tick tock

[Micalijo]

I remember Kabba only too well... At best he was a clueless bundler with a touch that makes Monty look like Messi

I'm slightly alarmed by the lack of those funny face things or an exclamation mark.

I can't see how any Blade can seriously say Kabba was at his best a clueless bundler. OK, he obvioulsy wasn't your and plenty of others favourite player but I'm pretty much lost for words by your summary of him. Do you not accept he played a vital role in our sensational start to 05/06? I know he let himsen down at Elland Road after the match but he was brilliant that night. Never the same again really.

 

[davidpinder]

As much as it pains me to say it, we should really look at Blackpool and the way they approached last season. They didn't have the best squad by a long way but developed a quick passing style, based around possession and movement and stuck to it and the majority of teams in the division didn't know what to do to combat it. WBA, another possession team, Swansea as well although ultimately they didn't have anything up front to make it pay.

No doubts KB will start with a solid defence as a base and I'm reasonably confident that if he gets that right, we have the players to score goals provided, and here we are again, we get the midfield right both in terms of possession and style. The final point remains the key, as ever.

I completely agree i would love us to have the blackpool approach make the players take there own kit home to wash and everything. One problem at the moment Blackpool had a full squad of players. We don't.

 

[Ollessendro]

To be honest Olle, I think KB realises that he has to change the approach now. Ive been getting those vibes all summer from the players he has signed and from the ones he has targeted. My reservations and doubts are more about whether he has the ability to alter things. I think the motivation and realisation is finally there but I worry about whether changing his philosophy will prove too difficult a task.

I wouldnt even describe the football we played last season as negative. It was just a little primative at times and lacked imagination for the most part. We need to change the way we use the ball when we win possession back. There is too much haste in getting the ball forward and not enough originality. It made us predictable for most of the season but fortunately there were only a handful of teams good enough to make us pay for it.

I do agree that we need to establish a strong back 5. That is an absolute must for any side looking to cement a top 6 place. The only way you can get by without it is by having a potent attack in the manner Wolves did when they went up. With Morgs and either Noz or Bartley alongside him, we then require a couple of full backs who first and foremost defend properly. Butterfield and Dickinson have been mentioned and they would probably do a decent job. I know very little about this Belgian lad who we're rumoured to be signing so I'll reserve judgment but perhaps he could play a part!

I just don't share your optimism Lou. I'd love to see KB come out and prove me wrong, but I can't see him changing the error of his ways. I'm expecting more dull, negative hoofball.

Maybe the home games were different, but he certainly set out just to get a point for many away games. A game against QPR sticks out in my mind and sums up his mentality. We went 1 down early on. In the second half we equalised and QPR were there for the taking. We had a good spell and QPR were on the rack. Instead we sat back and played for the 1-1 draw. Every blade knbew that they were there to be stuffed, but KB took a point. We had attacking options on the bench and he didn't even get them to warm up. After the game he came over and celebrated like we had won. I thought one guy at the side of me was going to climb over and hit him. I just felt sick when he did it. A few weeks later we played QPR in the cup. It was a replay and we had to win. We went out and played to win. We scored 3 times and (although the game finished 3-2) we gave them a drubbing. I know it is only one example but sums it all for me.

Agree with that. Blackwell's method is very much reliant on not conceding. He's like the anti-Keegan.

There's no chance our back four is strong enough to rely on as we did in '08-'09, so next season we have to keep the ball better and show more goal threat. Otherwise it's another season like last, which no-one wants to see.

With regard to the comments about pace, it is something we can do without so long as our touch and passing are quick. Burnley showed how a team with few quick players can still play quickly, but we simply don't have the players with the skill or speed of thought. So pace is definitely a priority.

I'm predicting another season like last. I'd love him to prove me wrong, but just can't see it. More poor performances, more poor results and more excuses.

 

[Oreyt]

I watched 05/06 DVD at about 3 oclock in the morning recently. I was absolutely Simon Westoned after about 11 hours of drinking.

Even in that state I wouldn't have described Kabba as a ''clueless bundler''.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I completely agree i would love us to have the blackpool approach make the players take there own kit home to wash and everything. One problem at the moment Blackpool had a full squad of players. We don't.

Holloway started last Summer with around 10-12 players if memory serves. They did in 08/09 exactly what we did last season and had 20 plus loanees so he had no option but to re-build last Summer.

By the way, that stuff about Hendrie washing his own kit was bollox by all acccounts.

 

[SwissBlade]

I'm slightly alarmed by the lack of those funny face things or an exclamation mark.

I can't see how any Blade can seriously say Kabba was at his best a clueless bundler. OK, he obvioulsy wasn't your and plenty of others favourite player but I'm pretty much lost for words by your summary of him. Do you not accept he played a vital role in our sensational start to 05/06? I know he let himsen down at Elland Road after the match but he was brilliant that night. Never the same again really.

!!

