Thoughts from the Bradford game

[1danewhitehouse]

One thing I noticed was an incident in the first half. We’d just made a couple of crunching tackles and got away with it, then Bradford play down the left and Kyle Reid is at the byeline in space. I think Brayford was making his way over to him and the fear that he was going to get a whack was tangible. He ended up mis-controlling the ball and running it out for a goal kick as he was looking over his shoulder.


It was nice to see the oppositions flair players playing within themselves and with a bit of fear at the lane. It’s nice to see us starting to become the nasty team we once were and to see Bramall Lane being a place of dread for opponents. Long may it continue.


What was also nice to see was the swagger we played with in the 2nd half which was typified by Paul Coutts. Always willing to receive the ball in the tightest of spaces and would hold onto it until Brayford or Sharp inevitably gave him an option. The way those 3 linked up at times was fantastic. Was great to see Basham winning so many 50/50s in midfield as well. Yes he’s limited on the ball but our midfield looks far better with him and Hammond in it as the opposition don’t get to play.



Also, I wish the opposition would boo Sharp every week. Seems to give him an extra edge to his game.

 

[sitwell]

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.

Great point about McEverely ,maybe he got away with it the other week but not only has an early challenge 'let the winger know hes there', but it has also got the crowd going and made for a better atmosphere and the game has been better for it. Tony Kenworthy actually praised his challenge the other week ,saying they were always told to set a marker early in the game ,Doyle was very good at this. We have had quite a few players over the years who have vanished after an early wakener ,about time we started to give some back.

 

[sitwell]

One thing I noticed was an incident in the first half. We’d just made a couple of crunching tackles and got away with it, then Bradford play down the left and Kyle Reid is at the byeline in space. I think Brayford was making his way over to him and the fear that he was going to get a whack was tangible. He ended up mis-controlling the ball and running it out for a goal kick as he was looking over his shoulder.


It was nice to see the oppositions flair players playing within themselves and with a bit of fear at the lane. It’s nice to see us starting to become the nasty team we once were and to see Bramall Lane being a place of dread for opponents. Long may it continue.


What was also nice to see was the swagger we played with in the 2nd half which was typified by Paul Coutts. Always willing to receive the ball in the tightest of spaces and would hold onto it until Brayford or Sharp inevitably gave him an option. The way those 3 linked up at times was fantastic. Was great to see Basham winning so many 50/50s in midfield as well. Yes he’s limited on the ball but our midfield looks far better with him and Hammond in it as the opposition don’t get to play.



Also, I wish the opposition would boo Sharp every week. Seems to give him an extra edge to his game.

Coutts is always willing to receive the ball and the players are confident giving it him even with 3 men around him ,this is what I noticed a while ago and the reason I think he will prove to be an outstanding player ,he never gives the ball away and from what I have heard he is brilliant in training.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I posted we were about to turn a corner a few weeks back , got some real negative responses from some , but its starting to look clearer to more now that perhaps we are getting our mojo back as our better players start to find match fitness after injuries.

The players who were being slagged off are beginning to shine now long may it continue !!

 

[wizadry]

The players who were being slagged off are beginning to shine now long may it continue !!

Yes, the fans gave the players the kick up the arse they needed, well done fans

 

[PeteBlade]

I posted we were about to turn a corner a few weeks back , got some real negative responses from some , but its starting to look clearer to more now that perhaps we are getting our mojo back as our better players start to find match fitness after injuries.

More than a tad misleading.

Adkins has realised that we couldn't carry on as we were (as pointed out by a fair few) and almost completely changed the way we set up and our style of play.

To suggest that our run is purely down to players returning to match fitness is daft.

 

[blade too long]

More than a tad misleading.

Adkins has realised that we couldn't carry on as we were (as pointed out by a fair few) and almost completely changed the way we set up and our style of play.

To suggest that our run is purely down to players returning to match fitness is daft.

You can only play certain systems and set ups with players capable of doing it
no matter what system you play unless the quality is there it wont change
and if the players arent fit enough to track back and show the strength we have done recently

its barmy to say a change of system alone has changed results
"Adkins realised we couldnt carry on as we were "
you dont say, perhaps we should try winning instead of losing you mean
Van Gaal s hoping to get a cl spot on changing systems then is he
or hoping some players out just now get fit

 

[coaxingstar71]

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.

Fair points regarding Adkins' remit. I do think however that it was blatantly obvious it wasn't working after the double Bury and Colchester defeats.

I think there is still one big difference from the Clough era, that being despite playing more solidly, we are still playing with 2 up front, whereas one of my bugbears with Clough is that we were playing one isolated up front and invariably the ball just kept coming back to defend.

 

[PeteBlade]

You can only play certain systems and set ups with players capable of doing it
no matter what system you play unless the quality is there it wont change
and if the players arent fit enough to track back and show the strength we have done recently

its barmy to say a change of system alone has changed results
"Adkins realised we couldnt carry on as we were "
you dont say, perhaps we should try winning instead of losing you mean
Van Gaal s hoping to get a cl spot on changing systems then is he
or hoping some players out just now get fit

I didn't say it was completely down to the system change but I'm 100% sure it wasn't a simplistic case of players returning to fitness.

You're going to have to trust people who've been watching the games on this one.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Coutts is always willing to receive the ball and the players are confident giving it him even with 3 men around him ,this is what I noticed a while ago and the reason I think he will prove to be an outstanding player ,he never gives the ball away and from what I have heard he is brilliant in training.

The difference is yesterday he had runners. He can hold onto the ball long enough to allow Brayford to bomb on and then pick him out. In other games he's held on to the ball but then had to play backwards.

