Thoughts from the Bradford game

[Barney]

Please. Fuck off. Woolford had a superb game for us, showed why he is picked if he can turn in performances like that with a bit of confidence about him. Read through a few threads tonight wondering where your pointless negative bile would appear.

"Can't speak for individual performances" but go on go berate woolford without seeing him play as you have sold your season ticket ha!

You must fucking hate it when we win and do so convincingly with a superb team effort.

I enjoy every three points. That shouldn't stop me from discussing areas needing improvement. In no way does an innocent opinion on team selection warrant a post as aggressive and as poorly thought out as that.

 

[Top Cat]

Areas that need improving on based on you not watching the Blades since you flogged you season ticket (alledgedly)

 

[Barney]

Areas that need improving on based on you not watching the Blades since you flogged you season ticket (alledgedly)

I can spot a player that isn't good enough, and I've been to more than enough games to be able to do that.

 

[Caseh]

Could someone kindly tell Barney to fuck off from me please? As he supposedly put me on ignore.

 

[S5Blade]

I enjoy every three points. That shouldn't stop me from discussing areas needing improvement. In no way does an innocent opinion on team selection warrant a post as aggressive and as poorly thought out as that.

My argument poorly thought out? Where was the actual argument. Your mere presence on this forum is a poorly thought out and poorly executed troll. You can not comment on areas which you feel need improvement when you do not even see / listen to the performances.

If you think someone telling you to fuck off is aggressive then I think you need to take an even longer look at the real world my petal.

 

[PokerBlade]

• Connor Sammon's leap is not quite what nominative determinism would suggest

But it's twice what phrenology suggests.

 

[lazyfecklessblade]

But it's twice what phrenology suggests.

The famous Barney posts on a thread I started, and I learn a new word. What a lovely day!

 

[sitwell]

Wasn't sure where to post this given the ridiculous amounts of threads on the same thing, but I've just seen the result and what a pleasant change. Can't speak for individual performances obviously, but another win is another win and I can only be happy with that. Really dissapointed to see the line-up though, any other manager wouldn't be starting Woolford. Nothing unexpected there though. I wonder if he's realised how poor he is. Either he has, and is strangely still playing him, or he hasn't, which is just unbelievable for a man watchimg him train most days.

Look at me look at me ,please look at me. I don't watch Utd ,don't like Utd ,Ive got nothing to say but look at me anyway

 

[nicksufc]

Brayford and Coutts have a great understanding, glad we're finally seeing evidence of it.

 

[sothall blade]

Exactly the same at Scunthorpe. With added, Shhh which the ref didn't see.

Quite right WHF, with the added 1-0 finger gesture after the Shhh ! which neither the ref or lino saw which is hardly surprising with the linesmen

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Look at me look at me ,please look at me. I don't watch Utd ,don't like Utd ,Ive got nothing to say but look at me anyway

Credit where credit is due though, he's hit new heights/depths with his critique of yesterdays match and Woolford in particular.

 

[RMBlade]

To be fair Woolford has been terrible up until yesterday. Probably would give him a 7/10, solid defensively, good outlet for goal kicks having the beating of their RB in the air. Just needs to give a little more going forward in my opinion.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

To be fair Woolford has been terrible up until yesterday. Probably would give him a 7/10, solid defensively, good outlet for goal kicks having the beating of their RB in the air. Just needs to give a little more going forward in my opinion.

Compare and contrast your appraisal with our resident expert.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Credit where credit is due though, he's hit new heights/depths with his critique of yesterdays match and Woolford in particular.

Not trying to encourage Barney, but I'd be interested to know how he explains the idiot Adkins managing to engineer a 3-1 win. and four straight victories. Obviously he didn't see it, but that seems to be no barrier to having a view.

Woolford's general play was good, but as Barney will no doubt confirm, his cross for the third goal was excellent. We shouldn't ignore Sammon's decoy jump, which distracted the defence who mistakenly believed they needed to mark him, thereby giving Edgar a clear run

 

[MobileBlade]

Credit where credit is due though, he's hit new heights/depths with his critique of yesterdays match and Woolford in particular.

Is it just coincidence that the upturn in form has been since:

• Edgar returned
• Brayford returned
• Barney (allegedly) sold his season ticket and thus stopped shouting at Adkins from behind him (also allegedly)

 

[Deleted member 875]

I didn't go yesterday as I was at work, but from people have been telling me, Woolford had a superb game, maybe he is a confidence player, get him in a solid team that are playing well like we are doing and he will come in to his own.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Not trying to encourage Barney

Please don't...

 

[RMBlade]

Compare and contrast your appraisal with our resident expert.

I tend to skip through his posts.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Easily best home performance of the season! Big crowd including excellent Bradford support and really enjoyable. It all made the beers in the Sheaf Island afterwards taste that much sweeter. All the team played their part but there were some standout performances from Billy, Coutts and Brayford.

