Tonight

[SE1Blade]

For those of us that weren't there, what was the formation(s) tonight. Was it still 4-5-1 with Murph & JCR wide or was it 4-4-2?
And how did Done play (other than the goal) and what did Holt look like in his half hour?

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Quickly, it was still 4-5-1 with Done lone striker, Done looked good, offside far to often first half, harasses the defense nicely and he has a eye for goal, certainly is not scared to shoot.
Holt I forgot was even playing when he got subbed on and when I did notice him he seemed too negative, always passing backwards.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Quickly, it was still 4-5-1 with Done lone striker, Done looked good, offside far to often first half, harasses the defense nicely and he has a eye for goal, certainly is not scared to shoot.
Holt I forgot was even playing when he got subbed on and when I did notice him he seemed too negative, always passing backwards.

Wat it like this:

Turner
Brayford Basham McEveley Harris
Doyle
JCR - - - Coutts - - - Baxter - - - Murphy
Done​

or

Turner

Brayford Basham McEveley Harris

Coutts Doyle

JCR - - - - - - Baxter - - - - - Murphy

Done
​

?

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Done looked lively. Scored good goal and produced another great finish that was disallowed for handball. As said above he was offside far too much so needs to watch that.
Great to win and score 4 but unconvincing for long periods. Turner did well to keep them out 1st half.
Always happy when we win though. And the pigs lost.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Guy on blades player said the second formation Bergen if that helps.

 

[cahill]

I've seen us play a lot better than that this season when we should have buried teams, Baaaaaaarnsley and Orient spring to mind. I left with a couple of minutes to spare tonight and unless we got a corner at the end I counted their 10 corners to our 0.
Still, well done Blades

 

[Punk Blade]

It was mostly Coutts alongside Doyle with Murphy and Baxter switching between central playing behind Done and wide left. Campbell- Ryce broke up most of our attacks down the right.

Done worked hard and didn't stop running. Two good finishes, shame about the handball.

Holt really disappointed me, totally agree with Living In a Fantasy World that he looked negative and all I remember him doing is receiving the ball in space, turning and carrying the ball backwards before laying off for a centre back. When he came on Coutts took over the wide right position and suddenly became quick and incisive in his play, linking up well with Murphy on a few occasions.

Overall I thought it was one of our poorest performances at home with a number of players below their usual standards, including two-goal Baxter. We knocked it around well after Jay's thunderbolt but Colchester gave us a game before that. All the goals came at perfect times for us. The big difference was Colchester came to play football meaning that not being kicked to bits and having space in front of us to attack showed us a glimpse of what we probably deserved in most games this season.

 

[zablade]

It was one of the strangest games I can remember, two nil up at half time but could have been three two down, the first goal most people in the stadium thought the linesman had disallowed, Done on his debut didn't touch the ball for 35 minutes then scored an absolute cracker, after which he ran Colchester ragged, he then scored a terrific second which the referee ruled out for hand ball, (presumably the hand must have grown out of his boot) Then Macevely after looking nervous in defence again scored a worldy and it was basically game over.

To add to the strangeness the Colchester centre forward looked incredibly mobile and strong in the first half before looking like Chirs Porter in the second half.

The atmosphere also summed things up, most people looking very bewildered.

 

[MBoreman]

4-4-1-1, best formation for us in my eyes.

 

[MBoreman]

Wat it like this:

Turner
Brayford Basham McEveley Harris
Doyle
JCR - - - Coutts - - - Baxter - - - Murphy
Done​

or

Turner

Brayford Basham McEveley Harris

Coutts Doyle

JCR - - - - - - Baxter - - - - - Murphy

Done
​

?

On the 1st one move Doyle to Baxter and Baxter behind Done.

 

[sitwell]

On the 1st one move Doyle to Baxter and Baxter behind Done.

Agree that was it ,Coutts and Doyle looked good in the middle allowing us 2 wingers ,thought Done worked hard and gave us so much more movement up front. Done . Coutts and Brayford all played very well.

 

[bartman]

Quickly, it was still 4-5-1 with Done lone striker, Done looked good, offside far to often first half, harasses the defense nicely and he has a eye for goal, certainly is not scared to shoot.
Holt I forgot was even playing when he got subbed on and when I did notice him he seemed too negative, always passing backwards.

from John Street it looked like 4-4-2 to me with Baxter playing off Done

 

[Wards]

At last some forward movement...thank you Matty Done! Would be interested to see him playing around a target man. Great pace and workrate. Could just be the partner Higdon needed.

