United 3 Doncaster 2 - report

[grafikhaus]

From the little I've read about the departure - and we never really know what went on - I'd say he's burned his bridges and his boats and would have to eat a large slice of humble pie with his tail between his legs.

That's not really a criticism: understandably he took a shot at the big time but, for whatever reason, the split wasn't entirely amicable.

It would be good to have a fully functioning centre half on the books though.

Maybe someone somewhere can make it work.

Oh I'm sure NC would forgive Harry his indiscretion. Just look at Butler.

 

[Bergen Blade]

For us on Tuesday Baxter was less obviously poor than Coutts - who had a dreadful game, constantly conceding possession in dangerous areas - a totally different player from Satdi where he was a revelation.

Perhaps it is as Bergen suggests (I think): on Satdi we had Bashambauer in midfield doing the work for Coutts? Though there might well be more to it than that.

We have decent skill in the team, players who can play, but we must remember that we've got to earn the right to play. Baxter may be useful when it comes to unlocking defences who drop deep and where it's all a case of us breaking them down. But some teams will be more ambitious than that, like Doncaster who were confident on the ball and dominated possession. Coutts can do a decent sweeping up job, but currently he doesn't seem to have the legs to chase around and win tackles.

We've got decent ability in the forward positions now with Murphy, Done, Flynn and S. Davies, helped by good attacking full backs. It would be a travesty if we messed this up by having a midfield that is too weak.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

egg on his face

Damn...I missed one.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

McEveley is good enough to play both games

Isn't he a massive liability when he plays at CH? Not his fault, he's out of position, but from where we're sitting he's constantly getting under the ball, losing headers, losing his man, and is generally all at sea.

 

[super_pig]

Isn't he a massive liability when he plays at CH? Not his fault, he's out of position, but from where we're sitting he's constantly getting under the ball, losing headers, losing his man, and is generally all at sea.

i reckon a sub par McEveley with the beard at full back is still a better option than the beard at CB where his attacking instincts are wasted.. i can't wait to see Done at Wembley. he'll run riot on that huge pitch

 

[Going up]

Were you at Barnsley last Saturday? He was easily MOTM. Strong at shielding the ball and passed well. Played a delightful ball to Flynn who could have opened the scoring but unfortunately Flynn slipped. Dont know why he didnt play as well last night

Lack of pre-season and no time to rest him, I would say. Just arrived, thrown in every game, no time to really settle in. Even the Doncaster game was not bad. Some good, some poor. Average, which is typical inconsistency from a player coming off a long injury.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Perhaps it is as Bergen suggests (I think): on Satdi we had Bashambauer in midfield doing the work for Coutts? Though there might well be more to it than that.

Nope, there isn't more to it - nail on head and more are coming to the same conclusion.

The common theme now is trying to keep Kennedy fit.

Coutts is a decent footballer in centre mid, he just needs the right player at the side of him.

Don't be surprised if Cloughie tries to get Wallace fit enough to play by lets say 2-3 games from the end of the season., which might provide the basis for Bash to return to CH. A Wallace even at 90% fitness could be better than anything else we have. Shame he didn't recover a few weeks before now.

UTB

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Isn't he a massive liability when he plays at CH? Not his fault, he's out of position, but from where we're sitting he's constantly getting under the ball, losing headers, losing his man, and is generally all at sea.

For me I don't believe that to be the case. He's had his ups and downs of late [plus injury] but it wasn't that long ago that many on here were celebrating the new partnership at CH, namely Basham and McE. First dodgy game [and it wasn't too dodgy] was away at Spurs when he gave away the pen. Prone to jumping in at times, I will give you that, but for me by and large he's been pretty solid - particularly away from home.

Needs to get match fit but I'd stick with him with Kennedy as cover.

 

[sheffielder]

Isn't he a massive liability when he plays at CH? Not his fault, he's out of position, but from where we're sitting he's constantly getting under the ball, losing headers, losing his man, and is generally all at sea.

He is another bad signing, however I feel he is serviceable as cover.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

but it wasn't that long ago that many on here were celebrating the new partnership at CH, namely Basham and McE. .

Yes he wasn't bad at first - but when players come into new positions tend to try that bit harder.

Problem with ANY square peg in a round hole is that they always get found out eventually. Just think it strange that any professional club has to do this on a permanent basis. Don't get me wrong McE tries his hardest but he has the instincts of a full back not a CH and it shows.

If the season goes tits up, the crux to the problem will go back to preseason and the debacle with ALL of the centre halves, not just McE.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

For me I don't believe that to be the case. He's had his ups and downs of late [plus injury] but it wasn't that long ago that many on here were celebrating the new partnership at CH, namely Basham and McE. First dodgy game [and it wasn't too dodgy] was away at Spurs when he gave away the pen. Prone to jumping in at times, I will give you that, but for me by and large he's been pretty solid - particularly away from home.

Needs to get match fit but I'd stick with him with Kennedy as cover.

He turned rubbish at around the time that people decided Kennedy (not having a go at him) had to be in the team!

It's the Bladesfans' Way.

 

[Grecian2000]

He turned rubbish at around the time that people decided Kennedy (not having a go at him) had to be in the team!

It's the Bladesfans' Way.

OR, people realised, after seeing Kennedy playing better than him there, that perhaps he hadn't been all that good in the first place.

Our points per game output has been best when Kennedy has played at CB. People tend to like that sort of thing, it's a football fans way.

 

[TonyAgana]

Lack of pre-season and no time to rest him, I would say. Just arrived, thrown in every game, no time to really settle in. Even the Doncaster game was not bad. Some good, some poor. Average, which is typical inconsistency from a player coming off a long injury.

Looks to me like Clough is putting him through his pre-season regime now and doing his damnedest to get him match-fit in time for the play-offs. I can't see any other reason why he hasn't been dropped or at least pulled at half time in pretty much every game he's played.

 

[Grecian2000]

pulled at half time in pretty much every game he's played.

Would go some way to explain some lacklustre second halves.