touch - and that will make us more solid, able to protect the defence and allow players like Baxter to do what they are good at, create chances.

Keeper and two centre backs needed on top of the centre midfield general. But the club either dont want to pay for it, or cant see it.

 

[Caseh]

Add Baxter to that list who set two of our goals up and created a few more chances. We need muscle in midfield for sure - as we are a soft touch - and that will make us more solid, able to protect the defence and allow players like Baxter to do what they are good at, create chances.

Keeper and two centre backs needed on top of the centre midfield general. But the club either dont want to pay for it, or cant see it.

Don't be silly! Baxter doesn't run around anywhere near enough to get any sort of praise, or even to reduce the amount of criticism he receives.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Don't be silly! Baxter doesn't run around anywhere near enough to get any sort of praise, or even to reduce the amount of criticism he receives.

No exactly. If only he had just run with the ball instead of passing to Adams and then run with the corner ball. Its all about running around.

 

[s35blade]

• Think Che took his goals fantastically well.
• Sharp's assit for Che's second, just wow, can't remember a bit of play like that at Bramall lane since McDonald moved on
• Freeman looked a very good defender, really hope he doesn't lose his place to Brayford
• Would start Wallace as LB over Maceverly
• When Rochdale's two CB's where passing it two each other and Done was charging full throttle what a player
• Think Adkin's has Baxter playing at a level above what he was doing under Clough

 

[judge]

the midfield is our priority defending in front of the back four and going forward with pace , to me its our biggest need
a strong no nonsense midfielder

Like clarkson

 

[zablade]

Basham to CB and new Midfielders would be my choice at the moment.


I hope today put to bed the any thoughts some people still had that Coutts is the answer, however you want to slice he can't run.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

There were long periods of the game where I wondered if Adkins had found one of Cloughs old note books on how to play defencive boring football at home ...

 

[Leonardo Green]

+ McEverly left on crutches.

Sorry to say that but he is one of the worst players ever to pull on a united shirt and Adkins doesn't seem to be able to see it.

 

[Rodley]

Wallace has to start at left back. Coutts was poor and I think he's had his chance now, hopefully the lad from Leicester will come in. Thought Scougall did well for me breaking forward in spells and put himself about. Baxter just doesn't do enough for me.

Front three were superb; fantastic to see Sharpey and Done chasing down lost causes and performing well. Che was bouncing through defenders at will. Freeman was class.

If Rochdale are top 6, with a couple of players in - CD and CM, top 2 is achievable with the firepower we have.

 

[sitwell]

I thought Baxter Coutts and Scougall played well ,I would go with the formation and personel for the time being ,I did suggest this the other day. Basham is much better at centre half .Midfield was strong until scougall went off and Coutts ran out of gas. Baxter was MOM for me just ahead of Sharp, Done (second half) and Freeman. Would like to see the goal again but it looked initially a good save from Howard and apart from a few throws to the invisible man (see McEverley and Wallace too) he had a good game with a lot more to do than usual. They are a decent side and it was an excellent game ,cant see what some are going on about.

 

[Caseh]

+ McEverly left on crutches.

Sorry to say that but he is one of the worst players ever to pull on a united shirt and Adkins doesn't seem to be able to see it.

People used to say the same about Doyle, but really neither are true - People just decide someone is bad, and then just like magic, they can do absolutely no right!

 

[Leonardo Green]

People used to say the same about Doyle, but really neither are true - People just decide someone is bad, and then just like magic, they can do absolutely no right!

Doyle did a good job, was an important player in the team, you could clearly see what we lacked when he wasn't there.

As i said, McEverly is one of the worst players we've ever had.

 

[Caseh]

Doyle did a good job, was an important player in the team, you could clearly see what we lacked when he wasn't there.

As i said, McEverly is one of the worst players we've ever had.

He just isn't though. He's a poor player and a terrible leader, but he is by no means one of the worst that has played for us.

 

[Leonardo Green]

Wallace has to start at left back. Coutts was poor and I think he's had his chance now, hopefully the lad from Leicester will come in. Thought Scougall did well for me breaking forward in spells and put himself about. Baxter just doesn't do enough for me.

Front three were superb; fantastic to see Sharpey and Done chasing down lost causes and performing well. Che was bouncing through defenders at will. Freeman was class.

If Rochdale are top 6, with a couple of players in - CD and CM, top 2 is achievable with the firepower we have.

Without Baxter we wouldn't have won the game today. He did enough.

 

[Caseh]

Wallace has to start at left back. Coutts was poor and I think he's had his chance now, hopefully the lad from Leicester will come in. Thought Scougall did well for me breaking forward in spells and put himself about. Baxter just doesn't do enough for me.

Front three were superb; fantastic to see Sharpey and Done chasing down lost causes and performing well. Che was bouncing through defenders at will. Freeman was class.

If Rochdale are top 6, with a couple of players in - CD and CM, top 2 is achievable with the firepower we have.

Baxter will never be good enough for people that refuse to see the good he does. He got 2 assists today, that is literally all you can ask for from your creative midfielder. Once again, a player doesn't run around like a headless chicken...

 

[Leonardo Green]

I can't believe people have a pop at Baxter, he is the only player we have in midfield that can pass with purpose. created 2 goals today, that pass at Bradford for Sharps goal should have been enough to shut everyone up. Maybe we need to give Monty a call and see if he fancies coming back so he can run about like a dog and then give it away when he wins it.