Quiet on here...

[grafikhaus]

What a disgrace, losing to bloody Wycombe and one that puts our promotion hopes in stark focus.

As I said last week, apart from Bury the Blades have in no way impressed me this season. So that's a so-called 'easy' game out of the way and 3 toughies on the trot to come.

Anybody been? Was it as dire as the scoreline?

 

[Large Mendonca]

I get the feeling that it'll soon liven up!

Very disappointing, and maybe a reality check ??

 

[Blade58]

What a disgrace, losing to bloody Wycombe and one that puts our promotion hopes in stark focus.

As I said last week, apart from Bury the Blades have in no way impressed me this season. So that's a so-called 'easy' game out of the way and 3 toughies on the trot to come.

Anybody been? Was it as dire as the scoreline?

More worrying for me is the stat of 2 defeats in 3 games!

Not inconceivable we could lose too Charlton next week and that stat would then look really dodgy

I remain hopeful!

PS. That commentary sounded all to familiar to last season. Played ok. Chances. No end product!

 

[LA Blade]

Danny was happy with the performance?

 

[Fiery Blade]

'Fantastic performance' according to Wilson!!!

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

'Fantastic performance' according to Wilson!!!

Did you go?

 

[Mendi]

losing to bloody Wycombe and soon the fans will turn on wilson and its shocking we lost to a club like wycombe

 

[DazBlade88]

Was just one of them days where you knew we weren't going to score. We played well at times but made bad decisions in the final third far too often. Williamson and Quinn narrowed the game too much in the second half on what was a very wide pitch, and it made it much easier for them to defend.

Here's a Wycombe fan's take on the game...

'I thought we were going to get shat upon until we scored totally against the run of play. A quality goal, mind, but totally out of nowhere.

SUFC clearly have far more talented players than us to be fair, some of their passing was unreal from a speed and accuracy perspective, you generally don't see that in the lower leagues.

But we put in the graft and reaped the rewards.'

Which is spot on. Until they scored they were never in it. One mistake by Maguire and we let a goal in, when we could have already been 3 up. Just one of them days today. Evans' volley hitting the bar just proved to me at the time it didn't matter what we did, we were destined to lose.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Did you go?

No, but my son did and reported back - bad day at the office, Wycombe will probably go down and we will play worse and win - it was Wilson and his radio interview that got to me!

It matters very deeply when we lose but Wilson didn't seem to care a toss!!
The fact that we didn't score didn't seem to matter - if you don't score you cannot win football matches plain and simple!
Whatever the hype We need a striker and a wide man with pace!
or wave goodbye to automatic promotion

 

[Kentblade]

No, but my son did and reported back - bad day at the office, Wycombe will probably go down and we will play worse and win - it was Wilson and his radio interview that got to me!

It matters very deeply when we lose but Wilson didn't seem to care a toss!!
The fact that we didn't score didn't seem to matter - if you don't score you cannot win football matches plain and simple!
Whatever the hype We need a striker and a wide man with pace!
or wave goodbye to automatic promotion

Interesting that you have said that as I have just said exactly the same in an email to a Blades friend.
We had enough chances today to have won the game,but we need to strike.These are the games that we should be winning or at least drawing if we want automatic promotion.Very disappointed with Porter.
UTB

 

[Pragmatic Blade]

I haven't heard Wilson's radio interview but was at the match. Perhaps he is trying to keep things in an even keel and not let a bad result affect the confidence of the players. It is important the fans stay behind the team. Maybe the expectation levels are that we will win every game. It was just one of those days as Daz says above.

I still think we are capable of automatic promotion. I would rather lose points to Wycombe than our promotion rivals. Others will lose games like this as well.

McCabe needs to back Wilson in the Transfer Market and hold his nerve by not selling the better players. UTB!

 

[bladesman3]

First match of the season for us.....oh dear,oh dear....well,if you like to see pass,pass,pass,pass in your own half,then this is the team for you...looked nice and pretty,all those lovely triangles plates at a snails pace...no cutting edge,no pace,no urgency.....promotion?do not think so..played fantastic?not true..Wycombe had a lot of shots and kph Simmo busy and their pay forwards caused a lot of problems....I thought the mistake was by Collins btw,not Maguire...
Simmo 7- handled well,needs to be more commanding
Lowton - 6 tried hard,should have done better up front with chances
Collins-6 average to poor player..all he does is pass the ball round the back..
Maguire -6..not much to say..ok performance
Williams - 6 played ok,has a bit of pace
Quinn- 7 a class player,good first half,dropped off in second
Williamson-3 useless,could not control the ball..minor problem,eh!no energy,no skill...
Doyle - 3 deary me,come back Monty....dire
McDonald - 8 what a player...good control,very good passer of the ball,very good vision...he played one ball between two players on he right which was a delight but unfortunately Porter was the man on the end of the pass
porter - 1 a waste of space...did nothing
Evans- 6,5 I thought he tried hard,looks lazy,unlucky with a class volley
Can't be bothered with the rest....
What a disappointment today was...

