Those who went to Fleetwood

[BushBlade]

Wow. The Bristol Rovers goal. If I had to pick a best goal I've ever seen this would be it. For years I thought I was the only one who'd noticed it. The people who I was with at the time didn't think anything of it. I thought it was Genius from another World. Pele tried something similar once - but missed the target.

Now where's Nade's MS Paint thread?

At the time I thought it was pretty good, very quick thinking but after the game my mate's dad, who used to stand at the front in a flat cap, as they did in those days, told us to remember that goal as we wouldn't see many better. He wasn't wrong.

 

[derryblade]

It would appear from the players performances this year they don't get this "modern football" either, so KE is not on his own

 

[Hugh Nitedite]

A couple of mates of mine went and were unanimous that with the exception of Reed, Kieron Wallace and Done ( despite his current lack of form) they would be happy to see the back of the entire starting line up from last night in January. Brutal but sadly probably right

Not sure if your mates were at the same game as me then because none of those three had a particularly good game from where I was sat, MOM as voted on the coach home was Long (which tells its own story) followed by Scougall and J Wallace

 

[LoughboroBlade]

From the highlights, Scougs seems to do well to fashion a chance, Kennavaro really should be hitting the target (and does indeed look chunkier, can't be good for the knees), and Long makes a couple of smart saves – particularly the second.

Sharp's penalty was poor. Not far enough in the corner, and at a decent height to save.

 

[Foxy]

If you pause the video at the right time, you can see me recording Tel's miss that I posted elsewhere

 

[sothall blade]

Stick the ball in one end and keep it out of the other.

Simples !

 

[sothall blade]

THOSE WHO WENT TO FLEETWOOD

I take my hat off to you ...... respect !!

I wouldn't have gone if SUFC paid for my ticket and let me travel on the team bus. What an embarrassment ......
UTB & FTP

what about if they chucked a free bar in ?............ Oh hang on a minute,we are talking sheffield utd

 

[SB_90]

Sharp's penalty was poor. Not far enough in the corner, and at a decent height to save.

sharps return has been complete opposite to how we all imagined it in our rose tinted glasses he missed numerous sitters & few penalties. Also I couldnt tell bar penalty miss what he did off bench last night.

 

[groveblade]

My thoughts on the match for anyone who's interested:

Poor game, very even - both sides kept the ball ok but were then toothless in the last third of the pitch. We had looked like we were getting on top until Hammond and Sharp came on for Wallace and Sammon.

Ratings:

Long 7 - made some good saves, did well on crosses and corners - still doesn't look entirely convincing but suppose that's due to previous experiences.... pushing Howard for a starting place IMO and has kept 2 clean sheets in 2.
McGahey 6 - v.poor 1st half where he looked clumsy, slow and half asleep followed by v.decent 2nd half where he was strong, got forward well (!) and dominated his man (no better than a reserve though)
Kennedy 7 - has put some weight on, looked a bit slow but defended very well and always tackles, blocks and clears well - would be good alongside a dominant centre half...
McEveley 7 - steady, won a lot of ball, only the odd dozy moment and generally a solid display (pen aside)
K Wallace 6 - ok, but not as good as usual going forward and also seemed to get beaten down his side once or twice
Woolford 5 - a few nice touches and gets in good positions to shoot but then seems to lack confidence to just hit it... quite weak on a number of occasions and also didn't seem to defend well - disappointing
Scougall 7 - I may be a bit biased but for me he improves the team as he always runs with the ball at pace, set up a couple of chances and worked hard - at times he could do with others picking up on the half chances and loose balls his runs create. Still too weak physically though.
Reed 5- poor last night for me. Always seemed to be 2nd best to his opponents and just seemed to make the numbers up in midfield
J Wallace 7 - encouraging display, good passing, gets the ball moving nicely and is one of our only midfielders who looks to go and win the ball off the oppo rather than just standing off at a respectful distance... surprised he stayed on so long but hopefully he can get 10-20 mins on Sat...
Sammon 6 - missed a few chances but at least made the runs to get in there - did cause some problems but with his physique should be bullying defenders a lot more.. didn't win loads in the air either - he should have stayed on rather than Done though..
Done 5 - very disappointing, marked out of the game all night, did work hard but seemed to be reacting too late rather than anticipating and making things happen. He didn't help us move the ball forward quickly as his channel runs were too late/badly thought out (Sammon guilty of poor movement too, IMO)

Hammond 5 - just can't see what he offers at the moment - hopefully he's playing himself back into form....
Sharp 5 - didn't get very involved when he came on and missed his pen - needs a goal to get his confidence back
Baxter 7 - in 10 mins managed to make more incisive forward passes than the rest did in 90. Must be in the team at the moment for me as he at least looks like he's got the balls to try and make things happen.

