Specific and practical solutions needed.

[Greavsy]

I think we've all given up the idea of play-offs, so the target has changed to achieving 52 points which should be enough for us to stay up. Once we get there then we can all forget this season quickly and re-group in the summer around squad changes to get more of what we need to play the style Speedo wants.

From my viewpoint, there is a series of judgements to be made around one simple question. Are the players good enough to get the club to safety?

If they are in general (my view) then surely, apart from replacing Morgs and an option to freshen the forwards (still not really seen the effect of Andy Reid in getting some service to them), what is the point in rushing to loan in players or buy in January? What kind of quality is available, in any sense, that we can suddenly add to make a difference.

If they aren't good enough, and the likelihood of being able to sell players in January will only involve the ones we want to keep, then KevMc has little option but to open the wallet. But bringing in 4 or 5 could have a negative result as it nearly was in our last promotion season for example. We will see Hendo back soon, and possibly Willo, so for me the priority would be get everyone fit and playing this month, someone to replace Morgs (a mouthy, combative centre half) and keep battling untill our luck turns.

I would be tempted to play a straight 4-4-2, as the 4-5-1/4-3-3 is too defensive, but in that, is failing to give us the defensive cover that we need anyway. No point playing it tight and trying to nick a goal when the opposition can evade our efforts to defend and score as they choose anyway. I dont think we have a lot of choices in a 4-4-2 and I understand why Speed has stuck with the other formation, but we have to start scoring, and giving ourselves a chance.

If I were KevMc, I might reluctantly go to my cheque book if we are making no progress at all, but I'd be mindful of the general lack of quality of what we can typically buy in January.

Roy Keane was in a worse position that this last year, survived and regrouped, and that, in my view is the sensible thing to aim for. Roll on 52 pts and all change in the summer...

Brilliant post, hit the nail on the head. I think were going to have to admit were going to have to witness a fair few more defeats on home soil this season as teams will know that they can come to the Lane and put 10 men behind the ball knowing full well they can nick a goal at any time...

The sooner we can get to 52 points the better.

37 points to go - that's 10 wins and 7 draws can anyone see where there coming from at the moment. Knowing the unpredictable Blades it will be 3 points at the Walkers on Wednesday.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

But Sharp had 10 times (probably literally) as many goals under his belt than Evans. UTB

The stats show that Billy's overall senior strike rate is almost 1 goal in every 2 games versus Chedwyns' 1 goal in 5.
Strangely enough though their strike rates for the Blades is a very similar 1 goal in 6 or 7 games.

This suggests the problem may not lie directly in their ability... ?

 

[alcoblade]

The stats show that Billy's overall senior strike rate is almost 1 goal in every 2 games versus Chedwyns' 1 goal in 5.
Strangely enough though their strike rates for the Blades is a very similar 1 goal in 6 or 7 games.

This suggests the problem may not lie directly in their ability... ?

But Sharp had a record away from the Lane. Evans doesn't. I can't begin to describe what a poor striker he looks. Granted the pressure will be gettng to him, but even the basics of getting into goal scoring positions are missing.

UTB

 

[Hodgyman]

We all understand that Speed's budget available for team strengthening/building may be limited but it is presumably far greater than what was available to Warnock when he took over. He managed it by wheeling and dealing, shedding players who were not much use to us or those that could bring in funds to buy others. Additionaly, we could put players that we can't sell out on loan to help free up money to pay the wages of better players coming in. If Gary is going to be worth his salary, he needs to take charge and do something positive instead of moaning about bad luck and mistakes. He is making the biggest mistake by not getting on with putting things right.

Another suggestion: If we always struggle if we go behind, lets try equalising before the other team score

 

[Gingerblade]

Jay DeMerit is still without a club, and is someone who could be a direct replacement for Morgs for the rest of the season. Him and Bart man at centre half would be a could como IMO.

Try and keep Reid until Jan at least, when we could poss bring in another 'creative' midfielder. Where the money is going to come from god only knows!

Other than this, we need to play 4-4-2, and injuries permitting try and keep the same 11. This will then breed understanding between the players, and should lead to better results. We need to try and become difficult to beat again, if it leads to a few 0-0's then fair enough, we can build on that from there!

At the moment, all the chopping and changing is clearly not helping the players!

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Here's something specific and practical.....Allow Speed a reasonable (yet modest) transfer budget in January to sign the following players:-

Ben Watson (Wigan) – Loan?
James Coppinger (Doncaster)
Martyn Woolford (Scunthorpe)
Craig Davies (Chesterfield)
Marvin Sordell (Watford)

Some will argue we dont have the money (and we probably dont) but IMO its either spend or go down.....simple as that. Others will probably question my judgment on the players above but apart from Watson (who isnt getting games), they are all playing very well for their clubs at the moment and are unlikely to command a huge fee because of who they are playing for.

We need an injection of enthusiasm and fresh faces into the team. Those players might not be household names but they are effective, realistically affordable (we can only hope); and cant do any worse than what we've got. Speed will have his own ideas but I dont think he would go too far wrong with the players ive mentioned.

I'm not for one second kidding myself that we'll bring anyone in as I know we wont.

