Team selection vs Gillingham

[Bergen Blade]

- - - - - - - - Long - - - - - - - - - -
McMahon Maguire Collins Hill
Flynn Lappin Doyle White
- - - - - Porter Miller - - - - - - - -​

SUBS:
Howard, Coady, McGinn, Cuvelier, Baxter, Taylor, King


To put it a bit simplistic. Four full backs in the team, two of those chosen in midfield. The rest of the midfield made up of Flynn and Doyle, who are also better defensively than offensively.


It's 4-4-2, but it looks very, very defensive, when you consider it's a home match vs Gillingham.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Wasn't defensive enough, we conceded two soft goals and lost to a poor team...

 

[Large Mendonca]

Seems to me that Cloughy is trying to make us hard to beat - unfortunately he probably hasn't realised as yet how crap our defenders are.

 

[Wards]

Shockimg line up and we deserved what we got. A return to pointless hoof made it even worse.

 

[Guesty]

Yep, filling the team with Left Backs was as successful today as it's proven to be in the past. We missed a trick though, we could have played Hill and Centre Half and Williams in his place then we'd have had four of the bastards on the pitch at once.

That midfield is surely just about the worst we've ever fielded. Doyle was at his absolute worst, pinging long passes out for throw-ins/goal kicks with regularity. Lappin put in a few good set pieces but that was it. White was atrocious, OK he forced that booking but he spooned crosses into row Z in a manner that would have had Kozluk beaming with pride. And as for Flynn, dear God. He worked hard and protected his full backs OK but I think he was literally scared of crossing the ball. The amount of times he turned the ball back instead of whipping it in was staggering.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

And as for Flynn, dear God. He worked hard and protected his full backs OK but I think he was literally scared of crossing the ball. The amount of times he turned the ball back instead of whipping it in was staggering.

Clough said the same thing about Flynn on Radio Sheff. I wouldn't expect to see him in the next game.

 

[Guesty]

Well I'm glad he noticed it at least!

 

[Wards]

At home home I'd have preferred to see
Cuvelier McGinn Coady Flynn

That looks much more balanced to me while remaining solid.

 

[JohnDenver]

You could see what we're trying to achieve in the first half. The second half though was simply atrocious.

It was interesting that when the kop chanted "Attack", Clough acknowledged them as if to agree.

Oh, and one more thing. Jose Baxter. He's like Brian Howard but somehow worse. Fat, slow, ponderous in possession and topped it all with a cynical foul. One of the worst substitute performances I've ever seen.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

The defence, quite simply, isn't as good as last year for whatever reason. Putting a lineup out that seems designed to add an extra layer of protection is no use when we make basic errors at the back - and when we do, that same midfield isn't then set up to get us back into the game.

When the service was good to the front two, Porter & Miller linked up well and looked dangerous. That happened at times in the first half, but not much at all in the second. We lumped it up to the front two aimlessly, and the game was crying out for someone with a bit of a brain. You saw within minutes of Baxter coming on him play the best pass of the game to McMahon - who frankly should have done more with it. I'm not sure Baxter is the answer (idiotic challenge at the end that he was lucky not to be red carded for), but we need at the very least someone in that midfield willing to try something different. I'm fine with two defensively minded midfielders of a 4, provided the other two are creative. We in essence lined up with a 4 that were all arguably the most defensive options for their positions. This can't continue.

 

[sheffielder]

It is simply the worst midfield we have ever had. Next time I see that midfield on my phone on the way down I am turning round.

 

[Foxy]

You saw within minutes of Baxter coming on him play the best pass of the game to McMahon - who frankly should have done more with it. I'm not sure Baxter is the answer (idiotic challenge at the end that he was lucky not to be red carded for), but we need at the very least someone in that midfield willing to try something different. I'm fine with two defensively minded midfielders of a 4, provided the other two are creative. We in essence lined up with a 4 that were all arguably the most defensive options for their positions. This can't continue.

