Welcome to mediocrity

[Micalijo]

I have a life thanks, and its not one in which I either work myself into a frenzy about stuff I dont control, or criticise the shit out of people who are already doing a job better than I could possibly manage myself. I went to the Lane to enjoy the game and I did. We can do better but I saw a lot of decent things, just like I did before we started on that unbeaten run last year. We're not far off being a very good side. We're in the top six, and we will be there or thereabouts at the end.

As for Deadbat, his reports are normally good in terms of detail, but they do reflect his opinions, and are not to be taken as a statement of fact. 'Midtable mediocrity' seems to be the catchword this month.

Having said all of that, what I really dont need is people telling me that I have no right to be anything other than a miserable, short-sighted, petulant, spoiled, unrealistic, unempathetic, reactionary bastard. Present company excepted of course...

We're not far off being a very good side is the kind of bland, meaningless nonsense that Blackwell would come out with. He's spent massive sums in CCC terms on really bad players. Obviously he doesn't like Cotterill and I don't think he rates Evans. He hasn't got a decent keeper on the books and I don't think the players have any respect for him. How many promotion winning sides in last few years have had so many loan players and the likes of France in the side so early in the term. It is a total outrage that KB has been allowed to re-profile us in this way.

I just don't accept this statement at all without any back-up. Why do you think we are not far from being a very good side? Seriously, I'd love to know what you see in this team because I see no cohesion whatsover and non of the fundamentals you'd expect from a serious side with promotion hopes - for example winning at home, beating the poor sides, dominating games, exerting real pressure. One plus point is the comebacks from behind at home.
I really admire you in that you enjoyed the game yesterday and I'd love to think the same but there's no excitement and I certainly have no hopes at all for the short-medium term future of the club.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

I just don't accept this statement at all without any back-up.

You seem to accept that we are heading for 'mid-table mediocrity' without any back-up, so why not accept my view? They are equally valid.

Why do you think we are not far from being a very good side?

Last year, we had a slow start, and there was some doom and gloom, but there was something I saw in our defensive performances right back at the pre-season game at Scunny which gave me hope. It took a bit of time to develop, and only really kicked in with Naysmiths injury and the emergence of Naughton. It was a missing piece, and once we had it, we went on a fantastic run and so nearly got up.

This year we've been kind of OK, but I haven't had that sense of where the team is heading. Yesterday, it was watching the wide midfield that made me sit up, especially Cresswell and Jordan Stewart. They are no mugs but good solid players at this level and will help us a lot. I also saw something in Walker and Glen Little on the other side. Hard to put a finger on really. I'm not Wenger, its just what I saw that really encouraged me.

We need to keep the ball better, and win the second balls a bit more, and not panic, and the back four need to get used to us being a bit more adventurous in midfield and not being quite as well protected as they have been, but this is just familiarity and confidence and both of those will come as they get used to playing along side each other. We didn't do this as well in the second half as we did in the first, but from where I was sat it had a shape and a feel that says 'nearly' to me.

I was right last season, why not this? Last year it was an injury to an established player that gave us the side, this year it could ust be changing a few players with a loss of form. Sometimes it is great judgement, and sometimes it is a happy accident that clicks everything into place. I really saw no place for the wailing and teeth gnashing that seems to be going on. Give the lads another three or four games and I think we'll be flying...

 

[Micalijo]

I accept it because in general I agree with it. Although I actually believe the games have been slightly more entertaining than last term.

The defence is a huge problem though isn't it? Clean sheets are not imaginable at the moment for me.