 

[Kendal]

I've seen better games down the park, in the under 6 girls. Both teams were crap. The 'highlight' was the screechy bint who had a thing for George Long.
McGahey was the weakest link. Every time they came down our right, he was beaten by exactly the same ball into space behind him. He did make some great passes though. Unfortunately not to players in lime green.
Scougall & James Wallace seemed to be the only ones who wanted to put a shift in. Done tried a few times. Sammon seemed more interested in a cuddle with their number 6. Did like the 'That boy connor Samom, he's better than cod' though. Worth having him in the team just for that.
Adkin's interview on youtube certainly makes it look like he was as pissed off as the rest of us.
It was a blessing that its straight to penalties rather than extra time.
I've decided that Fleetwood takes the prize from Barrow as being the biggest dump at the arse end of nowhere. It took longer to get from the motorway than it did to get down to Garstang from Kendal.

 

[spongebobblade]

Not sure if your mates were at the same game as me then because none of those three had a particularly good game from where I was sat, MOM as voted on the coach home was Long (which tells its own story) followed by Scougall and J Wallace

Theyre point was that though one or two may have had reasonable games, yet again nobody set the world on fire. The 3 have shown in the past they would be useful in our squad, whereas the rest wouldn't be missed. Tuesday just reaffirmed they're thoughts

 

[Rodders]

Theyre point was that though one or two may have had reasonable games, yet again nobody set the world on fire. The 3 have shown in the past they would be useful in our squad, whereas the rest wouldn't be missed. Tuesday just reaffirmed they're thoughts

I didn't go on Tuesday, but I think that's the problem - they're all 6 / 10's. There's no-one who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and win it single-handedly.

 

[Treeton Blade]

I didn't go on Tuesday, but I think that's the problem - they're all 6 / 10's. There's no-one who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and win it single-handedly.

Only James Wallace, and he`s never fully fit.

 

[XpressBlade]

We are utmost at fucking up most!

 

[mosbolad]

I've seen better games down the park, in the under 6 girls. Both teams were crap. The 'highlight' was the screechy bint who had a thing for George Long.
McGahey was the weakest link. Every time they came down our right, he was beaten by exactly the same ball into space behind him. He did make some great passes though. Unfortunately not to players in lime green.
Scougall & James Wallace seemed to be the only ones who wanted to put a shift in. Done tried a few times. Sammon seemed more interested in a cuddle with their number 6. Did like the 'That boy connor Samom, he's better than cod' though. Worth having him in the team just for that.
Adkin's interview on youtube certainly makes it look like he was as pissed off as the rest of us.
It was a blessing that its straight to penalties rather than extra time.
I've decided that Fleetwood takes the prize from Barrow as being the biggest dump at the arse end of nowhere. It took longer to get from the motorway than it did to get down to Garstang from Kendal.

What about a prize for the incredibly angry old bloke shaking his walking stick or crutch and shouting obscenities to any Sheffield united player who was in earshot.

Oh and special mention to the 'snap him' 'break his fuckin' legs' (on every Blades tackle) 'blade' who was sat behind me. Needless to say I moved.

 

[Trigger Blade]

What about a prize for the incredibly angry old bloke shaking his walking stick or crutch and shouting obscenities to any Sheffield united player who was in earshot.

Oh and special mention to the 'snap him' 'break his fuckin' legs' (on every Blades tackle) 'blade' who was sat behind me. Needless to say I moved.

Yes, they were behind me, I've never heard such constant drivel from about four of them, including two girls, it was excruciating and incessant. I moved at half time, but things didn't improve for me, I ended up sat with Fleety

We established it was exactly 10 years ago to the day that we met and sat in a bar in Malta watching W*dnesday losing 3-1 at home to Cardiff on Sky rather than watching the Red And White Wizards, as we'd expected. We hadn't met since and in the meantime, little Jake who was about ten at the time, is now about 6' 2"

I expect we'll meet up again in another ten years, possibly in the San Siro, for a Champions' League game

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Tbf to Staton I'm not sure how much whingeing he did.