Long - some great saves especially the freekick but also generally good kicking and couldn't really do much about their goal.
Brayford - don't know if it's a coincidence that we've improved so much since he returned or just that Adkins has gone back to basics. Another solid game yesterday.
J-Mac - solid. didn't get grief from the crowd and didn't make any mistakes unless you count his obligatory rash tackle per game. My Dad would like that as he played full back and was an advocate of "letting the winger know you're there" early on.
Edgar - solid and great headed goal.
Collins - I thought he did really well against Hanson who is a big strong difficult opponent. He barely had a chance yesterday.
Coutts - completely different player to last season. Obviously fitter but looks assured on the ball and played some lovely football including the assist for Sammon's goal.
Hammond - much improved in last few games. Breaks things up and plays it simple. Good in air too.
Basham - much better tackling yesterday, saw much more of him than usual but still not a great passer of the ball.
Woolford - best game I've seen from him. Worked well and noticed he covered well for his full back. Lovely cross for Edgar's goal.
Sharp - tremendous goal, I was right behind it and he hit it really hard. Worked his socks off all game and gave their defenders a torrid time all afternoon.
Done - usual brilliant chasing everything and unfortunately got injured. Hope he's not out long.
Sammon - won a few headers for a change. When I watch him, it appears to me that he seems more concerned with leaning into his man than actually winning the ball. I feel he'd be better off just concentrating on the ball and drawing a foul rather than conceding one. Awful miss, nice finish.
Flynn - did ok and got involved in the few minutes he was on.
Jam - don't think he got a touch in his minute cameo.

Adkins - seems to have found a formula that works. Took him too long to realise that we needed to be solid first before being expansive. It showed yesterday that once we'd laid a solid foundation, it allowed us to play better football in the 2nd half.

If we can continue to play like that, we will be difficult to beat.
All the team deserve praise for the work they put in yesterday, they played for each other and as a team. Hopefully it can continue.

 

[Grappler]

Billy combines the goal scoring, passing, assists, and hold up play with some genuine grit and aggression. Not the biggest player in the team, and often taking on defenders who tower over him, but not scared to mix it when called for, and was in their faces yesterday in plenty of off the ball incidents.

The game started to change when Sammon came on, is that a coincidence or does Billy play better with him?

Not saying anything wrong about Matty Done, but wonder how the game would have progressed had he not gone off?

A wonderful Christmas holiday day out, none the less!

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Adkins - seems to have found a formula that works. Took him too long to realise that we needed to be solid first before being expansive. It showed yesterday that once we'd laid a solid foundation, it allowed us to play better football in the 2nd half.

Good post. Agree with most of that.

My twp pennorth:

I think attacking adventurous football was part of Adkins' remit when he was appointed. I'm pretty sure this was stated almost explicitly in interviews at the time.

(The general antipathy from most/many towards Clough's style meant it was seen as time for a (positive) change.)

The Shrewsbury game was not really a realisation more a final acceptance that it was not working, and time for a reassessment.

1-0 yesterday it did look almost Clough-like - except we are obviously a bit more solid now.

 

[PeteBlade]

Wasn't sure where to post this given the ridiculous amounts of threads on the same thing, but I've just seen the result and what a pleasant change. Can't speak for individual performances obviously, but another win is another win and I can only be happy with that. Really dissapointed to see the line-up though, any other manager wouldn't be starting Woolford. Nothing unexpected there though. I wonder if he's realised how poor he is. Either he has, and is strangely still playing him, or he hasn't, which is just unbelievable for a man watchimg him train most days.

Your obsession is rather sad.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

1-0 yesterday it did look almost Clough-like - except we are obviously a bit more solid now.

In the first half of the first leg of the play off against Swindon, the team played with verve and confidence and went 1-0. Second half they withdrew into themselves and the rest is history.

Yesterday, we fought out a 1-0 half time lead and came out second half with verve and confidence, it was almost irresistible (in hindsight of course, as we scored a second and third).

One swallow does not make a summer (or four swallows, with three clean sheets) but if we can maintain this improvement, then it looks quite different from Clough-like.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

In the first half of the first leg of the play off against Swindon, the team played with verve and confidence and went 1-0. Second half they withdrew into themselves and the rest is history.

Yesterday, we fought out a 1-0 half time lead and came out second half with verve and confidence, it was almost irresistible (in hindsight of course, as we scored a second and third).

One swallow does not make a summer (or four swallows, with three clean sheets) but if we can maintain this improvement, then it looks quite different from Clough-like.

To clarify I think the bit between going 1-0 up and half time we let them boss the game. Whether that was deliberately drawing them on I don't know. Going 1-0 up and retreating was the Clough-like bit, I meant.

Yes second half we went out on the front foot, and looked better for it - to put it mildly.

UTMB

 

[Pinchy]

Watching Brayford and Coutts link up today was worth the ticket price alone for me, first time in a while I've seen United players knock it about and not think to myself "I could do better than that" some great 1 touch passing and runs into space, top stuff.

Fans all over the land would agree with you. Unfortunately your audience is S2, so you will provoke a unique mix of bewilderment and hostility....

 

[Darthblade]

In the first half of the first leg of the play off against Swindon, the team played with verve and confidence and went 1-0. Second half they withdrew into themselves and the rest is history.