 

[blade too long]

I didn't say it was completely down to the system change but I'm 100% sure it wasn't a simplistic case of players returning to fitness.

You're going to have to trust people who've been watching the games on this one.

I saw us beat Coventry live and watched us on tv yesterday via Betfred
You can see the energy levels are up 15%

 

[PeteBlade]

I saw us beat Coventry live and watched us on tv yesterday via Betfred
You can see the energy levels are up 15%

2 matches than, and not the previous matches? Kind of proves my point.

 

[blade too long]

2 matches than, and not the previous matches? Kind of proves my point.

seen us around 14 times on tv, internet
but theres pre Brayford playing and post Brayford playing

does he make such a difference
do Man City miss Kompany

blades on bt europe now
west ham at home relegation year 1994

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I saw us beat Coventry live and watched us on tv yesterday via Betfred
You can see the energy levels are up 15%

15% is a particularly accurate figure. How have you been measuring it?

I think they've clearly been giving 110%.

 

[PeteBlade]

seen us around 14 times on tv, internet
but theres pre Brayford playing and post Brayford playing

does he make such a difference
do Man City miss Kompany

blades on bt europe now
west ham at home relegation year 1994

He's not made the difference you seem to think he has.
Not as much as the changes made by Adkins anyway.

 

[blade too long]

15% is a particularly accurate figure. How have you been measuring it?

I think they've clearly been giving 110%.

theyd only been giving 95% then bout reet

 

[blade too long]

He's not made the difference you seem to think he has.
Not as much as the changes made by Adkins anyway.

Adkins could only initiate the changes due to the solidity Brayfords brought

 

[PeteBlade]

Adkins could only initiate the changes due to the solidity Brayfords brought

I give up with you. There's no talking to you.
It's like arguing with a brick wall that's only ever seen other brick walls via the Internet.

 

[blade too long]

I give up with you. There's no talking to you.
It's like arguing with a brick wall that's only ever seen other brick walls via the Internet.

your the one arguing my initial opinion post
like we lost every league game with Murphy 4-0
yet people be moan him going, strange
he didnt affect results

 

[PeteBlade]

your the one arguing my initial opinion post
like we lost every league game with Murphy 4-0
yet people be moan him going, strange
he didnt affect results

As usual, you've defended into talking that much nonsense I've no idea what point it is you're trying to make.

I'm not even sure you know yourself.

 

[Snowman]

As usual, you've defended into talking that much nonsense I've no idea what point it is you're trying to make.

I'm not even sure you know yourself.

He is saying x and you are saying y. When x is the terminal velocity of a McEverly forearm smash divided by a (alpha) the angle of a typical misplaced George Long goal kick multiplied by a factor of three d (delta) which represents the number of chances Baxter has had of avoiding being sacked.This yields x/a x d or 70 divided by 50 multiplied by 3 or 4.2.

Whilst y is of course the length of Adkins knob s (sigma) divided by the length of Steve Evans tongue t (theta) all multiplied by the weight of the Steve Evans Arse and man tit weight o (omega) plus McCabe's calculated notional contribution to funds this season b (beta) all divided by Sammons anticipated misses in front of an open goal this season g (gamma). This yields y = ((s/t) x o + b)/g or 4/8 x60 + 12 = 42/ 10 or 4.2.

This therefore proves you are both talking bollocks.

 

[PeteBlade]

He is saying x and you are saying y. When x is the terminal velocity of a McEverly forearm smash divided by a (alpha) the angle of a typical misplaced George Long goal kick multiplied by a factor of three d (delta) which represents the number of chances Baxter has had of avoiding being sacked.This yields x/a x d or 70 divided by 50 multiplied by 3 or 4.2.

Whilst y is of course the length of Adkins knob s (sigma) divided by the length of Steve Evans tongue t (theta) all multiplied by the weight of the Steve Evans Arse and man tit weight o (omega) plus McCabe's calculated notional contribution to funds this season b (beta) all divided by Sammons anticipated misses in front of an open goal this season g (gamma). This yields y = ((s/t) x o + b)/g or 4/8 x60 + 12 = 42/ 10 or 4.2.

This therefore proves you are both talking bollocks.

That must have taken you a while.

 

[Barney]

He's not made the difference you seem to think he has.
Not as much as the changes made by Adkins anyway.

Is that a fact, or is that an opinion from a secondary position?

 

[PeteBlade]

Is that a fact, or is that an opinion from a secondary position?

That's my opinion having watched the vast majority of our games first hand this season and not having had a flounce and selling my imaginary season ticket.

 

[Barney]

That's my opinion

All I wanted. Thank you. It's just that you were throwing out the "100%'s" earlier and so I thought this was one of those.

 

[PeteBlade]

All I wanted. Thank you. It's just that you were throwing out the "100%'s" earlier and so I thought this was one of those.

Happy to be of assistance.
And well done on posting twice in a row without somehow managing to slag Adkins off for one reason or another.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Thought their two best players were Billy Clarke (10) and Liddle (8).

Clarke's contract is up next summer.

 

[Snowman]

That must have taken you a while.

Indeed. It's amazing what a combination of drink and boredom can achieve. Somewhere in this house there is an LED illuminated model of the Eiffel tower to be constructed. I just can't be arsed to find it.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Adkins could only initiate the changes due to the solidity Brayfords brought

So Hammond coming back to reasonable fitness and playing well is down to our,admittedly very good, right backs return? And had Brayford still been out Hammond would not have improved?

That's the trouble watching games on a small screen, you don't get the full picture. No pun intended.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Indeed. It's amazing what a combination of drink and boredom can achieve. Somewhere in this house there is an LED illuminated model of the Eiffel tower to be constructed. I just can't be arsed to find it.

Try the hood of your anorak!