Some Thoughts on Tonight

[TheSwollengland]

I have to say I think the criticsm of Howard is a little unfair. Deciding to punch rather catch is no bad thing as long as you get a decent contact,which he mostly did.
Someone describes him flapping at a cross that then fell to a Rotherham player, it was a particularly good cross and what would you prefer ,he left it to the Rotherham player,who he obviously was aware of, totally unchallenged?
Long is long way off being ready yet and Howard is definitely the number one keeper.
As for keeping coaches Simon Tracey is available since leaving Barnsley but my understanding is hes been offered a job elsewhere ,one that would require a family move .Sure he could be tempted but doubt we could afford him.

 

[Houso]

I have to say I think the criticsm of Howard is a little unfair. Deciding to punch rather catch is no bad thing as long as you get a decent contact,which he mostly did.
Someone describes him flapping at a cross that then fell to a Rotherham player, it was a particularly good cross and what would you prefer ,he left it to the Rotherham player,who he obviously was aware of, totally unchallenged?
Long is long way off being ready yet and Howard is definitely the number one keeper.
As for keeping coaches Simon Tracey is available since leaving Barnsley but my understanding is hes been offered a job elsewhere ,one that would require a family move .Sure he could be tempted but doubt we could afford him.

I think the cross you're referring to was in the first half? Didn't have a problem with that. I was referring to the one where he went a few feet to the side of his goal in the second, flapped at it and it went out for a corner.

Also, I think you're being very kind to say he got good contact most of the time. No problem with punching, although I dislike it immensely when a catch is safer. But, he came for the ball a couple of times and made no contact at all, added to a couple of punches that went absolutely nowhere.

His save from Nardiello's dink early on was fantastic, but he needs to improve when the real stuff starts.

 

[sheffielder]

Should have called Paddy Kenny then he has some good stuff

He might have got some of Paddy's stuff stuck in the throat, happens when not cut properly... apparently

 

[Houso]

my main memory from last night was the fookin mess of the tickets and the turnstiles breaking sodding 15 minutes to get into the ground

They weren't broken, they've just not been set up yet.

And to be fair, it was only their second full capacity opening (and their biggest gate by some distance). It's what soft openings are for.

I was more pissed off by the 'Blades' pushing in because they're too big and hard to queue like the rest of us mugs.

 

[Foxy]

I was more pissed off by the 'Blades' pushing in because they're too big and hard to queue like the rest of us mugs.

Not sure what time you were entering the ground and I think we missed most of the queues so this is probably irrelevant, but the stewards made us switch to the next turnstile and form a second queue.

That said, over the last 4/5 years, I've noticed a massive difference in some people's respect towards fellow Blades, we have a lot at the moment who think they are above everyone else and they are the only ones who matter.

 

[raul]

Usually, you'll find them doing what they want.

 

[Foxy]

Some photos for those who couldn't get there (click to enlarge):





and a quick phone panorama of the New York Stadium:

 

[Foxy]

Usually, you'll find them doing what they want.

I did particularly enjoy the "we're not sitting down", "we'll do what we want" and "if you wear a yellow jacket" chants, which apparently meant sod all as at the very first hint of a steward asking them to shift they all went quiet and moved down into seats.

 

[Swanseablade]

I think the cross you're referring to was in the first half? Didn't have a problem with that. I was referring to the one where he went a few feet to the side of his goal in the second, flapped at it and it went out for a corner.

Also, I think you're being very kind to say he got good contact most of the time. No problem with punching, although I dislike it immensely when a catch is safer. But, he came for the ball a couple of times and made no contact at all, added to a couple of punches that went absolutely nowhere.

His save from Nardiello's dink early on was fantastic, but he needs to improve when the real stuff starts.

Thought we'd just bought an Aussie keeper as well (Matic?). Was he not in the squad?
As he even arrived yet?

Thanks for the report/pics guys.

 

[Houso]

Not sure what time you were entering the ground and I think we missed most of the queues so this is probably irrelevant, but the stewards made us switch to the next turnstile and form a second queue.

That said, over the last 4/5 years, I've noticed a massive difference in some people's respect towards fellow Blades, we have a lot at the moment who think they are above everyone else and they are the only ones who matter.

Nah, these were dribs or drabs of wannabe BBC turning up while we queued. When challenged by other Blades, they either sneered or mumbled something about seeing mates at the front.

This will have been turnstiles 16/17 around 7.35.

 

[Houso]

Thought we'd just bought an Aussie keeper as well (Matic?). Was he not in the squad?
As he even arrived yet?

Thanks for the report/pics guys.

Don't think he's even been confirmed yet. And I'd wager George Long is ahead of him still.

 

[super_pig]

if Howard leaves his line that would be an improvement on its own
i'm still not convinced by quinn.. he only plays well when the transfer window is open or we are on tv

 

[s35blade]

i was quite impressed with miller i know he didint score and maybe shud of turned in the cross from mcfadzean. But he looked quick and sharp and i belive that if he was on for the whole 2nd half or for the full game i think he would of bagged 1 or 2. Personally i think he cud be a 15 goal man.

 

[God]

i'm still not convinced by quinn.. he only plays well when the transfer window is open or we are on tv[/quote]

What a load of cack.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Thought Tønne had a nightmare from the comments on here. He didn't. He didn't stand out, but sometimes you have to look beyond the obvious to explain why a player isn't involved a lot. When the players nearest to you are Matt Hill, Marcus Williams and Nick Montgomery you won't get a lot of good balls to work with. You won't be part of many flowing moves and if you give them the ball, they won't do anything great with it. Sorry, but that's how it is. Porter was usually our left sided striker, and while he's great in the air he didn't help stretching Rotherham down their right.

When someone tried to find Tønne he was aggressively closed down by their right back, and he was always facing backwards when he recieved the ball. Despite being under pressure, he kept possession most often. He tried to get into the box, and I noticed him and Porter swapped positions a few times when the ball was down our right. Porter went to the back post, Tønne to the near.

He twice found some space. The first time after 20 minutes he put in a fantastic cross. The second, after 39 mins, he sent Cofie away on the run that resulted in his goal. An assist, although Cofie deserves 99% of the credit.

Tønne dwelled on the ball once, rather than clearing a half cleared corner, he took a touch, was robbed by an opponent whom he fouled in a pretty dangerous position. After 30 mins he went to ground after being tackled from behind. A few groans were heard. A couple of attempted flicks didn't come off.

Don't write him off based on 45 minutes in a friendly. Overall, I saw nothing that made me think he won't make it. We'll have to wait and see. But Wilson isn't doing him any favours if he's surrounding him with players that has no composure whatsoever.

 

[Kenilworth]

We need a goal keeping coach, not had a decent one since Leaning. Anyone know what he's up to

Paul Crichton was the previous GK coach who left recently to be replaced by Darren Ward (former Notts County keeper and self confessed Blade)