 

[super_pig]

once again we seem to be getting let down by the same 3 idiots that got us pretty much relegated single handedly last season.. ie doyle, collins or simmonsen.. if it's not one making a schoolboy error then it is the other.. and tap tap tap in your own half is not the quality football that the likes of me and micalijo advocate btw

 

[DuncDisorderly]

its shocking we lost to a club like wycombe

We are in the same league as Wycombe. We have no right to turn up and roll them over because they are a 'lesser' team. As soon as you start thinking that these 'are teams that we should beat', then you are on the same road to 'massive' arrogance where the piggies have been for years. Wycombe wanted to win the game too, took their chance, rode their luck, thats that.

soon the fans will turn on wilson

You are probably right, but they should really shut the feck up and let him get on with the job...

 

[BladeInThatcham]

What a disgrace, losing to bloody Wycombe and one that puts our promotion hopes in stark focus.

As I said last week, apart from Bury the Blades have in no way impressed me this season. So that's a so-called 'easy' game out of the way and 3 toughies on the trot to come.

Anybody been? Was it as dire as the scoreline?

I went and can offer the following thoughts:
1. After 20 minutes it was almost embarassing - such a mismatch and gulf in class. We were passing it around comfortably and in full control of the match.
2. I said to Ollie that anything less than a win here is unacceptable as our dominance was clear for all to see. Literally 5 seconds later, McGuire slipped and they scored out of nothing albeit with a good finish.
3. We created enough chances to win the game but not converting them is going to cost us if we don't sort out this problem. And this is a major problem now as we can't keep saying this.
4. Porter is utter bobbins and offers the team nothing.
5. We desperately needed some forward running from the midfield.
6. McDonald. Great footballer. Just watch him in a game - the lad just does not give the ball away and is exactly what we have been looking for. He sees the pass that no-one else in the team can. What we needed to do was play him a bit further forward IMO.
7. We played much better than we did away at Yeovil yet came away with nothing. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a great performance (how can it when you lose?) but I'm not worried because we're heading in the right direction with the way we are playing and on another day Willo would've scored a header in the first half, Ched would've had 2, Doyles volley would've gone in and at 4-1 that would not have flattered us but....... see point 3.
8. We need pace on the flanks - I'm not sure Mendez-Liang is the answer.
9. We need a striker who will put these chances away. Maybe.....just maybe.....Beattie could be the answer. I've been on the side of the fence saying not to bother with him but he would be wetting himself at the amount of chances coming his way in a game.

 

[beightonblade]

Don't panic ..........................its all part of Mr McCabe's Europe in 5 year plan.

 

[ghandi]

I went and can offer the following thoughts:
1. After 20 minutes it was almost embarassing - such a mismatch and gulf in class. We were passing it around comfortably and in full control of the match.
2. I said to Ollie that anything less than a win here is unacceptable as our dominance was clear for all to see. Literally 5 seconds later, McGuire slipped and they scored out of nothing albeit with a good finish.
3. We created enough chances to win the game but not converting them is going to cost us if we don't sort out this problem. And this is a major problem now as we can't keep saying this.
4. Porter is utter bobbins and offers the team nothing.
5. We desperately needed some forward running from the midfield.
6. McDonald. Great footballer. Just watch him in a game - the lad just does not give the ball away and is exactly what we have been looking for. He sees the pass that no-one else in the team can. What we needed to do was play him a bit further forward IMO.
7. We played much better than we did away at Yeovil yet came away with nothing. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a great performance (how can it when you lose?) but I'm not worried because we're heading in the right direction with the way we are playing and on another day Willo would've scored a header in the first half, Ched would've had 2, Doyles volley would've gone in and at 4-1 that would not have flattered us but....... see point 3.
8. We need pace on the flanks - I'm not sure Mendez-Liang is the answer.
9. We need a striker who will put these chances away. Maybe.....just maybe.....Beattie could be the answer. I've been on the side of the fence saying not to bother with him but he would be wetting himself at the amount of chances coming his way in a game.

