United 2 Shrewsbury 4 - report...

[Grappler]

Just arrived home. Skimmed through comments on here and it's all been said for me by others. There seems to be no sense of team at the moment, and I do wonder what's happening behind the scenes. We have old boys, Clough's boys and Adkin's boys and too many with not much to do and I wonder if there are subversive cliques forming. Who knows?

This.

Something not right and has not been right for a while.

 

[grafikhaus]

...There isn't one. I can't be bothered. It's late; got a presenation at work at 8.30am in the morning and if those set of over paid tossers; cannot be bothered then I cannot. Sorry for apathy but tonight even I cannot find the motivation.

Tonight was a Port Vale under Warnock, a Walsall in the 80's. It was up there for a new low. A real debacle. We were playing a side that had not won for nearly 2 months and they thumped us; at our ground.

A Crewe under Adkins? A Shrewsbury under Adkins? A Gillingham under Adkins? A Colchester under Adkins? A Fleetwood under Adkins? This clown is taking us into new realms of incompetence. Deadbat, you say you 'can't be bothered', yet you've managed to pinpoint what seems to escape Adkins.

Why bring on two centre halfs though? JCR should've been on plus Done down the middle.

Because, as we saw in the Southend match, Adkins has lost any bottle he may have possessed. In that game, he kept Done and J C-R on the bench as he was afraid that - if he'd changed things - Southend might have got a winner. Hardly the mentality to mount a charge up the table, let alone the relegation battle we'll have in spring.

 

[Deaneandagana]

Just arrived home. Skimmed through comments on here and it's all been said for me by others. There seems to be no sense of team at the moment, and I do wonder what's happening behind the scenes. We have old boys, Clough's boys and Adkin's boys and too many with not much to do and I wonder if there are subversive cliques forming. Who knows?

Yes agree, Deadbat summed it up pretty well, we're on the crest of a slump - 3 wins in 14, no shape, no spirit, no passion, no nothing.

Can't see the manager turning this around as the players aren't up for it & he's incapable of getting them up for it - how we could use a Bassett or Warnock to let that sorry bunch of players know what it means to play for Sheffield United. Even the fans are in danger of forgetting what a real Sheff Utd team looks & plays like - it's been that long, very sad.

Everyone connected with the club needs to have a long look at themselves.

There used to be a contributor on the old SUISA website whose signature saying went along the lines of "Welcome to the wilderness years" very apt.

 

[super_pig]

deadbat's report. looking forward to it as usual.. 'there isn't one' .. fucking priceless mate. i owe you a beer

 

[cahill]

Working on the not unreasonable assumption that we won't be going up this year ( I have a degree in stating the bleeding obvious) won't this represent the worst ever period in our history, ie outside the top two tiers ?

I know we went down to div 4 but it didn't take 6 years to get back to division 2, or did it ?

I ought to Google

 

[raul]

Typical Deadbat, always giving them higher marks than they deserve...

 

[Hollinsend]

For real ? Was that the 3rd or 4th time that Baxter left Freeman to deal with 3 men ?

I'm not defending Baxter here and agree that he offered little or no cover for the full backs - but then he shouldn't have been playing wide right in the first place. For all that, Freeman was still poor and out of position far too often, especially in the first half (though maybe watching from John St I was just more aware of it first half)

 

[Crouchy]

There used to be a contributor on the old SUISA website whose signature saying went along the lines of "Welcome to the wilderness years" very apt.

Titanium Blade

WTTWY

 

[Balham]

There used to be a contributor on the old SUISA website whose signature saying went along the lines of "Welcome to the wilderness years" very apt.

I long for the Wilderness Years of mid-table finishes in the Championship but they're nothing more than a distant memory now.

WTTDSY [welcome to the dogshit years]

 

[Bladesince59]

Bring back Warnock. Give us some pride.

 

[robwestterraceblade]

one thing that united have always been is hard working since atkins has come in thats gone down hill now i wouldnt need motivating to play but modern day footballers do and this clown can not do that so for me its time for a change someone who can send them out up for it because we are only going one way now and thats down utb

 

[oldblade]

A Crewe under Adkins? A Shrewsbury under Adkins? A Gillingham under Adkins? A Colchester under Adkins? A Fleetwood under Adkins? This clown is taking us into new realms of incompetence. Deadbat, you say you 'can't be bothered', yet you've managed to pinpoint what seems to escape Adkins.


Because, as we saw in the Southend match, Adkins has lost any bottle he may have possessed. In that game, he kept Done and J C-R on the bench as he was afraid that - if he'd changed things - Southend might have got a winner. Hardly the mentality to mount a charge up the table, let alone the relegation battle we'll have in spring.

If things carry on as they are doing, the relegation battle will start in about 3 games time not next spring. We'll already be down by then.

If we do end up falling into a relegation battle, does anyone seriously believe that these players have even one tenth of the mental strength to get out of it. I don't.