Edwards otoh moaned almost constantly. Reminded me of Fred Trueman's stints on TMS.

The fans want to see us playing it forwards.

No Keith. *Some* fans want to us playing it forward.

At least one fan thinks that's likely to cede possession and control to the opposition. He wants us retain possession and control the game.

Undoubtedly we could move the ball quicker and sometimes be more incisive.

Quite funny that under Warnock and Blackwell, Edwards banged on and on and on about how we should keep possession more. Now we do it, he moans we need to get it forrud. He’s every bit as fickle as some knownowt fans. There’s a reason he hasn’t gone into management.

I suppose you could say he is the spokesman for that contingent of fans.

For what it's worth, I think Kevin Gage and David Holdsworth are far better analysts although I'm so conditioned now that when Keith's not co-commentating it feels wrong despite the superior analysis on offer. I need a regular fix of "fust" "pussesssion" "when I was playing" "wasn't even a foul in my day" etc.

 

[Darthblade]

Tbf to Staton I'm not sure how much whingeing he did.

Edwards otoh moaned almost constantly. Reminded me of Fred Trueman's stints on TMS.

The fans want to see us playing it forwards.

No Keith. *Some* fans want to us playing it forward.

At least one fan thinks that's likely to cede possession and control to the opposition. He wants us retain possession and control the game.

Undoubtedly we could move the ball quicker and sometimes be more incisive.

Just to be pedantic here ........ some of us would like to see the ball "played" forwards much more often ( not hoofed a la Blackwell ) on the basis that at the moment we tend to have about 60 - 70 % possession but a lot of that is in our half. Zero danger to the opposition !!

We have many players who are comfortable with a sideways pass or a backwards pass, which you or I could play. Our movement off the ball is shocking for professional footballers and too many players like to stand and admire their last pass ( successful or not ).

All this tends to add up to a side who do not trouble opposition defences / goalkeepers often enough, hence our poor league performances and current position. Answer ..... big clear-out asap and replace with players who do have movement and passing ability. Regrettably ..... not an overnight solution.

But I do agree with you regarding retaining possession and therefore controlling the game.

UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

From the highlights, Scougs seems to do well to fashion a chance, Kennavaro really should be hitting the target (and does indeed look chunkier, can't be good for the knees), and Long makes a couple of smart saves – particularly the second.

Sharp's penalty was poor. Not far enough in the corner, and at a decent height to save.

I know I've been a bit critical of Billy's lack of "sharpness" ( sorry ) lately, but it has to be said that if he wanted to hit a really bad penalty, he couldn't have really done a better job in terms of where and how he placed it !!

For a "ruthless" experienced goalscorer, who's also a penalty taker, it was a complete disaster !!! No getting away from it ........ They'd have been better of letting George Long take it !

UTB & FTP

 

[Grey Blade]

What about a prize for the incredibly angry old bloke shaking his walking stick or crutch and shouting obscenities to any Sheffield united player who was in earshot.

He was still waving his stick as I walked past him after the shoot out, and I did think of asking him why he was so upset but thought better of it.

2nd prize should go to the wheelchair bound fan who hurled the ball at the Fleetwood fullback during the second half. There was a momentary reaction from the player but fortunately for both a Cantona moment didn't follow.

 

[SB_90]

2nd prize should go to the wheelchair bound fan who hurled the ball at the Fleetwood fullback during the second half. There was a momentary reaction from the player but fortunately for both a Cantona moment didn't follow.

agree i was sat about 5ish seats away from him on the 2nd row & that was up there with the salmon chant for best entertainment of the night. as if 47's looks could kill.

 

[Kenilworth]

Tbf to Staton I'm not sure how much whingeing he did.

Edwards otoh moaned almost constantly. Reminded me of Fred Trueman's stints on TMS.

The fans want to see us playing it forwards.

No Keith. *Some* fans want to us playing it forward.

At least one fan thinks that's likely to cede possession and control to the opposition. He wants us retain possession and control the game.

Undoubtedly we could move the ball quicker and sometimes be more incisive.

Instead we keep the ball a while longer so they can regroup and then we still give the ball back to them once our lads have had a touch between themselves across the back four.
Also - I'd question the use of the phrase "control the game"
We certainly control a tempo - but seldom control a game
Otherwise we'd be winning more and be in the top two.

