Team for play offs??

[Revolution]

Simonsen​

Lowton Maguire Collins Williams​

Williamson McAllister Doyle McDonald O'Halloran​

Cresswell​

​

Wow.​

​

The main problem with this team is that it is an attempt to pick a "best" side whilst ignoring all of the practical problems.​

​

- it advocates a formation that United have not used since August (in a game they lost)​

- it advocates starting 3 players who did not play on Saturday. They are:​

​

(a) O'Halloran, who has not played in that position recently, and is clearly worse than, say, Quinn (and even Flynn) on the basis of what we have seen so far.​

(b) Williams, who has not played for weeks​

(c) McAllister, who has not played for months and did not play well when he was selected.​

​

You want to go into our biggest game of the season with radical changes to the side and the formation, to combat a team that is worse than us. I would fire any manager who did that.​

 

[jezzablade]

With our apparent lack of firepower who would your team be over the 2 legs?

I'm thinking away, we need Cresswell upfront on his own with help from midfield. Depending on the way of the game, Porter should come on as sub towards the end either with or for Cresswell. Quinn having a free role

AWAY 4-2-1-2-1
...............................Simonsen..................................
Lowton..Maguire..Collins.. Whoever (they're all dogshit)

........................McDonald...Doyle...............................

...................................Quinn.......................................

Williamson..........................................Flynn/O'Halloran

................................Cresswell............................................

HOME 4-4-2

As above but Porter in for Quinn/Flynn/O'Halloran

I think you are right re. left back and its the reason we can't keep a clean sheet teams know to attack our weakness. I can't remember the last clean sheet we had. That mixed with the severe now lack of fire power means there is little point pondering what team we have out. We have the best midfield in the division but a gash defence and an impotent attack. Therefore come Monday 21.45 we will be discussing whose staying and what team / squad we need for Div1 next year. I hate being negative, I really do, but I can see England winning the Euros before we get past Stevenage as they have a gash midfield but effective defence and attack against teams in the top six. Sorry.

 

[Selly]

I think you are right re. left back and its the reason we can't keep a clean sheet teams know to attack our weakness. I can't remember the last clean sheet we had. That mixed with the severe now lack of fire power means there is little point pondering what team we have out. We have the best midfield in the division but a gash defence and an impotent attack. Therefore come Monday 21.45 we will be discussing whose staying and what team / squad we need for Div1 next year. I hate being negative, I really do, but I can see England winning the Euros before we get past Stevenage as they have a gash midfield but effective defence and attack against teams in the top six. Sorry.

Wow. You're a shining ray of light aren`t you.

The gash defence has conceded 2 deflections, 1 wonder goal, and a last minute goal that didn`t really matter having played with 10 men in the last 2 games.

The impotent attack has scored 4 goals in the last 2 games. Score 4 against Stevenage over 2 legs and I reckon we'll go through...

 

[Bergen Blade]

Simonsen​

Lowton Maguire Collins Williams​

Williamson McAllister Doyle McDonald O'Halloran​

Cresswell​

​

Wow.​

​

The main problem with this team is that it is an attempt to pick a "best" side whilst ignoring all of the practical problems.​

​

- it advocates a formation that United have not used since August (in a game they lost)​

- it advocates starting 3 players who did not play on Saturday. They are:​

​

(a) O'Halloran, who has not played in that position recently, and is clearly worse than, say, Quinn (and even Flynn) on the basis of what we have seen so far.​

(b) Williams, who has not played for weeks​

(c) McAllister, who has not played for months and did not play well when he was selected.​

​

You want to go into our biggest game of the season with radical changes to the side and the formation, to combat a team that is worse than us. I would fire any manager who did that.​

You're telling me nothing that I do not already know. I think a few changes can be good for us and I've given explanations for my selection.

 

[marky200484]

James Shield on Twitter:

DW confirms Nick Montgomery and David McAllister could enter#sufc's play-off equation: "They're available after loans."

DW: "We don't have everyone 100 per cent fit but we do have players who are ready to play."

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Most of the team picks itself. Simmo in goal, usual 3 at the back + 1, usual 4 in midfield (I would opt for Quinn ahead of Flynn).

Up front we have a real dilemma though. It would be tempting to play a familiar partnership in Cresswell and Porter but that partnership lacks pace. Common sense tells me Cresswell and O'Halloran might be the way to go.

Porter on late for Cresswell.

 

[Latters]

James Shield on Twitter:

DW confirms Nick Montgomery and David McAllister could enter#sufc's play-off equation: "They're available after loans."

DW: "We don't have everyone 100 per cent fit but we do have players who are ready to play."

Just seen that myself. Hopefully he's only saying Monty might play so Stevenage get complacent, then we'll surprise them by having a footballer in instead!

 

[davidpinder]

remember we are asking for players to play 2 games in 4 days after a full. We have to be careful with cresswell on this IMO so it might be sensible to bench him for the first leg and go for 5 in midfield and a draw.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

It would be tempting to play a familiar partnership in Cresswell and Porter but that partnership lacks pace. Common sense tells me Cresswell and O'Halloran might be the way to go.

