The defence

[Slim Man]

Easy to overlook how good they were today what with the midfield domination and obviously Clayton sending us all into raptures I think it's worth saying how good the defence were.

They didn't put a foot wrong and the the goal was more annoying than anything. From a set piece (which we didn't need to give away) as that's the only way they were ever gonna score.

Freeman has come on leaps and bounds from his first few games, seems to have really kicked on since Baldock was declared fit. Has more belief in himself and is back to last seasons energy levels - brilliant today.

Basham, Wright and O'Connell. Well quite frankly I'll never get bored of saying how good this trio is. Basham had a point to prove against his boyhood club today and was like a man possessed. Won everything. Jake Wright outstanding as ever, Stearman really should never have been starting in front of him, he isn't as good!
And as for JOC, well... quite frankly what odds for an England call up?! Left footed cultured centre halves are like rocking horse shit and we've got a battle on our hands to keep him if he carries on. I love when there's a loose ball in the left channel because I know if we're going forward JOC is about to overlap and if we're defending he's going to go straight through that ball, normally man and ball, and put them both in the stand

Stevens is like a left winger. His first good away performance today but it was worth it. Full of mega energy and intent, really good attacking play too for a full back. He's the real deal - and he was FREE.

Outstanding from the 5 of them today. They never gave Sunderland a sniff.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

JOC is our next big money departure, not many around like him.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Easy to overlook how good they were today what with the midfield domination and obviously Clayton sending us all into raptures I think it's worth saying how good the defence were.

They didn't put a foot wrong and the the goal was more annoying than anything. From a set piece (which we didn't need to give away) as that's the only way they were ever gonna score.

Freeman has come on leaps and bounds from his first few games, seems to have really kicked on since Baldock was declared fit. Has more belief in himself and is back to last seasons energy levels - brilliant today.

Basham, Wright and O'Connell. Well quite frankly I'll never get bored of saying how good this trio is. Basham had a point to prove against his boyhood club today and was like a man possessed. Won everything. Jake Wright outstanding as ever, Stearman really should never have been starting in front of him, he isn't as good!
And as for JOC, well... quite frankly what odds for an England call up?! Left footed cultured centre halves are like rocking horse shit and we've got a battle on our hands to keep him if he carries on. I love when there's a loose ball in the left channel because I know if we're going forward JOC is about to overlap and if we're defending he's going to go straight through that ball, normally man and ball, and put them both in the stand

Stevens is like a left winger. His first good away performance today but it was worth it. Full of mega energy and intent, really good attacking play too for a full back. He's the real deal - and he was FREE.

Outstanding from the 5 of them today. They never gave Sunderland a sniff.

Or just another day at the office these days.

 

[Ricky]

The only goals we've conceded recently have been injury time consolations. And we didn't even deserve to concede those.

Playing in that back 3 suits all of them perfectly and it doesn't surprise me one bit to see how comfortable they all look at this level.

It's great to have a trio like them at the back, and a trio like we have in midfield. What a terrific spine. All good footballers too.

As for JOC, it's new contract time, as if it wasn't about 3 months ago.

 

[diplomat]

Is jake Wright still unbeaten in league games that he's started?

I'm a little bit in love with him. I love the story and the progress through the leagues and hope he continues proving himself.

 

[Slim Man]

There is one better left footed centre half in this division than JOC... Ben Gibson.
Apart from that? Can't think of one.
His price tag? £30mil

I'll call it now, I think he will be our record transfer sale, we are progressing very quickly but to be honest he's even out-progressing us which is ridiculous in itself! He's going to be a premier league player in the very near future.

 

[Ricky]

There is one better left footed centre half in this division than JOC... Ben Gibson.
Apart from that? Can't think of one.
His price tag? £30mil

I'll call it now, I think he will be our record transfer sale, we are progressing very quickly but to be honest he's even out-progressing us which is ridiculous in itself! He's going to be a premier league player in the very near future.

I said today that he'd get in any team in the division, and I stand by that. I really think he would.

 

[Slim Man]

Is jake Wright still unbeaten in league games that he's started?

I'm a little bit in love with him. I love the story and the progress through the leagues and hope he continues proving himself.