 

[Wards]

Here's something specific and practical.....Allow Speed a reasonable (yet modest) transfer budget in January to sign the following players:-

Ben Watson (Wigan) – Loan?
James Coppinger (Doncaster)
Martyn Woolford (Scunthorpe)
Craig Davies (Chesterfield)
Marvin Sordell (Watford)

I'd be fairly happy with all of those, not overly fussed on Coppinger as he seems to blow hot and cold but the others should be available for reasonable money. I was particularly impressed by Sordell and Craig Davies also seems to have something about him when I've watched Chesterfield this year.

On to another point and that is the style of play. It's evident that Speed has changed from the pure passing style we tried for his first few games and we now seem back to basics. It's never a good idea to change your philosophy too much as not to unsettle the players but I felt we were creating a lot more goalscoring opportunities when we were passing it. Not having to rely on the strength and endevour of Cresswell would be something that could be seen as a positive move in my eyes.

Granted not all of the players are able to do it, but we were getting the best of Britton and the full backs provided us with another attacking dimension. I think we saw the best of Calve and Jordan in this set up and arguably some of our better performances (Derby away, Preston at home, even Scunny at home despite the result) came from trying to pass and keep the ball down. Adding Andy Reid into the mix and we start filling the midfield with players that should be able to play a bit. Admittedly we were leaking some very soft goals but that doesn't seem to have changed much since we reverted to mixing it up a bit again.

What would the general consensus be on going back to trying to pass and move like we did for a good few games?

 

[Sothall_Blade]

If I were in charge, this would be my specific and practical plan as the best forward:-

1) Start looking to sell any property owned by the club which is not related to either football or Bramall Lane. Sheffield United is a football club not a property company.

2) Publically circulate a list of the players who the manager considers to be not good enough and is therefore making available for transfer or loan. We might be able to offload a few on loan and raise funds or at very least it will give them a kick up the backside and we'll know what the manager's thoughts are.

3) Take a very close look at our "sister" clubs (particularly Ferencavoros) to see if any of their players can add something to our squad this season.

4) Contact all the big clubs we have allegedly forged a good relationship with (e.g. Estudiantes, Inter Milan, Sao Paolo). Beg them to lend us a fringe player who is genuinely good enough to play in the Championship this season.

5) McCabe and Birch to back Speed with the funds to bring in at least two of his own choice of players (hopefully a pacy striker and commanding centre back), on a month's loan. Tell him that he has another seven matches (i.e. until after the Swansea game on 18th December) to start improving performances, entertainment, goals scored and results.

6) If there are no signs of improvement after Speed has been in charge for 20 matches and signed a few of his own players, he should be offered the "global liasion manager" job as he's still under contract. If he refuses to take that job, let him go.

7) If Speed goes, seek to appoint an experienced manager with a proven track record of success. Advertise the job properly to see what candidates apply. Also approach the likes of Curbishley, Pardew, Phil Brown and John Hughes to see if they'd be interested.

8) If a new manager is going to be appointed, they should be in place by the 1st January or ASAP afterwards. This will give them the whole of the transfer window to assess the squad and wheel and deal to bring in their own players.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

I'd be fairly happy with all of those, not overly fussed on Coppinger as he seems to blow hot and cold

He would be great for us then, since most of our players just blow at the minute.

What would the general consensus be on going back to trying to pass and move like we did for a good few games?

I could see why he reverted back to basics as we got caught a bit open at times. I think the Scunthorpe game left him a bit shell-shocked and he viewed it as a lesson to learn. I personally think he should have stuck to what we were doing as it would have paid off in the end. A couple of hidings against the run of play would have been a small price IMO.

I would like to see us just go for it. Put out the most positive side we can and let them express themselves. With the pressure these players are under they dont need to be tied down by too many instructions. Just give them licence to have a go like they were doing when Speed first arrived.....

There's a chance it wont work but at least we might score the odd goal!

 

[TonyAgana]

Give Speed a transfer budget. I fail to see the point in dumping KB, paying him off (did we?), instating GS and not backing him. I said at the time Blackwell, for all his negative tactics and dreary "football", I worried where we might be without him.

 

[dingledog]

The recurring point is that we will be unable to 'off load' any of the current players. Its not going to happen, for instance would you move jobs for a pay cut, I dont think so and neither will any of the current players.

The only solution, and its easy to say this but difficult to do, we need an injection of cash, made available to improve the playing squad. Where that could possibly come from is beyond me. I was dissappointed to hear Seth Bennett on Radio Sheffield this morning saying there is no money at the Lane and to expect nothing to change.

So its relegation, weve been there before, its not nice, but seems very likely at the moment.

 

[Guesty]

It's not the relegation that frightens me, it's the possibility of a final day swap with Wednesday.

 

[grafikhaus]

...seek to appoint an experienced manager with a proven track record of success. Advertise the job properly to see what candidates apply. Also approach the likes of Curbishley, Pardew, Phil Brown and John Hughes to see if they'd be interested.

Course they'd be interested. And Paulo Sousa. And that's the pity. Why did we appoint a bloke with no managerial experience whatsoever? For all of you picking out certain players, have you thought it could be Speed and his laughably-named 'backroom staff' who don't have a clue?

Let's face it, every game you would think the players hadn't met since the previous game. Tactics? Formation? Set-piece manouvers? Training ground ploys? Don't make me laugh. The buck stops with Speed.