As much as I don't think Porter is as terrible player some people make him out to be, I don't see him really as the type of player we bring on if we're looking for a big lift (say if we're a goal down with 30 mins to go).

As mediocre as I think O'Halloran is, against tired legs he can be worth more to us than by starting with him. For me, he doesn't look like he knows what he's doing playing up front. He might have more pace, but in terms of quickness of reading situations in and around the box, I think he's behind Porter.

 

[mattbianco1]

As mediocre as I think O'Halloran is, against tired legs he can be worth more to us than by starting with him.

I agree with that. But there's no point putting him on at 78 mins. Give him 25 mins, that would let him get a grip on the game.

I feel that is why Beattie hasn't been effective. He hasn't been given long enough when he has come on as sub. I can't see point in making an attacking change with ten minutes to go (unless you've "JUST" conceded)

 

[jezzablade]

Wow. You're a shining ray of light aren`t you.

The gash defence has conceded 2 deflections, 1 wonder goal, and a last minute goal that didn`t really matter having played with 10 men in the last 2 games.

The impotent attack has scored 4 goals in the last 2 games. Score 4 against Stevenage over 2 legs and I reckon we'll go through...

I hope you are right I really do. It would be great to take my two sons to see the Blades at Wembly. But we have dipped horribly since Ched stopped masking the frailties of the defence and Beattie may have done somthing for us but utter stupidity prevented that...again FFS. I hope you are right though that we get four goals and don't let any in for the first time since March, just to say we have had 2 clean sheets in the last 18 fixtures but we are not playing Hartlepool or Brentford we are playing Stevenage who do well against top six teams.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

2 spozzy deflections against Stevenage the other week and one of the Exeter goals was about 4 yard offside.

Draw tomorrow, win on Monday.

Talking of Monday, know that they have worn next season's home kit once does that mean they will be wearing it again for the 2nd leg?

 

[God]

Yep. I've got absolutely no problem with the both of them starting.

Philliskirk was, I think, at the Exeter game. There were 3 of the squad behind the dugout - Ertl, Monty, and one other. Thought it was Philliskirk, could have been D-Mac.

Speaking of which, is now the time to bring back the winner of our Goal of the Season award?

A resounding NO, wtf can he bring to the pitch? get rid.

 

[Pinchy]

I hope you are right I really do. It would be great to take my two sons to see the Blades at Wembly. But we have dipped horribly since Ched stopped masking the frailties of the defence and Beattie may have done somthing for us but utter stupidity prevented that...again FFS. I hope you are right though that we get four goals and don't let any in for the first time since March, just to say we have had 2 clean sheets in the last 18 fixtures but we are not playing Hartlepool Liverpool or Brentford Barcelona we are playing Stevenage, who do well against top six teams, and if we exist in fear of trembling of their awesome might, we may as well pack in the whole football thing.

A little perspective, perhaps?

 

[jezzablade]

A little perspective, perhaps?

I didn't realise we had played Liverpool and Barcelona never mind getting clean sheets against them. I would love to feel confident against Stevenage however our record since Ched has been detained has been aweful. People talk about the last ten games as though that should be the measure, the last three should be the measure (due to Ched and other injuries) whoever we are playing. In the last three we have drawn against bottom of the league and at home to our next opponents and lost to another potential opponent. Usually I'm an ardent "Clapper" but after seeing us fail play off after playoff and without a decent attack and a leaky defence I can't see us doing it. Sorry. Thats my perspective.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

I didn't realise we had played Liverpool and Barcelona never mind getting clean sheets against them. I would love to feel confident against Stevenage however our record since Ched has been detained has been awful. People talk about the last ten games as though that should be the measure, the last three should be the measure (due to Ched and other injuries) whoever we are playing. In the last three we have drawn against bottom of the league and at home to our next opponents and lost to another potential opponent. Usually I'm an ardent "Clapper" but after seeing us fail play off after playoff and without a decent attack and a leaky defence I can't see us doing it. Sorry. Thats my perspective.

3 Games is hardly a long enough run of games to be a record.

Game 1 (A): Lost to a top 6 side the day after a key member of the squad and good friend to the players was banged up.

Game 2 (H): Were two nil down and pulled it back to 2-2, could have won had their keeper not pulled off a couple of worlds.

Game 3 (A): Played for an hour with 10 men, came from one behind to lead, then gave away a goal when everyone in Exeter knew the score meant diddly squat.

Pick your chin up and geeoor whining.

 

[Pinchy]

3 Games is hardly a long enough run of games to be a record.

Game 1 (A): Lost to a top 6 side the day after a key member of the squad and good friend to the players was banged up.

Game 2 (H): Were two nil down and pulled it back to 2-2, could have won had their keeper not pulled off a couple of worlds.

Game 3 (A): Played for an hour with 10 men, came from one behind to lead, then gave away a goal when everyone in Exeter knew the score meant diddly squat.

Pick your chin up and geeoor whining.

Good Lord, he must have had sore wrists! Is he playing tonight?