Incisive is the word I'd agree with - no where near enough of that.
It's too slow and predictable because we have to work at the pace that these players can control the football.
It's better than Worcester City but it isn't better than most of the teams in this division - that's the cold hard truth

 

[derryblade]

It's too slow and predictable because we have to work at the pace that these players can control the football

Shocking but unfortunately spot on.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Instead we keep the ball a while longer

The thinking is that it's better for us to have the ball than for them to have the ball. I agree.

we still give the ball back to them once our lads have had a touch between themselves across the back four.

Or several touches across the back four and keeper.

Of course a lot of the time we end up giving it back to them: if this worked every time then we'd win every game 20-0. If you play like this then you patiently work it up the field and maybe create a handful of good/very good chances over the course of the game and a few half chances. I think we tend to do that.

Also - I'd question the use of the phrase "control the game"

In the sense that if you've got control of the ball then you've got control of the game. If you're 1-0 up and letting the opposition have the ball then possession is much less control of the game. If it's level and you're the one with the ball then with qualifications (eg you could be confident in your ability to spring a counterattack) I think that counts as control of the game.

Playing this way we have scored lots of goals this season. We have also missed tons of chances. I think our problems are dynamism and defending in midfield and, for now, finishing. We aren't losing bc of our periods of possession football: we're losing bc we don't cover properly in midfield or defence. (All the more reason to keep the ball.)

Whenever we do go long we create very little. It's hopeless and aimless. It's not even superficially exciting because we're not very good at it and the opposition just get control of the ball.

My frustration with the passing game tends to come when we don't have Sammon in the side, the opposition press us from goal kicks and we have to go long to Done, or Sharp and the obviously lose out to 6'2" centre backs - Che less so bc he seems to win quite a bit in the air - a side of his game I wasn't expecting.

 

[Kenilworth]

The thinking is that it's better for us to have the ball than for them to have the ball. I agree.



Or several touches across the back four and keeper.

Of course a lot of the time we end up giving it back to them: if this worked every time then we'd win every game 20-0. If you play like this then you patiently work it up the field and maybe create a handful of good/very good chances over the course of the game and a few half chances. I think we tend to do that.



In the sense that if you've got control of the ball then you've got control of the game. If you're 1-0 up and letting the opposition have the ball then possession is much less control of the game. If it's level and you're the one with the ball then with qualifications (eg you could be confident in your ability to spring a counterattack) I think that counts as control of the game.

Playing this way we have scored lots of goals this season. We have also missed tons of chances. I think our problems are dynamism and defending in midfield and, for now, finishing. We aren't losing bc of our periods of possession football: we're losing bc we don't cover properly in midfield or defence. (All the more reason to keep the ball.)

Whenever we do go long we create very little. It's hopeless and aimless. It's not even superficially exciting because we're not very good at it and the opposition just get control of the ball.

My frustration with the passing game tends to come when we don't have Sammon in the side, the opposition press us from goal kicks and we have to go long to Done, or Sharp and the obviously lose out to 6'2" centre backs - Che less so bc he seems to win quite a bit in the air - a side of his game I wasn't expecting.

The point is - we don't control anything but tedium
:facepalm:

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

The point is - we don't control anything but tedium
:facepalm:

Agreed: It's much more exciting when they have the ball. Especially with our weaknesses in midfield and defending. Edge of the seat stuff.

 

[Rodley]

Quite funny that under Warnock and Blackwell, Edwards banged on and on and on about how we should keep possession more. Now we do it, he moans we need to get it forrud. He’s every bit as fickle as some knownowt fans. There’s a reason he hasn’t gone into management.

I suppose you could say he is the spokesman for that contingent of fans.

For what it's worth, I think Kevin Gage and David Holdsworth are far better analysts although I'm so conditioned now that when Keith's not co-commentating it feels wrong despite the superior analysis on offer. I need a regular fix of "fust" "pussesssion" "when I was playing" "wasn't even a foul in my day" etc.

I just think it's time for a change. I don't want to listen to someone moaning about why he doesn't want to be there. Kevin Gage was in a different league!

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Watched the, er, highlights on Blades Player last night.

Some of the defending (as a team) looked bloody awful. I know the team was a bit makeshift, but still.

The plus points were: there were some good chances created, and Scoogs seemed involved in anything positive that happened.

Also a couple or three very good saves from Long.

 

[SB_90]

Seeing Wouldve had League 2 Morecambe at home in JPT SF's Hurts more than losing on pens on Tuesday. As it just shows how much there was a Wembley trip was there for the taking