This is not Clough's fault

[Revolution]

The first half of this post, I couldn't agree with more.

However I find the idea that other teams will be scared of Scougs a bit hard to swallow - the boy just isn't all that. And a fully fit Wallace is like the Easter bunny or the second gunman behind the grassy knoll - a fiction, a myth.

We have lost 4 out of 5 games Scougall has started and in 3 of them the midfield has been completely overrun for long periods. I don't know what he's supposed to be doing but he isn't doing it.

 

[Trigger Blade]

We weren't better for 30 mins they were. The goal was coming, as was the third.

I felt we were well in control. At the point that Higdon scored, it never occurred to me that we would go on to lose that game. It was certainly nowhere near as bad as Swindon, who looked like they could score at will and 5-2 definitely flattered us that day

 

[super_pig]

I really don't believe the team is weaker either.
You put a settled striker in that team and its significantly stronger. As it is with Wallace for Coady there's no much in it, apart from we have McNulty or Hogdon rather than a midfielder thrown up there.
Wallace, Doyle, JCR, Baxter, Murphy/Scoogs, McNulty/Higdon.
You think that's weaker than last season?

for all team sports.. the sum of the whole should be greater than the sum of the parts ..
so.. if the team is stronger on paper, yet the results are marginally better than last seasons 'weak on paper' team then summat's not adding up is it??

 

[DazBlade88]

We have lost 4 out of 5 games Scougall has started and in 3 of them the midfield has been completely overrun for long periods. I don't know what he's supposed to be doing but he isn't doing it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - he's much better as an impact player from the bench.

 

[scrap]

What I find interesting is, the amount of injury's there are. Plus players not firing on all cylinders, makes me think whats going on.

 

[Bergen Blade]

We have lost 4 out of 5 games Scougall has started and in 3 of them the midfield has been completely overrun for long periods. I don't know what he's supposed to be doing but he isn't doing it.

It's worth keeping an eye on records like that, but remember also Gareth Bale's "curse" at Tottenham.

 

[Swanseablade]

There are big question marks about his ability to get teams promoted. Perhaps his style and drive just doesn't tick the right boxes.
Time and again people (just search around here) get wrapped up in bullshit about connecting with the fan base, sounding right, playing the right way, encouraging youth etc etc. Managers like Warnock and Steve Evans are disliked because they don't tick enough of these boxes, they just know what winning is all about.

This will be followed by a bunch of pots about "if we ever had Steve Evans as manager". After all, he eats too many pies and is a gobshite. Never mind his track record that proves without doubt that he knows how to win things.

Of course, many more years in this pitiful league and these nonsense clichés will be exposed for what they are, with 10,000 of us struggling to muster the enthusiasm to bother any more. But we’ll still have the right ethos, apparently.

UTB

Well said that man.....

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

But seriously, what have you seen over the first quarter of a season to make you sure of that?

Assuming you aren't a regular (based on your name), believe me it's neither frustrated Blades or bad luck that has us placed in mid table of the third division.

UTB

Mid table perhaps, but only two points off the playoff zone and just five off auto promotion at this point.

 

[alcoblade]

Mid table perhaps, but only two points off the playoff zone and just five off auto promotion at this point.

No, there's no need to panic. But make no mistake, the balance of luck in games has taken us away from the relegation zone, not cost us a play off spot. We can't keep waiting for teams to take control of the games before we work out what to do.

UTB

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Only two now (scored v. Swindon after 66 mins.), but I get your point. I started this chart...

View attachment 9572

...because, last season we were particularly poor at getting late goals (after game 40, we'd only scored three goals in the last ten minutes). So it would be simplistic to suggest that this season's stats. show improved fitness/determination. So far this season, we've been in front for just 75 minutes. We've been behind for 299 minutes. As we know, the visiting goalie at home games may as well bring a deck chair for the first half. So therefore, we only 'get going' when we fall behind. In fact, we've only scored 3 first-half (League) goals so far - the last one being at Preston. We've scored 12 second-half goals. Summat's wrong.