Fair play for straight answer to straight question. I really hope you are right and I agree with you about Cresswell and Stewart - massive improvement for me on Taylor and Quinn for example - although I think Treacy is OK out there.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Well said Micalijo, I too fear that the side has so many limitations and we have too many loan players in the squad at this time to gel into the team that Duncan believes we will turn into!
For me Stewart whilst an improvement on Taylor, is a journeyman in this division and cpouldn't get a game with Derby. little is by far the footballer we need in the side, a class apart from most of them but, we signed him 10 years too late. He is not match fit and will struggle to last 90 mins. Henderson and Evans are not the pairing that is going to plunder goals - if we have to play Henderson then the only guy to partner him is Jamie Ward. Cresswell did surprise me yesterday and he may do a job. Harper was left out of the squad yesterday because we have too many loan players. Killgallon is pre occupied with either a move or a new contract.
We now have long term injuries to Monty, Ward, Naysmith, Williamson and Paddy is suspended.
I just don't see where Duncans optimism has been generated certainly not with the performances at the Lane this week!

 

[DuncDisorderly]

I too fear that the side has so many limitations and we have too many loan players in the squad at this time to gel into the team that Duncan believes we will turn into!!

I thought that last year, but it changed once Naughton had come in, and Halford started to produce. For those with a long memory, Halford looked miles off the pace in some off his early games and came in for a lot of criticism. Sound familiar? It doesn't matter how they got here, now they're here they will still gell into a team.

I just don't see where Duncans optimism has been generated certainly not with the performances at the Lane this week!

We played well against Doncaster and bossed the game despite our obvious shortcomings on the day. Having your mate agree with you doesn't validate your views as facts. Dont assume failure because we haven't yet found success. Good things take time and they are worth waiting for. You need to get your chin up and worship the Blades with me in the Temple of Positivity...

 

[GoldCoast Blade]

I certainly hope your right dunc. But if it is a simular outcome to last season i don't fancy paying out for another trip home for a wembley final like last seasons. I couldn't not come back just in case.
Just for once lets get it right.

 

[Kentblade]

I have to say that a Wembley trip looks along way off at the moment but it is still early season.
We have a lot of loan players at the moment and if things are not going well at the turn of the year, then we will probably sell Killa.
Very concerned at the moment and we will miss Monty if the injury is as bad as feared.
UTB

 

[Chapel Allerton]

You seem to accept that we are heading for 'mid-table mediocrity' without any back-up, so why not accept my view? They are equally valid.




Last year, we had a slow start, and there was some doom and gloom, but there was something I saw in our defensive performances right back at the pre-season game at Scunny which gave me hope. It took a bit of time to develop, and only really kicked in with Naysmiths injury and the emergence of Naughton. It was a missing piece, and once we had it, we went on a fantastic run and so nearly got up.


I was right last season, why not this? Last year it was an injury to an established player that gave us the side, this year it could ust be changing a few players with a loss of form. Sometimes it is great judgement, and sometimes it is a happy accident that clicks everything into place. I really saw no place for the wailing and teeth gnashing that seems to be going on. Give the lads another three or four games and I think we'll be flying...

Don't mean to be picky (actually I do) but Naughton came into the team after Sun Jihai tried to remove Michael Mifud's legs below the knee. It wasn't Naysmith's injury and in fact Gary Naysmith was an integral part of that very solid back 4. In my opinion it's him we've missed more than Naughton. Taylor has been reasonable but not a patch on Naysmith and I was glad to see Stewart get a chance and thought he did well.

I was pleased to see that Blackwell made changes that weren't forced on him by injury i.e. Stewart and Little starting the game. For me it shows that he has the balls to change a team that hasn't lost. Last season I think he would've kept Cotterill and Taylor in because we didn't lose against Ipswich.

I thought we played well. Davies should've had the match ball and Hendo should've buried the free header that hit the bar. The other results around us show that this league is tricky and we can take nothing for granted.

COYRAWW!

 

[Mary Christmas]

and I want a blow job off Kelly Brook but lifes a shithouse

Just a quikie - so to speak but it has been said that in a certain light I'm a bit of a Kelly Brook lookalike. Perhaps we could get together at the "shithouse" on April 17th.

Mary

Hopefully the mouth ulcers will have cleared up by then!

 

[beightonblade]

If only it were mediocrity.............

