Quick Orient report

[Balham]

moDtheGod and I did our now-standard tactic of arriving late to league cup games, This means that we missed the goal...

However, what we did see was a solid defensive performance with 11 men following the tactical orders of the management team to a tee. We offered virtually nothing going forward but in doing so put the onus on Orient to break us down, something they were completely incapable of doing.

Reed and Wallace look like decent footballers in the middle of the park with a heads up first touch. Compare and contrast to some of our other players in there... the issue was that without the ball they are both caught on their heels by the movement of the opposition.

One thing that I did find frustrating was how narrow the full-backs tucked in when Orient were attacking. Their main aim was to get down the wings but we often ended up with the winger (Murphy or Flynn) challenging their winger, leaving the easy 10 yard ball back to the Orient full backs, who were in space. If Henderson had started then then number of crosses we faced may have caused more problems.

Anyway, there wasn't much to say really except that it was slightly worrying to see us playing as if we were a minnow away at Orient. A bit of composure at the end from Porter would have seen Reed clean through for a second but it wasn't to be.

Ratings:
Howard 8: didn't have any difficult stops to make but commanded his area well and was secure on crosses.

Alcock 7: defended solidly - too narrow but that had to be a tactical decision by Clough/Morgan.
Collins 7: ditto. Got the blocks in when required and was on the receiving end of a Henderson elbow
McGahey 7: see above. Struggled with Henderson's strength but one lovely bit of skill took him away from three Orient players
Harris 7: does love to dive in which can lead to problems but defended well

Flynn 7: worked hard defensively, got forward when he could
McGinn 6: didn't really see him on the ball; one deflected effort off his heels hit the post with Howard beaten
Wallace 7: there's a footballer in there: takes the time to pick a pass. The challenge is keeping him fit.
Reed 6: some good touches but faded out of the game. Made some good breaks forward on our rare forays into the Orient half
Murphy 5: the goal came from a great cross but aside from that he just looks unsure of himself.

Higdon 5: just looks like he's carrying about a stone too much. I might be being unkind but that's how it seems to me.

Subs:
Doyle 6 (for Wallace): picked up a booking for a crunching tackle, did a decent job defending
Porter 6 (for Higdon): if he scored, we'd have been on the pitch. Going to Qatar too with his guitar, apparently.

Former Blades:
Henderson 5: came on, elbowed Collins, did some flick-ons and looked entirely non-threatening.

Final points: top marks to WalthamstowBlade for his Cockney Mince along the front of the stand.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Final points: top marks to WalthamstowBlade for his Cockney Mince along the front of the stand.

That was my bowl you cheeky blighter.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Higdon at the moment looks like a poor mans Billy Paynter.

 

[Revolution]

Higdon at the moment looks like a poor mans Billy Paynter.

He's scored 2 more goals than that waste of space ever managed...

 

[Highbury_Blade]

He's scored 2 more goals than that waste of space ever managed...

It was slightly tongue in cheek, but reallyapart from the two goals (which he took well) he looks pretty similar.

 

[madeinsheffield]

Higdon at the moment looks like a poor mans Billy Paynter.

I scored as many as Billy Paynter!

 

[forever_blade]

He plays the guitaaar, he plays the guitaaaar,
That boy Chris Porter he play's the guitaaar

He like's Alan Carr, he like's Alan Carr,
That boy Chris Porter, he like's Alan Carr

 

[Northyorksblade]

WalthamstowBlade[/USER] for his Cockney Mince along the front of the stand.

Aaaaah, now I can put a face to the name

 

[wizadry]

moDtheGod and I did our now-standard tactic of arriving late to league cup games, This means that we missed the goal...

However, what we did see was a solid defensive performance with 11 men following the tactical orders of the management team to a tee. We offered virtually nothing going forward but in doing so put the onus on Orient to break us down, something they were completely incapable of doing.

Reed and Wallace look like decent footballers in the middle of the park with a heads up first touch. Compare and contrast to some of our other players in there... the issue was that without the ball they are both caught on their heels by the movement of the opposition.