That was pretty much my view of the game but I thought we tried to walk the ball into the goal instead of taking a shot when it was available.

 

[MunXy]

We are in the same league as Wycombe. We have no right to turn up and roll them over because they are a 'lesser' team. As soon as you start thinking that these 'are teams that we should beat', then you are on the same road to 'massive' arrogance where the piggies have been for years. Wycombe wanted to win the game too, took their chance, rode their luck, thats that.

You are probably right, but they should really shut the feck up and let him get on with the job...

all good points dunc, but your first point in my opinion is the most pertinant.
what some people seem to forget is BOTH teams are league one so techniqually both equal in terms of ability, tho it could be argued we do have better players.
yes we should beat teams like wycombe but we have to play like we want to not like we just have to turn up and the result is a forgone conclusion, we have to prove and show we are wanting to win and that we are a better team than those around us which so far we havn't done.
every game the work has to be put in, not just expect these teams to roll over, we should have teams beat before kickoff but results like this will give other teams in this league confidance when we should have them shitting themselves as to how to limit the amount of goals they are going to lose by.
if we had converted the chances today and most other games, huddersfield included we would have teams terrified of playing us, instead now they will be thinking if they nick a goal they have every chance of taking 3 points from us, instead of praying for maybe a point or keeping goals against to a reasonable amount.

MunXy

 

[S64 Blade]

I didn't go yesterday, but it sounds as though we were unlucky not to get something. These things happen (arguably against Walsall in our favour), so it's important not to overreact.

The main thing, as ever, is how we'll bounceback from defeat.

 

[grafikhaus]

We are in the same league as Wycombe. We have no right to turn up and roll them over because they are a 'lesser' team. As soon as you start thinking that these 'are teams that we should beat', then you are on the same road to 'massive' arrogance where the piggies have been for years. Wycombe wanted to win the game too, took their chance, rode their luck, thats that.

Yes, but we happen to be the first team they've beaten at home this season - equal or not, it's hardly the stuff of promotion is it?

But hey ho! I peeked at the tables through my fingers this morning fearing the worst but, incredibly we're still second. Obviously in a weaker position, but at this stage of the season rapid rises/falls can happen.

So! Next Saturday is, I feel, an absolute 'must win', a game that could well define our season. Too early to be thinking like this? I don't think so. If our home record starts dropping, teams will come here set up/expecting to get something (as happened last season).

Watching all the televised footie yesterday, some teams seem to have their future already pre-ordained, such as Watford, Coventry etc. We need an immediate comeback to put yesterdays dire defeat out of our minds.

 

[Worksop II]

You are probably right, but they should really shut the feck up, keep paying his wages, and let him get on with the job...

Sorted that for ya ......

 

[JJ Sefton]

What a disgrace, losing to bloody Wycombe and one that puts our promotion hopes in stark focus.

As I said last week, apart from Bury the Blades have in no way impressed me this season. So that's a so-called 'easy' game out of the way and 3 toughies on the trot to come.

Anybody been? Was it as dire as the scoreline?

Thought it was crap.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

once again we seem to be getting let down by the same 3 idiots that got us pretty much relegated single handedly last season.. ie doyle, collins or simmonsen.. if it's not one making a schoolboy error then it is the other.. and tap tap tap in your own half is not the quality football that the likes of me and micalijo advocate btw

Doyle & Collins have generally been ok this season. It's the new players who have been poor - Porter, Flynn, Mendez-Laing. We are crying out for a decent pacey winger and more quality up front to play alongside Ched.

 

[alcoblade]

6. McDonald. Great footballer. Just watch him in a game - the lad just does not give the ball away and is exactly what we have been looking for. He sees the pass that no-one else in the team can. What we needed to do was play him a bit further forward IMO..

I went, and you saw a different performance to me. I've herd few who are very impressed with him. Definitely lost on me so far, and yesterday did nothing to move my opinion.

UTB

 

[BladeInThatcham]

I went, and you saw a different performance to me. I've herd few who are very impressed with him. Definitely lost on me so far, and yesterday did nothing to move my opinion.