He is indeed. If he started at Middlesbrough we wouldn't have conceded that goal, he marshals the defence much better than what Stearman did there.

Cardiff quite frankly I'm not sure. It wasn't anything a better defence handler could've done anything about, our midfield were all over the place and their pure pace was running us ragged.

But yeah - unbeaten in the league when Wright starts. 1 season and 6 games later.

 

[Slim Man]

I said today that he'd get in any team in the division, and I stand by that. I really think he would.

I think only Middlesbrough he wouldn't play centre half over Gibson (two left footers?) but to be honest he's capable at LB too so I wouldn't actually disagree. Every other side? 100%.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Tbh the defence is an entity to be just as proud of as that stellar midfield (or the fat twat who scores all the goals - who seems to have been joined now by some aged gentleman, bought from Aldi).

 

[Punk Blade]

Is jake Wright still unbeaten in league games that he's started?

I'm a little bit in love with him. I love the story and the progress through the leagues and hope he continues proving himself.

I believe he is. I only ever refer to him as 'Invincible Jake' now and as soon as I saw the team sheet today I said 'well we won't lose today'.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

I was thinking the same as I watched some of the terrible defending from so called big teams in this league

 

[diplomat]

He is indeed. If he started at Middlesbrough we wouldn't have conceded that goal, he marshals the defence much better than what Stearman did there.

Cardiff quite frankly I'm not sure. It wasn't anything a better defence handler could've done anything about, our midfield were all over the place and their pure pace was running us ragged.

But yeah - unbeaten in the league when Wright starts. 1 season and 6 games later.

His sky picture has him playing for oxford. (On the player profile bit on the app) I might email them again as I did to get sharp's changed when he was still in a dirty Leeds kit two years in to bagging loads of goals for us.

Edit: it might be a long email actually as only Sharp is in a blades kit out of the whole first team

 

[Ricky]

I think only Middlesbrough he wouldn't play centre half over Gibson (two left footers?) but to be honest he's capable at LB too so I wouldn't actually disagree. Every other side? 100%.

He could play on the right. Right footers always play on the left. His right foot is one thing he could improve though - for example he should play backpasses from the left touchline area with his right instep rather than turning his body around to clear it with his left. That's about the only fault I can find with him, which says something.

 

[Stretch]

It says a lot when a team back in the Championship after six long seasons away might now struggle to accommodate a player like Stearman when he is fit again. With CCV and Heneghan also chomping at the bit to get into the team we really are very well stocked with CBs, and the four wing backs are all very capable. Great management putting this group together.

It also sounded like Lundstram played very well today, which is encouraging because I still think we are a bit light in midfield, at least in terms of quality back up for the Coutts and Fleck roles. Would still like us to strengthen that area in January, although Whiteman may well fit the bill by then, assuming we can recall him.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

AH FUCKIN LUV MA TEAM AH DU.

 

[1066blade]

Why don't we just buck the trend and not sell? We do not need a million £ cash injection, to buy what? Lesser players at over inflated prices. Let's just for once, hold this great team together and let the fans enjoy the seasons fruition, just to see how far we can take this dream.
I really don't want to see this enjoyable journey ruined by the money grabbing small minded policies of yesteryear.

 

[stringer]

There is one better left footed centre half in this division than JOC... Ben Gibson.
Apart from that? Can't think of one.
His price tag? £30mil

That's what a season in the Premier League does for a player's valuation

 

[Pinchy]

Easy to overlook how good they were today what with the midfield domination and obviously Clayton sending us all into raptures I think it's worth saying how good the defence were.

They didn't put a foot wrong and the the goal was more annoying than anything. From a set piece (which we didn't need to give away) as that's the only way they were ever gonna score.

Freeman has come on leaps and bounds from his first few games, seems to have really kicked on since Baldock was declared fit. Has more belief in himself and is back to last seasons energy levels - brilliant today.

