Quick Decisions

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

By turning up year after sodding year, we've been kicking hard to keep the bugger's head above water until finally we realise we've got a corpse on our hands 'cos he's died of starvation. Let him go. RIP.

Then what would you do on a Satdi?

 

[Rustyblade]

Then what would you do on a Satdi?

I remember hearing from a quite reputable source that Meadowhall's always open around kick-off.

 

[Deadbat]

The first decision is the release list.

I reckon we need to release about 15.

Sadly only 6 or 7 out of contract. Rest we are stuck with.

I would release all those out of contract and then transfer list ALL other first team squad players except:

Long, Maguire, Murphy, Miller (and the other youngsters left, McFadzean, Giralamo, Whitehouse, Ironside)

Noone will probably come for them but may see some realise there is no future for them.

Shake up needed

 

[JohnDenver]

Sadly only 6 or 7 out of contract. Rest we are stuck with.

It will be a lot cheaper to get rid of unwanted players than it has been in recent years. Teams will take them, even if we have to assist their departure.

Yet again we will have a wage bill near the top of the charts. With some good, if humble, purchases we should still challenge. Charlton have shown us the way - we just need some sensible decision making from the brass.

(you may have spotted the flaw in this plan)

 

[Dkc]

Quick decisions gave us Blackwell, Adams and Morgan to name but a few! How about sitting down and having a think about it this time?

Blackwell's time in charge was relatively successful. Morgan's only had six games. in charge.

 

[Pinchy]

Blackwell's time in charge was relatively successful. Morgan's only had six games. in charge.

No he hasn't. He's been in charge of the U-21s for two seasons, without distinction. I think we know all we need to know about Manager Morgan, don't you? Or do you want more of the same next year? Forgive me if I prefer football.

Blackwell achieved no success at all. He was a buffoon whose hoofball philosophy was right out of the Stone Age. It was as bad as we have ever seen at The Lane. He will be sacked by 4th Division Bury before next season is out.

 

[alcoblade]

No he hasn't. He's been in charge of the U-21s all season, without distinction. I think we know all we need to know about Manager Morgan, don't you? Or do you want more of the same next year? Forgive me if I prefer football.

Blackwell achieved no success at all. He was a buffoon whose hoofball philosophy was right out of the Stone Age. It was as bad as we have ever seen at The Lane. He will be sacked by 4th Division Bury before next season is out.

Wilson, and his non hoof, achieved no success at all. In fact, it's something like 12 attempts from this division, without success. You love to over simplify the way to success.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

Wilson, and his non hoof, achieved no success at all. In fact, it's something like 12 attempts from this division, without success. You love to over simplify the way to success.

UTB

It's not me Alco; it's football itself, The history of the game shows that teams that play proper. pass and move, football achieve success. All the top clubs play that way. They'd just laugh (and rightly so) if you proposed a return to kick and rush. It goes down well in s2 though. We lost to Yeovil today, you know.

Upanatem!

 

[alcoblade]

It's not me Alco; it's football itself, The history of the game shot teams that play proper. pass and move, football achieve success. All the top clubs play that way. They'd just laugh (and rightly so) if you proposed a return to kick and rush. It goes down well in s2 though. We lost to Yeovil today, you know.

Upanatem!

It's the myth you keep peddling that it's hoof V football, and one wins. If you want to play the simplistic argument, then I will trip it up by reminding you of the failure of Danny Wilson, with his football, to repeatedly get his teams out of the third division.

We need to get good players in, and play to their strengths. I don't think we have the luxury of limiting ourselves in the way you suggest, for the players we target. If we were given Peter Crouch as Simon McCabe's mate - should we reject it? Should we then play tippy tappy? Decent managers will play it in different ways, not constrain themselves in the way you would have it.

We should get the best players in under heavy constraints, and play to their strengths. Preferably with good football, but with the constant reminder that goals are scored from the final third, and as this season shows, taking too long to get it there is very boring and very ineffectual. It's possible to tick these boxes and not solely be defined by hoof.

UTB

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

It's the myth you keep peddling that it's hoof V football, and one wins. If you want to play the simplistic argument, then I will trip it up by reminding you of the failure of Danny Wilson, with his football, to repeatedly get his teams out of the third division.
UTB

He came sodding close both seasons though. Sheffield United FC don't have a God-given right to get out of this league.

 

[alcoblade]

He came sodding close both seasons though. Sheffield United FC don't have a God-given right to get out of this league.

Agreed, he did. He possibly did the other ten times too. My point still holds.

We have no right to get out of this division, and we definitely shouldn't limit ourselves in the manner in which we plan to do so.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

We played badly most of this season. Wilson fell into dark Blackwellian activities such as "one up front" and trying to defend a slim lead for long periods. Towards the end, Crawley for example, it was pure, unadulterated hoof.

Do you really derive pleasure from aimless 60 yard sky-high punts, easily repelled by giant defenders? It's crap and it doesn't work.

There are players with ability and those without. Those In the former group pass accurately, run intelligently, make space for teammates, leave numpties like Montgomery and Doyle chasing shadows, create and convert chances. Those in the latter haven't a clue about those things so they run around a lot, kick it long, kick it hard, kick it high - and hope for the best.

Successful teams (including those at 3rd division level) employ players in the former group. Yeovil outplayed us over two games; Yeovil!

Will we never learn? Obviously not!

 

[alcoblade]

We played badly most of this season. Wilson fell into dark Blackwellian activities such as "one up front" and trying to defend a slim lead for long periods. Towards the end, Crawley for example, it was pure, unadulterated hoof.