And Bartman is correct, it was definitely a 4-4-1-1 to begin with although it was a lot more flexible second half.

 

[Harry's Game]

Positives; The result and scoring four goals, impressive debut from Done, movement and pace upfront, Coutts looking like he is finding his feet, Doyle back in the team our only defensive midfielder of note, Brayford an above quality player at this level and showing we can win when Murphy has a quiet one.

Negatives: still Shakey at the back, should have been three one down after half an hour bar for Turner, JCR's comedy Pratt falls, Mceverly despite the goal still giving everyone Palpitations at the back and Baxter being knackered after 50 minutes which for a Profesional footballer in February is not on.

Also that's only the second midweek game I have been able to get to this season, what has happend to the atmosphere? It was like a pre season friendly.

 

[Blade56]

Would agree with comments in general, not a great performance, we still lacked in the last third apart from Done. No one seems prepared to push up from midfield and give us players in and around the box.

One thing I do disagree with is the criticism from some about JMc. Is it because of the x2 penalties he gave away in the cup? He's been strong since coming in on a regular basis and pushed forward into space and planted a cracker

Felt sorry for young Holt. Think he's been introduced to early and looked out of his depth. One for the future maybe.

Turner looked solid and prevented them pulling of a slick move in the first minute that could have made it 0-1 and a different story..

Overall satisfied because of the result rather than the performance. Bristol will test our metal for sure.

Edit: forgot, Whispering Bob Harris deserved a special mention for a world class pass for first goal

 

[blade too long]

Seems Baxters found a foil who can let him shine a bit , could be a deal clincher

 

[sitwell]

Seems Baxters found a foil who can let him shine a bit , could be a deal clincher

You mean someone to do his running ?

 

[blade too long]

You mean someone to do his running ?

didnt want to be harsh

 

[SwissBlade]

It was a 4-5-1 initially as per Bergen's second option, however, for large parts of the second half it was 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-3

I have to disagree with Cloughs comments that we looked edgy, perhaps to start we were, but I missed the first 10 mins of the game. However, we looked a side wanting to keep possession and keep the ball moving, sometimes having to go backwards. Players playing the way they were facing, simple balls and after the first 10 mins Colchester were having a good go, Porter forcing a save. We rode it out and then hit them on the break, Harris' ball to Done was one of the bests balls I've seen, Dones finish excellent.

Done has some excellent movement, Clough said he's a pest, I don't doubt that, but I'd say McNulty is a pest, Done looks a lot more than that, his runs were very intelligent and when the side get used to him, they'll see a lot more of his runs.

I thought Baxter spotted Done's runs a lot and thrived off it, pumping balls to him, murphy or JCR as often as he could second half.

The big positive for me though was the bench, Holt and Che were both different attacking threats to bring in, a holt in particular showing a great touch and linked well with Brayford. McNulty wasn't in the game really, but I'll allow him an off game or two.

JCR was criticised a fair bit but I thought he looked sharp, ready to put the ball in, his deliveries were poor though, but he also had two men on him at times.

Not the cleanest performance but we looked lively and played with more freedom, most important though was that whilst we gave Colchester chances to get back in the game, perhaps rode our luck at times but the big plus was that we closed out the game by going for more goals rather than preserve what we had.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Couldn't get to the game tonight. Must admit, as 'ordinary' as I'm lead to believe we played at times, the fact that we scored four delighted me. It's almost a given that we conceded one, but overall to score four, with Done celebrating his first game for us with a well constructed goal by all accounts, I'm happy. I'd appreciate confirmation of what I've heard about Coutts too seemed to be consistent and hope he's one who'll help steady this boat. Returning to Done, seems he was full of running, offside a few times (hope that's just to do with playing in a new team), but could he be the guy to play alongside someone like COG perhaps?

Great result, and for those who went tonight, well done lads and lasses, hope you left the ground with a warm glow after the recent results.

 

[SwissBlade]

You mean someone to do his running ?

if Baxter is allowed to pump the ball to feet like we know he can and how he did tonight then sign up those runners. Thought Jose really stepped it up tonight

 

[Slug]

Baxter being knackered after 50 minutes which for a Profesional footballer in February is not on.
.

I think that is being generous, unless you meant to type 20?