Basham, Wright and O'Connell. Well quite frankly I'll never get bored of saying how good this trio is. Basham had a point to prove against his boyhood club today and was like a man possessed. Won everything. Jake Wright outstanding as ever, Stearman really should never have been starting in front of him, he isn't as good!
And as for JOC, well... quite frankly what odds for an England call up?! Left footed cultured centre halves are like rocking horse shit and we've got a battle on our hands to keep him if he carries on. I love when there's a loose ball in the left channel because I know if we're going forward JOC is about to overlap and if we're defending he's going to go straight through that ball, normally man and ball, and put them both in the stand

Stevens is like a left winger. His first good away performance today but it was worth it. Full of mega energy and intent, really good attacking play too for a full back. He's the real deal - and he was FREE.

Outstanding from the 5 of them today. They never gave Sunderland a sniff.

Stearman is better than Wright. Tufty thinks so too. RS will be back as soon as he's fit. We're moving on. Loyalty but not sentimentality.

 

[Pinchy]

He is indeed. If he started at Middlesbrough we wouldn't have conceded that goal, he marshals the defence much better than what Stearman did there.

Nonsense. That was a Basham error, pure and simple. There's a reason that Richard Stearman has played at a significantly higher level than Jake Wright throughout his career and it outweighs Bladey parochial claptrap.

Dear, oh dear...

 

[Slim Man]

Nonsense. That was a Basham error, pure and simple. There's a reason that Richard Stearman has played at a significantly higher level than Jake Wright throughout his career and it outweighs Bladey parochial claptrap.

Dear, oh dear...

For once in your life, leave it out.

 

[Slim Man]

Stearman is better than Wright. Tufty thinks so too. RS will be back as soon as he's fit. We're moving on. Loyalty but not sentimentality.

Looks like it.

 

[BigBed]

I'd play super Jake 1st choice.

 

[Pinchy]

For once in your life, leave it out.

Leave out common sense and experience? No thanks.

 

[Snowman]

Leave out common sense and experience? No thanks.

You could actually be wrong.

 

['Doc' Pace my hero]

Stearman will play ahead of Wright,primarily because he has extensive championship experience and that's why Wilder bought him.However,a better player than Wright as part of a back three,i'm not so sure.The problem with Jake Wright is that he just gets better,when you think he has reached his level,he just goes out and proves that he hasn't,bugger !!!

 

['Doc' Pace my hero]

Stearman will play ahead of Wright,primarily because he has extensive championship experience and that's why Wilder bought him.However,a better player than Wright as part of a back three,i'm not so sure.The problem with Jake Wright is that he just gets better,when you think he has reached his level,he just goes out and proves that he hasn't,bugger !!!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

You could actually be wrong.

Yes, it's almost as though Pinchy feels Wilder doesn't make the occasional mistake and isn't able to learn from them, which even Wilder himself wouldn't subscribe to. Wilder approached this season with the view that Stearman would be first choice. He also approached last season thinking Brayford, Hussey and Long were starters.

I'm not saying Stearman won't come back in when fit, but to doubt the possibility that Wright does enough to keep the shirt is a bit odd.

 

[Pinchy]

You could actually be wrong.

Unlikely and certainly not on this occasion. Stearman will be back when fit, have no doubt. He's a kingpin and a leader. Moving on. No room for parochial sentimentality.

I repeat, there are reasons why Stearman and Wright have had the respective careers they have had. Blades fans are very good at seeing things as they would like them to be, not as they are. I simply provide the uncomfortable truth, as I have for many years. I like Jake Wright. He has exceeded all expectations. Stearman is, and has demonstrated himself to be, a better player. It's that simple.

Anyway, we'll see, just as we did with Old Runaround...

 

[Pinchy]

Stearman will play ahead of Wright,primarily because he has extensive championship experience and that's why Wilder bought him.However,a better player than Wright as part of a back three,i'm not so sure.The problem with Jake Wright is that he just gets better,when you think he has reached his level,he just goes out and proves that he hasn't,bugger !!!

Fine. I am sure. People are entitled to like Jake Wright. I do too. He's been fantastic. However, Stearman is a better player and a leader. He hasn't put a foot wrong. It's rather embarrassing to see people denigrate a very good player simply because they have adopted a parochial favourite.

Let's see who Tufty prefers when RS is fit, eh?