Do you really derive pleasure from aimless 60 yard sky-high punts, easily repelled by giant defenders? It's crap and it doesn't work.

There are players with ability and those without. Those In the former group pass accurately, run intelligently, make space for teammates, leave numpties like Montgomery and Doyle chasing shadows, create and convert chances. Those in the latter haven't a clue about those things so they run around a lot, kick it long, kick it hard, kick it high - and hope for the best.

Successful teams (including those at 3rd division level) employ players in the former group. Yeovil outplayed us over two games; Yeovil!

Will we never learn? Obviously not!

I don't want the football you suggest. Blackwell's football was more boring than Wilson's. We should mix it up, and play to our strengths. One up front at home in the third division should be a no no. And I do want tempo. I see plenty of others that have it, and I don't see hoof in the way you argue.

Separately, I'd have Gary Johnson as manager. But we didn't get outplayed today - we were just toothless because our short sighted chairman cashed in in January.

UTB

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Quick decisions gave us Blackwell, Adams and Morgan to name but a few! How about sitting down and having a think about it this time?

He's sitting in his Brussels office pondering his decisions over a few pints of Chimay. Therein lies the problem.

 

[Swanseablade]

It's the myth you keep peddling that it's hoof V football, and one wins. If you want to play the simplistic argument, then I will trip it up by reminding you of the failure of Danny Wilson, with his football, to repeatedly get his teams out of the third division.

We need to get good players in, and play to their strengths. I don't think we have the luxury of limiting ourselves in the way you suggest, for the players we target. If we were given Peter Crouch as Simon McCabe's mate - should we reject it? Should we then play tippy tappy? Decent managers will play it in different ways, not constrain themselves in the way you would have it.

We should get the best players in under heavy constraints, and play to their strengths. Preferably with good football, but with the constant reminder that goals are scored from the final third, and as this season shows, taking too long to get it there is very boring and very ineffectual. It's possible to tick these boxes and not solely be defined by hoof.

UTB

Spot on alco.
The top teams mix it up, playing possession and then getting it forward quickly.
"Some" of the keep ball we played this year did nowt but put our back 4 under pressure and a few members of the squad can do without that!!
However it was obvious towards the end (Crawley for example) that Wilson had run out of ideas and it was concentrated hoof ball.
What's missing from United recently is tempo and committment- we have become very lightweight.

 

[Pinchy]

Spot on alco.
The top teams mix it up, playing possession and then getting it forward quickly.
"Some" of the keep ball we played this year did nowt but put our back 4 under pressure and a few members of the squad can do without that!!
However it was obvious towards the end (Crawley for example) that Wilson had run out of ideas and it was concentrated hoof ball.
What's missing from United recently is tempo and committment- we have become very lightweight.

What the top teams assuredly do not do, is launch aimless, hopeful punts in the vain hope that a team-mate will win the ensuing challenge.

What's missing from United recently is ability.

As a Swansea Blade, you have a great example of proper football on your doorstep.

 

[davidpinder]

I remember hearing from a quite reputable source that Meadowhall's always open around kick-off.

This guy is good comedy value on a satdi afternoon plus won't cost u if you already have sky entertainment package.

 

[blade too long]

we have no strikers on our books simple
we have forwards, but no strikers

23 clean sheets shows defensively we arent that bad, thats where we build from ,
but midfield going forward and at the sharp end , we are utter garbage

we got beat yesterday as while we were in the ascendancy , which was quite a while , hitting the bar apart , we never put them under pressure, if we had scored they would have gone, talk of us struggling next year is wide of the mark , but we wont go up if we dont discard our current crop of toothless forwards
no player at the club currently is in double figures for the season , , disgraceful

 

[alcoblade]

we have no strikers on our books simple
we have forwards, but no strikers

23 clean sheets shows defensively we arent that bad, thats where we build from ,
but midfield going forward and at the sharp end , we are utter garbage

we got beat yesterday as while we were in the ascendancy , which was quite a while , hitting the bar apart , we never put them under pressure, if we had scored they would have gone, talk of us struggling next year is wide of the mark , but we wont go up if we dont discard our current crop of toothless forwards
no player at the club currently is in double figures for the season , , disgraceful

Our clean sheet record flatters the defence. It's because of the negative way we've played most of the season, which supports defence but not attack. Collins and McGuire, though both very able, aren't a great partership. Hill and McMahon are OK, but not great. We'd get away with that defence, but it's not untouchable. The sale of McGuire, sadly, might be necessary to fund other restructuring that's essential.

UTB

 

[blade too long]

another way of looking at it is they have to work harder as we dont score, so are always under pressure at the back so 23 clean sheets exactly half a seasons worth, behind an inept front is amazing

our ineptitude of putting one in cost us at yeovil yesterday, more than the defence
Our defence is why we are better than most , its not perfect by a long way , but its our only strength

 

[alcoblade]

another way of looking at it is they have to work harder as we dont score, so are always under pressure at the back so 23 clean sheets exactly half a seasons worth, behind an inept front is amazing

our ineptitude of putting one in cost us at yeovil yesterday, more than the defence
Our defence is why we are better than most , its not perfect by a long way , but its our only strength

We play players like Flynn who can't beat a man, but gain support because they "support the back 4". Doyle only keeps his place because of this.

God stats - but look at the back 4 individually. It really isn't anything great. OK - nothing more.



UTB