One thing that I did find frustrating was how narrow the full-backs tucked in when Orient were attacking. Their main aim was to get down the wings but we often ended up with the winger (Murphy or Flynn) challenging their winger, leaving the easy 10 yard ball back to the Orient full backs, who were in space. If Henderson had started then then number of crosses we faced may have caused more problems.

Anyway, there wasn't much to say really except that it was slightly worrying to see us playing as if we were a minnow away at Orient. A bit of composure at the end from Porter would have seen Reed clean through for a second but it wasn't to be.

Ratings:
Howard 8: didn't have any difficult stops to make but commanded his area well and was secure on crosses.

Alcock 7: defended solidly - too narrow but that had to be a tactical decision by Clough/Morgan.
Collins 7: ditto. Got the blocks in when required and was on the receiving end of a Henderson elbow
McGahey 7: see above. Struggled with Henderson's strength but one lovely bit of skill took him away from three Orient players
Harris 7: does love to dive in which can lead to problems but defended well

Flynn 7: worked hard defensively, got forward when he could
McGinn 6: didn't really see him on the ball; one deflected effort off his heels hit the post with Howard beaten
Wallace 7: there's a footballer in there: takes the time to pick a pass. The challenge is keeping him fit.
Reed 6: some good touches but faded out of the game. Made some good breaks forward on our rare forays into the Orient half
Murphy 5: the goal came from a great cross but aside from that he just looks unsure of himself.

Higdon 5: just looks like he's carrying about a stone too much. I might be being unkind but that's how it seems to me.

Subs:
Doyle 6 (for Wallace): picked up a booking for a crunching tackle, did a decent job defending
Porter 6 (for Higdon): if he scored, we'd have been on the pitch. Going to Qatar too with his guitar, apparently.

Former Blades:
Henderson 5: came on, elbowed Collins, did some flick-ons and looked entirely non-threatening.

Final points: top marks to WalthamstowBlade for his Cockney Mince along the front of the stand.

Cheers for the write up Balham Blade ,just one thing i'd like to pick you up on though,and that is how come the players who set up the winner and scored the winner got less ratings than Doyle and Porter who weren't on the pitch that long,just curious mate.

 

[grafikhaus]

Decent report in the Mail.

 

[Balham]

Cheers for the write up Balham Blade ,just one thing i'd like to pick you up on though,and that is how come the players who set up the winner and scored the winner got less ratings than Doyle and Porter who weren't on the pitch that long,just curious mate.

No worries. I missed the goal but overall, I thought Porter did more in his 20 mins than Higdon did in 70 - particularly in terms of running. Murphy I'm being critical of because I know he can do so much better; there were several occasions where he didn't seem sure whether to take on the full back down the inside or the outside and ended up doing neither.

I'm not a fan of letting isolated moments where a player performs well overrule my opinion of their overall game. The goal aside we offered very little going forward and that was, in part, down to Higdon being isolated and Murphy being off his game.

With hindsight, a 5 for Murphy is harsh - add a mark (6).

 

[wizadry]

No worries. I missed the goal but overall, I thought Porter did more in his 20 mins than Higdon did in 70 - particularly in terms of running. Murphy I'm being critical of because I know he can do so much better; there were several occasions where he didn't seem sure whether to take on the full back down the inside or the outside and ended up doing neither.

I'm not a fan of letting isolated moments where a player performs well overrule my opinion of their overall game. The goal aside we offered very little going forward and that was, in part, down to Higdon being isolated and Murphy being off his game.

With hindsight, a 5 for Murphy is harsh - add a mark (6).

Just interested more than anything.When you can't get to matches you like to know as much as possible about the performance.Again thanks,and a good write up,keep it up for future games as i like yours,deadbat's and all the others that do reports on games,they tend to give a well balanced verdict.

I do agree with not letting isolated moments get in the way of overall performance aswell mate,that makes me like the post of yours even more tbh.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

That was my bowl you cheeky blighter.

Bowl of mince!

 

[JJ Sefton]

Bowl of mince!

Cheeky.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

By the way, do we know how many Blades there were in attendance last night?

It's just as myself and Rob SE4 Blade squeezed onto the train to Brentford one bloke asked us, 'Did United play tonight?'

I said, 'What, you mean THE United, the real United, the FIRST United?'

