United 1 Notts County 1 - report

[felix]

I disagree with Deadbat's rating for Mark Howard. He treated the ball as if it was soapy all night and flapped hopelessly for the goal. Since he barely had anything else to do I'd have given him 1 or 2 at the most. I thought the ref was better than usual but he allowed Gary Jones to take the piss before that goal. First Jones placed the ball outside the corner quadrant, then he pretended he didn't know what the ref was telling him to do, then he moved the ball back by about a millimetre and finally he put it back where it had been in the first place. That's no excuse for handing County a cheap goal though.

I don't know exactly when booing your old players became the norm but JCR has played for so many clubs it saeems to happen to him every week. He was our only threat in the first half and although his high crosses are usually poor he can fizz a good low ball across and creates positions for himself with skill.

I thought McEveley and Harris were the Blades' best two players. Jay saved a certain goal with that tremendous tackle only a minute or two before we scored. Great commitment there. I feel sorry for Higdon. If he was really as useless as he sometimes seems he could not possibly have scored so many goals. He needs good crosses into the box like he got at Chesterfield where he had the ball in the net in a flash only for the goal to be wrongly disallowed. Cheering because he was being substituted isn't going to help him, for sure. He seems to be no good at holding the ball up so is obviously just a goalscorer, but if no bugger ever gives him the ball anywhere near the goal then he may as well sit with us on the Shoreham.

Paddy McCarthy can't pass for toffee. If defenders are expected to be decent ball players rather than just stoppers then he is an anachronism. Jose Baxter has great talent but personally if I was picking the team at the moment he wouldn't be in it. Louis Reed seems capable of doing anything that Jose can and plays with more enthusiasm as well.

The most talented man in the squad though is Murphy. Going to 4.4.2 made sense after such a rubbish first half but a midfield 4 with no left winger? Several times players brought the ball forward and looked left but there was nobody there. When Harris finally did get to deliver a cross it was the best one of the night and neatly nodded in by the Scots genius.

Finally, County were worse than we were. Roy Carroll is a very sturdy goalkeeper but the rest of the side, on this performance at least, are nothing to write home about. And, of course, they are scabs too.........

 

[judge]

Someone on here called Hidgon "The Higopotamus". They were bang on with that.

[/QUOTE]

 

[Woodwardfan]

Just seen MK...we will be soundly beaten I reckon...

Football isn't like that, I hope.

MKD may just play with more ambition, but I doubt it. In their position all they need is a draw, they are holding all the trump cards at present. Why take any risks? 0-0 draw for me, what are the odds?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Someone on here called Hidgon "The Higopotamus". They were bang on with that.

[/QUOTE]

Someone on here called Hidgon "The Higopotamus". They were bang on with that.

[/QUOTE]





Hipposhit comment.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I think all you non blade wankers should 'get behind the team', 'give players like Higdon a chance', 'wait until the team gels', because 'you all want us to win every game', because 'we are where we are' and 'one day one of these teams is gonna get a reyt stuffing'.

pommpey

calling any blade, a wanker - disgraceful.

UTB

 

[judge]

calling any blade, a wanker - disgraceful.

UTB

He isn't
he is recycling a quote from top blade pinchy

 

[Fulwood Blade]

He isn't
he is recycling a quote from top blade pinchy

Then I apologise..........will slap my own wrist for not paying more attention.

Can't believe anyone thinks Blades are wankers - we all just have differing opinions.

UTB

 

[judge]

Then I apologise..........will slap my own wrist for not paying more attention.

Can't believe anyone thinks Blades are wankers - we all just have differing opinions.

UTB

We all like a good hand shandy as well though to be fair

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I disagree with Deadbat's rating for Mark Howard. He treated the ball as if it was soapy all night and flapped hopelessly for the goal. Since he barely had anything else to do I'd have given him 1 or 2 at the most. .

Disagreement about Howard is down to one thing.

Last season - exceptional goalkeeping with the SAME back 4 all 2nd half of season.

This season - how many different combinations of defenders (different again last night) and more importantly, the CONTINUAL changing of Centre halves. I don't agree with Mccarthy not practising all week with the team - it is how a goalkeeper gets used to the 2 most important players in front of him.

Mcceveerly is actually poor in the air at crosses and Mccarthy is not much better.

Sure he came and missed the corner, due to doubt over what his centre halves can do - he has no idea.

As mush as we crow about a centre forward, we have such a weak and ever changing spine to the team and it is this reason that may cost us dearly.

We continue to give away daft and preventable goals.

UTB

 

[Woodwardfan]

Sorry I forgot my most important point.

