Today's performance

[blader]

I will be brutally honest, thought we were poor.

We created very little and had very much an off day today, but there are 2 very important points that can be made from this.

1. I think today proved how vital K-Mac is to our team. Once he went off, we started hoofing aimlessly, way more than we have this season. Monty offered nothing in terms of attacking and often chased down the same player as Doyle, because they both have the same mindset.

2. I'm starting to think it might just be our year. If we can play poorly and still win games, it is a very good omen for us. Let's hope we take it one game at a time and finally see something through without any glitches!

Come on blades, not far to go now, a win next week would have the pigs choking on the dust from our heels as we would race away from them in the league.

UTB

 

[WhiteHawk]

Agree with this, made a big difference when K.Mc went off, hope he isn't out for long as we weren't too great.

 

[blade too long]

poor , bit harsh , not as exhilarating true, but its hard to perform when they kicked anything that moved

As you said to win in second gear shows the gulf in class

 

[alcoblade]

I thought we were also poor with McDonad beforehand. Monty and Doyle wasn't the answer though. Let's hope the injury isn't serious.

UTB

 

[Northyorksblade]

Preston's tactics were the reason we were so poor. Nasty, niggling, fouling side put ten men behind the ball. Don't even have a player back when we get a corner. I'll take the three points, onwards and upwards.

 

[Willie Carlin]

Preston's tactics were the reason we were so poor. Nasty, niggling, fouling side put ten men behind the ball. Don't even have a player back when we get a corner. I'll take the three points, onwards and upwards.

Agree they were a nasty niggling cynical team. We did'nt hoof it as the OP suggests and playing football won us the game. Well done United

 

[JohnDenver]

I will be brutally honest, thought we were poor.

We were very good defensively - their goal was a bloody brilliant header from their only chance (and it wasn't much more than a half chance). Going forward we still created enough chances to win comfortably.

I might have replaced KMac with Willo to keep the balance in midfield, but he's been out for a while which may have swayed the decision.

All in all, the discipline and composure in the face of PNE's tactics were admirable. A truly MASSIVE win to back up Tuesday's efforts.

 

[wardlowwanderer]

Agree that we were poor today and part of that was down to the fact that PNE were out to play dirty. However, I don't agree that we got worse when MCD went off. One man doesnt make a team and Monty did nothing wrong. There were the mindless element on the Kop hurling abuse at him when he was playing fine. By far the worse player was Quinn. Doyle wasn't up to much and why Willaimson was brought on to replace Flynn I don't know.

If McD is out next week I won't be worried when Monty starts. He is worth more than any of the pig players and as he has red and white blood he will give his all. Everyone knows Monty's limitations, but that's what they are limitations; they are not liabilities.

Anyway, I hope after today's performance PNE rot in League 1 for at least 10 seasons.

I also agree with you about believing that this is our season to go straight back up. Wilson has formed a formidable unit and they believe in themselves as a unit. In previous seasons I would have been dreading the run in, but I'm actually looking forward to it.

 

[sitwell]

Agree with you wardlow but we did look stronger when Willo came on. Personally I would look at today as a good performance against a set of big bully boy thugs trying to prove themselves to a one dimensional manager, we had to be strong (physically and mentally), resourceful and adaptable ,which we were.

 

[super_pig]

and still it goes on.. get the blinkers off.. monty did nothing at all.. we effectively beat them with ten men..
k mac had a quiet ten minutes, which makes me wonder if he was trying to carry a niggle in the first place.. we fell apart for twenty minutes after k mac went off .. on and off the pitch.. i thought we would hammer the pigs but now i'm not so sure.. i was disappointed that williamson wasn't brought on in the first place..
btw i wasn't one of the mindless set.. i'd walked off for a fag in disgust at the substitution
i don't give a monkeys what colour monty's blood is, i'm sick of him dying for the team.. we went straight back to hoofball. a better team would have beaten us today..
one man doesn't make a team but can certainly make a difference.. it was obvious for all to say what difference

 

[Bladeloyal]

and still it goes on.. get the blinkers off.. monty did nothing at all.. we effectively beat them with ten men..
k mac had a quiet ten minutes, which makes me wonder if he was trying to carry a niggle in the first place.. we fell apart for twenty minutes after k mac went off .. on and off the pitch.. i thought we would hammer the pigs but now i'm not so sure.. i was disappointed that williamson wasn't brought on in the first place..
btw i wasn't one of the mindless set.. i'd walked off for a fag in disgust at the substitution
i don't give a monkeys what colour monty's blood is, i'm sick of him dying for the team.. we went straight back to hoofball. a better team would have beaten us today..
one man doesn't make a team but can certainly make a difference.. it was obvious for all to say what difference

hoof my arse, id keep off those funny fags !what actually happened today was a reaction to the hard work they put in on tuesday night ,but as anybody will tell you a good team is the one that can get a result when they are not 100%

 

[SE1Blade]

Agree with you wardlow but we did look stronger when Willo came on. Personally I would look at today as a good performance against a set of big bully boy thugs trying to prove themselves to a one dimensional manager, we had to be strong (physically and mentally), resourceful and adaptable ,which we were.

