We have looked much better recently.....

[Harry's Game]

..without Brayford.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Alex Baptiste performed better in that role today (well, yesterday) than Brayford has managed the entire season.

 

[Bladesman]

Well Brayford came back from injury and did ok but it seems his form deeped a lot after December.

Brayford is still a decent player I just hope he is not going to suffer with more injuries next season.

 

[Harry's Game]

Alex Baptiste performed better in that role today (well, yesterday) than Brayford has managed the entire season.

And Basham has been a better wing back.

 

[Ricky]

So we've spent £2m on a player who can't improve our third division team. Jesus.

 

[Toronto Blade]

So are they now putting in a last ditch effort to be asked back next season.They have shown what they can do 9 points out of 6th place about as much use as the board.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Alex Baptiste performed better in that role today (well, yesterday) than Brayford has managed the entire season.

And Basham has been a better wing back.

Hmmmmm. Yes and no to that. He gets a lot of stick and he's inconsistent, but based on the season as a whole, as opposed to the last couple of games, Bash is one I'd definitely retain. There were a couple of moments in the game yesterday though, when we were breaking fast through the middle, when the player with the ball (Flynn ?) clearly looked to his right hand side for the overlap ....... and the overlap was not there. The overlap he's used to seeing in that situation is Brayford, and, however in and out he's been this year, in the latter part of the season I think Brayford has done that part of the wingback's job really well.

He's played like a man shorn of his beard at times, all year. But he had a very bad injury last year, followed by no pre-season and a succession of niggles and knocks, then another injury. I think we'd be daft to sell him without first seeing if we can get him back to the standard we know he's capable of.

 

[Kenilworth]

A cynic might look at the contractual status of several players and the timing of said "improvement" (which, didn't appear at Millwall or Southend) and come to the conclusion that they are very much taking the absolute piss.

Agree that Baptiste is a really bright spark and if we can recruit him (if Boro go up) then that would be our key CB sorted.

 

[zablade]

We have shown some improvement but we need four or five new first choice players for next season or we will struggle.

The way we have finished this season reminds me a lot of the way we finished Blackwells last season in charge.. and we know what happend the following year.

As for Brayford we all know the number one reason he signed for us and that reason is no longer here. If he gets fit in the summer I expect to see him leave

 

[BushBlade]

Hmmmmm. Yes and no to that. He gets a lot of stick and he's inconsistent, but based on the season as a whole, as opposed to the last couple of games, Bash is one I'd definitely retain. There were a couple of moments in the game yesterday though, when we were breaking fast through the middle, when the player with the ball (Flynn ?) clearly looked to his right hand side for the overlap ....... and the overlap was not there. The overlap he's used to seeing in that situation is Brayford, and, however in and out he's been this year, in the latter part of the season I think Brayford has done that part of the wingback's job really well.

He's played like a man shorn of his beard at times, all year. But he had a very bad injury last year, followed by no pre-season and a succession of niggles and knocks, then another injury. I think we'd be daft to sell him without first seeing if we can get him back to the standard we know he's capable of.

Depends what we were offered and how much money the owners are prepared to put into the club next season. We know from the Biggs interview he's on around £600k a year which is a lot for one player at this level. Personally, I'd rather keep him but not if he's a burden on the wage bill. You could pay three or four decent young players with his wages.

 

[Damski]

The overall performances have improved. The thing is, people tend to over-simplify, and get carried away when we don't win about how awful we are, when actually the team has played well, just not managed to get the result.

Last 2 games I've been to sound this out. Southend and Gillingham. We lost 3-1 to Southend. On the face of it, you'd think it's a routine home victory, but actually it was a close run thing. First half finshed 1-1, and I can't say fairer than that. It was an exciting, well balanced half and both teams deserved a goal. 2nd half was interesting, because although Southend ran away with it and won 3-1, we were achingly close to doing the same. Notice how both of their goals came after a concerted period of pressure from Sheffield United. We were throwing players forward in order to try and score, and both times we did this and were on the brink of scoring, then Southend caught us and scored on the break, or as a direct result from a break. It is what it is, Southend took their chances and profited, but there is no way we deserved to lose 3-1.

Yesterday was similar. I was disappointed at Gillingham going forward. For a team in 4th to have 1 shot on target and a couple of fluffed chances in front of the Kop is very poor. Blades were very good, clearly the better side and a couple of times were inches away from getting a goal they richly deserved. Still, it didn't come and the game finished 0-0. Again, it is what it is.