Lappin was our best option in terms of creating and he's the first person we've had for years that appears to know how to take a corner that is dangerous to the opposing team.

Baxter played a fantastic ball within minutes of coming on, but then reverted to jogging around looking unfit and with another ref could have seen red for his ridiculous attempt at a challenge.

Our problems in possession once again came about when we started widening the gap between midfield and attack and stopped creating space.

 

[sheffielder]

Lappin was our best option in terms of creating and he's the first person we've had for years that appears to know how to take a corner that is dangerous to the opposing team.

Baxter played a fantastic ball within minutes of coming on, but then reverted to jogging around looking unfit and with another ref could have seen red for his ridiculous attempt at a challenge.

Our problems in possession once again came about when we started widening the gap between midfield and attack and stopped creating space.

Lappin and Doyle don't have the legs between them to get up and down Foxy

 

[Foxy]

Lappin and Doyle don't have the legs between them to get up and down Foxy

Simple solution there to a number of the problems mentioned, introduce McGinn in place of the undroppable.

 

[Guesty]

While Lappin wasn't pulling up any trees taking him off when we were chasing the game was a bad move as it meant we no longer posed the remotest threat from set pieces, at least until McGinn came on.

I was furious with McMahon for that dreadful cross from Baxter's pass. Apparently so was Baxter because he didn't bother to do anything else after that.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Lappin was our best option in terms of creating and he's the first person we've had for years that appears to know how to take a corner that is dangerous to the opposing team

I agree. Though for me McGinn also takes a good set piece, and adds more in the middle. I don't think any of our midfield options are ideal tbh, but the quality of service 2nd half was appalling.

 

[sheffielder]

Simple solution there to a number of the problems mentioned, introduce McGinn in place of the undroppable.

This is the thing, McGinn and Coady sounded like Doyle's legs last week. To think Lappin is a central midfielder is a joke and DOyle playing right handside of the 2 made him look even worse if that is possible.

I will be making my first call to radio sheffield on Wednesday as someone needs to explain how gets a fucking squad number, nevermind Captain. None of the players respond or even acknowledge he is there 99% of the time

 

[Bookers Mullet]

why oh why can we not drop Doyle? just for 1 game, surely it cannot be any worse!

 

[Bergen Blade]

Clough said the same thing about Flynn on Radio Sheff. I wouldn't expect to see him in the next game.

He said he wanted the central midfield duo to be "nice and solid", so he may not be looking for real attacking contributions from them. I personally think Lappin can play in central midfield, but not alongside Doyle. I'd play Lappin or McGinn as a holding playmaker, and let Coady or Cuvelier do box-to-box in a partnership that should aim to be similar to the McCall-Brown combination that did so well for us.

Yes, he said he wanted to get balls in from wide and said Flynn didn't get too many crosses in, while White got a couple. Then he went on to say that they're still "assessing" the players. Hopefully he'll learn pretty quickly that Flynn is not a flying winger, so if he's to play we need the right back to overlap as much as possible, AND we need an out an out winger with flair, confidence and dribbling ability on the opposite side.

I thought last week's win at Colchester was a step in the right direction, but we have to be more attacking at home. Today Clough seemed to do like so many Sheffield United managers have done the past few years, go for solidity, keep them out by picking a lot of defence minded players, then hope it'll still be enough to nick a goal.

 

[sheffielder]

Lappin's excellent corners aside the only other thing he did was play it round the corner into the channel, again and again and again and again and again

 

[Wards]

Other than the first 25 mins I was as bored today as I was during many of Weirs performances.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Flynn Lappin Doyle White

Lappin & Doyle were the other way round. This had the result of forcing Doyle to repeatedly cut back onto his left - with him being even worse than normal.

Clough's key January signing for me is a strong & vocal centre-half that can organise the defence, instantly command the respect of the team, and become captain. This then instantly frees up the middle of the park to new options.

 

[Guesty]

Clough's key January signing for me is a strong & vocal centre-half that can organise the defence, instantly command the respect of the team, and become captain. This then instantly frees up the middle of the park to new options.

