Reims v Blades - Match Thread

[pommpey]

I don’t think Lundstrum is the answer, BUT if he does play he will have my full backing as will all of the lads. I know we back them to the hilt already but they will need it more than ever this season. I honestly think we will survive, it will be tough obviously but it can be done.

I'm just surprised Wilder hasn't set fire to him and shat him into space. Lundstrum has a place, and it's clogging about for Shrewsbury, Northampton or Fleetwood, not trying to match Pascal GroB, Fabian Delph or Jonjo Shelvey.

He's not good enough.

pommpey

 

[pommpey]

He was that awful Lampard said he was the toughest player he'd played against. Every team needs a workhorse, Monty was, Lunny ain't.

Monty could chase plastic carrier bags in a Force Ten storm, and keep up with them. He wouldn't catch them and put them in the bin, mind.

Square a ball to him into space and it's off his shins and heading into touch. Rely on him to do what Flecky does and move the ball up the pitch and it was squared back into the empty space where the original player who gave it to him was.

Crowd = "Fucking hell, Monty!"

People have short memories. I remember the muted elation on here when he finally went to Australia to miscontrol the ball down there.

pommpey

 

[Antonb]

Well we will find out how ready we are when the whistle blows for the end of the game next week not today. A shame Morrison probably wont be fit to start cuss he looked classy when he came on.

 

[robbiez666]

Listening to his interview I find it slightly strange that he mentions that most of our friendlies have allowed us to see a lot of the ball. Given that in at least half the games we'll play we won't see a lot of the ball, it strikes me as odd. Wouldn't logic dictate that we should practice how we'll have to play? I guess having a lot of possession enables the team to get to know each other.

 

[jono_t2000]

Mentioned a couple of times that the positioning was good (kinda points to sticking to flat 3)

On brighter side, kept saying gave ball away too cheaply.. could almost tell he was talking about Lunny. Very surprised if he starts next week.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

View attachment received_2234312263460330.mp4

 

[Niceguyeddie]

He was that awful Lampard said he was the toughest player he'd played against. Every team needs a workhorse, Monty was, Lunny ain't.

I bet you can't find the actual quote where lampard said that
It was actually some guy on radio Sheffield who said he'd net him on holiday

 

[Jon Bon II]

Lots of sand in lots of vaginas on here today....

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

Shows how hard Chris Wilder is, he never flinches at the big fuck off hairy black spider at the bottom right of the screen.

 

[Jon Bon II]

It was actually some guy on radio Sheffield who said he'd net him on holiday

That sounds a bit fishy...

 

[Shoreham4Ever]

Mark Duffy plays well, we play well.... Rinse and repeat.

 

[pommpey]

I bet you can't find the actual quote where lampard said that
It was actually some guy on radio Sheffield who said he'd net him on holiday

Why let a small matter like facts get in the way of an irrational rant?

pommpey

 

[pommpey]

Mark Duffy plays well, we play well.... Rinse and repeat.

Hmm, again, last season, yep. Great player and a good footballing brain. Knows the game and people didn't ike him picking the ball up and running at them, even if it wasn't particularly quick. He was deft enough to lay off or bring Didsy/Sharp into a goalscoring chance.

FFWD > twelve months and we have defensive midfielders who will beat Duffy to the ball or dispossess him with ease. His channels will be narrower and he won't have the ability to run at defenders who will simply tackle him out of the game. Whereas sixty minutes was his limit last season, he'll be run off his feet (or won't even touch the ball) in forty five minutes.

Move him on. Mission accomplished. We have players now who are quicker and cleverer, like Freemam L. Getting him to fire on all cylinders, however is another mission for Wilder/Knill.

pommpey

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I bet you can't find the actual quote where lampard said that
It was actually some guy on radio Sheffield who said he'd net him on holiday

I asked Frank when we were playing golf last year. He said he ordered a kebab and couldn't get to the door to collect it due to the lumps Monty had put on his legs.