Its not that I disliked him, he was almost a figure of amusement with the way that it often took him 4 touches to attempt to get the ball under control in the box, the ball pin balling off his knees, shins, ankles as he wildly swung his legs to get the ball under, finally resulting in the ball bobbling into the goal

I can't disagree that he played a vital role, he was just what we wanted during that season a pacey clueless bundler is just what you need at times, to somehow bundle the ball in the back of the net.

You hear it every now and again that it doesn't matter how the ball goes in, NW said in his teamtalk once "i don't care if it goes in off a backside or a knob end". Kabba, during that season was just in the right place a lot of the time. But his passing and shooting was often atrocious

 

[LouTheBlade]

Mic/Swiss,

The problem with Kabba IMO, was that he lost far too much weight during that long lay off with injury. The injury itself didnt affect his confidence or any of his technical attributes. He was much more imposing and difficult to shrug off the ball when he first came to United. After the injury he was far too lightweight (despite a brief run of form at the start of our promotion season) and has lost his way ever since.

Shame

 

[SotonBlade]

I'm quite concerned by the lack of number in the defence. Looking at the current squad thread created by Foxy, this could be out first 11 at present:

Aksalu
France
Ertl
Morgan
Taylor
Montgomery
Britton
Quinn
Yeates
Ward
Henderson

Willo would be a starter, but he's obviously out til November???.

Think he will go with monty and quinn holding with Britton just behind Henderson and Ward/Yeates ploughing the touchlines!

we seriously need as a bare minimum: 1 GK, 1 CB, 1 LB, 1 CM. I'd like to see: 2 GK, 2 CB, 1 RB, 1 LB, 1 CM, 1 WG, 1 ST

 

[TonyAgana]

!!

Its not that I disliked him, he was almost a figure of amusement with the way that it often took him 4 touches to attempt to get the ball under control in the box, the ball pin balling off his knees, shins, ankles as he wildly swung his legs to get the ball under, finally resulting in the ball bobbling into the goal

I can't disagree that he played a vital role, he was just what we wanted during that season a pacey clueless bundler is just what you need at times, to somehow bundle the ball in the back of the net.

You hear it every now and again that it doesn't matter how the ball goes in, NW said in his teamtalk once "i don't care if it goes in off a backside or a knob end". Kabba, during that season was just in the right place a lot of the time. But his passing and shooting was often atrocious

Can't agree with you, Swiss. Did he ever score off his arse or cock? His finishing for his dozen or so goals in the first third of the season was good. Cool and calm. Regarding his missed efforts, if he could finish 100% of his efforts he'd have bagged 30+ by Christmas and he'd have been off the Premier League in January.

 

[Ollessendro]

I'm quite concerned by the lack of number in the defence. Looking at the current squad thread created by Foxy, this could be out first 11 at present:

Aksalu
France
Ertl
Morgan
Taylor
Montgomery
Britton
Quinn
Yeates
Ward
Henderson

Can you imagine that back line: France, Ertl, Morgs and Taylor sitting infront of Estonia's no 1. Hardly fills you with confidence.

 

[davidpinder]

Holloway started last Summer with around 10-12 players if memory serves. They did in 08/09 exactly what we did last season and had 20 plus loanees so he had no option but to re-build last Summer.

By the way, that stuff about Hendrie washing his own kit was bollox by all acccounts.

Unfortunately there website doesn't have a list of transfers like ours does so going to have to take your word for that.

 

[davidpinder]

Can you imagine that back line: France, Ertl, Morgs and Taylor sitting infront of Estonia's no 1. Hardly fills you with confidence.

Your not telling me that you are questioning Ryan France and Andy Taylor as full backs????? Plus a very experienced GK. Mr Blackwell will surely get the best out of these players he always does!!!!!

 

[SwissBlade]

Can't agree with you, Swiss. Did he ever score off his arse or cock? His finishing for his dozen or so goals in the first third of the season was good. Cool and calm. Regarding his missed efforts, if he could finish 100% of his efforts he'd have bagged 30+ by Christmas and he'd have been off the Premier League in January.

don't you remember the famous cock goal which resulted in a 6 game ban and charges of indecent exposure?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Unfortunately there website doesn't have a list of transfers like ours does so going to have to take your word for that.

Just had a quick check and their 08/09 season was very similar to ours last season and they used 45 players, 21 on loan. At the end of the season they were left with 14 players, 2 of which had long term injuries so it wasn't a bad guess

To be honest, the bulk of last season's team came from those 12 players and they were pretty much injury free with 7 or 8 players making 30 plus appearances in the League. The addition of Adam was obviously key and they also picked up a couple of key loan players.

Just shows what a settled squad with a game plan can actually achieve when everyone's pulling together.

 

[Grecian2000]

Just had a quick check and their 08/09 season was very similar to ours last season and they used 45 players, 21 on loan. At the end of the season they were left with 14 players, 2 of which had long term injuries so it wasn't a bad guess

To be honest, the bulk of last season's team came from those 12 players and they were pretty much injury free with 7 or 8 players making 30 plus appearances in the League. The addition of Adam was obviously key and they also picked up a couple of key loan players.