Like their captain today, Barrett! He cut out everything in the second half. Not saying we should sign him, he appears to be getting on a bit, but we need that sort of player.

 

[sheffielder]

Lappin & Doyle were the other way round. This had the result of forcing Doyle to repeatedly cut back onto his left - with him being even worse than normal.

Clough's key January signing for me is a strong & vocal centre-half that can organise the defence, instantly command the respect of the team, and become captain. This then instantly frees up the middle of the park to new options.

This would suggest that Doyle is a good captain, however he is not. You only have to watch him during games, the start of games or when their are stoppages. He is generally the one not talking to anoyone

 

[LoughboroBlade]

This would suggest that Doyle is a good captain, however he is not. You only have to watch him during games, the start of games or when their are stoppages. He is generally the one not talking to anoyone

Doyle isn't strong, vocal, or an organiser from what I can see. All his attributes suggest to me that he isn't captain material, but because he's got it on his CV from other clubs, and was one of the more senior players in pre-season two years ago, he was given the role by Wilson and Weir didn't want to change it. It's such an important role - the best United teams I've seen have always had a strong captain.

 

[alcoblade]

He worked hard and protected his full backs OK but I think he was literally scared of crossing the ball. The amount of times he turned the ball back instead of whipping it in was staggering.

You could now have written that same thing about 80 times about Flynn. Why on earth has he forced his way back in?

UTB

 

[Foxy]

You could now have written that same thing about 80 times about Flynn. Why on earth has he forced his way back in?

Because he's been playing fairly well (not great today though).

I lost count the number of times he received the ball on around half way, with 4 opponents in front of him, the rest of the midfield stood watching and the forwards far too far away to get involved (not their fault). When that happens, what else is he going to do? other than check back to the first man in space and move forward himself?

 

[alcoblade]

Because he's been playing fairly well (not great today though).

I lost count the number of times he received the ball on around half way, with 4 men in front of him, the rest of the midfield stood watching and the forwards far too far away to get involved (not their fault). When that happens, what else is he going to do? other than check back to the first man in space and move forward himself?

He checks back all the time Foxy. It's the boy who cried wolf today.

He's had a couple of reasonable games lately. But we (or I) know what the limitations are, and he's miles off. I don't need to see any more, or want to see if it might be different the twelfth time. We are in this position because we keep apologising for players of this calibre.

UTB

 

[Foxy]

He checks back a the time Foxy. He's the boy who cried wolf.

He's had a couple of reasonable games lately. But we (or I) know what the limitations are, and he's miles off. I don't need to see any more, or want to see if it might be different the twelfth time in the way was are about to do with my other favourite. We are in this position because we keep apologising for players of this calibre.

He checks back too often, but it's often a product of how we play, rather than purely him liking to check back.

When he had the opportunity today (and in recent weeks), he has actually been running at defenders and been more positive.

We are in this position because we can't consistently play as a team and rely on them all to do the basics correctly, not because Ryan Flynn gives the ball back to McMahon who then loses it or comes back to Maguire to knock towards long.

 

[Deadbat]

I think we will see how good Flynn is when he departs out of contract at the end of the season and where he ends up. Lower League Two or back in Scottish League One is about his level sadly me thinks. A winger who is not a winger. He seems totally afraid to take his man on or at least try and attack/get to the backline.

If he had 4 men to beat (which is somewhat of an exaggeration) then surely he should move it quicker on forwards or at best sideways. It takes him an eternity to get it under control and then his first thought is always backwards and allows men to get back. If he at least tried to go forward once in a while more fans would be more accepting.

The whole midfield was abject in creating anything today but what makes it worse that for the fact they did not do the other side well either and never won tackles, scrapped or fought t get the ball back. That department coupled with our calamatious centre backs/keeper meant it was always going to be hard today. Felt with no service Miller and Porter were maybe our best players (still not great mind).