Doyle was substituted after about 65 minutes I'd guess. As soon as play kicked off Clough insisted Basham push up from deeper midfield where the lad had assumed he'd be playing. Then he bollocked him again and pushed him up again a minute later.

So, we're chasing the game with no Doyle, Basham pushed up and Scougall occasionally the only other player anywhere near deeper central midfield.

What happens? The County player should have had a cigar and then scored with the space he had- within three minutes of Doyle going off.

If Doyle had still been on there -THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED! SAY WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT DOYLE, YOU MISS HIM WHEN HE IS NOT THERE. When he is not there who will do the "dirty bits". On this occasion it was not Basham's fault but I don't think he has the brain and experience to do Doyle's job frankly, time will tell.

In any case what was the manager trying to do?


P.S. You didn't cover it in your report Deadbat, not like you; it was a major incident.

 

[sheffielder]

Sorry I forgot my most important point.

Doyle was substituted after about 65 minutes I'd guess. As soon as play kicked off Clough insisted Basham push up from deeper midfield where the lad had assumed he'd be playing. Then he bollocked him again and pushed him up again a minute later.

So, we're chasing the game with no Doyle, Basham pushed up and Scougall occasionally the only other player anywhere near deeper central midfield.

What happens? The County player should have had a cigar and then scored with the space he had- within three minutes of Doyle going off.

If Doyle had still been on there -THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED! SAY WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT DOYLE, YOU MISS HIM WHEN HE IS NOT THERE. When he is not there who will do the "dirty bits". On this occasion it was not Basham's fault but I don't think he has the brain and experience to do Doyle's job frankly, time will tell.

In any case what was the manager trying to do?


P.S. You didn't cover it in your report Deadbat, not like you; it was a major incident.

Doyle was nowhere near the ball all night so I am not sure about this observation.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

In any case what was the manager trying to do?


P.S. You didn't cover it in your report Deadbat, not like you; it was a major incident.

salvage something.......

Flynn to RB was just about going 3 at the back at times.

When Doyle went off, it was 0-1 - great tackle by mcceverly to save it going 0-2 and it ended 1-1, so surely the manager saved us a point?

The purists will say we shouldn't have been in that position, but for me I have never, ever seen 11 opposition play so deep - no womnder they haven't lost away for 11 months - boring, boring, boring, but as with NC, Derry gets paid to get results and it seems to be working - frankly I'd stop watching football if I had to watch Notts play each week.

UTB

 

[Deadbat]

Some good debate post game.

mattbianco1, I do try not to put emotion into marks. I genuinely feel that I give players a clean slate each game

I forgot to mention McEveley's great tackle - on reflection this alone should have seen him marked up. He has been a good signing and I like him but to say he always has a great performance at centre back is a stretch (he has been really good there most of the season). He was awful against Crewe and at fault for the Forte goal v Oldham and was not great in that game.

Basham was decent but more solid than spectacular. I have no idea why he was right back. He was maybe our bets player v Crewe at centre back so Clough puts him midfield and he was excellent v Oldham in that game; so Clough puts him right back. Puzzling.

I felt Baxter and Scougall were both equally lacking. The latter put more effort in but was no more effective than the former really and missed another really good chance (missed several one on ones this season). At the moment neither are doing enough. Both were excellent last season in our run as was Flynn but only Murphy has got anywhere near standards of last season so far.

The treatment of Higdon wasn't great but he was awful. Maybe Baxter did not do much and was as bad but he at least played a few passes or controlled the ball once or twice. Higdon could not hold the ball, did not win a header and was not even a nuisance factor. Granted the service was poor but even when it went to him it came straight back off him. He looks a really poor signing. At best he should be used as a sub for10 minutes at the end (has scored a few goals in this such role).

JCR was not great but at least does not hide (the duo of Baxter and Scougall hide behind men a lot) and keeps trying to attack. Granted his crossing is abysmal but he keeps trying. Saying something when I am saying he is one of main threats when he barely gets a good cross in. Shows how poor we have been when the outlet ball to him and getting him to try and work some magic is our main option at the moment.

As for Sitwell's we'll go up automatically, I admire your positivity but at the moment Swindon, Bristol, Preston and MK are all looking far more consistent. All score more goals and can hammer teams on their day. We simply cannot do that with the current approach and players we have.

...and yes Oldham and Notts County are a shade above half way. Inaccurate reporting from yours truly. I still believe that neither will be in the to p 6 and as decent as Oldham were they don't have squad strength to compete with some of teams mentioned above. Still we are at the moment in the same bracket as sides like them and County than free scoring Bristol and Swindon.

 

[sheffielder]

First time I have felt like posting since last night, bar the Doyle thing.