Yesterday, we fought out a 1-0 half time lead and came out second half with verve and confidence, it was almost irresistible (in hindsight of course, as we scored a second and third).

One swallow does not make a summer (or four swallows, with three clean sheets) but if we can maintain this improvement, then it looks quite different from Clough-like.

"One swallow does not make a summer" ...... I'm glad you pointed this out and I'm not going to take away from what was, without any doubt, the best performance of the season.

However, it must be stated that this MUST now be the benchmark performance if we are to entertain any realistic hopes of participating in the play-offs. It was a very solid "team" performance which I enjoyed more than any other game this season and whilst I acknowledge that I've not been too impressed with Billy this season, yesterday he played ( by a massive amount ), his best game in a United shirt. He must now continue to maintain this standard !!!

I would also say best performances of the season from Coutts, Woolford, and Edgar, but I have to highlight that Sammon's miss is the reason why we need a proper striker in January as I do not believe that a combination of Billy & Done, Billy & Adams or Adams & Done works at all well.

I think its also crucial that we don't allow ourselves to be diverted from pursuing immediate and urgent replacements for Collins and McEveley and the "culling" of dead wood in the JTW and the Summer.

But, all in all a very nice Xmas present from my beloved Blades and more of the same on Saturday would be most welcome please Santa Adkins !!

UTB & FTP

 

[Barney]

My argument poorly thought out? Where was the actual argument. Your mere presence on this forum is a poorly thought out and poorly executed troll. You can not comment on areas which you feel need improvement when you do not even see / listen to the performances.

If you think someone telling you to fuck off is aggressive then I think you need to take an even longer look at the real world my petal.

As I've explained, I made a comment about Woolford. I've seen him play enough already to be able to do that. You're just generalizing that as though I'm commenting on much more. Don't get uptight about something that isn't there. Oh and apologies, I had "fuck off" down as compliment too. Wowee, sir, wowee.

 

[PeteBlade]

As I've explained, I made a comment about Woolford. I've seen him play enough already to be able to do that. You're just generalizing that as though I'm commenting on much more. Don't get uptight about something that isn't there. Oh and apologies, I had "fuck off" down as compliment too. Wowee, sir, wowee.

Your statement that 'any other manager' wouldn't start Woolford is bullshit.

Maybe that's your problem, your melodramatic style and misuse of the English language?

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Your statement that 'any other manager' wouldn't start Woolford is bullshit.

Maybe that's your problem, your melodramatic style and misuse of the English language?

Plus a degree of utter ignorance?

 

[Deaneandagana]

Easily best home performance of the season! Big crowd including excellent Bradford support and really enjoyable. It all made the beers in the Sheaf Island afterwards taste that much sweeter. All the team played their part but there were some standout performances from Billy, Coutts and Brayford.

Long - some great saves especially the freekick but also generally good kicking and couldn't really do much about their goal.
Brayford - don't know if it's a coincidence that we've improved so much since he returned or just that Adkins has gone back to basics. Another solid game yesterday.
J-Mac - solid. didn't get grief from the crowd and didn't make any mistakes unless you count his obligatory rash tackle per game. My Dad would like that as he played full back and was an advocate of "letting the winger know you're there" early on.
Edgar - solid and great headed goal.
Collins - I thought he did really well against Hanson who is a big strong difficult opponent. He barely had a chance yesterday.
Coutts - completely different player to last season. Obviously fitter but looks assured on the ball and played some lovely football including the assist for Sammon's goal.
Hammond - much improved in last few games. Breaks things up and plays it simple. Good in air too.
Basham - much better tackling yesterday, saw much more of him than usual but still not a great passer of the ball.
Woolford - best game I've seen from him. Worked well and noticed he covered well for his full back. Lovely cross for Edgar's goal.
Sharp - tremendous goal, I was right behind it and he hit it really hard. Worked his socks off all game and gave their defenders a torrid time all afternoon.
Done - usual brilliant chasing everything and unfortunately got injured. Hope he's not out long.
Sammon - won a few headers for a change. When I watch him, it appears to me that he seems more concerned with leaning into his man than actually winning the ball. I feel he'd be better off just concentrating on the ball and drawing a foul rather than conceding one. Awful miss, nice finish.
Flynn - did ok and got involved in the few minutes he was on.
Jam - don't think he got a touch in his minute cameo.

Adkins - seems to have found a formula that works. Took him too long to realise that we needed to be solid first before being expansive. It showed yesterday that once we'd laid a solid foundation, it allowed us to play better football in the 2nd half.

If we can continue to play like that, we will be difficult to beat.
All the team deserve praise for the work they put in yesterday, they played for each other and as a team. Hopefully it can continue.

Agree, top performance, easily the best under Adkins, several players - Billy, Coutts, Hammond, Brayford & Edgar were immense.

I've been Coutts biggest critic but he had a 20 minute spell in the 2nd half where he effectively ran the game.

Also, it was enjoyable yesterday I thought I got VFM in terms of the £29 admission.

The key is as you rightly say, is consistency of performances & results & you never know.