Or, as we saw yesterday, too little, too late. We've got away with it in the Rochdale and Gillingham games, but the margins are too tight for comfort.

Based on that; turning up to the pub at 2.45 and staying till 3.15 will still let you have 4 pints, no queues at the bar and you'll not miss owt.

 

[blade too long]

 

[grafikhaus]

Based on that; turning up to the pub at 2.45 and staying till 3.15 will still let you have 4 pints, no queues at the bar and you'll not miss owt.

Too right! Next season I'm getting a 'Half Season Ticket'. The second fucking half.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Last weeks win against Gillingham didn't guarantee promotion,

Saturdays loss at Chesterfield didn't rule it out.

All a bit too reactionary win or lose.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Last weeks win against Gillingham didn't guarantee promotion,

Saturdays loss at Chesterfield didn't rule it out.

All a bit too reactionary win or lose.

If we continue to play like we have in the first 10 games, we have no chance of promotion. That is what many fans are concerned about. It's not just about Chesterfield - shite though that was.

 

[HoodedClaw]

My concern is what I perceive to be a lack of value in the signings we've made.

I don't necessarily agree with some posters viewpoints that we've signed players on a shoestring, yes we may not have paid much in the way of transfer fees but I would think the money has been put towards paying wages instead.

Wasn't Higdon supposed to be joining Chesterfield but the deal broke down due to wage demands?

Wasn't Basham playing in a league above last season, has he taken a pay cut just to come and play for the Blades?

Alcock was released by Peterborough, but then they wanted him back as Little left for Bristol, wonder what we're paying him compared to Peterborough's offer?

Does anyone think Wallace is on less than what he was at Oldham?

We were struggling to get Butler out on loan due to his wages potentially being double what he was on at Walsall? (I wonder what percentage we're paying for the pleasure of him being at Walsall)

I'm sure JP mentioned in a recent interview that we are close to the SCMP limit, well I'm not surprised that's the case if we really are paying Butler double what he was on at Walsall.

For me it's not either the board or NC who are to blame, current;ly it's the whole fucking setup from NC's transfer dealings and tactics to the crap his brother has scouted to the contracts negotiated by us to the we want NC as our manager for the next 20 years bollocks.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

I lay the blame squarely at the doors of Mal Brannigan and the spin doctor Jim Phipps.

Tying themselves in knots to find an excuse for why they won't spend any money. At least Mike MacDonald used to blame the fans for the Club being shite, these guys make out the club is rock and rolling.

JP said his job depends on us getting promoted this season, he has to be sweating if that is true.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

JP said his job depends on us getting promoted this season, he has to be sweating if that is true.

I think he just clarified that by saying Clough now has 20 years to get promotion.

 

[wizadry]

We have lost 4 out of 5 games Scougall has started and in 3 of them the midfield has been completely overrun for long periods. I don't know what he's supposed to be doing but he isn't doing it.

So it's all Scougall's fault why we lost 4 out of the 5 games he played in

Admittedly there are a lot of attacks,chances and goals coming through the middle but he isn't the only one playing there,there's another 2 players who are a lot more defensive minded playing with him and it's normally them players who do the dirty work for players like Scouggs to do his best work.

There is no way our 2 defensive minded players,with Scouggs in there also,should be getting overrun.I think Doyle needs to have some blame in this,and the reason i say this is because apart from the Gillingham game where he played very well,he has been shite to say the least.He hasn't been keeping up with players coming past him and that's because he is unable to do it.

I had a look at the teams who Scouggs had faced and lost to,and they were B.City who are top,Swindon who are second,Chesterfield who are sixth and Coventry who are fifthteenth,so on reflection,apart from perhaps Coventry,i'd say he'd faced some tough sides and to blame us getting overrun,especially in the way in which Scouggs plays is a bit harsh imo.