With a midfield including Baxter, Murphy, JCR and Scougs we didn't create a shot on goal in the first half.
JCR can't cross and is not better than Flynn
Scougall was MOM and should be playing behind the front man.
Basham is not a right back, however much we like to shoe horn him into the side.
Higdon is not a target man so don't expect him to win much much in the air, even if he did try.
Not one of our players in the 1st half received the ball facing the oppositions goals.
Can't wait to see COG get th same great service and some of you might grasp it's the tactics over who is playing upfront. Our midfield has no balance I Wallace is not fit.

It's fucking boring isn't it? me included

 

[Jehovah]

Deadbat May I save you time in future with your reports and just copy and paste this.


The cunting blades.

 

[Deadbat]

Deadbat May I save you time in future with your reports and just copy and paste this.


The cunting blades.

Save me a lot of time!

 

[Jonboy60]

Ge

I definitely think that there's a fear of playing at home for a number of our players. The Blades faithful once again turned out in tremendous numbers for a friday night game and it feels to me that a fear of doing the wrong thing in front of such a large and vociferous audience is affecting some of them.
Of course I'm not suggesting people stay away but it's more of a complement to our club that the passion and expectations are so big. Away sides are thriving on playing us at home and know the pressure will be huge on us especially if mistakes start creeping in.
Who knows and I'm probably spouting shite but it's just a thought and by no means an excuse for continued dropped points at home.
UTB
COYRWW

Get your point GB, but if you can't get motivated playing in front of 20,000 every other week, go back to play in front of 2,000 on a cold rainy night in Airdrie and such like.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Some good debate post game.

mattbianco1, I do try not to put emotion into marks. I genuinely feel that I give players a clean slate each game

I forgot to mention McEveley's great tackle - on reflection this alone should have seen him marked up. He has been a good signing and I like him but to say he always has a great performance at centre back is a stretch (he has been really good there most of the season). He was awful against Crewe and at fault for the Forte goal v Oldham and was not great in that game.

Basham was decent but more solid than spectacular. I have no idea why he was right back. He was maybe our bets player v Crewe at centre back so Clough puts him midfield and he was excellent v Oldham in that game; so Clough puts him right back. Puzzling.

I felt Baxter and Scougall were both equally lacking. The latter put more effort in but was no more effective than the former really and missed another really good chance (missed several one on ones this season). At the moment neither are doing enough. Both were excellent last season in our run as was Flynn but only Murphy has got anywhere near standards of last season so far.

The treatment of Higdon wasn't great but he was awful. Maybe Baxter did not do much and was as bad but he at least played a few passes or controlled the ball once or twice. Higdon could not hold the ball, did not win a header and was not even a nuisance factor. Granted the service was poor but even when it went to him it came straight back off him. He looks a really poor signing. At best he should be used as a sub for10 minutes at the end (has scored a few goals in this such role).

JCR was not great but at least does not hide (the duo of Baxter and Scougall hide behind men a lot) and keeps trying to attack. Granted his crossing is abysmal but he keeps trying. Saying something when I am saying he is one of main threats when he barely gets a good cross in. Shows how poor we have been when the outlet ball to him and getting him to try and work some magic is our main option at the moment.

As for Sitwell's we'll go up automatically, I admire your positivity but at the moment Swindon, Bristol, Preston and MK are all looking far more consistent. All score more goals and can hammer teams on their day. We simply cannot do that with the current approach and players we have.

...and yes Oldham and Notts County are a shade above half way. Inaccurate reporting from yours truly. I still believe that neither will be in the to p 6 and as decent as Oldham were they don't have squad strength to compete with some of teams mentioned above. Still we are at the moment in the same bracket as sides like them and County than free scoring Bristol and Swindon.

According to some reports Deadbat, Oldham might be adding to their front line soon, lads name escapes me at moment but has been known to score goals at league one level.

 

[sitwell]

Some good debate post game.

mattbianco1, I do try not to put emotion into marks. I genuinely feel that I give players a clean slate each game

I forgot to mention McEveley's great tackle - on reflection this alone should have seen him marked up. He has been a good signing and I like him but to say he always has a great performance at centre back is a stretch (he has been really good there most of the season). He was awful against Crewe and at fault for the Forte goal v Oldham and was not great in that game.

Basham was decent but more solid than spectacular. I have no idea why he was right back. He was maybe our bets player v Crewe at centre back so Clough puts him midfield and he was excellent v Oldham in that game; so Clough puts him right back. Puzzling.