To be honest I'd start with the midfield that finished the game. In the battle next week (which we know it will be) I think experience will count and both Monty and Willo know what derbies are all about. Flynn hasn't done anything wrong but I think Willo would be more suited. Assuming KMac is out it'd be Willo-Monty-Doyle-Quinn across the middle for me.

 

[super_pig]

>it'd be Willo-Monty-Doyle-Quinn across the middle for me.
and we'll lose. You read it here first.

 

[wardlowwanderer]

.. monty did nothing at all.. we effectively beat them with ten men..
.. we went straight back to hoofball. .

I think fans like you should have counselling. And if you have to stop watching the game to have a fag that suggests that you find fags more interesting than football which kind of sums up your post.

 

[bartman]

>it'd be Willo-Monty-Doyle-Quinn across the middle for me.
and we'll lose. You read it here first.

you sound almost happy saying that.

For me Monty was OK today but i agree Doyle in the middle with him doesn't appear to work in some games. The way PNE were playing i thought bringing Monty on was right. We were poor and pedestrian before McDonald went off which might have been down to 3 games in a week. However we have 8 games in March and we will need all our players including scapegoats like Porter and Monty.

We have 62 points,we are 10 wins off probable promotion and yet you find something to critisise. I look forward to your reaction when we lose a game

 

[super_pig]

>I think fans like you should have counselling
umm .. is that allowed? could have sworn i once get a ban for a post like this?

>you sound almost happy saying that
actually i'm furious.. simply because it isn't an effective combination..back to the same old hoofing shit. it will cost us.. like i always say he is a devisive player.. some of us know he is crap and some of you need counselling

so it's like this.. first few games monty plays and we are up and down, no noticeable improvement.. k mac comes in and we go something like 20 games unbeaten.. we are steamrollering teams, playing the best football seen in years. k mac is the standout player in all of this.. now monty returns and we bash out a win in the old style.. and behold.. he is the saviour and the best option against wednesday anyway.. maybe misplaced optimism, fair enough..

but then! a revelation.. monty has been winning games by sitting on the bench such is his influence (read into that what you will)

 

[Micalijo]

totally disagree with opening post. Magnificent performance today against a horrible dirty side. Plenty of chances created and good situations and kept them at bay easily. Harry and Collins brilliant and the goal came. Fingers crossed we get some luck next week but the players are doing it for the manager and he deserves every credit for what we saw today. That anyone Blade can describe today as poor is beyond me and a total and utter disgrace - just hope I aint in the trenches with you and stay away from Hillsborough please.

 

[boo radley]

totally disagree with opening post. Magnificent performance today against a horrible dirty side. Plenty of chances created and good situations and kept them at bay easily. Harry and Collins brilliant and the goal came. Fingers crossed we get some luck next week but the players are doing it for the manager and he deserves every credit for what we saw today. That anyone Blade can describe today as poor is beyond me and a total and utter disgrace - just hope I aint in the trenches with you and stay away from Hillsborough please.

I'd agree with that. Collins especially good today. to those that decide to knock our substitute, I'd suggest you vent your anger to the one who picked him - but I suppose you wouldn't want to be seen Knocking DW would you? So just a little point to make that you may be talking a little shite, Quinn played most of the game supporting on the right. No one seems to have noticed this. Maguire played no long crossfield balls to the left obviously aware of our change of tactic. LJF was alone on the left and supported the attacks only occationally and when he did it was good. both Doyle and Monty dealt with an ugly side really well and when Willo releived Flynn he added the quality to slow the game and speed it up when required.
All in all I would suggest DW got his tactics spot on and the players carried out the managers instructions brilliantly.
Oh and another thing If we'd have had this win early season, no fan would have said it was a poor performance.

 

[stannyblade]

Dont agree that Monty was awful. He isnt Macca and cant play the same game that Macca does but he went about his job in a professional manner. He was even passing to our players.

 

[Large Mendonca]

I'd agree with that. Collins especially good today. to those that decide to knock our substitute, I'd suggest you vent your anger to the one who picked him - but I suppose you wouldn't want to be seen Knocking DW would you? So just a little point to make that you may be talking a little shite, Quinn played most of the game supporting on the right. No one seems to have noticed this. Maguire played no long crossfield balls to the left obviously aware of our change of tactic. LJF was alone on the left and supported the attacks only occationally and when he did it was good. both Doyle and Monty dealt with an ugly side really well and when Willo releived Flynn he added the quality to slow the game and speed it up when required.
All in all I would suggest DW got his tactics spot on and the players carried out the managers instructions brilliantly.
Oh and another thing If we'd have had this win early season, no fan would have said it was a poor performance.