 

[sitwell]

It was a 4-5-1 initially as per Bergen's second option, however, for large parts of the second half it was 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-3

I have to disagree with Cloughs comments that we looked edgy, perhaps to start we were, but I missed the first 10 mins of the game. However, we looked a side wanting to keep possession and keep the ball moving, sometimes having to go backwards. Players playing the way they were facing, simple balls and after the first 10 mins Colchester were having a good go, Porter forcing a save. We rode it out and then hit them on the break, Harris' ball to Done was one of the bests balls I've seen, Dones finish excellent.

Done has some excellent movement, Clough said he's a pest, I don't doubt that, but I'd say McNulty is a pest, Done looks a lot more than that, his runs were very intelligent and when the side get used to him, they'll see a lot more of his runs.

I thought Baxter spotted Done's runs a lot and thrived off it, pumping balls to him, murphy or JCR as often as he could second half.

The big positive for me though was the bench, Holt and Che were both different attacking threats to bring in, a holt in particular showing a great touch and linked well with Brayford. McNulty wasn't in the game really, but I'll allow him an off game or two.

JCR was criticised a fair bit but I thought he looked sharp, ready to put the ball in, his deliveries were poor though, but he also had two men on him at times.

Not the cleanest performance but we looked lively and played with more freedom, most important though was that whilst we gave Colchester chances to get back in the game, perhaps rode our luck at times but the big plus was that we closed out the game by going for more goals rather than preserve what we had.

Jcr took a bit of stick ,but he got a lot more crosses in than Murphy ,some were crap but 3 or4 really good ones that just needed attacking at the front post. I thought Clough should have swapped them around for the last 10 of the first half to give the full backs something to think about.

 

[SwissBlade]

Jcr took a bit of stick ,but he got a lot more crosses in than Murphy ,some were crap but 3 or4 really good ones that just needed attacking at the front post. I thought Clough should have swapped them around for the last 10 of the first half to give the full backs something to think about.

Yeah I'd go with that, I like to see them swap during the games, defenders hate it.

 

[Pedro Verde]

Holt really disappointed me, totally agree with Living In a Fantasy World that he looked negative and all I remember him doing is receiving the ball in space, turning and carrying the ball backwards before laying off for a centre

Were you one of the few fekking idiots that booed Holt for laying a ball backwards
Hes a young lad making a debut not used to playing for the Blades had 15 mins to play obviously doesnt want to make a mistake. What a fekking moron you are

 

[SwissBlade]

Were you one of the few fekking idiots that booed Holt for laying a ball backwards
Hes a young lad making a debut not used to playing for the Blades had 15 mins to play obviously doesnt want to make a mistake. What a fekking moron you are

Some of the moans, whines and booing was mental tonight.

 

[Pedro Verde]

Some of the moans, whines and booing was mental tonight.

I was gobsmacked we won 4-1 ok it wasnt a great perfomance probably should have been 6-5
Weve played a lot better and lost but THAT is football
I thought we played 4-4-2 for most of the game as Baxter was alongside Done for most of the first half
and I thought Done had an excellent debut
Heard some fekker moaning we couldnt keep a clean sheet there are some idiots that attend the Lane
Enjoy the win FFS

 

[Punk Blade]

Were you one of the few fekking idiots that booed Holt for laying a ball backwards
Hes a young lad making a debut not used to playing for the Blades had 15 mins to play obviously doesnt want to make a mistake. What a fekking moron you are

Err, no. Maybe calm down and stop throwing insults around, eh?

I was the one a couple of weeks ago saying people forget how young Baxter, Scougall and McNulty are and that too much is expected of them.

 

[Slug]

Wat it like this:

Turner
Brayford Basham McEveley Harris
Doyle
JCR - - - Coutts - - - Baxter - - - Murphy
Done​

or

Turner

Brayford Basham McEveley Harris

Coutts Doyle

JCR - - - - - - Baxter - - - - - Murphy

Done
​

?

It was definitely more of a 4-4-1-1 Tommas, with Baxter playing behind Done.

 

[Dkc]

With Swindon losing, it gives us back that tiny chink of hope that we could win our games in hand and then make up nine points on them. However, MK and Preston would both need to go on poor runs and we'd need to win virtually every game.

If we pull off an unlikely win at the scrumpy-chuggers on Saturday, and other results go our way, I might start to think we have a chance. Nineteen games still left to play and we've already played most of the top teams home and away. Presumably MK, Preston, Swindon and Bristol City will be playing against each other a few times before May.

Unfortunately, whenever we get a decent result this season we seem to lose or draw the next one.