I felt Baxter and Scougall were both equally lacking. The latter put more effort in but was no more effective than the former really and missed another really good chance (missed several one on ones this season). At the moment neither are doing enough. Both were excellent last season in our run as was Flynn but only Murphy has got anywhere near standards of last season so far.

The treatment of Higdon wasn't great but he was awful. Maybe Baxter did not do much and was as bad but he at least played a few passes or controlled the ball once or twice. Higdon could not hold the ball, did not win a header and was not even a nuisance factor. Granted the service was poor but even when it went to him it came straight back off him. He looks a really poor signing. At best he should be used as a sub for10 minutes at the end (has scored a few goals in this such role).

JCR was not great but at least does not hide (the duo of Baxter and Scougall hide behind men a lot) and keeps trying to attack. Granted his crossing is abysmal but he keeps trying. Saying something when I am saying he is one of main threats when he barely gets a good cross in. Shows how poor we have been when the outlet ball to him and getting him to try and work some magic is our main option at the moment.

As for Sitwell's we'll go up automatically, I admire your positivity but at the moment Swindon, Bristol, Preston and MK are all looking far more consistent. All score more goals and can hammer teams on their day. We simply cannot do that with the current approach and players we have.

...and yes Oldham and Notts County are a shade above half way. Inaccurate reporting from yours truly. I still believe that neither will be in the to p 6 and as decent as Oldham were they don't have squad strength to compete with some of teams mentioned above. Still we are at the moment in the same bracket as sides like them and County than free scoring Bristol and Swindon.

On current form only Swindon and MK are slightly better than us apart from Oldham and Port Vale.
Keith Edwards made a great point about JCR ,he said crosses only look bad when there is no one on the end of them. He put at least 6 very good crosses in on Friday ,which a fair amount in a game ,we have no one willing to attack the ball in the box ,Bashams header was very weak on the one we did attack. They had 4 players defending the left in the second half and still he got crosses in and supplied Flynn and Basham with crossing opportunities ,sure one or 2 will go awry but Woodward and Morris didn't get everyone in and they had Dearden and Reece or Edwards and Hatton in the middle. I would play Flynn and put JCR on after 60 minutes ,but I think he is a great player, we just need more bodies in the box.
Another problem we have is the centre halves don't look like scoring from set pieces. Either the delivery is shit or they aren't good enough ,Maguire and Collins always weighed in with goals. Personally I think our delivery from corners and free kicks is crap.

 

[Foxy]

Not one of our players in the 1st half received the ball facing the oppositions goals.

There was a complete lack of movement in the final third, anyone up there would position themselves, back to goal, and watch the man on the ball.

This isn't helped by our slow play.

When we did have bodies moving and facing the goal, JCR would fancy trying to beat his man for the third time in a row rather than putting in a ball.

 

[grafikhaus]

On current form only Swindon and MK are slightly better than us apart from Oldham and Port Vale.

Could've sworn Bristol City won 3-0 at Peterborough on Friday. And, yes they have had a bit of a blip lately but the points in the bank they've accrued makes these blips less damaging. We're hemorrhaging too many points with all these effin' draws.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Basham was decent but more solid than spectacular. I have no idea why he was right back. He was maybe our bets player v Crewe at centre back so Clough puts him midfield and he was excellent v Oldham in that game; so Clough puts him right back. Puzzling.

Alcock was injured and Basham was the one with the most experience at right back.

 

[Lawrence]

Basham's been our best centre back of late, so NC moves him to full back to create a place for the premier league loane - JCR is a one trick pony takes on and beats defenders time after time (all the time) instead of crossing early now and a gain, just to mix it up and try something different - For me Baxter was so slow, he passed through a few 'nearly balls' but that was it, not enough quality! And Sorry when Reed came on nothing changed, he seems to have lost is way over the last few weeks? Scoogle was poor again and the least said about Higdon the better.

For me a lot of the fundamentals are so wrong, we tried to play the ball from the back, and rightly so, but so many times the ball had to be played sideways because everyone just ran forward away from the ball, no midfielders where coming short to except a pass from the defender, not even Doyle who usually comes to pick up the short ball around the half way line (this pull opposition midfield players out of position) creating more room in midfield, allowing forward passes to Baxter or Scoogell or to play balls out wide, this don't happen and this resulted in our back 4 having to pass sideways, consequently slowing play down and eventually having to play pointless long balls up field. This happend time after time and how NC can stand there and let it continue is beyond me. He has to sort out the midfield! We need a midfielder (Doyle) to link things together and speed everything up, short sharpe passing and more (some) movement from the midfield and Higdon, it sounds obvious but these elementary things just did not happen, sort this out and things will get moving in the right direction, pass and move Simples so often players passed and then just stood and watched!