Both performances were actually good, yesterday's very good, but they just didn't get on the right side of luck and failed to win either. But my point is, both matches were actually good, positive performances. It's easy to look at the scoreline and throw your arms around in frustration when Matt Done was centimetres away from bursting the net at the death yesterday, but in the cold light of day, to be fair, the team has improved. Not that much, and far too late to save the promotion push, but they have improved none the less.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

We are lower in the league than this time last year so it could be said we are going backwards, but...

The second half of last season saw awful, inconsistent play and we stumbled into the play offs, before falling over against Swindon. So the new manager has turned up and we have been served more of the same for most of the season. And now, as players leave and others join, slowly but surely there seems to be a change of direction.

We're getting better. But we're impatient.

 

[Esablade]

...since Collins left by 'mutual consent'..

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

We are lower in the league than this time last year so it could be said we are going backwards, but...

The second half of last season saw awful, inconsistent play and we stumbled into the play offs, before falling over against Swindon. So the new manager has turned up and we have been served more of the same for most of the season. And now, as players leave and others join, slowly but surely there seems to be a change of direction.

We're getting better. But we're impatient.

To be honest , after 5 seasons I think we are actually a patient lot of fans . With this season , it's frustration more than anything , and the unknown of next season , as manager , team , squad is still all a bit up in the air.

UTB

 

[LoughboroBlade]

...since Collins left by 'mutual consent'..

I think people can legitimately ask why anyone should have any faith that Adkins next season will be any better than this, and if you take a narrow view of where we are now compared to last year then fair enough. What I would say is encouraging is that as Adkins has been able to get the squad down to the more tight-knit group he's stated we've aimed towards, there has been visible improvement. You could argue that is far too late and he should have got rid of more earlier, but it's not always that simple (as Clough found out with Collins last year). The upturn in form is also coupled with a recognition that his preferred 4-4-2 wasn't effective enough with the players in the current squad. Added to an assumption we'll see further changes in the squad for the better (a big assumption granted), that's why I'm generally happy to see Adkins have a longer stab at getting this right.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

To be honest , after 5 seasons I think we are actually a patient lot of fans . With this season , it's frustration more than anything , and the unknown of next season , as manager , team , squad is still all a bit up in the air.

UTB

Definitely, Blades fans have the patience of saints. I meant more in terms of the recent debates about our manager, as a considerable weight of opinion seems for him to go as the team is no better after his tenure to date, I was suggesting that our position in the league has to be taken in consideration along with other factors (such as the long term form of the team)

 

[Esablade]

I think people can legitimately ask why anyone should have any faith that Adkins next season will be any better than this, and if you take a narrow view of where we are now compared to last year then fair enough. What I would say is encouraging is that as Adkins has been able to get the squad down to the more tight-knit group he's stated we've aimed towards, there has been visible improvement. You could argue that is far too late and he should have got rid of more earlier, but it's not always that simple (as Clough found out with Collins last year). The upturn in form is also coupled with a recognition that his preferred 4-4-2 wasn't effective enough with the players in the current squad. Added to an assumption we'll see further changes in the squad for the better (a big assumption granted), that's why I'm generally happy to see Adkins have a longer stab at getting this right.

I'm backing Adkins.
I think we'll push on and be up there next season if he stays...this season is a job that needed doing way back...

 

[Darthblade]

..without Brayford.

A few "out of contract" players have suddenly realised they're going to be on the scrapheap in June and have started to "up their game a bit".

Hopefully, NA will not be fooled by this and will bin the bloody lot, and a few more and be given a reasonable budget to bring in the strong, pacey, consistent players that we need to replace them !!

UTB & FTP

 

[JohnDenver]

...since Collins left by 'mutual consent'..

That's one part of it without doubt. Since he left we've actually exerted sustained pressure on teams. That comes by moving up and down the field as a unit, not by hanging back on our 18 yard line when the ball's in midfield.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

A few "out of contract" players have suddenly realised they're going to be on the scrapheap in June and have started to "up their game a bit".

Hopefully, NA will not be fooled by this and will bin the bloody lot

Have to say that crossed my mind too, after about 25 mins yesterday. I hope we're both wrong. One sign that we might be is the general cohesion to our play, with and without the ball, for long spells in the last few home games. So much better than the horrible, shapeless, purposeless mess we've put up with most of the season, home and away. Yesterday, which was even better, looked more like an organised team effort than just a few individuals playing for contracts ?

How many of yesterday's starting XI are out of contract this summer ?