What a difference having a right winger makes

[blades_95]

After farting around in recent weeks playing Done in a right winger/striker role, last night showed the benefit of having two natural wingers. I thought Flynn was fantastic, linking well with Freeman all night. He made a lot of intelligent runs, barely lost the ball and provided us with an alternative to playing through Murphy all the time.

Thought Flynn was MOM, but closely followed by Holt. He was also superb and made countless intelligent runs into space and linked well with the wide men and Davies. To me he seems similar to Scougall but seems to have more end product and be better technically.

Also, thought last night showed just how good Baxter can be when he actually has movement ahead of him. With Holt, Murphy, Flynn and Freeman he consistently had options. Similar to McDonald, he's a good player but not when everyone in front of him is static; this is why McDonald seemed poorer in his second season cos he didn't have Evans, Quinn, Lowton etc playing with him and making positive runs.

Last night was a comfortable, comprehensive win and probably typified what Clough's aimed for all season; good passing, movement from the midfield, Davies up top linking it all together, goals and a clean sheet. Same again Saturday please.

UTB

 

[curtisblades]

Thought Baxter was motm last night, put in a quality midfield performance capped off with two excellent penalties. Flynn ran him close, but lacked end product a few times. However he did show the benefit of having an out and out winger as an extra attacking outlet. Bit disappointed with Harris as he was sloppy in parts. Thought Coutts helped Baxter control the game well.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Thought Coutts helped Baxter control the game well.

I agree, the big difference being that he (Coutts that is) was consistently making himself available for the ball and with movement around him gave us more options which Scunny just could'nt live with.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Baxter was MOM for me, closely followed by Freeman.

The hope now is that we stick with a consistent XI for the run in. Recently Freeman looks better at RB than Brayford who also looks better at CB than McEvelely. Defence sorted.

Baxter has come into CM and looks better for having intelligent movement around him. Coutts, albeit off form, looks a good foil for him in the middle and will develop an understanding. Midfield sorted.

Davies plays both with his back-to & facing the goal very well. Holts (or even Done) pace and energy playing off that = Front sorted.

 

[raul]

Baxter was MOM for me, closely followed by Freeman.

The hope now is that we stick with a consistent XI for the run in. Recently Freeman looks better at RB than Brayford who also looks better at CB than McEvelely. Defence sorted.

Baxter has come into CM and looks better for having intelligent movement around him. Coutts, albeit off form, looks a good foil for him in the middle and will develop an understanding. Midfield sorted.

Davies plays both with his back-to & facing the goal very well. Holts (or even Done) pace and energy playing off that = Front sorted.

This, then this again. We've got square pegs back in square holes again. Leave well alone and give it time to gel. If it's not working for wahtever reason, then use Done etc to change round.

 

[Eskimo]

I agree with all this. I really enjoyed the game lst night.

I did think that Scunny were a bit isappointing. They did't press,bully and harry like teams who have done well at Bramall Lane like Preston for example. I'd like to tink that is because we were so good.

And end product, there were times we were playing really well and knocking it around and I thought we were over elaborating

And did we look better or worse when Doyle came on for Coutts?


Had to laugh at the end when Clough was baying for the team to speed up, (Davies corners for example) and go for another goal

 

[sitwell]

Nothing changed when Doyle replaced Coutts , but Scunthorpe weren't very good. I don't think a Coutts-Holt-Baxter midfield would be strong enough against better opposition though. The reason it worked well last night was because the defence forced things better ,we had the movement and strength of Davies ,but mainly Flynn and Murphy played really well and made themselves available so we played more to the wings.

 

[FTPE]

After farting around in recent weeks playing Done in a right winger/striker role, last night showed the benefit of having two natural wingers. I thought Flynn was fantastic, linking well with Freeman all night. He made a lot of intelligent runs, barely lost the ball and provided us with an alternative to playing through Murphy all the time.

Thought Flynn was MOM, but closely followed by Holt. He was also superb and made countless intelligent runs into space and linked well with the wide men and Davies. To me he seems similar to Scougall but seems to have more end product and be better technically.

Also, thought last night showed just how good Baxter can be when he actually has movement ahead of him. With Holt, Murphy, Flynn and Freeman he consistently had options. Similar to McDonald, he's a good player but not when everyone in front of him is static; this is why McDonald seemed poorer in his second season cos he didn't have Evans, Quinn, Lowton etc playing with him and making positive runs.