He said yes and then asked how we'd got on. After telling him we'd ground out a 1-0 win at Leyton Orient he made some marginally disparaging remark which should have immediately alerted me to his loyalties, even more so when he sneeringly added, 'I bet you only took about 300.'

He then disappeared into the crowded carriage whilst the rest of us settled down to track the Liverpool-Middlesborough penalty shoot-out on various smart-phones, iPads, and transistor radios.

Anyway, as this chap got off the train in somewhere like Kew he said, 'See you, lads,' and then bravely declared, 'Up the Owls.'

I said to Rob, 'He's a fuckin' pig! I should have known. I hope he finds a parking ticket on his windscreen, the bastard.'

So if we had any more than 350 on that away end I will stalk the western suburbs of London until I track the Grunter down and put the arrogant twat in his place.

And I really, really hope Man City stick 8 past them tonight.

 

[Rusty view]

Think I saw it was something like 770. If it was a pig they double everything in their favour and halve everything in our favour.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Think I saw it was something like 770. If it was a pig they double everything in their favour and halve everything in our favour.

That's good enough for me; coat on, walk to Kew - have it with both barrels and die piggy, die!

 

[Dkc]

The Blades fans were making all the noise. Sounds like a good night out, and a chance to see a new part of Brisbane Road - the stand behind the goal.

Was there a bar for away fans?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

The Blades fans were making all the noise. Sounds like a good night out, and a chance to see a new part of Brisbane Road - the stand behind the goal.

Was there a bar for away fans?

Yes

 

[alcoblade]

It was slightly tongue in cheek, but reallyapart from the two goals (which he took well) he looks pretty similar.

Interestingly, he's looked the same over his previous 2 prolific seasons. Whatever the issue is, his goals don't seem to be linked to him looking like a tub of lard.

UTB

 

[Foxy]

One thing that I did find frustrating was how narrow the full-backs tucked in when Orient were attacking. Their main aim was to get down the wings but we often ended up with the winger (Murphy or Flynn) challenging their winger, leaving the easy 10 yard ball back to the Orient full backs, who were in space. If Henderson had started then then number of crosses we faced may have caused more problems.

I'd certainly say tactical and a direct result of the space afforded in certain areas at Swindon, and the confusion at times between full-backs and centre backs (or, one of them ).

Thought they defended fairly well as a team last night, certainly with more gumption and effort that Saturday.

By the way, do we know how many Blades there were in attendance last night?

715, I tweeted it not long after I'd seen you at half time

Henderson 5: came on, elbowed Collins, did some flick-ons and looked entirely non-threatening.

Whilst he didn't do much, he would have scored at the death but for another quality leap by Alcock at the back post. Particularly pleasing, as I'd just expressed my confusion about the bloke behind who had minutes earlier moaned that Alcock doesn't and can't jump?!

 

[JohnDenver]

Henderson 5: came on, elbowed Collins, did some flick-ons and looked entirely non-threatening.

What an immense nugget he is.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

715, I tweeted it not long after I'd seen you at half time

I will now be the ghost who stalks the Waterloo to Weybridge via Kew and Brentford train, forever searching for that piggy bastard, and when I find him I will haunt him with the repeated figure: '715, 715, 715...' whilst clinking a few chains for added effect.

Of course, he'll just counter this by saying, 'We took 715,000 to the Etihad 'cos we are massive.'

Oink shmoink you nob-eard!

 

[Jonboy60]

By the way, do we know how many Blades there were in attendance last night?

It's just as myself and Rob SE4 Blade squeezed onto the train to Brentford one bloke asked us, 'Did United play tonight?'

I said, 'What, you mean THE United, the real United, the FIRST United?'

He said yes and then asked how we'd got on. After telling him we'd ground out a 1-0 win at Leyton Orient he made some marginally disparaging remark which should have immediately alerted me to his loyalties, even more so when he sneeringly added, 'I bet you only took about 300.'

He then disappeared into the crowded carriage whilst the rest of us settled down to track the Liverpool-Middlesborough penalty shoot-out on various smart-phones, iPads, and transistor radios.

Anyway, as this chap got off the train in somewhere like Kew he said, 'See you, lads,' and then bravely declared, 'Up the Owls.'