 

[Mad Mick]

One of the most illuminating comments that CW made was that players may have had their eye on next week. I wonder If some were holding back a little so as not to get injured. We will see next week, bring it on I can't wait.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

One of the most illuminating comments that CW made was that players may have had their eye on next week. I wonder If some were holding back a little so as not to get injured. We will see next week, bring it on I can't wait.

If they were I wouldn't pick them. Certainly not a quote I expected Wilder to ever say.

 

[jono_t2000]

If they were I wouldn't pick them. Certainly not a quote I expected Wilder to ever say.

Didn't he say not so long ago there was no such thing as a friendly. So if the players were treating it as a friendly and more concerned about next week. Then do they have the right mindset Wilder wants?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Didn't he say not so long ago there was no such thing as a friendly. So if the players were treating it as a friendly and more concerned about next week. Then do they have the right mindset Wilder wants?

Nobody holds back in training is the message CW has always given out, very surprised with a grin he said some of them had an eye on next week.

 

[bromtom]

Just collecting my thoughts on this

We were crap today for 80% of the game, and every percent we weren't, it was quickly followed by a moment of crapness.

Everyone was giving the ball away, Robinson, Lundstram, Stevens, Osborn etc, we conceded from losing possession.

It was a poorly planned friendly in my opinion, we flew on the day of the game despite it being a 1630 kickoff, which seems a bit mad to me for a game in another country. If it was a 7:45 maybe.

It's a week before Bournemouth, so nobody wants to do any damage to themselves, plus as above pregame they'd I assume travelled to Shirecliffe/BL to get on the bus, then to the airport, then to France, and then to the ground.

Everybody looked a bit fed up and the levels were about 50% apart from upfront, where we looked a bit better but still not at it.

If we could have sent this team back in time to replace Barnsley and play ourselves, they would have been battered too.

Just something not right today, off day.

Still, plenty to take from it, Robinson has to start - he's been in my opinion the best player this preseason by a long way.

I'd take Bryan if JOC isn't fit over Stevens and Osborn, I just think Stevens is too important to sacrifice, he beats people, has quick feet and excellent delivery, and I don't think Bryan is bad at all, he's not JOC but he's capable and very athletic.

Freezy, excellent player, again feet are quick as you like, great delivery and fast - which I didn't really know until he arrived.

Morrison is class, just understands everything. Knows where people will be, he was linking well with McBurnie and they've probably had 2 training sessions together if that.

McBurnie had a fair cameo too I thought, linked well, made himself available and was unselfish.

Overall, bring on Bournemouth.

 

[Surrey Blade]

This is the first major pre-season challenge. Perhaps we need a run of more testing games to prepare properly for a season in the premier.

 

[Kevin Arnott]

Wilder also said in the interview that we hadn't picked up any pre season injuries and that everyone was fit and ready to go. Liked to have seen a bit more of Mousset in that instance

 

[haich1889]

Lundstrum is to Wilder what Monty was to Warnock.

Rest of fans = "fucks sake!"

Manager = "Picks himself!"

pommpey

All the money we've spent on quality & the one shoe-in for me would be the Midfield player we ain't signed.

Tried so hard to see a good side to Lundstrom today but I'm not getting it at all!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I wasn’t too bothered about the result or performance, as at the back of my mind I was more concerned that everyone just got through this without injury tbh. Seems like that was the thoughts of the players from what Wilder’s said, which is fair enough.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Just collecting my thoughts on this

We were crap today for 80% of the game, and every percent we weren't, it was quickly followed by a moment of crapness.

Everyone was giving the ball away, Robinson, Lundstram, Stevens, Osborn etc, we conceded from losing possession.

It was a poorly planned friendly in my opinion, we flew on the day of the game despite it being a 1630 kickoff, which seems a bit mad to me for a game in another country. If it was a 7:45 maybe.