 

[stannyblade]

If things carry on as they are doing, the relegation battle will start in about 3 games time not next spring. We'll already be down by then.

If we do end up falling into a relegation battle, does anyone seriously believe that these players have even one tenth of the mental strength to get out of it. I don't.

Said the same thing in the pub after the game.

 

[carthesis]

Warnock was a much under appreciated manager by a significant number of people on this and other forums. But anyone who thinks we would be in anything like the state we are in now if we were still managed by him must be taking very powerful mind altering drugs

This. Absolutely this. Completely, totally and utterly this.

I try to steer away from blaming McCabe and the board for all our ills, especially after they've recently allowed managers both time and money to "build a promotion squad" - something which, incidentally, every other fucker in L1 seems able to do on pennies barring us - but the one crucial, critical, unforgivable mistake that is and only can be laid squarely at the feet of McCabe and noone else is the failure to keep Neil Warnock as SUFC Manager after relegation from the PL. Can you honestly tell me that given James Beattie banging them in for shits'n'giggles with a Warnock-style hard-working midfield and no-nonsense arse-kicking defence with Chris Morgan at the heart of it wouldn't have absolutely, totally and utterly fucking destroyed the Championship in 07-08? He proved it with Palace and QPR.

The current mob are an absolute disgrace on the evidence of last night and the past few weeks. Going to BDTBL used to be the highlight of my week. Something to look forward to. Something to enjoy. Knowing i was going to see graft and feel the passion and hear the noise. And now - nothing. And you can't blame the fans after the wilderness years. The Cup runs proved the level of support this club can attract when they play decent, committed, passionate football.

Warnock would have torn this lot not just one, but four or five new arseholes at half-time given recent performances. Can you imagine the half-time talk after the 1st half against Southend? They'd've had to turn the tannoy up to drown it out.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Last night was one of those shock defeats which will linger in the memory. As bad as we have been I have not seen us so outplayed for ages. All credit to Shrewsbury but shame on the management and players.

So many negatives , the main one being selection - going into a game with Baxter, Reed, Hammond and Adams as the midfield 4 in 4-4-2 is disrespectful to the opposition who answered with knobs on. Any defence with such a thin shield in front of them would be scared to death.

Positives? Hammond looked a much stronger player at last and is picking up match fitness.
Edgar back

I sense this week will be the end of the road for a player or two and a complete revision of tactics and formation.

 

[s35blade]

I pride myself on not overreacting to things like this but I can honestly say last night was one of the worst nights in all the time i've supported Sheffield United.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

I try to steer away from blaming McCabe and the board for all our ills,

Why? I don't. McCabe is single-handedly to blame. A manager gets the blame and sacked when players he brought in (and some he didn't) don't perform. The board are responsible for the management teams they bring in. McCabe has taken us to this point and, well intentioned as maybe, nice chap, Blade and successful businessman, it doesn't matter, he carries the can for where we are.

 

[Hodgyman]

That was the worst performance I have ever,in my 55+ years of supporting them.That is until Adkins convinces me that I still don't know what I'm seeing or not seeing again.
What I did see was us conceding goals from half clearances to the edge of the box being fired into the net unchallenged. Did we not see the same against Crewe and Southend? It does not take a footballing genius to see that and do something about it, perhaps having someone positioned there just in case.

I also saw Captain Calamity help Shrewsbury to their 4th goal by coming halfway towards a clearance from their defence before stopping and turning to chase the ball back towards our goal giving their player with momentum a free run with the ball towards our goal. My memory isn't all that good but I remember the same (very experienced) player make the same blunder early on in the season, but obviously has not learned from it. At worst he could have committed a professional foul to stop the attacker.

As for Mr Adkins, I cannot understand that if Edgar was fit enough to be on International duty, why he couldn't have been on from the start to allow Basham to add strength and endevour into the midfield.
I also can't understand why he does not include our 2 top scorers (& triers)from last season. I know McNulty is out on loan and seemingly scoring OK for Portsmouth

It was also the first game I have ever walked out of with more than 10 minutes left to play. I am so dis-heartened that I will not be buying a FA Cup ticket for the Oldham match and urge others to do the same. If we have an empty stadium, perhaps the Board, Manager and players might just get the message

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

...There isn't one. I can't be bothered. It's late; got a presenation at work at 8.30am in the morning and if those set of over paid tossers; cannot be bothered then I cannot. Sorry for apathy but tonight even I cannot find the motivation.

Tonight was a Port Vale under Warnock, a Walsall in the 80's. It was up there for a new low. A real debacle. We were playing a side that had not won for nearly 2 months and they thumped us; at our ground.

In summary, we were shite. Every single player. Cannot think of one positive. The defence was slow, mistaken ridden and awful. Long saved nothing but had no protection. The midfield were pathetic and the forward slow and immobile. Individually abysmal, collectively terrible. No tactics, no organisation, no discipline and more than anything no passion. Freeman had a nightmare; the centre halves were static. Basham is a poor player and not sure he is good enough in any position. Collins an embarrasment but then we replace him with someone even worse in McEveley. Harris needs 9 touches to do anything. Reed showed that he is simply not good enough (as I said the other day he is nowhere near good enough and the last 7 or 8 games I have seen him start he has been shocking). Hammond slow and losing runners. Adams looked like a pub player. Sharp slow and languid. Sammon basically is the worst big player I have ever seen in that he cannot win any headers.