I said to Rob, 'He's a fuckin' pig! I should have known. I hope he finds a parking ticket on his windscreen, the bastard.'

So if we had any more than 350 on that away end I will stalk the western suburbs of London until I track the Grunter down and put the arrogant twat in his place.

And I really, really hope Man City stick 8 past them tonight.

Close, so very close.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I will now be the ghost who stalks the Waterloo to Weybridge via Kew and Brentford train, forever searching for that piggy bastard, and when I find him I will haunt him with the repeated figure: '715, 715, 715...' whilst clinking a few chains for added effect.

Of course, he'll just counter this by saying, 'We took 715,000 to the Etihad 'cos we are massive.'

Oink shmoink you nob-eard!

I'm most surprised your oinkdar let you down. Getting old

 

[Sirius]

By the way, do we know how many Blades there were in attendance last night?

It's just as myself and Rob SE4 Blade squeezed onto the train to Brentford one bloke asked us, 'Did United play tonight?'

I said, 'What, you mean THE United, the real United, the FIRST United?'

He said yes and then asked how we'd got on. After telling him we'd ground out a 1-0 win at Leyton Orient he made some marginally disparaging remark which should have immediately alerted me to his loyalties, even more so when he sneeringly added, 'I bet you only took about 300.'

He then disappeared into the crowded carriage whilst the rest of us settled down to track the Liverpool-Middlesborough penalty shoot-out on various smart-phones, iPads, and transistor radios.

Anyway, as this chap got off the train in somewhere like Kew he said, 'See you, lads,' and then bravely declared, 'Up the Owls.'

I said to Rob, 'He's a fuckin' pig! I should have known. I hope he finds a parking ticket on his windscreen, the bastard.'

So if we had any more than 350 on that away end I will stalk the western suburbs of London until I track the Grunter down and put the arrogant twat in his place.

And I really, really hope Man City stick 8 past them tonight.

Bloody hell, your hopes were almost realised mate. Loved the result. I have just sent a clip from The Magnificent. Seven to a pig who gloated too soon over our recent nap hand

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Bloody hell, your hopes were almost realised mate. Loved the result. I have just sent a clip from The Magnificent. Seven to a pig who gloated too soon over our recent nap hand

When the first goal went in my flatmate said, "I doubt your 8-0 will happen," to which I replied I'd take 1-0 just so long as they lost.

Then my iPad started to light up as the goals flew in and at 3-0 I said, "Wait a minute, it is still on!"

Just to say, I would have settled for 7-0 before kick-off.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Some random thoughts:

• We looked decent for the first 10-15 minutes
• Defended most of the times after that
• Howard looked very solid
• Defence dealt with things fine, but were well protected by a deep midfield. They will say we parked the bus.
• Thought Bob Harris had a very good game, very aggressive and keen to get a tackle in. My MoM.
• Midfielders got back in numbers and collectively managed to do enough to stop them getting openings
• Individually the same midfielders weren't fantastic, even defensively. Wallace tackles well when he gets the chance, but often lacks stamina/fitness to close down players and cover space. Reed is lightweight. McGinn did allright, but his mobility isn't good enough for that type of role. (Wallace was the deepest, flanked by Reed and McGinn). Clough praised him, but I think bringing him back as first choice would be a bad move.
• Wallace showed good composure and can look very classy, although he also misplaced a few passes.
• It's a delight to watch Reed's touch at times. He's got a lot things to improve on, but if he can make use of his talent and add more strength and get more adventurous, he could be a fantastic player.
• It was a lovely assist by Murphy and Flynn also had one excellent run, but overall they're still not close to the form of last season.
• Sadly, I agree with the low ratings for Higdon. The goal and some flicks apart, he just loses too many balls. He looks built for dominating defenders physically, but didn't.

Summary - great result, especially after making six changes. Good goal. I'm not sure Clough learned too much more about what his best XI is. Harris did enough to be trusted again, but McEveley has done well, so left back hasn't been a problem. The rest of the defence showed that they can cope if they are well protected, but we can't play like that all the time. Wallace got nearer to full fitness I suppose, but many fans will be surprised that he still seems penciled in for the holding midfield role. We need to look for more pace, movement and players who can run on the ball.