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

So basically what you "glass half empty" guys are saying is that Saturdays team is looking at mid table (despite currently being 6th). So lets start at that point, mid table. When you add to that mix that fact that we are without our first choice keeper, centre half, left back, and our entire first choice midfield aren't fit (Monty taken off, Treacy started on the bench, Harper injured, Williamson not played yet, Ward out for another 6 weeks) that's 7 out of the first 11. So basically we've got Morgan, Walker, Evans and Hendo playing out of our first 11 and Morgan has also been out.

I was as disappointed as the next fan after our recent performances but I've tried to look past the "Blackwell out" easy win to see why our normally excellent defence is suddenly failing us and why our normally hard-working midfield is not stamping it's authority on the matches. It's because we aren't able to field out strongest team regularly over the past 3 matches, it really is that simple.
I'm not blind to our failings, we do still lack a creative spark, I think we are all a little underwhelmed at Ched's start (although some see it as settling in while others think he's already a flop) as you have high expectations of a £3 Million player but the fee isn't his doing.
I think even with 3-4 first teamers out we are a solid playoff side as proven by our early form and current league position. Add Naysmith at left back and I think we are in a very strong position. Monty could be a big blow, but a back four of Walker, Morgs, Killa, Naysmith would be one of the strongest in the league. Add to that a midfield 3 from Harper, Monty, Williamson, Treacy again while not creatively awe inspiring there won't be too many teams overrun us or be allowed to impose their play on us (Newcastle I would suggest being the only stronger midfield). Up top we've Hendo (love him or hate him), Evans, Ward, and now Cresswell.
Look back at that side it's a damn strong United type team. Solid defensively, Hard working midfield and a powerful aggressive forward line. Sure that team is never going to be 1970's Brazil but it is certainly stronger than 90% of our league and should easily be amongst the play offs.

Mid table mediocrity? Sorry but I just don't see it.

 

[Mary Christmas]

"Oh you barren rascal. The whirligigs of time brings in his revenges"

How can this be I find myself thinking that Fiery Blade is not far off the mark and then I also find myself agreeing (in the main) with DisorderlyDunc. They do say that opposites attract that 's perhaps why I find LS so attractive in a peculiar sort of way.

Let's get real we are not playing well; in between the times that we are pretty good and the times that we are pretty bad lies our true state of play - mediocre.

God forbid that there is any of the other lot in here but I'm still trembling from that near disastrous performance the other night. (I would like to admit that following that farce I rubbished Davies badly. On reflection I withdraw my ranting for against Donny he was "head and shoulders" the best on the park - he won everything in both areas. I do look forward to Killas return but I do hope that there is a place for him somewhere. I wonder what he's like at left back).

Anyway back to mediocrity - I have never been nor do I believe I ever will be a fan of KB. When things go wrong, which they all too often do, he shows no signs whatsoever of being able to adapt or apply a change of tactics. I, like ever other Blades fan, crave for the Premiership but we need someone who can build a side that is sustainable and competitive at the highest level. Some have suggested Speed, some Coppell both sound good to me. The difference between me and KB is that I do have a plan B – I follow Homer’s philosophy resort to alcohol "the cause of and solution to all of life's problems".

 

[Pierre's PC]

The difference between me and KB is that I do have a plan B – I follow Homer’s philosophy resort to alcohol "the cause of and solution to all of life's problems".

I hear that that was actually a certain ex-managers Plan "A"

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Don't mean to be picky (actually I do) but Naughton came into the team after Sun Jihai tried to remove Michael Mifud's legs below the knee. It wasn't Naysmith's injury and in fact Gary Naysmith was an integral part of that very solid back 4. In my opinion it's him we've missed more than Naughton. Taylor has been reasonable but not a patch on Naysmith and I was glad to see Stewart get a chance and thought he did well.

You are right Brother CAB, but so am I. The Naysmith injury and the emergence of Naughton were in the same sentence, but I didn't intend them to be linked as cause and effect. Both things happened but not at the same instant; they were seperated by a short period of thinking that Sun Jihai was the answer to all our woes...