Just shows what a settled squad with a game plan can actually achieve when everyone's pulling together.

I think you've missed out on the most important thing though.

They changed the manager!

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I think you've missed out on the most important thing though.

They changed the manager!

True, but it was a much maligned manager who'd been on the scrap heap for 12 months. I'm pretty sure his appointment would have been greeted with delight on here

 

[Nick Jansky]

True, but it was a much maligned manager who'd been on the scrap heap for 12 months. I'm pretty sure his appointment would have been greeted with delight on here

They also had nothing like the level of expectation that any manager has to contend with here. For them, anything better than relegation would have been regarded as success, so they weren't under the degree of pressure from their fans that our players are.

 

[Grecian2000]

Indeed. The good thing about having Hoofy though (and it really is the ONLY good thing) is that the next man will be greeted like the second coming.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Indeed. The good thing about having Hoofy though (and it really is the ONLY good thing) is that the next man will be greeted like the second coming.

True. Which will immediately put them on a hiding to nothing if they don't start with a 20 match winning run playing like Barcelona.

 

[LouTheBlade]

True. Which will immediately put them on a hiding to nothing if they don't start with a 20 match winning run playing like Barcelona.

Precisely; and it is because football fans are the most fickle people you will ever meet. You read comments on here that are the epitomy of it.

 

[beightonblade]

Precisely; and it is because football fans are the most fickle people you will ever meet. You read comments on here that are the epitomy of it.

Fickle ?, Blades ? ............ cheap as chips is a joke......never heard a peep from me when John Harris was around.... our gert would do a better job.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Fickle ?, Blades ? ............ cheap as chips is a joke......never heard a peep from me when John Harris was around.... our gert would do a better job.

I wasnt specifically referring to people's opinions of KB, United fans have moaned about pretty much every manager we've ever had. John Harris managed possibly our most talented and successful side ever so its no surprise that people didnt grumble really..........

When KB gets the boot I will certainly put the case forward for your gert

 

[beightonblade]

When KB gets the boot I will certainly put the case forward for your gert

Thank you Lou.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Indeed. The good thing about having Hoofy though (and it really is the ONLY good thing) is that the next man will be greeted like the second coming.

How soon we forget the post Robson appointment and winning run thereafter !

 

[Grecian2000]

How soon we forget the post Robson appointment and winning run thereafter !

You call the two dire years of negative hoof "soon"?

 

[Ollessendro]

True. Which will immediately put them on a hiding to nothing if they don't start with a 20 match winning run playing like Barcelona.

I could have turned that team around. Jesus. It was by far the best team in the league and merely needed a bit of confidence. KB did a decent job, but making him out to be a messiah because he got the best, highest paid team in the league to play a bit of football is just ridiculous.

 

[beightonblade]

Southampton away remember ? ............ pressure match and cheap as chips fooked up ..... The Beighton Magpies cud have won Southampton that day !

 

[Nick Jansky]

I could have turned that team around. Jesus. It was by far the best team in the league and merely needed a bit of confidence. KB did a decent job, but making him out to be a messiah because he got the best, highest paid team in the league to play a bit of football is just ridiculous.

Blackwell is completely immaterial to the point I am making, which was more to do with the expectation levels of football fans generally, and Blades fans in particular. I don't care who the next manager is, they will still be crucified if we don't look like a Champions League winning side within a very short space of time. As will the manager after him, and the manager after him........

 

[Nick Jansky]

Southampton away remember ? ............ pressure match and cheap as chips fooked up ..... The Beighton Magpies cud have won Southampton that day !

Really? Did they enter a raffle or something to win Southampton?

 

[LouTheBlade]

Blackwell is completely immaterial to the point I am making, which was more to do with the expectation levels of football fans generally, and Blades fans in particular. I don't care who the next manager is, they will still be crucified if we don't look like a Champions League winning side within a very short space of time. As will the manager after him, and the manager after him........

I understand NJ's point. He is absolutely right in what he's saying as well. There is absolutely no realism amongst fans nowadays in terms of expectation. Blades supporters are just the same. Every single manager gets it. Warnock got it, so did Robson, so is Blackwell. Even further back, Kendall and Spackman used to get flack as well!

United fans have always been the same. The glass is always half empty, things are never good enough and its always because of the manager. Apparently it has nothing to do with the fact that we've won fuck all for generations, or that we have never had any serious money in the coffers.....nope, its the manager.

The fact that we've never won anything under anyone else post war has no bearing on things apparently. We're still entitled to be up at the top and if we're not someone is to blame for it. Other clubs' supporters suffer from this same condition; its known as "England Syndrome" and is spreads like wildfire during every World Cup. Inevitable early knockouts are known to aggravate the condition.