It's a week before Bournemouth, so nobody wants to do any damage to themselves, plus as above pregame they'd I assume travelled to Shirecliffe/BL to get on the bus, then to the airport, then to France, and then to the ground.

Everybody looked a bit fed up and the levels were about 50% apart from upfront, where we looked a bit better but still not at it.

If we could have sent this team back in time to replace Barnsley and play ourselves, they would have been battered too.

Just something not right today, off day.

Still, plenty to take from it, Robinson has to start - he's been in my opinion the best player this preseason by a long way.

I'd take Bryan if JOC isn't fit over Stevens and Osborn, I just think Stevens is too important to sacrifice, he beats people, has quick feet and excellent delivery, and I don't think Bryan is bad at all, he's not JOC but he's capable and very athletic.

Freezy, excellent player, again feet are quick as you like, great delivery and fast - which I didn't really know until he arrived.

Morrison is class, just understands everything. Knows where people will be, he was linking well with McBurnie and they've probably had 2 training sessions together if that.

McBurnie had a fair cameo too I thought, linked well, made himself available and was unselfish.

Overall, bring on Bournemouth.

I agree the whole friendly was odd. Location, timing, logistics. This had all the hallmarks of a match that should have taken place a month ago. I’m not surprised we weren’t at it.

 

[SB_90]

still a friendly, still experimenting 3 of regulars werent playing & reims might not be a well known team but on research we lost to a team that finished 8th in french ligue 1, 6pts off marseille & were at home

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Wilder also said in the interview that we hadn't picked up any pre season injuries and that everyone was fit and ready to go. Liked to have seen a bit more of Mousset in that instance

JOC should be fit to play v Bournemouth

Les Musset fit soon

Sheffield United: Blades boss provides important update on Jack O'Connell and Lys Mousset

When Chris Wilder unveiled his selection picks for today's friendly against Stade de Reims, Jack O'Connell's absence alarmed both Sheffield United supporters who had travelled to France and those who were following events via social media back home.

www.thestar.co.uk

 

[wizadry]

I get the impression that Wilder wasn’t really fussed about this friendly and wouldn’t have minded had it not being arranged at all.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

This result has well and truly knocked my duck off. I’m not looking forward to the Champions League next season now.

 

[pommpey]

All the money we've spent on quality & the one shoe-in for me would be the Midfield player we ain't signed.

Tried so hard to see a good side to Lundstrom today but I'm not getting it at all!

And maybe Wilder is doing the same.

Thing is, everyone has such a sentimental side about them, don't they? Sure, Lundy, Cranie and Coutts were part of the promotion side. But they are now not worthy of the step up. There's plenty of aspirational footballers left behind in every league. That's football. Lundstrum couldn't show us anything in the league below, which is why he barely played. Fleck - 46. Duffy - 37. Norwood - 44. Even Stearman, a player who is worthy of praise for his playing right up to his limits, got more appearances than him.

Lundstrum's career isn't over. Plenty of clubs will benefit from his industry and workhorse abilities. Unfortunately they are not in the Premier League. In the very same way FM Blade puts his wrongly criticised argument agross in other areas on the board, someone needs to explain exactly which club in the PL would sign Lundstrum right now and play him straight away. If your thoughts leave you struggling, then he has no place in our team. I'd rather have kept Coutts to be honest.

pommpey

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

"They have mobile athletic players",that will be the case in all the Prem games going forward,its going to be a very tuff season,how would you describe our players ?

A snippet fell out of Wilders mouth,the players just might have 1 eye on next weeks game,i hope thats the reason for the poor display today.

Why is there no mention of JOC other than all the players are fit and ready.

The right side of our team based on the starting 11 today (Basham,Baldock,Lundstram),is not Prem league quality and will get found out,giving the ball away cheaply as Wilder eluded to will not help,if you are being pressed high up the pitch and lose the ball weakly (midfield),then the players (defenders) will resort to hoof to the lone striker,and so the cycle will carry on,its a losing formula.