Looking for a big BIG improvement on Tuesday!

One final thought, we only have one striker at the club and that's Murph and he's supposed to be in midfield or on the wing - he can't do everything and when he is sold in January we will be well and truly ****ed

 

[Woodwardfan]

There was a complete lack of movement in the final third, anyone up there would position themselves, back to goal, and watch the man on the ball.

This isn't helped by our slow play.

When we did have bodies moving and facing the goal, JCR would fancy trying to beat his man for the third time in a row rather than putting in a ball.

Couldn't agree more. However it is hard to make headway when you are playing against a bank of 4 and a bank of 5 and your own formation only has 1 up front, 5 in midfield and 4 at the back marking nobody. the front 6 are way outnumbered.

Why we concede goals is a mystery, it's certainly not for lack of protection by the midfield 5 !!

No way should we be fielding a 4-5-1 formation against negative sides in home matches. It makes no sense. 4-5-1 is supposed to be fluid and midfield pour forward when opportunities arise. When the opposition aren't coming out it never happens.

Simple message to Clough. WE NEED TO GET MEN IN THE BOX to play to, to get on crosses and to pick up loose balls. It never happens until the cavalry charge for 20 minutes late on. We need to be playing to players in the final third, we are allowed to venture there!

And if you're playing Higdon provide him with the service he needs rather than hanging him out to dry!!

 

[Philip Reed]

don't really see how you can judge Louis Reed when he gets 9 mins against County, and has not started a league game since the Yeovil game. Granted he wasn't at his best against Walsall in the JPT, but then there were major changes in the team selection with squad players getting an outing. He had a solid game against Crewe in the cup replay without setting the game alight. P.S he is only 17 and still learning the game, don't really know what you expect from him. He wont dominate games just yet but he will have an influence when given the ball, and trust me I'm his biggest critic!!

 

[alcoblade]

don't really see how you can judge Louis Reed when he gets 9 mins against County, and has not started a league game since the Yeovil game. Granted he wasn't at his best against Walsall in the JPT, but then there were major changes in the team selection with squad players getting an outing. He had a solid game against Crewe in the cup replay without setting the game alight. P.S he is only 17 and still learning the game, don't really know what you expect from him. He wont dominate games just yet but he will have an influence when given the ball, and trust me I'm his biggest critic!!

Fair comment Philip. It's not clear who you're responding to, but you have to remember that people will judge what;s on the field, no matter what the underlying circumstances. So the implications of a poor performance by (say) Doyle will have different implications to Reed, because i goes without sating tat the youngsters will have more potential to iron out deficiencies, and are going to get better.

UTB

 

[Philip Reed]

Fair comment Philip. It's not clear who you're responding to, but you have to remember that people will judge what;s on the field, no matter what the underlying circumstances. So the implications of a poor performance by (say) Doyle will have different implications to Reed, because i goes without sating tat the youngsters will have more potential to iron out deficiencies, and are going to get better.

UTB

responding to Lawrence WF9 blade

 

[wizadry]

I went on Friday and iv'e just watched cooperblade 's extended highlights and i have to say JCR is being harshly treeted imo,just watch it back and see how many crosses JCR actually put in and how many corners he won,sitwell has already referred to this,infact i'd go as far to say people don't watch the match and have their own agenda on specific players.The slagging he has got has been way over the top,it's people in the box what is needed as others have already alluded to.Don't get me wrong he can be frustrating at times but he does a fair amount of good things in a game to not get as much stick every fucking weak.We have far worse players 'atm'

P.s thanks for the look back at the game 'btw' cooperblade .

 

[Silent Blade]

I went on Friday and iv'e just watched cooperblade 's extended highlights and i have to say JCR is being harshly treeted imo,just watch it back and see how many crosses JCR actually put in and how many corners he won,sitwell has already referred to this,infact i'd go as far to say people don't watch the match and have their own agenda on specific players.The slagging he has got has been way over the top,it's people in the box what is needed as others have already alluded to.Don't get me wrong he can be frustrating at times but he does a fair amount of good things in a game to not get as much stick every fucking weak.We have far worse players 'atm'

P.s thanks for the look back at the game 'btw' cooperblade .

Agree, he didnt play as well as he could but he created more attacking moves than anyone did (apart from Murphy and Harris) it was baffling when some one said JCR was far worse than Higdon

 

[oldblade]

Could've sworn Bristol City won 3-0 at Peterborough on Friday. And, yes they have had a bit of a blip lately but the points in the bank they've accrued makes these blips less damaging. We're hemorrhaging too many points with all these effin' draws.

Only two sides in the division have drawn fewer games than us and neither of those sides is above us.