Spot on Boo. For me, both today and midweek at Huddersfield have showed that we are learning and can adapt to what's getting thrown at us.

Expect visiting teams to put 10 men behind the ball from here on in.

 

[super_pig]

>I'd suggest you vent your anger to the one who picked him - but I suppose you wouldn't want to be seen Knocking DW would you?
umm well if you read the post carefully mate you'll see i said i walked off for a bit in disgust so if that isn't knocking the selection i don't know what is.. teams have been putting 10 behind the ball for a few games now in case you hadn't noticed.
i give up.. you people are beyond redemption

 

[Pinchy]

I'm afraid they :heart: mediocrity. You'd have thought they might have seen the light under DW and his proper football. Sadly not, they yearn to see their heroic training cone of a non-footballer chasing shadows again, just like the good old days.

 

[Cool Clint]

I'm afraid they :heart: mediocrity. You'd have thought they might have seen the light under DW and his proper football. Sadly not, they yearn to see their heroic training cone of a non-footballer chasing shadows again, just like the good old days.

Yawn........

 

[cahill]

Can't make my mind up about Quinn. It's nice to see a player hold the ball , be comfortable with it and not treat it like a bomb. On the other hand he'll beat a man and then want to beat him again or take 20 touches when 2 would be enough. That said he's part of a winning formula.

 

[Jonboy60]

I believe it was good game to have considering we play a simular team next week.LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE. UTB.

 

[stannyblade]

having watched the goals last night the keeper definatleywent too early for the pen and it should have been retaken. It was a shite penalthy though

 

[broomhillblade]

having watched the goals last night the keeper definatleywent too early for the pen and it should have been retaken. It was a shite penalthy though

Aren't keepers allowed to move these days? As long as they don't step forward off their goal line.

Ched kicked virtually straight at the keeper anyway.

 

[beightonblade]

Win when yer poor .................... that's the secret ! ............... don't tell any fooker though

 

[Ollessendro]

I was not there today, but Bladesworld/Radio Shef certainly gave the impression United were completely dominant. The presenter certainly made out that United got the much better of a dirty, horrid Preston team.

Was it a few seconds into the game when one of their thugs hacked down Doyle? set the tone for the rest of the match. Apparently in the build up their plank of a manager kept referring to how he'd beat United earlier in the season (at Stevenage). I didn't see it with my eyes, but from what I've heard they kicked lumps out of us. Did not come to play and simply wanted to deck us. A cynical bunch of weightlifters out for a scrap.

It seems like we showed real character today. Missed a pen, went a goal down and still came back to win. Rose above the kicking and got the job done. This is after a tough match during the week. This is promotion form Blades. I was worried that we might drop points and undo the good work in the week. But we dug in and ground out a result. We have showed real charachter in the last 2 games. Early in the season we dropped points to dirty hoof merchants (Huddersfield at home, Stevenage away, Pigs at home and Exeter at home). The last 2 games we've not allowed ourselves to be bullied as much. We've learnt. We have remained rock solid, but let our football do the talking.

I cannot comment on the football we played (whether it was hoofball or not) but from my arm chair it did not seem like a poor performance. Preston had once chance and took it. From what I gather it was a wonder goal too. United dominated the first half and had several chances. Ched's pen being the main one. Lecs put a free header over and their keeper made several saves. Second half I seem to remember misses from Cressy having a shot saved, BT had something clear off the line and Lowton went close.

As Rob Staton was saying on P&G, United have showed they are really adaptable. They can play teams off the park playing football (Yeovil and Bury recently), break down stubborn team (Wycombe), deal with arial bombardments/pressure (Huddersfield) and cynical, dirty teams (Preston).

If you take out the Brum result (and they held Chelsea yesterday!) then our recent form is excellent. We do not look like conceding goals and we create a lot of chances. The centre backs are playing out of their skin and we've got a striker that has scored 20 goals (it's Feb .... and he was injured all of August!). That's a winning formula muckers

 

[dingledog]

It wasnt a poor performance, credit to PNE for stopping us play, they had a game plan, not a pretty one admittedly, but a plan never the less and it was up to us to break them down, which we did.

I actually think all our remaining home games will follow a similar pattern. Teams are not going to come to BDTBL and play open attacking football against the best footballing side in the league. they are all going to play defensively with many players behind the ball to frustrates us. They will all want as a minimum a drwa, the only way to achieve that is by having 6,7,8,9,10, players behing the ball.

Its a compliment to wht DW and the team have done.