UTB

Alco, I'm not saying he's the complete midfielder as he does lack a bit of urgency in his movement but just take some time in your next match to watch him and see how many times he gives the ball away - he just doesn't. He does not panic in possession and makes the simple passes look easy. As I said, the key would have been to play him further forward yesterday. There was a definite link missing in the hole between the strikers and the midfield - if McDonald was to take that position he would create so much more for us and encourage the 'wingers' to push on. Having some pace and players willing to run at defenders must be an absolute must if Danny is looking in the transfer market.
If McDonald didn't have the weaknesses I have suggested there's no way he would be playing in this division and if he does work on these then we have one hell of a midfielder on our books.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I thought McDonald was pretty anonymous yesterday, Quinn had a great game, he was all over the pitch always looking for the ball, but the front 2 didn't really offer him anything.

Porter was useless, cresswell should have played from the start

 

[alcoblade]

Alco, I'm not saying he's the complete midfielder as he does lack a bit of urgency in his movement but just take some time in your next match to watch him and see how many times he gives the ball away - he just doesn't. He does not panic in possession and makes the simple passes look easy. As I said, the key would have been to play him further forward yesterday. There was a definite link missing in the hole between the strikers and the midfield - if McDonald was to take that position he would create so much more for us and encourage the 'wingers' to push on. Having some pace and players willing to run at defenders must be an absolute must if Danny is looking in the transfer market.
If McDonald didn't have the weaknesses I have suggested there's no way he would be playing in this division and if he does work on these then we have one hell of a midfielder on our books.

His strengths aren't lost on me - he's very econimical with the ball. But unlike the Monty's and Doyle's of the world who put themselves out there - he doesn't, enough. Picking a pass is much easier if you choose when you're going to pick that pass rather than being 100% involved. I think it's right that he doesn't aim to become a Monty / Doyle MK2, but at the total opposite end of the spectrum he definitley risks becoming a "luxury" player.

UTB

---------- Post added at 01:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:37 PM ----------

I thought McDonald was pretty anonymous yesterday, Quinn had a great game, he was all over the pitch always looking for the ball, but the front 2 didn't really offer him anything.

Porter was useless, cresswell should have played from the start

Porter ws useless and Evans worked hard but demonstrated the total lack of composure that prevents him from becoming a decent player.
I wasn't fluxed by the sale of Slew, but yesterday did expose our complete lack of alternatives up front. No big man, no pace.

UTB

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Porter ws useless and Evans worked hard but demonstrated the total lack of composure that prevents him from becomein a decent player.
I wasn't fluxed by the sale of Slew, but yesterday did expose our complete lack of alternatives up front. No big man, no pace.

UTB

He did have a few chances, but he was also millimetres away from having a stunning volley go in.

 

[alcoblade]

He did have a few chances, but he was also millimetres away from having a stunning volley go in.

We can agree on the hard shot bit. I'm struggling after that. The unchallanged toe poke 6 yards out (and wide) is really more indicative for me.

UTB

 

[Kenilworth]

He did have a few chances, but he was also millimetres away from having a stunning volley go in.

Stunning Volley? It was a swinger at best.
If he had any class about him he would have got the first free kick over/around the wall on target. He just lashed at the rebound and it nearly got a lucky pay off.

I don't deny Evans has some of the attributes that good strikers need to have - but he has the brains of a rocking horse and cannot read the game anywhere near well enough - that's why he will never live up to the hype or the price tag he has on his shoulders and will not be the one forward we can rely on to fire in the goals in the games that matter. Whether that is an away game at a poor team like Wycombe or in a really big game liek Charlton or Pigs.

I watched Brighton vs Leeds on Friday night an Makail-Smith showed what a striker with brains gets up to. He varies his run, gets in front of defenders, looks for front post or far post opportunities, chases everything down and makes a bloody nusance of himself.

Several times on commentary on Saturday Edwards berated Evans for not taking the right option, getting himself offside without thinking, not getting to the front post in front of the defender, standing in between the two centre halves while we are defending and not pulling one of them wide in case we can break quickly - splitting them from each other and creating space. Evans is lazy in the head and does not appear to learn anything as he gets more experience. He has scored a few goals since coming back but seems to be going quickly back into his complacent self again. He is not the answer. Now if he had Creswell's brain - then that might be some player. Unfotunately Eeyore is not the brightest tool in the box and we need someone to shine.

---------- Post added at 04:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:07 PM ----------

The unchallanged toe poke 6 yards out (and wide) is really more indicative for me.

That's the real Eeyore and that's why he will never make it.
Can you imagine Keith Edwards missing one like that?