Starting 11 - The Old Guard

[Dronfield Blade]

The starting 11, going by most minutes on the pitch this season, would look as followed:

Blackman​

Baldock Basham Stearman JOC Stevens

Lundstram Duffy Fleck

Sharp Clarke​

Jack O’Connell gets the award for most minutes on the pitch, surprisingly (to me) Paul Coutts still comes in 12th place, even after his injury. Simon Moore in 13th.

So my questions are

1 - Would you agree the above is our strongest 11?

2 - Would you be happy if we lined up with the above 11 for the rest of the season?*


My answers are:

1: Swap Coutts for Lunny, I would then say that is our strongest 11 players at sheffield United.

2: YES, I would be more than happy if the teamsheet was like this in the run-in, experienced heads, who know what is needed of them and to be fair they have got us this far and deserve the chance.

Throw brooks on when legs get tired.

That would be my approach til the end of the season.


What do you think? Interested to know if/how people would tinker with the line-up the last few games.



*Blackman back in the side once suspension is over

 

[Addison]

Agree 1. is our strongest 11. Lundstram and Wright in against Boro. Blackman back for the Millwall game. If we don't win against Boro and Millwall then time to give Holmes, Leonard, Brooks and Freeman starting places.

 

[Dronfield Blade]

Agree 1. is our strongest 11. Lundstram and Wright in against Boro. Blackman back for the Millwall game. If we don't win against Boro and Millwall then time to give Holmes, Leonard, Brooks and Freeman starting places.

Completly agree regarding Holmes, Leonard, Freeman and Brooks if we lose to both milwall and Boro we should be trying things out in preparation for next season.

Dont think we need the complete rebuild some have suggested. Just a dusting of quality in some areas.

 

[Rob86]

I’d probably try Lafferty at LB as Stevens is out of form and probably is in need of a rest. He can’t be far behind O’Connell in terms of minutes on the pitch. Plus Lafferty is surely playing for his future at the club so may put in some maximum performances.

Just read a newer message - forgot about Freeman, can he go down the left ? You could swap Brooks for Sharp and have Brooks play down the left when applicable. Might leave Leon a bit isolated though.

In answer to your questions - that’s as good as we’ve got as a starting 11 and if that’s the line up until the play offs have mathematically gone, then no complaints from me.

 

[Dronfield Blade]

Rob86 you are correct about Stevens, he comes in 2nd place. When you think about the distance covered in his position, it must really take a toll.

I have never known Freeman to play on the left, great to know we will have stong competition for the right side next year.

I belive Freeman was 2nd highest in goals last season and he obviously contributed a few assist also. Baldock has done a great job but IMO when both fully fit its would be hard to choose between them.

Something we are missing is more goals from other areas. Freeman provides that.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Completly agree regarding Holmes, Leonard, Freeman and Brooks if we lose to both milwall and Boro we should be trying things out in preparation for next season.

Dont think we need the complete rebuild some have suggested. Just a dusting of quality in some areas.

There are one or two young lads in the23s who deserve a Chance ,Regan Slater & Tyler Smith to name two and there is More to come through.

 

[Swannyblade]

I’d prefer L Evans to Lundstram if Duffy is in lineup - he’s a more natural replacement for Coutts as he offers that defensive bite and will bust a gut to get back if required. Lundstram has improved greatly in recent matches but is still inconsistent defensively and is often slow to react when possession is turned over.

 

[Keen Blade]

If that's the best starting eleven , which is probably correct , what on earth was our JTW about ?

Makes a mockery of the stated intention to sign only those players who will IMPROVE the squad.

Surely to improve the squad they have to be better than its members ?

 

[Rodley]

If that's the best starting eleven , which is probably correct , what on earth was our JTW about ?

Makes a mockery of the stated intention to sign only those players who will IMPROVE the squad.

Surely to improve the squad they have to be better than its members ?

Evans and Leonard were better than our non-existent midfield back up. There was a 1,000 page thread clamouring for the latter on here. Unless you were gunning for a Louis Reed recall, post Couttse’s injury.

 

[DronnieBlade]

The starting 11, going by most minutes on the pitch this season, would look as followed:

Blackman​

Baldock Basham Stearman JOC Stevens

Lundstram Duffy Fleck

Sharp Clarke​

Jack O’Connell gets the award for most minutes on the pitch, surprisingly (to me) Paul Coutts still comes in 12th place, even after his injury. Simon Moore in 13th.

So my questions are

1 - Would you agree the above is our strongest 11?

2 - Would you be happy if we lined up with the above 11 for the rest of the season?*


My answers are:

1: Swap Coutts for Lunny, I would then say that is our strongest 11 players at sheffield United.

2: YES, I would be more than happy if the teamsheet was like this in the run-in, experienced heads, who know what is needed of them and to be fair they have got us this far and deserve the chance.

Throw brooks on when legs get tired.

That would be my approach til the end of the season.


What do you think? Interested to know if/how people would tinker with the line-up the last few games.



*Blackman back in the side once suspension is over

That 11 is exactly how I would go.

Wilder will go with Wilson ahead of Sharp !

And possibly Evans ahead of Lunny.

UTB

 

[cahill]

Lundstrom frustrated the hell out of me on Saturday.

 

[Come from away]

Agree 1. is our strongest 11. Lundstram and Wright in against Boro. Blackman back for the Millwall game. If we don't win against Boro and Millwall then time to give Holmes, Leonard, Brooks and Freeman starting places.

Addison I think I am with you on this one.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I said it last season and I've said it most of this - Sharp & Clarke aren't a great fit. Play one or the other - but not both.

Both need someone with pace alongside them to pull defenders out of the way to create the space for them.

One of the negatives of this season has been Tufty's inability to know what his best front two is.

IMHO - Brooks & Clarke has looked the most dangerous when both are fit.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

I said it last season and I've said it most of this - Sharp & Clarke aren't a great fit. Play one or the other - but not both.

Both need someone with pace alongside them to pull defenders out of the way to create the space for them.

One of the negatives of this season has been Tufty's inability to know what his best front two is.

IMHO - Brooks & Clarke has looked the most dangerous when both are fit.

Not all the time, but a lot of the time it appears that when Brooks plays with Clarke, Clarke operates in a narrower area of the pitch (the width of the box) as Brooks operates wider (laterally?). We carry more of a threat like this, and less of a threat when Clarke wanders into the channels/corner and bogs himself down.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Agree 1. is our strongest 11. Lundstram and Wright in against Boro. Blackman back for the Millwall game. If we don't win against Boro and Millwall then time to give Holmes, Leonard, Brooks and Freeman starting places.

Wright will get skinned alive vs Boro.

 

[Dronfield Blade]

If that's the best starting eleven , which is probably correct , what on earth was our JTW about ?

Makes a mockery of the stated intention to sign only those players who will IMPROVE the squad.

Surely to improve the squad they have to be better than its members ?

I Understand where you are coming from, as Rodley mentioned, the sigings we made did increase the overall strength of the squad BUT if we are serious about achieving greater things next season, we need quality signings that actually go straight into the first 11. Obviously easier said than done, but I get your point, maybe not a mockery of intentions, more like a missed opportunity.

Frustrating.

 

[Come from away]

Wright will get skinned alive vs Boro.

Oh yea of little faith!

 

[Lane Ender]

Wright will get skinned alive vs Boro.

Stevens will
Put Lafferty in for the next two