Last night was a comfortable, comprehensive win and probably typified what Clough's aimed for all season; good passing, movement from the midfield, Davies up top linking it all together, goals and a clean sheet. Same again Saturday please.

UTB

Some very good points there pal

 

[itsinyerblood]

Nothing changed when Doyle replaced Coutts , but Scunthorpe weren't very good. I don't think a Coutts-Holt-Baxter midfield would be strong enough against better opposition though. The reason it worked well last night was because the defence forced things better ,we had the movement and strength of Davies ,but mainly Flynn and Murphy played really well and made themselves available so we played more to the wings.

I think that's about the fact of it sitters. Give it 2-3 games to see if last night wasn't more to do with the lack of quality that Scunthorpe possessed. That's not to take anything away from our performance, but a more savvy team will act like a litmus test regarding our capacity to test their capabilities. It does seem that Davies' presence has given us a more cohesive look, enabling a fluidity in our movement and passing that's been absent. Well done Blades!

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

Scunthorpe were crap but last night showed that we've got some proper footballers.

We know that Murphy and Flynn are unplayable on the wings when they're up for it, always going to create a goal or penalty.

Baxter was class. It's not his athletic attributes or even his quality on the ball, it's his vision that sets him apart. He can see runs and players in space that others can't.

Coutts is getting there, he's good on the ball and gets himself in space.

Steve Davies is also good on the ball and has some really clever touches, threading it round the corner with the outside of his left when the opposition defence is expecting him to go the other way. Can do without him diving on the floor though, the ref could easily have stopped the move that led to the first penalty because of it.

Basham and Brayford looked solid as did the full backs.

Holt worked hard and did well.

Mcnulty looked dangerous when he came on.

Overall a good display and entertaining. Be nice to see us do that to better teams, which we are more than capable of.

 

[Going up]

After farting around in recent weeks playing Done in a right winger/striker role, last night showed the benefit of having two natural wingers. I thought Flynn was fantastic, linking well with Freeman all night. He made a lot of intelligent runs, barely lost the ball and provided us with an alternative to playing through Murphy all the time.

Thought Flynn was MOM, but closely followed by Holt. He was also superb and made countless intelligent runs into space and linked well with the wide men and Davies. To me he seems similar to Scougall but seems to have more end product and be better technically.

Also, thought last night showed just how good Baxter can be when he actually has movement ahead of him. With Holt, Murphy, Flynn and Freeman he consistently had options. Similar to McDonald, he's a good player but not when everyone in front of him is static; this is why McDonald seemed poorer in his second season cos he didn't have Evans, Quinn, Lowton etc playing with him and making positive runs.

Last night was a comfortable, comprehensive win and probably typified what Clough's aimed for all season; good passing, movement from the midfield, Davies up top linking it all together, goals and a clean sheet. Same again Saturday please.

UTB

Couldn't agree more. Other than perhaps, there were about 7 players who could have been MOM;-) Basham, Beard, Flynn, Davies, Baxter, Holt and Murphy all showed up last night.

Coutts is class, but coming from injury, with the games coming thick and fast, he may need a game off to get a second wind.

Having watched Clough for many years, mostly because of his dad to be honest, I would say that this is how he wants his teams to play.

At Derby, with Hughes, Bryson, Hendick and Ward, it was always attacking and free flowing, regardless of what others say. The Negative Nigel phrase, was not a product of the style he wanted, more the way he chose to close games out. Similar to a Baseball team, he often brought on experienced "closers", or defensive players, whether midfielders or out right defenders. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didnt. When it doesn't, it upsets the fan base.

Before he was removed, he brought in Martin to do the Davies job and we can all see how valuable Martin is, especially now that he is out. Nigel knew what he needed, unfortunately, these kind of players dont grow on trees. OGrady became unavailable, Higdon didn't quite have the touch or fitness although he had the size and strength to hold people off and get players somewhat involved and unfortunately, Davies wasn't here from the start of the season. However, perhaps the short season we have now will work to our favour as he has a chance to stay injury-free.

We look like a team on a mission now and I wouldn't want to take us on.