Why Campbell Ryce was not playing after being our best attacker in recent times was beyond me. He made 3 channges at half time but he wishes he could have made 11. Baxter made our goal and did a few decent things but was subbed which was ridiculous.

People will come on here and discuss tactics, players, selections but in truth I dont give a damn about any of that; tonight I saw for long periods a set of players who looked like they did not want to be there. They actually looked like they did not give a damn. As boos came down and chants of 'what a load of rubbish'; they still did not win 50/50's or tackles and still just looked like a set of players that had somehow just find themselves on a football field.

Adkins is not motivating the side; not getting them playing as a team and if anything the defence is even worse under him. It is abysmal. Tonight was a new low for me as the third went in Basham and Collins did not even berate each other; they just looked down at the floor after neither had bothered marking the one player in the box.

This side is looking more like a relegation side than a promotion one. I saw no fight at all tonight. None. It was a pathetic effort. Some will blame the fans. So what they booed a bit and sang' youre not fit to wear the shirt.' They are right. These players are a joke and sadly so is the manager who is we had not sacked so many managers in recent times would also have been sacked by now. He will remain but only because they know they have no option to keep him. However if they carry on recent run of game and performances into New Year not sure even they can justify keeping him just because we cant change another manager. Relegation would be disastrous for the club. People may laugh at such a suggestion but I saw a relegation side tear us to pieces tonight and could easily have scored 7 or 8 goals.

Right off to bed. Thanks SUFC. You are still surprising me how incompetent you can be.

Totally agree about JCR - both he and Baxter have been our best players for about the last 5 games, to not pick him, and sub Baxter at half time was a nonsense from the manager (unless Baxter was injured, as some have said).

The subsitutions were the worst Ive ever seen - 3 -1 down and need to get back in the game, and he brings two centre backs on.

I know the players arent good enough, and Adkins needs time, but he isnt helping himself with decisions like that.

 

[Coily]

Adkins is not motivating the side; not getting them playing as a team and if anything the defence is even worse under him. It is abysmal. Tonight was a new low for me as the third went in Basham and Collins did not even berate each other; they just looked down at the floor after neither had bothered marking the one player in the box.

Didn't go to the game but sat in my own private hell listening to BladesPlayer while watching Sky Soccer Special as they were showing the goals as they went in. And when the third goal was shown, what you wrote is exactly what I thought. No going mental, no finger pointing, nothing. It was like they simply didn't care, and over and above the apology of a tackle from Baxter and leaving the bloke all the time in the world to cross to the striker with all the time in the world to score, this pissed me off the most.

I'm not happy with Adkins' efforts to date in recruitment, an at times bizarre selection policy and his frankly cringe worthy public pronouncements - Bladeacoaster anyone? - but it's high time the players were ultimately made accountable for the disaster this season is rapidly becoming.

 

[nicksufc]

Remember this?

 

[Deadbat]

Who's this Deadbat? Sounds a right negative bastard

 

[blade67]

This was the lowest I remember in the league 1. "You're not fit to wear the shirt". 18 months later and we are unstoppable.

Rather remember, Gillingham, port vale, bury away, Southend away, wimbledon , yesterday etc etc this season

 

[Cheets]

I missed this one. Burton and Scunthorpe were my nadirs.

 

[SB_90]

this was posted on my twitter this afternoon. & it does make me feel alot better about sunday. because this makes current situation look like a walk in the park

 

[Gimli]

Hammond scored? Must have been a mistake

 

[Balham]

Until this day I didn't realise that both Sammon and Hammond have "ammo" in their surnames. Oh, the irony.

 

[YES Blade]

this was posted on my twitter this afternoon. & it does make me feel alot better about sunday. because this makes current situation look like a walk in the park

Nope, still feels shit losing every week, losing to better opposition makes no difference.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Nope, still feels shit losing every week, losing to better opposition makes no difference.

It does to me. I enjoy watching the higher standard of football & opposition. I enjoy being able to converse with folk from work who know our players, manager etc. now because we're in the Prem.

The only thing I liked from League 1 days was being able to pick up away tickets easily & it was usually quite good fun going to obscure places on the piss & not caring too much about the game.

 

[YES Blade]

It does to me. I enjoy watching the higher standard of football & opposition. I enjoy being able to converse with folk from work who know our players, manager etc. now because we're in the Prem.

The only thing I liked from League 1 days was being able to pick up away tickets easily & it was usually quite good fun going to obscure places on the piss & not caring too much about the game.

The point I'm making is that looking back to a defeat to Shrewsbury is no consolation to losing against West Ham.