Match Thread The Mighty Blades v Stoke City

[Not_a_Cheat]

So the disappointment of Saturday still lingers, but a nice quick chance to put that behind us. However, one of the early season favourites are unlikely to come to BDBL just to make up the numbers. A tough game on paper, and no easier on the pitch either....

But anyway

Any team news?

Baldock recovered from illness?

Same starting lineup as Saturday?

Stoke have had a hard time adjusting to life in the championship but I think Wilder will be looking for a response to Saturday's defeat. Keep it calm, and we should be good enough to get the win..3-1 Blades for me

UTB

 

[Cappy]

Important game this one. Three games in a week and if we do have playoff aspirations, we should be aiming for more than 4 points from them, so for ongoing confidence and presence in the exciting section of the table, this and the Wigan games need to be victories. Let's have it.

3-1 blades (HT 1-1)

 

[Carlton Blade]

COYRAWW

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

I predict a penalty or two tonite.

Player i am keeping an eye on if he plays is Etebo thought he had an outstanding WC.

 

[Harry's Game]

In an ideal world we would be resting about five players who started on Saturday and gassed out after halftime

Unfortunately we don’t have that capacity so I expect one or both of the wingbacks to be changed and Clarke coming in for Mcgoldrick.

 

[Stretch]

I think we will start with an unchanged side, they will all want to make amends for that disappointing second half on Saturday. We need to get the deliveries into the box right this time, to make the most of Billy's movement and Stoke defence will be no pushovers.

Overall I expect Stoke to be solid and hit us hard on the break, teams we normally have a tough time against but we have enough to match them and our home form is good. I think we'll be up for this.

 

[BladeTillIDie]

Not gonna be as easy as people think... Allen, Woods, Ince, Bojan, McClean and Afobe is a top quality midfield/strikers

 

[Sheffsteel]

Tricky game to predict.

If both teams play their best, then Stoke have a great chance to win.
The problem for Stoke is that they rarely play their best, whereas we are really consistent and always put in a decent performance.

I reckon we’ll gain 4 points from the next 2 matches.
Probably draw 1-1 tonight, then beat Wigan on Saturday.

 

[BigBed]

In an ideal world we would be resting about five players who started on Saturday and gassed out after halftime

Unfortunately we don’t have that capacity so I expect one or both of the wingbacks to be changed and Clarke coming in for Mcgoldrick.

Please no!!
After witnessing Clarke this season, I'd rather start with Moore upfront!

Must win for me this game, said it satdy, we need to be smashing Stoke, I predicted 3-1 win and I'm sticking with it, only I don't know who we've got to score 3??

I know this might be an odd choice, but I'd play Washington with Sharp tonight, bring Mcgoldrick on early second half.
The subs on satdy were strange, I think bringing on a decent striker earlier in the second might just edge it for us, as we were dire in the second half at Derby.

COYRAWW, let's have the points from this one!!!!

 

[HighfieldBlade]

 

[snootyfenooty]

Stoke are going to come good once they get rid of the big fish, small pond attitude, they've got too many good players. But it aint going to be tonight I'm afraid. Blades 2-0, Billy x2.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Unfortunately we don’t have that capacity so I expect one or both of the wingbacks to be changed and Clarke coming in for Mcgoldrick.

I think Sharp & McGoldrick, having been both subbed Saturday, will start again. I think it’ll be the same starting XI but with a couple of changes on the bench.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Gavin Ward is the ref tonite,he already been to The Lane this season for the 0-0 v Birmingham.

 

[IOM Blade]

Gavin Ward is the ref tonite,he already been to The Lane this season for the 0-0 v Birmingham.

Good! He was a bit of a homer is i remember correctly.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Hope Clarke is not picked I just feel that we have ten men when he plays

 

[DronnieBlade]

1-1.

UTB

 

[moDtheGod]

1-1.

 

[moDtheGod]

1-1.

UTB

I promise I didn't see your post and copy it

 

[derryblade]

Definitely require the final ball to be a lot better in the final third, as other people have said they pass for fun up to that point, then to often get a brain freeze. That's why players are in the Championship not the Premiership

 

[Dkc]

I know this might be an odd choice, but I'd play Washington with Sharp tonight, bring Mcgoldrick on early second half.

To me he's not looked as bad as some are making out. If we could find a way of utilising his pace I might agree with you. He seems limited in his ability to take on men, but then so is Billy. I'm not writing him off just yet. I'd start with Sharp and McG but perhaps consider Washington as a second half sub ahead of Leon.

 

[Dalelane01]

We need a decent lead at half time say 2-0 dont think i can bear to watch 2nd half otherwise anyway billy and bash to score for me u.t.b

 

[sheffielder]

One change for me tonight - Hit the ball hard and low across the box.

 

[Stretch]

One change for me tonight - Hit the ball hard and low across the box.

Always something I like to see, especially as we don't have strikers who are particularly dominant in the air. Hard and low into a crowded penalty area can cause chaos if done well. High crosses on the other hand will be meat and drink for Shawcross & co tonight.

 

[Silent Blade]

One change for me tonight - Hit the ball hard and low across the box.

I prefer early crosses than late crosses cos they are hard to defend against. Remember Sharp's 2nd goal at Blackburn and Derby's 2nd last Saturday.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

It’ll be interesting to see what Wilder does with this one. The response to the disappointing Bristol City defeat was to switch it up against Birmingham (where we were poor) before reverting back vs Preston (where we were generally better).

It’s nearly the same scenario this week but against better opposition – a loss away after the international break, followed quickly by two home games. Wilder must be extremely tempted to switch it up. I hope the unenforced changes, if any, are minimal.

 

[Revolution]

We won't win.

 

[LJBlade]

We won't win.

I was looking forward to this match, don't think I'll bother going now

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

We need an early goal tonight or we'll struggle.

 

[Stretch]

We won't win.

That's the spirit!

 

[metalblade]

I too have a bad feeling about this game and can't summon up an ounce of enthusiasm for this one. Play like we did second half at Derby and we will be getting a tonking, don't give a toss about league positions we will have to be at our best to beat these. 1-3